A Taste of Heaven

Just back from a special Funeral Visitation this afternoon.
A gentle Godly man has gone Home, a husband, father, father in law, a forester, College Class Sunday School teacher, a mentor, a friend. Keith & I were honored to know Joe (& his precious family) for 15 plus years. We were in a Sunday School class together, the New Life Class, at a UMC in Raleigh. Since that time, the Lord has scattered us across the area into different churches & denominations.

Recently I wrote about our reunion in the mountains---many of us were there but not all.

Today even more precious ones from the past waited in line to express to Joe's family how much they loved him & how much they love them---Sandy, Troy, Kyle, & Gabrielle.
Cameron went with us, & loved seeing so many people he hasn't seen in years. (Joe's wife Sandy was his pre-school teacher:))

It was glorious, even in the midst of saying goodbye to Joe, to see so many beloved faces.
I believe he would have loved it!

We'll always be part of one another--a family.
We were knit together by the Holy Spirit.
And today was a taste of Heaven:)

Well.

Yesterday morning I received a call while at work from my Doctor's office. Ann, Dr. Jordon's nurse, called to give me blood results from lab work done last Tuesday. I'm not crazy about my doctor's office calling me at work to tell me these details. 

They can be upsetting. 

Well, yesterday Ann reported all was well, except--my blood sugar was dangerously high, & I need to get serious about losing weight, exercising more, & watching my diet. She ended by saying Dr. Jordon would see me in November unless I had any problems (our set time).

So, the report wasn't good, dangerously high levels of sugar, but not alarming enough to come in early. 

Unsettling.

It is serious.

I feel like I'm out on a limb with this Diabetes. I can read all kinds of literature. But, bottom line, I have to work out a diet on my own I can live with, a lifestyle I can maintain that will cause me to live longer, period.

I have diet cookbooks, but have gradually lost interest in cooking since my kids left home. It takes a lot of planning & energy. But--that may be what I end up having to learn to do. 

That, & praying, yearning, for self control. And walk, walk, walk!!! And bike, bike, bike!!!

Skye Has Mastered It!

This weekend, Friday evening, May 11th, to be exact, Keith, Cameron, Seth & Kelley, & I watched Skye receive her Master's Degree in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University:) She is officially hooded:)

We are very proud of her!

All of us spent the weekend together relaxing & celebrating. We rented a lodge near the App Ski Area overlooking Boone-a very pretty spot with a great hot tub:) Ben, Skye's boyfriend, wasn't able to get away from work, so we were disappointed he didn't get to join us. 

We shopped & ate in Boone & Blowing Rock, & simply enjoyed the scenery & hanging out.

Skye, I wish you a future filled with adventure & satisfaction, & fulfillment in all you do. God go before you & keep you in the palm of His Hand. 

Love you!

A Trip Back In Time

Last Thursday, April 26th, Keith & I packed our bags & drove to Boone for a Sunday School Class Reunion. We had not met together as a group in over 20 years.

Back in the 70's & 80's the New Life Class at Westover UMC grew to be extremely close, knitted together by our love for the Lord, our faith in Him, our love for one another.

The pastor during that time, Kenneth, & his wife Rosamond, were precious to us. Their great devotion & love of the Lord allowed us to flourish. (Many of us were also in the Westover choir which Rosamond directed--with an iron fist & hugs).

For at least 10 years the class spent an April weekend "retreating" to the Episcopal Center in Valle Crucis, NC, outside of Boone. For most of those years Ken Helser & his wife Linda led the weekend worship & teaching time.

Then, around 1989, most of the New Life class & their families left Westover. That is another story in itself; it was a time of spiritual upheaval within the Eastern NC UMC. The Lord chose to scatter us out into the Raleigh community in every direction.

With our Sunday School teacher's leadership the retreats continued throughout the years, including a small number of the original group while at the same time adding new folks. This year Don decided 2012 would be the last Valle Crucis Retreat he would organize. And he wanted the original group, as many as he could contact,  to reunite for precious fellowship, plus honor Kenneth & Rosamond who are nearing 90 years "young":)

So, the plan---to meet at the Daniel Boone Restaurant in Boone on Thursday evening for a time of renewing friendships over dinner, staying overnight at the Retreat Center, then continuing the reunion through Friday lunch. After that, those that chose not to stay for the entire weekend could say their goodbyes & check out. Other people would begin arriving Friday afternoon/evening for the second session of the Retreat, lasting through Sunday. Keith & I planned to check out early, then see Skye.




Thursday evening at the restaurant was such fun, welcoming friends we hadn't seen in a long time! Afterward we headed to the Retreat Center where we continued to visit, catch up on life, look at photos. Those who had been part of  the choir rehearsed a simple worship song to sing Friday morning. Rosamond was ecstatic about being a choir director again, even if we were rusty & would only have one practice! I was pretty hesitant about this experiment myself--not being part of a choir since the 80's! Ken led us in a few worship songs before folks began drifting off to bed.

Friday morning after breakfast we gathered in the lodge near the stone fireplace. Ken opened our morning session by leading us in 2 or 3 praise songs. Next the choir was up. Rosamond directed our makeshift group in the song "God Is So Good":) Our intentions were "good" & I think God smiled:) Rosamond was giddy:)!

From that point, throughout the morning session, various ones in the group poured out to Kenneth & Rosamond their love for them---how they had inspired our church family, had encouraged us in our faith, had shown God's love in every way:)
Lots of tears.
A sweet time.
Keith & I couldn't say a word--our hearts were too full.
Especially thankful for Kenneth & Rosamond:)
What a blessing to be with these precious folks!


God drew the New Life Class together, then moved us apart to learn more. Change is good, but I don't always see good during transitions, & that is an understatement!! This group has learned so much. God is faithful. He cares for us & He guides & directs us into new situations for His glory & for our good.

Thankful for a time of renewed fellowship, for reflection, & for God's goodness in all things:)
A taste of Heaven.

Ponderings On Recovery

Had my third post op (lung lobectomy) appointment a week ago:)It was a three hour 'adventure', but knew going in it'd be a waiting game--took the newspaper & my trusty Kindle Fire. Thursdays are VERY BUSY in Dr. Chang's realm, and the receptionists remind me of this every time I schedule a Thursday appointment. Still it's my best day, since I work Mondays & Mondays are Dr. Chang's only other day to see patients. Dr. Chang's PA informed me I'm doing well, my chest x-ray looked great. But I've been worried about not getting right back into my walking regime. She assured me it could take six months to return to my previous energy level, even with laparocopic surgery. Whew. Made me feel much better!! So the pressure's off to walk three miles four or five days a week for now, especially when I work an eight hour day. I'm working toward that, gradually. It seems I need more sleep lately (allergies may easily be a culprit here). But I've always loved naps, so this may not be too different:) I'm often waking up early, 4:30 or 5am--ugh!? Do these two statements mean one precipitates the other? Keith's doing well, especially with his weight loss:)!! Five stars for him for losing almost 40 pounds! That alone makes anyone feel better:) I didn't have that side-affect, I'm afraid:( Now for our biking regime to kick in:)

Easter--A Day In The Life

It is Easter Sunday evening. I've had a day filled with preparing food, trying to coordinate all the food to be done at the same time, attending Sunday School & the church service, and most importantly meeting Skye's boyfriend Ben--she's dated him since last May:)

To start the day, about 6:30 this morning, Wyatt & I had a short green way walk --all was quiet in Shepherd's Vineyard except sweet birds singing:) Thought of Jesus appearing to the women in the garden about that time of day....

(While I showered) Keith peeled & cut up russet potatoes for the Potatoes Au Gratin, recipe by The Pioneer Woman. I wanted to try something different than our usual baked potatoes or mashed potatoes:)

After grabbing coffee, half a banana, & a chocolate donut (tisk, tisk), I put the Au Gratin together, washed & sliced strawberries for a spinach salad, placed the yeast dough rolls out to rise, & prepared the ham for baking. Also set the table with my favorite rust-colored Cole pottery plates & pottery cups. Yesterday I had put freshly ironed white tablecloths on the table, then added a glass container filled with Easter eggs & a tall green pottery vase of fresh flowers for the centerpiece.

At 9:30, Keith & I headed to Peace:)!
Had a precious time in Sunday School with dear folks studying 1Peter.
At 11 we met Seth & Kelley and Cameron in the sanctuary. Seth informed me Skye & Ben had just left Boone--an hour late:(
Ugh. (How was I going to delay lunch an hour?)
Peace's Easter Service is always inspiring to me, & today was as well:) Choir Anthem, horns, orchestra, Andy's sermon! Friday night's service was more intimate & moving, but today's service was glorious:)!

Skye & Ben arrived about 2pm:) We had successfully kept the food hot while checking out Seth & Kelley's new Ancestry.com app & putting dishes back in a warm oven:) Plus Cameron had a call from work he attended to--he even ran home to get his computer.

We had a sweet time visiting with Skye & getting to know Ben a little while we ate:) He lives in Elizabethton, Tenn. & enjoys cooking. He's working at a Bistro there & hopes to go to Culinary School eventually:)
An A+ in my book for Ben: he washed dishes for me:) As much as I love my kids (& they're almost perfect:)), no one offers to do that!
Cooks & does dishes--pretty impressive:)

(BTW, my Potatoes Au Gratin were too soupy, but tasted good:) Ree, I'll do better next time, promise)

Mid afternoon Cameron left to go hiking at Umstead with a bud & S&K left to prepare for their Easter dinner at Kelley's mom's in Raleigh. Skye & Ben decided to take a walk into downtown Apex:) That sounded great, but Keith & I were so tired we opted for a nap!:)

Tonight Skye & Ben are checking out the Raleigh scene & meeting some of Skye's buds. This is the first time Ben has been in our "neck of the woods".
Tomorrow afternoon they head back to the mts. I plan to have lunch with them on their way out--I've asked off for an hour. A short visit, but sweet:)

A lovely Easter day at the McFarlands. We are blessed:)

April

Well, blog readers, I've probably lost all of you by now, except maybe one:) My dear friend Linda emailed me this week asking me to return to my journaling. I'm not sure whether gifted writers have dry spells (I suspect they do but are disciplined enough to write daily/weekly), but my inspiration vanished months ago:(
Life became busy.
Life became hard.
But those times should fuel a writer's words, right?

Keith & I have resumed our normal lives (as in "before surgeries") in the last month. We both have a bit more recovery but it will come gradually. Keith's working full time again. We hope to resume biking soon:) I haven't quite returned to walking 3 miles each morning before working an 8 hour day at Hallmark, but am walking 2 miles:) Keith's lost at least 35 pounds & feels much better:)

Church softball season began this week. Keith turned over his coaching duties to friend Steve for this season, but I did spy him "coaching" from the sidelines:) He loves softball:)

Keith's brother Denny & sister in law Nancy from Wisconsin visited last weekend:) SO good to have them here for a few days:)

On the 26-27th we plan to attend a Sunday School class reunion in Valle Crucis, near Boone, NC. Looking forward to time in the gorgeous mts. with old friends:) We'll visit Skye too:) I'm ready for a road trip--too much time spent at home lately!!

I'll let you know about Skye's Easter visit with her "beau":) We're meeting him for the first time:)!!

Have a blessed Easter, Linda:)