Happy 4th!

An Unplugged 4th...

The Farmer and I spent the weekend up at the lake place...

{Love}

And in an unexpected, but wonderful kind of way, we found ourselves without even a blip of an internet wave.

Nada... Zero... Zip...

At first, there was a wee bit of panic, but it didn't take long to settle into the easy rhythm of lake breezes and no schedules.

There was a walk thru the wildflowers growing in the field... yes, that very same septic field... Glorious, tiny little wildflower seeds you have grown into natural beauties!

And a lazy afternoon swinging by the pond....

And watching our baby koi fish... they made it thru the winter!

It was a little bit of bliss...that no agenda, taking it easy, my kind of weekend sort of bliss...

Well, that is until the Farmer got a bit restless and decided it was time to finish skirting Poppy's cute little cabin...

So, off to Home Depot for supplies, and we were hard at it!

Sort of looks done, but there's still a lot to do... like staining the boards, and landscaping the edges, even so, it ended up being a productive and fun weekend... love working with the Farmer :-)

To be honest, I didn't even miss the internet once!  There's a nod to freedom in there somewhere I'm thinking.

And the sunsets were their own reward as we plopped our tired and worn-out selves into the swing at the end of each day...

Praying this weekend past was filled with the blessings of freedom, whether from pain, or stress or heartache... Trusting in the God who offers the truest freedom to set your hearts at rest this night.

My Love, Always,
                        Jane

Freedom Day

Celebrating on the farm...

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 4th of July... Independence Day... Freedom Celebration

 

We can't help but celebrate these gifts with gratitude for the men and women, past and present, who guard our freedoms with their very lives.  For some these freedoms were not free...they have given their cherished tomorrows for our todays.  Bless you each one...

 

These thoughts temper the day of festivity with a solemnness.  My mind wanders to the many freedoms lost around the world.  The fight for independence still rages on, this I know.  And my heart remembers a battle not so distant, a personal struggle, our journey with the beast of cancer.  The fight was ultimately for her freedom...

Caught in the grip of cancer tight, anguish fed the fear... hearts ached as we watched mom's world shrink, enslaved to a disease that battled furious for her very life. 

Such a vicious disease.  Pancreatic cancer binds freedom from a soul in so many ways...

* diets change

* pain closes in

* treatment choices map the days

* fatigue and nausea obscure the joy

* weakness ties the body to bed

Hearts grow sore.  Freedoms diminish.  Life revolves around the sickness that won't let go.

And we struggle with the chains.  We fight the ever-tightening noose.   How to live a life free.

Unfettered.

Unhindered.

Free...

As our nation celebrates the gift of Freedom, our Independence Day, I struggle anew with the journey.   Soul cries unfair.  Our Freedoms were taken the day mom was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer.

 

Firecrackers explode with noise and beauty, lighting the heavens and my gaze shifts up...

the Heart follows.

There is a Freedom, this my soul knows.  He speaks quiet to shattered dreams.  Lifts up the fallen countenance and reminds again... and again...

There is only Freedom in the One who surrendered Himself to our chains, to our fetters. 

A True Freedom in the Grace and Blessed Mercy of the Cross.  In the Unfailing Love of God.

"Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

look at the earth beneath:

the heavens will vanish like smoke,

the earth will wear out like a garment...

But my Salvation will last forever,

my righteousness will never fail."

                             ~  Isaiah 51:6

 

In this life, freedom is such a transient thing.  There are no perfect answers for our struggles, for the paths our journeys take.  

 

Mom's Freedom came, whole and complete, the moment she closed her eyes here in our presence and opened them to the glorious wonders of Life Eternal with the One who loves her tender and will never fail her.  Or us.

 

I don't know how this works.  This Freedom.  But I know it does.  always.  work.

We can celebrate our Independence no matter the circumstances that bind.  It is a glorious gift born of sacrifice great.  And it is balm to hearts sore this day.

Graced by Freedom to Celebrate with Joy,
                                                      Always,  Jane