HAPPY ANNIVERSARY GRANDMA AND GRANDPA!!!!!

Today would have been my grandparent's 65th wedding anniversary. My Grandpa is safely home in Heaven. My Grandma is living and loving life!!! In fact she told me just last week that she had won BINGO! GO grandma!!!
I know with all my heart that if the cancer had not taken over my grandfather's body, we all ( all 60+ of my family and then some friends) would be having a HUGE celebration this evening at the farm. I can just picture it in my head, all the food on the table in the kitchen, the desserts on the porch, the card games going in the dining room, the little ones digging thru the toy box in the utility room, the ones of them who's tummy's are to full passed out in the living room, and lots and lots of love and laughter. That was the way grandpa and grandma would have wanted to celebrate without a doubt!



If mail were to be delivered in Heaven I would write Grandpa a note telling him how much I miss him, that I am doing well here, the fields are so green from all the rain we have been getting. That I made some cinnamon rolls for breakfast this morning, his favorite! That John Deere is having a huge sale on tractors and other equiptment, that I can't believe I struck out last week in the softball game, and oh how I love him and miss him so. But he already knows.......



I am posting a few pictures of my grandparents Ted and Darleene ( Doll). This first one is from their wedding on June 27, 1944 in Oberlin, Kansas. The second is one that was taken for their 40th anniversary. Then I thought I would share a note I wrote to my grandpa when I was about 9. My mom was going thru some things and she found this note, I read it and it brought tears to my eyes. I remember that night so clearly, Grandpa and Grandma would try to make it to all the grandkids games ( there were so many of us and the farming chores always came first but, they really did a good job of making it when they could.)




It says: " Dear Grandpa,
I hit a home run . By over throws. It's for you. You know what I said to myself. I said I'm hitting a homerun for Grandpa!!!!! I hope you get well soon. From Heather
P.S. I love you "

Just a Ramble

Sometimes I think we as Christians think God needs to "run his decision's" by us first. And, as I have learned, that is just not the way it works at all. God is God and HE does things according to his plans. He neither wants nor needs our approval.

Father's Day

HAPPY FATHER's DAY DAD!

I am wishing all the father's out there a happy fathers day.
-My dad as he has been a father to my siblings and I, and
-My brother who is going to be a father for the first time here in a few months! I love you both!!!





As many of us are going to enjoy the day spending with our father's, It saddens me to think of all the Father's out there who are spending this day with out their kiddo. I am attaching a video of a very special kiddo named Coleman and his brother Caden as they are wishing their dad a Happy fathers day in 2008. Coleman lost his battle with a brain tumor in Jan, so that video is very special to his father... ** you kinda have to get past the first minute of the boys over talking each other and screaming, *****

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfUN4-umibw

I hope all you dads out there will enjoy your special day!

Prayer- Praying

I ran into a family of a patient we used to see at the hospital today at the grocery store. Their daughter had cancer and like so many others had fought the good fight and ended up wining the heavenly prize.

We talked for a bit about how they are living a "new normal", the rest of the kids, their summer plans etc...During their daughters illness, I had spent numerous hours with this family and they are very spiritual people and know I have a strong faith behind me as well. So today, at the end of our conversation they once again thanked me, told me they were praying for me and asked that I continue to pray for them as well, and we hugged and I walked away.

Prayer is so important. It has always been in my personal life and I try to be sensitive about praying for others.

There is nothing worse than telling someone you will pray for them and then forget to do it. Prayer doesn’t have to be a long drawn out address to God. All we have to do is lift the name up to God. He already knows the situation.

As Christians we need to pray for each other. I must confess that I have not always been diligent to pray for requests that have been forwarded numerous times via e-mail. I have no excuses! Although, I seem to find one when it comes right down to it, I am ashamed of myself for that and I plan to make a conscious effort to do better in praying for those requests.

If it was my name being sent for prayer it would be important to me.

A former youth pastor growing up once said to me......Take time to pray for others. Who knows? You may be praying for a friend that you will never meet until you get to heaven. How true....

Trip out East

I recently got back from Boston and Syracuse, NY. I was there for a Child Life Conference and then to NY to see some old friends I met during my internship. I had a great time. Here are some things I learned about my trip:



Harvard University is an amazing campus with ordinary students playing around, and not so much in three piece suits ( I have to admit that I was a bit shocked at this, I thought all I would see is 3 piece suits and a quiet campus ). Here I am standing outside of the "gate" to Harvard campus.



Starbucks

is the Coffee of choice here in Colorado and Nebraska for that matter.... however,

Dunkin' Donuts

is the choice of Coffee in Boston and NY, just as you would see a Starbucks on every corner here, you would see a Dunkin' Donuts on every corner there.

I was able to see where the sitcom of CHEERS was filmed, and have a drink there. I love this last picture, because it says: "GIRLS can't wait" and isnt that the truth :)
I had a great fun time on my trip, and loved the history of Boston and hope to go back and visit someday:)

Jillian..........

So, I am excited about this season of the Bachelorette because Jillian was the chosen one, She was sent home on last seasons the Bachelor, although she was sent home, I think she has the better end of the deal. She was introduced to 30 as in her words " sexy, smart and funny men" She, herself is cute, smart, funny and has some interesting quirks about her. America has come to love her, and I am excited to take this journey with her as she hopefully finds her prince in the end.

As last season began, I was rooting for her, and so was my friend Jillian. We would be on facebook at the same time during the show and would chat about the events that happened and would laugh about her hot dog theory, comment about her cute dresses and get huge smiles when her and Jason would kiss. Aww, the memories! "My Jillian" did not get to see the whole season as her life was cut short here on Earth. She passed about halfway through the season due to cancer. She fought a good fight, and always had a smile on her face.
I more than anything wanted Jillian to win in honor of "My Jillian".

So now as I watch the Bachelorette and chat with some other friends on FB during the show and have some of the same conversations as Jillian and I did, I can only smile.


"My Jillian"

America's Jillian

Tune in to ABC Monday nights for the Bachelorette, and more than likely I will be on FB :)

Bittersweet

Bittersweet, A wedding and 2 funerals.

During the past week, I have attended a funeral of a very loving patient that won his fight with cancer, but in the Heavens. I went to a wedding of a great friend, and then headed back home to NE for another funeral of one of my best friend's little bro. While driving home this past weekend, I was reliving the past week and the word that kept coming to mind was Bittersweet.
I am sooo happy for my friend Lisa who is starting a new chapter of her life, on the other hand I am frustrated with God's reasonings for taking these two young precious lives.

Bittersweet tears:

I feel I am tasting the sweet of bittersweet. In my own way. I am learning to still trust the One Who sometimes hurts us, who does not play by our rules. At Ian's funeral I recall his youth pastor saying, "We do not serve a god that we can control." Yet in spite of that we still trust Him. In the midst of all our questions regarding that promise and God's ways, we TRUST HIM as a Person. It's easy to "love" your dad when he gives you just what you want when you want it. Deeper love and deeper trust are revealed when He says, "No" or "Later" or when we find that we've misundertood His intentions. Maturing love accepts that, knowing that Dad loves us and is wiser than we are. And that is sweet, very sweet, in the midst of all the bitter flavors I have been "tasting".

When I got the phone call about my friends little brother, I couldn't believe it. He was hit by a drunk 16 year old driver. He was flown from the vehicle and his injuries were all fixable, but he suffered a severe head injury. I knew by the things she was telling me that it did not look good, but they were waiting out the 72 hour period. As the time past the more she would tell me the more I began to hurt for them. Here is where being in the medical field you know to much. I knew he would never be able to walk, talk, eat or even breath on his own.... but I just listened, prayed, and answered her questions as they came. Then the one question came that I was not expecting.....
" Tell me about organ donation, what do I need to ask the Dr?" My heart sunk to the bottom of my stomach...... I should not have to explain organ donation to one of my best friends when its about her little brother. I swallowed, and began to tell her what she needed to hear. I could tell that my voice was quivering and my hands were shaking.... It was an honor to talk to her about something I am so passionate about, yet one of the toughest things I have yet to do. After I hung up the phone, I carried myself to the couch and began to cry and cry. I felt quilty and somewhat evil for thinking that he is going to be able to save others lives, and I should be grieving the loss of her brother. I then remember watching the closing scene of The Lord of The Rings when Bilbo and Frodo and Gandalf sail off into the Grey Havens. Gandalf comforts his friends saying, "Not all tears are an evil." There can be healing in tears. If we fight the sadness and occassional

anger we feel, we leave ourselves with unresolved wounds. But if we lean into those feelings, our grief and pain can be redeemed to make us into people who are deeper and more beautiful.

Proverbs 14:10 says, “Each heart knows its own bitterness and no one else can share its joy.” And that is generally true.