Family.

Today is the end of Day 3 of sitting by my Dad's bed in ICU/CCU. I wash his face, I help him walk, I move him into more comfortable positions, I make sure the nurses are giving him the the best care, etc. Mom also does all of this and more. Tonight, I am alone in caring for him, as my Mom finally went home to bathe and sleep. And I am filled with varied emotions.

I feel slightly scared ... as I sometimes feel helpless in meeting his needs. I feel joy ... that Dad is alive and making progress. I feel fortunate that I am not crying over the loss of my Daddy ... like the girl in the waiting room. I also feel terribly sad for that girl in the waiting room. I feel closer to my Mom and Brother ... as we are all in this together. I feel a bit overwhelmed at what the future of Dad's care will be ... and whether I am up to the task.

But mostly, I feel like family ... no matter its dysfunctions ... is so incredibly important. I have done things for Dad this week that I never would have believed I could stomach. But he is my Daddy ... and that makes all the difference. And sometimes we need to forgive one another for all our trespasses (both past & present) because the love that we share as family is so much more than our petty differences. And when the "sh*t hits the the fan" ,,, more often than not, they are the ones who come to our rescue.

Anyway - I am so exhausted right now, so I have no idea if I am making any sense. Just speaking from the heart I guess.

Sorry for all the delayed posts. I will begin posting regularly again soon. I have a bunch of great ideas coming up ... just need to get Daddy home first.

Love to you all.
~ Jodi

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Enjoying Moosepoint State Park ... again and again.

Our favorite spot in Maine. On a gorgeous day. Loving every minute.




We'll be back ... as always.

Hoping that you all are enjoying your favorite spots,

Jodi

P.S. Several more photos of this outing can be seen here.

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Annual Strawberry Picking.

Call me crazy, but I have started a free summer day camp in my home for the kids in my life. It's not like I don't have enough to do this summer (namely, sell my old house) ... but in truth, I am so looking forward to having these little balls of energy, laughter and curiosity share some exciting summer projects, crafts and outings with Isaac and me. And "Jodi Camp" (as my niece calls it) starts tomorrow.

In preparation for the big "opening day", Isaac, Daddy and I went strawberry picking --- because my first camp day will focus on strawberries and all their wonderful uses. We will cook with them, make juice with them and even create a strawberry paint concoction for painting some gorgeous artwork :)

In Maine, strawberry picking is an annual ritual for most families, and that is true for us as well. After fiddleheads, strawberries are the first crop of summer. That is a big deal in a state where our growing season is so limited. Mainers seem to relish every single rite of each season ... hoping to savor every moment ... as everything is so temporary ... so fleeting. I don't remember that kind of living when we grew up in Southern NH. I think we took more for granted when we lived life "in the fast lane". Here, we have learned to appreciate every nuance of the seasons ... participating in them as fully as possible. I am so thankful for that kind of living ... participating in the seasonal rituals that celebrate our connections to the earth ... and to each other.

So, in a nutshell, we picked strawberries ... it felt good ... tasted great ... and tomorrow we will savor them in every possible way. Stay tuned for the results :)

Love,

Jodi

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Beach Days Are Here Again.

Hopefully, there are many beach days in our future. I wish some for you all as well :)

Have a great weekend,
Jodi

P.S. Photos taken in Lincolnville, Maine. One of our fave spots.

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Feeling Better.

Hi all. I hope you are well.

We have all been "under the weather" here which is why I have failed to post recently. But lots of rest ... and some refreshing outdoor walks ... has restored us to better health. Now I have that feeling that comes after having been "laid up" for awhile. You know that feeling where you just want to do everything all at once because you haven't done anything in so long. I want to start a billion new projects, get all the laundry done, go to the movies, clean the house top to bottom, etc...

But first, I need to tie up some loose ends ... like, finishing the projects I have already started. And I did a little of that last night. So, some of you may want to check out my Etsy shop to see a few new items that I have posted (I think a couple items have already sold). And if you have placed a special order, I promise to get those done asap as well.

And now I leave you to go work on some of those previously mentioned projects ... but not before I share a few photos from some of our recent outdoor excursions ... Enjoy.

Daddy and Isaac posing by our house.

One of several neighborhood squirrels that we scout for during each walk.

Isaac and Daddy enjoying a super-fast sled ride down our driveway.

There is nothing quite like the cold, crisp, refreshing air of a Maine winter to cleanse the body and renew the spirit. Have a fun day!

Love,

Jodi

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Daddy - the Hockey Hero.

Isaac LOVES to watch his "Daddy play friends, Momma".

Daddy looking so manly in his hockey gear. Well, at least Momma thinks so :)

Daddy working hard.

It is lonely in the stands at 9:30 pm!

Daddy hopes that Isaac follows in his footsteps. Mommy is "begging Jesus" that he does not.
I think ballet or chess club are better choices.

Love, Jodi

P.S. My parents are doing fine. We have made much progress with insurances, the demolition of the house, the salvaging of items, etc. All will be well. Thank you for the well wishes and support!

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