The Survivor’s club

There is a group of people (a lot are women) in this world that are united in a very special and unique way. It doesn't matter how old you are or how young you are you may be a part of this Club.  Race and ethnic background doesn't enter the picture. This is club no one wants to join but so many do.  No one wants to continue their membership in this club however they never ever want to leave it. Once you are a member you spend the rest of your life there.  This club chooses you as a member. This club changes your life. This club changes everything around you your whole world and your family’s world.  This club alters your reality and perception of life. Your focus and priorities adjust because of this club. Some of us are members because of a close friend or family member belonging to this club. You are reminded of this club even when you want to forget it.  With every doctor’s appointment, every mammogram, every pain, every extra test we have to take, every pill we swallow. Some are reminded every day as we get dressed, or take a shower, or look in the mirror. Every time we meet another member you recognize each other. There is no secret hand shake or special word you say to greet one another but the signs are there. Sometimes it’s the pink ribbon they wear, or maybe it’s the lack of hair, maybe you see the skin tone that has changed its shade or they just look a little off today. Or maybe you look in each other’s eyes and you see thee reflection of the pain you have suffered, the stresses you have lived through. Perhaps what you see reflected is the fear and loss of control over your life and your future. Survivors club members search to find a way to cope.

 Being a survivor’s daughter means I wake up at 4 am and write this because my brain is on over load. For Jessie it means she sews all day so she doesn't think negative thoughts. She keeps busy every day concentrating on other people who get her bags hoping to encourage them. We write notes and cards, letters of encouragement. We also talk to other survivors. We tell other survivors where we draw comfort. We read the bible every day. We pray for strength to deal with each day’s anxieties.

 We read articles on line at JW.ORG.  We always find a positive encouraging bible thought there.

Articles like ….Is god interested in you? When tragedy strikes- how you can cope. Why do bad things happen to good people?  

When we meet other survivors we want to give you one of Jessie’s bags. We hope you like it. We hope you can use it. We hope it makes you smile. Maybe when you see it you are reminded there is someone else who understands your unique struggle and is fighting to survive each day too!

We like new ideas!

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since we began our 100 bags a month program. We started making 100 bags to give out in October to breast cancer survivors. We got schools and volunteers to join us and we did it.  At the beginning of 2014 we decided we wanted to try to make 100 bags every month.  Some months we hit our goal others we didn't due to health issues however we consistently made bags and donated them every month to survivors. We recently have a few more sewers to help us. This works out well when Jessie isn't up to sewing. 

 I spoke with a young man who wants to make some bow ties for men. This is a great idea.  We hope he can start this process with some of our fabric scraps and donate a portion of the proceeds to Jessie’s bags.

Up-cycling trash 

Pillows

some of our new ideas

This got us to thinking there may be other ideas and designers we can team up with to create items that will benefit Jessie’s cause. We have some fabric to share. Do you have any suggestions? What is your skill? What do you make? We try to up-cycle as much as possible.  Contact us jessiesbags@gmail.com  let’s see what we can create together.

learning from each other

A friend’s daughter is spending a few days a week with mom and I while on summer break from school. I thought this would be a good time for her to hang out and maybe learn how to cook a few dishes, work on her sewing and just be around mature women this summer. I use to spend a lot of time growing up with my aunts and grandmother while Jessie worked. It’s interesting how we are learning from each other. Today I asked this 11 year old summer helper to show me how she creates some shots put to music on Instagram. I follow her and have seen her pictures using this format all the time. So today she taught me something new. And she produced my 1st flipagram on #jessiesbags. We love all the talented people who volunteer their skills for Jessie’s Bags. We have the potential to really grow if we get people to do what they love for Jessie’s Bags. Volunteers what do you want to do we will let your creativity shine!

I hate to sew so I don’t do that part of the process. Jessie loves to sew so that’s most of what she does.

One of the volunteers loves flea markets & yard sales so she is always looking for items we can use…

If you join us you can do what you love.

Always looking for more help!

  ..If you follow jessiesbags you will be seeing more of these flipagrams. 

Our bodies are wonderfully made

Jessie’s bags have been on the road at least once a week this summer.

We enjoy taking a look around and snapping pictures of all the sights.

The site I have been looking at for the last few days has been out my bedroom window. I had a few days of rest while Jessie attended her convention for 3 days in the mountains of Pennsylvania.

 Since she is not home and not Sewing I have Time for rest and relaxation,  great plans began to be made... Maybe I’ll go to the lake & get in the pool, take some pictures of the boats, fishing, maybe a state park I wonder which one PA, or DE?   Should I get my friend with her kids to go….

On a routine trip to Walmart Friday I felt a major pain in my back. I could hardly get home. I had to ask someone to close the car door for me. It was too painful to reach over to close it. The pain was so intense. I have been suffering with this issue for a few years since a car rear ended us. This has been one of the more pain filled times.

 Doctors always ask on a scale of 1 to 10 what the level of pain is; this was a 15 at least. So began my not on the road weekend. The hardest part of this trip was the trip to the bathroom. It was an adventure to say the least. First you have to try to roll out of bed so you are not using the normal mussels that are not working & in pain. Trying to sit up and not use any back muscles is almost impossible. I feel like a turtle flipped over on its shell. I roll….I slide….I shift….  Finally out of the bed! This only took 10 min, seemed a lot longer.  Then I shuffled into the on suite bathroom like I’m 103 trying not to move too many muscles. Did I mention the pain was a 15? Once the trip to the bathroom is complete and my mission accomplished I have to stand back up…..oh the pain! Now begins the long journey back to the bed. Now I need more pain meds. This requires water. Oh boy here we go again I drink water with the meds which means I will have to go back to the bathroom again, a terrible cycle!

 Our bodies are wonderfully made the bible at Psalms 139:14 says. That’s so true and you never even notice till they don’t work right. Most days we do some things without even noticing it. Bathroom breaks are one thing you don’t usually take a look at. I notice my aunt in the nursing home can’t stand and needs assistance to toilet. This is something that is a major thing in her life because she has to wait for a C N A’s help. They have to answer her call so she can answer the call of nature. Let’s just say…. I learned some empathy this weekend.

I’m appreciating the small stuff in my life things like muscles, walking, eating drinking, closing my own car door, and going to the bathroom. Our bodies are wonderfully made!

a good days work finished 30 more gift bags

The second group of bags are completed Got started at 4 am  and dropped them off at 10. Love the sense of accomplishment.  It was a good days work.

Road Trip

One day trip took us to Cow Town in New Jersey. I got so caught up in the moment I forgot to take pictures of the Tall man out front, we saw cows did I get a picture no… On the ride home I did get shots of three bridges and sky.

 

I Got it!

I figured out how to post my photos!
sometimes you just have to take a little time and figure it out! Never give up!