Silent Sorrow

This is an extremely difficult subject

that I am addressing in this post.

My heart is full of tears.

Another dear and precious friend lost

her 24 year old son this week-

but he did not go from joy to joy.

He was on a silent and sorrowful path and 

it ended in a silent and sorrowful 

passing-suicide.

The reason I know this friend in such 

a deep and personal way was that we

share the terrible path of watching someone we love

fall ever further into addiction.

I tried to walk the journey along side her as they tried 

to save him from the slide downwards.

There were many times that I hugged her

and felt her shaking with tears and many

times she hugged me and let me cry.

We didn't do things the same, it was her son 

and I am dealing with a spouse, but we

understood how the other felt, the fear

and the pain and the anger and the rage and 

the fierce love and the aching misery.

We walked silently together many times in sorrow.

I look back and think was there ANYTHING I could have

done differently or better to help him,

but it never pays to look back unless we

can learn from it in some way.

This is what I know-

Logan believed in Jesus

he was in terrible bondage to a substance

he couldn't bear the pain

he is Home.

Beyond that I cannot say anything that

I know for sure.

And when I saw her that terrible morning

not one word came from my mouth,

I could only sit by her and hold her hand 

and weep in silent sorrow.

I love you family of Logan

Seattle Times

Our Annual Friends Trip

was to Seattle this year.

The weather was lovely,

the food delicious,

and the friends outstanding!

Thank you, Debi and Carmelle,

you are dear to my heart.

Made with Love

When you have only one sister-in-law,

it's such a blessing to have her be

not only a wonderful one but also

a dear friend and loving support.

Along with that she is amazing in

every other way and along with raising

12 children with such organization and grace

she also crafts, sews and quilts!

The other week she gave me this gift of love!

 It's made with fabrics that resemble scrapbook

papers in colors and patterns I adore.

Isn't it just stunning?

And to make it even more special

 my brother chose

the Bible verse that is written on the back...

When I sit down with this on my lap,

I feel all the love

and care of 2 very special people.

Thanks David and Elva!

 

"In His Pastures"



Gluten Free Tea Experience

This week I had an enjoyable experience

going with a group of ladies for tea

at Myrtles Tea Shop in Ridgefield.

The best part was that with 48 hour notice

they can accomodate special

dietary needs so I was able,

for the first time in 5 years, go for

tea and have it be gluten free!

They did a marvelous presentation

of the food and all the GF items were

very good.

 I would highly recommend the shop!

 Regular vs Gluten Free

Regular vs GF

Tea shop gift area



It takes a lot of help to do a Wedding!

I'm so blessed to have such great people

in my life who step up to the plate and 

help when I ask...

the wedding couldn't have happened 

without you!

" The Catering Service"

 My son's girl friends did so much work!
and my sons did too:)
plus so many others who I did not get a picture of...
you know who you are and THANKS!

 We weren't so busy that we didn't take time to
cuddle the little ones tho...they are the
delight of our hearts.

Fresh Lunch with Friends

When you start visiting at lunch and are

surprised when your husband calls to 

ask what's for supper and you 

had no clue it was 5 pm,

that's a good visit with friends!!

The lunch was made from the fresh bounty

of summer and from local sources.

It's amazing what our part of the 

US can produce...it's all that rain

we complain about I suppose:)

Being Blessed

Yesterday afternoon I walked

into my kitchen and found a

beautiful basket full of all these

things! The hand crafted labels

were lovely but gave away no names

as to the giver of this gift.

It touched me so because whoever

gave all this to me knows me well

and also knows the difficult time I have

been going through...

I have no way of thanking them except to

put this on my blog in the hope that

they are a reader!

Being blessed in this way is humbling

but also gives the recipient great value,

SO THANKS TO WHOEVER YOU ARE!!!

May the blessings return one hundred fold.

Silver and Gold

"Make new Friends but keep the old,

one is silver and the other gold!" Our annual summer trip with long time friends!

Enjoying the relaxation of settling into
easy conversation, sharing our hearts,
laughing, taking time to reconnect
and recollect....

The best of everything,
all in one weekend.

Thanks for the memories!