I have to keep busy.
I’ve come to realize that staying busy is one of the ways I hold everything together. My mama used to say, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” I heard her say it many times growing up, but I’m not sure I ever truly understood what she meant.
Now I do.
For those of you who know me, you know that my husband has some serious health challenges. I am thankful that God has given me the opportunity to be his caregiver and to be by his side through this season of our lives.
But caregiving isn’t always easy.
Some days are difficult. Some days are exhausting. And yes, some days come with a lot of tears.
But through it all, I remind myself just how blessed I have been. I have had a wonderful life, and my husband has been a part of that life for more than half of it. We have shared years of memories, laughter, challenges, adventures, family, and just plain old everyday life. And right now, I count it as one of my greatest blessings that he is still here for me to love.
I am also blessed to still have my son, and of course, our wonderful granddog, Ms. Yoyo, who has no idea that she is a dog and probably would be offended if anyone told her. 😊
And then there is my village.
I have an amazing support system of family and friends who check on me, pray for us, encourage me, listen when I need to talk, and sometimes simply remind me that I am not walking this journey alone. For each of them, I am eternally grateful.
So, how do I keep the devil out of my workshop?
I write.
I have always written. Poems, thoughts, stories, memories, whatever happens to be living in my head and heart at the time. But lately, something wonderful has happened.
I’ve started turning those words into songs.
And it makes me happy.
Writing music has given me a place to put some of the emotions that otherwise might have nowhere to go. Sometimes the songs are serious. Sometimes they are funny. Sometimes they tell stories from my life. And sometimes they simply come from an idea that refuses to leave me alone until I write it down.
This August, I released my first album. It was truly a work of love, filled with pieces of my life, my memories, my humor, my faith, and my heart.
And I’m not finished.
This November, I’m looking forward to releasing my Christmas album, Come On In… It’s Christmas. Creating it has given me something joyful to look forward to, and I hope that when people hear it, they feel some of the warmth and happiness I felt while creating it.
Life right now isn’t always easy. But it is still filled with blessings.
So I keep going.
I pray.
I love.
And I write.
And every time I sit down to create something new, I smile a little because I know Mama would understand.
I’m just keeping the devil out of my workshop.
Thank you for being a part of my journey.
🎵 A Song From My Heart
Sometimes, when life gets heavy and I don’t know what to do or what to say, I know where to go.
“On My Knees” is one of the songs from my album Well-Seasoned, and its message feels especially close to my heart during this season of my life.
