Yet, one day we feel the sun on our face again.

Purplerays

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We never really get over a devastating loss.
In the thick of it, we almost stop breathing; sometimes even wishing we could.
And we know deep within that we will never be the same.
Yet, one day we feel the sun on our face again.
We find ourselves smiling at a child or a joke or a memory.
And at that moment, we realize we are finding our way back.
Changed forever? Yes.
But also softer, deeper, more vulnerable and more loving too.
And we are breathing again.

Text & image source: Welcome Home https://web.facebook.com/WelcomeHomeOriginal/

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More to Come:

Here’s the “more”.

I arrived in Hockley, Tx the first part of March.  My intention was to be there a week, or at most two weeks.  I was going to visit with my oldest daughter and family, and keep a couple of doctor’s appointments.  As had been my luck of late, I ended up with a series of medical issues that kept me there for almost two full months.  The happy side of life was that I was fortunate to spend a lot of quality time with my family!

This is Terri & I…WOW, that’s big!!  Don’t know how to change it…

Terri & I

And below is Terri, hubby Dan, and Josh & Sydney

Terri, Dan, Josh & Sydney

While there, Terri’s BFsF Jennifer & Roy were kind enough to allow me to stay on there beautiful country property the entire time.  They even put up with me flipping breakers while trying to use my Kuerig…took me a while to figure that one out!  LOL

My Coco even figured out how to play with other dogs…sort of…she really always thought she was human!

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The family and I did do some just hanging out, and had a lot of my favorite Mexican food, but for the most part, poor Terri just ran me around from doctor to doctor.  It was so good to just spend time together!!!

From there…on to the Texas Hill Country…

Trials & More Trials

I’m “On the road again”…with Waylan, Willie, and The Boys!!  And it has, so far, been nothing to write home about!  Or maybe it’s been a LOT to write home about.  Depends on one’s perspective, I guess.

The snow was pretty much gone when I left Wisconsin, headed once more for Texas, around March 7th.  However, it was still cold, cold, cold!  Hovering around 30 degrees.  I thought, before I left that I had a propane leak. Therefore, I decided to stay at a park where I would have electric, and thus, heat.  Upon arriving, I got my cord out to plug in and discovered that the adapter I’d used at my friend’s house had kind of “fused” to my cord.  I worked and worked to loosen it, and after about twenty minutes in the biting cold finally succeeded in getting it off!  Happy day!  That heat felt SO good once it warmed my little travel trailer.

The next day, as I was tooling down the highway, someone pulled alongside and honked.  A passenger was holding up a sign that said “trailer window open”.  I checked my mirror, and sure enough, a window was flopping in the breeze!  Stopped as soon as I could to check that out.  Made an adjustment and got back on the road.  About thirty minutes later…it’s flopping again!  Stopped, adjusted, and off we go.  Must have made it about forty minutes, and sure enough…there it goes again.  At the next stop, I had no choice but to dig out the duct tape!!!  Low and behold, that dang window stayed shut the rest of the way to Texas! Sorry to report that it is still taped shut.  Stayed at a State Park that night.  Still cold…

 

The next day’s adventure took place in Arkansas…now mind you, I love Arkansas…normally.  This park was only going to cost $15.00 for the night. Oh, my word, there were reasons!  I won’t go into details, but it was a humdinger.  The site I was led to was a very narrow back-in, with a tree at the edge.  SO this nice young man says he’ll back it in for me.  I’m eternally grateful, and allow him to do it.  As he’s backing in,  I notice a lot of branches AND glass in the site…yikes!  The nice young man leaves the truck running, so in a few minutes, I go up and shut it off.  It’s a bit seedy here, so I lock the truck doors and go back to set up.  Needing something from the truck, I look for my keys…you got it…they are in the ignition!  Not only that, but the extra set I normally keep inside the trailer, is in the pocket of the jacket I’d been wearing, and taken off earlier that day because it had warmed up nicely.  That jacket was laying on the passenger seat in the truck!!!  Now I think I’m going to lose it.   Went to find the “nice young man”, found out that he was gone.  His neighbors turned out to be “angels from above”!  Seems their son worked for a towing company.  They called him to see if he could help, and he said he would be shortly.  It took him all of three minutes to unlock my truck, and only charged me $10.00.

I could not possibly remember all the problems that I encountered on this trip to Texas, but needless to say, it was NOT my favorite trip!

Next installment…”More to Come”

 

 

 

Some of my favorite quotes

 

 

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Love is a friendship set to music—Joseph Campbell

The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart—Helen Keller

“It’s impossible” said pride.  “It’s risky” said experience.  “It’s pointless” said reason.  “Give it a try” whispered the heart.—Anonymous

I Belong

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I hear my name whispered on the wind, and can do naught but answer, for I belong to the wind, and all that “is”

I hear my name resounding from the hills, and I respond with a deep desire to see and touch; to explore the less traveled pathways

I hear my name in the rustling of the leaves, beckoning me to come forth, to cross the next horizon, climb the next mountain, and meet new friends

I hear old friends shout my name, saying “Come join us”, and I respond with a hearty “I’m coming, my friends”

I eagerly anticipate the shared feeling of joy and freedom, knowing in my heart that they too, belong to the wind, and all that “is”…

 

 

 

 

At the ending of day, in the darkness of night…. — Purplerays

I re-blogged this because I feel a connection to Mother Earth just looking at the picture! It quiets my soul…

Sacred Touches

“At the ending of day, in the darkness of night we seek an inner assurance of your presence. Our body is still and our soul is silent as we listen for the renewing springs of your Spirit deep in the ground of our being and in earth’s quietness all around us. Guide us […]

via At the ending of day, in the darkness of night…. — Purplerays

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Kids Get Arthritis Too

This is my, amazing, courageous Grandson. He is now a 22 year old college graduate, embarking on his career! This is a reblog from my Daughter’s new blog. Please drop in, read her other posts, and leave a word of encouragement for her.

The Empty Nest

Today is World Arthritis Day. This is the face of arthritis. These pictures were taken shortly after my son, Joshua, was diagnosed. Kids get arthritis too! Let’s raise awareness.

joshua

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Courage

This is my Daughter’s blog. I’m very proud of her for sharing her thoughts and feelings with others in this way. She, indeed, is a very courageous person. Her son, pictured in her next post, is now an amazing 22 year old college graduate on the verge of launching his career. He has also been very courageous in dealing with his Juvenile Arthritis all these years. Please pay a visit to Terri’s blog and leave a word of encouragement for her.

The Empty Nest

This quote really spoke to me today.  First, because I thought of all the people fighting to rebuild after Hurricane Harvey stole from them.  He took so much from so many of my friends and neighbors here in Texas.  He took possessions.  He took homes.  He took the feeling of security.  He took lives.  It breaks my heart that so many lost so much.  But this tragedy is about so much more than that!  It is about courage.  The courage of those who came from near and far to help.  The courage of the families who walked away from everything they owned.  The courage of those who opened their homes to strangers.  The courage of those who let go of their ego to ask for help.  My heart aches and rejoices at the same time.  Weird how that can happen.

After shedding another tear or two for the hurricane victims…

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