I think this will be the strangest post I have ever written.

Hide yo kids.
Hide yo wife.

It is going to be strange because I am going to tell you some strange happenings that I don't generally
believe in. I don't believe in horoscopes. I don't believe in ghosts. I don't believe in speaking with the dead.
I stay very clear of anything occultish.

I do believe in angels tho.
I'm not sure how much interaction we have with them...but the Bible says there are angels so I believe it is true.

Lately, I have been smelling smoke.
My husband smokes outside in our garage. He never smokes in the house.
But the strange thing is I will smell smoke in the middle of the day or night,
when he not smoking and sometimes not even at home.

I smell it when the furnace is not on. So I don't think fumes are blowing from somewhere.
I asked him if he had been smoking in the basement and he says absolutely not.

So. Where is the smoke coming from? It could be my mom and dad.
Now, I know this is unusual but my sister Janice told a story a few years ago of a time in her life when
she was going thru a particularly difficult time. She smelled smoke. After months of trying to figure it out,
she surmised that the smoke was mom and dad coming along side her to give her so support.
After Janice's life turned a corner...the smoke was gone.

So just last night I posted to Janice that I thought mom and dad were visiting me.
She wondered if I was finding dimes? No. I'm not sure about the dimes but I told her I would keep a watch for them.

But something else happened and I didn't realize it until this morning on the way to school with Katie.

I told Katie that I heard an owl hoo, hoo, hooing when I went to bed.
She giggled at my hoo, hoo, hooing.

I then called out the owl call "who, who, who cooks for you."
And instantly I knew that the owl had been sent to me by Sue.

Susie was the owl whisperer.
Keith told me the story of he and Sue sitting on their deck in Missouri and Sue calling out to the owls,

"Who, Who, Who cooks for You?

And just like that, a big owl flew down from the trees, landed on the railing of their deck and turned it's head right around
and looked at Sue and Keith. She was the owl whisperer.


I am sad that I didn't call out my bedroom window after that owl last night and that I didn't realize it until this morning.
(I have only heard an owl perhaps three times at this house)

It's all a little psychic hotline for me.

I do believe there is a lot going on that we don't see.

Could it be their spirits coming to comfort me?
Warn me? (ew)
Just coming to visit?
Enjoying Dances with the Stars with me?




I think I need to ask God to make them go away if they are not friendly spirits.
I don't feel a sense of dread which is a good thing. I just feel curious, confused and slightly
nutty. I do not find it comforting. I just don't know.





Amy Grant says the angels are watching over me and on that,
I rest my case :o)










What do you think of this sort of thing happening?
Be nice to me. I'm fragile.


Encourage one another,
Donna

On Sunday Keith wanted to take us out to see the Bur Oak.
It was magnificent.


More info on the bur oak



This one is for Keith. He requested a little sun-flare in the branches...I was happy to oblige.




Four Sevenths :o)




We missed you Jeff! Glad you are home now.









We love making memories with our families.
Just a short drive to somewhere special adds to the fun and interest.

I have never been more thankful to be a photographer than I am right now.

And remember to get yourself in those pictures.

Even if you are a big fat goon!!!



My husband assures me that...YES....
I do act like this.

Unbeknownst to me....I am very animated, and not just in front of the camera.

Oh my.

Oh my.


How can a person get to 52 with so little self awareness???



Thank you all for the wonderful prayers and encouragement in the comments.
I'm not sure if Suzy had a chance to read them yet...
but she says she 'feels the love'....

And that's pretty wonderful.


Encourage one another. Mean it.

Donna

p.s. notice anything different?
I aim to please ;o)

Mean It.


Susie's story to tell.

I hesitated on sharing Sue's story because it is her story.
She shared what is going on in the comments over the weekend.

If you didn't have a chance to see her comments, they are still there so you can read her own words about
what has been happening.

I have decided that I will talk about what she has shared.
Sue says she has a brain defect. It is actually a brain tumor.
She is off of school now and will get treatment soon.

She says she doesn't have pain. Just a headache from time to time
and she has had trouble sleeping. We are all so thankful that she is feeling well.

Her friends are bringing meals, her sibs and long time friends are coming to visit and her children have all come home
to be with their mom! She is so beloved.

She says in the comments. "Love you. Mean it."

And well, we have made that our little slogan now.


We do mean it. We have always meant it.

We will continue to mean it.





Sue gets lots of phone calls and texts.
She is a very popular girl.



She also gets lots of love.
Her hair is not usually parted on this side and it looks odd to Sue. But this is where the biopsy staples are, so that's why
it's parted this way.

Her staples come out on Wednesday so she can properly part her hair then :o)



Janet and Sue as bokeh. We are all about the bokeh in our fam.



Janet has decided to wear the blue sweater more often...her eyes look so pretty and BLUE,
She must be adopted.



Sue's husband Keith is a man among men.
He adores his Sugar. Always has.
We love Keith. There is nothing a sister wants more than knowing her sister is loved.



Sue's friend from work stopped by. Patrick thinks she looks just like Diane Keaton.

And speaking of Patrick. He is a man among men too...he did such a good job taking care of Katie.
Love you honey.



Cindy lives in Columbia also. She is Sue's best buddy and Keith's right hand man.
Cindy is there. She is on top of things and tireless.
Well, kind of tireless. The girl has energy but she is not sleeping the best so she could use
prayer for rest and comfort and strength.



Cindy is amazing.

Now we just have to stop her from tattooing "Mean it" on her bo-ttom.



*****



I'll stop here for now.

I took wonderful pictures of Sue's twins and their respective honey's
and fun pictures of the big Burr Oak on the river bottom which I'll post tomorrow.


We would love prayer for Sue and her family.
Please.



I asked Cindy this morning if it was alright to post this blog post and
she said,

"Sure! You have a very loving following! They will be grateful for the
info and will pray and support with a vengeance!!"

She is so right.
You guys have a sweet reputation.

Thank you!


Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. Sue says, "Sometimes there are just not enough brownies."