Happy, Happy Birthday Geri.

Happy, Happy Birthday Geri!

I had to give a shout out to one of my

very favorite peeps.  This picture was

taken this summer after Geri and I

spent the day in the kitchen making

"gravy" and "macaroni".  Geri and I have had

a roller coaster relationship for a bazillion 

years, but when push came to shove . . .

She has really been my staunch supporter!

I do love her so and am so very, very

grateful for her listening ear, kind words,

and PRAYERS.  

I wish you the happiest of the happy and

am thankful that you are a part of our

lives.  I am proud of your accomplishments

and grateful that you are in it for the

long haul.

Blessings my friend.

2nd Month in Heaven.

 Two months in Heaven . . . 

What a better way to celebrate than one of

our Dad's very favorites . . . PANCAKES!!!

Some things I have learned over the past

two months . . . 

*Salvation is IMPORTANT . . . if you

aren't saved, there is no way to sugarcoat

it . . . GET SAVED. 

*It seems waaaay longer that 1,464 hours

since we have seen our sweet Dad.

*Our boys are THE bestest . . . hands down!

*Putting one foot in front of the other really

can be difficult.

*I can use a saw . . . 

*You can cry every single day for two

straight months and still have tears.

*As one who is way too judgmental,

I am not going to be any longer.

*When someone says they can't,

they really can't.

*Accept people just the way they are.

*Those who are the quickest to pick

you up may not always know just

what to say, but genuinely mean it.

*There are those who are in "it" for

the long haul.

*Washing fingerprints and handprints

from walls and other surfaces is highly

overrated!

*T-shirts and baseball caps have a 

story to tell . . . especially late at night

when it is quiet.

*The Bible is the only book with ALL

of the answers.

*Movie dates are pretty fun with your

kiddos.

*Mexican food just doesn't taste the same.

*Life is full of decisions.

*There is no.way to just get over "it".

*A text in the middle of the night really

can change EVERYTHING.

*Broken hearts are real . . . we

Googled it.

*There are people praying for you

that you don't even KNOW who

are praying for you.

*Family and friends mean everything.

"I will not cause pain without allowing 

something new to be born, says the Lord."

Isaiah 66:19

GriefShare.

GriefShare is an international Christian

grief recovery support group where Christians

find help and healing for the hurt of losing a

loved one.  Our church did not have a 

GriefShare program.  Of all of the groups in

the whole ENTIRE world I ever dreamed

that the Lord would have me be in charge 

of, I would not have chosen this one.  Funny

how the Lord chooses things for us that we

would NEVER imagine.  Being very 

discerning about how to spend my time

away from our boys, I found that this

ministry is a good choice for me.  I am

working closely with one of our pastors

to firm up the details, but our program will

begin very shortly at our church.  GriefShare

is a 13 week program.  It will be quite

the journey . . . I am sure.

Sing Along Sunday.

One of my favorite songs by my

favorite artists, reminding me I am

a foreigner in a strange land.  I

so cannot wait to go home.

Wise Rose Kennedy wrote:  "It

has been said that time heals all

wounds.  I do not agree.  The wounds

remain.  In time, the mind, protecting

its sanity covers them with scar tissue,

and the pain lessens, but is never gone."

She's Here!

Holy, holy, holy cow!!!  My new amazing

Bernina sewing machine has been unpacked

and is up in her new spot.  

 Luke had a merit badge college at 6am and

Zach had to work.  Sam, bless his heart,

stayed by my side for the unpacking and

setting up process!!!!

 I just love, love, love, love her!!  She is

brand spankin' new and ready to go!!!!

I start sewing school on February 13 once a

 wee for six weeks!!!

Purchasing, opening, and beginning to sew on

my new machine was totally bittersweet.  My

Mike ALWAYS wanted me to purchase this

machine.  I do so wish, wish, wish that he could

have been here to watch me get 'er going!!!

He loved it when we got something new that

we really loved . . . he loved watching and

taking part in our excitement.

Somehow . . . I know that he is watchin'!

A Little Trip to Quiltique.

Meet Andrea.  Andrea looks to be a sweet

young girl without ulterior motives . . .

That is just how she reels them in!!!

Holy cow!!!  Can you guess what is in these

two boxes.  First clue:  Having a bestest 

buddy like Susan can be uber dangerous.

Loaded and ready to go home.

After years and years of encouragement

from my sweet family . . . 

I upgraded!!!

Missing.

Man, oh, man . . . I sure do miss these hands.

More than anything, I miss the hand holding

and hugs!!!  Those were some pretty big paws

for such a gentle man.  I spend many minutes

and hours each day missing them.  I am now

so very grateful for all of the hard work and

dedication to our family that these hands

provided.  More than anything, I am thankful

for the bazillion hours of prayer that these

hands were engaged in . . . Miss, miss, missing

every.single.inch.  Still knowing, our God

is in control.  Still missing . . .