Bountiful Harvest

....and the very next day......these gardens are incredible, absolutely amazing!

Bountiful, Bountiful!

Hospitality

I was a bit tired from a couple of days preparing for the concert, so I slept in this morning.  A few weeks back we had committed to a luncheon at Mrs. June Bauer's home.  We knew it was the day after the concert, but we were hoping it would be a good time for Heath since he has started pea harvest.  Turns out he had to go to the elevator this morning, so he was not able to go, so I got to ride with Garry and Barb up to June's ranch.

What a day it was!  Full of hospitality and fellowship.  Dave, June's son, drove us around and showed us the ranch after a lovely lunch complete with homemade rolls and honey!!  Enjoy the journey with us on our drive through these idyllic pictures we captured!

June still lives at home on the ranch!
Bless her and the example she is to all!

June hands out Bibles to everyone once a month
at the Love in Action food pantry.

CELEBRATION of LIFE!

Sharon is Garry's one and only sister.  Today, we celebrated Sharon's life with the family!  She got the nickname "Fuzz" way before I was in the picture.  I am not sure the whole story other than she is also known as "Fuzz" and Garry is also known as "Buzz."  The family gathered around today and we celebrated her life and her love for Jesus.  It was so fun listening to the stories being told and all the memories being shared.  We were blessed to have everyone over for the evening.  It was truly an evening of great fellowship and the building new friendships.

Koreen, Loretta, Barb (a.k.a. Gram)
We picked peas and the ladies helped shell them!

Dave and Durwin
Durwin is sharpening our knives for us! NICE!
(Fresh jalapeño poppers on the counter!)

Tegan
She really enjoyed the kittens!

Nathan and Crystal
Crystal made the jalapeño poppers for everyone!

The men visiting in the parlor!

Joyous, celebration of Fuzz's life as a family! 

Dave, Nathan, and Heath
Nathan enjoyed going out and hunting for our intruder
that keeps killing our animals. The only animals he saw
were the kittens following him.....LOL!!

Nathan, Crystal, and Heath

Another Day on the Farm

One of the older kittens by the wildflowers
Dad gave us.

Briggs, Scarlett, and Mya

Scarlett, Bill and Alicia's Golden Doodle, stayed with us while they went on a mini vacation!  She had a big culture shock I think while she was here.  We enjoyed her visit!

Fresh * Rhubarb

Fresh * Spinach

Family in Town!

Fuzzy and Mama at the Vet

We has a litter of four male kittens who lost their mama.  They were the ones that our neighbors helped us with while I was away at Mayo.  Fuzzy (the only one with a name) was the worst of all of them with the kitty cold.  The vet didn't think he would make it, but gave us an antibiotic and eye cream for all of them and told us to come back in 7-10 days.  We will cross our fingers!

Beauty is ALL around us!

Bill, Alicia, and the kids stopped by on their way home from their visit to South Dakota.  They had a great time!  They even brought Scarlett over to play!

Garry and Barb's 50th Wedding Anniversary

Party day is finally here!  It seems like it has been in the works for such a long time!  So glad that all of the out of town guests made it safe and sound!  On our way out the door, we found our mama kitty in labor.  2 kittens out and more on the way!  I wonder how many she will have!?  Easy birthday to remember!  When I got home last night, I was soooo surprised that she was still pregnant, she looked as if she could pop at any given moment.

*C*E*L*E*B*R*A*T*I*O*N*

Beautiful ~ Bride

Once in a while, in an ordinary life, Love gives us a Fairy Tale.

Day #10: Friday ~ Graduation Day!

GOOD morning with Jesus as I spent time in His Word laying in bed relaxing.  I grabbed my tea and brought it to bed with me.  I didn't want to wake up my mama who was asleep on the couch in the living room.  I told her that we could get her some Dunkin' Donut coffee on the way to my last day (and graduation) from Camp Colon.  She was super excited about this!

Fresh, Fresh, Fresh breakfast!  So blessed!

Mama and I had a great morning and took our time getting ready and then walking to the Clinic, showing her all the cute things I have found along this path.  As promised, I walked us right by Dunkin' Donuts so that we could get her a good coffee.  She really likes that kind!  I actually had my first cup of coffee with my mama today when I ordered a small hazelnut coffee with honey and milk (NOT the same as Mo's and not very good), but fun to share a conversation over coffee while sitting outside at Mayo Clinic.

Arriving early, I showed her around a little bit.  She even played the piano!  It was fun to show her all that Mayo is to make it come to life!  We know so much about it via online, but being here is a whole different experience.  It is an amazing destination medical center!

Another grand piano right outside of the patient cafeteria!

I also walked her around 'the Subway' and she was lured in by yummy smells coming from the Cinnabon cinnamon roll place that I have been drooling over all week.  I haven't allowed myself to indulge and here's why:  they had several sizes and that was the problem.  When eating by yourself, you have to think about the size.  The tiny ones were way too small and had absolutely no middle, the middle sized ones were still too small to have that good ooey gooey inside, and the big one was was just that, waaaay too big for one person....BUT whilst splitting, the BIG one was perfect!  We both got to taste that ooey, gooey center and didn't overeat!  It was wonderful!  So glad we did it!

Time for my last appointment with Ms. Rose!  Such mixed feelings about today!  It seems as though these two weeks went both super fast and super slow.  It's been forever since I have been home with Heath but yet it doesn't feel like I could possible be done with this two week program I had been waiting for for so long.  While waiting, Mama and I noticed our shoes are both very similar!  How fun!

Great minds think alike!

After introducing my mama to Ms. Rose, she handed me some paperwork to fill out.  It was the same questionnaire that she had given me upon my arrival the first day.  After I finished it, she did some calculations and gave me the results.  She said that my numbers definitely show improvements and she is super happy with that and I should be too!  Again, she reiterated that everything we had done in the class, I was able to do.  Everything on my take home, 'home program' she reminded me that I could do and had already done successfully in class.  She warned me of setbacks upon arriving home, but that is totally normal.  Do not get discouraged and don't give up.  It is not an overnight fix but yet a marathon of diligence and sacrifice to complete the 'home program' successfully.  It doesn't end after the three month take home program, but she has given me skills for life and especially after big changes happen in life:  new job, big move, new baby, etc.  She totally recommended for me to purchase the biofeedback meter so that I could retest my muscle tightness at any time.  I got that ordered yesterday and had it shipped to our home in Nebraska.

Mama was super impressed with Rose and we had a great farewell.  Rose gave me her cell phone and asked me to keep in touch.  If I ever had any questions to not hesitate to reach out to her via the Mayo Clinic portal, it is safe and secure and she is very quick to respond.  She told me the only thing left to do to pass Camp Colon was to take my mama to Flapdoodle's for ice cream!  WILL DO on our way out!  Looking forward to it!  THANK YOU for everything Rose!~

My graduation gift from Rose.  A princess pen

complete in rose gold and blue.

LUNCH:  Fresh homemade salad for two
before Flapdoodle's ICE CREAM!!!!

So true!

So, I tried probably 4 different types of ice cream including:

1. S'mores - graham cracker chunks, chocolate, and marshmallow
2. Very Berry Sorbet - fresh fruit (waaay too healthy tasting - like a smoothie for this occasion -- I can make a smoothie when I get home)
3. Pralines and Cream - a traditional favorite
4. Banana Creme Pie - graham cracker crust pieces floating around in it
5. Cookie Monster - complete with pieces of homemade oatmeal raisin cookies

....so maybe I tried 5 -- but whose counting anyway?!  It's a celebration!  Funny part of this story is that I went back to my new Flapdoodle favorite of Birthday Cake ice cream in a dark chocolate dipped waffle cone with sprinkles on top!

Our drive home was absolutely lovely.  We had a beautiful day in front of us with some pretty country to cover between here and there.  We had the best conversations that stemmed from my Mayo experiences.  We worked through the first chapter in my new OCD workbook and dove right into past childhood experiences and things that my have shaped me into the way I am.  It was fun looking back into my childhood from a different angle and having my mama there to remind me of some of the things that I had forgotten.  It was so fragile yet freeing to have this discussion with her.  I AM GRATEFUL!

We made it home in time to visit with Dennis and Koren who are staying with us for Garry and Barb's 50th wedding celebration tomorrow.  BOY WAS IT GOOD TO SEE HEATH and to be in his arms again.  BLESSED!  The dogs greeted me and so did the song of the crickets.  I AM HOME!

Day #3: Wednesday

Those of you who know me know that I really enjoy food - whole, fresh, and simple!  Food and the experiences surrounding food bring me so much joy.  I'm not really sure how to explain it other than I love raising our own produce in our gardens, hunting deer/geese/ducks, raising our girls (chickens), pulling weeds from the garden, harvesting our produce, washing and slicing/dicing, preparing the nutritious meals and decorating and setting the table.  It can just be the two of us and I will set the table as if we are having Christmas dinner.  It is important to me to share this special time with my hubby as we both work full time and this is a time we get to sit and visit, catch up with each other.  

I am like a kid in a candy store when I go to Farmer's Markets or local grocery stores (People's Coop here in MN) with local fresh produce.  I by no means am a gourmet cook, but you know what I'm saying....simple, whole, natural, ingredients - how can it be bad?  Keeping it simple doesn't mean it is tasteless...it's just in it's original form....a tomato = a tomato, an apple = an apple, a steak = a cooked piece of protein.  I get to experiment with fresh and dried herbs, different homemade sauces, honey, ginger, etc.  To me, this is a gratifying experience from getting the food to the table to the moment we sit down to eat and share it together.....all part of the glorious food and fellowship experience.  Eat together, stay together.

My delightful breakfast this morning consisted of the eggs that
our chickens laid, left over quinoa and carrots, roasted
sweet potato, goat cheese, with a freshly
sliced tomato with salt and pepper.
YUM!

ANNNDDDD.... got my lunch packed!  Heath said that I shouldn't be hungry today!

Banana chips and walnut trail mix.
Garbanzo beans and sweet potato.
Mixed salad mix with avocado, peppers, and pumpkin seeds.
Fresh apple.
Cooked old-fashioned oats with a mashed banana and salt.
Cooked zucchini, onions, and peppers.

God's got this!

Two PT appointments today, a nutritionist, and a women's health visit.  Progressing right along in the PT.  Day three she said is just like any type of training, your muscles get fatigued.  Hard to believe when the program is based upon relaxation however, it is work for me since it is all new for my body.  I had a good visit with the nutritionist who just confirmed and hammered a few things home.  I finally found the stairs today and took them up to the 12th floor found out then they ended, so I went back down to the 11th floor to catch the elevator up to the 14th floor, random.  LOL.  Good exercise and excuse to go early.

Beauty is everywhere from their landscaping to their pieces of art on each floor.

Got to read and rest in between appointments.

Noticing the awesome sky above Mayo.

PT session with Rose

PT session with Rose

The PT sessions are nothing like I expected.  They are waaaay better!  Rose and I just get to visiting and before I know it the session is over.  All the while, I am hooked up to this monitor to measure the biofeedback to retrain my muscles and brain to know the difference between tightening and relaxing.  It is actually quite fascinating how it works.  Pretty simple and yet so many ramifications if you aren't doing it naturally.  So glad that we found this program and that it was recommended to us!  On the road to recovery.  When I asked Rose if it'd be weird if she took my picture, she said, "Of course not!"  And so she took it!

So talking about experiences, I would like to share the one at the running store today (yes, I went back).  After PT was done, I headed back to the running store determined to walk out of there wearing my new shoes whichever ones I ended up choosing.  I only had about 45 minutes or so to make a decision and I used every last minute of it!  Ms. Kim pulled out all the favorites from yesterday as she has a great memory....and then I added another one.  One of the ones I had narrowed down from the other store BUT this one was BRIGHT and BEAUTIFUL and not gray therefore better representing my personality.  I put the  Brooks white marshmallow - cloud on one foot and the teal/pink Asics on the other foot.  Oh man, tough choice....both super cushy and comfortable with a great heel cup/no slip, great laces, however, I finally found a difference that set the teal ones apart!  The cushy-ness was a bit higher on the ball of my foot which is where I am trying to do most of my running instead of heal striking first.  And so....I donated my old shoes and walked out of the store with my new BRIGHT and BEAUTIFUL Asics with a BIG ole' smile on my face.  (P.S.  I told you Heath is always right, I was overly thrilled with the results!)

Special Note:  There was an older gentleman in the store trying on walking shoes.  He was fabulous and such a joy!  He helped me choose by encouraging me!  I tried one on and then the other and back to the first one.  LOL, he was also having a hard time with his shoes for different reasons.  He had a wide foot and could not purchase super bright shoes or his walking buddies would not walk with him.  I about died laughing and told him to rock the awesome bright colors and soon they, too, would be wearing them!  I don't remember his name, but he will forever be a part of this memory.

Before I left, I asked if we could take a picture for my blog that I thought might be fun to start writing again.  Kim *happily* took a fun picture with me!  She gave me her card and asked me to Facebook her the photo, so I did.  This is what I found later in the evening.....such kind words!

Kim Zabel is with Kinsey Senkel.

June 6 at 9:17pm · 

I met the most remarkable person yesterday. She came into the Running Room looking for a pair of shoes that would feel good on her feet and possibly alleviate some of the pain she was developing – potentially because her current shoes were so worn down. We spent a good amount of time together, trying on just about everything in stock. I was honored to have the opportunity to get to know her as a person and learn what she needed to feel good on her feet. We narrowed it down to three choices. She wanted to think about it some more, so she waited on purchasing anything. She came back today, and we immediately got busy trying on her final three shoes from yesterday, plus some new ones. She wore her chosen shoes straight out of the store (I just love it when people do that!) and she had other people throughout the day tell her how much they liked her shoes and asked where she bought them. This is the best part of what I do: Not only do I get to make people feel just a bit better in their daily walk through life, sometimes I even make a new friend in the process. It’s been a good last couple of days for me. <3

As soon as I reached the elevator to go back upstairs to my appointment, a nice lady stopped me and asked me where I got my shoes because she really liked them.  She was a Mayo patient headed to her next appointment as well.  Within the brief exchange, I told her that I had literally just gotten them at the Running Room just down the road which was within walking distance of the Clinic.  I was still clutching onto the card that Kim had just given me to connect with her on Facebook....so I (thinking very quickly) I snapped a picture of it (soooo thankful I did think to do that) and gave her the card.  I hope she finds the shoes she is looking for!  ~  Feeling so blessed to be able to connect people.  It's kind of crazy to me how many people I have met on this trip so far "just by accident" or DIVINE appointment!

Through sickness and in health....

"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."

~1 Corinthians 13:4-8~

This beautiful grand piano sits in the main entrance/atrium where all these buildings come together on the lower level what they call "the subway."  (Actually, there are several pianos all throughout the Mayo campus.)  Anyone is encouraged to play and some people even sing too.  It is an absolutely incredible experience to walk by and hear someone playing and see who they are and think about them and their story and why they are here.  Music is a way of expression, hopefully leading to release from their pain or anxiety and a a beautiful way to share joy with those gathered around.  It's so neat.  So very touching.  Just look deep into the picture above and think about that special couple.  What a beautiful picture, it's their story and it's not done yet.

Lunchtime outside on the veranda just off "the subway."
Colorful, oh, so colorful!

While eating lunch, I had became super aware of my surroundings as I was so humbled by the gentleman playing the piano earlier.  The things you notice when you live in the present moment.  Incredible.  Then, I saw the happiest thing.  A grandfather figure was holding onto what looked like his grandson and they were smiling and skipping along.  It was absolutely beautiful!  Finding JOY no matter what age you are, or what your health condition is, or what your circumstances may be.  I, of course, didn't get a picture, but that image is clearly etched into my mind.  We know the ending of the story and GOD wins!

Then, I did it.  I sat down at that grand piano and
the notes started coming back to me.
Fur Elise by Beethoven
What parts I had learned as a child.

Amazing because I didn't think much of it as so many of the people there had been playing amazing super complicated songs that were way off the charts as far as hardness goes.  BUT, I underestimated that by me being brave enough to sit down, I was able to touch someone's life or rather he touched mine.  The older gentleman who was sitting next to the piano in his wheelchair asked me politely to play it again.  That was when I totally wished that I knew more of the song to play for him.  I didn't, but he didn't care, he just liked the music and wanted to hear it again.  We visited for a while and off I went.  Touching moments like these just keep happening.  God, only God!

After another appointment today, I was standing waiting for the elevator to go downstairs to get some fresh air.  You won't believe this one either....this older gentle grandpa man walked up behind me to wait for the elevator as well.  He said kindly to me, "You just look like someone that I could give a big hug to and everything would be ok."  So, being a hugger myself (how did he know that?), I turned around and gave him a big bear hug and I said, "I hope you have a great day Sir!"  His wish came true.  We started visiting on the way down the elevator and he pointed to his neck and asked me if I saw the bump under his weathered fingers.  I said gently, "yes."  You never know what people are going through, especially at Mayo because it seems that most people here are pretty sick to make the journey to Rochester.  He said, "This is cancer.  I just got my two $2,000 shots in my stomach...." and continued to tell me about it.  Woah, humbling.  We got to visiting and we somehow went into marriage and anniversaries and rings and he said that he didn't wear a wedding band because the lady at the ring shop many years ago, said (of his size 24 ring finger), "We don't sell rings to fit sausages."  We giggled together on this more light hearted topic.  ~Never judge a book by it's cover.~  *LIVE*LOVE*LAUGH* and just let your light shine because you just never know who's day it might change.  He changed mine!  Sure put things into perspective for me.  Thank you God for moments like these.

In the big open foyer, lies the Mayo Cancer Education Center which offers classes to all patients, their families, and the public for no charge.  They have an incredible schedule of class offerings each day.  Tonight they had a Mindful Meditation class available.  Since, I was already there so late in the day (aaannnddd because I still had some snacks left), I decided to stay for the class.  I am very glad I did as I was so relaxed in the 10 minutes (which seemed like hours) that we practiced "mindful meditation" I almost fell out of my chair.  The whole walk home, I had to keep reminding myself that I was walking and needed to pay attention to traffic.  I was totally in the moment and focused on the NOW.  It was pretty cool.

Supper:  Salmon, Sweet Potato, Forbidden Rice with
a glass of good ole' cold ice water.

Dessert:  Frozen assorted berries with
my homemade granola from HOME SWEET
I MISS HOME and Heath

I sat outside after supper to unwind and to
reflect on a day touched by God.