Your Kindness, O LORD, Endures Forever

"I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise...
Because of your kindness and your truth,
you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me...

Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever..." - Psalm 138

Today, I'm giving thanks to our Creator for sunshine, the glorious beauty of Western Washington, flowers, trees, fresh salty air and water.

I'm thankful to live in a place with mountains and salt water, where you can commute to work by boat

...a place that a cruise ship company thinks is worth a stop

...a place with a bakery that makes these

...and especially these.

I'm giving thanks for fellowship with kind, whole-hearted, understanding, talented, intelligent, funny, wise women. I'm thankful for the gift of this vase of flowers - an early Mother's Day treat from one bereaved mother to another:

Thank you, Teri!

...and for the gift of our writing group, with its encouragement, laughter, inspiration, education and even the occasional tears.

I'm thankful for my family, for time and space to listen, learn and serve, for the gift of the NSA Northwest Speaker's Academy camaraderie and lessons, for support and insight into my work, and for the work itself.

I'm thankful to be able to "barter" (or "work off") the cost of the most wonderful bicycle I've ever ridden. I have not enjoyed cycling since high school, but this bike (6 years old, but new to me) is a revelation - it's actually FUN to ride! I'm thankful for a delicious brunch and bike ride with a friend who we originally met at Seattle Children's Hospital - and for her friendship. I'm thankful for a recent barbeque with Gregg's work peeps in a breathtakingly beautiful location, and for conversations wide-ranging, deep and not-so-deep.

I'm thankful to be able to host Gregg's family to celebrate Mother's Day this Saturday, and to spend Mother's Day with my side of the family - especially with our son, who is finishing his final exams today. I'm grateful that Gregg's mother and mine are both still with us, at 91 and 80 years of age, respectively.

Though life is not easy or simple, life is GOOD. God is GOOD. He makes His promises GOOD. We can be joyful and trust in that fact. Thanks be to our Creator!

Spring Joys

These lovely flowers are in planters in a little shopping center on the main street of Bainbridge Island. We went for a walk around town and they brightened my day so much that I wanted to share them with you.

I've been busy doing homework, learning a great deal and enjoying it immensely. I'll be in class two times during this week and am looking forward to what we're going to learn. Everyone I've met through NSA is interesting, kind and energetic, and the curriculum is exciting. It's been a long time since I was in school and I'm finding it stimulating. It came at just the right time, and I am grateful to have this opportunity to learn new things.

Gregg and I took a quick trip to visit David last weekend. It's a 5-hour trip from the west side of the state to the east side, and the terrain changes dramatically as you travel.

The view from home

Snoqualmie Pass in April

Crossing the Columbia River at Vantage

Eastern Washington - look at those clouds!

 It was lovely to see David, and take him out to eat some good food...

Sushi & Sashimi for three of us to share

He and Gregg went golfing with our cousin, Kim while I did homework at the hotel. Afterward, we all gathered at Kim & Mary's house for dinner.

Kim & Gregg are like brothers. It's fun to get together and hear stories of the days when they were growing up.

We enjoyed walking on campus with David and seeing the beautiful Catholic symbols and art.

Detail on a stairway railing

This statue needs no explanation.

There is new grotto on campus, which is dedicated to Mother Mary, in memory of a beloved priest (Father Tony).

They have candles and lighting sticks available for anyone to use.

I lit a candle; there is such comfort in this simple act of prayerful intention.

We took walks through downtown Spokane, marveling at the power of the waterfalls on the river.

Rainbow, faintly visible on the left, by the bridge

A beautiful, renewable resource - spring snowmelt!

The Brews Bros. coffee shop gave me a pink lid for my coffee cup - a simple addition which made my morning java special.

It's good to get away and get a fresh perspective on things...but it's always wonderful to come home again.

I'm Over There

...at Abundant Living After Catastrophe. 
Please come for a visit!

Spring Break 2013

Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts on Katie's 18th birthday. They brought more comfort to my heart than words can express. We had as good a day as possible, under the circumstances. We went to one of her favorite restaurants for dinner, and looked at old photos of happy times together.

Beautiful iris sent by Elizabeth A. - thank you!

 To those of you who visited her bench and sent photos, a million thanks.

The Meek kids stopped by with Angela on their way to school

Grandma Icel & Bev visited

Maribeth & David with me on Katie's birthday

We went away a few days afterward to see my parents. My dad just turned 86, so we celebrated with him - Happy Birthday, Kappa! 

Unfortunately, my mom wasn't feeling well, so the celebrations were low-key, and there aren't any good group photos. Fortunately, she is now feeling much better - hooray for antibiotics, when needed!

Playing cribbage at the condo before dinner

I love the exuberant joy in these pics

Cannonball!

Airborne

18

Our beautiful daughter would be turning 18 years old today

 if she had not died of cancer at the age of 12 and a half.

Sometimes, I try to imagine what she would look like today:  

She would have green eyes, golden skin, long legs and fingers, and beauty marks. 

How would her features have developed? 

What would her character be like? 

She would still be funny, courageous, intuitive, sassy and creative - I know that for sure.

Would she be awaiting college acceptance letters, or would she already know her plans for next year?
There are no answers to these questions.
What we have
is the gift
of 12 and a half years
of knowing Katie,
and the hope of a reunion in the future.

Happy Birthday, sweetheart!

We love you and miss you every.single.day. 

We are grateful that you are our daughter forever.

We will honor your memory together and  
celebrate your birth today! 

"All sorrows can be borne if you tell a story about them."

- Karen Blixen (a.k.a. Isak Dinesen)

As Jackson Browne Says, "I'm Alive"

“LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Amen.” - Thomas Merton

I have been on a blog-sabbatical, because the year 2012 ended with huge work-related difficulties. Certain events knocked my feet out from under me for a couple of months; I feel as if I'm recovering from a debilitating illness, but have renewed hope that "all shall be well."

David came home safely & happily from his semester in Italy, and is now back at school. During his vacation, we celebrated Christmas with my parents. 

I am deeply thankful that both of my parents are alive and well, at the ages of 80 and 85 years. Not only do we enjoy each other's company, but their love and support means the world to me; they helped me enormously through this difficult time. No matter how old you are, you still need your mom's and dad's love, support, understanding, strength and wisdom!

The impetus to start blogging again came in the form of a newsletter from www.griefHaven.org. I wrote an article for their "Parent Journey" newsletter last summer, and it was recently published; you can read it by clicking on the link below the picture.