one step leads me

One step at a time. The rustle of the leaves. The sound and smell of autumn. Um mm. I will forever recall the walk in Bettendorf with six others. The cool breeze, the rustle of leaves, the sound of laughter, the sprinkler spraying water, the side walk run off dripping into the street. The shuffle of Papa's steps.

Tonight brought back last Wednesday late afternoon leading into the early evening. Hadassah laughing at the playground, the teasing and giggles of her voice while making the bridge bounce on the play equipment. It is the change of colors upon the trees in the mid west. Deep oranges, cool auburn's, greens, golds and reds. Amazing how the season so quickly transformed before my eyes. No rose colored glasses. Just the reality of transition of another season that carries a sweet memory.

One step at a time we heal and discover the joy in the midst sorrow through peace. Family equals LOVE. No matter how much we realize it, family is sweet. We are grafted in to the true vine and have the capability to produce fruit that matters. Fruit carried by promise, hope, peace and real joy to grant a harvest of love though His blood. The earth and all it's creation here in the bible belt is getting ready to sleep and slumber like a bear in hibernation. The coat grows thick, the leaves fall down and blanket the earth, the blood thickens and the eyes grow weary ready to slumber. One step forward giving way to the cool crisp air bringing in change. Our change has been significant for our family. Through this time our hope lies in the hands of the wonderful tender hands of the King, one step at a time. The one step that leads me and comforts me is the one to know and believe that God is good ALL the TIME, All the time God is GOOD!

At The Foot Of The Cross . . . my heart

A new day, a new look. There is so much to be said about new visions. I realized this weekend just how much I have been set free from the most ugly thing called sin because of a man who gave his unending Love! That same man carried our family through one of the most unifying moments to this point. Reflection is, how many moments do we have to say THANK YOU for a breath. How many of us can see the grace, and mercy when they meet suffering?

On our way home I realized just how beautiful living for Christ is! Our memories together, our tears that fell at the foot of the cross. A phone call, a young man offered to bring our precious Mya home. We drove away from family once again NOT taking them for granted while waving. Three awaiting our return with the baby. Tears, many tears silently fall. We all arrive and it is "different" she says. Short visit. But seven once again we are all together at home. Twenty three of us all together, missing two, while we unite to celebrate her day. Six weeks that were bringing us all to appreciate Love, Family - one another~!

As our little one was taken to his home to return her to college . . . ache. We can not await the moment to visit but this was different. Tough. My heart couldn't reach out enough, but our embrace everlasting. At the foot of the cross I lay her down. Knowing HE is in control of LIFE and our living for HIS GLORY!

The desire is for her to see it is really ALL ABOUT HIM at the foot of the cross. Value, significance and LOVE is only truly FIRST FOUND in HIM. There is only ONE who needs to find and win your heart that matters, so Seek Him with a whole heart and YOU shall find HIM. To her invitation: look at the foot of the cross, there is Peace, Joy but ultimately . . . TRUE LOVE that awaits you & is only found here!

Julie

September third to October thirteen is a short walk to deal with the fight through renal cell carcinoma. What an awful ugly disease. One of my nephews had an in prompt to speech assignment Tuesday morning and he began it by selection number thirteen, his football jersey number, to select the topic - "cancer." His opening, "CANCER SUCKS! . . . " then gave his three minute oration. Why do I open this way? Because Julie did everything she could to make Mom comfortable to her moment to be fully healed IN HEAVEN.

Where do I begin? Where did it begin? The actual reality of diagnosis came the haunting morning of September 3rd. The day my niece was getting married. Mom K was already in much pain, and that morning it was the pain of shock twelve years after battling breast cancer, that she was given the diagnosis that changed our family and our future. From the moment Julie arrived off the plane from Iowa to go to Alizabeth's wedding, Julie nurtured Mom K twenty four seven. She never left her side and we all came together UNIFIED! Today just for a moment here is a moment to express my love to everyone called my "In - Loves!"

Her care from the get go ~ AMAZINGLY TENDER! One week later she flew Mom K home to where a fabulous team of specialist made Mom K a priority, because of Julies unending persistence to find a way. Did it feel like it was taking long? Sure, we were fighting for her life and Julie fought with a vengeance to the point of a deep compassion. The family came together IMMEDIATELY. Julie became Mom K's lifeline, her hands, her feet, her eyes, her care giver 24/7. The boys pulled together along side her and Aunt C. John caring for Dad K in Arizona, Keith daily support to Julie, and Kent driving back and forth every week to bring support. They came together along with ALL of our family. The McCannons' and many beautiful people gave so much. We thank them all! As I watched Julie and her love with Mom K with tenacity and compassion through each gentle caress, assistance, sleep, feeding, bathing, cooling her, administering medications. She loved with a "mother's heart" to the woman who nurtured her and her brothers with the same undying touch.

Her hands gave unceasingly like an RN and a MD embedded with compassion, much like I know that Jesus' loving hands were when he was here on this earth. Her Love along with Aunt C to tenderly bathe her, and take care of her complexion, nurture her physical comfort. She reminds me of a book I remember from my past, that soon will be my Thank You note.

Julie, Mom passed peacefully because of your administering her comfort in every way. Even in the midst of pain, Mom received peace from here to Have fulfilled healing into Jesus' hands to take a deep breath and gently release to walk with HIM ETERNALLY. She is healed and pain free once and for all through your physical care.

Walking streets of Gold

She is HOME fully Healed with the LORD @ 8:46 p.m.

Lifehouse - Broken