I can’t believe it’s been so long since I checked in. I had every intention of writting every week. As so often happens life just got in the way of intention.

The kids went back to school, so I got a little more intentional with my home exercise programs. But, we went camping over Labor Day, and that set me back…weeks, in strengh and confidence and in my ability to do things. I want to share some awesome things about that trip, but there are a few more things I want to share first.

During my camping recovery, I ended up with an abscess tooth, which did some weird things because of the brain injury. I hate to think about how much that changed me and to use it as an excuse, but…so many things react differently because of it.

Then…on Oct.24th my grandma died.

Due to some family complications I wasn’t able to make it to her celebration of life service, but I am so thankful for the visit I took this summer. She lived a long, sometimes very hard life, but in the end, from what I saw, she was happier than I had seen her in a long time.

She was truly a blessing in my life, and I didn’t get an opportunity to truly express my gratitude on earth, I am so thankful for an eternity to spend time with her.

GG I love you! Thank you, for what I know you helped me with and more with what I didn’t know or don’t remember. A painful time in her life changed the corse of my life. And I am so incredibly thankful!

Deep breath…….. and exhale

So we did wrap up our summer with a camping trip, that has become a family favorite trip. Or maybe just a mama favorite trip. Last year we got invited to a campground that does an awesome Halloween party. So we took some kid friends and the girls got dressed up.

Seriously, they need to stop growing up. 😪 It’s not fair.

There were so many things that didn’t go right for us that weekend. Including, when we were getting ready to pull out of the camp site, we realized we had a flat tire in the back side of the camper. Ugg… The girls started school the very next day, so Matt had to make the trip an extra time. (❤️Thank you Matt!!❤️) But, we had a great time. Trying to find the picture of the girls, I ran across a few more I wanted to share and another first for me.

These pictures were taken at the D.J. party after the trick or treating time. I didn’t go last year. I was WAY too tired, but I was awake enough to go this year. It was the first time in 7 years I had been in an atmosphere with loud music and dancing. I had the crazy thought that I would never again be the skinny drunk woman dancing crazy on the dance floor. (Of course that was never me.🙄 I would never have done somehing like that. 😊) After the initial jealousy, I realized I hadn’t been that person in years before the accident. Quite frankly I didn’t really want to relive any of that, now. Lol

I really did enjoy the time we spent at the party. But it didn’t take me long to get tired.

The next day we got ready to go on a golf cart ride, but Mocha sole my spot…

Once we got her to move and got me in, we drove around the park. We saw deer, stopped to get ice cream, and took the girls to a lake.

Again, it was a wonderful weekend. Lots of things that went wrong, but we made it through and the kids made it to their first day of school. Exausted from the end of summer bash, but they were there.

We had a bunch of stuff that happened with my “team” too in Sept. I’m grateful for them, but man is it crazy to have so many people who have an opinion on my life and how I should live it. Maybe it was like that before he accident and I just didn’t notice but sometimes it’s just overwhelming.

After I got my tooth taken care of I thankfully saw a quick return of strength and confidence in the areas I thought I lost over camping.

I had a change of speech therapy late summer and just in the last few weeks in occupational therapy. It’s sad and hard because we build relationships. They see me work through the hard in my life and encourage and come up with some really creative ways to help me do more. Plus, I become invested in their families and goals that are theirs. Not being connected after investing my heart into their lives is hard.

Kiersten decided to try the golf team. Her close friend plays and finally talked her into trying it. Turns out she’s pretty good. So, on a fun play day I asked Matt if I could just ride in the cart while they played. He was a little concerned just in how long we could be on the course. But, ultimately he said yes, probably because Arianne wanted to try and play. So, we went. 😃

Matt setting her up and giving some instruction and her teeing off for the first time. I think she was a little frustrated, but she did play all 9 holes and wanted to go back. I can’t remeber scores but Kiersten beat Matt, and I think Matt’s buddy who went too.

But, again, something that was new within the last 7 years.

So, in getting more intentional in my therapies, I started making beaded stretch bracelets. But after the few I wanted to make for myself and my girls I realized I really enjoyed making them. It gave me something that keeps my hands busy and makes me feel like I’ve done something tangible.

There is nothing worse than wanting do work and do something to help my family and realize, not being able to speak clearly or move well, kind of limits me. But, making these bracelets feels like it fills that something in me.

I’m calling them “Seeds of Hope”. Inspired by the image of a dandilion being blown in the wind. Those seed can end up anywhere, and carry with them the DNA to start a new plant. I have prayed as I’ve made these. Some have to me a clear purpose and some I just hope will carry the DNA of hope, love, encouragement, a reminder of how far you’ve come. I have made a few with a morse code, that unless you share can be an encouragement just for you.

I have a metal bracelet with the word survivor on it. I remeber being in the rehab hospital not understanding why my sister-in-law was giving this bracelet to me. I thought to myself, because even if I had asked it would have been Greek,I haven’t survived cancer so I didn’t deserve this bracelet. Now I cherish the bracelet because I understand a bit more how much I have survived.

I made a strech bracelet that says survivor in morse code on it because the metal bracelet has to be taken off my hand to wear a Wrist Hand Orthotic brace everyday. But the strech bracelet I can slide on and off by myself. But unless I tell someone what it says it just encourages me when I see it, or touch it. There have been lots of women in my life I would have given these bracelets to as a way to let them know I care and see them. So My hope in sharing them with you is that you can share these “Seeds of Hope” with people in your life. Or get one for yourself. 😁

Send me an email at heathergavrilides@gmail.com if you see something you like. Right now I’m asking $10 for them. A little more for shipping, but honestly I haven’t looked into that yet. This started as therapy. So I’m just stepping out here. 😊