• April rain and catching up…

    I awoke to the sound of pouring rain this morning, accompanied by distant peals of thunder.  It reminded me of just how much I love rainy days.  I’ve often thought that I would like to be living and sleeping in a farmhouse with a tin roof…although that symphony might actually be a little too loud.  Tempted though I was to roll over and go back to sleep to the tune of the raindrops, I didn’t.  There’s too much to do and, at the moment, too much to tell…catching up on life these past few months.

    When I made the journey back to the Midwest two and a half years ago, I wasn’t sure what the future would hold.  Again, I clung to the promise in Jeremiah 29:11…that my Heavenly Father had a future and a hope for me.  Almost two and a half years later, my life is new all over again.  I’m busy building a life, watching grandchildren grow up, traveling, writing and I’m engaged to be married to a wonderful man late May.  I’m happy and God is good.  The “selfie” below was taken early last Fall on my first trip ever through an Iowa corn maze!

     

    So much has happened over the last few months…

    Doug returned late January from a once-in-a-lifetime expedition trip to Antarctica with amazing photographs.  We’re in the process of completing a book about his journey with those incredible photos and I will post a link on Amazon when it is finished.  It will be a wonderful addition to your coffee table!  Sharing just a few pics below…

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    My daughter and her husband sold their home and moved into a rental which is less than half the size of their house…all for the sake of building their dream farmhouse on six acres in the country.  Their new home will sit on a hill overlooking sixty-two apple trees and a beautiful view of the Iowa countryside.  There is also a big red vintage barn, a stand of black walnut trees, many other trees and a large garden site – which has been tilled and is ready to plant!  Doug helped my daughter and son-in-love this past weekend to put in the posts for a tall “deer fence” around the garden for the wildlife who would insist on their share of the produce!

    I have now completed cataract surgery on both eyes and can alleviate any fears those of you who are anticipating this procedure might have.  Surgery lasts all of about 20 – 30 minutes and there is no pain involved.  There are eye drops to put in your eyes on schedule and the difference in your eyesight is almost immediately recognized.  I will, most likely, still need glasses to read and fine distance focus but that’s all good.  The worst part is not being able to wear eye makeup for three weeks – or six weeks if you’re having both eyes done…but that’s okay too!

    Wishing each of you a blessed and happy day!  Thanks for reading and “catching up” with me…

     

  • Sweet Journey Home…

    While I shall always be a true Southern Heart, there is a part of me that also loves the Prairie.  I love the gentle rolling hills and the tall prairie grasses that stretch as far as the eye can see and look like gold when the sun strikes them just so.  I love the abundant prairie flowers that grow everywhere.  It is to the Prairie that my sweet journey home has taken me…

    Over the past four years, so many of you read my previous blog, My Southern Heart, and I thank you for that.  I do hope you will stay with me as this sweet journey of mine unfolds.

    I am a mother of three:  two wonderful sons and an amazing, beautiful daughter.  I am most happily a grandmother of eight:  two grandsons and six granddaughters.

    I have been a Registered Nurse since 1978 (though now retired).  I worked in several different fields throughout those years, including Neuro-Trauma, ICU, Cardiac, Medical-Surgical, Child-Psych and Oncology.  Needless to say, Child Psych was both the most rewarding and the most heart wrenching.

    If you were to ask my grandchildren what my greatest role in this life is…they could answer that one in a heartbeat!

    Likes?  Hobbies?  I love the old classic movies, 50?s and 60?s music (well, okay, almost all music!), hymns, knitting, sewing, painting, cooking (especially Southern style!), baking, dancing, writing, decorating and spending time with my family.

    I’ve taken a journey back home to be close to family, close to those I love.  From here, I can travel South in a matter of a very long day.  Who could ask for anything more?