New York New York

New York New York

Hi there.

Hope you’re ok today? I looked back to the 23rd May 2019 this morning, just to get some perspective on today, and it threw a whole heap of emotions at me. A year ago today, we were on our way out the door to visit Gracie in New York. It was the trip when we were making a plan for her to join the Clarity Team. We had been to see Jools Holland the evening before (Paul’s Christmas treat to us) and then we were off to the airport.

A year on, Grace has been on lockdown for months in her apartment while New York turns into the epicentre of the global pandemic, and Brooklyn hospitals (where she lives) become the stuff nightmares are made of.

What can I say, except THANK GOD SHE WORKS FOR CLARITY FROM HOME. THANK GOD she wasn’t still running round Manhattan working, like she has for the past 8 years when it hit that city. Like this time last year.

The power of hindsight is a great thing. But when I look back, I can’t help but think that there are hands unseen delving into our lives. And I don’t mean there’s a conspiracy ! There is a much bigger plan here. So I keep the faith that it will all work out exactly as it is supposed to.

I made a little coaster while I was thinking about Grace. Get with the hands, remember? It’s my way of absorbing any sadness around my kids – both of them – being soooo far from home. If I dwell on it too long, I cry. So I don’t. I focus on the good parts. They’re safe. They’re healthy. They both have loving and lovely partners, they both have good jobs, they both have nice, warm, dry safe homes. And suddenly, the tears subside, and I am grateful.

There’s a great offer on all 3 of the 3-way overlay Cities illustrated by our Mel: Paris, London and New York. CLICK HERE. Stamps Stencils AND Masks. All available individually, of course.

The coasters are HERE.

The Verse is HERE.

The Distress Oxide ink pads are HERE

Time to go over to my parents for the day. Have a good Saturday 23rd May 2020. It will never come your way again.

Love and hugs

Barb xxxx

22 thoughts on “New York New York

  1. Love the coaster Barb, must really invest in some. Hope Mum and Dad are well. Take care and stay safe everyone. Bx

  2. Have a lovely day with your Mum and Dad, dont get blown away, its so windy here on sunny Sheppey……see you tomorrow x

  3. I ordered some coasters yesterday. Let’s see what I do with them…..
    Talking about your Grace brought a tear to my eye (almost said ear instead of eye, that made me laugh!).
    My own memories of New York, 2 years ago, was one that will stay in my mind and my heart forever – for so many reasons: the conference, meeting kids with the same condition as Samuel, quality time with my dear friend Jane, the World Trade Centre, and of course, getting to meet your Grace and having a lovely meal and a catch up. I’m not sure how, but one day, I WILL do it all again. Love always Barb, we’re doing ok – One day at a time xxxxx

      1. Is that Ellen’s Stardust Diner? We went there a few years ago and one of the waitresses sang O Holy Night , she had such a beautiful pure voice it sent shivers down my spine. Stay safe xx

  4. Things happen for a reason, not sure about the pandemic, but the things you put in place were for a reason that’s for sure. Have a good day xx

  5. Oh, Barb, there is definitely an unseen hand delving into our lives in a good way. Just think how blessed you are to have a company that could employ Grace. Fantastic, isn’t it? That’s be Grace greetin’, too, now, once she reads your blog!! The only day we are promised is this one so you are right, we have to make it as good as it can be. It is wet and windy here today so I will continue taking my cooker apart and cleaning it. I may even show the living room a duster!! Don’t want to overdo it, though! Lol. I’ll do a bit of crafting as well! Hope you have a lovely day with your mum and dad. Stay safe and as the stamp says: Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand, you and all your precious family. Hxx

  6. I’m a great believer in things happening for a reason. 35 years ago I got the urge to visit my Dad in hospital in Birmingham, miles away from my home in London. The very next day he died (he wasn’t supposed to, he was in hospital for tests only). So you should always follow what you’d heart is telling you. It is lovely that your children and partners are safe and well and still have jobs. My two are too, thank God. Grace seems to be a chip off the old block and works well for Clarity. I’m looking forward to getting my Clarity goodies. May be today!? Have a restful weekend and enjoy seeing your parents xxx

  7. Hi Barb, yep, everything sure does happen for a reason. Sometimes you can see it soon after, sometimes it takes a while to work it out, and sometimes you may never know why. But, everything does happen for a reason.

    I also believe in guardian angels, someone, something looking over each of us. I had an experience as a very young adult that will never leave me, and I think about often. I was driving to work, 6am on a Sunday morning, windows up, heading towards the T junction on the main road near where I was living. I travelled this road all the time. The lights were green for me to turn right onto the other main road but something inside me was screaming “STOP” at me. I had no idea why I had this sudden feeling, first thinking that’s silly, but then thinking maybe I should. I slowed right down and crawled to just over the line intending to have a look round the corner as it was blinded by a big wall. As I crawled forward a huge juggernaut went flying through the junction at excessive speed. If I had been travelling at normal speed it would have smashed right into me as I turned right in front of it… Why I was saved that day I am still trying to work out as I feel I have been of no use in this life so far. This experience is part of the reason I keep fighting on as best I can, and keep trying to be the best person I can be. I just hope I get the chance to do something of merit, something that makes a difference in the world. Maybe, hopefully, my chance is waiting for me in the new life we are about to emerge into.

    I hope you have a good day with your parents. Are going back in, stepping over the line!!! I’m aiming to get my sewing machine out this afternoon, fingers crossed. Body and head are too wrecked for anything much so we’ll see. Love you xxx

    1. I believe in Guardian Angels too. I have a book you might enjoy reading that completely changed my outlook at 19 years old, Brenda. It’s called ‘Where Angels Walk’ by Joan Wester Anderson. xoxox

      1. Thanks Grace. I’ll see if I can get it on Amazon. Got to be paper books for me, none of this electronic book malarkey 😉 I hope you are managing to have a good weekend xxx

  8. Enjoy your time with your parents , had a lovely surprise when I took mum and dad’s shopping over today , my sister and brother in law were there ,spent a lovely couple of hours catching up in the garden before the rain came .longest I’ve ever been without seeing my sister xx

  9. I too believe things happen for a reason. I am not religious and am sceptical about mediums and such. However I have always thought that there was something or someone looking after me.
    Let me tell you a story.
    In my early 20’s an acquaintance was devastated by an event and had made an appointment to see a spiritualist but was terrified to go on her own. She asked me to accompany her and I agreed on condition that I did not have to participate. She went into the room and half an hour later came out all smiles so the session was beneficial for her. I got up to leave when the receptionist said the medium wanted to see me and insisted I go in. There would be no charge. I should say at this point that no one on these premises had any knowledge of me or my circumstances.
    I was stunned by the outcome. This person took my keys out of my hand and proceeded to tell me things even my best friends didn’t know. She told me about the row between my mother and my headmistress, why I didn’t go to university, that I had a connection to the sea, (I’m pisces and dad was a sailor) and many other things I won’t go into. She told me I would overcome many problems in my life and come out stronger and that there was some one behind my shoulder (don’t look – you won’t see anything!) always looking out for me.
    How true this was. I am still a sceptic but things have happened in the last 50 years since then that I thank my guardian angel for taking care of me.
    No matter what your faith I beleive we all have a guardian angel looking out for us, and no matter what our trials and tribulations are it is all for a reason that we haven’t as yet sussed out.
    Now, having bored you to tears, I have had a great morning colouring with my new set of pencils, had a lovely lunch and am about to tackle Linda’s new Groovi plate.
    Have a good bank holiday weekend. Wishing love and Happiness to all 🍒🍒🍒

  10. For sure there’s a plan and a purpose for each of our lives. Generally we see it all a lot more easily in hindsight but occasionally we see heaven in ordinary and those of us who have faith know who to thank!
    What wonderful stories have been retold here – thank you ladies.

    Barb I do know how you feel because my two girls are in France and Italy where the virus has been bad and lockdown far more severe than for us. At this time of year I always go with a friend to visit my older daughter in Paris for her birthday but that can’t happen this year which, if I dwelt on it, would make me terribly sad.
    Crafting, enjoying nature and keeping the faith all help me to get through.
    I am therefore eternally grateful for all that Clarity does and means to so many of us and for that angel on our shoulders x

  11. My youngest is only 60 miles away, but it feels like 6000. I miss him so much. I worry too, because well, I’m a mom and that’s what we do.

  12. About forty years ago, I got Rhuematoid Arthritis, plus other reasons, went to see a medium….was told I had a guardian angel watching over me, he was an Austrian Doctor. All through the years I have had many times of help…from this gaurdian angel, and always say ….thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Forty years on….I went to a different medium, who rather shocked me….I was told in a PAST
    life, I was a MAN, and an Austrian Doctor…..strange!

  13. Yes Barbara, life is very different at the moment and I am sure will eventually return to something more like normal. Glad Grace is doing OK and as you say both she and Mark are happy and doing what they want with their lives. Enjoy your visit to see your Mum and Dad, it’s always good to catch up. x

  14. Sometimes I think you are a guardian angel to many of us. Steering us through troubled times with wise words, compassion, beautiful art work, a friendly community and most of all your honesty and kindness. Today I created just for fun and wrote some poetry onto a gel print from a magazine page. Sometimes it’s just good to get things out of your head isn’t it? Thank you x

  15. I try not to dwell too much on what is happening, I can cry easily these days. I count my blessings that all my children live locally, I have seen them when they drop off some shopping but how i long to spend some quality time with them. Video calls from three of them today so that will do for now. Enjoy your time with your mum and dad. They will be so pleased to see you xx

  16. Thanks Barbara, you’re so right about greater things having a purpose and plan for us. Despite all the worry from the pandemic, I feel blessed in lots of ways. My son’s marriage sadly broke up last year, but it means I have both my sons living at hoe with me at the moment. we’re also all working at the same hospital (my youngest got a temp job there when the pandemic started), so we are all employed and get to go to work together every day. There are so many people having a much more difficult time than we are and I give thanks for our blessings every day. Take care everyone

  17. Hope you had a lovely time with your parents today. It’s been blowing a gale here hope you have had it better Barbara. Our Son and Granddaughter paid us a visit today, was such a lovely surprise as not seen any of the family since the end of January. We sat out in the garden in the wind with coats on. My Clarity parcel came yesterday and the ii books I ordered I am over the moon with. Absolutely brilliant cards. Enjoy the rest of the weekend, look forward to getting together again on Monday, I wonder where we are going.xxx

  18. Loving the blog today. We all have our tale to tell. I do wonder if this pandemic has taught some people anything at all. Mother nature is trying to tell us something and fortunately some people have got the message. For others it is quite a different story. It is all about them, what they want regardless of others. I heard a story the other day from a work colleague who knows someone who drove to Cornwall and back in a day to have a picnic on the beach. I live in Staffordshire and that journey would probably have taken them 6 or 7 hours each way. (and no toilets! lol). Why?! Our neighbours are having their garden done. We have a hedge on our boundary and they said they would like to put a fence up on their side. Did we mind. It would be 5 foot tall and lower than our hedge. Ok prefer them not to but it would be on their side and we probably couldn’t stop them. If we weren’t happy with anything to let them know. The panels arrived 6 foot tall. The first three went in. Taller then they said but they look ok and we can grow our hedge a bit higher. The next one was balanced on a concrete block and the posts concreted at ground level making the fence 18 inches higher. When we complained like they said we should do. They said their garden sloped down and they wanted to level it off. They now have a fence that is within planning requirements of 2 metres on their side but is between 7ft an 7ft 6 on ours. They haven’t got planning permission. Why lie. They knew exactly what they were doing.
    It has upset me the birds cant use the hedge as they would have done but reading your blog does put things into perspective. It makes me feel that there are people out there with the same ideals as me and not everyone is totally selfish and inconsiderate to others. I can’t be bothered to speak to them again and with a seven foot fence I don’t have to lol!
    So keep up the good work Barbara and help keep me sane.

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