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BELONGING

Belonging. It is something each and every one of us needs. We work hard in this life, spinning our wheels to achieve enough to belong, to check enough boxes to belong, to follow enough rules to qualify to belong, to be what someone else wants from us enough to belong. Enough. How we strive to be and do enough.How about if we give up all that striving and work just to be enough? And rest in Gods promise that says once we are His, we belong. Just like that. We are loved with an everlasting love, and no one is able to take it away. Because it was and is only His to give. And He gave all. For you. For me. I belong. You belong. We belong. (Ephesians 2:19-22) No additional hidden fees or requirements except to believe, to take Him at His word. That is our Hope. Our place in this world.Praying for you to hold on to this wonderful promise of His everlasting love for you today. You are enough. Blessings, Susie💛

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Belonging. How we all want to belong. 

Journey to Recovery

Reaching out with an update for you. Recovery is going well. I was discharged from Occupational Therapy today💛and I am getting really close to being released to outpatient Physical Therapy.   I have been looking for the perfect caption for this beautiful photo taken by Dennis Colvin, and it all came together in my recovery from knee surgery. And the perfect Chinese proverb for his picture, “to get through the hardest Journey, we need only  take one step at a time, but we must keep stepping.” Thank you Dennis for allowing me to use and share this beautiful picture.  How true that has been for all the steps taken since August 6th. Your prayers have made a difference in my recovery for sure. Thank you.

My plan is to be back in the office next week (Aug 27-31) with limited hours. I appreciate your prayers and you can be sure you remain in mine. Blessings, Susie

 

 The Journey to Recovery has been painful post surgery, but has only been possible step by step. What a life lesson in this whole process!

 The Journey to Recovery has been painful post surgery, but has only been possible step by step. What a life lesson in this whole process!

Photo taken by Dennis Colvin

Circumstances of Life or Promises of God?

I choose to stand on the promises of God. The circumstances of life are just way too precarious and unpredictable for my feet to stand firm. How about you? Circumstances of life or promises of God? Easy to choose an answer to this question and so much harder to live out when your circumstances of life are hitting you one right after the other. And yet, His promises stand true forever. 

It’s Monday and I am 2 weeks post surgery. Cannot express all my thanks for those who are frontline with me in this recovery and for all those who have helped to carry me in any way, with food, flowers, cards, candy, care, visits, prayers, even tough love in PT and OT. It is quite painful (they weren’t kidding!!)  but I am stronger everyday.

There are special moments that stand out so far.

Like Kenzie, sitting beside me and sprinkling my forehead with soft sweet kisses whispering over and over that she loves me so much and it won’t be long before I will be racing and jumping with her.  She has been so concerned for her Mimi, she has brought me an army of stuffed animals, flowers, pictures, hugs and kisses to help with recovery.

Like my Mom and Dad coming to the stairs every night to hug, say I love you and watch me climb those steps every time. You’ve been my biggest cheerleaders from my earliest memory and you still are. Love you two. And the food my mom is making. Who could not recover!?!?

Like my sweet beautiful sons, Matt and Drew taking days off from work to be with me and help me walk and read to me and just love their Mom through it. Matt, spending the night with me in the hospital and watching a Cary Grant movie with me. Drew, who ever so gently reminded me that we still have a few more exercises to do and how great I am doing. Thanks to Becca for encouraging me with words, food and visits.

Like my sweet husband, Andy, who loves me so well, & who is always, always working to keep me comfortable and motivated and ready to let me cry it out when I need to. You are there in the middle of the night through thick and thin.

Like Sharla, spending my first night post surgery with me and listening to all my silly, crazy talk and snacking at 3 am, and for the love you always give.

Like my small group, who have visited and brought food and cheer and ice and love.....and chocolate. you have truly lived the 2nd Mile with your visits, meals, ice, and love. 

Like the Journey to Hope staff, full of encouragement and love and sending it my way.

Like friends and neighbors, who have taken the time to come by with flowers, food, ice, texts, emails and shout out words of encouragement.

Like my friend, Julie giving Bella a play date the day after I got home. And our dog walker, Christine, going on extra walks and giving the Goldens so much love.

Like my beautiful Goldens, who never leave my side. Their love and care is so pure. They are very alarmed when physical therapy makes me yelp. They come running. And our cat, Emma who has taken up residence in my lap.

A flood of love has come my way, and I am grateful indeed. For every single act of kindness, thought and prayer. I thank you, Susie

What a blessing, Susie💙

 

P.S.  hours for this week.  I am holding phone and video sessions out of the office this week. I am very responsive to texts, emails and phone calls. Please reach out at 540-760-3577 if you need to speak to me and I will respond as soon as I can.  Normal counseling hours resume for me Monday, August 27th, 2018. Carlie will be in the office this week on Thursday, August 23rd.

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Hope Morning Noon and Night

One of the things I have been looking forward to the most in the days after surgery was reading Unshakable Hope by Max Lucado. It released August 7th, the day after surgery.  It is proving to be quite perfect reading for such a time as this in my life. As I pick it up each day, there are wonderful reminders that even when my circumstances are not optimal, or fun, and are downright painful, God’s hope remains.  I said yesterday that my weariness is no match for God’s strength and reliability. He is the most faithful to His promises, and my soul is lifted because I know Him. I trust Him. I can rest in the fact that these hard days after surgery shall pass. 

 

Today I spent some time thinking of Psalm 113:3 , “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” There is nowhere in between the beginning and ending of my day that God is not with me. His presence surrounds me in the darkness breaking to dawn, at midday, and as the sun says good night to another day. His presence with me and promise to never leave me breathes Hope into me. Enough for each day and so much more. I pray for you to experience the hope of His presence.  

 

And then a wonderful friend from Connecticut posted this picture as he started his work day in Connecticut. It was such a beautiful moment to capture and perfect for this blog. Thank you, Larry, for giving me permission to use your beautiful picture. 

 

Blessings prayed for you today, Susie

Sunrise over the water in Connecticut. Photo by Larry Grundy

Sunrise over the water in Connecticut. Photo by Larry Grundy

Unshakable Hope - Max Lucado

Good morning. I am beginning to share some of the promotional posts for Max Lucado and his new book Unshakable Hope this morning. I don’t know about you but I need some this morning as I navigate stairs and walking with my new knee. Looking so forward to this journey into the world of my favorite word this side of heaven…HOPE! 

Check out his new book here.