Magical Mornings

There are magical mornings when all the world is silent, except for the gentle breezes that leave you captured in its wake, often whispering to you softly of another time and another place. It’s on these mornings that evoke a feeling of being totally enveloped by the intoxicating melancholy of a lost love 💔𝐻𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑎 𝑊𝘩𝑖𝑡𝑒

Sad News To Share

♡ It is with the saddest of hearts that I write that last week, on April 21 my soulmate, my husband passed away after a brave two year battle with cancer. He fought to the end and did not want to leave me and our kids. My heart is broken. He is the one I have always counted on, the one who listened to me and supported me. He was loved and will be missed by many. Right now, I'm crying a million tears. My sadness is unbearable and my soul is hurting. Robert will never be forgotten and I pray I can make him proud as I try to continue this journey Solo.

★
.•`•.¸★

 `•.¸ ★ ★.¸¸.
¸.•*¨♡ℓღvє Hεlεɳa
●▬▬PЄTAL & LACЄ COTTAGЄ▬▬●

The Very Heart Of Things

Its been awhile since I visited the Pub.  

When I read Brian's post "A New Dawn" 

...well what can I say, I had to join in for old times sake

The steps creaked, impaired by time

With hesitation I caressed the railing

The porch scent was welcoming 

 Overwhelming melancholy was tangible 

With each breath so deep 

I surrendered and closed my weeping eyes 

With one sure step the threshold 

transported me back in time...

To the beginning...now the end

Yet everything old seemed new again

After the body rush, little remained 

Wanderlust lead to many a place

But always we seem to return to grace 

In an old house

In the very heart of things

I sat and reminisced

On the old Porch swing

Posted for the D'verse Poets Pub - Pick a line 

From Claudia’s Poem: ”In the old house, in the very heart of things” to respond to the challenge prompt to use a line from Claudia or Brian’s challenge poems.

A Change of Heart

.•*¨* Lately, I've been working on not feeling guilty for not living the life others think I should or want me to live. To finally "LIVING" my way. I'm also all for cutting away drama, negativity and misguided opinions. To cherish and support those who stand by me and letting go of those who have let me down. To ignore opinions from others which they cannot defend. To do away with abrasiveness and finally cutting myself some slack, because we all know how unkind we can be to ourselves.
So Here's to changing ones mind and heart when life takes an unexpected turn. Not everyone can understand your journey in life. Standing in your own truth can leave you blacklisted for challenging the status quo. I don't mind not being liked. We certainly can't like everyone, but it's heartbreakingly sad to be misunderstood.

With that said the biggest shift for me will be when I stop needing to know the why's when things go awry. We are all flawed humans and I have decided to accept the messiness of it all. You have to take the bitter with the sweet. To respond in anger is an endorsement of a persons attitude. Walking away is the best way to stand up for yourself. No one is perfect. It is in accepting yourself in your "perfect imperfection" that inner peace begins.

.•*¨* Written with a clear conscious and a heavy heart – Helena

The words of others are mistakes of our hearing, shipwrecks of our understanding.  How confidently we believe OUR meanings of other people's words.”

― Fernando Pessoa

Remembering Loved Ones

 For many, Facebook has become a highly accessible platform for memorials and tributes for grieving, which brings me to the fact that I'm facing an anniversary soon.   Every year I post a loving Tribute for my daughter, Chantelle and at times I have been made aware from a select few that they do not get the whole tribute thing, especially after many years have past.  For me it is ultimately my chosen catharsis, a way to keep my daughters memory safe guarded.  I made a promise to my daughter to not ever forget....Don't forget me when I'm gone....
I have observed that Facebook appears to be a natural way for people to work through grief over the loss of a loved one. For others, reminders on social media of a loved one's death can be more painful than helpful. 
So what is the answer? 
Many people have learned that their friends and family have very different ideas of what constitutes "normal" grieving" — especially when someone takes his or her grief public on social networks
Social media etiquette surrounding death is a delicate and highly individual concept.  What one person views as a loving tribute could translate as incredibly poor taste or downright offensive to others. 
I personally feel criticisms and misunderstanding arise when a memorial is misinterpreted. I know for me when posting a tribute it has been seen as me not moving on or that I'm not doing well or the unforgivable statement..."she never got over the death of her daughter"...ugh!  Well here's a news flash,  we don't ever get over it...but we do eventually accept it. But that doesn't automatically translate to never mentioning our loved again, whether it be be in passing or as a memorial on Facebook.  By doing so doesn't mean that we're wallowing in the past...it means that we loved deeply and that wonderful loving memories are realized through these tributes. This is what I know for sure ...if posting my tributes for my daughter Chantelle, doesn't upset me, I shouldn't have to console others who look on from a distance...because it makes them uncomfortable...Perhaps it evokes the realization of their own mortality or pain that hasn't been resolved in their own life.  Death is apart of life...period.
Memorializing  Profiles....
I believe that social media can actually ease the process for some. "Being able to access the lost one's profile after death is beneficial.  It allows a connection to others who loved him or her, a source of memories and humor to share and an opportunity to say 'goodbye' or 'I'm missing you' in a way that can soften the blow and move the healing process along.  
I understand how difficult it can be for people to be reminded of those who are no longer with them, which is why it's a slippery slope when posting heartfelt tributes.
But should it be? After all pain is apart of the healing process.
Facebook very much helped in my time of grieving by making it so easy to connect with family and friends.  In some cases created lasting bonds with sharing mine and others grief. I still visit my cousins memorialized profile to remember things we shared and to peruse her photos and posts.
Grief varies wildly for each individual, and that it usually doesn't progress orderly, like steps in a staircase. 
As time passes, the sting of losing someone you care about also fades but it never goes away.  Grieving is for the most part a solo journey and if by posting a poem or prose in the form of a tribute helps that process then I think a certain amount of respect should be offered to these individuals  who are brave enough to do so.

A New Venture

A new venture... A new Blog...

Petal & Lace Cottage is where I'll share my own decor ideas and vignettes 

as well as from others who has inspired me. 

Please stop by

http://helenaspetalandlacecottage.blogspot.ca/

ღ в α в ч ღ ι о ν ε ღ в α в ч ღ ι о ν ε ღ

Our world has been filled with a little more love today...
Congratulations to our son Brian and our
daughter-in-law Julia on their first wee baby,
Hudson David ღ

ӇƛƤƤƳ ƁƖƦƬӇ ƊƛƳ!

Baby HUDSON DAVID 

 June 7 2014 3:11 am
7lbs 1 oz

 

My Sister Barbara

 There's nothing more precious in this world

then the feeling of being wanted 

- Diana Dors

 

Today I grieve for the passing of my estranged sister, Barbara


Emotion filled my eyes.
Not tears.
I have none left, since you withdrew

All I saw was a stranger
All I see now is an estranged sister
Hurt, forgotten, confused and estranged
I missed her...my big sister...I will always miss her

If I were to cry
I would cry for the things I can't change
I would cry for time you spent alone
I would cry for the ailments you incurred
I become saddened thinking of a life lost
For all the pain you must have known

I always loved her and wanted more than anything
for her to value and love me back.
Barbara, I cry for the person you once were...
Memories are etched and perhaps with time will hide our sorrow.

Many times I was filled with false hope.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I regret,
the relationship we could have had.

 For my sister Barbara ♥

The news harrowed my very soul

It cut deep exposing unforeseen anguish

My heavy heart weeps for thy

Grieved to lose you so suddenly

The sting of death breaks us open

Exposing our hearts to bleed

Bereft of the fullness of time

My thoughts are seized by the hereafter

My imaginings are held captive, unable to flee

I will not say goodbye

Instead, I will bid you an emotional farewell

♥ Love your sister Helena

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Winter Solstice

☽☆☾ On the 21st day of Christmas 

I am grateful to Bless the Winter Solstice ☽☆☾ 

Take a deep breath in... 

Solstice Sun, Shine Bright ☽☆☾

❄❄❄

At this magical beautiful
Sentimental Season
It is natural to look back
And remember all the good things
From Christmas Past

 
The human Heart’s so
Encouraged by Love
That the Christmas memories
Magnify in our Imaginations
and comfort our Human Spirit

 
During this gentle Season
May you find time to
Enjoy the beauty of
Each quiet moment

 
And Remember
To see the sacred
We must slow down
And find stillness

❄❄❄ 

May Peace Love and Light surround you as
The Christmas Spirit Whispers to your Heart 

❄❄❄

© Hεlεɳa ωнιтє ωίԵђ Լ♥ϋє

Missing You

Forever Loved ❤ Never Forgotten

Soft winds that whisper love's essence

are close by

just reach for acceptence

and never ask the why's

For Chantelle

Disquieting tears
From the past
Rise from my soul
And pool in my eyes
Love Mom

Today I am reminded how fleeting our time here on earth truly is. It has been twenty one years since my daughter Chantelle passed away…I recall a conversation with Chantelle weeks before her accident where she thought that people just forget about you after we die. Her viewpoint came from the loss of a friend, who only weeks before died from injuries suffered in a car accident. She was troubled by how seemingly everyone just continued on after the funeral. Soon after Chantelle’s accident, I vowed that I would keep her memory alive.

I’m often asked how I continue to cope after the unthinkable happens. It is impossible to convey how lost I felt at the time, however the way that I’ve been able to break free from the bottomless pit of grief is to trust the wisdom of my intuition – my ability to know something without rational evidence that proves it to be so. Life after life. To be so sure of something, yet unable to articulate it in words. I consider that to be my greatest spiritual gift. While searching for the need to find meaning in all that happened, I have learned to also respect the mystery of it all.

Throughout this journey I have taken many backward glances. The past is such a delicate thing. Most of the time memories are fragmented, like shards of broken glass. Then there are other times I recall moments with breathtaking clarity. These memory moments hold the beauty, the joy and the love we are all here to experience. My life is certainly different from the one I thought I would be living. Through it all I have come to realize we are here to love certain souls, unconditionally. Some we give birth to, others we meet in a serendipitous way, others are family. It is these soulful connections that I consider sacred moments that will live within us forever...like my precious angel, Chantelle Lee Lace.

Lacy you will Always be Loved & Never Forgotten

In loving memory of my daughter Chantelle

November 25, 1975 ❤ October 2, 1992

It's Where Bloggers Create Party Time

  

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.ི৲(ྀ♥ ωєℓcσмє тσ...
MЄMƠƦƳ ƁƠҲ ƇƦЄƛƬƖƠƝS

♥ Thank you for visiting Memory Box Creations where I love to share bits of my heart and life, and some of my other delights like my love of writing poetry, photography, decorating, recipes, 
and where I sometimes fashion lovely creations and share all things beautiful.
Լ♥ϋє ♥ Hεlεɳa ωнιтє


Always remember a ƑƦƖЄƝƊ may be waiting behind a strangers face.

Wow! Time certainly does fly.  Has it really been a year already?  I have been looking forward to the

  Where Bloggers Create Party get-together and I  am especially looking forward to visiting everyone's creative spaces.  I have been busy training a new Sheltie pup and I also hurt my back (nothing serious) so I have not been creating much of anything lately, but I look forward to getting inspired by all the wonderful creative ladies.  A big Thank you to Karen Valentine from over at My Desert Cottage  for hosting yet another awesome, fun party.

  I have to share our new little fur baby's picture.

On Valentines Day we adopted a new addition to our family

Say Hello to Lacy our little Shetland Sheepdog, LACY

My Sewing and Craft  Room

My space is an out-in-the-open airy area in our basement.  We carved out an 8’ X 16’corner in our basement just for me to play to my hearts content.  I wanted a half wall and full open wall, so as not to feel claustrophobic. Each of my craft spaces are inspired by childhood memories or what I call  “Heart Treasures.” Those wonderful memories that stay with us all the way into adulthood.  I enjoy being surrounded with the things I love , things that evoke all good memories, which include keepsakes passed down from my mother and grandmothers, to vintage finds, as well as my own childhood toys and trinkets that somehow 

endured the many years of play by my siblings and myself.

Pictured here is my childhood vintage iron,

 a sock darner, and my vintage doll ,

 a gift brought back from Hawaii by my uncle.

A Dresser makes for great storage, housing patterns, scrapbook papers, photos, fabric, lace…

My favourite ivory cabinet holds books and fabric.  

This was a great find at a discounted warehouse sale. 

One leg needed repairing, which my hubby did.

  Gotta Love Crystal!  The perfume bottle center stage 

was my paternal Grandmothers.

Two of my cute fully jointed lovingly handmade 
Teddy Bear creations.This very special bear with the red hat is one of a set of twins that I made for a bereaved parent, using a piece of clothing of their loved one to 
create a one of a kind keepsake.

I prefer to keep most of my items behind closed doors.  I have a large closet type room down the hall where all my stash is. Trust me you’re not missing anything. 

Bookcase to hold fabric and glass jars filled with buttons, 
lace, stamps and ribbons.

Ribbons and lace and buttons oh my!

 My Sewing Machine…Okay, I don’t really sew on a lace covered table, but it looks so pretty doesn’t it? lol!

My childhood doll. 
A gift from my Uncle while visiting Hawaii  

I found this used farmhouse style kitchen island at another local Shoppe. It is the perfect height for cutting fabric.  Also I re-purposed my kitchen Bar stools, which are perfect for sitting and scrapbooking. It has tons of storage. 
A recipe card holder is going to be re-purposed to hold pictures of my creations. 

 Button, Button, Who’s Got The Button? When I was a little girl, my Mom taught me how to sew on buttons, by having me practice sewing beautiful buttons onto the cardboard that was used to package silk nylons. I loved my button cards!

The ivory lace bear was one of the first bears I made out of my daughters graduation dress to safe guard her memory, which lead me to create other keepsake mementos for other bereaved parents who have lost a child.

One of my many embroidery samplers

My upstairs office studio

A place of my own

 This is my first desk which we had made from a 
Just Pine wood working shoppe

I love my black bookcase. Another great find 
from my favourite local shoppe.

A room of my own where I enjoy my morning tea. 

Well, I hope you enjoyed the tour? I want to thank you all for taking the time to visit and I look forward to mingling with all the quests at the party in hopes of meeting some new friends. Be sure to share a cup of tea or a glass of lemonade with me on the porch before you leave. 

❤

❤ Say Goodnight Lacy ❤

It has been a joy to be apart of  Where Bloggers Create Party Hosted by Karen Valentine Be sure to visit Karen’s beautiful blog, My Desert Cottage where the full list of all the party goers in the 5th annual Where Bloggers Create 2013 blog party and enjoy!

❤  

Happy Graduation

Hallie and Emilie

It seems so cliche' to say, “Where has the time gone?” 
And yet, I still can’t figure out how two little baby girls can now be graduating from grade eight.
It seems like only yesterday when we were celebrating your first birthdays. Oh and how I was so lucky to be able to baby sit you full time making it my only chance to be a hands-on-grandma. That couldn’t have been all those years ago. . . could it?

When you were growing up, we shared lots of mac and cheese, corn chips and oh can't forget the peeled sliced apples. We played games, read stories, scrap -booked together and enjoyed many sleepovers. You loved learning to embroider and had fun baking cupcakes with me. You always smiled and laughed while playing with our Sheltie Topaz and she would get excited when ever she saw you both come through our front door.

Now your both graduating from public school all ready to start a new phase of your lives in high school. You both come loaded with some strong creativity genes. Your maternal great grandmother was a talented knitter and seamstress and your Great Great Great Great Grandfather was a writer and poet.

Yes I have complete faith in you Hallie and Emile and your ability to become whatever you want to be. With passion you will follow your bliss and carve out your own little piece of the world. I have a clear vision of you both achieving whatever your hearts desire and I’ll be watching and cheering you on.

Much love and good fortune to you both dear granddaughters on this very special day. . . and far into the future. Being your Grandparent is a joy and I love you both so very much.

Happy Graduation!
Love Grandma xox

Hallie and Emile grade eight Graduation 

 

My little Angels

♥ I Love You ♥

The Dressing Table

“She doesn’t need 

anybody to laugh with,

 she just laughs...and sees 

beautiful things everywhere”

 – Sandra Cisneros

What do you do to make a blue day beautiful?

On those days when melancholy sneaks in and tries to cloud 
your sun.  We have all experienced  gloomy days, 

when life becomes a little grey.

 On grey days I find its best to pause and reflect on the simple 
pleasures and  envelop yourself with beautiful things. 

Surrounding yourself with beautiful things that you love creates 
a magical allure which will attract even more beautiful things.

Oh and when you share beautiful things, magic appears and sifts 
and scatters like glistening fairy dust, whilst everything it touches leaves 

a sprinkling of pure enchantment in its wake.


 My vanity table evokes beautiful memories from my childhood

When I was small my Mother would make dressing tables 
for my sisters and I by covering old orange crates with floral 
cotton fabrics.  She would gather colourful tiny rose patterned fabric, stitch
 and fasten ruffles to make it special for us.  I still smile when I reminisce 
about my very own dressing table.  All those many years ago, I had a 
place of my own.   A perfect dressing table to hold my hairbrush and 
comb set,  pink of course, and my hair barrettes along with my other collections 
of trinkets anything that deserved this special spot.  Whenever I see dressing 
tables in magazines or on Pinterest it propels me back in time to when I was 
that little girl and how my Mom transformed our otherwise pale world into a 
little place of beauty.  

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