Day 17,445 Gratitude: Sometimes

Sometimes things don't go as planned.  Sometimes we get past troublesome situations that find a way to come back around and clobber us again.  Hopefully we are wiser and stronger from having faced this foe the first time.  Sometimes we aren't so sure. 

We spent half of 2012 on a quest for the best veterinary care for Phoebe as we sought answers to her skin condition that was finally diagnosed as demodex.  In February of this year, we celebrated the confirmation of her remission after months of an intensive treatment protocol.  Today we scratched our heads and gave many heavy sighs as she was diagnosed with a recurrence.  Razor blade scrapes were made on her thin, sensitive skin.  Blood was taken for clues.  Many kisses were given.  Now we wait until Tuesday to find out where her thyroid and liver stand so that we can chart the course from there.

Sometimes things don't go as planned.  Yes.  But I am so very grateful for the love and support around Phoebe and our family as we figure this out.

Day 17,439 Gratitude: Scribbly

I was strong out of the sketching gate, post-Taos, but the more that I've settled back into the day-to-dayness of my job and catching up, the more difficult it has become to show up in my journal and here.  I cut myself several days' worth of slack for work and wallowing, but I won't stand for ongoing excuses.  Although the backlog will (hopefully) soon rectify itself, my job and its demands aren't going anywhere anytime soon.  No one said it would be easy to craft for myself an arts-filled life, but by all indications it's well worth it to carve out that time and lovingly hold myself accountable.  I have just less than one whole year to draw upon (literally!) before the next trip to Taos.  And there are so many other things (i.e. wrapping, teaching, etc.) that I want to get back to doing and offering. 

So today, I may be scribbly but that counts for something.  Showing up is enough.  And for that I am so grateful.