Fall is here in MI

The flowers have rebounded with the cooler weather and rain!

I have moved some of the rock that was once under our deck.  The grass would not grow along the back of the house because it is too hot.  The weeds looked terrible.  It looks better.  We are still waiting for the patio project, but there are things we can do to reuse and recycle!

Alisa met a friend at the apple orchard this morning and brought back a fall treat!  Nothing like a fresh apple cider donut.

I'm thankful for the change in the season...a time to reflect on God's provision and His protection through the summer months.  I happen to be partial to the fall season.  It has always been a favorite as I am reminded of the cozy times at home and the gathering of family over the holiday time.  All we have need of over every season, He has been good to us.  It overwhelms me when I look back at what He has done.  So often, I get so focused on what is before me that I don't consider all the little details of life that make up each day.  It is when a friend reaches out to me to say "I've been praying for you...how is everyone?"  When I have to think about how to answer that...I cry uncontrollably.   How sweet the prayers of God's people have been for us!  I do what I have to do each day knowing that God gives me the strength and wisdom for each day as I yield to Him.  Some days are harder than others, but God never fails!  The song Greater Vision sings comes to mind...For All He's Done!

Every morning when I wake to see the sun,

I can't help but think about the Lord

And all the things He's done
He meets my every need
You know He's been so good to me
And I can't help but praise the Lord
For all He's done

For all He's done
I'm gonna lift my hands and praise Him
For all He's done
I'll try to live my life to please Him
Even though I don't deserve to live
My life has just begun
And I can't help but praise the Lord
For all He's done

There are many things that I could praise God for
And if I started now, until I die
There'd still be many more
If I could mention only one
I'd have to thank Him for His Son
Now that's enough to praise the Lord
For all He's done

For all He's done
I'm gonna lift my hands and praise Him
For all He's done (for all He's done)
I'll try to live my life to please Him
Even though I don't deserve to live
My life has just begun
And I can't help but praise the Lord
For all He's done

 

A 3 week update

Another picture hanging in Dad and Mom's home.   I love walking around homes and seeing truth placed on the walls that we pass each day.  

Tuesday was the day Mom was ready to have Dad help buzz off her hair.  It is a hard thing to do after anticipating the expected.  It is a reminder of the strength of the chemo in the body.  It is now an outward reminder of the fight that is going on in Mom's body.  But...yet...Dad captured a brave smile.  Mom is so loved and her testimony of peace has been convicting.

A picture of God's strength...cute in her hat from Mari ready to work on laundry!  So thankful for the days of feeling good and wanting to take care of routine things...while waiting for the arrival of Mari!

These two share another common bond...a cancer fight!  I know there were tears first...and then came those smiles!  That is was hope in Jesus gives us!  In the hard times, there can still be joy of being together.  Mari is able to be with Dad and Mom for Mom's second chemo treatment.  This was the picture she sent from the backseat on their way to treatment!  I laughed till I cried...stuff like this doesn't happen when I am there to witness it in person.  I'm thankful that God can take a hard situation and bring some laughter.  I'm still wondering if they ever found the little gecko.

We are our Mother's daughters!  Fresh flowers can cheer a hard day of waiting on doctors and chemo treatments.  Praying over the next few days as Mom's body deals with the harsh effects of the chemo and as Dad and Mari rend to her needs.

 

A trip down memory lane...

I had this exact lunchbox way back when!  I saw this picture with all the other back to school pictures that have been posted lately.  This is the first year in twenty-two years that I have had no "back to school pictures" to post.  Now that I am home and see the school buses driving by, the whole change of life has hit home.  Seeing my "old students" and parents at church, brings a teary smile.  Being told "we miss you", blesses me.  I am still adjusting mentally to the change.  I was told to "embrace this time and be thankful for the time to minister in different ways because that is so very important right now."  And then God reminds me in a big way, I can still help people learn and grow...it just looks different!   This picture of the old metal lunchbox just reminds me how old I am.  There is value in being old!

"Past is experience, present is experiment, future is expectation. Use your experience in your experiments to achieve your God's expectations."

I am focusing on being thankful for the times to encourage others to use their abilities and God-given talents to help others.  Everyone has their way of doing things, and that is ok!  I realized as I spent time meeting with a friend, that most of what I did when I stepped back had taken me years of trial and error and training.  Having a teachable spirit and being flexible is something that needs to be chosen and practiced.  I think back to all the training both formal and informal I put myself under and how it took time and effort.  Teaching is more about learning!  God gives the heart, mind, and talent for that combination.  I look back to how I was raised and I see all the special opportunities that God gave me in preparation for what He had for me.  I see all the things my parents taught me back in the days when I was carrying my Holly Hobbie lunchbox to school.  A strong foundation has to be built for learning.  I am thankful for all the memories of the strong foundation in Christ, which impacted my whole entire life.  Dad and Mom sacrificed to make sure our education matched the biblical foundation they cultivated in our home.  I am thankful for memories that bring me back to how I was raised!    

He is home and running the grill!

Love it when Ted wants to try something different for a meal!  Thanks to Paul and Carma for sharing another yummy idea.

Italian sausage butterflied with casing removed and grilled with sautéed peppers and onions. 

It was fantastic and the leftovers were great too!  We are enjoying time at home together this weekend.

Saturday night...spaghetti squash roasted on the grill with olive oil, salt and pepper, and garlic! YUM!

 

I'm so thankful for the little days...that prepare our hearts for the big days!

As I flew home last Saturday, I had my headphones in and listened to music on my flight.  I had a row all to myself and could look out the window at will.  Soon...my eyes were filled with tears as these words hit my heart.  I was thankful for no company around me as I sobbed once again in thankfulness and surrender to God's will and way in our life.  He knows what He is doing in our life...and I need to trust Him.

Pray on the Little Days
by Mark Bishop

I'm just like you in so many ways.
I've had my share of tears, had my share of rainy days.
Yeah there are ups and downs, and the seasons turn.
But through it all the greatest lesson that I have learned,
Is to just let God be God on those little days.
And He'll be God there on the bigger days.
Why do we wait until things go wrong,
When we could have him by our side all along?
Let God be God in the best of times, and He'll be God
When you're going through the worst of times.
When you need God to move in mighty ways.
When you need God to be there on the bigger days, pray on the little days.

It's more than a book sitting on a table.
God can change your life, He's willing and He's able.
Oh, but we keep Him small and then we stay the same.
But we could change the world by calling on His name.

Let God be God on the little days.
And He'll be God on the bigger days.
Why do we wait until things go wrong,
When we could have him by our side all along?

Let God be God in the best of times, and He'll be God
Through the worst of times.
When you need God to move in mighty ways.
When you need God to be there on the bigger days, pray on the little days.

Let God be God...

Pray on the little days...

Let God be God!

Catching up, cleaning, and crafting

It is nice to come home and spend some time catching up on all the things!  Monday...I used my time wisely and did a few chores after a slow morning and coffee!  I spread some fall decor through the first floor and lit the candles.  Mmmmm, my favorite season of the year!

My sissy came over for a visit and brought a beautiful bouquet of fall flowers!

Tuesday was a day to hang out with Alisa and enjoy the beautiful fall weather.  I sat and painted a few more cards.  I am finding it strange to have more time to do things around our home...some work related and some creative!  I am thankful for this season in our life...even though it is very different...it has filled my heart with peace.

Alisa stopped at the city farmer's market on her way home from work.  She brought the girls a special pup treat!  They were so excited and pranced around with the treats before eating the peanut butter goodness.

They spent the morning at the groomer's and are so soft and fluffy.  We enjoyed lots of cuddles this afternoon.  I am fighting something right now, so it was a total rest day for me.  Hoping to feel better tomorrow, so I can do a couple things before I pick up Ted from the airport Thursday night!
 

A beautiful Sunday in Michigan

Fall is in the air here in Michigan!  Alisa and I went to church together this morning.  I am thankful for what God has done for us over these last four weeks that I have been gone.  One of the songs that was sung this morning was about Praising the Lord while I have breath!  I want to do that all the time...in the hard times, in the easy times, in every season...in our home...or out and about!

Meanwhile...in Belgium...on the boardwalk by the ocean...

a treat...wish I was there with my love to share!  Yum!

 

"I have ducks..."

Alisa had fun spreading some love all around our bedroom and bathroom!

I keep seeing them...and I'm laughing at the random places.

I feel loved!

 

Savoring this Saturday 9/16

I finished a few things for Dad and Mom to make life easier the next couple days.  Last night, I found some little fall decorations and put them out for Mom.  Dad teased me about my Cinderella duties, so I wanted another picture for proof that Cinderella does iron if necessary.  I should write a song called "Lick and a Promise" because that is what Mom says about ironing Dad's shirts..."they just need a lick and a promise".  I guess if you say that it doesn't seem so overwhelming as "ironing".

I bought blueberries to make muffins, but then found the cute little loaf pans in the kitchen drawer.  A yummy and freshly baked treat!

Making notes and going over things to remember...

Spending time together...before they drove me to the RSW airport for my flight home to Michigan.

Well...that should be fun!

All checked in and no concerns going through TSA.  Today's flight is on Spirit...my first experience with them.

We paid for a carryon because I was gone for so long.  I got to board in zone 1 due to that.  I didn't choose my seat, I was assigned 11C (aisle!).  So far...so good.  Still on time even with thunderstorms rolling through the area.

My tears started matching the airplane windows.  The goodbyes today were harder than I expected!  I am so grateful for the time I had helping with Mom's move to FL.  I am blessed to have been able to stay and be with Dad and Mom as they started the treatment for cancer.  My heart is torn to want to be a help to our parents, but also take care of my responsibilities as a wife and mother.  I need to go home for awhile...and knowing that I can go back if needed...is a blessing.

Wow!  I think there were only about 30-35 passengers on this flight!  I could have had fourteen carry-ons...but that would have cost way more than my seat.  I'm still scratching my head as I recall the seat cost, the carryon cost...how...how is this possible to take a plane back to MI with so few people?

The gorgeous, fluffy Florida clouds...

I had the whole row to myself.  I ate a sandwich while waiting for the plane and had a drink with me.  I used my headphones and listened to music the whole time.  So I did not miss the lack of snacks and entertainment offerings.

The time passed so quickly and all of a sudden they were saying "we land in 40 minutes"!

The plain...flat...Michigan clouds.

A smooth flight and landing!  We pulled up to the gate closest to where we walk out of the airport and Alisa pulled up and was right there!  I am thankful for the ease of the whole Spirit experience...and no breaking open of my suitcase!

Someone is glad I am home...and the furry someones stayed close by all night.  Time to rest...and then Momma has some catching up to do around the home front!

 

Friday fun 9/15

I'm tired after water aerobics!  The gal who ran it this morning counted lots faster...but it was a good workout.  I got a shower and met the home health nurse, Jessie, with my hair in a towel.  Oh well.  

Mom and I took a walk to the mailbox.  It was a gorgeous day...albeit warm!  "You don't have to go so fast, you can slow down if you need to."  Mom replied, "Yes, I do the wheels keep going around and I have to keep up with them."

We squinted and giggled on our way.

Whoops!  I guess we forgot...I mean I forgot...to check the mail the last couple days.  Oh...Dad got another birthday card!  Sorry, Mari!  Ha.

It doesn't feel like fall in FL...but it sure smells like it in Dad and Mom's house!

I cut Mom's hair and then we curled it to make her feel beautiful.  She went in and put earrings on...and she definitely looked like she was feeling better!

Dad brought Mom a special request order.  She was able to eat part of the taquitos.  "It tastes so good that I don't care if it bothers my stomach."

I stopped in to see Dad in his office when I was out and about.  

Love this picture hanging in his office!

Beautiful early evening sky!

The thunderstorm getting ready to roll in and bring a downpour!

Tonight's supper...baked chicken tenders, roasted sweet potatoes, fresh green beans, and stuffing.  "MMMM, smells and tastes almost like Thanksgiving!"

Meanwhile...in Belgium...Ted sent us his dinner picture!

Business men who travel and eat alone...often meet people and strike up interesting conversations.

I forgot to take a picture of the mess I had on the bed of what I needed to pack up.  Dad walked in and laughed, "You are going to put all that in that little suitcase?"  Uh, yep, I'm gonna try!  Well...I had to admit defeat!  I left two shirts and three pairs of capris/shorts in the bedroom cupboard.  I left behind the big health and beauty products for other's use.  My suitcase was busting at the seams and my bag heavy...hoepfully we will all make it to Michigan without something breaking open!