My Hope

I want to blog - I want to keep in touch. But my brain is empty. What should I say?

The quote above says it all....

Laura Hildebrand wrote Seabiscuit during the deepest fatigue just like I now experience. She says some days it was all she could do to write one single paragraph in a day.

I know that feeling.

This is the quote I have on my desktop right now, that I read to myself several times a day - reminding me of the truth - my reason for pressing on!

"God delights,
not in the strength of the horse,
nor is his pleasure in the legs of a man.
But the Lord delights in those who fear Him,
and in those who hope in His steadfast love."

Psalm 147:10-11

In the midst of nuclear bomb sized fatigue, pain and sadness... I DO hope... I cling to the steadfast love of God! And I know in return, no matter what I do or don't get done today, He delights in me!

What a beautifully comforting reminder that is!

Catching Up

(c) M Pruitt 2008

It's been so long since I've really blogged. A couple of things have kept me from it! I'm usually too tired to think up a good quality blog (you'll probably notice this one is kind of a ramble). When I'm not, I have had many art projects keeping me busy. When I'm in between, I'm spending my time on Etsy - chatting with new friends and playing games called "Tag" and "Secret Shopper" where I am basically trading items. I'm getting a lot of Christmas shopping done! :-)

I also don't have any news to report on the health front, except that this is the longest time that my deep fatigue has not given me a 4-6 week reprieve. I've had ONE day since last December were I really felt normal without filling myself with medications. That is discouraging to me.

The ME/CFS specialist I saw a few months back, let me know that the continued decline I have experienced is not a good sign. I think he meant that I will not recover spontaneously, but what it means will happen, I'm not sure.

I have really been enjoying my painting and jewelry making lately. Though, I don't sell much of the Jewelry, it still keeps me busy. I did however, get a special order for two medical bracelets last week and she bought a third! AND - I've received two painting commissions with a third in
process.

The first commission was from Etsy and the customer wanted me to paint her house with her two little boys sitting on the front doorstep! I finished it this week and emailed her a scan to give her OK and she was thrilled. So thrilled that she's contacted me about a second commission - even before her painting has arrived in her hands!

The second commission is from a customer in Australia! She bought one of my paintings during my YART sale and really loves it. She wants two more complimentary paintings! This is the project I'm working on now!

And so far, all of my customers have been so understanding of my limitations with illness and my need for flexibility! I know this is a blessing from God to keep me going - giving me something to keep working for.

I've been yearning to escape - Tuscany has been my focus lately. But escape is not an option God has given me at this point... so I keep pressing on... toward love and godliness (as it says in Philippians) and to face each day and keep working on the beautiful and fun projects that have been dropped in my lap.

Well... enough ramblings for now... I'll try to at least come and ramble some more in the next week. Thanks for visiting and reading and keeping up with where I am in life!

Oh... and my apologies to all of you who subscribe to my blog. I accidentally posted a blog meant for my my art blog- onto this blog. I've deleted it, but some of you may have received it through email. Sorry about that.

(looking up at the top to make sure I'm blogging in "Melanie's Journey" now! LOL)

~Melanie