Five Year Anniversary

Here we are.

April 8.

Five years ago we surrounded Doug and prayed over him. We prayed that he could breathe. He was struggling so badly. We prayed that God’s will would be done.  We cried. We loved on him. I went to bed after midnight and at 1:28am God took him home.

It still seems unreal! Sometimes it seems like it was yesterday and other times it feels like a lifetime!

I was fortunate to call him brother.  We had a very special relationship. He made me laugh! I cried and prayed over him when he was making poor life decisions! I am so thankful for those special people who prayed fiercely for Doug. People besides my parents.

Cyndy Morris, you are one of those people. Who were our “Virginia mom” and I know you spent hours on your knees praying for Doug’s salvation. I love you!

I am forever grateful to Rob and Amy Reardon. You were pastors who took Doug under your wing. You invited him to Sunday school and coffee. You watched him change into the God loving man he became.

There are many more but these special people come to my mind. Because of the prayers and  actions of God’s people I am confident that Doug resides in heaven with the Father and that is the only thing that eases the pain.

#lifewithluger is sweet

He is crazy..most of the time. Anxious. Bossy. Vocal.

Then there are these moments.

Happy birthday!

Today you would’ve turned 48 years old.

2019 also will mark the five year anniversary of you going to heaven! How can that be?! I wonder what your days look like in heaven. I can’t even imagine.

You are so loved Doug! Your fun loving spirit was so infectious…even as a little boy! You were the best brother that God could’ve given to me.

Love you and miss you so much!

#lifewithluger has new challenges

If you know us at all you will know that we care deeply for our animals. We would do anything and everything we could to give them the best care. They are a part of our family! They infiltrate our hearts and our homes and become a significant part of the family unit.

Granted I am a lot older than I was when Osa was this young but Luger and Osa are polar opposites! He is a boy...she was a girl. He likes to go to day care and dog parks...she hated every dog that she saw. He is crazy and has an extreme amount of drive and energy...she was sweet, calm and affectionate. He is toy driven...she was food driven. Having said that, these two animals have been our family.

Because Luger is so toy driven and absolutely loves the Kong Wubba toys, he can be quite obsessive. He doesn't know when to stop. Because he doesn't always eat his food regularly, (our philosophy is he will eat when he is hungry) toy time is the reward for eating all of his food. 

The morning of June 19 he only had a few kernels left, we encouraged him so he could get his toy. Did I say he is obsessive with this toy? He is an amazing catcher and is a great goalie but this particular day I threw the toy up in the air. He jumped so high and landed on his backside. He got up and wouldn't put any weight on his hind leg. We took him to our vet and they referred him to Northlake Veterinary Surgery. They took an x-ray and Luger tore his ligament. 

So now he is in a custom splint waiting for the swelling to go down and hopefully have ligament reconstruction surgery Monday. He will be immobile for 8-10 more weeks. After that we will be put on a walking regimen. 

It is really difficult to slow this dog down (medication helps 😊) but he is adjusting pretty well to the splint. He sometimes goes on three legs.

We are praying for a successful surgery and recovery! I am confident in Dr. Coleman and his hospital staff. We have heard so many good outcomes from other clients while sitting in the waiting room.

So #lifewithluger has new challenges but we are managing! Thank you for your prayers and your "sweet" get well gifts Aunt Cyndy Morris.

Notre-Dame Cathedral and Sacré-Cœur

I was looking through the photos on my phone the other day and came across this one of Notre-Dame. It is one of Bernie's favorite spots in Paris. I was reminded of the time we spent touring around Paris a few years ago.

One of my favorites to photograph the first time we went to Paris was the Sacré-Cœur. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris. 

Great memories. Can't wait for our next adventure. :)

All photos were taken by me, laurajdake

Peace is a journey...

Today marks four years when Doug entered heaven. How can that be? Time moves so fast. 

I was recounting the journey to a friend today (thank you Jan.) n the last week of Doug’s life we prayed for peace and calm. I was not at peace...not one bit! I dare say I was probably a bit angry! Seeing the suffering that took place was unbearable! 

I get so emotional when I hear songs that talk about approaching the throne of God like “And Can it Be” because my mind tries to imagine what that experience was like for Doug. Music is so powerful.

Four years is a long time but it also seems like yesterday.

I wish every day that Doug didn’t have to leave this temporary home so soon. He is missed by everyone who loved him. He was a very special man!

Peace is a journey and I take one day at a time. Some days are just hard and some are filled with wonderful memories that make me smile. 

Thank you for being on this journey with me, reading my ramblings and for the encouraging words that you have shared with me. It means more than you know. 

Happy Birthday to me!

I celebrated a BIG birthday last week. Bernie and I spent it in Biloxi and NOLA. Here is our trip through my lens.

Biloxi, MS | Back Bay of Biloxi 

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New Orleans, LA | Sites around NOLA

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Food around NOLA. The Famous Cafe Du Monde and a really cool restaurant called Meauxbar in Vieux Carré. I had scallops with a squash gratin. Yum! Is was a great birthday dinner! 

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Art | Cafe Du Monde and Armstrong Park

Christmas Mug Sister Exchange

My friend Lily, picked 20 women that she cares about and intentionally prayed for each week. A sisterhood, if you will. 

She thought - who doesn’t love to receive packages at their door for Christmas. So she prayed for each of us and paired us up. We would receive a coffee mug from someone and also send a little love and encouragement. A simple connection between sisters. 

So this morning while enjoying my cup of coffee, I prayed for Lily who arranged this simple gift exchange. A person who loves Jesus and who prays for her friends. I prayed for Jenny Alarcón, my sister who I was paired up with and pray for. I also prayed for Alexa Ponceano who sent me this beautiful mug. 

We don’t really know each other but we belong to the family of God so that makes us sisters. 

“Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:3‭ MSG‬‬

#christmasmugsisterexchange2017

Another year...another anniversary

Here we are. Another year has passed. Let’s be honest, this year has flown by! Year after year time moves at warp speed.

January 19 was the day my brother was born.  I wish that I was throwing a big party for him. Making him his favorite foods. Celebrating him!

The last birthday we celebrated was four years ago. He went off chemo that month because it wasn’t doing it’s job. It’s one job was to shrink the tumor instead it was sucking the life out of Doug. 

Doug relied on his faith and in the journey that God had for him. I think we knew what that journey may look like we but prayed fervently that a miracle would take place. 

So here I am, four years later still trying to understand why. Why Doug? Why our family? I guess I won’t know this side of heaven. 

Today will always be your day! You would be 47 years old today. I will always celebrate you and what you meant to me. Today you celebrate in heaven and I can’t even imagine!

I will love you always! Happy birthday kid! 

Friendship

The last 12 years I have developed a friendship with Carla and Sunshine that is binding for a lifetime. It’s more than friendship really, we are sisters. Even though many miles separate Sunshine and I from Carla, when we get together it’s like we haven’t been apart.

This kind of friendship is special. It takes time. Our schedules are busy and we all have different jobs and family dynamics but we communicate, build each other up and hold each other accountable!

I am so very grateful that these two ladies (and their families) are in my life. 

Here’s to 2018 and all the new adventures!

photo credit: Coda Meeks