Good-bye My Friend

How do you say good-bye to someone who helped rescue you?  I can't quite figure that out right now as I am forced to do just that with my dear friend Jason.

I know that Jason was blessed with many friends and they are of the highest caliber with most of them being known through their love of Christ and meeting at church.  I, on the other hand, met Jason a totally different way and knew Jason in a unique way as a result of it.  I'm not saying that I am anything special, for I am realistic enough to know that is a falsehood, but my experiences with Jason are perhaps different than other's are.

When I arrived in Dallas, I was fighting cancer myself.  I was brought into the company Jason worked for as a consultant and within moments of meeting Jason, there was a spiritual bond that never left.  It was as though we already knew each other and our souls had reconnected.  From that day forward we spent the first half hour of our day at work just talking to each other.  We put aside the daily grind and shared what had happened in our lives the night before and asked each other for guidance often.  As I would drive to work, knowing he was there and that we would talk brightened the otherwise mundane task of it all.

He taught me so very much about looking out for those who cannot do the simple tasks that I take for granted each and every day.  As my sweetheart and I travelled the world, we learned to look at places through different eyes.  "Could Jason come here?" became our constant glance.  We were more aware of the difficulties we as a society place on those who do not walk on two legs.  It has enriched my life to be able to see those things and to have compassion for those who struggle.  Each time that we returned from a trip Jason would ask, "Could I go there?" and we would be able to answer honestly for we had truly been observant.  Something that might not have taken place without having him in our lives.

The compassion that he had towards me and my own suffering was immense.  I shared things with him that I never shared with anyone else for I knew he would "get it".  Over the past 8 years we have shared many times, good and bad, but the one thing that has been our constant companion is pain.  It is with a heavy heart that I say good-bye, but I am oh so thankful that he is no longer in pain.  What a wonderful thing that must be and even though it is a sin -- I envy him that part.

Oh Jason, thank you so much for our passionate discussions over many topics.  Thank you for the understanding you gave me on many things and the chance you gave for me to offer another perspective as well.  Thank you for making my world brighter just with your presence and giving me strength when I needed it.  Thank you for the moments in my home and the many memories we have made.  Thank you for being the humor needed in some of the awful situation we were placed in over the years and thank you for always believing in me.  I will love you forever and hope that I live my life in such a way that I am blessed to see you again.  I am trying my friend.

Good-bye and enjoy that walk that you have waited 20 years to take.  Come and visit in my dreams if you get a chance.  I love you.

Deb

Spring Creek Forest Preserve - Nature Time

Mister wants to walk and so we shall.  I think we are going to the Arboretum but he heads off in an entirely different direction and once again we are back in Garland.  His destination is the Spring Creek Forest Preserve, a city-owned nature preserve.

There are very few cars when we arrive and you can hear birds everywhere.  Cameras ready?  Let's walk.  It is soooo peaceful.  I love it.  Good choice Mister.  As we get down towards the creek, Mister has brought along a thermos with hot homemade chai tea (his own recipe and dang he does a good job on it) so we stop to have a drink.  It is cool enough that I can see the steam rising as he takes a drink.

We continue on our way and I spot this old gnarled tree.  Isn't it beautiful in it's own way?  Especially with that gorgeous blue sky behind it.

Ahhh -- Boston With Bob

13th - Over Christmas I mentioned to my nephew that if he would like to go to Boston, I would take him after the girls finish their visit.  So, true to my word, the flights look open and we are on our way.  Hello stand-by.  This is Bob's first time flying JetBlue and also stand-by so the whole experience is interesting to him.  We are issued seats right away and after a short delay are boarded and ready for fun.  It is after 7 in the evening and we will arrive around 11:30 p.m.  See ya in Boston.

Our arrival in Boston goes well, we find the Silver line into the city and are soon on our way.  Once at our stop, our options are to walk the 12 minutes to the hotel or wait and catch a subway train that lasts 7 minutes and gets us within a block and a half of the hotel.  It's kind of a no-brainer and we opt to walk.  Well --- we are not exactly dressed for the weather and it is 16 degrees out.  We are dressed for a flight.  We find our gloves and set out using our phones as GPS guides since we have come up out of the station at a street that wasn't on our list.  My phone just plain old won't follow us as we walk and so we switch to Bob's phone and it takes us on a merry walk through some interesting parts of town including Chinatown at 1:00 in the morning.  Oh goodness.  We are freezing and this is just not a great start to our trip.  Finally, I spot some "you are here" maps on the street and we get our bearings and locate the hotel.  Two walking ice cubes check in and I discover that my room was booked incorrectly and that it only has one bed.  What??  Within moments, they switch our room and we are soon dumping our backpacks and climbing into warm beds.  Bob's fingers are finally starting to thaw out.  I'm thinking he thinks his aunt is a nutcase and that this is going to be one very long trip.  We crawl into bed and neither of us are tired after our 30 minute walk so we talk until around 2:30 before crashing.  Oh --- the hotel room is nice - nothing special, but nice.

Ohio State Marching Band

I had received information on the neighborhood Facebook group that the Ohio State Marching Band would be at a local school to practice this morning.  They are getting ready for the big game tomorrow.  I called Jen when I found out to let Bekah know it was happening and told them to let me know if they were going to make it.  When I was driving back from taking Rhiana and the girls to the airport this morning, Jen sent me a text saying they were on their way.  I returned home and relaxed for a bit before sneaking out the door to go and meet them, thus letting Mister get a little more sleep.

It is a very cold morning, but still fun.  Obviously Bekah wouldn't get in a picture -- what's new?

After the rehearsal, Jen, Jon, and Bekah headed off to Temple for the day with the grands spending time with friends and Jen having a much needed spa day.  I'm kinda jealous.  

Mister called while I was at the practice and we decided to go and get some coffee and enjoy the morning together.  All in all --- busy morning, but fun.

Elena and Malea Visit -- Days 12 & 13 and Saying Good-bye

9th - Where is the time going?  We only have these lovelies for a couple more days.  Oh my and there are still so many things we want to do.  One of the requests that Elena had when she first arrived was to sew a skirt.  I get the fabric washed first thing so that she can cut out her skirt today and start sewing.  To appease Malea --- a new toy!!  As soon as Elena has her fabric cut, she starts ironing in her hem and casing for the elastic at the waist.  Then to the sewing machine to put both of those and the back seam in place.

Elena and Malea Visit -- Days 10 & 11

7th -  Grandpa is working from home today and has set up shop in the living room.  We must be quiet little angels during the conference calls and it is still blessed cold outside.  That's okay though as we have some fun things to do today but right now my tummy is growling and Malea is definitely interested in some breakfast.  What shall we make?  Fruit salad - yummy yummy.

Elena and Malea Visit -- Days 8 & 9

5th - It is still oh so cold out.  I am so sad that the weather is not cooperating with the girls stay.  They didn't bring warm coats and stuff so it is hard to be out when it is freezing.  Drat.  I guess it's time for another craft and some games.  We will enjoy the day no matter what.  I gave Elena a modeling magic gift for Christmas and this is as good a time as any to make it.  She has to push the different colors into the spaces and make them fill the area.  It takes most of the morning but her finished product is amazing when we flip it over.  So pretty, yes?

Elena and Malea Visit -- Days 6 & 7

If you are wondering where days 3, 4, and 5 went ---well the girls were with Aunt Jenny in Abilene while Gammy had quilt school and I don't have any pictures of that time.  Yep --- you read that right.

3rd -  Today is Saturday and it is the last day of quilt school for more.  The girls are spending the day with Grandpa and after I get finished, I drive home to pick everyone up for a night at Jason and Tina's where the girls meet a new playmate and spend the evening enjoying some social time.  I think Grandpa must have misplaced his camera all day today for I cannot find a single picture of their day together.

Dinner at Jason's

Yes!  After my class today, I drove home to pick up Mister and the girls (Elena and Malea) for some fun with friends.  We have been invited over to Jason and Tina's for dinner and we love these moments.

Upon arriving, we discover that there is another little girl for my treasures to play with and that makes everything run so much easier.  Tina has prepared a wonderful meal as usual with some help from another of her friends.  We are blessed to have a great meal, fantastic conversation, and memories once again made together.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of my amazing family and friends.  I hope that we get to have special moments together in 2015 that will be treasured always.  Be good to one another.