Today Doug would be 50 years old. I really wish we could have a party and celebrate him. These days are never easy, no matter how much time has passed. I sometimes get a little angry because I feel like we were robbed of precious time…time that was never guaranteed in the first place. BUT I can celebrate and be grateful because he was born. He was born to my parents and he was my brother.
Happy birthday baby brother! You are loved and missed by your family and so many others.
So grateful for a family that believes in the one who created us and prays together! We shared special moments last night praying for each other, for our country and the election.
I was reminded of this scripture today by a dear friend. I especially loved The Message translation.
This is a post that has been in draft form since April 27, 2014. I started drafting this two and a half weeks after my brother Doug entered heaven. I heard this song and it spoke to me after his death.
Sometimes healing is not how we envision healing and sometimes it’s hard to be grateful. It’s easy to shake your fists at God. Then, I lift my hands to believe again . You are my refuge and my strength.
The words still remain true today. There is a healer! His love is deep! He is unfailing!
Today is #worldgratitudeday. What are you thankful for today?
Be still, there is a healer
His love is deeper than the sea
His mercy, it is unfailing
His arms are fortress for the weak
Let faith arise
Let faith arise
I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever
Be still, there is a river
That flows from Calvary's tree
A fountain for the thirsty
Pure grace that washes over me
I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever
Let faith arise, let faith arise
Open my eyes, open my eyes
Let faith arise, let faith arise
Open my eyes, open my eyes
And I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God
You are faithful, God, forever
Let faith arise
Let faith arise
Chris Tomlin | I Lift My Hands
This time last year we were anticipating our trip to Barcelona and Lisbon. Excitement for the adventure and time spent with good friends. It was a wonderful trip!
Beauty.
History.
Amazing food.
It didn’t stop there. We went to Los Angeles for our nephew’s wedding in July. Another moment in time where we were able to see a different landscape than where we come from. Spending time with family and friends. Enjoying time away from our every day life.
Birthdays and anniversaries we celebrated in between these epic trips and I got to spend 10 days with my best friends!
We ended our year with a trip to Boston, Rhode Island and Maine. You heard me, New England in December! It was so cold but it was amazing because we saw people we love and that made my heart warm.
Our friend was commissioned as an Officer in the US Navy in Newport RI. It was very special and catching up with friends was so good. I also checked Rhode Island off my states I had never visited as well as Maine 😘The temperature was 15° and the wind coming off the water made it feel colder.
We had dinner in Boston at a restaurant we have had on our Yelp list for a while now. Alma Nove owned by the WaIhberg’s. It was a beautiful restaurant with warm and inviting staff. The food was delicious. A great evening. On the drive there we saw the very first Dunkin’ and had to stop and FaceTime Bernie’s dad because that is his favorite coffee place. Did you know Quincy (Boston) is the birthday of Dunkin’?
Our final destination was Maine to visit our dear friends Faith & Ian, Betty & Joe and Kellie & Lars. This visit was especially sweet. I am so grateful for Faith because last year at Christmas she was fighting for her life. God spared her life and I am so happy because Faith is very special. Love you Faithie!
Faith and Ian took us a little driving tour of the coast. Coastline was amazing. We stopped in to surprise some friends that have been in our life for a very long time. Special people…Betty and Joe. Both of our families have been intertwined for many years and it was great to be able to hug on their necks.
We ended our time with Kellie & Lars. Bernie and Lars have been friends for a long time and even share the same birthday. They have a beautiful home that they are renovating. You should follow Kellie at http://gratefullyvintage.com/ We had a beautiful dinner at The Tiller Restaurant in Ogunquit ME.
It was so good to be able to connect with friends. It was good for my soul. We want to make plans to visit them in the summer.
I ended the year with a cold and cough that has hung on way too long but it was great to spend the holidays with my parents and cousins. I am extremely grateful to my parents for all they do for us especially when they take Luger when we are away. Even though I was sick, Bernie and I were able to see three of the five movies we wanted to see over the holidays.
All this to say is, I have had a very full year with amazing opportunities and I am grateful.
Praying for 2020 as we move forward. Excited to see what God has planned for our family this year.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.
photo credit: Jonathan Knepper (unspash.com)
I was so happy to meet this sweet girl and capture these moments for my friends, Débora and André.
They have prayed for this precious child and received a beautiful gift in Kelsey.
She was so good throughout this session and apparently loves to be swaddled.
#blessed
I was reading my devotions the other morning and the title was It Is Well With My Soul. I can’t read these words or hear the music without it transporting me back in time.
April 2014 to be exact.
My brother entered the arms of Jesus.
Walked through the gate of Heaven.
Pain free.
Healed.
The author penned these words after traumatic events in his own life. The words touch the very depths of my core.
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
The pain of losing someone you love is a pain that runs so deep. But because we have faith and know there is a place that is better than we could ever imagine, the peace that God gives is soothing.
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 NLT
Our California vacation was based around our nephew’s wedding. The family flew to Orange County from all over the east coast. New York. Ohio. Georgia.
We rented a nice VRBO property in Anaheim that housed 12 of us comfortably. It had 7 rooms and it had four bathrooms. It had an awesome gazebo for us to hang out in the mornings and the evenings, a pool and a hot tub that got used everyday!
The wedding was beautiful and the weather was perfect.
We went on a few side trips. I keep a yelp list of places and restaurants that I want to go to. I keep checking the list off. One day was the Griffith Observatory, which is a place I’ve wanted to see. We also we to LA so my parents could see the sights.
I went hiking with some of the family on the afternoon of the wedding to Peters Canyon. Beautiful! It always feels good to move and push yourself physically.
One of the highlights was El Matador Beach. The views were amazing with the cliffs and rock formations! Unreal! The bad part of that day was the traffic back home because of the time of day. Travel time was basically doubled. Wow!
But this view will always be such a beautiful memory!
My nephew Noah took these photos my me and my parents.
We stopped at a few other places like Newport Beach and Crystal Cove. This trip was all about family.
Where will I go next?! Only time will tell BUT Italy is still number one on my list.
I can’t believe it has been just over a week since we have returned from an amazing vacation to Barcelona and Lisboa! You count down the many months, weeks and days and then once you have arrived it goes so fast.
I’m starting with Lisbon even though we went there after Barcelona but I have all those photos edited so here you go.
It was an amazing week spent with great friends. I love to travel. To see parts of the world that have such a rich history. Where the lifestyle is completely different from ours. I should take one of those DNA tests because I feel like I am 100% European. I love the way European’s experience life. Walking everywhere or taking the train (their systems are so much better than ours…at least Atlanta’s) Shopping at markets and carrying your bread and fresh flowers home. 💛🌻🌷💕
We stayed at a beautiful apartment which was located across from the Praça da Figueira. A big square that has an outdoor market called Mercado Da Baixa which has been in existence since 1855.
These are photos around Lisboa.
I fell in love with the tiles on the buildings and the sidewalks are also beautiful. Gorgeous! We met our friend Débora’s parents and they told us about an authentic tiles shop called Sant’anna. We of course took their recommendation and bought a tile or two to take home with us for a constant reminder of the beauty that is Lisbon.
The food!
We had great dining experiences. The highlight was Bairro Avillez’s Pateo restaurant. We sat at what I call the Chef’s Table. It was in front of the window where we could experience the activity in the kitchen. The chef’s working each station. The Head Chef calling out the orders as they came in and the communication between them. The food coming to the pass. The tasting to make sure it was good enough to serve. The plating! Wow! I was in heaven. We met Chef Adriano who was very gracious to take a moment from the busyness of the kitchen to take a photo with us! The food was amazing. I had the Sea Bass and the desserts he recommended were out of this world!
Other foodie highlights were Forno d’ Oro and Time Out Market.
Of course you can’t go to Lisboa and not try Pastel de Nata or pastéis de nata (plural) because you can’t have just one! We went to Manteigaria and Pastéis de Belem. My new favorite! I really need to learn how to make them. It is a custard tart. I can make creme brûlée so I think I could do that part but it is all about the crust! Buttery and flaky layers of thin dough. And coffee, my order was a Cortado) and pastéis…yes please!
And finally, Jeronimos Monastery, Sintra, Pena Palace and Cascais.
The colors. The history. The beauty.
Cabo da Roca is the most westernmost point in Europe mainland and we were there on a beautiful day with sunny blue skies.
Lisbon is colorful and just beautiful! If it isn’t on your travel bucket list, it should be…and go with friends who love travel, culture and food as much as you do.
