Here. We. Go.

I read somewhere recently that the evolution of  punctuation in the English language is  “evolveing” into something dfferent and we may just do away with commas.  And the period is gone haywire.  Like in my title.  For someone who doesn’t have mature writing skills, comma, this sits fine with me.

And…….. well……. hello there.

I live.

It has been 14 months since my last visit to The Shieling.  As I recall, I paused because of a life time big mosaic project I was working on.  I was overwhelmed.  I completed that project in August and have contemplated picking my blog back up ever since.  I am humbled by the requests to begin again.  Thank you very much for your votes of confidence.   Even from English majors for goodness sakes.

LIfe has certainly happened in the last 14 months for you and me.  It is amazing.  And life involves the good, the bad and the ugly.

I will try to give you a quick wrap.

1. Little Roger Brown, June, and Ruthie, our baby 2-year-old goats, went to live at a friend’s house.  We still have the two mommies.  You might recall the Roger Brown video a few short days after he was born.  We have new animals and their shenanigans. All for a near future post.

2.  Holy cow.  I finished my project.  My mind (and my body) totally atrophied over the 16 months. Truly it did.  Imagine standing in one place for a year and a half putting a tiny puzzle together.    But I still think that it was a huge blessing to have been a part of such a great project.

3.  Can you travel too much?  I did this year.  I think I was experiencing some serious withdrawal from setting up house here for several years.  Saw amazing people, places and things. And was very excited about touring 4 major national art museums in the US of A.  Wow.  The inspiration was astounding.  Not sure what to do with it.  The last trip we went on though, I felt a pang of homesickness as we were loading the car to GO on the trip.  That tells me it is high time for a very quiet year home making babies….of the animal sort.   Traveling is a privilege and not to be taken for granted.  Easy does it for me going forward.

4. One travel detail especially worth noting….We traveled to Italy last Christmas.  We took all the kids and had a BALL.   Time with the special people in my life is the best and most important thing I can do with my time.

5.  I started a Bible study in my home for the first time since we moved down here into these here hills.  Feels REALLY good to be back in the Word on a routine basis.

6.   We finished the last “phase” of our farm/retreat build out.  We turned the stall space  of our barn into a retreat lodge for family/friend gatherings.  And to lend it out to folks wanting a space to hold retreats.

It has been very busy here since the “grand opening”.  LOVE  seeing people come and renew the Spirit within them.

So many good things.  We have nothing to complain about.  We have so much love in our family. And  friendships that leave me in awe.

But it is not without trials, challenges and sometimes some down right tragic life events. This year has held a few of those too.

This year my family has been feeling the ache of cancer.  It is hard and I am aware that it touches all of us any more.  We are getting good results with treatment and we continue to pray for health.

This year my family lost my 26-year-old nephew and his 2-year-old son to a house fire.  The thought  is unfathomable to me.  It just begs for one word. Why?    After nine months I had difficulty knowing for sure that Jim was not going to be the first to drive up our drive for the Christmas gathering as he always does/did.  Do we ever really understand death?  Especially when it takes the lives of 2 people who had so much life to live?

The fire was caused by pinched electric cords.  ugh.  As we might…..look for a blessing in incomprehensible situations…..The blessing here is that Jim was able to donate 4 of his organs and saved the life of 4 people.  Wow.   Jim and Baby Andy are in Heaven.  That is a blessing to me.  Anyone getting to spend eternity in heaven is one lucky guy.

And that is life.  The good.  The bad.  The ugly.

We gear up for another year.  I cannot imagine what it will hold.  I just pray that whatever it holds for each one of us,  we  choose to hold the hand  of God and let Him guide us as we meander the forest of life. Cause there are some boogeymans out there.

Peace,

Karen