No New News

Well, no new news about Ashlee anyway. Other than she is scheduled for lots of tests in about a week. Hopefully, those tests will be very revealing, and we can get some sort of treatment plan going.

In the meantime, it'll be scarce posting around here (unless Shaun Santa brings me a laptop real quick).

I got word that my Grandma died yesterday, the 23rd, and I'm heading out today to go be with family - and attend the funeral of course. This means that I am officially "Grandparentless."

And I feel sad. Really sad.

Not for Grandma, because she is up there in Heaven with Jesus and her suffering has finally ended. But for me ... I'm sad, darn it!

The only thing that makes a death like this remotely bearable is that fact that I will see Grandma again.

God has called her name ... ♫and she did rise ... no more sorrow, no more pain.♫

Now I'm just waiting for my turn (said like a foot stompin' two year old).

So wait up, Grandma!! I'm coming too! Until then, remind Grandpa I love him and tell him I can't wait to sit on the couch and hold hands again. I love you both, and can't wait to see the both of you together again.

As it should be...

~Brenda

Click here to read a tribute of sorts that I wrote a couple years ago about my Grandparents. You'll have to scroll down to "Christmas Traditions" to see the post.

My Ashlee

Just a bit of an update as to what's going on with Ashlee...

Who's Ashlee?

Ashlee's my oldest. Isn't she perty?


I mean...even in her horse grubbies, she's perty.

Anyway! We have a doctors appointment tomorrow. I don't personally like the doctor (I've been to her before), but I think we'll get the necessary tests run.

God can work through doctors that I don't like.

Cuz He's big and strong like that.

And that's what I'm trusting will happen. So please pray for us, that we will be able to communicate clearly what the problems have been, and please pray for the doctor, that she will be able to understand us, and understand what tests to run, and what course of treatment to take.

Muchas gracias!

Updates will follow ...

~Brenda

Single Sentence Saturday #6

"I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do." ~Corrie ten Boom

I Will Rise

If you are a Christian, do you go through your day knowing and rejoicing that you will one day rise, when the Lord calls your name? Or do you get bogged down in the everyday muck that can so easily sap the joy from your life?

Yeah ... me too.

That's why I'm posting this song by Chris Tomlin. I want you to listen to it, and read the words as they flash across the screen.

I want your heart to absorb the message like a sponge absorbs water.

I want you to know the same Lord that I know.

And I want you to have the peace that can be yours through Him - and only Him.

So put the kids down for a nap, lock the dog outside, turn off the phone, television, and radio (I know you have all those things going at once!), and listen carefully and intently. You'll be on your way to living your life in the victory that can only come through knowing the One, True, Living God IF you take this message to heart and let it comfort and encourage you.

Jesus makes all the pain and sorrow worth it.

He makes it all ok. Even though it's not.

Kid Art

I think all of my kids are artistic ... in their own special way. Take a look at these pictures and let me know if you concur.

Andrew colored our step with this last year with no prompting from anyone. He often pleasantly surprises me with little notes and art clippings.




Jessie cheesin' it up while she colors:


Finished product. We hope all you Little Lovely Lurkers feel welcome, indeed!



I believe this says something, something, something, Mr. Sun ... or something. Can you tell Jessie works at a Mexican restaurant?

And I do not?


A message for her Papa, although I couldn't tell you what that message is. Something about home ... maybe "welcome home?"

I know. I'm pathetic.



And since it's Easter and all, I had to show you two crosses. One that Ashlee drew with chalk, and one Andrew put up in our back yard, where the swing set once was (he's too big for swing sets now, ya' know). He engraved it with the wood burner that Uncle Bob got him for Christmas.

So first, Ashlee's cross. Perty, huh?


And Andrew's cross that he built and engraved. It made me thankful Jesus didn't stay on that cross.

Or in the tomb.

But instead, conquered the grave, rose, and ascended into Heaven.

He lives in my heart. And I hope He lives in yours too.


Ah hem!!! Bragging session is now over.

Everyone back to work!

~Brenda

Single Sentence Saturday #5

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." ~John 11:25

Spring Break

Just wanted to share a few pictures from our Spring Break. We visited my family, and I love taking pictures of all my nieces and nephews and second cousins.

Cuz they're super delicious. See:

Great nephew, Hayden, showing off his belly tattoo. I was assured it was fake. Hmmm....



My neice, Meghan, growing up way tooooo fast:


Her brother, Noah, posing naturally:



Meghan and Noah's sister, Emily, posing pretty in her princess dress, which she wears roughly 98 % of the time:



My nephew, Skylar, sporting his new do. Woot Woot!!!


Hayden's sister, Naya. Love those beautiful, big, baby blues.

In fact, I love every little thing about her.



My cousins baby, Maggie. Uhhhh...directing music. Yeah, that's it.



And Maggie's brother, Solomon.

Now HE is super delicious!


Some random pics. Here I am with my mom, doing what we do best: kitchen duty!

And no, I am not adopted.





Ashlee, with her beau, who went with us to meet the family.

Gulp.

Did I just say that?




And I couldn't resist posting my brother, Larry, attempting to rewind the clock a few years. Let us know how that worked out for ya', bro!





We stayed at my Grandma's house, who lives in a nursing home now. It was nice to have the place all to ourselves, with no internet or tv. Cough, cough ... Ok, not having tv was nice.

Anywho, this picturesque scenery is what we woke up to several mornings. In some ways, it made me want a refund on my Spring Break. But I love snow, and I loved how peaceful and quiet it was to be in and look at. So I'm not complaining.

Out the back window:


Out the front window:


And on the side of the house. I love, love, love this photo. Grandma has had that wagon wheel since .... oooohhhh ... 1910.

Just kidding. But it is old! And it's been in the same spot since I was six.

Don't ask how long ago that was.



So much of my childhood took place at my Grandma's, so it was nice to sit a spell and wax nostalgic. But as you can imagine, it also brought great sadness that Grandma is already gone in so many ways. And it won't be long until her home is also gone.

Better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all.

Sigh.

Having said all of that ... I rejoice in being back home. On my Prairie. Where the buffaloes roam ... or at least did at one time.

~Brenda

Please Pray....

.....for Ashlee. She's been home from the hospital for about a week, but is still not feeling well. We had a visit with the doctor today, and he is running some more tests. But there are more problems developing as of this afternoon, and we don't know why.

To respect Ashlee's privacy, I'm not going to go into detail. Knowing that she's not doing well, and asking for prayers is sufficient at this time.

God knows it all.

God planned it all.

God will see us through it all.

~Brenda, the proud prairie mama to Ashlee

Prairie Pebble #4

Howdy Lovely Lurkers!

I hope you are doing well! It has been snowing here this last week, in spite of the fact that the calendar tells me it is Spring.

Where does one file a complaint about that anyway?

Eh hem ... On to the fourth Prairie Pebble, aka a little tidbit about myself that I share with you so that you can get to know me better. And so that I can be more transparent. Cuz my husband tells me I need to.

So Prairie Pebble #4:

I am an author.

Seriously. Published and all! It's not like I wrote a book or nothin' though, so don't get too excited. You'll be the first to know when and if that ever happens.

However, I am published, and I thought you might like to know where. I've submitted my work three times, two of which I was accepted. Both accepted submissions were for compilation books. You know, like Chicken Soup for the Soul? Yeah ... those type of books.

I really love compilation books because you can read a little, then put it down without it being too painful. Whereas with a novel, I have a hard time remembering that I am in fact a mother and wife, and would really prefer my responsibilities to end while I indulge myself.

Anyone else like that??

I thought so.

So here are the books where my work can be found:




This is a devotional for married couples. I have one devotional in it, and my bio is in the back of the book. I see this book all the time in Christian bookstores, and you can order it off of Amazon also.

Just in case you're curious.

And here's the other book:





Isn't that a precious cover?

This book is a compilation of stories that inspire childlike faith. I wrote about my son, Andrew, and his childlike faith while I was neck deep in an undiagnosed illness. Wayne Holmes, the compiler, is a very gracious and patient man.

You'd sorta have to be to work with me.

He just started a blog, which you can find here.

And fyi ... this book is also found in Christian bookstores, and Amazon.

So tell me honestly. How many of my Lovely Lurkers are published authors?

Hmmmm??

Just so ya' know ... I visit every Lurker that leaves a comment. And I must say that some of you are very talented writers.

So 'fess up, will ya?

Toot your own horn!!

~Brenda, the horn tootin' little housewife on the prairie

Single Sentence Saturday #4

I'm choosing to quote someone this week. And yes, I know this is more than a single sentence. But I'm a rule breaker.

"Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted in spite of your changing moods." ~C.S. Lewis

I think that is soooo profound. Mostly because my moods change more often than my daughters change their clothes. And trust me. That's a lot.

~Brenda, the moody wife and mama of the Prairie

There's No Place Like Home....

....Because that's where all my work awaits me.

And trust me. I have a boat load of it to catch up on!

But that's okay. Because we're home now. I'm home. Ashlee's home and feeling much better. And that, my Lovely Lurkers, is enough good news for the day. And for the whole week.

Now off to get some zzzzz's .....

~Brenda

24 More Hours

That's what the doctor says. Twenty four more hours until we can go home. At this point, we're just making sure that Ashlee can start eating some semi solid foods and keep them down. We'll also be getting her out of bed and walking around to see if she can operate well without the IV support. She did eat some jello, but they'd like to see her eating more akin to the way a girl of eighteen years of age would normally eat.

Like pizza and ice cream.

Ok, maybe that's overdoing it, but she is asking for ice cream! I'm trying to cajole her into eating mashed potatoes or chicken noodle soup.

I know. How boring.

But so is being in this hospital. So no ice cream yet.

Ok ... maybe a few bites for dessert. But that's as far as I'm bending.

Seriously. It is.

~Brenda, the Ashlee-lovin' Prairie Mama