A Gift Of The Heart

Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers for me through the loss of my dear cousin.  There are no words to express what your love and support have meant to me during this time.  In the rush of everyday life – and in the times when the road is rough – if we look, we can always find a bright spot.  A place to stop and breathe and see things from a different perspective.  A week ago today I had such an experience – a time to step out of the reality of ‘now’ and step back into something sweet.  Shortly before the end of last year a dear friend of mine bought me a ticket for tea at a place I love.  You’ve seen this place many times here before.  It’s a place where time seems to stand still and the reality and rush of life outside its borders almost ceases to be!  That place is Historic Deepwood Estate in Salem, Oregon.  Just a short drive from my home.

Photos were taken on my cell phone (or borrowed from Deepwood’s Facebook page) so the quality is not quite the same as with my camera but I think you will see just a bit of the time we shared at Deepwood's Downton Abbey Tea.  Some of those attending were dressed in period costume from the era seen on television.  Some were dressed in their Sunday best and others were fairly casual.  Dress was not the focus, although it was hard to miss the wonderful finery present there.  Guests were seated in the formal dining room. . .In the parlor. . .
And a family celebrating the mother’s birthday was seated together in the living room. We were greeted at the door by the butler, Bailey, (seen in the background below) and tea was served by the housemaids. I was seated at this table in the parlor. (You can see where I sat - my purse is on my chair.)

  The food was delicious.  The tea – delightful! 

On the menu: 

Double Gloucester Cheese and Onion Scone

Leek and Potato Soup
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Wild Mushroom and Fontina Tart
Roasted Beet and Carrot Salad
Chicken Curry Tea Sandwich
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Apple Charlotte with
Earl Grey Anglaise
Chocolate Eclair
Strawberry Rose Meringues
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Black Tea with Rose Petals

 

My cup and saucer were breathtakingly beautiful!

Conversations around the tables included introductions and discussions about tea and things we love to collect.  Other topics were discussed and time went too fast.  It wasn’t long before it was time to go.  The ‘butler’ led tours of the mansion to anyone who was interested.  The gift my friend gave me was more than time for tea.  It was a gift from her heart to mine.  When it was scheduled there was no way to know how much I would need this time away.  It was a day to step away from the cares and pressures of the last three months of care for my dear, little mother and the recent sudden loss of my dear cousin.  It was a day to relax and smile and realize – again – the importance of time taken to step away from the cares of life.  It was a day to treasure a precious gift given from the heart of a true friend who understood that the meaning would go much deeper than fine food and tea.  It was truly a gift of the heart!  A gift I will always treasure.

In Memory

Earlier this week I flew to Southern California for a few days to join family and say goodbye to someone very dear to me.  My cousin, Mr. A.,  has been a special part of my family – and a dear friend.  He was like a brother to me.  We had many adventures as we grew up and there were tales to tell whenever we were together.  He was a very talented artist.  Plans were in the works for him to retire later this year so he could pursue his passion and share his talent with others – something he had done in the past.  He planned for his retirement years to be spent not far from my sweetheart and I and we had begun to dream of more adventures than we ever dreamed possible together. 
A few months ago Mr. A. spent his vacation with us.  His stay was sweet – almost two weeks of time to share things we enjoyed and a chance to take him to places we love.  He and I sat and shared for hours – our hopes, our joys, our dreams – and we made plans for his return for vacation just a few weeks from now.  During that time he was going to look for a retirement home.  We ‘talked’ by email almost every day - sometimes several times a day.  He was a rock, a source of strength when life felt like it was falling apart.  His words often seemed profound, yet his incredible sense of humor came through just when I needed a laugh more than anything else.  He was an avid reader of this blog - he always longed to join me on the adventures I shared here.  He often sent an email asking me to ‘put that on the list’ of things he wanted to do when he came to Oregon.  His passing was sudden.  Unexpected.  And hard to comprehend.  But he leaves behind people who loved him more than he ever knew and a rich legacy no one else could give.  He was a private person.  Because of that I have chosen not to share his photo here – he would have hated that!  I have chosen to share a bit of Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, a place he loved the moment he saw it when we spent a day there together late last summer.  He and I planned to go back again this spring to explore every nook and cranny open to the public.  He ‘found’ things there I had never seen in previous visits to the lodge. I saw Timberline Lodge in new ways.  The artist in him taught me to look at the artwork in ways I will never forget.  I miss Mr. A. more than words can say.  He was more than a cousin.  He was a soul-mate - a kindred spirit.  His spirit and legacy lives on.  He had no idea how many lives he touched deeply or the difference he brought to their worlds.  He left behind something special in each of us who knew and loved him.  His spirit will live on in our memories forever.

My God Will Always Be Enough

    
 I felt the ache of emptiness
this world could not relieve
My heart has lived in poverty
that no one else could see
Until I found the sweet restoring stream
that changed my life
He called to me, ‘Come and Drink’
and my need was satisfied

 

Tomorrow I could rise to find
that everything has changed
This way of faith could take me to
some unexpected place
But in all the twists and turns of life
I’m sure of this one thing
Where the road seems so uncertain
my God will go with me

 

My God will always be enough
for the longings of my soul
He alone can fill my cup
till my spirit overflows
From a well of living water
He renews me with His love
My God will always be enough

The last days have not been easy.  There have been twists and turns but God has sent reminders that He is always there – and He will always be enough.  You can hear this song here.


Song: ‘My God Will Always Be Enough’
Words and music by Kevin Stokes
 Recorded by Karen Peck

Still Here

I’m still here – finding my way through each day.  My dear, little mother has made progress in many ways but there are quite a few things that have made her care very different than we first thought.  I have hired a daytime caregiver so I can have some time to keep body and soul together.  Much of my time is spent managing life and business for her.  My sweetheart is in southern Mexico on a two-week missions trip that was planned long before my dear mother fell and broke her pelvic bone.  He will return home Saturday evening.  I’m not counting the hours.  Yet!  Just counting the days and looking forward to having him home again.

I am staying with my dear mother every night.  I ‘negotiated’ with her.  She hasn’t wanted a dog in her house before so I told her in order for me to stay nights with her, Joey, my little dog, had to be there, too.  After dinner each night I go home and get him.  The first evening he was there it was all new to him.  He had to sniff and snoop and check out every single nook and cranny.  She asked, ‘Will he break anything?’  ‘Only if it’s edible,’ I said, ‘then he will break it to pieces and eat it till it’s gone!’  He dearly loves her but he knows something isn’t the same as before.  When I open the door to let him into her home, he races to her side.  He sits in front of her walker and watches her.  Now that her home feels like home to him, he makes himself comfortable and relaxes. 

There are big decisions and changes ahead.  My sweetheart asked me not to make any big changes while he was away, unless they had to be made right away.  Just keep things working for her.  And for me.  Then, next week, he and I will begin to put things in place for the changes that must be made. I have sought much counsel and the changes that need to happen are obvious.  I feel such peace with the direction we will take.  Thank you for your prayers, your love and support and your kind comments and emails.  They mean so much to me. 

Today I read something that touched my heart and gave me strength.  It’s true.  So true.
 
‘As you care for your elderly mother or father, you may be the very hands of Christ taking care of them. And as you care for them, you may be surprised to discover that God does just the reverse: uses them to bless you as well, and teach you something more of Him. When this happens, you will know you’re finding God while caring for aging parents.’  (from findinggoddaily.com)

I am finding Him in new ways.  Every day.

The Journey Continues

The journey we are on with my dear, little mother continues.  The road has taken some turns and dips and had curves we had to maneuver but we are still moving forward.  She returned to her home from the rehab center last Saturday.  My sweetheart and I are taking turns staying with her until caregivers are in place to help meet her needs.  She is enjoying her home and the home-cooked meals we provide.  The journey is slow for her and it’s uncertain.  There are changes ahead – some that may not be of her choosing – but she is quietly focusing on continued recovery from the fall that broke her pelvic bone.  Please pray with us through these next days as plans begin to unfold and the direction for her future is determined. 

Your emails and comments expressing your support mean more to me than you know.   You are very dear to me. I will try to stay in touch and keep you updated as our journey continues.

A Word And A Verse

My word for two thousand fourteen:


My verse for the new year:

Karl Barth said it well, ‘Joy is the simplest form of gratitude’.  So, I choose to walk the path of life this year with joy – and a grateful heart.

Happy New Year

Sending wishes for a wonderful New Year that is filled with more blessings than you’ve ever had before!

Tomorrow I will share my word and Bible verse for this new year.  And – soon – an update on my dear, little mother.  Then, the announcement I was going to make early in December.  Please come by to visit again soon.

During this past year – and even before – you have been such a wonderful part of my life.  It’s hard to imagine what my days would be without you in them.  I love sharing our lives together.  Here’s to even more visits – online or in person – in two thousand fourteen!