http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/RASSE9200/My life often seems like a fragmented piece of fabric, all jumbled and mixed up. And yet, I realize that is because there are so many things that are important to me. Love for my kids, my desire to write, my "obsession" with the unexplainable and the sentimental, my desire to take "the road less traveled". All of these are threads of my life, each beautiful and simple in its own way. And all together, they make up the fabric of who I was, who I am and who I am becoming. hourly12000-01-01T12:00+00:00http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/RASSE9200/634740A proufound truth hit me yesterday morning. I was driving to work and was feeling rather introspective. I was questioning myself as to why it always seems that I am never satisfied. Why it is that I always seem to be looking for something. Why it is that I feel like I am always on the "edge" but can't seem to find the courage to leap. Why does it seem that something is always missing?? And then it hit me....and it really was quite a jolt, although the nugget of truth itself was so simple. IS...http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/RASSE9200/634518We are still reeling from little Donna's death on the 19th of last month. Trying so hard to find ways to honor her, and to let her parents know that she has not, and will never be forgotten. Donna loved to dance ballet. And so, for Halloween, my daughter dressed as a ballerina in honor of Donna. She wore a tutu and tights and pinned a construction paper heart on her jacket with Donna's name on it. Here are a couple of pictures. (My daughter, Rachel, is on the right).http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/RASSE9200/634289My blog it subscription will be due next month. I'm trying to decide whether to renew it. Money is tight and its not like I can't write without the site. But I'll miss it here. Sigh. Always decisions to make.http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/RASSE9200/633790It is trunk or treat night for us! In the parking lot next to our house, church folks are in the process of decorating their cars and vans. Trick or treaters go around to the vehicles as if they were houses. It is very fun. We have fire pits out there, popcorn, cookies, apple cider. Some games for children and adults alike. We decorated our van as a candy shop and on the top of our roof, we have the first line of the powerful hymn "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus" written on poster board....I...http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/RASSE9200/633100Little Donna loved to dance. Now she is dancing in a place where there is no pain and suffering. Here is a picture of a beautiful pumpkin that was carved in her honor.http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/RASSE9200/632502I wrote about little Donna in my last entry. She died yesterday morning, and by last night, there were so many pumpkins in her yard, dropped off by so many people who have been following her journey for the past 30 months. We decorated our own pumpkin and dropped it off late evening. What an awesome, inspiring sight...to see all of these pumpkins, some decorated with verses, some with glitter, some carved and some not. Some were lit. Someone had taken 5 pumpkins and carved the letters of...http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/RASSE9200/632408I've written about little "D" on my other blog. A 4 yr old with a terminal brain tumor who we have gotten close to. Little Donna died this morning, in her parents bed. Her mommy on one side of her, her daddy on the other. It has been a day of heavy hearts at our home, a day of tears, a day of questioning and introspection. I say to the world," Little Donna has finished the race triumphantly....and now rests peacefully in the arms of the Father."http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/RASSE9200/631340When I am tempted to judge someone, or when I just don't quite understand someone, I try to remember these powerful words. They can change my perspective in an instant. "Each man can interpret another's experience only by his own." ----Thoreauhttp://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/RASSE9200/631128I know our dog is spoiled now. I have suspected it all along, for the past 4 months that we have had him. But now I know for sure. My 17 yr old daughter just walked into the room, holding Russell (our puppy) over her shoulder, patting him on the back. I said, "What are you doing?' She said, "Burping him. He has hiccups." Here is a picture of our spoiled, but very loved, little man.http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/RASSE9200/631024One thing I didn't get around to doing this summer, that I really, really had planned on doing, was graving. You know, going out to the cemeteries and just walking around, reading the headstones, trying to imagine the lives of those who once lived and are now gone. I've always loved the stillness and serenity of the cemetery. My mother never understood it when I was growing up....I think she thought I was a bit warped (and I suppose there could be some truth to that ), but for me, it was a...