This is the Frog Creek Lodge where we met. It is enormous, full of bedrooms and light, a great big kitchen with modern appliances and on a peninsula near the water in Washington state. There is a labyrinth nearby that I had all to myself one morning. I found a wide peace at this place and a connection to something in myself that is strong and enduring.
Jen Goff is the woman on the left and she organized this event for Liz who is soaking her feet in a warm bath of lavendar water and herbs while being strewn with rose petals. Close your eyes for one moment and take a deep breath and change places with Liz. Go ahead. You deserve it. You are beloved too. Feel the warm foot bath and inhale the mingled fragrances of the flowers. The universe loves you. (some would say God. Either way.)
Here we are. Friends of dear Liz, wishing her safety, joy, blessings and strength for the journey ahead. We will keep you safely in our hearts and help you in any way we can.
Nature will encourage you too, and show you the way.
This is my new painting from Stephanie Lee. We were scraping a recycled canvas in Katie's studio when she started noodling away with a paint brush and before I knew it this was leaning against a wall. Then she said I could have it. Okay, maybe I did beg a little, not that it was necessary. She is all that and generous too. Wow. It's hanging in my living room now, glowing like a prayer.
We have baby goats.
Fresh eggs from our dear friend Shannon
More baby goat.
Went to my eye doctor yesterday and got the all clear on my previously torn retina. Oh, once again I am a lucky woman, a cat with nine lives, little Miss Smartypants. John and I breathed a sigh of relief and drove around the corner to this taqueria where we felt 18 years old again and celebrated.
Passion Fruit and tacos. Life is good indeed.
Journal page. Some real good recipes there. mmmmm
This is the last face I painted in my face book before I took the book apart to send to the quilt ladies.
Another journal page.
A week from today is my surgery. (ha ha. I just typed survey. can I do a survey instead?)
I am uplifted by many hands. I am an old gal and have surely had my share but naturally I want more. This may or may not be the last post before next Tuesday. You know me, it's hard to keep quiet for long. I go in Monday for some procedure where they poke something in my vein in the groin and send up some iodine for a look see and then do an embolism to some veins going into the tumor and blah blah blah. It sounds like something I'd rather not be involved in but I am.
Okay, what is, is. Make art and talk back. Love yourself and each other. xo
35 comments:
Thank you for sharing your lovely experiences with such wonderful photos and paintings... It was like unpacking someone else's suitcase with lots of goodies inside..
Some beautiful photos here Judy and what a fabulous experience for all of you to spend some great time together, how I would have loved to be there. I've been at the birth of three of my grand children and it's still sends a thrill through my spine thinking about it.
I'm sending you lots of energy for your upcoming operation, please take care and look after yourself.xo
You are amazing, Miss Smartypants. I just felt BIG love and cleansing deep breaths as I read what you have shared here. Life is so good and you live it so well. You have a huge cushion of love around you as you journey over whatever bumps are in the road. You have earned every ounce of that. How wonderful...I am grateful for that today too.
Catching your love wave and adding it to my own and sending it back out again.
Thinking of you and holding you close with lots of good, healthy thoughts!
Ahhhhhhhh, the soulful art that you make and the wonderful life you live-surrounded by so many who love you.
Be well.
Sending many warm and cozy thoughts your way. Praying the surgery goes quickly and well ... thanks for sharing the foot bath and rose petals. So nice.
Sending you lots of healing thoughts for a quick surgery and easy recovery.
Thank you for sharing this loving journey with us. Wishing you the best!
PS Can I just say I certainly dont think of you as an old gal... a cool one yes!
wow, judy you are a treasure to be included in some wonderful ladies we are all pulling for you for the next week and the days that come after - healthful thoughts for you
ok, ms. smartypants! be as calm as possible given the circumstance and know that we are all thinking good, warm, comfortable thoughts for you. positive thoughts only! lyle
Be safe.
always a place to come where your generous heart shines so brightly and your arms wrap around your readers. i love the photos, each and every one (i need me an iphone!), liz being caressed by rose petals and pampered by jen, that group of amazing and beautiful women i feel so blessed to have been a part of, a sentinel from the labyrinth, those new spring baby goats, and that photo of you and i with misty - how did you make us look like 30 somethings!!??
i can hardly wait untill our next adventure, not too far off, party and paint, party and paint, col-lab-or-ate! i'll even make myself watch the GaGa lady with you all this time.
the world pulses and shines with hearts brimming with love and care for you, dear miss smartypants, and our love will follow you in through your surgery and be there for your recovery to health and ultra smartypantness again.
xoxx
Oh what a way to celebrate.....I would have had a margarita...a double.
You have so much wonderful positive healing energy coming your way, but I am sending you my special east coast version. I wish a real hug could be included. Someday soon.
i have one question. will the baby goats fit in the boat? if you all pile out then reconnoiter i think it will work.
saddling up my steed and heading your way. let's go on a moonlight ride baby.
Wishing you well......
Love you Judy. We've never met but you inspire me to be the person I want to be.
Anne Marie
Orlando, FL
So good to love and be loved... will hold you in my thoughts and prayers... Deb
WOW, you are a total inspiration. I want to be you when I grow up.
Thank you for letting us live a bit through your experience. Wonderful! I LOVE your blog and pages!
I'll be holding you in my heart as you approach the operation. Thank you so much for sharing your contemplative, profound words and images.
So sweet.
Dear Judy,
I've been thinking and thinking of you. Thanks for sharing all of these days so wide open. You are always the teacher, and it's of course not just about wax or paint etc. You are dazzlingly JUDY/Miss Smartypants/Precious YOU. You are the exquisite lesson. If I were right there with you, I would take your hand and tell you that you will be fine. Not making it up. And this is coming from Worst Scenario Woman, so take it as a serious blessing. I've been on that boat you sketched. Thank you for its description with such tenderness and love. Before you go in to surgery, ask the surgeon to say a little prayer before he begins. Big love and healing, xxxxxxxx oooooo Patsy
it is nice to have both : pictures and journal pages, it gives a good sense of perception of the atmosphere
Wonderful friends, wonderful journal pages, wonderful photos...thanks for sharing it all with us Judy.
The painting by Steph is beautiful, how lovely to have it hanging in your home.
I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers and sending lots of positive healing energy your way.
Take care.
Jacky xox
Judy Wise, I love you!
Thank you for always saying what you want to say & reminding me to live life. You're the best.
Happy days,
Joanie
Blue butterfly healing love for next week... back to your art and friends and goats Miss Smartypants. Joan T
I will be thinking of you on Tuesday and will lite a healing candle and send healing thoughts your way.
Just look at all the love here, Judy...reading the comments before mine, you have such strong, positive energy pointed in your direction. So with my comment, just a little more of that healing energy in preparation for next week. Procedures suck, plain and simple...but going in to it with your attitude will make it that much easier. I had that same groin poke w/a trailing something or another all the way to my heart this past December to zap a defect I inherited from my mom..hopefully my last procedure for the year...and thank you for all the pictures and posts from last week, peering in to your time w/Misty, Jen and Katie warmed my heart just that much more...xo
Take a deep breath & repeat after me..."I am the Poster Girl of Paraganglioma Repair"... Remain calm, remain positive...relax and talk lovingly to your precious arteries...visualize the perfect outcome... Miss Smartypants will sail thru this in all her splendid, creative glory! Tons of love, prayers, healing energy headed your direction... deb/debbie/debra
All the best. --Keet from Philadelphia
Love the pictures, love the pages and love you and all that you are. Positive energies and prayers sent to you :) I know all will be well.
Judy,
I've remained silent through all your trauma, but have thought of you often with pleas of prayer for the best outcomes. I'll continue to do that, and know that I am thinking of you!
how i adore you. i have my candle ready to light for you (and your surgeon) next week.
you are light and love my friend.
(thank you)
xoxoxo
So much wondrous living...it's wonderful to witness through your images, art journal pages and words.
XOXOrly
You made me smile on this grey morning with your photo's of loving women and beautiful art pages to look at... I wish you good luck on the surgery and hope to see you soon again!
You are, in every moment, walking around in my thoughts as if my mind were the labyrinth. I hold you in my heart and see big light and love within and around you.
That's all I should say.
ox
HUGS and best wishes for a great "survey." You're on my mind and in my heart...
ok I want the baby goat - I need the baby goat - the baby goat is beyond cute. I actually had a baby goat when I was little named Peppy that we had for many years but when we first got her we kept her in the house until she was big enough to go to the barn. On another note - how blessed you are to have such wonderful and loving friends. Sometimes I think we have to go though personal challenges (i.e surgeries ) to be reminded of how blessed we are and obviously you truly are. Prayers sent your way for healing ~
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