Looking for the Color in Our World

The month of November is always a rather "gray" month in our neck of the woods.  The leaves have mostly fallen, and the sun disappears behind the rain and fog that hangs around.  We need the rain, of course, and the gray days just help us begin to look with anticipation for the day when the snow will fall and brighten the world. But even with all the gray, there are still bright spots of color when the sun does come out. 

Dan has been home and resting since his heart attack two weeks ago. It still seems very surreal to us that he had this heart attack, so young, and in such good health. We've been told by different health professionals that it is a genetic condition, and the kind of heart attack he had is often called a "widow-maker".  Most who have a heart attack in this area of the heart, this young, don't survive, because there is no warning at all.  We continue to give God praise with grateful hearts that Dan's life was spared! He was on the table with the surgical team surrounding him when his heart stopped. It is a miracle we will continue to praise God for! 

Dan has spent a lot of time resting, and then we do short little walks together too, as we build his strength back up.  He is feeling stronger every day.  We are told this recovery will take at least 2 months. 


Some dear friends in blogland with the help of my dear friend Linda (who designed this blog!) created a GoFundMe account for our family.  Our heart is so touched by this tremendous generosity! I had quit my caregiving job just a week before Dan's heart attack so I could be home to help with Ryan and Alanna's Baby Clara, and with the intentions of looking for a different position once they were settled. Now, I will be caregiving with Dan and helping him with recovery for the next couple of months.  We have a savings, and we are selling some things that we have, and have plenty of food. So, I don't ask for anything at all, we know the Lord is our provider.  But we appreciate the tremendously kind gesture of Linda and Cheryl and other blogging friends who started the GoFundMe for us (before I even knew about it!) We pray that the Lord would bless those of you who've prayed for us, sent cards, brought gifts and food to our home, and who have done so much to bless us.  May the Lord bless you tenfold in ways only He can!! 

Danielle and Danika have come over to bring smiles to our world!
There is nothing like the joy of grandchildren to fill your heart with joy! 

Every new little thing is so exciting to her, and she gives the best hugs and snuggles.
What a blessing to enjoy their company! 

Ryan and Alanna have had us over for many meals. 
We are all just soaking in the joy of knowing we still have Dan with us. 

Baby Clara is due any day, and Alanna wanted to do some food prep for freezer meals.  So she and I spent the day together chopping veggies and cooking meat, and making a variety of freezer meals for them to enjoy when Baby comes. 

This freezer bag was filled with veggies and chicken to make chicken soup. Such a good feeling to get these meals into their freezer, and ready to go! 

Our little grand-pumpkin, Danika was celebrated this past weekend.  Her parents chose "pumpkin" as the theme for turning one.  I made pumpkin pies, and a special pumpkin pie just for her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She enjoyed the pumpkin pie with gusto! It disappeared pretty quickly!

There is still Fall color to be seen, although the leaves are falling rapidly now. 

These two trees shine above all the others, and keep their leaves the longest.  I love to visit them every year, as their beauty truly ministers to my heart - the magnificence of their red leaves is incredible to see.  While most other trees are losing their leaves, these leaves tenaciously hang on, and continue to fill the world with color.  
  

I've learned that even in the gray - there is color to be found - sometimes you just need to go looking for it! This has been a "dark and gray" time for our family - I never imagined my husband having a massive heart attack so young and so healthy.  But... God has spared his life, and given us these days together, and we are blessed beyond measure to have each one, each breath, each day! Just as the two red trees shine on when the rest of the trees around them are losing or have lost their leaves, there is color to be found in our world, in spite of the gray.  The color in my world is a grateful heart for sparing Dan, and the color red speaks to me today. The generous hearts of so many of our friends, family, and neighbors have overwhelmed us with gratitude.  We are walking through this valley "of the shadow of death" knowing that Our GOD is with us.  I will look for the color in spite of the gray - because it is there.  We just need to look for it.  

Thank you again to each one who has prayed for us.  Please continue to pray, and we pray for you too.  I pray the Lord blesses each of you in special ways that only He can do. He is our strength! Much love to all of you - and go look for the color in your world.... I know it's there! 

Blessings to each of you!