Tom was sitting on the porch swing when I came home late last night after a double shift at the winery.
The look on his face let me know something was wrong, but several long seconds went by before he was able to tell me what it was: his father had suffered a stroke that morning, and the prognosis wasn't good.
This morning we received some positive news, but much prayer is still needed. Would you mind stopping a moment right now and saying one for our sweet Pop, Ken Shallue? While you're at it, please slip in a few extras for Tom, his mom, and eight brothers.
Thank you so, so much.
Just a fraction of the Shallue clan gathered in Florida last week, related by birth or marriage to that wonderful couple in the middle.
And now, here are a few of the sweet!s I listed from the past week...
Tuesday: your mom and dad finally finding a good doctor and getting treatment of their summer colds; being able to stay home all day and move closer to getting caught up on things
Wednesday: getting re-blonded; watching your son try to lasso a stray cow in the brush at night; a beautiful full moon right at dusk
Thursday: horses and new friends on your country road; an offer to ride a neighbor's horse; a 5-hour lunch with a friend at a restaurant overlooking the lake; your stray cow watered, fed, and taken to a good pasture; your puppies in the house for hours with no accidents
Friday: running into neighbors you rarely see on your morning walk; a block of time for writing; putting out the fire you started on your grill before it has a chance to spread (whew!); watching two more episodes of Breaking Bad with your hubby
Saturday: time for a walk with your puppies before heading to work at a winery on a beautiful morning; a couple celebrating their 10th anniversary dressed in their wedding clothes; another couple celebrating their 60th wedding annniversary at the winery, even if they're not dressed in their wedding clothes; tons of prayer for your father-in-law, who you discover had a stroke earlier in the day, but your husband didn't let you know because he didn't want to upset you while you were at work
Sunday: positive news about your father-in-law; love and prayers from friends for your family; attending Mass with your husband and son
Thank you again for your prayers. I hope you have a week full of sweet!s and remember not to take the blessings in your life for granted.
