McDonalds, the Internet and Another Road Trip

So... I just might be having Internet withdrawal...

Wow.  It's been 10 days since I last had a connection (I think... it might be longer... I have lost track of days in my social media white-out).  How did the Pioneers ever survive?

We have been on a Road Trip to the North to visit Farmer Husband's family, most especially the sweetest in-laws a girl could ask for...

 

Over the past year, as their health has teetered, they have made some hard decisions... home is now the Marigold Assisted Re-hab Center.  And yet, they haven't been quite able to part with their brick-and-mortar home filled with memories and antiques and treasures.  It has been closed up (no internet!) and winterized these past months, just waiting for visitors from afar :-)  

 

The fellowship and time together has been marvelous... so much to share in days to come... however, it will have to wait until we get home or find another McDonalds (who knew they had free wi-fi? Order another chocolate shake please!)

 

Pictures and stories and hope mingle right along with miles and miles of interstate.  We're headed home...

 

Love and Grace,

                         Jane

When Life is Hard...

Walking this Journey together...

The Sweetest Medicine...

Recuperation is in full swing... Stitches removed... Arm still in a permanent sling, but Pain is "manageable"... We just might make it thru this rotator cuff thing (easy for me to say, the one who has not had her rotator cuff "wrangled" about...Farmer Husband says the jury is still out...)

But he does agree that the Rest and absolute Laziness of our days has been a Luxury... smile...

It is incredibly indulgent to not have an agenda... no errands to run... no meetings to attend... no work piling up... no hungry goats to feed... just a recliner, a pile of books, a hopper full of movies and this sweet thing...

 

Shy smiles and tender hugs... Recuperation doesn't get much better!

 

Thank you Aubree Claire for making our day!

 

 

Rotator Cuffs, Ropes and... Spring!

Update for the curious... Rotator Cuff is re-attached...  Recliner is at the ready... Recuperation has begun...

And there are 2 things, no 3, that I am grateful for today:

*  So blessed by Competent Surgeons who can wrangle and wrestle with torn tendons.  Our doctor said Farmer Husband had done an amazingly great job of rolling the tendon all the way to the back of the socket... I don't think that was a good thing, actually I'm pretty sure it was a bad thing...  Our wonderful surgeon then brought out the pictures he had taken during the "procedure" documenting him "wrangling" the wily rotator cuff into position...and Spoiler Alert...yes, that is a rope in the pictures.  Additional Spoiler Alert...pictures are really yucky... Look Away Now!

 

 

 

 Yucky... Right???

I don't think Surgeons should do Show and Tell...
the Tell part by itself would be fine... Just sayin'

*  Doubly Blessed by Compassionate Anesthesiologists who do awesome things with Nerve Blocks.  We are 24 hours into recovery and still no pain... although handsome husband says his arm feels like it weighs a ton and is deader than a doornail (personally I am ecstatic... I dislike pain, especially when it's happening to someone I love...) 

*  And finally, I am so grateful that tomorrow heralds the first day of Spring!  Ok, nothing to do with rotator cuffs, but who can't identify with this?  Warm Days, Sweet Fragrances, Balmy Breezes and Glorious Blooms... So ready to leave this Winter long gone!

And truly, Spring is the perfect place to begin our Rotator Cuff Recovery...

Journeying on in Grace, Always,
                                             Jane

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.