on feeling thankful for stinkbugs?

last thanksgiving. my twin, carol is left, then dad, then me.

and

for these i am thankful 

stinkbugs

 as they land on my lamps

i'm reminded that i enjoy the american luxury

of uninterrupted electricity in my home

health

not too many years ago i wouldn't have eaten

even one cookie

but saturday-sunday? 

three of us ate 44 lemon crinkles in 23 hours

and 

shame didn't show to the party

my dad

it's our first thanksgiving without him

but my gratefulness runs deep to have had

forty-three years of his wit and wisdom

scripture

isaiah's words are my weapon

as i stave off the sad of loss and the fear of future

Do you not know?

   Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

   the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

   and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

   and increases the power of the weak.

What are your thankfuls this week?

linking with kelli, laura, jen, jennifer, barbie, sharita

moonshine stills and other things found

we hiked our mountain yesterday
in search of the elusive
lady slipper
that wild, north carolina orchid
my dad held so dear
and
when i was small
we hiked the hills,
him teaching me
trillium
flags
jack in the pulpit
blood root
but he always
treasured the lady's slipper,
it's pink bloom bringing to mind
my ballet shoes....
we didn't find any yesterday
but i did find
a fistful of flags
remnants of a moonshine still
part of a moonshine jug
a jack in the pulpit bloom
and
a fierce missing - i found that, too

how about you? what have you found lately that you weren't even looking for?

linking with  michelle, laura, jen, jennifer

god's got the door

hi ya, pop
i've saved up a few stories for you....
let's see,
you've heard the flying-squirrel-chewing-a-hole-in-my-house-one
but
this is new -
we got an egg today!
first one since october....
what? which chicken?
one of the red hens
she left it in the kindling box beside the front door
yeah. i know. service with a squawk!
you should have seen the animals when i fed today
the chickens gathered round the dog food
and
the dogs gathered round the chicken feed!
what? oh funny, dad.
no, i don't imagine the dogs will start laying eggs
white stuff?
i didn't think we'd had any snow
but when i walked the dogs this afternoon
i found the tiniest bit tucked into a maple leaf
on the western edge of the field
it was a nice surprise
church?
yeah, we went
hey, did you know that god closed the ark door?
it put me in mind of
how
very
little
we actually control in our lives
but you've known that a long long time
haven't you?
i love that you taught me to trust that
god's got the door, pop
i love you

if you could talk to a passed-away-loved-one, what stories would you have for him/her today?

linking with - 

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, kathy for titus 2 confessions,  joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, jennifer for tell his story, jen for soli deo gloria, emily for imperfect prose

what to write on your dad's last day

sister called

during my second cup of coffee
i was on the couch
with a book to read
and
plans for the day
sister called
during my second cup of coffee
and
she had

The News That Our Father Passed Away

and
what do i write now?
i haven't the space to write his life of
service
antics
jokes
sermons
smiles
and
love
what do i write now
except
thank you, dad
i'll miss you forever

KR

(my parents and all six of us kids have nicknames. mine is KR which is short for Kennel-Ration. i know this is dog food. but my dad gave it to me, so i adore it.)


linking with barbie today

the view from out-of-control

this is the view from

out-of-control

and this is the truth from 

out-of-control - 

in his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind

my family covets your prayers this week as dad struggles in cardiac care and mom endures chemotherapy. how may i pray for you?

linking with - 

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, kathy for titus 2 confessions,  joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, jennifer for tell his story, jen for soli deo gloria, emily for imperfect prose

observations on senior living

dad's home between
the a-frame
and
his heavenly
is room 411 at the senior village....
i go to visit
and
pass the beanie-baby-bed
and
the lady wheeling around with dad's cereal box on her lap
and
the persian cat under the common room sofa
we swap stories and news
and
it's here that i've enjoyed my
growing-up-dad
as he reminisces
paper routes
football-at-memorial-park
the great depression
and
bugle calls in the navy
and i know it's not the a-frame
and i know he misses his doggie
and i know mom isn't there
but
part of home is always always
wherever
he
is

linking with -

the gypsy mama for five-minute-friday, michelle for caffeinated randomness, studio jru for sneak peek friday, grace for FYBF, beholding glory for faith-filled friday, cheryl for true vine challenge, barbie for freshly brewed life

my mom and dad, on saturday

and this was my dad on saturday
one blue sock, one black
asleep in his chair
one hand fluttering,
the other resting on a half-eaten nutty bar
that had fallen to his chest
he startled awake
and knew me and his place
he finished his nutty bar while
asking about the boys and chris
and this was my dad on saturday
in his earth body
that aches
and
doesn't do as it's told
and this was my mom on saturday
robe and slippers
blue bandanna tied on the side
covering her hairless head
she welcomed me to the new chair
in the living room and
asked about the boys and chris
this was my mom on saturday
in her earth body
that's tired from
cancer and chemo
and i feel some sad about
their earth bodies
with the aches and pains and loss
but what glorious hope i heard
from the pulpit today
if there is a natural body
then
there is a spiritual body....
and just as we have borne
the likeness of the earthly man,
so shall we bear the likeness of the
man
from
heaven
amen.

continuing to count his gifts to 1000-

738. eggs from our six hens
739. finding eggs, easter-egg-hunt style
740. impromptu finley family party
741. grading papers
742. happy facebook messages from my girl, the one i mentor
743. my football boys' safety
744. chocolate chip cookie dough for second breakfast
745. husband beside me

linking with -

michelle for hear it monday, use it on sunday, ann for 1000 gifts, l.l. for on, in, and around mondays

joan for sharing his beauty, laura for playdates with god, elaine for miss elaine-ous monday, jen for soli deo gloria shanda for on your heart tuesdays and kat for titus 2 tuesdays

ouchie

dad
is in the hospital
blood clot
pulmonary embolism
(been a week, 2-4 more to come)
he's
weak
uncomfortable
and misses his dog
i am not
a fan
of this