The L Word ♥

Take away love and our earth

is a tomb.

~ Robert Browning

Last year I had the very

good luck to attend the spring
Na-Da Farm Barn Sale with

one of my BFFs, Kathleen. 

It was a beautiful weekend

and we soaked up the Illinois

countryside, the new friends we

made and our time together.

May 2010

Six weeks later, she met me in

Savannah, GA, where my daughter

was attending a college workshop

for highschoolers.  On the second

day of the trip, Kathleen received

one of those telephone calls that

changes your life forever.

It was her doctor. 

You have an agressive
form of breast cancer.

One of the many things that

amazes me when I think back on

 Kathleen's experience with cancer

is her gratitude that we were

together when she got the call.

She's mentioned that many,

many times.

Some would dub it serendipitous
that we were side by side that day.

We live 350 miles apart and usually

only see each other a couple of

times a year.  Some years, those

busy toddler and early elementary

years, we never saw each
other at all.

Kathleen completed her cancer

therapies ~ chemo and radiation ~

at the end of March.  It seemed

fitting to meet again at the
Na-Da Barn Sale to celebrate....

spring

friendship

and

life.

As luck or serendipity would have

it, the stars aligned {meaning
wonderful husbands who were able to

manage multiple kid activities in our

absence} and I was able to drive
 to Illinois for our Na-Da Farm

girls getaway weekend.

To take advantage of six hours by myself
in the car, I listened to one of my favorite

motivational audio books on the way.

The gist of the book?

The most

powerful force

in the universe

 is love.

And that force
was literally pulling
me back to Illinois.

When I make this drive, there is
a spot in Wisconsin approximately

halfway, and that is usually where

I stop to stretch and fill up my gas

tank.  But this time, that exit was

under construction.  So, I got off

at the next exit, turning into the first

gas station that I came to.
 

As I jumped out of the car, preparing

to run my credit card at the pump,

the name of the station caught my eye.

Love's Truck Stop.

I kid you not.

I smiled to myself

and said a little prayer....

I'm listening, God!

This year, the Na-Da sale felt

 more like a homecoming

than an unknown adventure.

We were welcomed with hugs

from many bloggers who we'd
 met for the first time last year at

this event. 

Loved seeing all these
talented blogger friends!


Anne Marie/ Kathleen {Charm Bracelet Diva}/ Jill {Gypsy Brocante}
 Fifi O'Neill/ Jen Rizzo
Beth Quinn/ Jeanne Oliver/ Traci Thorson


 Bravely sporting her

 post-chemo hairdo, Kathleen

was radiant. She'd journeyed

with cancer through summer,

fall and winter and I couldn't

think of a more perfect way

to celebrate the new spring of

her life than being there that weekend.

Love you, girl!

Love.

It was evident in all of the sweetly
displayed vendor booths both

inside and outside the barn.  It was

 joyfully displayed by the hostess

of the sale, Anne Marie, whose own

face glowed as she talked to those

attending, little baby Daniel cradled
in her arms.

Love.

The next day our dear friend Fiona

joined us for Art on The Farm,

taught by blogger Jeanne Oliver.

Using mixed media and guided

by Jeanne, we spent three special
hours immersed in the creative
process. The last step was choosing
words for our pieces.  I'm betting you
know one of them that I chose : )

Love.

Here is Kathleen's art work:

She was stronger than she thought she was.

Love!

I can't wait to go back to Na-da

Farm and celebrate another year

of friendship and life next year.

Until then, I will I will take those

moments of serendipity.....
of God.....of love.....wherever I can
find them, each and every day.

Wishing you all of that

and much, much more.

Enjoy this long weekend!

xx

Suzanne

Posted in art , blog friends , farmland , friendship