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Saturday, April 22, 2017

Hello from St. Lucia!


We have arrived on the sunny island of St. Lucia to begin our much anticipated vacation here in the Caribbean.  Tomorrow we board the Mandalay for a bucket-list, week-long cruise on an old sailing schooner!

But before we board we have packed in some major sight-seeing... and for the record, the Island does not disappoint!

From flowering abundance:


to lazy waterfalls:


and amazing vistas:  



The peace and beauty have already begun to unravel our tangled nerves!  

And we say that there's no time like the present to start making some great memories...


We're not waiting another second!


Sweet sailing... See you in a week!!

P.S. We've got this self-stick thing down!!


Sunday, April 16, 2017

An Easter Selfie...

Taking a moment to breathe in the blessings of this weekend past...

An empty tomb.

A risen Lord.

A Love so deep it cannot be fathomed.

From the darkness of that Good Friday to the Joy of a Resurrection Sunday.

It is a Celebration of Love and Family and Hope... and we have worshipped together with arms and hearts full...




There was also laughter bubbling over as we practiced with
the selfie-stick our sweet daughter gifted us for an upcoming trip.

No time like the present to try it out!

First attempt was, like, what???


Second try was getting there...


Finally think we've got this!


Love each sweet face!

And this is the beauty of God's Amazing Grace...
No matter how dark our nights,
the struggles, the grief...

He brings Joy and Hope in the morning.



May you feel the Hope of new beginnings this night
no matter how the darkness pulls...

The Son has Risen!

And that makes all the difference in the world.


Friday, April 14, 2017

A Good Word this Holy Friday...


                        ~ graphic courtesty of ibibleverses


Even in the darkest night,
we have Hope.

In Grace Waiting...

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

When a Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis Becomes Unbearable...

The Jackson men are a strong bunch, but nothing could prepare them for the devastating news that all 3 of them have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer...

It is a nightmare that few of us could even imagine.

In late 2014, Wayne Jackson was diagnosed with neuroendocrine Pancreatic Cancerous tumors resulting from a rare syndrome called MEN-1.  He underwent surgery to remove 12 tumors in 2014, but has recently seen a rise in his tumor markers...  In early 2016 his 18-year old son, Parker was also diagnosed with the same neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer and a short 6 weeks later his 21-year old son, Preston, was unbelievably diagnosed with the same cancerous tumors.

Unknowingly, the MEN-1 Syndrome was passed down from Wayne to his boys, causing the shattering diagnoses in these young men.

Heartache of unimaginable proportions.

Their story has haunted me... As a parent it is one of our worst fears, that one of our children would suffer such a devastating diagnosis... and for Wayne, he not only is walking his own cancer road, he is also struggling to be there for both of his sons as they too find themselves on a cancer journey...a journey that none of us would wish on even our worst enemy.

How do you handle something this catastrophic?  Who picks up the pieces when the struggle overwhelms?

And yet, Wayne and his boys are moving forward.  There have been tears.  There has been prayer.  There has been sheer determination and grit.  They are standing solidly with each other, walking into the fight together, proving the strength of family and the hope found in God's constant provision can make all the difference.





The Jackson men are so very much in our thoughts this night. Join me in lifting them up as they fight hard. Trusting in God's Amazing Grace to meet each need and bring joy out of the heartache and strength in the midst of pain..,

Kneeling in Grace tonight,
                                  Jane