In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

 

This has been a tough year for me in many different ways. The hardest things were probably having to make difficult decisions when I wasn't in my best frame of mind, and dealing with a world turned upside down. 

 

Yes, it has been a tough and lonely year, but faith in God helped me to stay patient and calm. He has walked with me through some deep valleys and each time my faith only grows. I'm convinced that if life were a cakewalk we wouldn't know what faith really is. He is my rock. Thank you Lord.

Getting Back in the Saddle

As some of you know, I've been sidelined for quite a while with pain in my hands coupled with my continued battles with depression. The pain turned out to be a combination of Carpal Tunnel and Fibromyalgia. Fibro rarely manifests in the hands and feet but of course it happened to me last December. It felt as if someone had beaten my hands with a lead pipe. The pain has trailed off over the next few months and I am now managing it with Lyrica, the "wonder drug." In addition, I have some torn cartilage (to simplify the explanation) in my right wrist and no insurance at the moment, so I only torch when I really feel up to it. I wish I had happier news, but hey, I'm trucking along!

This past week I made some icicles and I really liked them. I think I'll try to make more before Christmas. I've also been working on silver core boro beads for European charm bracelets (3mm sterling snake chains). You might know these by other names like "Pandora," "Troll," and "Biagi." In the meantime, here are some pictures of some recent sets. I love the colors!

Have a super Thanksgiving week!