Joy in the Midst of Grief, Is it Even Possible?

2 months ago we lost a friend...

Bonnie has been a part of our circle for as long as I can remember.  She lived just up the road from us in a little yellow house that bloomed bluebonnets all spring long.  Though in her 80's, Bonnie was a bundle of energy and the memories run long of the fun we've had together...

She and her daughter, Marilyn were a happy part of our Lunch circle, our Bible Study group and our Road-Trip Warriors escapades...

Her loss has left us a little off-center.  Her faith strong, we never doubted her home-going.  The goodbyes were sweet and full of love.  Her family centered in Christ's promises.   And yet, there is such a hole left in our lives...

We miss that smile, the encouraging hugs, even that sassy way she had of livening even the most ordinary of days.

And while we feel the missing, her daughter struggles all the more, for more than mother-daughter, they were best of friends.

And so, when life grabs you by the neck and drags you through paths uncharted, it is often that we end up adrift with no anchor... and in the midst of the uncertain, the bluebonnets bloom sure... and we dared to snatch Marilyn up for a Road Trip, even in the midst of grieving Bonnie...

For in our Cancer Journey, mom found that sometimes you just need to Get-Away for a bit.  And though we weren't Traveling with Cancer, we indeed needed a reprieve from the heart-ache... A granting of permission to go and enjoy the people, places and activities that bring us so much pleasure.

And so the Road Trip to Waco was born.  A Grace Break most needed.

Waco?!  Yes, the home of our newest addiction... The Fixer-Upper!  Have you seen it on HGTV?  Chip and Joanna Gaines are the warm and crazy hosts of a show that we simply love.  So where better to head off to if you live in Texas?  Magnolia Markets, the fabulous Fixer-Upper store front!

 

Oh and we shopped...

 

and shopped...

 

And then since you can only shop so long,

we set out to explore the Back Roads of Waco.

Friends, you need to visit Waco!

 

 

 

Such beauty... flowers spilling, heart-aches easing...

 

And we found the tallest Crepe Myrtle we've ever seen!

 

 

And of course, we ate and laughed...

and talked about our moms, and Bonnie,

and cried a bit...

And felt the Grace Break right on down to our very hearts.

And, naturally we found our bluebonnets...

 

Spring time in Texas...

Somehow Grace gives joy even in the midst of grieving,

for sharing the heart-aches together, surely eases the pain

and gives way to such beautiful memories.

Thanking God for the gift of you, Miss Bonnie,

your light and legacy live on...

P.S. You would have loved this trip!

It's Bluebonnet Time

And time for a Road Trip to the Texas Hill Country!

Have daughter - will travel!!  And what fun we had...  A tank of gas and a map.  Our destination was central Texas.  Hill Country.  Wildflower Mecca.  We drove south from Dallas and got off the interstate in Austin.  From there we followed the back roads, slowed our pace to meandering, and rolled the windows down to take it all in!

And then we happened upon the Bluebonnet Festival in Burnett, complete with a loud and noisy parade, craft fair and cotton candy!  Small town Americana at it's homespun best:

Little Miss Bluebonnet and her Beautiful Court

No parade is complete without the Cowgirls and their Prancing Steeds

and the local High School Marching Band!

From there, we wandered the country roads and stumbled upon an old, one-room school house.  The historic marker proclaimed it the Prairie Mountain Schoolhouse, built in 1906, used as a school, and also as a place of worship.  While the building was abandoned, the wildflowers graciously tended the empty school yard and softened the barren landscape.

Even the old swingset was decked out for spring!

Finally, we arrived in the lovely town of Fredericksburg.  A destination all in itself!  Settled by German immigrants in the mid-1800's, it retains the vibrant heritage, and is full of charming bed-and breakfasts, authentic log cabins, amazing shopping, restaurants and award-winning wineries.

Fredericksburg is also known for being home to the largest, working wildflower farm in the nation, Wildseed Farms.  And that's where we headed!

Simply breathtaking.  Our pictures hardly do it justice!  We were surrounded on every side by blooms, fragrance and beauty.

The weekend flew by in marvelous moments.  Sharing the memories with Katie made it all the more special.  When the day-to-day drudgery pulls us down, we can draw on these heart-made-moments to lift our spirts!  And if you can't tell, I'm just crazy about Spring!  Makes me smile everytime...

May your day be filled with the beautiful reminders of God's Love Letter to humanity in blooming color...

In Grace Smiling,  Jane