From A Creative Heart

Ok Christians, I am officially embarrassed for us.....

2009-11-03T17:26:00.004-05:00

Sometimes I have found the same stuff gets said to me over and over in different ways....and after awhile I just feel like that for some reason I am suppose to share this...so here goes.
In the last month, this topic of conversation has come up among several of my son's friends that work in the restaurant business....the story? They hate working Sunday's because the church crowd is the WORST at tipping and in the way they treat the restaurant staff. How sad is that???

We recently found a great "new to us" pizza place in Chattanooga and we have been going often and telling our friends -- one of the waiters was sharing with my son about being there when a Christian group came in, their bill came to $100 and he was surprised and please to find two $100 bills on the table for payment. He had really worked hard for this group and was thrilled to see that they had appreciated it....that was until he found that one of the $100 bills was actually a track telling him how he was going to hell on the back of it. Really????? I mean Really???? What kind of witness do you think you are leaving with this tacky act?????

This stuff just makes me highly irritated to think that this is the witness we are giving. I work really hard to make sure that we try to go above and beyond if we are able to help change the opinion of these folks that work really hard for their money.

If you are guilty of this....SHAME ON YOU!!! We truly do need to set a better example of what living a Christian life truly is.....it is about sharing the love and grace that God grants to each of us every day.... Do I miss the boat on this......sadly, I do on a frequent basis.....but let's work to make a difference in how the restaurant community thinks of us.

Ok....I am off my soapbox......for now anyway....LOL
Hugs to each of you!!
Debbie

P.S. thanks for all the comments about the Halloween decorated house....I am sure I will have another picture to share when the Christmas decorations come out.....

A Little Overboard, Don't You Think???

2009-10-28T15:11:00.003-05:00

I quickly snapped this picture on my way home from school the other day.....sorry for the poor quality, but I have been wanting to post a picture of this house for some time.
This isn't even ALL of the blowups that are on this lawn!!

This is for Halloween......it is even more crowded for Christmas, if you can imagine!!! LOL
There is always so much on the lawn that it is just too much to take in...and each time I pass it, I just think that someone either has money to burn or way, way, way too much time on their hands........or this is the result of a bet gone wrong!!! LOL

But the more that I look at it, the more that I see that I think alot of us do this with our lives.....we clutter it with so much "stuff" that it is hard to really see the "heart" of who we are. Plus we have so much clutter around us of all we have to do, want to do, demand to do, feel pressured to do.....that we just look unapproachable. Check out the house above, I am not sure how the heck you would even get to the front door without a map!!

So I am working to take this life lesson to heart. I am "decluttering" some things in my life that I have been hanging on to, but they are things that aren't serving me well. Are there some things that you need to let go of????

Hugs to you all...
Debbie

I Am Here.......

2009-10-12T12:35:00.002-05:00

I love, love, love Fall!!! I am so happy to have cooler weather.....if the rain would just let up that would be great!!! With so much rain, I know I saw an ark being built and animals beginning to pair up....geeesh!!! LOL

School is back in session....and is much tougher this go around. Math has never been my "thing" and I have a college math course, plus anatomy/physiology and intro to massage. Please understand that I have trouble remembering my own telephone number right now, so adding these body parts, systems and such to memorize, well, I am a little over my head. But I am hanging in there. Plus trying to balance homework, getting items done for a craft show, and just keeping up with home stuff is making me a bit nuts. I do know it will be ok....it is just a struggle to work some sort of system out to make things easier.

I do know that with starting my massage classes I am very aware of wanting to "practice what I preach"....and that so much of what I am learning is linked to good health. I have battled with trying to find a better way of eating that is actually doable for me...and for my life. And frankly it has been hard. I did pick up a magazine that I liked this week called "Clean Eating"...it advocates some of the things Jen has been preaching to me for some time about eating 5-6 smaller meals. I just always had trouble trying to figure out how the heck I was going to find the time to plan those ahead for when I am away from home....but I am going to give it a shot and see how it goes.

Hope you all are doing something fun this Fall to share the season with your family. Walks, pumpkin farms, hayrides, and such......it makes for wonderful memories.

Have a wonderful week!!!
Hugs,
Debbie

Crossroads

2009-09-27T21:57:00.006-05:00

I am sorry I have been so absent....school is taking more of my time than I even imagined. But Monday I do my final projects and then finish up and get a couple of weeks off. So I hope to catch up a bit here and have some fun for a change!

Below is one of my projects I am submitting....what do you think???
Hugs,
Debbie

(video removed....)

Prayers please....

2009-09-10T19:44:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends...
I really was hoping things were headed for an upturn and that things were beginning to take on the shape of something resembling a new normal for us. But today I got hit with some things that have totally changed what I thought our life was beginning to look like.
This has been a really hard afternoon....I do know that God knows what lies ahead and that He loves us, but in truth, it just hurts right now.
So I am here to ask for prayers for my family, as we work our way through this...and look to finding what our life it going to look like.
Hugs,
Debbie

I Soooooooooo Get It Now!!!

2009-09-07T19:58:00.004-05:00

A couple of years ago (or so), an online friend decided to go back to school. She is this wonderful, creative soul whose blog and posts (on an online group we were on then) were "required" reading as far as I was concerned. She introduced me to new authors, great books, decorating divas and designs..and wonderful recipes.... (Thank You Teresa!!).... But when she went back to school...she dropped off the face of the earth. I was a bit miffed....how could she leave me in the lurch like that....who was going to fill that void????? LOL Ok, maybe is wasn't quite THAT dramatic....but I really did miss seeing her posts and ideas.

Now that I have started back to school....I SOOOOO understand. It has been much tougher than I thought to try and find my balance...to adjust to a new schedule and figure out how to make it work in my life without it driving me nuts!!! These first two weeks I have really stressed over my classes. They haven't been that hard, but trying to read and comprehend the textbooks is like reading Greek to me. My instructor said if we were 'readers" we wouldn't have any problems.....sorry, but I beg to differ as these writings are a far cry from my usual reads.
And quite honestly, I made myself ill stressing about the first test I was to take for my Art Appreciation class...only to find it was so much easier than I made it out to be and actually aced the thing to my surprise. Will that stop me from stressing about the next test this week....probably not, but at least I have a better idea of what is expected and I am really working to adjust.

I haven't forgotten my sweet friends here...and I am getting a laptop this week and it should make it easier for me to get online and do some fun things I have missed. So I will try to catch up a bit with all of you. I have missed my crafting too and I have been struggling to get back in the groove of that so I will be ready for upcoming shows. I did manage to get all my supplies ordered this weekend and they should be coming in soon...and that will help. Doing potpourri, soaps, room sprays...those fragrances always get me in the mood for Fall and the Holidays!!!

Just wanted to let you know that I am still here!!! That I have missed you all...and will try to get back more. But if I am absent a bit....at least you know that I am home burning the midnight oil for whatever class is driving me crazy that day!!! LOL

Hugs,
Debbie

Pin Swap Group Update.....

2009-08-19T14:36:00.002-05:00

I have been worried that I might have lost someone from the pin swap list. So if you haven't been contacted (I have had trouble with some emails)....please don't feel you have been forgotten. Go to www.yahoogroups.com and look for the group "The Gathering Basket". This is the group I set up for this swap group....there we will post updates and share info about the swap.
If you can't get on, please email me at: dailygrace@bellsouth.net

I am going to close the sign ups later tonight....so get with me as soon as you can!!! I can already see that this is going to be a fun group. I love it when you get a group of women together that have the willingness to share ideas, inspire each other....let the creativity flow!!!! LOL

Hugs,
Debbie

Pin Swap Update.....

2009-08-17T13:40:00.003-05:00

I am so excited about the pin swap and all the gals that want to participate. I will be working on an email to send you all this evening...and if you missed the sign up, please go ahead and email me your name and email addy...and I will get you added.

Actually, if those of you that signed up want to email me directly with your email addy and name, it will make getting my list together so much easier.

Looking forward to this!!!!!
Hugs,
Debbie

A little of this, A little of that.....

2009-08-11T15:10:00.001-05:00

I started this blog awhile back just to record where I was with my life. At that time my son was just getting ready to graduate from high school and I knew that my life would be changing....entering a new phase. The blog reflected that journey.....but it also became about home, crafting and such.
During the last few months more changes have occurred with the passing of my hubby...and I was wondering about where this blog was going....was I pulling it in two many directions...what did I really want it to be about??? Especially since our "life" is being tossed in so many directions.
I decided to keep this blog about home....decorating, crafts....about the grace of opening your home to others....and even about the faith side of life. But I needed a place to put all my stuff about some of the other changes in my life. So I have started a sister blog to put those things about health, about changes in the year ahead and such.
It may be of no interest to you at all...and that is perfectly ok....but it is there if you are interested.... http://lossandfound-ajourney.blogspot.com

About the pin swap.....I have had others tell me they were interested, I am hoping we have a good turn out for this as I believe it will be lots of fun.

Sweet Dreams all....
hugs,
Debbie

Pin Swap!!!!

2009-08-10T14:49:00.004-05:00

(Hi--you will see we have added a swap button for the pin swap to the side bar..please feel free to add it to your blog and link back to this post. Thank you so much for helping me promote this...and a HUGE thanks to Kris of SewPrimKris for making the button for me!!!)

Pins, glorious pins....I love fun seasonal pins, everyday pins....from prim to shabby chic and everything in between.
I am inviting you to join me in a fun pin swap. For now, I am just asking you to sign up to make pins in whatever medium you work with for this swap. How many you will need to make will depend on how many we have sign up. If there are alot of people, we will break down into smaller groups.....so hang on till the sign ups end and we will have more info then.
So the rules, you ask????
Simple....make pins for your group (number to be determined) and by the cut off date, you will mail your pins, a return address label and a small shipping fee (to be determined---this is not for anything other than to pay for the shipping of your set of pins back to you)..to me. I will then package them up and ship them back out to all of the participants... This way no one ends up not receiving something because someone didn't participate...only those sending something in will receive a package back.
One of the things I really love about these types of swaps is I always learn something.....everyone is at a different place with their crafting, different mediums and such and it is so much fun to collect. I also love these to use on small trees for ornies.....
If you have any questions let me know....and I will get back with you. You have until Sunday, August 16 to sign up and I plan to give everyone until October 1 to get your pins in...I wanted everyone to have plenty of time and not be hurried.
So Sign Up Today...and tell you friends....
A side note....I would love to have an icon for this that you could put on your blogs to advertise it...I don't know how to do this or who to ask...if you have anyone you would like to suggest or ideas on how to do a nice one, please let me know!!! (dailygrace@bellsouth.net)

Thanks everyone...I look forward to sharing this with you all!!!!
Hugs,
Debbie

Sweet Friendship Swap...and Creative Beginnings....

2009-08-08T19:55:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was a wonderful mail day!!! Awhile back I signed up to do a Friendship Swap....this was a new one for me. For this swap you had to find things to represent each letter in the word "Friends"...it was such great fun and an opportunity to get to know someone new. I was so fortunate to be paired up with Joann from CA. I signed up for this swap before John was taken to the hospital....and Joann has been such a sweetheart through all of this, even giving me the option to back out if I no longer wanted to participate. Through everything that was going on...it was something I had to look forward to, and I am glad I decided to stay with it.

Opening the box was so much fun, as I took out each item...I knew just where it would go or how I could use it...and it was truly special to have some items (the tote and pillow) that Joann had made herself.

Thank you Joann for being such a dear.....and as you can see from the next picture, I am finding homes for all the sweet gifts your sent. You have been such a great friend through this....thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!!

Above is the mantle I put up in my bedroom...as you can see I already have a space for the pillow and tin Joann sent.
*****************************************************************

We were invited to a wedding this weekend...the first one that I have attended in some time. And feeling like my creativity has been on hiatus for awhile...I decided to try to make a gift tin to house the gift card that I was giving. I know -so dang generic...I normally try to do some sort of themed basket, but you read the last sentence.....creativity has left the building (for awhile)...LOL.
I have seen such beautiful things done with these tins...and I know this is just basic, but give me credit for trying...LOL

It really was a lot of fun to pull out the papers and stickers to create something again...just feels good. I filled the inside of the tin with wrapped wintergreen lifesavers and buried the gift card in it. I was happy with the result...and everyone seemed to really like it. So at least it is a start.

Do something creatively fun this weekend.....it can be something as simple as making a card...but it can really open you up to your creative side that spills over into all areas of your life.

I haven't forgotten the pin swap....I will be posting the sign ups for it on Monday, I really am hoping that several of you will want to play!!!

Have a great weekend.....tomorrow is church and then off to see Julia and Julie.....
Hugs,
Debbie

The Note......

2009-08-07T00:21:00.002-05:00

This has been a really busy week....lots of decisions to make. Some things had to go on the back burner till other things are handled...and some things just may not make the list, ever.

But as I have been dealing with all the new things coming our way...I remembered several years ago, I was doing a little speaking for women's groups about the creativity of grace in our lives. When I started, I chatted with a dear friend whose ministry I was working with...and told her how in making some of the decisions about this, I just wish God would write me a note and fill me in on what I needed to do. Then He gently reminded me of the time in the Old Testament that He wrote on the wall.....yep, things didn't go to well with that.... (smile). But awhile later, I discovered Beth Moore studies, and in one of them she talks about "God Stops"....all the little things we take for granted that God has placed in our way to make us smile, to remind us that He loves us....and things that just act as a gentle hug. So I am looking for these things in my life...those sweet reminders....

After a meeting this week about my going back to school (I will fill you all in on that adventure later!!! LOL).....I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and decided to stop by a popular re-sale book store in our area and browsed through some books...looking for some treasures to take home. As I was flipping through the pages of one of my "finds"....I found a note tucked inside that spoke to me....it said,
"You and I have some pretty big waves in our oceans of life right now. They're simply an invitation from God's own hand to come with Him "further still", and come to know Him more intimately than we have ever dared dream. So come on Sister...we've got some waves to walk on."

I truly feel like I got my "note from home" this week..... And a reminder, that the words of kindness we share with others, may reach much farther than we ever realized....

Sweet dreams all,
Debbie

Jars in Waiting.......

2009-07-29T15:06:00.011-05:00

(thanks for the heads up...I believe all the links are fixed now!!!)

Hi...My name is Debbie.....and I have a mason jar addiction......(group response..."Hi Debbie!").

Ok, now that we have THAT over with....LOL. Several months ago, while spending the evening working at the library I had some time to surf the web looking for some new blogs, ideas, recipes and such. This is when I stumbled across lots of info on baking in jars. I loved this idea. Now in the past, I had played with the cookies in the jar thing (you know--where you layer all the ingredients for a cookie mix in the jar, attach the recipe to the jar and give as gifts)....but baking...loved that!!!! Plus, I found those pricey bakery sites that sold the little jars of cupcakes for big bucks, but had fanatical followers to attest to their lusciousness. So there had to be something to this, right????

So here is what I found....I have been collecting these to have a "play" date with them in my kitchen...and hopefully it will happen this weekend....
First....I found PIES!!! Yes, pies in a jar.....
check them out at:
Sycamore Stirrings, Not Martha, Lloyd and Lauren

Cake in a jar:
Angry Chicken

Then came drinks....
All Recipes, Mommy's Kitchen, Country Pleasures

Current favorite to try... CUPCAKES!
Ok, after reading this blog I went straight to Wally World right after work to pick up what I needed to make these. Funny thing was, I was standing in the jar aisle when a woman walked up to me to ask what I was canning....my reply? "Cupcakes"....yep, that threw her a bit!!! LOL She was from our local extension agency and is teaching a canning class on Saturday and she thought she had a new recruit!!! LOL

Joy Shope Yes, she does wonderful cupcakes in the jar, and shows how she decorates the jar for giving. This was a new blog for me and I am a big fan now. I tried other recipes for baking the cupcakes in the jar with less than stellar results....I mean they were edible and ok and something new to try. But I like the idea of going ahead to bake the cupcakes separately and layering them in the jar.

I know there are a lot of other ideas out there.....I use the jars to store homemade bath salts, bed linen powders, bulk spices, flavored tea bags, and much more.....

And I know that some of you have some ideas of your own, or other sites to share and I would love to hear those!!! So come on, comment......(smile)
In the future I will try to collect some more ideas as filling the jars are great gift ideas too!!!

And I would like to leave you with a youtube video I found today and love. This has become a favorite song of mine recently.....
Hugs,
Debbie

Mason Jar Love and A Swap Idea.......

2009-07-27T15:51:00.004-05:00

Ok, I promised a post about mason jars for today, but sadly my day has been a little chaotic. So I will visit this subject again on Wednesday. But I want you to participate then, so let me tell you what I am thinking about....and then get your ideas together to share in the comments area on Wednesday.

I have always had a thing for mason jars....I have done some of the simple stuff, put my buttons, ribbons, other sewing notions in them.....even some scrapbooking items. I have made lamps out of them with rosehips and cinnamon sticks in the jar part. But now I am doing some new things courtsey of some great blog ideas I have found. I am going to look for the links so I can share those with you Wednesday...but I have found great ice tea syrup ideas, a great coffee syrup recipe, salads in a jar....as well as small pies in a jar!!! I just love all the possiblities!!! So let me have a little more time to get all the info together to share....and I would love to hear your ideas too!

And I tweeked the coffee recipe for us and I love, love, love the result....and I will go ahead and share with you. The original idea came from Mommy's Kitchen.
What I did was take a wide mouth quart jar....add to it one cup of coffee (not instant..but the regular coffee grounds). Then fill the jar with water to about 3/4" from the top. Then I put on the lid (after shaking it around a bit) and set it on the counter overnight. The next morning I strain the mixture through a wire mesh strainer with a coffee filter placed in it....I put the "coffee syrup" into another jar for the fridge. I do this for a couple of days in order to fill the jar with syrup...or you could just have 2 or 3 jars going.
Now the original recipe had you use 4 ounces of coffee syrup, 4 ounces of milk, sweeten to taste and you could add a flavored coffee syrup....then pour over ice. it is ok, but I needed more punch for it to taste like my favorite Frappachino....sooooo.... I use 4 ounces of coffee syrup, 4 ounces of my favorite coffee creamer (french vanilla or southern pecan)...now this I water down a bit for my taste...and sometimes add a splash of caramel coffee syrup. Pour over ice....ohhhh baby!!! love this stuff and it is addictive!!!!

Now for the next idea....
I have been wanting to do a swap for awhile....I have loved the Friendship Swap I am participating in...and the Kitchen Swap I finished awhile back....so tell me what you think of this idea....

I found this great canvas tote at Walmart and it started me thinking..... I would love to fix this up to carry to my craft shows (or for carrying library books, crafts I am working on.....whatever works for you). These totes came in canvas, denim...and a few other colors and different styles. What better way to decorate than with pins!!!! What I love about pins is that you could change them out for different looks...or for the seasons or holidays. And I love having things that are handmade from my friends to just remind me of them. (NOTE; Just wanted to clarify, you don't have to use the same tote I am..it was just an idea. You could use something you already have or make your own great tote!!!)

In thinking about working this into a swap....I thought of a swap we did for several years on one of the groups I had. We did a handmade swap, this was a swap where everyone made something in whatever craft medium they worked in...they would make enough for everyone to have one. Send them all to me, along with money to ship it back. I would put together a box for everyone with one of each item...so you got back a wonderful box of treasures. The beauty is, you don't have to worry about someone not sending something as they wouldn't receive anything unless they sent theirs in.

Are you with me so far?????

So I thought this might work with pins....we would see how many are interested....if the group got too big we could divide it up by groups of 10 or 12.....your could sign up for more than one group if you wanted. And we could possibly have groups by... Everyday Pins, Halloween/Fall pins, Christmas/Winter pins.....

I would love to know what you think about this before I do a sign up.....and I would give everyone a month or two to do this so that no one is rushed.

What do you think?????
Have a great evening....I am off to finish painting my bedroom...(btw, there are extra paint brushes if anyone has the urge to paint!!! LOL)
Hugs,
Debbie

Blog-napped post...

2009-07-26T13:24:00.005-05:00

Yes, I stole the quote from someone elses blog post today....I got it from Teresa at Plumwater Cottage...but it just spoke to my heart this morning.

My hubby was my biggest cheerleader...and that is what I thought of as I read this post.. My prayer is that we all do this for someone in our lives!!

“We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” ~~e e cummings

Have a wonderful Sunday...tomorrow I want to talk about my mason jar obsession...LOL.
Hugs to you all!!!
Debbie

This Just Made Me Smile......

2009-07-24T15:01:00.005-05:00

You know, sometimes we just take ourselves way to seriously...but to see the fun and joy that was put into this "celebration" of marriage...well, it just made my day!!! Enjoy!!!

Now Open.....

2009-07-21T23:42:00.002-05:00

I am working hard to get things in order and moving forward here....so I am starting by reopening my little blog shop. You can find it at: Pieces From A Creative Heart
The plan is to add something there each day...so please, stop by and check it out...you might find a little something special for yourself or some fun gift giving items. And just leave me a comment to let me know what you think....

Thanks so much!!!
Hugs,
Debbie

Sunday Ramblings......

2009-07-12T11:51:00.005-05:00

I woke up this morning to heavy rain outside and decided it would be a great day to just sleep in and putter around the house.....I also realized that I missed blogging and wanted to start again.
There have been so many ups and downs in the last few weeks....trying to work through all the paperwork, wanting to ask John about how something was handled and realizing I can't do that any more....and trying to find out who I am now.
I was so blessed to be married to someone that was my biggest cheerleader....I grew up always hearing the negative about anything you wanted to do....but with John, I only heard "why not"? Even with this encouragement, because of John's extended illness...there were alot of things that were put on hold..... And now I need to figure out where I am going, what I am going to do, what life if going to look like now and who I am. It will be different, but it can be good...and that is what I am trying to focus on.
I guess I really began to think of this while at one of the many office visits one of the papers I had to sign said "marriage ended due to death".....I realized that I was no longer a "wife"..something that I have been for so long that I have forgotten what time was like before there was someone else.
So that is where I am right now.....I am trying to figure out what I am going to be doing....part of it depends on what I find out from the VA and such....I know that I am eligible to go back to school (this was something that John and I had talked about me looking in to for January)...going back to work (great timing on this with the economy)....and figuring out what craft shows that I can get ready for.....trying to get some things together for Etsy and my selling blog... Just working on that one step in front of the other stuff.
I did read a blog today that dedicates her Sunday posts to a prayer for the week....and asking for grace.... I like that, and I may borrow that for my blog in the future too.

Once again...thank you all for your prayers, comments and friendship....I am trying to move forward....and want to begin to blog again on the good stuff.... And all the while remembering:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) Amen.
Hugs to you all!!!!
Debbie

This Week......

2009-06-24T09:57:00.005-05:00

Frankly, the last few days have been tough ones......but ones that showed us that we are not alone...and that gift is precious.

The last few days held not only the passing of my hubby......but a few days after, Father's Day and his birthday.....very real reminders with floods of memories of him. So I would like to post today some of the pictures that we used for his memorial.....

We realize that for awhile we will live on a teeter totter.....life going up and down as we look for balance. But we truly are beginning to get our footing.......learning to breath deep again.....

Thank you for your prayers and friendship.....a new chapter is opening for me.....and I am not sure exactly what lies ahead.....but I know I don't go alone.

Skipping Rope...

2009-06-18T07:28:00.004-05:00

Do you remember when we were kids and skipping rope on the playground? Two of your friends would be manning the rope...twirling it round and round as you listened to the quiet slap of it hitting the ground with each turn. When you were ready to jump in, you stood beside the rope watching it turn......bobbing along with it to get into the rhythm so you could jump in and be part of the "dance" of jumping rope. That is where I feel I am at right now....standing next to the rope....watching my friends cheer me on....trying to find the rhythm so that I can get back into the game again. It is hard right now because I am missing a beat or two in the rhythm...but I am getting there.

Last night was John's memorial....you never really know how these things are going to turn out. But I could not have orchestrated a more perfect service. We decided to have an open time of sharing...allow anyone that wanted to say something about John to speak. When the minister first opened it up, there was silence.....all I could think of was that this may have been an awful mistake. I looked at the minister and signaled that he could just move on...he just smiled at me and continued to wait. He told me later that he had been a minister for some time and he could tell when people were being moved to do something...and he had no problem waiting for them to be "obedient"...(smile). And I am glad he didn't follow my signal....because in a bit several rose to speak some I knew, some I didn't, some sharing stories that I never knew, and some just confirming some of the special things that I have always known about my sweet hubby...but you don't always know that others get it too.

While each and every one that spoke truly touched my heart....one young man really made the service complete. Alex was our neighbor's son in Indiana....I always had a soft spot for this kid. He just had a spirit of fun about him...and even babysat my son for awhile. I know Zach was always thrilled to have Alex come over because whatever they did would be an adventure. I knew that Alex's parents were coming in for the service....but his arrival (along with his sweet wife and two adorable children) was a big surprise....and an even bigger surprise when he rose to speak. Alex told about growing up and listening to my hubby, his father and a couple of their friends sharing about life, their time in the service and all the things they went through....he told about how it touched him to hear these stories from "men of honor".....how he came to want to be just like them. Men who sacrificed for their country....who worked to be good fathers and husbands...and how it set a course for his own life. Because of them, he had enlisted in the service to give back to his country....and now he is home, married, father of two sweet kids and still working to give back. And he credited John for helping to set the course for his life....John would have been so honored to know that.

Others have stepped forward too....a neighborhood friend is taking Zack with a men's group from his church on a Star Trek movie outing this afternoon...and offers of all sorts of help have been coming in..... And with it, I am trying to find the rhythm....I know it is there......but it may take me a bit to be able to catch and jump back in. Till then, know that I so appreciate all the comments, emails and prayers....each one has been such a bright spot and such encouragement. I know there are brighter things ahead....and I know there are tough times too. But with the pain, there are been glimpses of such grace....knowing that John is no longer in pain....knowing what wonderful friends and support I have. With that, I can't pass up this opportunity to thank my dear sister/friend Jen who has showered us with support, love, a listening ear and even some calls to the funeral home....we love you and the family so much!!! Also my mom and brother have been so amazing during this......loving us, cleaning house and my brother coming to clean gutters and make sure my car was ok....love that.

Once again, thank you.....for praying, emailing, commenting and just caring....it does make a difference.
Love you all....
Debbie

Memorial Service..

2009-06-13T22:27:00.003-05:00

First, I can't thank you all for your kind words, prayers, offers of a listening ear and more. Right now there are friends and family in and out here....but I know soon that things will calm down and as it becomes more "quiet" I will need those listening ears. So know your offer is appreciated and not taken lightly.

We are having a memorial service for John on Wednesday at Coulter-Garrison Funeral Home, Dayton, TN. We are hearing from friends that will be traveling in and we look forward to seeing them and sharing this time.

I ask for your continued prayers for myself and my family. There are some big decisions ahead and some possibilities that I am not looking forward too. But I also know that God sees the big picture...and knows the way ahead.....even when it isn't clear to me at all.

Thanks again for your love and support.....
Hugs,
Debbie

John

2009-06-09T22:45:00.002-05:00

Thank you all for your sweet wishes and prayers.....John passed away this evening.
It was and is a sad time for all of us and frankly, I am a bit lost right now.
We asked for your continued prayers for us.....
Hugs to you all,
Debbie

A Note About John....

2009-06-08T17:13:00.004-05:00

Hello....
Thanks for the prayers and for the concern....I so appreciate all of you. Time has been limited....I can check facebook and twitter on my phone at the hospital--sometimes, seems like wifi is very spotty there.

There is no change in John...other than they now have him resting comfortably. They are giving him an anti-anxiety drug to help him...which has really made a difference and he is now resting so much better. We had a new doctor this morning that is checking into some things...they are all stumped so far about what could have happened. I think that is the hardest part, not knowing...the questioning if you could have done something different....all those things that are up in the air right now.

We have a social worker-counselor-chaplin-hospice nurses....these people are serious about making sure you get through this. For the most part they have been kind....but in some ways it feels like they are moving this along way to fast. I want to know that we aren't missing something...that we don't just give up. But then you have to consider all the possibilities...what you are going to do in all scenerios......that is when it just hits you like waves. I find that I think I have it together and am getting through.....then I make a call to tell someone or run into someone that wants to know what happened and in the middle of the story it just becomes "real" and it hits you again. Frankly...this journey sucks. And you could sink into that so easily.......

But then you get the chance to see grace at work.....beautiful white flowers that arrive just at the right time....nurses who have a sarcastic streak and like to tease--it so breaks the tension and gives us a chance to step out of the hurt for a bit....doctors who take the time to explain what is going on at each step.....nurses, aides, doctors who speak directly to John when they visit, acknowledge him and include him so that he knows he is not forgotten....friends and neighbors that have reached out.....family that have stepped in to take shifts so John is never alone and churches that have prayed and continue to pray for John and for us.....things that have happened that have protected us from making some mistakes.....a tax check that showed up to really help at this time.....big things, little things, but all things delivered with grace....from One that knows the beginning and end of this story.....and right now I have to blindly trust in that...and know that all is well.

Hugs,
Debbie

Asking for Prayers.....

2009-06-06T21:10:00.002-05:00

This morning my hubby was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Even with this start...I never imagined that I might not get the opportunity to chat with him again.

They are not sure what caused it or exactly what has happened...but he is in a coma like state...possible stroke or heart attack in his sleep....and they believe he has suffered possible brain damage.

So I am asking for your prayers for my dear hubby John....I asked that he not be in pain....that Zach and I stay strong and make decisions that my husband would want in this matter. And I know that miracles are possible....

Debbie

Just a couple of pictures....

2009-05-31T01:08:00.003-05:00

We have had so much rain.....alittle was great, but after a few days, it was beginning to be depressing!!! So glad we finally had a break and we had a beautiful day today.

And just sharing a picture of my mom....she was great to come to the hospital to stay with me while the hubby was there. Gotta love that.....

Have a great weekend all!!!

Hugs,
Debbie