It has been a very long time since I have posted much here at Cottage Blessings. My writing has been sparse at best for at least two years now. Yet tonight, for some reason, I am really feeling nostalgic for this blog as it once was--all the crafts and feast day celebrations and babies on the way. It has turned into a happy scrapbook of days long past, but never to be forgotten.
I do not think I ever actually posted here that my mother passed away in May. So many of you had been praying for her after her stroke, and it doesn't really seem right that you never heard a word about it. The long post swimming in my head telling the news just never seemed ready to be written, and now I do not think it ever will.
Life has been a bit unsettled here in other ways too. Back in November, our whole family moved out of our home temporarily to make way for a renovation project (adding bedrooms, of course) and into my mother's house. It has been bittersweet living among so many memories, and almost every day brings some new discovery--the handwritten family tree showing my O'Brien ancestors, the checks my mother wrote to pay the doctor and anesthesiologist back when I was born, a brilliant speech on education my father gave decades ago, the sixty year old bottle of Lourdes holy water that has never run dry . . . . So many things to make me feel grateful for a happy childhood and two wonderful parents.
Baby Jude is almost a year old now. Poor little lad--I have hardly written a word about him here. He is a beautiful beam of light in our lives, but he came along during a time when Mommy was "pondering all these things in her heart" rather than keeping records. It is funny to remember that his sister Eileen turned one while we were living far from home, and he will turn one away from home as well, though most definitely not in so exotic a place.
Anyway friends--whoever is still reading this blog--this post is just a "hello" long overdue. It would do my heart a lot of good to get back into blogging, so please pray for that intention. Words and time and ideas keep eluding me somehow, but I know that in God all things are possible.
I do hope you'll come back to blogging Alice. Your beautiful writing (and pictures!) are very much missed!
Posted by: Kristen Laurence | January 28, 2010 at 12:09 AM
Happy to "hear" from you, Alice. I've been missing your blogging voice! And, my deepest condolences on the loss of your mother. I am sure that she is dearly missed.
Posted by: Susan (Taffy) | January 28, 2010 at 12:13 AM
Alice, it is so nice to hear from you. If you have an opportunity, will you please send me your mailing address. I have had a thank you for you sitting on my kitchen counter since May.
A blog does take time, but it is a wonderful way to preserve memories. I was just revisiting some of my old posts about family the other night and my husband and I were enjoying the memories.
May God continue to bless you and your beautiful family.
Posted by: Christine | January 28, 2010 at 12:20 AM
So nice to read your post! I hope you will continue to blog -- even if "just once in a while".
Blessings for you and your family as you continue your journey.
I am sorry to hear of the loss of your Mother. May God grant her peace and repose in his tender care.
Posted by: Soutenus | January 28, 2010 at 03:58 AM
WONDERFUL to see you posting again .... and how bittersweet must it be to live in your mom's house! I'm sure she's watching over you now with the BVM and they are both proud of you and all you do for others ....
Prayers, hugs, and prayers dear friend and please email your snail mail so I can send the family Christmas card!
Posted by: Mary G | January 28, 2010 at 06:20 AM
I knew your mama had died when you talked about the holy cards and I knew how much you must have been hurting and prayed for you in your loss, Alice. I hope the words come again for you, because you've really been missed around here.
Posted by: Jennie C. | January 28, 2010 at 06:37 AM
Hello back to you, so great to hear you on bloggy land once more. Missed you. :)
Posted by: Renee | January 28, 2010 at 07:00 AM
I am new but I have been reading your archives and listening hopefully just in case you posted again! How exciting to see a nice fat post!
Posted by: Carlie | January 28, 2010 at 07:30 AM
I have also missed you. I'm very sorry about your mother.
Posted by: Paula | January 28, 2010 at 07:31 AM
I've missed yo and your blog, too. Praying for you. Can't wait to see pictures of your little cherub!
Posted by: Lillian | January 28, 2010 at 08:03 AM
It's so wonderful to see you blogging again. I've missed you. I'm so sorry about your mother.
Posted by: Christine M | January 28, 2010 at 08:05 AM
Oh Dear Alice. I'm so glad to see you writing. I pray it will continue. You are such an inspiration to so many. Again, I am so sorry about the loss of your mother.
Posted by: Kathy | January 28, 2010 at 08:10 AM
Happy Day! I will pray for your intentions, Alice! I love coming to "visit" and read your writing. BTW, I listened over and over that Ave Verum Corpus yesterday. Just beautiful. Thank you for posting it.
Posted by: Jennifer Gregory Miller | January 28, 2010 at 08:21 AM
So sorry for the loss of your mother. I have kept your blog on my sidebar and sometimes wondered how she was. Well, she is in heaven -- the best place to be.
Posted by: Barbara | January 28, 2010 at 08:25 AM
Oh, Alice! I'm so glad to "see" you. I've missed you terribly. I'm so sorry about your mother. I have prayed and wondered about her.
Will pray for your intentions.
Posted by: KC | January 28, 2010 at 08:27 AM
"... and he will turn one away from home as well, though most definitely not in so exotic a place."
~~~~~
Oh, I don't know ... your mother's house, and all those amazing keepsakes, are their own kind of exotic, and it seems rather fitting that someone should turn one there. :)
Posted by: Karen Edmisten | January 28, 2010 at 08:53 AM
What a surprise to find a post in my reader today. Welcome back!
Posted by: Carmen | January 28, 2010 at 09:14 AM
How lovely to find another post from Alice in my reader this morning! Top o' the morning to you dear friend, it's nice to see you here again. :-)
Posted by: Michele | January 28, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Oh Alice, my heart aches for you in the missing of your mom. Praying for your family. It's good to "see" you again. :)
Posted by: Amy | January 28, 2010 at 10:09 AM
Hello, darling girl. You know, I may talk to you on the phone 3 or 4 times a week, but it doesn't matter--I STILL want to read your posts. There is just nothing in the world like an Alice post.
Love you!
Posted by: Lissa | January 28, 2010 at 10:17 AM
It's good to hear from you, Alice. If words don't come, maybe you could start with a few pictures. I'm sure you have no shortage of those!
Posted by: Suzanne Temple | January 28, 2010 at 10:20 AM
Alice, my condolences on the loss of your mother.
It is always good to see a new post from you. I do hope that the words and time to get back to blogging come for you.
You and your family continue to be such an inspiration for me.
Posted by: Layla | January 28, 2010 at 11:13 AM
I came into the world of blogging because of Cottage Blessings a couple of years ago. I would very much like to encourage you to post again...you are greatly missed.
You have my prayers!
Posted by: Elizabeth C. | January 28, 2010 at 11:18 AM
I was so happy to see this pop up in my Google Reader this morning, Alice. I love hearing your thoughts, however short or infrequent they may be posted here! I will be praying for the repose of the soul of your mother.
Posted by: Celeste | January 28, 2010 at 12:02 PM
So happy to hear your sweet voice. Some of those posts swimming in your head can just remain there. Sometimes we can just begin again, in medias res.
Posted by: Jeanne | January 28, 2010 at 01:08 PM
I will pray for that intention, Alice. What a difficult season for you!
If you're looking for blogging inspiration, why not share some photos of the renovations? I've feel like I've been a guest in your home throughout all the feast days and seasons, and it remains one of my very favorite in Blogland.
Posted by: Meredith | January 28, 2010 at 01:11 PM
I am glad to see you post again! I am so sorry to hear of your mother's passing, and will pray for her and for you.
Posted by: Tracy | January 28, 2010 at 01:28 PM
SO lovely to read this post. I have checked in often, to see if you have written.
I am so, very, sorry for your loss. The seasons of a woman's life are ever-changing ... I understand all too well the need for writerly silence amidst much ponderings of the heart.
~ Ellie
(aka Beth from the long-closed WomanoftheTigerMoon, if you remember!)
Posted by: Ellie | January 28, 2010 at 01:58 PM
Praying here, Alice, because I have missed you and am happy to know that you are considering a return. God bless!
Posted by: Genevieve | January 28, 2010 at 03:05 PM
How lovely to see your post, but I'm so sorry to learn about your mother's passing -- may she rest in peace.
Can't believe your baba is nearly 1! My own little Xavier Jude is 2 on Tuesday.
Posted by: Elizabeth@Frabjous Days | January 28, 2010 at 04:22 PM
Hello Alice,
I'm sorry for the loss of your mother. And I am happy to hear about baby Jude. I think I missed that announcement post. It's nice to "hear" from you. I will keep you in my prayers.
Posted by: Cheryl | January 28, 2010 at 05:01 PM
So sorry for your loss. I check my Google Reader regularly to see if you have any new posts.
Posted by: Elena | January 28, 2010 at 05:33 PM
The way I see it, Alice, you could be either my once-a-day cup of coffee or my once-a-week piece of cake. I love both! I NEED both!
Posted by: Margaret in Minnesota | January 28, 2010 at 05:48 PM
Oh Alice, I've missed your voice. I pray that the words will come and you will find the right song to sing for this season in your life. Like Suzanne said, pictures might be an easy way to slip back into the mode. And I wouldn't mind catching some glimpses of that sweet baby and all of your other blessings.
Prayers for your mother. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. May our Blessed Mother hold her and all of your family in her arms.
Posted by: MelanieB | January 28, 2010 at 06:20 PM
It is good to see you back and about the only thing I can say having been through two major losses within nine hours of each other, is - please don't wait until you think you are done mourning. Do get busy with the blogging and your friends and family to help heal the wounds. Bless you.
Posted by: JP | January 28, 2010 at 06:32 PM
Alice - It is so good to see your post....you and your beautiful family are never far from my thoughts whenever I talk to family in NY ....Hope to "visit" with you again soon.....Peace,Kristin
Posted by: Kristin GOmez | January 28, 2010 at 09:50 PM
Alice, I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I will continue to pray for all of you and will look forward to all of your posts. Love, Rebecca
Posted by: Rebecca | January 29, 2010 at 08:24 AM
So happy to see you!
Posted by: Jenny | January 29, 2010 at 12:19 PM
Oh hello Alice! I have thought of you so often and hoped you would pop in here before too long. Seems many of us are in unsettled times. They too bless, if in different ways. God bless you dear lady. Your gentle voice is indeed missed.
Posted by: Kim | January 29, 2010 at 04:53 PM
I sure have missed you, Alice! I'm so sorry to hear about your dear mom :( Many prayers for your family.
Posted by: Ruth | January 30, 2010 at 09:22 AM
O Alice, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Will pray for your mother and your family....
It is wonderful to "see" you on your blog. Like many others, I have missed you.
Posted by: Allison | January 30, 2010 at 08:44 PM
It's so great to have you back sweet Alice, you have been terribly missed! Much love, a very devoted fan ;-)
Posted by: Meredith | January 31, 2010 at 12:21 PM
Oh, Alice, what a gift to drop in and find a bunch of long posts to settle down and read. You are always in my prayers. The Christmas photo was glorious. Thank you!
Posted by: Jeannine | February 01, 2010 at 10:43 AM
Hello Alice,
I am so very sorry to hear about your dear mother's passing. It was lovely reading your blog again. Hugs and prayers for you and yours!
Posted by: Jennifer in TX | February 02, 2010 at 05:30 PM
So happy to see your post! You've been in my prayers, and I've often thought of you over the months as I was aware of your mother's passing. What a wonderful opportunity to be living in her home, constantly drinking in memory gifts of her.
You've provided such beautiful inspiration and fabulous information to so many people through your blog. Now, rather than coming your blog for ideas and inspiration, I check in to "visit" a lovely lady.
Again, so good to see you posting!
Posted by: L a u r a | February 03, 2010 at 11:07 PM
Dear Alice, I have missed you! I am so very sorry to hear of your Mom's passing. We are praying for all of you and the repose of her beautiful soul! I hope you continue to blog. I really have missed your lovely 'voice'!
Posted by: Donna Marie | February 10, 2010 at 10:52 AM
You and your sweet family are in my heart and prayers! I know how difficult it is to lose a parent, my heart goes out to you!
Posted by: Mary Beth Patnaude | February 14, 2010 at 12:18 PM
Awesome to read your writing again! Missed you.
Hugs to you from the other coast - when are you coming back for a visit when we can visit St. Jude together.
Lee
Posted by: leona | February 26, 2010 at 12:39 AM
Alice,
I just started reading your blog in Sept. 2010 - due to looking for craft ideas for the different saints. Thank you for all your postings. You have shared so much of yourself all these years, as I look back on the blog. My condolences to you on the lose of your parents. May God Bless you and your family and thank you for all your writings. Blessings, Loretta from Simi Valley, CA
Posted by: Loretta | October 05, 2010 at 06:07 AM
Thank you so very much, Loretta. I so appreciate it.
Sent from my iPhone
Posted by: Alice Gunther | October 05, 2010 at 08:10 AM