Keepin' it Real!

It is no secret that I have been very inconsistant with my little old blog here lately.  I wanted to take a "keepin it real" moment and share some heartfelt thoughts with all of you lovelies who have remained here waiting for me.  I am truely blessed by each and every one of you in one way or another, kind words, spritual and creative inspiration and encouragement abound here in blogland.

When I began Tiaras and Bowties I had quite simply set out to 'toot my horn' so to speak, to share crafts and projects in a 'look what I can do'  and  "Wow, ain't I great" fashion.  That's what I thought a successful blog would be all about.  That's all well and good but something is missing.   Although I shared a tiny glimpse of my personal life way back there in the beginning about having a special needs daughter and the stress of a live in MIL, I tried to keep it "light" and "pretty".  That is not what life is like here... there's lots of crazy and crisis amid the paint and glitter.  I always have and still do worry about putting the personal in the blog.  I mean, everyone of us has issues to deal with - does blogland really want to hear what I go through, what I think, what I believe?

                                                                 I really do no have a clue!

I do know that I have not been enjoying myself lately.  The daily stresses have been taking over and I've been quick crafting to get something on here, something to look at, just something.  Don't get me wrong, I love blogging.   I want to blog about what is important to me, and, with any luck it will be something of some value or importance to you as well.  I am a painter and crafter which has been my focus here, but I am also so very much more.   I'm really trying to find balance in my life and have been struggling immensly with that.   Over the next few weeks and months as I work on myself, discovering exactly who I am and what I am about, Tiaras and Bowties may change a bit as well.  For the better I am hopeful. 

So, If I haven't stopped by your blog or you haven't recieved an email from me lately, please know that I have not forgotten you and that I will get back to visiting and building upon our relationships!

Goodnight Irene & {good riddance}

Irene.

You were an unwelcome guest.

You blew in with hell's fury; banging on our doors and windows.

You brought a few of your wicked tornado sisters with you to torture and torment.

For hours you continued to disturb many,

Cutting off power & pushing over 100 year old trees and utility poles like they were toothpicks.

You dumped your waters to flood many businesses and homes, including my own,

before deciding to move on.

Go goodbye and good riddance Irene

we are so glad you are gone.

You may have tested our patience and have broken our spirit for a while

but I want you to know;

although you destroyed many of our possessions and precious mementos

we will move on.

You could not take or destroy the faith or bond of this family

and that is my reason to smile!

***

We, like I am sure many others, were without power for almost 36 hours and lost 2 freezers full of food and almost everything being stored in our basement.  Jim & I have started the process of cleaning out by simply throwing much of our possessions up and out the basement windows.  Rubbermaid bins full of possessions were tossed and flipped around in the dank waters and destroyed.

These photos show about 1/3 of our basement contents.  About 75% of my craft stash was down there and is all lost, and yes, some of our family photos have also been destroyed.  The photos of my children when they were babies and tots is the hardest loss to swallow.  Even now I am a bit weepy, but also feeling ashamed.  So many more people have been touched by Irene.  Many have lost much much more, are still without utilities & some have lost their lives in Irene's destructive wake.

One thing I do know is that we are strong.  We will overcome this.

I will be forever grateful that we as a family were not harmed physically

and will continue to pray for others.

Possessions can be replaced, food can be bought.

The kindness of friends and family throughout all of this is humbling.

The caring of my blog family has also been extremely reassuring.

Thank You All

especially those who sent well wishes and concern via Face Book and emails with prayers and concern.  Your kindness is forever etched in my heart!