I'm sorry the crocodile got you! I'd heard on the news that if that happens you are supposed to stick you fingers up their nostrils! Imagine that! I think we should keep gloves in our pockets for such occasions! I can think of a few I'd like to try it on!
You have my sympathy for your year. Mine was 2006. Those hard years suck so bad, but they make us appreciate the normal level of uncomfortable that we go through. I can also sympathize with the impromptu water feature. It got so cold here one winter that our pipes froze under the ground as well as all through the house. It was April before they defrosted so we had almost two full months with no running water. And then it ran. Everywhere. We ended up having to replace every pipe in the house. And when we turned the water back on, there was still a waterfall coming down between the walls in the kitchen. That was when we found the unused water pipes that ran up the wall to the upstairs and connected to...nothing. At all. They just kind of stopped in the middle of the second story. We never did figure out what they had been for. But all is well now. And I have a fun (now) story to tell. I'm looking forward to reading the new book. I'm currently reading All About Evie and am really enjoying it.
Those tough years really suck. There seem to have been so many of them recently, for so many people. 2023 and early ‘24 were a challenge here, too. No wisdom here - just a note of support so you know you are seen and appreciated.
Yes, we all have tough years. Sometimes the tough years go on for years. I always try to remind myself to look for the light. Often that's all we can do - search for that light, accept when we can't see it, and hope we can see it tomorrow.
Welcome back, Cathy! 2023 must have been the American Year of the Alligator or something—same here. No one told a lie in my case, but cousins I’d been close with for more than 40 years wouldn’t accept the truth at the basis of the healthy boundary I set with their daughter and they shunned me all summer long—literally turning the other way while crossing in front of of my lakeside cottage from island to shore! That was a first. It was a complicated issue but with a clear right and wrong. So hard, especially with family, when friendships come to an end—and even more so when this bruises your sense of your spiritual home. Big hugs!
Oh, Kathryn, that sounds so hard. It IS harder with family and when they hurt you. There's the relationship, the memories and years before. Very painful. I'm sorry this happened to you. Boundaries have to be set sometimes and people will often not respond well. I heard someone very smart say that we WANT all of our friendships to last a lifetime, but that very rarely happens. Luckily, the person who lied about me was not family or a friend. But, still. Terrible impact on my life. So great to hear from you. Wishing you a more peaceful and easy time.
So sorry you had a tough year. I never realized you were a teacher. Congratulations on your full retirement. I want another 9 years until then. Fingers crossed I make it. I’m looking forward to reading your newest. I know you said Amazon only, so none we can get signed from you? What about a signed book plate? Just a thought.
Hi Cathy! I’m glad 2024 is better and that you are writing again. You helped me through my horrible bout with Covid by sending me free books in 2020. Your stories gave me much needed breaks from my reality. Since then my health is mostly recovered and I’m back teaching nursing students. As a former hospice nurse who can’t do patient care anymore, I find educating aspiring nurses just as rewarding! I can so relate to your love for teaching and for your students. This last June I lost my favorite person (next to my husband. ) A first cousin who I grew up with, she was only 67 when she died. We talked and laughed every single day by phone ( sometimes multiple calls in a day) and saw each other frequently- we lived two hours apart. We cried together and I was with her during her mysterious illnesses and death. So I will keep you and your hubby in my thoughts and prayers. Grief sucks worse than anything and I throw rocks in the water and go outside and break thrift store plates to help. I also scream at the beach when by myself. I highly recommend throwing things as long as no one is around and you don’t actually hurt anyone or yourself!
I just finished your newest book and I rationed myself to make it last as long as possible. I laughed and cried and wanted to go play with all of the kids and climb the trees and etc etc etc. You are my favorite author and one of my favorite persons. Thank you for coming back to us in your writing.
I'm SO glad you're feeling better. I remember your posts back then in the Covid terror, and I was scared FOR you. So sorry about your cousin. Truly am. I'm going to finish this Christmas book I'm working on, then jump to part 2 of Ten Kids. :) Wishing you all the best.
What a meaningful reflection. I have been through the crocodile like experience several times and it is exhausting, sad and has been a platform for resilience building but painful! Here's to continued healing and growth from exposure to people you so aptly described.
Yes, crocodile-people are very painful and exhausting to deal with. And then you get to deal with the anger and work to reduce it and make it disappear. Anger is so destructive, so I had to concentrate on just letting things go...go...go. I do believe in Karma, though, and my "mean" side says that what comes around goes around. Hope you're doing well! :)
I am doing well. Adjusting to the tumult of big life transitions day by day. I believe in forgiveness and grace because of knowing God's liberating love and forgiveness. The Psalms in the Bible help me with mean people as they are raw with emotion like in Psalm 3 and 27 when in the middle of engagement with difficult people. Jesus was treated really badly but was able to forgive and be liberated from anger and so I try to follow that path. Letting go is a big theme for me but hard to do at times. Healthy boundaries and discernment help.
I adore you and all your books. I love reading your work and your updates. Life is hard sometimes and I am happy to hear you are healing. We are all healing and it’s easier to heal together. I cannot wait to read this new book. Be well, and if you decide to write more then my heart will sing about it!
2024 is better. The first part, not so great. Still trying to put myself together. But now, I do feel better. I've run a lot, walked a lot, wrote and read a lot. Spent time in nature so I can think. I also learned the art of deep breaths and how that can calm you down. It's been very helpful to me. THANK YOU for your note.
Those tough times make us stronger even tho so hard to endure. Much fodder for your books (which I love!). You always inspire me and I never miss one of your Oregon signings where you are so upbeat and funny. Sending good vibes to you
You're right. Tough times make us stronger, even though they're so difficult to go through. I also say that tough times makes us more compassionate and empathetic to other people. We understand better how other people feel and how we can help them, talk to them, or just sit down and LISTEN and just be there for them. Yes, life is full of fodder. Last year gave me good ideas, even though the ideas sometime came through tears. Sending good vibes back to you.
Thank you for writing for us again! You were missed! :)
I'm sorry the crocodile got you! I'd heard on the news that if that happens you are supposed to stick you fingers up their nostrils! Imagine that! I think we should keep gloves in our pockets for such occasions! I can think of a few I'd like to try it on!
Oh, that is hilarious!
You have my sympathy for your year. Mine was 2006. Those hard years suck so bad, but they make us appreciate the normal level of uncomfortable that we go through. I can also sympathize with the impromptu water feature. It got so cold here one winter that our pipes froze under the ground as well as all through the house. It was April before they defrosted so we had almost two full months with no running water. And then it ran. Everywhere. We ended up having to replace every pipe in the house. And when we turned the water back on, there was still a waterfall coming down between the walls in the kitchen. That was when we found the unused water pipes that ran up the wall to the upstairs and connected to...nothing. At all. They just kind of stopped in the middle of the second story. We never did figure out what they had been for. But all is well now. And I have a fun (now) story to tell. I'm looking forward to reading the new book. I'm currently reading All About Evie and am really enjoying it.
Sheesh, Deidrah, what a disaster. I am so sorry about the pipes/water. Glad everything is better now. I hope you liked ALL ABOUT EVIE.
Those tough years really suck. There seem to have been so many of them recently, for so many people. 2023 and early ‘24 were a challenge here, too. No wisdom here - just a note of support so you know you are seen and appreciated.
Yes, we all have tough years. Sometimes the tough years go on for years. I always try to remind myself to look for the light. Often that's all we can do - search for that light, accept when we can't see it, and hope we can see it tomorrow.
Welcome back, Cathy! 2023 must have been the American Year of the Alligator or something—same here. No one told a lie in my case, but cousins I’d been close with for more than 40 years wouldn’t accept the truth at the basis of the healthy boundary I set with their daughter and they shunned me all summer long—literally turning the other way while crossing in front of of my lakeside cottage from island to shore! That was a first. It was a complicated issue but with a clear right and wrong. So hard, especially with family, when friendships come to an end—and even more so when this bruises your sense of your spiritual home. Big hugs!
Oh, Kathryn, that sounds so hard. It IS harder with family and when they hurt you. There's the relationship, the memories and years before. Very painful. I'm sorry this happened to you. Boundaries have to be set sometimes and people will often not respond well. I heard someone very smart say that we WANT all of our friendships to last a lifetime, but that very rarely happens. Luckily, the person who lied about me was not family or a friend. But, still. Terrible impact on my life. So great to hear from you. Wishing you a more peaceful and easy time.
And you as well!
So sorry you had a tough year. I never realized you were a teacher. Congratulations on your full retirement. I want another 9 years until then. Fingers crossed I make it. I’m looking forward to reading your newest. I know you said Amazon only, so none we can get signed from you? What about a signed book plate? Just a thought.
Message me. CathyLamb91@gmail.com
I’ve had years like yours where things seem to never get better. They do. Sometimes it’s just a day or a moment.
Exactly.
Hi Cathy! I’m glad 2024 is better and that you are writing again. You helped me through my horrible bout with Covid by sending me free books in 2020. Your stories gave me much needed breaks from my reality. Since then my health is mostly recovered and I’m back teaching nursing students. As a former hospice nurse who can’t do patient care anymore, I find educating aspiring nurses just as rewarding! I can so relate to your love for teaching and for your students. This last June I lost my favorite person (next to my husband. ) A first cousin who I grew up with, she was only 67 when she died. We talked and laughed every single day by phone ( sometimes multiple calls in a day) and saw each other frequently- we lived two hours apart. We cried together and I was with her during her mysterious illnesses and death. So I will keep you and your hubby in my thoughts and prayers. Grief sucks worse than anything and I throw rocks in the water and go outside and break thrift store plates to help. I also scream at the beach when by myself. I highly recommend throwing things as long as no one is around and you don’t actually hurt anyone or yourself!
I just finished your newest book and I rationed myself to make it last as long as possible. I laughed and cried and wanted to go play with all of the kids and climb the trees and etc etc etc. You are my favorite author and one of my favorite persons. Thank you for coming back to us in your writing.
I'm SO glad you're feeling better. I remember your posts back then in the Covid terror, and I was scared FOR you. So sorry about your cousin. Truly am. I'm going to finish this Christmas book I'm working on, then jump to part 2 of Ten Kids. :) Wishing you all the best.
Thank you Cathy!!!! I do so appreciate you!!!! I always read one of your books when I need some lifting up! Take really good care of yourself!
What a meaningful reflection. I have been through the crocodile like experience several times and it is exhausting, sad and has been a platform for resilience building but painful! Here's to continued healing and growth from exposure to people you so aptly described.
Yes, crocodile-people are very painful and exhausting to deal with. And then you get to deal with the anger and work to reduce it and make it disappear. Anger is so destructive, so I had to concentrate on just letting things go...go...go. I do believe in Karma, though, and my "mean" side says that what comes around goes around. Hope you're doing well! :)
I am doing well. Adjusting to the tumult of big life transitions day by day. I believe in forgiveness and grace because of knowing God's liberating love and forgiveness. The Psalms in the Bible help me with mean people as they are raw with emotion like in Psalm 3 and 27 when in the middle of engagement with difficult people. Jesus was treated really badly but was able to forgive and be liberated from anger and so I try to follow that path. Letting go is a big theme for me but hard to do at times. Healthy boundaries and discernment help.
I adore you and all your books. I love reading your work and your updates. Life is hard sometimes and I am happy to hear you are healing. We are all healing and it’s easier to heal together. I cannot wait to read this new book. Be well, and if you decide to write more then my heart will sing about it!
That's the word for it, Diana. Healing. You got it.
Life can be a kick in the face sometimes.
Thanks for your sharing, your honesty and vulnerability.
Glad 2024 is flowing more easily for you.
2024 is better. The first part, not so great. Still trying to put myself together. But now, I do feel better. I've run a lot, walked a lot, wrote and read a lot. Spent time in nature so I can think. I also learned the art of deep breaths and how that can calm you down. It's been very helpful to me. THANK YOU for your note.
Those tough times make us stronger even tho so hard to endure. Much fodder for your books (which I love!). You always inspire me and I never miss one of your Oregon signings where you are so upbeat and funny. Sending good vibes to you
You're right. Tough times make us stronger, even though they're so difficult to go through. I also say that tough times makes us more compassionate and empathetic to other people. We understand better how other people feel and how we can help them, talk to them, or just sit down and LISTEN and just be there for them. Yes, life is full of fodder. Last year gave me good ideas, even though the ideas sometime came through tears. Sending good vibes back to you.