HeartRocksHome

closer and blessed - are we

So Mr PepperDog and RR and I crawled into our Ravioli (RAV4)
And went for a little drive
Wonderful winter weather we are having.
Actually - wonderful because it is not so much winter.
See the sun streaming in our window on RR face (with his new hat)?
How handsome is this man with his new hat?
(Be still my beating heart)
We just enjoyed the sunshine.
The views from our window...

And Tennessee Ernie Ford singing to us.
"Just a Closer Walk with Thee"
I think that is what we are doing...walking closer to Thee.
Not a bad place to be.

When we got back to the house - we drove into the driveway - the sun - the music - the warm feeling in our car - we just leaned our seats back and took a delightful little nap.
RR - Arlene - PepperDog
With Tennessee reminding us of  "Blessed Assurance".

Closer - Blessed
And assured.

It began with a bottle of spilled NH3

Can you believe I still remember the formula for ammonia?
Spilled on floor the week before Christmas - resulting in the need to strip 27 layers of wax and redo floor.
Sister broker her leg.
Oldest grand child broke - arm - surgery - now better.
Youngest grandbaby - only one year old - broke arm.

BRIGHT SPOT: 40th wedding anniversary celebrated in grand style..thanks for the great surprise kids. It was just perfect in every way.

Christmas up - celebrated - down.
Food bought - prepared - family events.
RR is now Retired Rick
Sister in law critically ill - ICU for 15 days.
Funeral was Saturday.
Much company - much cooking - as we live close by but all the other family members do not.
Uncle Merrill - Von and now Uncle Owen have died.
Worried about Mom - losing three brothers so close together - sad - lonely.
Dishwasher not working.
MIce discovered in storage room of basement.
Much food thrown away.
Wipe off every shelf and jar and can.
Organize - clean - sanitize  and re-organize.
Twenty batches of wash (stored bedding etc)
Washing machine now leaking.
Bladder infection - come - gone.
RR facing heart surgery Feb 12th.
Dear friend diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Sorting out the decision of helping-encouraging-deciding about RR's Mom and a retirement center verses staying alone in her home.
Wrestling with decision about 'doing shows' this year.
Other than that....
Well - to be honest there just hasn't been much - other than that.
RR just came in to office...has sore throat and feels yuck..oh my, we certainly don't want to have to postpone his surgery.
I guess we need something else to worry about.

Thank you for your sweet emails and online hugs.
I don't know if I can really 'talk' about all that is in my head and heart.

But - I do have some great ideas - stirring around in my head amongst all the other things - and I am pretty sure I still have a magic room - someplace.

We have seen many 'tender mercies' from our loving Heavenly Father over the past couple months.
We fully expect and plan on many more as we fumble through the next month or so.

How are we, you ask?
Honestly - good.
We are doing good.
We have laughed and cried and laughed.
We look forward to each day.
I love having RR round about all day.
I look forward to  - after surgery..when he won't be short of breath, and will feel better.
We are grateful for technology and doctors that can 'fix a broken heart'.

And we pray for those who have broken hearts of another kind.

Did you catch the phrase  - "Our power to carry burdens can be more than enough."
This I know to be true.
I'd still pick up MY trouble pile.

Dads - A special kind of hero.

Edited...my son just sent this to me.
Oh my.

1. Kim Peek died recently, December 19th, he is the original "Rainman".
Reading his story is just  captivating.
(Also enjoy the linked articles)
And as amazing as he is - I couldn't help but think about his extraordinary father.
Dedicated his life to his son.
Help to make his sons life full and rich and rewarding - and blessed others along the way.
An extraordinary man.

2. Can't forget 'Team Hoyt'.
Fathers.
Just extraordinary men.

3. And I love this story of the comman man.
Rank and file - doing his best.
Extraordinary.
A father indeed.

A know a few myself.
 

 

 

And during this Christmas  Season, I have thought about another Father and His Son.
For unto us a Child was born...unto us a Son was given.
Extraordinary.
I scarce can take it in, actually.

Thank you...no, really thank you.

Thank you for stopping by to read my blah blah blog.

Thank you for sweet comments.

Thank you for encouragement.

Really...thank you.

Oh dear Stephanie

You have  taken a hold of all our hearts.

The last seven words are the most powerful.

Thank you - dear Stephanie.

Christmas spirit, indeed

My prayer this Christmas season is...that I will remember this spirit and be sensitive to others who may be 'having a hard time', so I can help them to feel this spirit through me. (Amy, this reminds me of your sweet Sarah)

Have you heard of having a 'lucky' break?

Well, in our family 'tis the season of UNLUCKY breaks.

Oldest Grandchild - Jackson.

 

Youngest Grandchild - Rebecca.

Same arm - same time.
What are the chances?

Plus my sister broke her leg.
Be careful - everyone - ok?

Christmas preparations are under way.

But not in a traditional way.

 
inspired by this talk

Last year our family chose to give the gift of 'learning something by heart' to share with one another.
I have to admit it was pretty hard to not fall back into the traditional "gifts-bought-from-a-store- exchange" way of doing things.
But we stuck to our resolve and oh my!
It was an amazing Christmas.
So much so, we are doing it again this year.
So preparations - are of a little different nature - for our family.
We will never go back - to gifts that are bought from a store.

We heard Isaiah 53 - yes, the entire chapter - from memory.
This declaration about Christ.
This little shepherd

recited this...yes, all by heart and his Dad recited it all in Spanish.
We had angels sing songs and recite scriptures.
Our youngest son and 'friend' (now wife - yahoo) inspired us with quotes that have helped them along life's journey.
This year we have expanded the gift options - we can either learn something by heart or share an improved talent or new learned skill. (A better 'you', if you will.)

It was a Christmas to remember.
In fact, I still remember.
Many years - by February - what was exchanged is a distant memory and often forgotten.

Learned by heart.
Stays in our hearts.
And the hearts of those we share it with.

Observations

Just that.
Observations.
(And some of my favorite random pictures thrown in)
In no particular order.
Part of the being older and observing thing.

* I (with the help of the Lord) can do harder things than I thought I could. I love this thought..."Of course, God gives us things we can't handle - so we will rely on Him." 

* Time speeds up as we get older. I remember when summer vacation was a long time, now from one Christmas to the next is but a fleeting moment.

* I do better when I make "change" my friend. 

* I like my feet on the ground - not in the air, not under the ground, not in the water, not on a bridge, not even in a car wash....but ON THE GROUND.

* For the most part everyone does the best they can. There is often a 'back' story to why people do what they do....I assume they are doing the best they can. (Me, included)

* There is no other feeling like the one that is felt when I think I have lost my debit card, or can't locate my keys in the store. You know that feeling. Don't you?

* Life is not fair. For the most part, I am grateful - because I am blessed WAY more than I have 'earned'.

* As I get older - I feel more in love/connected/part of RR. I miss him more when he is gone, I like it more when he walks through the door and is home.

* Time really is a healer - of some many things. Grief, hurt, misunderstanding, relationships.

There you have it - random observations and pictures.
What have you observed?

Plumb tuckered

Feeling like these girls today.
I bit disheveled.

The show was fun.
The best part was having these two fine gentlemen hanging around and visiting.

Because son #1 has an iPhone he could work from my booth - now how cool is that?
Speaking of iPhones.
I don't really like my iPhone...............I LOVE IT!

In addition to my 'things' being well received, I met great people and made some good network connections for some future 'opportunities'

One neighbor even said..."You are a welcome addition to this show." Now how nice was that?


Snapped these cute girls looking at the found paper journals.
Typical.
That was fun.
This show has 300 vendors (only 10 NEW ones - and I was lucky enough to be one of them - yahoo!) there was crafts and real live ART of every variety.
Including my kiddy-corner neighbor.
He sold antlers with metal leaves and tea lights to adorn them.
(A long shot photo...he has a sign requesting no pictures, please.)

You may be inclined to guffaw..or titter...or laugh.
Well - he is laughing all the way to the bank today..he sold "THINGS" all day long.
People like them there antlers and metal leaves with tea lights...so romantic..don't ya think?

If you check HIS blog - he probably has a picture of his weird kiddy-corner neighbor that sold 'rags and old paper'.

I love this world we live in....in all it's variety.