Letting Go

  It’s been a hard year for Dale, losing his father in March took the rug out from under him.  He smiles, but sometimes, there is sadness behind it.  He works hard, but at times, he lacks his usual spunk …

Missing Papa Don

  Did you all have a wonderful and relaxing Memorial Day?  A huge thank you to all who served our country, we honored you and remembered you this weekend.   I am also thankful, that we can use Memorial Day …

Believing For A Miracle

  Sometimes I am simply at a loss for words. I have shed so many tears in the past few months.  I love that the Bibles tells me that the Holy Spirit can translate those cries of sorrow, those groaned …

There Is A Hospital Bed In My Living Room

  There is a walker, a commode, and a wheelchair sitting in my living room.  And I am not sure how I feel about it.   Actually, I do….   I am TERRIFIED for the day we have to use …

Pancakes for Papa

  We had a busy, but productive weekend with church events, Essential oil classes, and a Pancake Feed for Papa…..   The church Dale grew up in, the one Papa still attends, is so incredible! When they have things to …

With Thanksgiving

  My heart is full of Thanksgiving for all God has done, and the blessing of family around the table.  In honor of Dale’s father eating supper with us nearly every night since he became our next door neighbor, I wanted to include him in this years picture.

  We are thankful God is giving him a good quality of life, as he goes through chemo, and fights Stage 4 cancer!  No matter how God chooses to heal our Papa Don, we know He has plans to bring Him hope and a future…..

  I am taking a blog break for a few weeks, to enjoy my family and get caught up after 22 photo sessions to edit in 3 weeks.  🙂

  Happy Thanksgiving, I am so blessed to have you in my life!

~T

A Different Kind of Photo Shoot

  Family shoots are usually fun, light-hearted events, but sometimes, we have to take a different approach to a Photo shoot.

  This shoot was different.

This shoot provoked laughter AND tears, because this shoot was taken out of urgency.

The kind of urgency you get when you receive bad news.

  Dale’s father, not yet 60, was just diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. 

More spots then they can count on his liver, and spots in his lungs too.

We aren’t going down without a fight, both with the doctor and chemo, and natural remedies too. But it didn’t change our feelings on the timing of this Family Photo Shoot.  Some things you just don’t realize you need to do, until you think that maybe soon you won’t get the chance anymore.  

  We wanted to take Papa Dons photo BEFORE the Chemo took it’s toll on his body and his appearance. 

  There have been many, many tears shed at our house and many difficult decisions to make, and paperwork to fill out.  

  There have been many serious talks, some with tears, some without, about what was happening to Papa.  

Because of this, the children decided to make Papa Don cards, listing all the reasons they love him. They worked so hard on their pictures.  

We decided at the photo shoot would be a perfect time to give them to him……

  We are believing in Faith, in a God who is the Great I AM.  The perfect Healer.  And we will pray and fight with and for Don until the end, no matter what the end holds. 

  That’s the hardest part about all this,

Praying and believing for the best, yet having to take all steps to prepare and plan for the worst.

  But I know this, our Heavenly Father has plans for Papa Don, plans to bring him hope and a future…..

  And until we know those plans, our job is to make each day count as if it were his last. 

  But that’s the funny part about all this,

Any of us, at any time could be living our last days, minutes, moments.

  So here’s to saying I love you,

I care about you,

You are an amazing example to our children,

You make us laugh,

We admire you and your quiet strength,

Thank you……….

And here’s to spending just a few more seconds in that hug good bye each time you come over…..

  For this Earth is not our home……

We are all here but a moment in time.

~T

 

Update:  God is so so good!  We have been pursuing both chemo and natural treatments via The Life Vessel and we have some amazing news.  Don’s markers in his blood were over 8,000 his first visit, and the doctor frankly told him he shouldn’t even be here.  2 months later: his marker count came back at 4,000!  Praise God for His healing touch, and may He continue to bring healing to Don’s body as he fights this cancer.  Thank you for your prayers!