Beautiful & Bittersweet

Yes, joy cometh in the morning...

Look at the glorious blue bird day we awoke to, this view right out of our front window. 

We called the front desk to let them know about our inaccessible "accessible" room and they immediately upgraded us to a gigantic end suite on a higher floor. 

The king bed is even higher in this suite, but there is a Murphy bed that we will figure out and I can use the 2nd bathroom without a "lift" so that's good. 

The clear day gave us an amazing view of the snow capped mountains glowing in the afternoon sun across the water. 

We decided to head to a sweet little village called Cumberland to do some sightseeing and to grab lunch and coffees since the day was so lovely. 

We hit up a quaint bakery that smelled heavenly and grabbed a chocolate croissant and a Cronut for dessert which we ate while checking out a lake and some mountain bike trails that Daniel is interested in visiting at a future date.

My mother's heart is full and happy to have time with these two treasures. 

How did this happen, that two such stellar adults are now my  lifelong companions and friends and forever family?

They fixed a delicious meal of salmon, potatoes and asparagus for supper.

Watching them work together effortlessly in the kitchen brought my heart so much joy.

As much as I feel like I should be the one serving them, the tables have turned and I am now being cared for and waited on with so much love and kindness.

 

It's bittersweet and beautiful.

His goodness and mercy follow me, as undeserving as I am.

I am forever grateful for the love and kindness of these kids.

I spent time in the night listening to worship from a revival that is breaking out on University Campuses in the States. 

It brings me to tears and I watch from a distance telling God - "here too"!!

Come set our hearts on fire here... everywhere!

After a rough night of spasms &. sweating and waking Patrice up to help me change my position we awoke to this glorious view from our bed.

It's all tangled together, the hardship and the goodness.

This is boot-camp, after all.

Preparation for the biggest and best and most magnificent forever that is just a breath or two away...

Island Getaway

Having a "time away" on the island with the kids.

The trip over the mountains was exhausting but I did it and arrived to a lovely warm welcome at Patrice's where I promptly fell asleep on her easy chair.  Willow was so happy to see me and she cuddled right in beside me. 

It was so nice to get to see Patrice's new living arrangement and to spend time with her there.  Her tiny house is being rented out to another A Rocha worker and Patrice is enjoying having company in her new place with her room-mate Carly - the farmer! 

The next morning we drove into Vancouver to pick up Daniel and then headed to the ferry to begin our little island adventure. 

Here's a picture of his new home and the blue skies that showed up for our send off. 

The suite Daniel reserved is right on the ocean and the kids wasted no time in donning their bath robes, cinderella slippers and heading out to the steam room and hot tub. 

Supper was an extravagant affair at the resort restaurant overlooking the ocean.

A special drink for each of us was ordered to toast the 36 year anniversary since the accident! 

(Mine was a sample which was just the perfect size with a sweet flavour)

Obviously God has a purpose and destiny for each of us to fulfill and so we are alive for such a time as this.

Decadent meals were ordered...

and watching the kids enjoy all the flavours and exquisite cuisine was definitely worth it. 

They are both such foodies making the experience so much richer.

I haven't been eating much so I ordered a side dish of mushroom risotto and had tastes of their two different fish dishes. 

Super yummy! 

All of the food looked like fancy artwork!

The dessert didn't disappoint either -  lavender ice-cream and three tiny lemon curd tarts served with fruit and meringue

 

Soooo special and delish!

This resort has a strangely beautiful arrangement of lights and flowers giving the place a disneyish feel so we didn't quite know how we felt about that, but it's all about the experience and doing this with the kids is just so special. 

The room, as beautiful and perfectly situated as it was didn't work well for me as the bed was too high and the toilet was definitely not accessible for me, but Patrice and Daniel are my superstars, lifting and helping me. 

It's always so difficult when I am out of my element and need to be so dependent.  The bed was so soft that I literally could not lift myself up into a sitting position or get out of it. 

Felt like being in quicksand, but thankfully nights come to and end and joy cometh in the morning as the good book reminds us! 

 

BOUQUETS of LOVE

Sometimes heaven just touches earth and we are caught up in so much sweetness, joy and love we don't quite no how to contain it or even comprehend it...

Saturday was one of those days.

Lisa made a plan for us to gather to feast and worship at my place and our little prayer tribe all showed up, each one of them bringing food and carrying a glorious bouquet of exquisite flowers which they presented to me.

How does one respond to such extravagance and undeserved love and kindness?

I just opened my arms wide and received and received, overwhelmed with this outpouring of goodness.

I mean... just look and behold the outrageous beauty!! 

Bouquets of pure love, 

turning my home into a fragrant flower garden.

We began with prayer and communion, nourishing our souls on the goodness of God, 

remembering the sacrifice of our beautiful Saviour, Jesus. 

Honouring the giver of every good and perfect gift. 

We feasted and then we sang.

Arms upraised, the music swirling around us, heaven's kisses pouring down, we worshiped with abandon and love.

It's ALWAYS a good time to give thanks and to proclaim the goodness of God.

Donara showered me with rose petals as we sang and it was all so very good. 

I don't deserve friends like these, such kindness and pure love, but God doesn't give us what we deserve. He just pours out love and draws us closer and closer into His beautiful heart...

In the midst of all this my sweet friends Kaitlin, Anna, and Levi showed up before flying off to Calgary to say a quick goodbye.

And lo and behold they too were holding two massive bouquets of gorgeous flowers!! 

Only God can plan something like this, so once again I opened my arms and received, exceedingly and abundantly more than all I could even ask or imagine.

It really does happen!! 

We took the opportunity to pray for these precious ones and send them off with words of courage and hope as they set their sails for new beginnings. 

We, the children of God, are able to celebrate and live with wild abandon despite any untoward events or diagnosis or trials that the world tries to throw our way because we know who has the final word, and it's always  GOOD! 

"Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Amen 

Clinging Tightly, Burning Brightly

Hello Dearly Beloved Friends, 😇 (First newsletter to let friends in on my healing journey which received the most beautiful responses of love and support... overwhelmingly so...) 

Hope this note finds you well! 

I wish I was e-mailing you with a report of myself holidaying somewhere beautiful and warm, but my journey has taken an abrupt turn in another direction.

I’ve recently had a diagnosis that I have an 'inoperable mass' on my pancreas. (nicknamed 'Herbie the hitchhiker’ whom I have informed must disembark asap!) My health has been up and down for quite a while, so now I know what was going on behind the scenes.  I’ve opted not to go for chemo or radiation but have chosen an alternative path and am seeing doctors and am taking soooo maaaany supplements!  

I have been very much at peace (for the most part) and have experienced God’s amazing grace in great measure for which I am so grateful.  I know all my days are written in God’s book and I will fulfill them as He gives me breath and strength.  “As my days, so shall my strength be.” Deut. 33:25 That’s good news!

If you would like to be on a list that gets a little update now and then to use for prayer then please e-mail me back just saying “yes” and I will keep you on! Otherwise I will delete you as I know what it’s like to get too much mail!  Future updates should be shorter than this one.  And if you’d like me to pray for you, e-mail me!  

Prayer Points: - you can keep it simple and just pray for my complete healing, or, if you like details, here is the list: 

*Ability to digest food without discomfort. 

*Tumour to disappear with no metastasis. ( be GONE in Jesus’ Name!)

*Healing of my Right shoulder (injured last June - still not doing great as it’s out of alignment despite good Chiro/massage on a regular basis)

*Peace that passes understanding for myself and my dear kids & family (especially Patrice & Elsie)

*Complete Healing & deep restful sleep for me (minimal or no spasms and pain)

*That what the enemy has meant for evil in my life would be turned around for GREAT GOOD!  Because Jesus is able to do exceedingly and abundantly MORE than all we can even ask or imagine.  

And mostly that God’s presence would be tangible and that He would give me health, strength, and passion to keep “Clinging Tightly and Burning Brightly” to Jesus. That is my motto 🔥 He is my love and my GOOD SHEPHERD.  

Thanks for standing with me and for your love. 

You are all amazing friends (whether you want the prayer updates or not!)

May He be glorified in all of our lives…

Always in Jesus, 

Karen ❤️