Thursday's Grace Notes

Thursday's Grace Notes

Seeing things in a different light, be very careful with what you for... God just may be listening again, all of my guardian angels , my new courier service... affordable, professional and insured, (I'm back!), many years ago Glenn and I had the privilege of being the Jax. Lupus Facilitators. My doctors would schedule new Lupus patients before and after my appts to gently hold their hands and support them while my doctor smiled and kept giving me the "thumbs up sign" behind their back, cute,. I don't know where that Nancy is but I think that I can find her AND being so absorbed in my work yesterday that I didn't know that my watch was upside down until 5:00 in the afternoon. I love my life!

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com



Thursday's Grace Notes

Thursday's Grace Notes

Enjoying food again,  waking up feeling strong and better so that so many people can stop worrying about me.. including myself, once I become stronger I can be stronger for others as well,,  the fact that all of my students and clients end up eventually being my friends,  opening my fridge and not hearing the song "Blinded by the light",happy crows and old dogs chasing squirrels,  fun is always there to be had, we just have to remember to plug into it  and  Praising God that it is February and you and I are hear to enjoy it.

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Tuesday's Grace Notes

Tuesday's Grace Notes

God is not standing there with his arms across His chest expecting my next mistake,  no His arms are open wide to take me back in,  sometimes taking the easy way out IS the right way out,  remembering how it felt to enter my children's rooms in bare feet then discovering the army of plastic Lego's all over the floor, knowing that someday I would cherish this,  I have never been this sick living by myself before... and have never felt this loved,  and , well, listening to my doctors and greatly increasing my steroids tomorrow.  It should be a much better day.  I have a love/hate relationship with my many meds.

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com



Sunday's Grace Notes

Sunday's Grace Notes

Sleeping 7 1/2 hours straight!  Good golly Miss Molly!  Church is not for perfect people and that is why I miss it so much...   I fit right in,  able to eat an almost full bowl of cereal,  lighting a candle just for me and taking the time to slowly smell the lingering scent before I blow it out, old dogs that carry 1/2 of the "Nature Preserve" back inside with them to share, burning my delicious dinner but there is always tomorrow, "Joel Osteen" ( Mr Smiley) and Nancy Asbell both  smiling too much...  Okay! If they shared the outlook "Choose not to be a victim but a victor" they'd be smiling too.  Come one!  It's good endorphins. I still have legs... and they hurt... and how can I not be praising God...  I still have legs... and they hurt... and, and, I get it.  Bring it on!  Praise God!  I found my marbles.  They were in my chest.  Now I just have a nice calming pur of a cat before he plans his next attack.  Yeah....  I crack myself up.  I have to do something between snacks.  Seriously though, at least I have a beautiful bed to take naps in.  Tomorrow I am going to get my voice back to sing.  Even Panda misses it.

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com



Wednesday's Grace Notes

Wednesday's Grace Notes

Finally getting the correct meds for my pneumonia (I am allergic to too many)  choosing to have fun anyway and placing lightweight easy to read catalogs in my bed to read first thing in the morning or at 3:00 in the morning when I can't sleep, making biscuits just for me... oh and a big glass of chocolate protein powder,  Megan once again taking care of me w/ meds and groceries. I hear that she actually DOES have life... meanwhile she gut me a couple of real tubs of ice cream, you know the kind that I haven't had in a very long time?  I barely remember what they taste like but I'm willing to try,  people willing to take time off of work just to take care of me.  As you can see I am hanging in there but I don't deserve their kindness,  doctors showing more compassion and kindness and giving myself the gift of only surrounded by those who love them.... however there is always that "10%"

Celebrate the day you dear people!

www.asbellarts.com

Angels Unaware Blogs

Angels Unaware Blogs

I, um have gotten so excited about all of the people that God has put into my life, well let's just say that I have WAY too many just to post on Sundays.  What do you think?  Make this a new separate blog and blog more often?  How much more often?  Do I need to pass out free coffee to keep peoples interest?

Tuesday's Grace Notes

Tuesday's Grace Notes

Chonda.org.  Great way to begin the day w/ a great laugh,  looking forward to recess, a snack then an afternoon nap...  I love Kindergarten! LOL I keep receiving new music and art students that are so talented that maybe I should pay them!,,   I may  not be the most talented person but I am very good at marketing myself... can I help you as well?  "open my eyes so that I may see"  Oh my gosh!  It's a beautiful day out there and I haven't even opened the front door yet!,  clothing myself w/ humility...  I may be a bit overdressed today,  my new self imposed BIG seven day weekly planner so that I can "get it all done".

Okay.  Once again I talked too much....

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Monday's Grace Notes

Monday's Grace Notes

Please indulge me.  I am so inappropriately happy you may just want to 'slap me'! My love for my neighbor Megan....  NO I don't 'swing both ways...  I'm not that exciting LOL  I am not her responsibility I am first and foremost her friend.  I can't find the words of thanks.  There is no pity here, just a lot of mutual respect....learning to be humbled every day and STILL tyring to talk less and listen more,  having tiny piddly legs and arms but a huge torso/ neck... from steroids and reconstructive surgeries and know that God still finds me beautiful... isn't that all that really matters?  I rolled over w/ ease today in bed and w/ new meds, got out of it and walked to my wheelchair preparing myself for the searing pain... that was not there.  Pain, yes..disabling pain?  No.  The freeing respect and trust that my doctors give to me for my own self care.

I love you and I love life.

Celebrate the day!

I am there!

www.asbellarts.com

Friday's Grace Notes

Friday's Grace Notes

Having dried paint on my hands while I work on the computer... oh happy day! Transporting one of my shows from downtown to St Johns, it is nice to be fully involved again,  the neighborhood ducks are no longer afraid of me when I roll on by with my chair, if I want more friends then I have to be one,  giving thanks when when thanks is due... and especially when it is not,  finding joy in the ability to pay my JEA (power/water) bill,  the book "Coming Back.  Rebuilding Lives After Crisis and Loss" by Ann Kaiser Stearns.  I wish that I had the brains and talents to have written it myself  and finding the strength to ask for outside help when that may be what is best for me.

And you my friend!

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Thursday's Grace Notes

Thursday's Grace Notes

The unbelievable kindness of people... yesterday "The Ladies" came just to clean my floors.  When they left I discovered that they cleaned everything!  They really took care of me.  Thanks to them I only took one nap yesterday, "I can't be jealous and happy at the same time",  my worst day with God is still better than any day without Him",  getting to know my neighbors, last Sunday I didn't make it to church... neither did a new acquaintance that I met while doing one of my "roll abouts".  Once connecting with tears we both said "THIS is church!, new art and music students, and not sleeping well because I couldn't wait to begin this glorious day.  Really.  So far I am off to a great start!

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Wednesday's Grace Notes

Wednesday's Grace Notes

Today is a great day.  I am in increased pain (large wounds on legs) and am having tremers.  So why is today so special?  I have to dig deaper from my soul to really give thanks.  So here we go!  I am thankful that I can tie my own tennis shoes with out asking for help,  my doctors are "allowing me" to live alone and take care of myself,.... and I am very good at that,  Playing and singing "Someone Like You" by Adele on the piano late into the night, reading about a man that due to an injury 25 yrs ago lives in a power chair, just like me and has trouble getting enough sleep each night because he is so excited to live another day... we are the lucky ones, my "No Excuses Bag" that I made.  Today I pulled out "How can I help?  I'm in a chair?" Answer, They may be moving but I can put together a basket w/ baked goods, instant expresso, disposable coffee cups and a cream cheese spread while the movers are there.  Spoken like a 29 yrs Army wife...  and one more thing???  In pain I watched Joyce Meyer but it left me only hungrier to be spiritually filled.  I guess I just have to read my Bible.  No the lesson is not lost on me.  I geft it.  NOW it will be a wonderful day!

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Friday's Grace Notes

Friday's Grace Notes

Taking off my rose colored glasses and really seeing who I am,  "Woman should not live alone" so God gave me Panda,  "10% of people will not like you" so I will get over my sweet self and and

 keep on dancing my way,  "The Great Commission... Love One Another"....  We can do that?  Can't we?,  A huge stack of  books on the business side of creative marketing, finally finding my hand mixer.... now where is that bundt cake pan... 

Celebrate the day!

I already am!

www.asbellarts.com

Thursday's Grace Notes

Thursday's Grace Notes

Truly enjoying the fresh blueberries on my cereal, learning through my own mistakes... sometimes it is the only way to go,  my once again successful art, music performance and teaching career... w/ a lot of work,  Joyce Meyer was so good today I watched it again to take notes,  my new "No Excuses" tote bag filled w excuses "It's too hard", I don't know how, people wont like me,   (interested?  I will post a blog note to explain),  taking three days for manic marketing and already getting amazing results!,  and you my friend taking the time to read my rambling Grace Notes.

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Wednesday's Grace Notes

Wednesday's Grace Notes

Making today an "oh wow!" moment, seeking out mentors to bless me and maybe i can help them as well,  "oh wow!" now I have a courier service to transport my paintings around Jax and friends to do the smaller deliveries I haven't missed ALL of my art show deadlines after all, "oh wowie zowie!' yesterday I used my rollator walker to walk down to get the mail and back for the first time in over two months.  Really hard, I'll do it again today, training my dog Panda to go for walks with me in my power chair,  give give give.. this could be the last "oh wow!" day of my life,  after being told that I only had friends because they felt sorry for me,  "oh wow" he was wrong,  Praying that one day I will STAND in front of my Lord and Saviour and hear Him say "Well done my good and faithful servant" and I will say through tears of joy "Oh wow!"

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Sunday's Grace Notes

Sunday's Grace Notes

All decked out in my painting clothes, fixing a horrible meal for myself and not having to hear "Chef Nancy, you have been chopped"LOL,  finding a pen that works when I need one,  getting my house in order, "Hot In Cleveland" fun show,  talking to myself, Jesus, the dog... and now to mosquitoes "You idiot! Don't you know that it's February?" then I squashed him... I need to get out more,  helping other artists to promote their work... there are plenty of pieces of pie to share, loving people and them loving you back - simple law of physics,  and having an overwhelming amount of fresh fruit in my frig..

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Thursday's Grace Notes

Thursday's Grace Notes

This is huge!  I am now able to sit up in my bed and use my computer for the first time!  Praise God!,  taking ALL of my prescribed meds from my doctors and am doing better.... I just saw too many Percacet addicted women while in the woman's shelter and I didn't want to join the club... it had ruined their lives, when one lives alone it is really easy to be nice to people LOL, when I am happy my Sheltie is happy... chases his tail, pushes the Staples "now that was easy" button then bestows his treasured chewy to me, since May when my husband has taken all of my money from me my family has sacrificed thousands of dollars and their savings for me and then some as a "love offering"... but I know that with Gods help I WILL be able to pay then back, realizing that a divorce IS a death and it has been a healing blessing to mourn it's loss... anybody w/ me out there?,  and hearing the garbage truck coming this morning and knowing that this week I was strong enough to put it on the street... probably from all of the prayers that have been made for me.  I now hear that some neighbor is putting them away for me.  It takes a village.

Celebrate the day!  I am!!

www.asbellarts.com

Wednesday's Grace Notes

Wednesday's Grace Notes

Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, Kerry Shook.... and Nancy Asbell....  I have to take some responsibility for my walk with God,  a 24 hr migraine and the euphoria that follows when it gets better... oh happy day!,  Facebook as another kind of church "whenever 3 or more of you are gathered in My name...",  My doctors and I belonging to the same "mutual appreciation society"... I love  them!, the movies "Julie And Julia" and "Little Miss Sunshine", looking forward to my next hug, my loving children and wearing clothes that say "come on paint! Come and get me!!!"

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Monday's Grace Notes

Monday's Grace Notes

Unclenching my hands and letting go,  an emptier full life,  the color green, the color blue, the color yellos....  Kaliediscopes!,,God doesn't speak to me in the thunder but in the whisper of the wind... I'm listening,  soup cans with pop off openers, piping hot fresh corn on the cobb with garlic and finely shredded parmesian cheese,  and my new Florida Horizon work in progress.

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com 

Sunday's Grace Notes

Sunday's Grace Notes

Perfume samples in magazines,  tapping into my quiet side,  my high school earrings still fitting,  realizing that I think better in the morning, create best in the afternoon, and lose myself in my music at night,  "wash, lather, repeat",  a dog and his chewy...  does life get any better than this?,  my love of candles...  and the friends and family who support my habit  and knowing that sometimes what seems to be the end is only the beginning.

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts

Saturday's Grace Notes

Saturday's Grace Notes

Truly loving others at all times, it can be done... and it feels really good,  a big pork roast w/ cranberry and BBQ sauce and salsa with fresh apples, cranberries and onion,  my sweet familiar bed,  never truly ever being alone,  not putting things off,  the freedom of living in the truth,  and the remote control and the power of turning it off.

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com