Will Not the End Explain

From "Springs in the Valley" for the 2nd of March.....

Will not the end explain
The crossed endeavor, earnest purpose foiled,
The strange bewilderment of good work spoiled, 
The clinging weariness, the inward strain? 
     Will not the end explain?

Meanwhile He comforteth
Them that are losing patience. "Tis His way:
But none can write the words they heard Him say,
For men to read; only they know He saith
      Sweet words and comforteth.

Not that He doth explain
The mystery that baffleth; but a sense
Husheth the quiet heart, that far, far hence
Lieth a field set thick with golden grain
Wetted in seedling days by  many a rain.
      The end--it will explain.

                        ---Gold Cord

Faith, the ability to believe yet not see. Hold fast to what you know to be true and never let go. Treat doubt as an adversary...the insidious adversary that it is. "Blessed are those that have not seen and yet believe." Be one of those......that remain steadfast to the end, without knowing all the answers or seeing all the results.

Certain "things" are in the cards for me. I know this. Finally. With age has come acceptance and release. And I am at peace. I have done what the Lord asked of me...and will continue to do that...and for Him it is enough. I will not strive to be that which I am not. What I am and what I do are His business.

A different direction.....

Recently, I have been having some issues with my shoulder. That, added to the constant pain in my hip has pushed me to make yet another decision to change my diet and lifestyle to try and combat these issues if I can. All that I've read points to the elimination of several things from my diet and adding more of what is anti-inflammatory.

I bought Ross Bridgeford's "The Alkaline Reset Cleanse" several months ago and started following the guidelines but true to form I quit. Hopefully, this time I will continue on, since I'm going to document my success.

Day 1

Woke up this morning in a semi-state of depression. I have been battling "the beast" for several days now. Contributing factors are family issues and health issues. Family issues that I have no control over and health issues that I do have control over. Dr. Christiane Northrup states in her blog post concerning arthritis that all pain has it's roots in emotions. With arthritis it is fear and anger. Fear...of what? Angry at what?  I guess I must consider this when trying to heal my body. I feel I have all the needed "ingredients" I just need to "take" them and appropriate them for myself.

So today, I am picking  "The Alkaline Reset Cleanse" back up and starting over from page one. I desperately want to feel better, have less pain and lose a bit of weight. I don't want to move into my golden years and be sick. I refuse to accept that this is inevitable.

Observations:

1. Coffee is going to be hard to give up.

2. Sugar...is going to be hard to give up.

3. Corn doesn't like me...yet I love corn chips. Give me corn chips and salsa and I would be happy for the rest of my life. Note to self: Don't buy corn chips.

4. This will require a commitment and I'm really not good at extended commitment. The only things I have ever stuck with are marriage and children. Probably not entirely true...I have continued with specific hobbies for many years. But making lasting efforts with diet, no. I tend to fall back into the comfortable routines we've had for years. (As I reheat my coffee with cream and sugar for the third time this morning.)

5. No NSAIDS. This is hard. Seriously. No pain relievers?

6. I need to drink more water. This is perplexing to me. Why it's so hard for me to drink more water?

7. How does one get rid of anger when it's been a pretty constant companion for most of your life. I really can't remember a time when I wasn't angry or on the verge of anger. How do you determine why you're angry and how to get rid of that anger?

8. Practice gratitude....there is a tremendous amount to be thankful for. (Another blog post for sure.)

Last year my word for the year was kindness. I didn't learn to show kindness to myself. Perhaps I should continue with KINDNESS as my word for 2020.

I have always seen myself as a mean person, Seriously. Maybe this has come from a wounded and hurt (unhealed) spirit that lashes out and rejects before she can be rejected. Can I trace this back to anything in my past? I'm sure I can..the universal feeling we all feel when growing up of not feeling accepted, but first and foremost I don't accept myself. I don't even like myself. I have to live in a body, a brain, a mind and spirit that I don't like. How ridiculous is that?  How does one begin to like oneself after so many years of not? How can one expect affection and love when they don't give that to themselves? Too many questions for this fine Thursday. I need to end this here.......more tomorrow.

Cindy

First series of pin cushions...."Ice Cream Floats"

I found these adorable containers at a local store, and couldn't resist buying them. They make the perfect small pin cushion. They each have a name....and they are as follows"

Strawberries and Cream

Blue Raspberry

Lime Sherbet 

Lemon Chiffon 

Head on over to my Etsy store: TheEyeletElephant and order yourself one of these cute pin cushions. 

Cindy

Pumpkin Pin Cushions

These cute felted pumpkins are in small wooden bowls and are offered  at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheEyeletElephant?ref=seller-platform-mcnav


My new Etsy shop is up and running and I would love for you to go take a peek at what I currently have there. New things are being added daily.

The Eyelet Elephant
Cindy Campbell

Grandma's Apron

Remember Grandma's apron? The one that covered everywhere you needed it to cover and didn't require ties, neck bands, or buttons. This is that apron. I have been wearing this style exclusively for the last couple years and love the comfort of it. Currently on Etsy these four are the first ones I have and only have one of each. Red, Yellow, Green and Blue. Check Etsy for prices and ordering. 

RED

YELLOW

BLUE

GREEN

BACK VIEW 

POCKET CLOSE UP

NECK LINE CLOSE UP

Seam Rippers - beautifully made and wonderful to use

All of the seam rippers that I currently have on my Etsy store are shown below. I will be getting more in different colors. If you would like to have one but another color would suit you better, please leave me a message and I will be happy to help you get whatever color you prefer.

"The Double"  has a hand made acrylic lathed handle. At one end is a seam ripper and at the other end is an awl. Dual purpose makes it a very handy for crafters and sewers.

Here are the two colors of the The Double, pink and teal,  that I am currently stocking on my Etsy site. www.etsy/com/shop/theeyeletelephant. I only have one of each.

Here is the "The Single". Same type of acrylic lathed handle as The Double but a little slimmer. I currently have blue and purple available.

The last is "The Necklace". One on end is the seam ripper and it's attached to the chain with a magnet at the other end. Very useful for those of us that prone to losing our seam rippers in the couch cushion or misplacing it on our sewing table. The three colors I have right now are yellow, white with colored swirls and blue. 

I plan to add more pin cushions and my first installment of "Grandma's Apron" in time for all your holiday baking....Christmas that is. So check back often. 

Cindy

Very Colorful and Cute Crocheted Pot Holders

I do like to make my art as practical as possible. In that vein, here are my crocheted pot holders that are available on my Etsy site. They are practical, very useful, colorful and make me happy to make them, look at them and use them. With Thanksgiving coming up you might need extra pot holders and they make excellent stocking stuffers for Christmas. Special orders can be made if your demand exceeds my supply. Head on over to my Etsy site.... The Eyelet Elephant and check them out. While you are there browse through my other offerings. I'm sure there is something you can use.

Cute, adorable, practical and fun. Business/credit/gift card fabric cases.

These cute fabric cases have multiple uses. They originally started out as gift card cases and I soon realized that they were the perfect size if you wanted to carry just a few credit cards, a few business cards or even money. (pssst...for those of you who still need them, they accommodate several tampons very discreetly) I offer quite a few more colors on my Etsy site so skip on over there and pick up a few for your holiday gifts that are going to be gift cards...or for yourself!! It's a cute way to wrap a gift.

The Eyelet Elephant

You need a place for your pins and needles?

I have the perfect solution to your needle and pins organization problems. This handy little needle case that folds neatly from a flower to a heart. Cute as can be!!! There are many more in my Etsy store. Go to Etsy and place theeyeletelephant in the search engine. I have much more to share so please come back!!!

The Eyelet Elephant

Small Pumpkin Pin Cushions in Wooden Bowls

My Etsy store, The Eyelet Elephant, is currently up and ready. I am adding things daily and would be very appreciative if you would go and like the page and take a peek at what I have to offer. There will be more small items available just in time for Christmas gift and stocking stuffers.

These pumpkin pin cushions are felted and sitting in small wooden bowls. Perfect for your fall sewing needs.

The Eyelet Elephant
Cindy Campbell

My first offering. An adorable needle case made from 100% cotton, with a felt piece inside and a snap closure.  They will be for sale on my Etsy site. Theeyeletelephant. There will be several available in different colors and patterns.

Cindy