Wordless Wednesday in Pink Azalea Time

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Still Life

The azaleas are amazing this year. They provide almost a screen of hot-pink privacy...



We hosted our first Easter egg hunt yesterday. I had a blast! Hope everyone else who was here had fun as well. Today, I am suffering with a stopped ear so any and all prayers along with remedy tips are much appreciated.

The kids hunted for eggs by flashlight, so we don't have any photos. However, we set up the tripod during the beautiful day and took some group shots. Here's a sampling of what we got. The ElfGirl and James are such photogenic subjects that I could barely control my shutter finger...

Just so stinkin' proud...

James was just nominated to be treasurer of the Emerald Coast Chapter of the FMSTA (Florida State Massage Therapy Association). I'm so proud of him for stepping up to this position and new responsibility.

Wordless Wednesday # I don't know

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Gratitude--letting others know that you appreciate them

After two days of running at high speed (the weekends are busy times for us at BrightHaven), the little ElfGirl seems to be winding down. Who knew that three-year olds need more than five hours of sleep at night? Allright, allright, no throwing of stones or calling child protective services. I read your blogs too, you know!

So, anyway, she had the sniffles earlier this evening, accompanied by unbidden tears, fever and coughing. I was concerned and we had to postpone our trip to night service. She was miserable. Eventually, I realized as I was praying for her that she was mostly just sad--but sad ElfGirl is almost as miserable as sick ElfGirl!

At one point, I was holding her in my arms and rubbing her back when it occurred to me how grateful I am for every second we can spend with her. When Marshall died, I regretted the chances we won't have to kiss her and hold her and ride bikes with her. Some days, the list just seems endless! Each opportunity with ElfGirl is a moment that I greatly appreciate. Our family and friends are so precious. It's so hard sometimes to really just be in the moment--not thinking about 10 minutes ago or ten minutes from now or what else should be done.

Sometimes, the most important thing I can do is hold an ElfGirl and rub her back.

Someone has a birthday today...

It's one of my favorite people in real life. Hint: it's not the little one in the picture, although she is one of my favorite people as well! I like him so much that I promised to share my life with him almost exactly three years ago today. He is not feeling all that excited about this birthday because, well, it's the big 3-0.

Yes, it's true. I'm several years older than my wonderful, handsome, smart and creative husband. Drop on over to his blog, please, and wish him a happy birthday.

Wordless Wednesday

hands, originally uploaded by bekados.

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what a wonderful model...

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Beach Days...

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Making it from Scratch...

Well, after Matthew's visit, I just haven't been in a blogging mood. Of course, this is Sunday--the busiest day of the week for me! That's really not saying much, considering I make it a point to keep busy-ness out of my life, but Sundays start at 5:30 a.m. and end when I get the MIFS published. What kind of energy does it take to post some pictures of a project? If it's me, obviously a whole lot. Why not just publish the MIFS earlier in the week? Well, ah, I'm sure there's a very good reason and I'll have to get back to you on that one...

James has made the most recent MIFSs, so I'm going to post one of them here. It's our own Tin Can Man
The beginnings
The hammering
The man takes shape...
Attaching his head
Sitting and waiting...

Wordless Wednesday

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Have you all ever noticed the more "connected" you are with other people, the more you share in their sorrows? Being aloof from folks really does make one an island of sorts. In just the past couple of weeks, I have prayed for a woman with a brain tumor, a woman with an adoption gone awry, my own dear niece and sister and a friend's daughter newly diagnosed with cancer.

If I could make a bubble, I wouldn't have to share this pain or grief. Of course, then, I would not share the joy and friendship that comes with it. Excluding my sister and niece, I know none of these people about whom I have thought so much this month.

My sister and niece and brother-in-law are at their monthly cardiologist appointment. Today, they find out what course of action the doctor recommends. Two months ago, the doctor seemed to indicate that one of the holes in her heart had been healed. We know Marshall is being healed, but sometimes the process seems so painful that we forget what has happened.

If you've never before read my blog, I'm not usually so melancholy. This is just one of those days.

Anyway, next week, Marshall is scheduled to have the cataracts removed from her eyes. The opthalmologist believes she will be able to see once they are gone. She does have limited vision now, but is having to look around the cataracts. She also has some sort of optic blood vessel that usually disintegrates at birth that is still intact. The surgery will remove that vessel as well.

It seems there is so much to say about Marshall that I have not been telling and I know people have prayed for her. When she was released from the NICU, the doctors believed she only had a few weeks to live. So, the g-tube they inserted was only temporary. My sister dealt with that tube for four months and then took Marshall to a gastro-enterologist. He was astounded that the doctors were so sure of her imminent death they didn't provide her with a more stable feeding arrangement. Now, Marshall has a "g-button" that is much easier to keep clean and MUCH less likely to be ripped out than the tube was.

Marshall was diagnosed with Trisomy 13 at birth. Usually, this condition is diagnosed in utero. Marshall was flown by jet to New Orleans where she stayed in the NICU for two months. Initially, the doctors said she wouldn't live past two months (95% of babies diagnosed with trisomy 13 die before birth). Now they say, not past 1 year. Please pray with us that our family continues to be able to provide for Marshall's needs. As long as any child receives proper medical attention, the survival rate is much higher! Because of the multiple organs affected by this condition, most doctors just give up the fight. If you are praying, pleas pray that my family finds the best doctors possible.

Thanks for sticking with this post. I'm just really thinking about all of this a lot lately...

Becca

The morning routine

Adding to our morning routine of drinking coffee, James and I have pledged to incorporate stretching and (drumroll, please) breakfast!! So, this morning, we had awesome stretching time on the back deck under a perfectly blue sky. It was such a lovely experience that I definitely want to continue this routine. I even made applesauce muffins for breakfast. Friends dropped by and joined us for the rest of the morning.

So enjoyable.

By the way, don't forget to check out the newest co-operative blog! The Kids in the Library is a site to post book reviews, recommendations and lists. Think you're interested in being an author? Send me an email and a link to your website.

The Secret Garden--by...my DH!

It has long been a dream of mine to have a secret garden. When the little girl (whose name I can't remember) enters the old, abandoned garden, something in my heart stirs.

It's magical.

Here are some pictures of my garden:


Looking into the garden


From the garden bench


Hanging vase to give it a living space feel


Unidentified vine/bush at left hand

What a glorious day!

Wow! It was another amazingly beautiful day here on the Gulf Coast! We worked in the yard all day long, had friends over and got lots of things accomplished. Here are a few things we did today:
James building the raised beds...

The Shadow of the Plow...

Becca spreading ummm well, you know, in the raised bed...

homemade paper seedling pots (this was an all day project!!

Work progressing on the Secret Garden


Would someone be interested in a sheet or two of pregnant paper? I'm trying out a new item to sell on Etsy. Want to see what thoughts are...

I do NOT! look like Jerry Garcia!

Can you believe Someone would say that? And on Valentine's Day? Unh-unh...it's my lovely little Audrey Hepburnish hat I just bought yesterday. I am enamored of it. Blond fur with a pink grosgain ribbon. Too sweet.


And this is the outfit I pieced together from thrift store finds. As soon as I find/make a dressmaker's form...on it goes!


Don't worry, I'm not keeping the hat. I will sell it, eventually.

Here's a little picture of Jerry Garcia with the hat...

Mine, the rose...

Yours and Mine, the rose
Pain that does not leave my head
Morning brings relief.