Our Angel Granddaughter Eden Rain

The past 18 days have been hard...so very hard.

We have questioned WHY over and over and over...

This mommy adores her children...every. single.one.

Eden is so perfect...couldn't be more perfect.

Daddy {our son} loves his girls very much.

Eden is no exception.

He loves her dearly.

Grandma and Grandpa saying goodbye...hardest goodbye E.V.E.R.

They named her Eden Rain...such a beautiful name.

It is hard to tell children that their little sister didn't make it.

Mommy's parents...they have suffered great loss in their lives
 as they each also lost a daughter in the past. This is another great loss that
is hard to fathom. Why do some families have to endure so much I will
never understand. If you think about it please say a prayer for them. 

If you look close you will see a little teardrop on sister Annika's eyelash.
The girls were so excited to welcome Eden into their family.

8 lbs. 2.9 ounces...beautiful baby girl

How do we go on from here? I don't know. I don't have any answers. We are looking for answers as to what
went wrong and we pray that we find some...somehow... someway.

An organization called

Sufficient Grace Ministries 

was called into the hospital when we lost our precious Eden.

They took all these beautiful photos that we will always cherish.

They gave mommy a "comfort bear" to hold when her arms
ache to hold her precious baby.

Matching bracelets for mommy and baby.

They gave the girls each a little bear.

 They also gave books, blankets and a beautiful white dress.

 They made an impression of her little hand in clay.

They also did hand and footprints.

Everything they did and gave was FREE.
If you check out their site you must read their book called:

Sufficient Grace. 

I couldn't put it down.

 God is doing a mighty work through this ministry.



God was present in that hospital room through Sufficient Grace Ministries

and

He continues to hold us during this difficult time.


We covet your continued prayers.

I miss you Eden Rain...so very much...angel kisses
straight to heaven for you...

My Sister's Diagnosis

This is a photo I took of a butterfly bush in  my garden last week.

It is also the verse that I sent my sister Chris who lives in Pennsylvania.

She was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer on August 5.

{our wedding anniversary}

It was quite a shock to us and to her as it came on very fast.

No. Family. History.

This is different than your typical "find a lump" breast cancer.

Google it and you will find out more information than you ever want to know.

Chris is 15 months older than I am and I love her dearly.

She is also a pastor's wife.

Please , please bombard heaven on her behalf against this dreadful disease.

She starts chemo next week.

She has already been so strong through the diagnosis and I know she will
continue to be. She also can still say that

GOD IS GOOD.

He is her Savior,  her Redeemer and we are trusting in Him to
be her healer.

When life throws you a curveball...

...it is nice to be ready, but we WERE. NOT. ready.

Last Wednesday I got a call from my sister-in-law telling me that my father-in-law wasn't  doing well.

I made the call to hubby at work and before he even drove in the driveway , I received another call
from his sister and she was sobbing.

 I KNEW. I just knew.

"Sandi...he is gone".


There was no consoling her...I told her it wasn't her fault...but when you lose your father.
IT. IS. HARD.

78 years young.

It is also very hard to tell your husband when he walks in the door that his father has passed.

I can't even bear the thought of losing mine, so my mind tries to never go there.

This is a family with many problems that I won't go into , but needless to say we all need your prayers.

Five children. Three girls, Two boys.

10 grandchildren 13 great grandchildren {8 of them ours!}

Life will go on, but there are many wounds from years and years of hurt that really need healing.

Mother-in-law is also in the same nursing home that he was and truthfully I really thought that she would
go first.

His was a relatively fast downward spiral that ended in his death and none of us were prepared
for it this soon. Hubby had just visited him just a little while before and he was up and around even
 though he didn't know who hubby was.

 It started with multiple myeloma and chemo. Didn't think it would be this serious, but then he took a fall
which resulted in bleeding on the brain and he went downhill from there.

Please keep us all in your prayers...especially my dear husband.

Every decision we make...update on granddaughter

Have you ever thought about how each and every decision we make has the potential to be absolutely life changing? Wow...has that ever been made clear this week for our family. Three giddy teenage girls hopping in the back seat of a car with no cares in the world , never dreaming that where they choose to sit would have a life changing outcome.  My granddaughter {pictured above on her way home from the hospital} was the farthest away from the impact of the truck that hit the car they were riding in that day. Her outcome...bump, bruises and anxiety. The outcome was a bit different for the other two girls that were sitting beside her. "Larissa has a broken pelvis and Dani has a fractured neck/skull, broken jaw, small brain bleed and a severely bitten tongue". Please continue to pray for these girls and the other 7th and 8th graders that were riding in a car behind them and witnessed the accident. We are thanking God for His goodness in the whole situation. Praising Him that it wasn't much worse...praising Him that He was with them the whole time and praising Him that our Allysha will be just fine. {taking paypal payments for a new LARGE stuffed animal for Allysha...just kidding! lol She has had this animal for years and it is getting rather grungy looking...lol}  When I saw this photo on facebook, I wanted to hug her so bad , but had to settle for a phone call or two...and I sent her an e-certificate to starbucks yesterday...she said it made her day *smile* It's the little things...Cherish each and every day and hold your loved ones a little tighter today.

Life is hard...

...messy, amazing, heartbreaking, wonderful, fun, discouraging,
exhilarating, heart-stopping, challenging, beautiful...

God is ...
good, amazing, almighty,  awesome, all powerful, my refuge,
my strength, never failing.

Cloth and Patina



I was wandering around blogland a few weeks ago and somehow ended up at ClothandPatina. I could tell right away that I loved Tammy's style. She has just started her blog so be sure and pop over and say hello. Tammy also has an Etsy store. Click here to go and see what amazing goodies that she has for sale.
{all photos on this post are from her Etsy store and are photographed by Tammy}




I love how she makes the most unique items from everyday treasures.



Don't you just love her tags? I would love to purchase some from her if she decides to make them to sell.

Such pretty bottles.

Now these are the cutest tart tins. I also make tart tins {ornaments, magnets etc.} and love to see how each one of us makes them our own wonderful way.







so , so pretty!




I could never make a key look this good! :)




more gorgeous bottles and labels.



loving this banner as well...I know...there is a LOT of love going on around here. ha!

These are what first drew me in to her shop. Pure elegance.

I asked Tammy to tell me a bit about herself and she very graciously obliged me:

I'm an easy going gal and mom of three that feels most comfortable when my hands are dirty or covered in paint. I'm at peace most when I am creating and try to reflect that in each piece I collect or create. Our days and lives can sometimes be stressful and it gives me great joy to bring beauty into our days and lives by adding a little elegance and charm to the unexpected.  I come from a family of artists, crafters and collectors and have been fortunate enough to have grown up in the middle of that type environment. Bringing all of that to my children has been a beautiful and rewarding journey that we all enjoy sharing in together.

What inspires you Tammy?

I am inspired by so many things, but have to say it is usually that little unexpected piece that would normally go unnoticed. It's the best feeling when you come across some little thing and your mind is already racing with the possibilities.

What influenced you to start a blog?

A blog is something that I have wanted to do for so so long but unfortunately life has always gotten in the way. I am determined though to get it up and going and hopefully create a place where I can share my loves and inspirations and will enjoy as others share theirs.

Thank you so much Tammy! It has been fun getting to know you.

                                 Be sure and stop over to welcome her and tell her hello!!

This is the life!

 Last weekend our daughter and her family came down for a visit and our son brought his two little sweeties 

up as well. We all had a wonderful time together!

{I took many, many photos!}

 Annika wanted to set the race car back on it's wheels that were being driven around the driveway, but Jonathan beat her to it so she ran to the side of the pole barn and plopped down in the grass. I told her that they could take turns and she was happy then.  

                                                           Playing hide and seek. :)

Enjoy your Sunday! This is the day that the Lord hath made!!