Welcome October

Good morning everyone! Thank you for stopping by on this beautiful 1st day of October. 

This year has been one that I care not to repeat. The first Saturday of January, my other half's father was taken to the ER wee hours of the night as he initially was disoriented but by the time he arrived at the hospital he was unconscious. I won't go into the long drawn out details, but after a blood transfusion of 5 pints, he finally stabilized hours later. This lead to many tests, misdiagnoses and more. Mind you he has 1% of working lungs due to COPD, thus requiring the dependency on his oxygen mask. So this on top of the blood loss did not make for a good combination. He spent the first 6 months of the year in and out of ICU, CCU, rehab facilities, the skilled facility and finally LTAC. The blood loss was not due to internal or external bleeding, it was later found to be caused by a broken chromosome. With this condition his cells basically made the blood but didn't know what to do with it so it never "matured" and did its job. It was akin to making infantile blood that never knew what it's adults job was, so it died off. 
 
The hematologist was trying to get him approved for a drug that only one company in Germany makes that would be able to help repair the chromosome break. Each pill was $48,000.00 so the approval would been to have the medication donated to his care. We never did get word back in time as he passed away June 30th. 


All the while, I have had his mom living with me as she isn't really capable of living on her own. So this been a definite life change for both of us.

Early May I was informed that my Aunt on my Dad's side was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Two days later I get word that my Uncle on my Mom's side was also diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. My Aunt gave up and passed shortly after diagnosis, but my Uncle held on until the Lord called him home in July. The Lord also called home a dear friend that had been cancer in May.  

August 25th Hurricane Harvey hit and devastated the area. I'm sure you've seen the news of the unprecedented 500 yr flooding that hit the area. Several friends and co-workers lost their homes, including my other half's Mother. FEMA and Red Cross have been hard hit which makes it hard on residents as claims are still going unprocessed or denied without reason; even though those denied lost everything they had, so it wasn't a scam claim. It's just devastating to see the home debris still sitting on the side of the roads and highways waiting to be picked up. All the while homes are in disrepair as they continually wait and fight for funds to help rebuild. 

Needless to say, I am so ready for a better last 3 months of the year than how it started. 
 

Where is your hope?

A few years ago, I happened to see these two signs sitting next to each other while out shopping. I felt that there was some sense of reason as to why they would be sitting side by side. Then it hit me...

Home is where one should always find a sense of hope. But home doesn't have to be limited to mortar & beams...home is where your heart is. So never let your heart loose hope and you'll always have a home for your dreams.

Homeless

The past few years I have been homeless. No, I haven't wanted to share my secret with anyone, but my longing and yearning for a home has left me feeling empty. 

 

But all that changed this morning. The Lord spoke, I listened and I responded to the call. I have been officially planted in the House of the Lord. No longer am I homeless...seeking, longing and searching for a home Church. I had visited this particular Church several times the past year, but today was my day. There was a special call for anyone who felt led to join the church and before I knew it, I was standing at the altar with 2 others. It feels so good to be where He would have me. 

Psalm 92:13-15 (KJV)

"Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."

Adjust Your Sail

"I can't control the wind but I can adjust the sail" - Ricky Skaggs

No matter what life throws your way, remember that you have control over your actions, reactions, emotions and thoughts. Never let circumstances dictate where your sail takes you in this life.

The Long Road Home

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They say the road to home is always longest. Over the past couple years, I have journeyed down a road that I never thought I would have been on. But life....yes, life....it always has a way of throwing detours and even road blocks in ones way. As we travel we can either become discouraged and simply give up. We may become angry and bitter at circumstances we are facing that we didn't feel were deserved, especially since they were never asked for. 

It's never easy to travel that road, especially when you are going it alone. Yes, you may have family, friends or loved ones supporting you, but ultimately it is your road to travel to alone. No one can understand the inner turmoil, stress, fears, joy or relief that you experience along the way & at times you are thankful that they don't. 

As I reflect upon the many stops I faced along the way of life, I can see the LORD was always there. At the time, I may not have been able to 'see' HIM but HE was always there...and still is. In retrospect, I am thankful now for the places I have been and for who I am because of them. Along the way, I encountered those that would come into my life for a time and a season, as well as those who would remain in my life indefinitely. I am grateful for each one as you learn not only about their colors, but it helps one to enhance their own inner colors. 

While there will still be detours and potholes along the way, I have never been more happy than I am now. It may have taken longer than I would have liked & taken me off the beaten path, but finding my way back 'home' has been the most rewarding, fulfilling place ever known. Home is not just walls and a roof, home is where you are truly accepting of yourself. A place where your focus is not on pleasing others & leaving yourself to the side. Home is a place where you have inner peace. Home is where you and your Heavenly Father are as one as one can be. 

There really is no place like home...For home is truly where the heart is. 

 

Give & Take

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The past few days have brought with it much change. The LORD called home a dear cousin of my sweet Rednexx Man. So while he will certainly be missed here on Earth by those who knew & loved him, we rejoice in knowing that he is with our LORD in perfect health & peace. Yet on the other side of the spectrum, GOD brought some special people into our lives. In a way that only GOD would do, HE blessed us with a family of new friends & guided my steps at the funeral service by introducing into my life family that I never knew I had. GOD is so good!

I'm reminded of a lyric in the song "Blessed Be Your Name" by New Song...

"You give and take away...

You give and take away...

My heart will choose to say Lord, blessed be Your name"

The Old Spinning Wheel

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The Old Spinning Wheel

Covered with dust and forgotten
Like the face upon the wall
There's one souvenir of the days gone by
I treasure most of all

There's an old spinning wheel in the parlor
Spinning dreams of the long, long ago
Spinning dreams of an old fashioned garden
And a maid with her old fashioned beau

Sometimes it seems that I can hear her in the twilight
At the organ softly singing "old Black Joe"
There's an old spinning wheel in the parlor
Spinning dreams of the long, long ago

Turn back the years of my childhood
As you turn, old spinning wheel
Just show me a lane with a barefoot boy
As shadows softly steal

There's an old spinning wheel in the parlor
Spinning dreams of the long, long ago
Spinning dreams of an old fashioned garden
And a maid with her old fashioned beau

Sometimes it seems that I can hear her in the twilight
At the organ softly singing "old Black Joe"
There's an old spinning wheel in the parlor
Spinning dreams of the long, long ago

Lyrics by: William J. "Billy" Hill 

Recorded by: Slim Whitman; Ray Noble; Chet Atkins; many others 

Cheap but fragrant

I so love candles, so when I found these at Target for only$4.99 each I didn't pass it up. Tahitian Vanilla and Jasmine Bouquet.....I'm in aroma heaven.

A Piece Of The Past

A couple of weeks ago, Mom gave me a tote to bring home that had some of our old dolls and Barbie's in it. Tonight I began to look through it and boy was it a real treasure chest! I have Cabbage Patch dolls, Broccoli Babes, Ken & Barbie dolls, the old Dolly Parton doll, outfits...you name it! I definitely want to get them out, clean things up & make a nice display for them in the front parlor area. Thanks Mom for this treasure trove of wonderful memories.

Summer Weather

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You know it's hot when you have had 3 showers & literally peeled out of your clothes 4 times all in the same day....and in a 5 hour time span. I can not get cool no matter how many cold showers I take or a/c vents I sit atop of. Yesterday the temperature reached 104*, today the highest I saw on the thermometer was 100*.

Lucky Bamboo

 

We potted our "Lucky Bamboo" tonight. It's just so pretty. While basking in the beauty of it, I began wondering what the meaning behind it was. So after doing an internet search, I found a lot of great, fun facts that really interested me. Here's a couple links if you're interested....

Meaning of Lucky Bamboo Numbers

Lucky bamboo Quick Care

Growing Lucky Bamboo

Market Garden Tour

Mom and I started the day out by visiting the local farmer's market & touring the adjacent gardens.

I enjoy looking at other gardens to get a little inspiration for my own. It's amazing what they have done right in the heart of the city.

Look at the beautiful grapes on the vines. I didn't find them this year, but next year I hope to plant some grapes on my property as well...especially Muscadines.

I adore chickens. The market sells fresh eggs so now you can see where some came from.

I'm not positive, but these look like Nubian goats. A friend of mine said that Nubian are great for milking but they are also great for being talkers. I can agree with him on that, as while we were out there all they did was talk to us! LOL

Strolling through the gardens is such a serene place to really get in touch with the beauty of the LORD and all HE is blessing us with.

A Taste of Sicily

Yesterday my parents and I went to a new Sicilian style restaurant in their town. It's definitely not your typical Italian food. Now, I admit, I love Italian but the Sicilian style spin was absolutely heavenly!

Mom had the Braciole Sapori (baked rolled pork fillet, stuffed w/meats, pecorino cheese & herbs, served w/spaghetti & meat sauce).

My Dad had the Antipasto Sapori (marinated roasted veggies, imported cheese & prosciutto.

I had the Manicotti Di Pollo (hand made rolled pasta filled w/ricotta cheese, chicken, walnuts & mozzarella w/a savory bechamel sauce). 

Dessert & cappuccino were had to end out or meal, however I didn't get a picture of it because it was so good we just couldn't wait! 

Consignment Shopping

First stop....the Mediterranean market & cafe....then the Nutrition shop....next it was a visit to the consignment shop. What fun things can be found in these little out of the way stores.

 

 

 

 

 

Some days you just need that little get-away from the everyday, mundane things in life. Today was one of those days and boy did it feel good!

Nutrition Shop

After my visit to the Mediterranean market & cafe I stopped next door at the health food store. I am always intrigued by the wonderful items places like these carry. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next stop....the Consignment shop....