Our Hearts Grieve

Monday, as events unfolded, I took a break to walk outside.  I was in tears, praying for the people of Boston--Asking God to cover everyone who's lives have been altered forever.

Astonishingly, my camera captured this angelic cloud overhead.  Indeed, I believe God has sent his angels to cover, protect and intervene in this situation. I don't know how it will end, but I continue to pray.

Our hearts grieve over the tragedy--this heartbreaking event has changed so many lives--those who died and their families and others who have been grievously wounded.  It may sound strange, but my heart also goes out to the families of the young men who chose to do this horrible thing.
 
Let justice prevail, yet let compassion overcome our great anger. 

Cloudy Angel

Sunday, on our way home from Carson, Washington State, we stopped in Stevenson at my favorite park.

It is where one can cross an oaken bridge to a little flower-strewn meadow.  From there, stone hewn steps lead to a small lagoon where the beach is strewn with blue rocks.  I once met a dragon there.  (grin)  It is a magical place.

The clouds were boiling overhead, but the river seemed calm.  A gentle breeze blew and I began to feel whispy drops of rain.  "Time to leave," I thought with a bit of reluctance, glancing toward the opposite side of the Columbia River.

I wasn't a bit surprised to see that cloudy angel waving at me!

Have a beautiful day!

Mysterious Tears

I was ten years old when I created this chalk drawing on black construction paper.   I can still feel the way the chalk felt in my fingers, as I drew it across the paper--I can see the lighting of the room and I remember I knew exactly how to draw this man's face.  Mrs. Young, my teacher was amazed.

Mom loved it so much she hung it on the wall of the stairway which led to my sister and my room.  It hung there until I was in my late teens and I found a frame for it.

Thirty years later, I took the drawing out of its frame to scan it into the computer, to upload it onto an art website I had at that time.

That's when I noticed the tears.  I was floored.  There were what looked like tear stains dripping from his eyes and tracing down onto his cheeks. 

I was astonished and more than a little in awe.  If you click to enlarge the picture, you can clearly see where the tears trickled from his eyes through the chalk.  I often wonder about those tears.   I wonder.  I do.  So many miraculous things have happened in my life.

Today the drawing hangs on my office wall.  It reminds me that mysterious, miraculous things really do happen.

Sometimes miracles occur through the innocent hands of a little child wielding a piece of chalk against a thick piece of black construction paper.

Roses for Mumsie -Guest Heart Thursday

Every Valentine's Day, Daddy always found a way to get Mumsie a lovely bouquet of flowers and a big fancy box of candy.  Because this was Mom's first Valentine's Day since Dad died, I knew it would be incredibly difficult for her.  I wanted to do something special for her in his absence.

So, I found some flowers which were reasonably priced and chose the best ones I could afford.  I looked longingly at a huge bouquet of red roses, but knew I couldn't swing it.  I asked the clerk if they sold fancy boxes of chocolate and if not, perhaps she knew someplace nearby where they did.

I explained my plans to surprise Mom with flowers and a big box of chocolates and why it was so important.  Unbidden, tears lurked in my eyes.

As I was ready to purchase the flowers I'd found, the young lady excused herself for a moment.  I stood at the check out counter lost in my thoughts--when I heard her ask, "Does your Mom like roses?"

"Yes, she does," I said, looking up with a tearful smile.

In her hands the girl bore a beautiful bouquet of a dozen red roses complete with baby's breath and gorgeous greens.

"These are for your Mom," she said, putting them into my hands.  "And they're on the house."

I gasped and burst into tears and when I could find the words, I thanked her.  She was weeping as she hugged me.   

What an unexpected, precious gift of love for our beloved Mumsie--on a day I know she was dreading with all her heart.

Sometimes Angels are people doing wonderful, unexpected things for each other.  I am so grateful for Miss Molly and her lovely gift of flowers.  Mom was astonished--and when she heard the story, she was even more touched.  (And yes, I did find a really cool heart box filled with chocolates to go along with those roses.)  (grin) 

We can all be someone's Angel--and you never know who's watching.  Click on the heart below--this song touched me SO much.  Thank you to all the angels out there--with one simple kind act, you can change the world.

I wish each of you, a wonderful Happy Valentine's Day! 

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday! 
 

Christmas Eve Angel -Guest Heart Thursday

The holidays have been hard this year.  This was our first Thanksgiving and Christmas without our Dad.  It has been an emotionally hard time for our entire family.

It was Christmas Eve day.  I was working on Christmas presents, when the phone rang.  It was Sissy.  When she told me what had just happened, I laughed and laughed--It was exactly what we all needed.  I asked Clytie to send me the story of the Christmas Eve Angel so I could share it with you.

Sissy writes, "I was walking down our rural country road, picking up cans to earn a few extra dollars. It was Christmas Eve, and I was short of money for the month.

             I had just picked up a bottle and put it in my bag, when I heard a car come to a stop behind me. I turned around and saw a small Volkswagen Jetta, the window rolled down, an older lady behind the wheel. "Miss, Miss", she called.

            "Hi," I said, walking towards her car.

            "Oh, I don't want to scare you." she said, with a thick accent.

            I thought she was lost on our windy country road, so I asked her if she needed directions.

            "No," she answered. "God told me to stop".

            I backed up a bit - "Okaaay".

            "God told me to stop and give you something."

            I figured she was going to give me a religious tract or something. At least she was   being nice about it! "Oh," I answered "That's very sweet, but you don't need to do that."

            "Yes, I do. God told me I had to. If you don't take it, then I will leave it here on the middle of the road for someone else!"

            With that, she shoved a piece of paper into my hand ... and drove away.

"God bless you," she called as she went. "Merry Christmas!"

            I opened my hand, and tears flooded my eyes as I saw what she had given me.

A clean, crisp $20 bill.

            Was she an angel? Maybe.

            Do angels drive Volkswagen Jettas???"

Isn't that a wonderful story?  I think about what happened and I know Dad is smiling.  I am so grateful for Clytie's Christmas Eve Angel.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.
 

Heaven Bound

Three weeks ago, Dad had a major stroke. The affects of this stroke are catastrophic. He is unable to swallow, or to speak. Dad is at the VA Hospital and has been on complete comfort care for about a week now.  He is getting ready to slip into heaven.  Mom has been staying there full time until Daddy goes Home.

I was visiting Mumsie a couple of days ago and I brought my laptop, so we could look at old family pictures to pass the time. We had so much fun laughing at pictures of ourselves from long ago.

 

Then unexpectedly, we came across a series of photos from last August.  I didn't even remember taking them.  They seem almost prophetic.  Do you see that sweet little smile and the love in his eyes? 

Then especially this one of glory light on Dad's empty chair.  This is the chair where he always sat.  Mom and I gasped when we saw this picture.  You see--when Dad had this last stroke, Mom knew before anyone else that he would not be returning home.

Soon Daddy will be with Jesus in Heaven.  He will be able to leap, jump, run and walk again.  Dad will be free of that chair and the neck brace he had to wear day and night.  He will see his own Dad, Mom, brothers, sisters and dear friends who have gone before him.  We rejoice over the day Dad will be free from his earth suit.  Though those of us who are left behind will grieve.  But we do not grieve as those who have no hope. 

"Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

"Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for  you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."  (John 14-1-3)

We will see Dad again. In this we have hope.  God bless you all.

11/17/2012:  This afternoon, while setting up for a performance,  I suddenly became so dizzy I could not stand up.  It felt like a piece of me was suddenly missing.  I knew Dad was gone--15 minutes later a phone call confirmed what my heart had already told me.  Thank you for your warm thoughts and loving prayers for me and for my beloved family.

Grammie's Precious Prayers

With Mother's Day so close, I thought a story from my talented Mom about her own dear Mother, would be a delightful way to celebrate the Holiday.

I had the privilege and honor of living in my Grandmother's basement for nearly three years.  She and I became best friends.  I still miss her with all my heart.  This amazing event happened in the weeks before she flew away to heaven--it is one of those miraculous things one cannot explain.

Here is my Mother's wonderful story:

As I chopped vegetables into little pieces for the soup, the phone rang. It was my friend Jane.  "I tried calling everybody on the prayer chain," she cried, "but you were the only one who answered.  Please, will you pray for my daughter, Alicia?  She's been in a car accident and she's in the hospital with a broken hip.  Her baby girl, due in three weeks, is coming right now.  Oh, Eva, please, please pray. They're doing a C-section."

We prayed together on the phone.  Afterwards I went into the kitchen and finished putting together mother's lunch. Alicia and her baby were still heavy on my mind as I walked across the field to mother's house and opened the door.  

There Mom sat in her wheel chair, wandering in her own little world, a folded piece of paper on the tray in front of her, a pencil poised in her hand.

She looked up, smiled, then handed me the paper.  I put her food on the table and took the paper, curious as to what she'd been writing. But this list was different from the one where she'd listed chocolate pudding ten times.  On this one was written just three words, "Alicia, Emerg. Pray."

Sudden goose bumps popped up on my arms.  "Did the phone ring," I asked my brother Dale as he came into the room. "Did she answer it?"

He looked at me strangely.  "She hasn't answered the phone in months, you know that.  Nobody called."

But I couldn't figure it out.  "Did someone come to visit?"

Another strange look.  He shook his head.  "She's just been sitting there all morning with me."

I told him about my friend Jane, whose daughter Alicia had been brought to the hospital and who, even as we spoke, was having an emergency C-section.  "She asked me to pray and I did."  

Then I pointed at the paper with the words only God could have given my mother, "Alicia, emerg. Pray."  

Later, when I told my pastor what had happened he shook his head in wonderment.  "God isn't through with your mother yet," he marveled.  "Just think, God loved Alicia so much He asked a little 95 year old lady with Alzheimers to pray for this girl and her unborn baby. And when she prayed, God worked a miracle of love and healing."

God's call is a very real thing; consider the coincidence of a frightened soon-to-be grandmother, calling her friend in another town who was preparing lunch for her shut-in mother.  Think about the little old white haired lady sitting alone in her chair, who, without talking to anyone, was moved by God to pray specifically for Alicia, a young woman injured in an accident and whose unborn child was in danger. 

Miraculous, amazing--there are times when God calls us to pray--Sometimes we don't even know why--but the burden is so heavy we fall to our knees.  It is only later we see His miraculous hand.  Our loving Creator reaches out through us and works His will and way in the heart of that one for whom we pray. 

Today Alicia's little girl is a happy eight-year old with shiny brown curls and a happy smile.

The Blessing of answered prayer continues on--moving outward like ripples on a pond.