Monday, January 31, 2011
V-Day Origami
Apologies, everyone! I've been so distracted by my Valentine's origami. :3 I'm making hearts and letters for all my friends, and it's taking me awhile. But I've also made a lot of cranes, so I should update soon. <3
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Lymies: Cranes #6-12
Somebody on Facebook actually prompted me to update again! I haven't in awhile, and they told me they liked my blog. I didn't even know they were on it, so I felt all fuzzy and inspired.
This is a lot of cranes at once. I asked (quite) awhile ago on an online Lyme disease support group if anybody wanted cranes and prayers made for them, and I was excited when I got seven responses. Somebody actually told me to make a crane for myself, and they would pray for me, which was one of the sweetest things I've ever heard. Maybe I will if I don't discover more people to make cranes for, soon. But for right now, I've stuck with people other than myself. Again, I don't know the religious affiliations of anyone. I think I should ask people next time so I can find the most appropriate prayer!
The first person to ask me for a crane was somebody who, at the time, just found out she was pregnant. Then somebody later chimed in and said that I could use their crane for this person as well. I ended up making two cranes, one for the baby, and one for his or her mother. All my cranes for this post are green, except for the baby's, because nobody wants the baby to have Lyme, too! Mothers with Lyme can pass the disease onto their children. Thus that crane is devoid of green, for good reason. Hopefully, treatment will have made her feel much better, and protected her baby. :)
The second person to ask said that they could use all the help they could get. I did not know anything else about them, but I understood that sentiment. So I made them a crane with this prayer, which I hoped was appropriate!
Then somebody asked for a crane because though they were feeling a bit better, they were still suffering the effects of prolonged and misunderstood illness. That can be really tough, so I hope they are feeling better now. Here is their prayer. It's short, taken from a longer piece, but I thought it was perfect.
Somebody then told me they were very ill, and they weren't sure if they were going to make it. I was saddened by that. I hope that now they are doing better--since it's been awhile. :(
Finally, somebody asked for cranes for her and her husband, who both have Lyme disease. They are struggling financially and her husband had two job interviews this month. She asked if I would pray he would get the job, and I did. I hope he got one of the jobs he interviewed for! I made two cranes, one for both of them.
I have talked about Lyme disease, and what people can do, multiple times in this blog. Instead, I'd like to talk about what people can do for everyone living with chronic, misunderstood illness. Speaking from my personal feelings, the first and most important is to believe in the illness. I put up with disbelief and condemnation from people who do not understand or assume I am "faking it" far too frequently. Ignoring them and laughing off hurtful comments can get tiring. Therefore, supportive friends and family are a safe haven for me. Just believing that I am really sick is a blessing. Not knowing what to say, or not knowing the right things to say, are irrelevant to me compared to that. If you want to learn more about what it's like to be chronically ill, I'd start with The Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino. It's a wonderful piece!
In other news, this is my favorite website for finding prayers. It has prayers from all religious traditions, and for nearly every need! I like to spin the prayer wheel and see what comes up some days. :)
Now I absolutely have to go. I may be an insomniac, but my brain is dying, and I must rest it now. Hopefully there aren't too many errors on this page. ^^; I shall check it again tomorrow when I can think!
This is a lot of cranes at once. I asked (quite) awhile ago on an online Lyme disease support group if anybody wanted cranes and prayers made for them, and I was excited when I got seven responses. Somebody actually told me to make a crane for myself, and they would pray for me, which was one of the sweetest things I've ever heard. Maybe I will if I don't discover more people to make cranes for, soon. But for right now, I've stuck with people other than myself. Again, I don't know the religious affiliations of anyone. I think I should ask people next time so I can find the most appropriate prayer!
The first person to ask me for a crane was somebody who, at the time, just found out she was pregnant. Then somebody later chimed in and said that I could use their crane for this person as well. I ended up making two cranes, one for the baby, and one for his or her mother. All my cranes for this post are green, except for the baby's, because nobody wants the baby to have Lyme, too! Mothers with Lyme can pass the disease onto their children. Thus that crane is devoid of green, for good reason. Hopefully, treatment will have made her feel much better, and protected her baby. :)
Please grant this child of ours
a full term of nurture,
the joy and mystery of life,
and the blessing of your love.
Grant us the fulfillment of our dreams,
a baby to cherish and protect,
a child to teach and guide,
a blessing to our family.
Amen.
a full term of nurture,
the joy and mystery of life,
and the blessing of your love.
Grant us the fulfillment of our dreams,
a baby to cherish and protect,
a child to teach and guide,
a blessing to our family.
Amen.
The second person to ask said that they could use all the help they could get. I did not know anything else about them, but I understood that sentiment. So I made them a crane with this prayer, which I hoped was appropriate!
Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers
but to be fearless in facing them.
Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain
but for the heart to conquer it.
but to be fearless in facing them.
Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain
but for the heart to conquer it.
Then somebody asked for a crane because though they were feeling a bit better, they were still suffering the effects of prolonged and misunderstood illness. That can be really tough, so I hope they are feeling better now. Here is their prayer. It's short, taken from a longer piece, but I thought it was perfect.
Through life's trials and hardships
We can arise beautiful and free.
We can arise beautiful and free.
Somebody then told me they were very ill, and they weren't sure if they were going to make it. I was saddened by that. I hope that now they are doing better--since it's been awhile. :(
Stay on the path if you're suffering
by taking the steps you need to take.
Hang on and hang in there, because it's now
that you're growing at light speed,
You're never going backward only forward.
by taking the steps you need to take.
Hang on and hang in there, because it's now
that you're growing at light speed,
You're never going backward only forward.
Finally, somebody asked for cranes for her and her husband, who both have Lyme disease. They are struggling financially and her husband had two job interviews this month. She asked if I would pray he would get the job, and I did. I hope he got one of the jobs he interviewed for! I made two cranes, one for both of them.
It gets better.
Take my mind off what I know
is too big for me
this thing I always dance around
and never mention.
That's why there is faith.
It's the bridge between
the impossible and the infinite.
Please get me and mine safely across.
Take my mind off what I know
is too big for me
this thing I always dance around
and never mention.
That's why there is faith.
It's the bridge between
the impossible and the infinite.
Please get me and mine safely across.
I have talked about Lyme disease, and what people can do, multiple times in this blog. Instead, I'd like to talk about what people can do for everyone living with chronic, misunderstood illness. Speaking from my personal feelings, the first and most important is to believe in the illness. I put up with disbelief and condemnation from people who do not understand or assume I am "faking it" far too frequently. Ignoring them and laughing off hurtful comments can get tiring. Therefore, supportive friends and family are a safe haven for me. Just believing that I am really sick is a blessing. Not knowing what to say, or not knowing the right things to say, are irrelevant to me compared to that. If you want to learn more about what it's like to be chronically ill, I'd start with The Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino. It's a wonderful piece!
In other news, this is my favorite website for finding prayers. It has prayers from all religious traditions, and for nearly every need! I like to spin the prayer wheel and see what comes up some days. :)
Now I absolutely have to go. I may be an insomniac, but my brain is dying, and I must rest it now. Hopefully there aren't too many errors on this page. ^^; I shall check it again tomorrow when I can think!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Jordan: Crane #5
I was very touched to hear about an LLMD's (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor) daughter Jordan's battle with leukemia. I'm pretty sure posting his name would be alright, because he appears in Under Our Skin, but I didn't just in case. This is my first entry about somebody I've never met, so I am a bit nervous about it. I don't have any personal anecdotes to tell you! I just know she seems like a sweet, strong little girl and her family seems wonderful as well.
This is the crane I made for Jordan. The crane is yellowish-orange because orange is the ribbon color for leukemia, and the basket is green because green is the color for Lyme disease. I would not have known to make a crane for her at all without her father's work in Lyme Disease.
I was also not sure what prayer to pick for Jordan, because I was not sure if her family is religious, or what type of religion they are! Tracing back through my Unitarian upbringing, I found this prayer, which spoke to me and will hopefully speak to Jordan and her family as well.
There is love
Holding me.
There is love
Holding you.
There is love
Holding all.
I rest
In this love.
-Rebecca Parker, Unitarian Universalist
Holding me.
There is love
Holding you.
There is love
Holding all.
I rest
In this love.
-Rebecca Parker, Unitarian Universalist
In short, spare a little room in your thoughts or prayers for Jordan and her family right now.
I actually DO feel a lot better right now. So maybe more posts soon? Of course that's normal with me though, oh, I feel better now! Oh, nevermind, I can't get up. Haha!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Starz: Crane #4
I had a false start on that "I feel so much better!" but I seem to be coming round again. Sorry for the long absence! I am okay, at least long enough to make this entry. Which I am determined to do! *poses* I always want these posts to be good, or at least better than my personal blog posts.
Every time I talk to Starz (which isn't her real name, by the way) I'm always impressed that she's as hearty as she is. The woman blogs about how one of her kidneys has died, her cancer is getting bigger, or she needs surgery on an aortic aneurysm, but somehow she still manages to volunteer at a women's shelter, write stories, and offer a kind word to pretty much everyone. Starz needs your prayers, because she is a wonderful person who has been through a lot of health issues in the last few years.
Here is the crane and basket I made for Starz:
I picked this prayer for her because she already has a good grasp on it! I almost feel like this prayer is a message from her to others rather than a message to her. Regardless, here is the prayer I decided on for her:
Starz is a wonderful storyteller, and I'm always impressed with the depth of her tales, most of which are from experiences in her life. She also writes good short fiction pieces! At first, I wasn't sure whether to believe them; they were so incredible. But after I got to know her I knew they were true. If you heard her stories, you would respect her as much as I do. But I think her stories are so personal they are only for her to tell.
Starz will be going through surgery soon, so if everyone could keep her in their prayers, that would be wonderful. She has also lost some people in the recent months, so if you could pray for them and their families, too, that would be a big help.
In addition, if you have the means, please donate to cancer cure research. Imagine how many lives will be changed or saved when they find the cure I know that everyone knows about cancer--it's everywhere. I have relatives who have died of cancer. I doubt there are many people who don't know somebody who is a survivor, or who has passed away due to the illness. Even if you can't donate, you can still protect yourself by learning how to reduce your cancer risk.
Starz, I hope you have a wonderful new year, much better than the year before. Barring that, I wish you happiness in adversity. :)
Finally I haven't sent any cranes yet. I'm homebound or bedbound most days, and don't drive due to seizures and neuro problems. So anywhere I want to go I need a ride and a good health day. Soon I hope I'll be able to go buy some little boxes, and the shipping can start! :)
Every time I talk to Starz (which isn't her real name, by the way) I'm always impressed that she's as hearty as she is. The woman blogs about how one of her kidneys has died, her cancer is getting bigger, or she needs surgery on an aortic aneurysm, but somehow she still manages to volunteer at a women's shelter, write stories, and offer a kind word to pretty much everyone. Starz needs your prayers, because she is a wonderful person who has been through a lot of health issues in the last few years.
Here is the crane and basket I made for Starz:
I picked this prayer for her because she already has a good grasp on it! I almost feel like this prayer is a message from her to others rather than a message to her. Regardless, here is the prayer I decided on for her:
Life is short and we have not too much time
for gladdening the hearts of those
who are traveling the dark way with us.
Oh, be swift to love! Make haste to be kind.
for gladdening the hearts of those
who are traveling the dark way with us.
Oh, be swift to love! Make haste to be kind.
Starz is a wonderful storyteller, and I'm always impressed with the depth of her tales, most of which are from experiences in her life. She also writes good short fiction pieces! At first, I wasn't sure whether to believe them; they were so incredible. But after I got to know her I knew they were true. If you heard her stories, you would respect her as much as I do. But I think her stories are so personal they are only for her to tell.
Starz will be going through surgery soon, so if everyone could keep her in their prayers, that would be wonderful. She has also lost some people in the recent months, so if you could pray for them and their families, too, that would be a big help.
In addition, if you have the means, please donate to cancer cure research. Imagine how many lives will be changed or saved when they find the cure I know that everyone knows about cancer--it's everywhere. I have relatives who have died of cancer. I doubt there are many people who don't know somebody who is a survivor, or who has passed away due to the illness. Even if you can't donate, you can still protect yourself by learning how to reduce your cancer risk.
Starz, I hope you have a wonderful new year, much better than the year before. Barring that, I wish you happiness in adversity. :)
Finally I haven't sent any cranes yet. I'm homebound or bedbound most days, and don't drive due to seizures and neuro problems. So anywhere I want to go I need a ride and a good health day. Soon I hope I'll be able to go buy some little boxes, and the shipping can start! :)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
*waves* Happy New Year!
I'm still here! I am just reawakening from a flare and too much medication. My LLNP lowered my meds and my flare is over, so I'm much better than I was. Expect a lot of crane posts in the next few days! :)
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