THE MEMOIRS OF SUMMER RAY

Greetings from Gettysburg!

Fall is right around the corner. I am working on crafts for an upcoming event in late September. I will post details soon. I will have the books as well as one of my new Summer Ray tote bags. This picture is for show. It isn’t finished. But it is what the bag will look like, except the SR one will be different colors.

I will also have bookmarks, Summer Ray Light the World bracelets etc. I make crafts to help relax my brain. I put on movies that I have seen over and over again. This way I don’t have to look at the TV. I need the down time. But I also can’t stand to do nothing. So, I make stuff. These will also be offered as perks via our fundraiser with From the Heart Productions. But soon, all of these will be on this website in the “SHOP” tab as well. It’s on the goal list through December 31st. I was getting overwhelmed thinking time was running out. But then it is only August and I still have four months to go. I am also spending a lot of time working on my health. This is Cathy and I working on stretching and strength training. COVID wiped out my endurance and stamina.

Stamina – the ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort

Endurance – the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way

Figure skating is hard. It takes a lot of the above that I am lacking. Although, it is true I am definitely improving health wise THANK GOD, I am still struggling with stamina on the ice. But after COVID, it took me an entire year to walk a mile without stopping. So, it is looking like this is how I have to rebuild my skating. I have to take it slower and build my strength back on the ice. I cannot do it all off ice. It has to be done at the rink. The problem is my over zealous expectations. It makes me sad that I lost so much of my skating after COVID. But I cannot stay looking in the rear view mirror. I cannot grieve over a past, when I have the power of God within me to change my future. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) So, I do not have an excuse. If I want to get back to skating, I have to do the work. God did not make me sick. But He is helping me to heal. Still, I have to go at the pace my body is healing. If that makes any sense. Like it took me a year to walk a full mile. When before COVID, I was walking five miles several times a week. I was skating for hours twice a week. I was very fit. But my body is healing. I spent the last year working on strength training and stretching, walking, hiking, and swimming. I was focused on getting stronger. Unfortunately, the only way I can get my skating strength back, is to be consistent on the ice. The road block is my mind getting sad because of what I can’t do yet, that I could before. It doesn’t mean I won’t be able to do those skills again. It just means I have to be patient, do the work, listen to my coach about not over doing it, take my BiPAP because the cold air does affect my breathing. It means if it takes me a year to get my skating strength back, then that it what I have to accept. I am not strong enough to do jumps. I can do a spin or two. I can skate around the rink. But nothing near what I was. But there again, I have to keep those things in front of me, and there again, not look in the rear view mirror.

I no longer look in the rear view mirror in regards to this project. A lot of people have come and gone. A lot of people said this project would not last or that it would fail. Each and every day we are moving the project forward. Its success, will be the proof that those naysayers were wrong. I know God is with this project and why I refuse to quit. He never ceases to amaze me!!! He will see it through. I have total confidence in that!

Till next time,

Thank you for being a part of our Summer Ray world. I am keeping this author picture (below the book cover) for the time being. It was taken before I got so deathly ill. I want to keep this in front of me and why I changed my author photo on the books to this. I don’t want to keep the sick and broken me in front where I can see it. I want to see a healed and strong woman in front of me. It gives me something to work toward. It keeps my eyes forward and not behind.

Our Fiscal Sponsor, Carole Dean always talks about seeing our finished films and seeing ourselves at the premiers. It also gives us something to work toward. www.fromtheheartproductions.com

Even the Bible states in Romans 4:17:

“…calleth those things which be not as though they were.” (KJV)

“…calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” (NKJV)

WE MUST STOP LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS OF OUR PASTS!

“…but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

SUMMARY (GOOGLE AI)

“This concept encourages believers to not let their past dictate their present or future, allowing them to pursue their goals in faith with renewed vigor.”

We have to “press” toward the goals! We absolutely cannot allow the “past” to “dictate” our “present or” our “futures!”

dictate – lay down authoritatively; prescribe; give orders to; boss around; impose one’s will on

prescribe – to lay down a rule; to tell someone what they must have or do

I have to stop allowing my past to impose its will on me. I cannot continue to let it tell me how my present and future is going to be. I cannot continue to let it boss me around, give me orders, and tell me what I must have or do. I cannot let it lay down (ON MY LIFE) its law of sickness, death, defeat, and loss. What about you?

References: www.biblegateway.com; Google; wwwhttps://www.dictionary.com; https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/prescribe