Fondest Farewell

 Dallas National Cemetery on Memorial Day

After considering for a year now what I would blog about, when I would blog again - I've realized my season of blogging has gone.  What was once a fun way for me to stay in touch with dear internet friends now looms as another item on my "Should Do" list.  While I still visit some of the blogs you lovely people maintain -- I no longer have the blogging urge.  My life is good - blessed beyond anything I had expected by the loving care, support and help of a dear circle of friends.  I have no children and a very small family - so I want to contribute my energy and time to those sweet relationships and serving the Lord.  Thank you all again for the fun, tears and shared experience of blogging.  One recommendation I have for any of you who have maintained a blog --get a hard copy.  I used Blog to Print and am more than satisfied.  They also did a book of Skip's Caringbridge site --prices are reasonable for a good quality product.
That being said - I won't make attempts to update the blog after this time.  God bless you and yours -

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
For there are these three things that endure: Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is Love.

 I've looked several times for this full length version of a poem/heart felt cry written by Mary Jean Irion who (at last result via google) lives near Lancaster Pennsylvania.  I'd read parts of it in a Joni Eareckson Tada book and wanted to share it with you.
I thank Ms. Irion for clearly wording at least a few of the wishes of those of us who go through major life change.

Personally - I'm  doing well enough - returned to church this morning for first time in several years.  Beloved friends (as we say in the south )carried me there and home.  I'm eating,trying to learn to sleep through the night (fireworks aren't helping with that task!)  doing masses of paperwork, learning to live without my primary role.
DH's service at Dallas National Cemetery was just right - I think he would have approved and it was just what I needed and not a single person or event I didn't want (well except the obvious - NOT to have to say a final farewell).  Thank you for expressing your support, prayers and comfort - and especially for those who have laughed with me.
Will see about coming back to blogging - still not there yet - but it is possible - in God all things are possible.
It is summer on Buhlaland - hot, dry and speeding past.

What a difference he made in my life - can't regret the hard things when I have had and continue to have so much - dang I miss him.  Y'all be good to yourselves and easy on one another - it is all much shorter than you think!  I promise if I come back to blogging - will be about critters and flowers and projects - until then -
Vaya Con Dios.

No longer as lovely on Buhlaland

W. H. Auden
Vintage

I
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crêpe bows round the white necks of the public
    doves, 
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

My beloved went to heaven on June 6th - no words from me could explain how he changed my life for the better.  God is faithful to comfort and provide and I'll survive this - but at the moment hard to express how my heart is breaking.  It is still good on Buhlaland - we'll be together again some sweet day.  

Wish I were thinking about how lovely  summery light is on the neighbor's pasture and our backyard.  I have not been blogging and probably won't much in the near future - DH's health continues to be primary concern -- too intimate both in feelings and privacy issues to discuss on a public blog.IHimself is a very private person and still finds it uncomfortable to have to share so much with strangers)
  He was hospitalized last month - all projects here on Windsor have pretty much halted until we can find a competent handyman to hire and that is still proving a challenge.  The Lord will provide - and today He provided warm, windy summery day.  I apologize for not blogging - I do occasionally read blogs and  enjoy  keeping up with your adventures and lives through the writings/pictures you share - just won't be doing it.  I am maintaining this blog  for my own perspective on past several years.  At some point - Lord willing and finances allow - would like to do one of those print editions of  blog - several people over the years have had their blogs printed off and it would seem to be a wonderful diary.
Received a  message from one of my internet friends yesterday -
"Humans can't live in the present, like animals do. Humans are always thinking about the future or the past. So it's a veil of tears, man. I don't know anything that's going to benefit me now,except love. I just need an overwhelming amount of love. And a nap. Mostly a nap."- Townes Van Zandt

Sounds as if it is written by a cat - a rather perceptive cat at that.

Striving to be more in the vein of Robert Browning's Pippa Passes

The year's at the spring,
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hill-side's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in his Heaven --
All's right with the world!

Indeed - He is in control and as always - I'm eternally grateful!

Hallelujah

Nothing else to say - we rejoice on Buhlaland with believers everywhere - He Is Risen and nothing has ever been the same.

Valleys, Deserts, Mountaintops - not a travelogue

Began this post rather a long while ago - love the music and it's message. We've been in more than a few valleys of late - hoping to post in next week about a mountain top (or two). Skip continues to work hard against deterioration of breathing - and just plain work hard! Things are happening according to a schedule NOT of our making - we can see the Lord's hand in it all - might not like every bit of it - but know that He is God and we're not - and y'all should be tickled that's how it is! Will be back - soon I hope.

Birthdays come so often!

Few words from me - sweet doggies, lovely gifts, out to brunch, all dressed up and for a change someplace to go (and ENJOY!) Sixty four - not a bad age - but definitely not in "middle age" anymore - no way I'll make it to 128! I was blessed for my birthday (and all the days in the year) far beyond what I deserve and I am SOOO grateful! Mostly a garden themed b'day and with an almost blank slate here on Windsor - that is fabulous! It is good on Buhlaland and just a little older.

Bless y'all - it is spring here - loving it!

Spring is definitely coming

Snowfall on Monday - gave Senor Cerdo (our garden flying pig ) a cold coat. I did my usual stunt and fell down in back yard while taking dogs out - but damage seems to be minor - achey and stiff no breakey!

Our weather is classic North Texas - from snow to fog to bright sunshine in 36 hours!

Warming ground and moisture coming through seems to have given us quite a bit of fog lately - picture is from the back of our yard toward house and newly constructed storage building/carport.Posts are for temporary fence (which is temporarily not being worked on.)

New carport is great and DH will work on converting attached to house garage into heated/air conditioned woodworking shop for his projects.

Working on getting other place minor repairs and needs deep cleaning before sale can be

completed - hoping and praying to close in mid March and be done with that chapter.

Fun finding out what is already here in our new home - lots of daffs appearing - I moved the toad house (which is disguised as a bird house sitting on the ground) into front area.

Seasons of life -we see changes in snow or daffodils or downsizing - all part of the Plan. Bless y'all for coming by - our much more compact and spring 'a'popping Buhlaland - it is good here too.

We are doing OK on new health plan - DH not going for a lung transplant so working hard to stay active and be humbly grateful not grumbly hateful! every day God gives us together. You will see a big change in next couple of weeks - goat heading going away - have accepted reality we will NOT be having goats now so I'm working at finding good homes for final beloved 5 very spoiled goats!

January ending

Still not in the blog mood - here is a picture of DH working on a temporary fence in our new home. We may have a buyer for the other place - will know more in about 20 days if the financing and all is going to work out. Don't believe the hogwash about things are getting better in this country --financing, foreclosures, joblessness or downsized to lower paying jobs - we simply are becoming desensitized to the lowering of our economic standards. Please think seriously when you are deciding who to vote for this year.

I've been dealing with an odd assortment of minor health issues - been told by more than one person they think it is "stress" - well DUH - but I know they mean well.

Scripture as usual provided me with a much needed sense of direction -

^{Isaiah 43:16} The Lord is making roads through the sea. He is making a path for his people, even through rough waters. The LORD says, ¹⁷ “Those who fight against me with their chariots, horses, and armies will be defeated. They will never rise again. They will be destroyed. They will be put out like the flame in a lamp. ¹⁸ So don’t remember what happened in earlier times. Don’t think about what happened a long time ago, ¹⁹ because I am doing something new! Now you will grow like a new plant. Surely you know this is true. I will even make a road in the desert, and rivers will flow through that dry land. ²⁰ The wild animals will thank me. The large animals and birds will honor me when I put water in the desert and make rivers flow through that dry land. I will do this to give water to my chosen people. ²¹ I made them, and they will sing songs of praise to me"

OK to me this said - don't keep looking over your shoulder at what has been - look ahead to what God is doing and will do with my life - when I give up trying to direct my own steps.

We are blessed - our mini version of Buhlaland is feeling more like home (no goats yet but I'm working on getting some fence done!). Thank you for stopping by - someday I'll have real news or get back in the bloggity groove. Bless y'all - February is upon us! Plenty of important events in February and here is a hint about at least one!

Doing the garden, digging the weeds,
Who could ask for more?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

Still Here

Blogosphere is not my world much lately -- with new internet plan we are limited by how much we "use" and somehow I justify not staying in touch with y'all by supposedly saving time not blogging. That pitiful excuse put out now -

very little change in our lives - still not done moving out of other place (I'm currently in totally overwhelmed cannot get it done phase). Gift of gorgeous weather reminds me - God is in charge not me - for which everyone should be enormously (eternally?) grateful. Warm mornings resulted in low lying fog and sunshine illuminating oaks on my way to work the other day - Buhlaland can be anywhere we are right? So this was just off Sarra Lane here in North Texas. It is good on Buhlaland - when I stop and pay attention to all the good.

Sorry I'm not blogging -not positive when it'll change. I do try to catch up with y'all while I'm at work (unlimited internet there).

Pray for one another - pray for our country - pray with passion - it makes a difference.

When a believing person prays, great things happen. (James 5:16)

Merry Christmas

Luke 2:And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Peace to you from Buhlaland.

Holiday Decorations and Settling In

Is it plagiarism?

Or is it Memorex? well since my memory is mostly an EX -- the Paraphrase Psalms 139 came from someplace on the internet - most likely someone else's blog - sorry if I'm not giving credit where it is due! I've printed this off for myself with my name inserted in the blank spaces-----apparently I must be reminded God knows what is going on - and even better how it will all turn out. Our move continues - we've slept in new place since November 21st. Still getting carloads of "stuff" moved - y'all really and truly - sort through and give away or throwaway or burn or whatever half your stuff - you don't know how much of it you have until you are forced to deal with it ALL!

With that loving warning - yes it is Christmas season even in my often Grinchish mood --- we hope/expect/plan to hear from Transplant Schedule Coordinator (all people associated with big research hospital/clinic apparently are either doctors or coordinators - FYI). At that point - we'll have some idea of the testing and examination schedule DH faces. Still no idea how/if we'll do the whole transplant experience but we are assured/stand firm on and know doggoned well- God Knows and we are living in that truth! Much love and Christmas Carols (in case you are taking a poll - I cannot abide Drummer Boy song and love Carol of the Bells or almost anything with bells and midnight clears or angels sing) and not too much shopping but TONS of being with people you love - time is short - shorter than anyone seems willing to admit. I'm praying for many of you - please remember those who have had a death/huge loss in their family this year - there is NO WAY I don't care how holy and righteous you think you are - NO WAY we can "get over it" - we get through loss - we get through pain by the Grace of God but all the perky sayings in all the perky sunshiney blogs in the world cannot ease the pain. A nice plate of cookies, a hug, a shared session of tears, those are ways to tell someone they are not alone in this world.

Random enough for y'all? I'm outta here - more moving to do and some carols to enjoy. To the wonderful person who put up this version of Psalm 139 before me - thank you and forgive my plagiarism - but we both need the same assurance. It is good on Buhlaland because ---He Loves ME still - Amen.

I, the Lord, have searched you, _____________ and know you. I know when you sit and when you rise. I know your thoughts before you even think them, _______________ I know when you go out, when you sleep and are totally familiar with all your ways! Before you speak, _________________, I the Lord know what you’re going to say. I am with you, completely and I go before and come after, keeping you, always, in My love; I hold you in My righteous right hand. I, the Lord, know all there is to know about you, yet I love you . . .still.

_______________, you cannot hide from My Spirit nor can you run from My presence. It is simply not possible. Should you go to the heavens, I, the Lord, am there. Or, if you go to the depths of the sea or depression or any other depths, I, the Lord, am also there____________, I was there before you, waiting. If you rise at dawn or settle on the far side of the sea, I, the Lord, am there and will yet guide you. I, the Lord, hold you, ____________ in my righteous right hand; you may say, the darkness will hide me and the light is the same as the dark but just because you say it, doesn’t make it true. I, the Lord, consider dark as light and because I am Light, there is no darkness to Me.

______________, I the Lord created you and, before you were in your Mother’s womb. I knew all about you. You were not hidden from me, not then and not now. All your days have been ordained by me and I, the Lord, know you are My beloved creation. If you learn nothing else as you live this wonderful life I have given you . . . know these things: I am the Lord God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and I love you, _______________ so much I sent My Son to die in your place. Why? Because I want you to return to Heaven and live with me through Eternity.

_____________, I know My thoughts are vast and you cannot truly comprehend them but choose to love Me; I will always take care of you. I, the Lord, care for you because I created you and I love you. I know your heart and all your anxious thoughts; I love you, still, ___________ love me.

I, the Lord, can be trusted with your heart.

Moving Experience

No pictures no poems no pretty scenes - just me putting on a note from computer at work (my wonderful, stressful overpaid job - yes really!!)
Movers came and most of our "big" stuff is in new place - not in proper/comfortable/decorative place in new place - but available to be placed.
No internet at new house - Skybeam rudely insisted they provided service "OF COURSE" - as the customer disservice agent declared. As soon as installer drove up he said "y'all can't connect from here". :::sigh::::
So clever DH is working on an alternative route to get internet service - hope it works but until it does - y'all have a beautiful holiday week ! I'll be learning my country commute routes and praying for getting our big place on the market and SOLD ASAP!
If I don't comment on your blogs - not being rude just not able to get online much - soon - I hope to be back soon -- Buhlaland is still good - just on the move type good. A skunk visited us the first night at new place -DH and I were out in the garage surveying our domain (or possibly searching for paper plates so we could have some supper!)- apparently we are acceptable new neighbors because he did NOT leave his calling card!

Thanksfilled

Not blogging much- too much going on and attitude not always worth displaying to the world! Word of warning --moving when you are "older" and in midst of medical issues is NOT the old UHaul slogan of Adventures in Moving. BUT - we have professional moving crew coming on Monday the 21st to take all the large pieces we think will fit in new place so are committed now. In midst of a house filled with mess - neighbors (God bless their loving hearts) brought over this pretty fall arrangement - yep - grace is undeserved blessing and we get more than our share!

I can honestly say - I'm thankful for my life - eternal and mortal. The bumps and bruises of my journey make the promises of heaven and the flowers of earth all the sweeter.

DH goes week of the 29th to Dallas for a yea or nay on the transplant (a lung in case you don't recall). We know they are serious - first appointment will be with the "financial office".

At any rate - IF I get a burst of energy and an internet connection - will post a bit next week. We are thankful for nice neighbors in new home area (guy across the street was stringing lights in his trees yesterday - hooray for neighbors who decorate for Christmas!).

On a nonmoving, nonwhining note - it IS good on Buhlaland when we can say Take My Life - broken vessels can be useful in the hands of the Potter. Bless y'all and Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm still here

For those of you viewing this on Internet Explorer - I know things look odd - I work on Google Chrome and Blogger looks right then so I'm just sayin' - looks odd and sometimes is - but internet browsers do strange things.
Steven Sondheim isn't my first choice for lyricist (since I tend toward hymns and praise songs as musical interests) but from the depths of my life's music listening time - this came to me:

C'est la vie.
I got through all of last year
And I'm here.
Lord knows, at least I was there,
And I'm here!
Look who's here!
I'm still here!

Not much I want to say today - we still haven't finished renovations sufficiently to move to new home. Have prayed and talked ---DH and I are both at the point of "God's will" in regards to transplant (will let you know how well I do with that after the transplant evaluation begins at the end of this month). We "did church" together this morning - this video came up on a search on Youtube for Gaithers and I like Alan Asbury's version but Ricky Skaggs does a good job.

We know many somebodies are praying us through - and it makes all the difference. For those of you who know her - please include Sandra Bennett in your prayers now. We' re still here- on Buhlaland and being kept from things we can't even see.

New Link

I may be premature in adding this to my blog list - but thanks to @BooMama I just spent half an hour reading recipes! The concept of once a month cooking isn't new - but I needed the reminder - frozen storebought pizza is NOT a balanced meal!

So y'all check out link to http://onceamonthmom.com/ and see what you think! Would be terrific to take a one day cooking day and prepare extras for all those dear folks we each know who need a little nutritional pick me up during any given month! Organization - now THAT would be good on Buhlaland!

Peace to You

We continue to work as strength and finances allow - not moved yet - no date set but we have peace. It is good on Buhlaland and at this time in our lives we see so many deprived of peace - not willing to lay down the stresses of daily life and striving toward goals which are not eternal. Peace HE gives to us - accept it and we'll all rejoice together for eternity. I'll back with my normal silliness over decorating choices, colors and textures - but for today I give you peace.

1 Peter 3:8
[ Suffering for Doing Good ] Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things.
1 Peter 3:7-9 (in Context) 1 Peter 3 (Whole Chapter)

New Neighbors and update

We went up to try and finish up current painting projects (emphasis on the try word!) Pleasantly surprised to have some neighbors drop by - didn't stay for coffee (we didn't have any to offer so that was a blessing) or a chat but stayed around long enough to let us know they'll be back!

Very calm doe with her twin fawns - the deer were all in our nearest human neighbor's pasture - directly behind our back fence line so we get a nice view.

Might have to get in on the mole hunting competition with CedarPond and Sand Flat Farm after we move in if mole population is that strong. Neighbors across the road have several cats --apparently they like to try to outplay, outwit and outlast a mole (any Survivor fans out there?)

One room is pretty much painted - we are using the same color we have in our bedroom on current Buhlaland - Soothing Celadon (wouldn't it be fun to make up the names for paint?) Going to paint the yuck flat grey trim celadon also - room is small and with 3 doors (closet, entrance and attached bathroom) making the doors different than wall colors seems choppy.

Plenty more to do - we are trying to ration our energy and time - already on the financial ration system! God has given us the nicest place to spend more years here on earth - looking forward to being there full time. It is good on Buhlaland - whether current one or newest version - we are blessed beyond belief.

On the topic of working on our houses - we think we know what we want and need - only the Lord God has the blueprints.

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” ― C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Some out - more IN

Today it was clear and sunny --a beautiful day to play in the garden - which is not what we did.

We did - take the carpet which was removed (by us) and put it in garage to be sold on Craigslist or given to someone who wants beige carpet. THEN we unloaded a lot of paint, 39 (yes I counted them - twice) boxes of cork flooring, a new light fixture for the kitchen and about a quart of sweat. I confess this is simply a catching up with small changes post - one big point I'd like to make - look closely at the picture of partially painted room (which will become our office/workout room once we actually move in). See the ugly dark grey tinge to what was apparently a white room? THAT my friends is what happens when you use those "one coat" paints - there is a black pigment added to a perfectly good white paint so indeed it covers most anything else but is NOT white. The white we are using is called Fragrant Jasmine (doesn't that just sound wonderful and relaxing? - still smells like paint but the name is the thing). It goes on the wall in a barely warm white shade not a cold touch of black white shade. It isn't all that noticeable until you begin to paint a real white over it - then the greyness becomes all too obvious. I'm tired - you must excuse my obsession with colors of white.

It is good on Buhlaland - because I have a great big bottle of ibuprofren and a Coke Zero over ice right here next to me. See you soon!