texture tuesday || sweet shot tuesday

i really didn't like missing the entry date for last week's texture tuesday,
i am sorry i didn't get around to at least see what you all had shared.
i have no doubt that i missed some very beautiful images,
but, we've had some news of family illness that has kept me away.

many of you know that sometimes in life, there are detour signs ...
taking us off the beaten path of comfort and ease.
well, this one has taken someone we dearly love completely off the road.
it's been difficult for our family and we are praying for my dear nephew, thomas,
who we lovingly call TJ, as well as for his wife and their young son.

it's been a long road since the day of his one and only seizure in september of '09.
then the surgery to remove the tumor they discovered.
with treatment and as time passed he began improving ... life became 'normal' again.
that is until two months ago when they again discovered another tumor had been growing.
since then, they've had him on oral chemotherapy which has had some uncomfortable side effects.
TJ went back for another exam this past week ... the tumor had grown even more.
surgery at this point, is considered inoperable due to the location in his brain -
much too risky, they say.

so now, we are all taking one day at a time, not knowing what each one holds,
focusing on life, walking by faith, and holding on to one another in love, breathing prayers ...
 reaching up, trusting with hope in the One who holds us all in His arms.

if you breathe a prayer for him .... we thank you!



before i go,  i'll share quickly here my recipe for this week ...
these sweet little flowers came in a bouquet my husband brought me.
i took a few of them out into the natural light to get this image
and then used two of kim's layers.

kk_reentry . soft light . 100% opacity
kk_cora . overlay . 27% opacity

when i look at this image, the word HOPE comes to mind.
i want to thank you so much for dropping by ...
your visits and comments are so very encouraging.

blessings to each of you,
deborah xo

'faith gives us new eyes
and nothing looks the same to us anymore,
for within our faith we have eyes of hope'.

also linking up this week with kent for
sweet shot tuesday