Porthole to Fairyland

As you know, there is a porthole to another world which exists in the trees over the fence in my back yard. You don't believe me? Here you can actually see a small winged faery flitting across the opening!

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I know, I have a GREAT imagination!

Broken Bridges

Broken Bridges

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I feel the darkness.

I struggle and scream.

I fill the air with soundless sound.

I wonder what might have been.

Change is inevitable.

But will the broken bridges mend?

I believe in miracles.

But can shattered glass be repaired?

Can that brokenness become beauty?

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A mosaic of impossible possibilities.

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"...You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." The Bible, Isaiah 55:12

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Well, I'm counting on that.

Framed

One warm summer night, I walked to our neighbor's home to share that evening's stunning sunset display. As I leaned against the porch of their exquisite home, I suddenly caught a unique perspective of the brilliance of that sunrise--it was framed.

Unexpected Beauty

I found this gorgeous grouping of sunny yellow while walking with my sister through the grounds of the abandoned mega-church. It is so strange to view the destruction wrought here--and then to find this surprising mid-summer splash of color.

Unexpected beauty.

Hearts for my Sister

This photo is dedicated to my darling Sissy. I clicked this photo as we walked together beneath the gold-clad trees. Even then, I knew these hearts were especially meant for her.

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They are golden and brave. Just like my sister. They are filled with the promise of change to come, yet gorgeous in the beauty that is. That is my sister, beautiful and brave of heart.

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"We have been friends together, in both Sunshine and Shade." --Caroline Norton

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Daddy Update: The surgeons gave the wound on Dad's head (which exposed quite a bit of bone) a one percent chance of healing without surgery. At present, the bone is completely covered and the skin around the wound only has about one and a half inches to go--if that! Dad is a walking miracle! Early next month, Dad will be going in for a neck check up--we are praying for the same miraculous healing in his broken neck bones.
.My siblings and I cleared and cleaned our parents home and property enough that they were able to return home last Sunday morning! They seem so happy. Next weekend we are tearing down a rotten section of their home--down to the floorboards, so I would appreciate your good thoughts and prayers for safety for everyone who will be coming over to help.
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THANK YOU for your thoughts and prayers--they have meant more to me and my family than you will ever know.

Forboding

Have you ever had the feeling something terrible is going to happen, and there is nothing, absolutely nothing one can do to stop whatever is coming? One walks toward it, one foot in front of the other, treading reluctantly toward the inevitable, inexorable ending.

Summer Strawberries

There's nothing better than biting into a delicious, red, sunwarmed strawberry. Ah, childhood--children don't care about the sticky sweet juices streaming down their chins. They don't worry that what they are wearing might get stained. They just enjoy that gorgeous, lucious moment.

Ah, hurrah, for summer strawberries!

Faces in the Cloud

Mom and I were amazed at how many faces we could see in this cloud of smoke. We even found a man holding a small lamb, or maybe a deer. When you click on the picture--the faces are more easily discovered. So...how many faces can YOU find?!

Oregon Sunrise

I remember eight years ago, when my husband felt something had happened and turned on the television. In New York City, one tower was on fire and we watched as an airplane speared the second. We wept as the towers crumbled, knowing in that moment thousands had lost their lives. When we visited ground zero nine months later, our experience there shaped the rest of our lives. We must not forget our solidarity as Americans and the wonderful freedoms we have here in our country.

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Taking Dad to the VA hospital is always an eye-opener. The waiting area is nearly always filled to capacity with men and woman who have served our country and now suffer. Over the doorway is the legend "The price of Freedom is Visible Here."

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Now eight years later--A wonderful blessing on the day--this Oregon Sunrise. Shatters of joyful light bursting through night's dusky cloudcover.

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Daddy Update: What a wonderful thing! The top of Dad's head has NO bone showing! The two surgeons who looked at it a little over a month ago said there was a one percent chance that terrible wound would heal over. Thank you for your prayers! It is truly a miracle!

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Please continue to pray that Dad's neck bones will knit together. There's quite a gap between the bones--and Mom says, looking at the cat scan, that it looks impossible. But we've already seen one miracle! Let's pray for another.

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We hope to have Dad and Mom's home ready for them by the 20th. Still so much yet to be done.

Spiderweb Glass in Tilting Grass

How unexpected to find this shattered beauty resting in the grass. I especially love the gorgeous color of the red leaf resting against the top of this lovely study of contrasts.

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Daddy Update: Last Sunday morning Dad walked my youngest sister down the aisle, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. He walked around quite a bit that day--and seemed the better for it.

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The neck doctor had some discouraging news. According to the cat scan, there is a cyst which is lodged where the break in Dad's neck is. The Doc thinks Dad was probably born with it--but it seems to be impeding the bones from healing. But there was some good news, too--We saw the wound specialist on Wednesday. She was amazed at how quickly the top of Dad's head is knitting. Indeed--when I change his wound each day, I am amazed to see visible progress--It is a miracle to watch how quickly the flesh is covering over the bone, when the doctors said it never would.

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Please pray for safety for all the family members and volunteers who will be at my parents' home this weekend. We have a LOT to do, including some serious work on the roof. It is my hope and prayer that we will accomplish more than we ever thought possible. Dad and Mom need to be in their own home. I would appreciate your good thoughts and prayers this Labor Day Weekend.

A New Beginning

This gorgeous sunrise is in honor of the new life my sister and her wonderful husband will be begnning today. This morning my youngest sister is getting married. I am so happy for Leigh, and for little Malaya, who gets to have her "Daddoo" for keeps.

Dad will be able to walk Leigh up the aisle. He will walk using his cane. Then when he's given my darling sister away, we'll have the wheelchair and oxygen ready.

Thank you for your prayers for Dad. He has had a very discouraging week, and is getting frustrated with the neck brace he has to wear--it is giving him nightmares. I would appreciate your prayers for him this coming week. It is so hard for him to be away from home for so long. But his place has to be prepared before he can go back. Pray we get it all done quickly so Dad and Mom can go to their beloved homeplace.

Friendship

While visiting my sister, I caught this sweet moment between kitten and cat. The beginning of a fine friendship!

Ghandi Stood Here

I took this photo from the old sound booth of the abandoned mega-church. As we explored the stage, my sister Clytie told me that in its heyday, many famous people visited here. Ghandi was one of them. I was flabbergasted. To actually stand where Ghandi stood, was mind-boggling.

I might not agree with some of his teachings, but Ghandi is an incredible example of one simple man who's ideas changed the entire world.

Perhaps I can make a difference in my world, too.

Two Sunflowers

When I was a child I read the wonderful book The Secret Garden. There is a gorgeous old house near here where the gardens are exquisite. They've always reminded me of the garden described in the book--even down to the swing, gates and hedge. How delighted I was to discover the owner of the home had actually planted her garden with that very story in mind!

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Daddy Update: The wound specialist believes the bone still exposed in Dad's scalp will most likely heal over by itself without surgery. Dad's tests have come back looking great. Please pray for my parents outlook--it is so hard for them to be away from home so long. We are preparing the house so they can go home sometime mid-September. We are praying we can get it done by that time--Mom must return home so she can teach the first of October.

Fiery Profile

"Look! The sky is golden," Mom cried, pointing at the skies glowing above the curtained windows. I ran into the kitchen, snatched my camera from the counter and flew out the door. Color pulsed in the skies and I was in awe.

I walked along the streets clicking pictures as I went. Barefoot I made my way to the big meadow next to the grade school. I'm sure the neighbors must have thought I was crazy, but I did not care--The skies were fiery with color.

When I looked back through pictures of the sunset, I found the profile of a man just above the trees. Do you see him? What do YOU see?

Angel Gaze

Yesterday afternoon Mom and I were on our way back from picking up her new glasses, when we stopped for a few things at the grocery store. What a surprise to see an angel cloud gazing at us over the treetops! If you look at the trees, you can see the angel must have dropped some gold pieces into the leaves!

Tippy Top

What an unexpected sight! A few days ago, perusing overhead I noticed an angle in the clouds. When the sharply bent cloud drifted over the peak of our house--it looked decidedly odd. So I clicked this picture. Weird, isn't it?
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Daddy Update: Dad is doing very well. We hope to have the home place ready in a few weeks, so our parents can be comfortably set for the cold autumn and winter months. Please continue to pray for Dad's healing and that we will be able to finish all the work which must be done in order for them to go home. Dad would feel much better with his own things around him.