Beauty Preserved

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words... I've heard it said.  But for me, a picture is also worth a million memories, all wrapped up into joy... so it is with this very special print of Mom.

It is a precious remembrance of times together.  Her beautiful smile reaching out to lift my countenance and remind me of glorious celebrations...

my husband, my children, sweet grand-angel... gathered up in one place...

the moments of that day girding the thousands of days after...

Love this so much...  It was Mom's last birthday party.  So very, very glad we have these memories captured in print.

And I loved taking this beautiful family portrait and creating a special keepsake... I learned the technique on Pinterest.  If you've never checked Pinterest out, then, well, I'm at a loss for words!

Pinterest... So many Creative People...Oh. My. Goodness.  The things you can do... Just saying!  Anyway, the creative people (love you) have graciously given away their secrets and shared how to preserve beauty on old distressed wooden doors.  How awesome is that?!

This family portrait was the perfect piece to start with.  And then I couldn't stop!

 

Travis and Kelli walking thru the Wedding Garden...

Blissful Happiness

 

Katie and Jordan on their Wedding Beach...

Simply Adored

 

So much fun!  I'm like the Mod-Podge Queen... And very happy just looking at each sweet face.  Family, you make my heart smile...  When I can't hug your neck in person, I can cherish the memories in print  :-)

 

A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.

                                                               ~ Eudora Welty

 

May each photograph you hold in your hands capture the moments dear, bringing joy to your heart and a smile to your soul.

 

In Grace Always, Jane  

 

 

Painted Feathers

 Beauty for the start of your week, dear friends...

 

Thank you Glenn and Cheryl for sharing  :-)

 

Amazing artistry from FeatherLady Studios along with a

hauntingly beautiful story of God's Ever-Protecting Love...

 

 

"He will cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you will find refuge."

                                                  ~Psalm 91:4

 

God's Wings

 

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.  One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree.  Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick.  As it rolled over, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings.  The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had ushered her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.  She could have flown to safety, but had refused to abandon her babies.  Then the blaze had arrived and although the heat scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast...

 

She had been willing to die so that those

under the cover of her wings might live.

 

 

 

 

 

 

No matter what firestorms assail you,

May you always find the sheltering wings of Grace

to be your perfect refuge.

 

He is Faithful.  He is Steadfast.

He Loves you more than Life itself ...

 

"The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises

and faithful in all He does."

                             Psalm 145:13

 

Look Out a Window...

It Might Be Hope.

Simply Love this.  The Music.  The Lyrics.  The Video.  The Message and Heart... 

This video was made for the Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Although not specifically for pancreatic cancer, this is a beautiful tribute to those walking the valley road of medical crisis. 

Fighting.  Struggling.  Hurting.  Surviving.  Momma's and Daddies holding back the tears.  My heart aches to look into these sweet faces.  All who have been on this cancer journey know that ache...

Sometimes it feels like we've been down in the dark, here in this desolate place for such a long, long time.  Putting one foot in front of the other.  Doing the best we can... 

Oh, the words of this song speak Grace.

It Might Be Hope

(by Sara Groves)

You do your work the best that you can
You put one foot in front of the other
Life comes in waves and makes it’s demands
You hold on as well as your able

 

You’ve been here for a long long time

 

Hope has a way of turning it’s face to you
Just when you least expect it
You walk in a room
You look out a window
And something there leaves you breathless
You say to yourself
It’s been a while since I felt this
But it feels like it might be hope

 

It’s hard to recall what blew out the flame
It’s been dark since you can remember
You talk it all through to find it a name
As days go on by without number

 

You’ve been here for a long long time

 

Hope has a way of turning it’s face to you
Just when you least expect it
You walk in a room
You look out a window
And something there leaves you breathless
You say to yourself
It’s been a while since I felt this
But it feels like it might be hope.

 

Look around and see Hope turning its face towards you. 

 

Feel the moment deep that touches your heart, leaves you breathless...

 

...the tender curve of eyelashes brushing
the innocent cheeks of your sleeping child,
...the soft hint of a spring breeze whispering promise,
...the hand, rough and calloused, reaching to hold your own,
...the brilliance of an evening sunset drenched in unspeakable Glory...

It feels like it might be Hope.
 



 

Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, Nor Snow...

Nor Torn Rotator Cuffs...smile... The Hunt Continues...

Despite inclement weather and a gimpy husband, we have persevered in the journey!

This past month has taken us to backwoods peaceful and southern spectacular in the search for our next home place.  There is the tiniest thrill of anticipation as we wander the country roads and imagine ourselves settling down here or there.  And admittedly a tiny bead of anxiety as well, as we are still homeless, blessed by the sweet hospitality of my father and daughter, yet without even a blade of grass to call our own... at moments unsettling, but hope springing nonetheless  :-)

And so, here in no particular order are the highs and lows from this past month of dream-hunting...

Roger, the Realtor found a little cabin in the woods for us...near Lake Texoma on a few acres... Yes?

 

No...Not exactly the cabin we had pictured...

 

But what about this next one?

 

A Geodesic Dome overlooking the Lake... How cool is this?!

 

 

 

With amazing views!

 

 

 

...and a crumbling foundation perched on the edge of a ravine...

No.  Oh, so very cool, but No...

 

So on to a Gentleman's Hobby Farm that needs just a tad of elbow grease.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, ok, maybe a lot of elbow grease...

Farmer Husband shakes head and raises gimpy arm...

this Southern Plantation will have to depend on some other hardy soul to make it shine.

 

Never fear, Roger, leads us on...

 

 

 

11 acres in the middle of no-where!  We're intrigued!

 

 

 

Oh, the trees, the peace...

We stood still and listened to the Bird's song high above us...

We grinned, feels like home!

 

 

 

A hidden pond nestled among the trees...and still half-full despite the drought

Sanctuary for the wildlife that rustled all around!

 

 

 

Bordered by Brushy Creek and the wind whispering thru tall Cedar...

oh the possibilities!

 

 

 

Ahhhh.... Bliss for these country-starved farmers!

We hiked for an hour, tracing boundaries and soaking up the freedom.

 

That very night, in the dark, on our borrowed bed,

we made plans and wondered and dared to dream.

 

But something almost too good to be true?

Roger researched and dug deep and found the hitch...

no electric to the property...

 

But, we said, this is not an insurmountable thing, is it?

 

Not insurmountable, no.  Not if we were independently wealthy

(which of course we are not... goat herders are happy, and healthy, but not generally wealthy!)

 

Running electricity from the nearest pole (nearly 1/2 mile away)

would cost upwards of $40,000

 

Seriously?!  Who knew?!  This little piece of heaven just flew out of reach!

 

And yet, we know our limits...

and we're determined to be true to our goals.

Becoming over-extended in the pursuit of the dream will be

a trainwreck for this journey.

 

Even in the knowing, Dreams are dashed for awhile.

The smile wavers just a bit...

 

Thankfully, God knows our hearts,

And just when discouragement threatened to derail the journey,

we came upon these beauties munching in a neighboring yard...

 

 

 

 

Sometimes when you least expect it,

Hope has a way of sneaking up on you!

 

Praying your weekend is filled with Glimpses of Hope,

wherever your dreams take you!

 

In Grace Waiting,

                         Jane

  

 

 

 

Spring Come Soon!

The wind whistles bitter around doors and windows shut tight.  Winter has a grip that just won't let go!

Hands and Feet are frozen and longing for a thaw... surely the warm breezes and sun-drenched beauties of spring are not far around the bend.

 

 

 

"She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
    Winter is dead."

                       ~ A.A. Milne

 

Spring Come Soon!

One Small Mis-Step....One Big Disruption

The job was completed.  All that was left was clean-up. 

Farmer Husband was almost ready to head home.

And then the cuff of his pants caught on a pallet while he was loading up the spent steering cylinder.

It was just a little mis-step.  Mere inches and his cuff would have cleared the pallet.

 

No...No, not this pallet!

 

. . . . .

 

. . . . . .

 

. . . . . . .

 

 

This Pallet! 

The forward momentum of his body and the 150lb steering cylinder spelled disaster.

He landed on his right side with a jarring thud and intense pain followed.  His shoulder seemed to take the brunt of the fall.

Life spun from Grand to Gloomy in a heartbeat.

These last few weeks have been spent visiting doctors, filling perscriptions, having x-rays, meeting physical therapists, and finally a trip to the Imaging Center for an MRI.

Final Diagnosis...Torn Rotator Cuff.

Ughh!  Our journey through life just took an unexpected detour.

Consult with an Orthopedic Surgeon is in the future as well as possible (very likely) surgery.

While we wait for the wheels of insurance approval and appointment availability we find ourselves offering Gratitude for the Graces found even in this valley...

The injury is not life-threatening.  Grace Given.  We know the heart-ache of so many with terminal diagnoses.

The big jobs will wait.  Grace Offered.  Work has arranged for light duty for Leroy while "off" tending his shoulder.  We laugh at this Grace, for Farmer Husband is not prone to enjoy a desk job with its accompanying requisite filing and phone responsibilities.  But we know the hurt of so many with no jobs.

The enforced time home, rather than traveling across country with work is an unexpected gift.  Grace Enjoyed!  Time together is sweet.  We know the pain of so many missing loved ones gone.

And so we journey this messy life.  There will be hidden Graces still to find.  And Gratitude to give.

 

                                   ~ One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Not Easy... But we're longing hard after Joy.  Trusting in the Grace Giver for abundance.

Love Always, Jane

Otter Love

Sometimes it takes a team to make a Valentine's Day special... Like the staff at the Georgia Aquarium.

I'm in Otter Love...

 

Simply precious...especially if you love otters.  Which I guess I do, because, well, just Adorable!

 

Catch the whole story here.  (Be forewarned...Cuteness Alert)

 

And it makes me realize that sometimes it takes a whole lot of effort, and thought, and time to show someone just how much you care...even if you are an otter.  The Otter Team at the Georgia Aquarium obviously knows this.  And they do a splendid job of sharing the love.

 

Praying that you have someone taking all the time and thought and effort to show you just how much you are loved.  Might I be among those wishing you Love this day?  I know someone else who is just crazy in Love with you too...

 

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying,
Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:

therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

                                                            Jeremiah 31:3 

 

Happy Valentine's Day

Loved Ones!