Held

Today has been such a tragic day for our little town.  One of our sweet, 16 year old, teenage girls went to heaven this morning.  She was the kindest person with a smile that will forever be stuck in my brain.  I truly have no words except to ask all my friends to keep the Dotson family in your prayers today and everyday for a long time.  Their family is the best, and this community will rally around them any way we can. 

 

This song came to my heart today.  Just read the words and pray.

 

"Held"

Two months is too little
They let him go
They had no sudden healing
To think that providence
Would take a child from his mother
While she prays, is appalling
Who told us we'd be rescued
What has changed and
Why should we be saved from nightmares
We are asking why this happens to us
Who have died to live, it's unfair
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held
This hand is bitterness
We want to taste it and
Let the hatred numb our sorrows
The wise hand opens slowly
To lilies of the valley and tomorrow
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held
If hope is born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait, for one hour
Watching for our savior
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We'd be held

 

XO,

Robin

Let me introduce you to my friend....Sara from The Rosy Life

Hi everyone!!!  Gabe and I returned from an amazing getaway today.  It was for our 12 year anniversary, and it couldn't have been more perfect.  Thank you for all the anniversary wishes!  I'll post about that in the next day or two. 

Today I want you to meet my friend, Sara.  She is an extremely gifted artist, photographer, and blogger.  She is just so....happy!  I love looking at her blog, because it makes me smile.  A few weeks ago she sent me the cutest "happy package" in the mail (Do you love receiving things via mail?  I LOVE it!).  Anyhoo, it had the sweetest note, a picture she painted me, and two ribbons with the words JOY and BRAVE.  Here are pictures of the gifts.

 She added a note on the back of this painting that reads: "Imagine the glow, light, and twinkle if all the prayers said for you from all the people storming the gates of Heaven were combined.  Can you even imagine?  The darkness just doesn't stand a chance."  Sara is such a gift and encourager to me.

I also want to show you her cute art studio and some of her paintings.  She sells her paintings on Etsy so please buy from her if you love her work as much as I do.  She really puts her heart into everything she creates.

Art studio 

Her blog is www.therosylife.blogspot.com.  Her etsy shop is http://etsy.com/shop/TheRosyLife.

I hope y'all are having a fabulous weekend.  Remember, today is a gift.  Be sure to call or text someone you haven't talked to lately, and let them know how much they mean to you.  It will make their day, and you will get a blessing from it, too. 

XO,
Robin

Pioneer Woman Goodness and Health Update

Let's get the boring stuff out of the way.  I saw Dr. Beck yesterday to follow up on my lab work.  He said my tumor markers have gone up about 400 points.  What???!!!!!  I thought they would be a lot lower.  BUT, he said my LDH and other liver numbers are down which means my liver is functioning even better than it was last month.  Yay!  According to my history (per him), when my LDH numbers start going down my tumor markers are sure to follow.  He thinks the cancer cells are dying, and they are being released into my bloodstream which accounts for the high marker number.  Does that make sense?  Soooooo, boo to high markers, but I'm glad there is a reason behind it.  I see Beck again in 2 weeks to look at my blood work so please pray my liver function keeps improving, and my tumor markers are a lot lower.  It can happen, and I'm believing it will!!!!  I will keep you posted.

Now on to the fun stuff.  Have you seen The Pioneer Woman's new kitchen collection at Wal-Mart?  I can't even.  Y'all, it is so dang cute.  The prices are really reasonable, too.  I love her even more that she would sell her items in Wal-Mart for us country folk.  Here are a few of my favorites.  Swoon.

 

 

I can't get over how cute everything is, and I've only shown you a sliver of the collection.  You can view the whole thing on www.Walmart.com/pioneerwoman , but a LOT of the items are sold out.  Just keep checking back periodically.  That's what I'm going to do.  I really want it all.  It would be perfect in my kitchen!!!!  Ahem....Christmas ideas my dear, sweet family members.  Some of you might receive her stuff as gifts, too.  If she isn't forever sold out. 

 

 

XO,

Robin

Buddy Bench

I thoroughly enjoy having a blog, but a writer I am not.  I tend to stick to the "fun" things like pictures of the house, my kids, family vacations, favorite products, etc.  Today I felt like writing from my heart.  It won't be super deep, so don't worry, but if I'm thinking about it then maybe it's crossed your mind, too. 

BUDDY.  Webster's defines it as: Chum, crony, pal, sidekick.  A close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities.  I like all those definitions.  At Emme's school they have a "Buddy Bench" on the playground.  Kids sit there when they don't have a friend to play with, and then the other children know to go over there and ask that child to join them.  Is that the coolest concept?  Well, until today, it was a concept.  Until today (to my knowledge) neither one of my kiddos has sat on it.  Until today.  I ate lunch with Emme and was driving away when I saw her sitting on the buddy bench.  Oh man.  My heart jumped to my throat.  I just wanted to jump out of my car, run to her, and tell her it was going to be ok.  But I didn't.  As I was exiting the school, one of the sweet teachers was sitting by her and talking to her.  Thank goodness for our teachers. 

That whole scene got me thinking about how good it is to have a buddy or buddies, and just how much God has blessed me with them.  I have quite a few friends I can call at any time, for any reason, and they'll be there for me.  They have been there for me.  Some I talk to almost everyday, and some I haven't talked to in a while but know we still care for one another.  I think God puts those special people in our lives to make life better.  Lighten our loads in this crazy world.  Listen to us when we need to laugh or cry or just vent about stupid things.  Friends are a gift. 

"A friend loves at all times.  He is there to help when trouble comes." Proverbs 17:17 (NIRV).

I found out later that 3 boys came up to Emme on the buddy bench and asked if she would be their cheerleader while they played football.  She was good with that.  Oh, heaven help us! :-)

My prayer for you is that you always have a buddy bench to sit on when you need it.  If you don't have a good friend, pray for one.  God cares about relationships, and He cares about you.  Also, please pray that your children find great friends who stick close to them and care about them.  It is SO important! 

I hope y'all have a great Labor Day weekend!!!!
XO,
Robin