Summer 2014

I may have to introduce myself again - it's been so long since I've actually visited with y'all.  Still don't know what my new normal is...  since I lost my sis.  But I'm trying to move forward.

I've spent most of this past year at Lisa's house soaking up all the time I could with her.  The Lord in heaven has been so close to our family these past months, and the knowledge that she no longer suffers goes a long way towards beginning to heal our grief and sorrow over her loss.  Our faith is strong and we will eventually find our way again with His help.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your words, your prayers and your concern.  I shall talk about Lisa, I'm sure, but I'll try not to moan and whine.  She's a lot better off than we are right now!  This pic was taken in the spring when my brother Dan, Lisa and I were all together for the last time... Dan lives way off in NC....

 This is a picture of Lisa and her husband about 3 weeks or so before we lost her...still beautiful!

Needless to say, my garden was a pitiful flop this year.  Daddy's garden fared a little better - we were all pulled to my sis...  I've made peach jam and pickles and hot salsa.  Surprisingly, our little bitty peach tree was absolutely loaded with baseball-sized peaches this year - no thanks to me.  We had an abundance of rain this spring/early summer - totally NOT normal at all!  I'm just now having to water the yard - it's just now looking a bit dry.

My daughter graduated from Nursing school with a Bachelor of Science.  We are so proud of her!  It was hard, but she stuck it out, passed her NCLEX, and is now employed at a major Texas hospital!  Lots of prayer and hard work!

Below is our family at her graduation + her significant other in the hat and my parents.  What a great day was had by all!

I totally forgot to show y'all something I made my daughter for Christmas...

Now, don't look at the pink stuff, and don't look at the wedding ring quilt, and don't look at anything else girly or foo-foo in this room.  Just look at the rag quilt.  THAT is what I made for baby-girl for Christmas. It doesn't have the binding on it yet.  Here's what happened - it was a surprise...

Happy tears when she realized that I'd made it and put all those long hours into the quilt!

It DID turn out nice - all her cowboy colors... I'd love to do another one IF my hands can recover from all the clipping...  If you haven't seen them on Pinterest, every seam of every square is clipped so that when it's washed, the seams get fuzzed out.  She loved her quilt...

See ya next time...

My Sister Lisa

It is with overwhelming sadness of my heart to tell you all that my sister Lisa has been called home to be with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. She passed away after a 15 month battle with ovarian cancer this past Saturday in Dallas with her entire family surrounding her bedside. She lived her faith until the very end and told my cousin "me and mammaw and papaw will be waiting for the rest of you goonies to get here some day".  Lisa touched many lives and we will be celebrating her victory Saturday at her memorial service. She told us she wanted happy songs, happy faces, funny stories and no black clothes. So that's what we're doing. I'm so sad to lose my sister soulmate and my mom and dad are lost without their baby girl. Her husband and their four adult kids are grieving too. Lisa did not make it to see her first grandbaby coming in July. My husband said that Lisa would get to see that little grandson before all the rest of us. The Lord is with us all and His Spirit is bringing great peace and comfort through our memories and loved ones. We are a family of Christians and our trust in Him will see us through. Please pray for our family as we move ahead without her. Our joy is the knowledge that we will all be together again someday... Heaven is looking a little sweeter each and every day. I love you Lisa. I will miss you so very much...

Update 5-13-14

Hello there friends...

Sorry it's been so long since I've blogged.  I do miss you all and miss hearing about your lives and goings-on.  Just thought I'd check in and update you all.

My sister Lisa is still fighting her ovarian cancer.  She's one tough cookie.  Keep those prayers coming please.  I know several of you are keeping in touch via email and I really appreciate you!  Lisa has exciting news ~~~ SHE'S GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER IN JULY!!!  Her son and his wife are expecting her first grand baby!

Where should I begin... hmmm...

My daughter Hayley, just graduated from nursing school with her BSN and already has secured a job at a Ft Worth hospital.  YEA!  Nursing school is tough - those folks are on the front lines every day - I have a new respect for them - they are definitely Florence Nightingales and sometimes spend way more time and thought with their patients than the doctors do!  So proud of her!

Adam Fears, my country musician son, is still in Nashville and on the road touring, and his video, "Middle of Nowhere"came out TODAY on GAC Great American Playlist program at their "one to watch".  He made it.  It's been his dream since GAC's beginning to be on there!  Take a listen and a gander at his new video... If you're interested, the same show will repeat on May 22, 23 at 11:00 am Central time.  His songs are available on ITunes, too!

He's doing great!!!  If you like the song, pls go to www.gactv.com, go to videos and click "emerging artists" in the left column. Scroll down and you'll see Adam's video in the listing.  There's a place to send email requests and comments, too, if you're so inclined.  The more comments/requests he gets the better his songs get in the ratings!  Thanks!

In other news...

I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER IN OCTOBER!  Can you believe it's finally happening??? It's MY turn!  And me and my sister Lisa are BOTH expecting our first grand babies!  Lisa's first comments were "YEA!  We'll have babies at Christmas-time!" and "Vickie, it's just something else that we can share!"  We've not had any little ones at Christmas since my daughter and her son were young!  And they are 25 and 26!  My son and his wife are expecting - my New Zealand/Denver kids. Mine and Lisa's two kids that we thought would be the least likely to have babies, much less get married!  Couldn't have planned it if we'd tried...

Farm life is going ok, I'm still in the chicken business and working on my garden, altho it's smaller this year.  It's been a weird spring - the weather has been crazy up and down in temps.  We got a late freeze and it got my plum tree, but not the peaches.  Cut my grapevines way back and it looks like we're going to get ALOT of grapes this year. Been doing a little painting, too.  Will have to update my art blog...

Well, that's all the news for now.  I'll try to get around and do some visiting as I can.  The best thing that's going on (besides the babies) is that I'm getting to spend LOTS OF TIME with my dear little sister/best friend!  She is my heart...  Take care friends - will try to be back soon!