Life On Willie Mae Lane: On the River

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Today....I Will Choose Joy

Hello friends....it's been a week since I've had time to post. I've enjoyed reading your blogs this week and am trying to get caught up on responding to comments. I'm sorry I get behind on that sometimes. Your sweet comments always bring a smile to my face. I don't want this post to be a downer...but I feel that I must share some events that have gone on around me recently that have had me down. I know many of you are prayer warriors and prayer is definitely needed in my little area of the world right now. My hubby and I rode down to the river this afternoon to see how high it had gotten and to restore some peace to my soul. The water does that like nothing else for me.

So...enjoy these pictures as I share some things with you.

The ramp that is sticking up is normally slanting down a few feet.

In the past week, my husband's co-worker lost her young sister-in-law to a brain aneurysm, one of my co-workers dad was admitted back into the hospital because his bowels won't wake back up after his bladder cancer surgery when they removed his bladder. They are not sure what they are going to do for him yet. Another former co-worker lost her father. A friend lost her 36 year old daughter and 8 year old granddaughter in a car accident. The little girl was not killed instantly but due to many injuries and lack of brain functioning, she passed away a day later. They leave behind a husband/father and younger daughter/sister. This same family buried a baby last year that had many complications after birth. I also found out yesterday that one of my nearest and dearest friends is about to go through a divorce. My heart hurts so badly for her and I pray that happiness and joy will return to her life in time.

So....all of this on top of a really stressful week at work has been just about more that my heart car stand. I feel so helpless. I want to fix things and I can't...

I do have a few bits of good news as well. First is that my friend Heather is tolerating her chemotherapy very well now (other than it making her sick) and she is doing as well as can be expected due to her condition. My little group of friends is planning to get together and can some veggies and make some jelly this summer. I have always wanted to do this and have never made the time.

This year....I'm making the time.

Joey and Sadie on the floating dock. Sadie wasn't too sure about the new sights and smells...:)

Another bit of good news...my daddy went to his skin cancer doctor and his skin graft is doing well where they did plastic surgery on his nose after his cancer removal. I am so thankful they were able to get it all and patch it up afterwards.

Answered prayers...:)

My son's friend had a healthy baby girl this week. So sweet...:)

I had a fun morning out with m sister and nieces yesterday prom dress shopping. She found a pretty dress and is ready for prom!

I enjoyed a sweet evening with my bestie yesterday. It was nice catching up and talking. We haven't done that in a long time and I realize how much I miss it. If you're reading this Jeana...I love you and am always here for you. My sister joined us for a while later in the evening and we all had a good visit. Looking forward to celebrating Jeana's birthday on Friday night. It was this past week but Heather wasn't up to celebrating after her chemo treatment. The week after is pretty rough on her...so we are all getting together Friday night for a nice dinner out.

Just like this beautiful river....life is full of ebbs and flows.

We are at their mercy and they can't be stopped...you just have to ride it out and pray for peace and understanding along the way.

The river like our lives, can not only be beautiful in and of itself, but also in what it reflects. We can choose to reflect the things of this life that are positive and good or we can choose the negative or bad things that happen and reflect that. I myself try to always reflect the good things. I try to stay positive and surround myself with positive people. Does this make sense?

So....while I have been sad this week and truly aching for so many, I am still trying to remain positive. I am praying for so many and will continue to do so.

I still enjoy the beauty of this life.

There is always something beautiful...if we just take the time to see.

I don't want to let life pass me by. The older I get the more I want to truly live and live an authentic life. Do for others and do what makes me truly happy. Taking pictures of God's beautiful creations makes me happy. I hope you enjoyed them as well.