Shine on...

Sorry....I know I haven't posted for a month now.
You may remember the story of my SIL Amy who was (yes, "was") struggling with cancer.
I'm sorry to say that she lost that battle mid month.

What I would like to say is that she displayed strength and grace throughout the whole process. This strong woman worked as long as she could as the church pastor in Edgartown....staying there long enough to make sure that all ends were tied up and everyone on the right track.
Her final sermon (here) was something I know I'll never forget.

By the time she got on the ferry and returned here to her family, we didn't know it, but she only had about a week left.
During this time, even as she grew weaker, she made the time to see as many family & friends as she could, knowing that they had been waiting for her return.
I am happy to say that during this time she was always surround by her family and all the love we could give.
In her final days, we, as the closest family, would stay at my MIL's home where she was and sit with her throughout.

We've now moved on....or are still trying very hard...to continue with  where we were. Some days it's hard to remember exactly where that was. Every time a beloved family member leaves us it changes everything. Your mind seems to be in a million different places all at once...and then nowhere at all.
Many times a day, things that never would have triggered a special thought before, now have an all too emotional twist to them.

I am now trying....not very well it seems....to find my muse and continue on with my art. Seems it's more difficult than I thought. While I know that in time I will get there....I thought that maybe, if I just wrote a few words here, it would help to focus again.

Thank you for all your patience and understanding. Many of you out there have reached out in one way or another. Again..."thank you".
Hug someone you love!!
Shine on, Amy!!!

2016 - Changes

Sometimes things don't go quite as expected when welcoming in the New Year.
Original plans were to stoke the fireplace, make munchies, and open a bottle of champagne.
Instead...we were off to the hospital for my sister-in-law who ended up in Boston undergoing unexpected brain surgery!!!
My husband stayed the night at the hospital and we wished each other a "happy new year" at midnight over the phone.

Amy had done battle with two previous rounds of breast cancer and we were all under the impression that she'd won and had moved on. The cancer, however, ended up going to her brain...and what we would later find out...her liver as well.

My lovely sister-in-law is the new pastor at a church in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard. I posted about her earlier this year. All the lovely new parishioners at her church are rallying around her....bringing her meals and offers of transportation wherever need be....not to mention tending to her young dog. I send loads of (((Hugs))) and "thank you"s to them!!!

She is a strong woman with much faith and determination!! While we all know there is a long and rocky road ahead for her to maintain as normal a lifestyle as possible...she has strength coming from many directions.
She is out of the hospital and back on the island and doing her best already to be of service. I admire her determination and I believe we'll all learn a thing or two about faith as well as grace in these difficult times just by watching this lady.
Please feel free to send an extra blessing or prayer for Amy.
Any and all are most welcome.

Prayers will also be said for all of you as well...to have a smooth and healthy 2016!
 

Vineyard light

Using a photo I'd taken in Martha's Vineyard, I just finished my latest Torn Paper Painting.
I've included a close up of the lighthouse to see some of the text that has been incorporated. There are some other little surprises throughout....but I'll leave those for the folks who see it personally! :)

Vineyard weekend

A couple of weekends ago we went to Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard for a little weekend trip of yacht racing (hubby) and shopping (me).

After a month of what seemed like continous rain, we finally got lucky and had really lovely weather.

We stayed the weekend in the apartment over the garage of the client my husband was racing with. What a lovely place it was. Hardly what one would expect of a garage...complete with balcony! And what an awesome use of space. The one large cabinet...turned out to actually be a queen sized murphy bed.

One of the days that I had to myself I went to the Featherstone Art Center. What a great place. The grounds there were just amazing and in walking around you run into the most delightful whimsical outdoor art!

I usually end up on the island at least once every summer...so this is one place I'm glad to have found and will be sure to visit again.