Please Pray With Me

This is me with my friend Janis, the photo was taken four years ago when we visited her and her husband at their ranch in Oklahoma. Janis and I were next door neighbors here in North Carolina back in the day, we raised our families together and our lives overlapped every day in all the very best ways. I got a phone call from her daughter last week and even before I answered my heart dropped into my stomach-- I knew something was wrong. It is. Janis found a small lump on her collarbone, she immediately called her doctor and was in the office that very afternoon; from there things have escalated at a very fast pace. She has received a lymphoma diagnosis, has been assigned an oncologist, has had a biopsy and a PT scan and will begin chemotherapy treatment next week. In the meantime she'll have a chemo port put in, have a bone marrow specimen drawn and attend a class on "what to expect" going forward. Her oncologist is the son of a Methodist minister and a firm believer in the power of prayer. Please join me in praying for my dear and loyal friend; my prayers are for complete healing and for Janis, for comfort, strength and patience as she receives her prescribed course of treatment and for peace and support for her loving family. 

And, if I may ask for yet another prayer: this one for our daughter and her family. They lost their precious Sophie last week. Sophie was the best dog; quiet and loving. This photo was taken a year ago when we kept her while the family traveled to Disney World, she always wanted to be snuggled up wherever Hannes was, or as close to her humans as she could possibly be. She will be sorely missed by all of us. My daily prayer includes one for healing balm for their broken hearts and the hope that happy memories of Sophie replace the sadness and sorrow that descends following the loss of a beloved pet.

Thank you, I am truly grateful.

Life is Good!

An Expression Of A Deeper Order

Since my last post here, life consisted of, what I thought to be, a long string of events (random or otherwise). I struggled to keep up, it seemed as though I was hopscotching on one foot from one square to the next and barely keeping myself upright as I was doing it. There were momentary respites, here and there, exceedingly brief and all too fleeting. "Breathe", I kept reminding myself, "just breathe". I have been wearing many hats: wife, mother, grandmother, daughter-- all at the same time. In the course of the last four weeks we sold my in-law's home, said good-bye to our son's precious canine companion: Diesel, hosted my parents for a two week visit, kept our two youngest grandchildren during our daughter-in-law's scheduled surgery and recuperation, transported little ones to and from their designated schools and activities, celebrated our next to youngest grandchild's seventh(!) birthday and through it all endeavored to keep up with laundry, get meals on the table, and maintain a house that was, somewhat, clean and tidy. All of a sudden, it seems, life has slowed back down and a quick glance out the window reveals that the seasons have changed during all of the hub-bub of activity. Yes, through it all God has been there; strengthening, supporting and  revealing Himself in the most glorious way. This, from a Bible Study I am preparing for today: "we have talked about marriage and family as a vocation or calling from God. This calling is lived out within the struggles and trials of life in this world as God gives us to others as people to count on and receive help from." Today, my husband is spending his time at home doing all of those long postponed projects now that we have only one house again, our son and his family have begun to heal the hole in their hearts by welcoming a new furry friend into their lives and home, family relationships have been strengthened and fortified while making memories through time spent together and, our daughter-in-law is resuming her normal activities once again and daily life is settling back into a familiar rhythm; all while bathed in the resplendent golden glow of autumn (lest I forget who's been in control all along)! 

Thanks be to God!

Life is Good!

photo credit: Bill Voigt 
quote credit: Mary Alice Monroe, from The Butterfly's Daughter

Mutual Love

This is Linus, he belongs to my dear mother-in-law (or vice versa!) and is living with us temporarily while Mom is in the rehabilitation facility. Linus is part Chihuahua and part Rat Terrier, he is a nervous, skittish dog; but sweet. We took Linus to visit Mom yesterday; he snuggled right down beside her when Mr. Goodneedle placed him on her bed and completely relaxed, the first time I have seen him do that in weeks. Mom seemed calm and restful too, his visit was powerful therapy for her as she works to gain strength and recover, their mutual love for one another is precious. Thank you for your continued prayers on her behalf, God hears them and knows her needs.

Life is Good!

On this, the third day of November, I am thankful for elder care facilities

 that understand the importance of, and encourage, patient-pet visitation.

EPIC Road Trip-- Wrap Up!

There were quilt shop stops that I couldn't fit in to the previous five installments; we can't forget those. I will attempt to place this wrap-up post in a timeline that is logical and makes sense without appearing too disjointed. The stop at this shop, The Quilter's Corner in Sacramento, CA was on Saturday, the 13th of August. I found this shop to be well-stocked, bright and organized. The owner was highly energetic and friendly, she recommended  a wonderful local restaurant for a pizza lunch that lived up to the billing. Later on this day we learned that our daughter-in-law had been admitted to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy! I don't know that I had ever felt so far from home. We were worried about my mother-in-law before we took off, but never had even considered that one of our children would be hospitalized and in need while we were gone. She did just fine, although the appendix did rupture upon removal which, sadly, added to her recovery time. The troops were called in to help from near and far to help with the children. Certainly, for me, this was the low spot in our adventure.

This is "Grass Lake" somewhere in the Wilamette National Forest, one of the most scenic rest areas I have ever visited. There were benches situated beneath large shade trees where one could sit and gaze out on this peaceful scene. If we hadn't been on our way to another stop (Crater Lake) this day it would have been the perfect picnic location.

This is Quiltmania in Richland, WA. This small shop was literally crammed full of fabric bolts, filling every square inch of space. I helped them clear out a bit by taking some with me! A longarm machine was located right up front near the cash register, occupying the remaining floor space. This shop stays busy with their quilting service. Something that I had not seen before: Quiltmania had an alcove filled with precut extra-wide backing fabrics of every shade and hue, customers for the quilting service can choose backings right on the spot when dropping off their quilt tops. 

Also on this day, we drove for a long time between Oregon and Washington alongside these trees: planted in perfectly straight rows, perpendicular to the highway and identified as Pacific Albus. I found the sight noteworthy and looked it up after returning home as I was curious as to the purpose of this intentional forest. You can read more about it here. (Photo credit to the indicated website.)

This is Quilting Bee in Spokane we were here on the 18th of August. This was not my first visit here, it is an absolutely beautiful shop in every aspect. I was impressed to find both the Bernina longarm and the Bernina 16-needle embroidery machines being demonstrated while I was there, that was fun. This shop is a destination in and of itself. 

On the 23rd of August we traveled through Theodore Roosevelt National Park very early in the morning, we were traveling between Glendive, MT and Minneapolis, MN that day and were already homeward bound at this point. This National Park is one of our favorites for the rugged landscape, abundant wildlife and peaceful serenity (especially just after dawn).  

Passing through some areas called "Prairie Dog Towns" these energetic critters are everywhere! When we stopped to view them they alert each other with a chirping cry and scatter as they dive and disappear into their burrows. I know this is a rodent, a kin to my nemesis squirrel; I shouldn't love them but I do. Who can resist that face?

We had visited this park two years ago and one of my most vivid memories from that time were the Pronghorn and the large herds of feral horses. This time we saw only a lone horse and no Pronghorn at all, they must have been hiding. 

The Bison were not in short supply however! 

The drive home was direct and without a lot of stops from this point forward. Two overnights: Minneapolis and Indianapolis along the way before we rested our weary heads on our own pillows again. Dorothy was right: "there's no place like home".

The wrap-up stats and the low-down on traveling with a pup-- 

Miles traveled: 9, 221. Quilt shops visited: 9. Days gone: 23. National Parks explored: 8. State Parks/Memorials/Monuments visited: 9.  States traveled through: 22, countries: 2.  Pies consumed: 2. State Forests traversed: countless. 

I kept track of each days' details through a journal. Constructed years ago, this journal cover holds a composition notebook making it the perfect size for travel. There are two large "pockets" front and back where the cover slips in which accommodate the maps, brochures and literature accumulated along the way; it secures with an attached tie keeping everything contained, neat and easily accessible.  We stayed exclusively at La Quinta Inns and Suites; they are pet friendly. No, we did not camp along the way! The corporate policy of LQ is two domestic pets per room, unless prohibited by law. We never found that to be a problem and all of our room reservations were made prior to travel, we only needed to adjust on one occasion because we drove farther than anticipated and rebooked that nights stay in a different location. Sadly, dogs aren't allowed on the trails in National Parks, he was carried on occasion. However, leashed pets were welcomed in every State Park we visited. We normally managed dinner by picking up carry-out and bringing it back to our room after we checked in for the evening, that way Hannes wasn't left behind; likewise we alternated getting our breakfasts and bringing it back to the room each morning. While in the car he rode in style, securely harnessed, on his elevated platform in the back seat. 

This was the last road trip for this car. Our 2000 model Mercury Marquis has served us well over the past sixteen years. We traded it in on Tuesday this week with this staggeringly high number on the odometer: we like to drive!

Yes, that is 342, 166 actual miles. All good things must come to an end. We are grateful for the service. 

Here's the odometer reading on our new car: 7.4 miles! Time for new adventures and more memories!

Thanks for riding along~

Life is Good!

On The Road, Again...

I'm off, again; this week to the Capital City to visit my daughter in her new home. While she's at work there are a few chores she's been saving up, just for me! Hannes will come along, too. He loves to hop in his travel pouch, he knows that means we're going somewhere together in the car. A few weeks ago the guys had an appointment to take Turbo (Kyle's cat) to the vet. I got out our soft sided, enclosed, carrier; the one we use for airplane trips. I thought that would be good for the cat in the car. Guess who hopped right in?

Life is Good!