Rachel Jefferies-September 2025-Mixed Media Challenge-In Between : Growth & Optimism

Hi Everyone...

Another great! challenge...I feel like I am always "in between" something...[ who am I kidding,more like a hundred somethings all at the same time ] ... Especially since my life got turned upside down with my almost dying myself and the ongoing long recovery of my personal injuries from being in a wheel chair to now walking well with a cane...and also losing my husband to terminal brain cancer,as a lot of you know here at the Lilypad...Life sure has not been very kind to me in the last few years...and heaven knows,I have struggled with a deep,dark anxiety and depression...I am very open about what I have been through and what my life is currently like now...And since I am now in recovery mode in my life and mind now...as far as I am concerned...I feel that " black cloud " that has been hovering over my head...for the last almost 5 years now and got worse when my sweet husband, Ray , of almost 30 years,passed away...has ultimately,seemingly moved on...Yes there has been a lot of darkness...but there has also been a lot of goodness and light in my life...A lot of positiveness has come out of all the bad I have endured these last few years...The list of goodness...is a long one,actually...including this very special place called The Lilypad...where I have been able to create my grief pages and other layouts to my heart's content...that has helped me in ways I could not even begin to explain to everyone here who has supported me and still does...I try to each day,inspire myself by finding positivity always,even when I am having a "sad day" or a hard "pain" day...I am blessed and I am grateful for all that I have and for all the great! people in my life,whom without many of their guidance and comfort...I would have never made it to now...Asking for help was the hardest thing for me to do...being always with my sweet Ray, we always leaned on each other and managed to be there for each other...He was my help and support and when he passed away,I tried to be self-sufficient and strong but ended up having to admit that I couldn't get better on my own without help...and that made me think I was weak...but in fact that inner strength,that I never knew I had,surfaced just in time,to make me feel "brave enough" to admit that to myself...That "help" is something I am thankful for...and another is...having my 84 year old Dad back in my life...I missed him so much and now I get to spend time with him,as I now know life is so short and that time with him...makes my heart happy and inspires me to keep going and to try to find some kind of personal happiness again...that is truly my own experience...and just for me...So,as my layout expresses...I am now "in between" "Growth & Optimism" ...And I think that is just where I should be...Thank You! for this challenge...

*Credits Include :
*Flux | Mixed Media Kit / Messy Marks : Date Stamps 2025 PLUS BONUS / Art In Simplicity | Photo Ready Kit 3 / Lumen | The Complete Collection / Unfolding | Mixed Media Collection : Rachel Jefferies
* Font I Used : Ana's Rusty Typewriter Regular
* Photo : Me