hello Monday

 

Happy Monday, friends! I hope your week/weekend was good; mine felt ten years long. 🤣 I started working on this blog post from the hospital room Thursday and was going to publish Friday, but then the day started happening, and I never got around to finishing. So if this seems a little Friday Favorites-ish, that's why. I'm linking up with Holly and Sarah to talk about a few things from last week and the weekend.

I love the Instagram story prompts where you can click to add yours. This was mine for the month of October! It was a great month for the most part, until it all kind of came to a half on Thursday the 29th when Graham was admitted into the hospital. It was a month filled with favorites: friends, my sons, travel, some really great dates and getting to know someone new. I'm grateful for all of this, and I'm so glad that things with Graham played out the way they did and that he's on the mend. 

It's been a week full of some of my favorite shows, of which Friends will always be at the top of the list. Does anyone else love the episodes when Monica dated Richard? I've had a crush on Tom Selleck since I was young; I loved him on Friends as he dated Monica! I sent this picture to my best friend the night I took this and told her I was enjoying being comforted by my man. She loved this! 

Hospital coffee hasn't been my favorite, but all the quality time with my Graham has been. I've also enjoyed being with the others that have been up here with us a lot this week. We've had so many great talks, laughs, and bonding moments. I've missed him, which is weird to say, but he just hasn't been himself. 

This hallway is my favorite at school each year at this time! We have a memorial day program next week, and it's always super heartwarming. I had totally forgotten about these flags until I walked in last Monday, and my breath caught. I love this so much! 

I miss these views! The land at my dad's house was always my favorite at this time of year. Our trees are starting to change colors finally, and all of a sudden, everything is bright and vibrant. It's beautiful! These were the days when my sister and I would do Dad's Christmas lights each year. It was quite the task, but it was something Dad loved and that we were happy to do for him. 

Christmas is our favorite! Jonah is ready in his room, and I was able to put mine up, too. 

This day of breakfast was my favorite! I went downstairs at the hospital on Tuesday morning and grabbed us some iced coffees and breakfast for myself. Graham didn't want any on this day.

These verses from 2 Corinthians were my favorite this week. I had time to spend reading some extra this week while I was off on Tuesday. 

These pictures are from the social media page of this coffee shop near me, JoJo's Espresso. How magical is this place?! I can't wait to go here again soon and admire all of this in person. 

These were a couple of my favorites from social media this week! I've done a lot of scrolling this week, friends.

On a more positive note, this was another favorite. I just watched a video of a neurosurgeon that said it's literally impossible to be both anxious and grateful at the same time. I love that! 

Lastly, this was my favorite thing to see on Wednesday when I went home after work before coming back to the hospital! Jonah and Noah moved some things around in order for Graham to recover at our house for the next couple of weeks. It's good to be home, friends. It took us all day long Friday to rest up from the eventful week; Saturday felt more normal, but I fell asleep multiple times during both days. 

The weekend was super low key; we adjusted to being back at home on Friday. I left for dinner with Dustin (you can peep him all the way back up at the top of this post in the lower right corner of the collage pics), and that was all. Saturday was pretty much the same! Sunday felt more normal, but I stayed home and got some things done to get ready for the work week. I have a feeling today might be an adjustment! 

I loved how full the house was on and off during the day on Saturday We watched football all day and people were in and out. This is a picture that Noah shared on Snapchat; I saved it to my phone. There were more trucks not pictured to the left of my driveway on the street. 

Graham is doing really well! Thank you for all the kind words, thoughts, and prayers on his behalf. He will have to return to the hospital once a week for lab work and for his pic line to be attended to, but he's in a good place. He looks and sounds so much better, and I am thankful for this. This "kid" just about gave his mom a heart attack, but some great things came about from it all. One is that this is causing us to remember that we don't need to ignore illnesses and coughs. Another thing is that I spent a ton of time with my ex-husband and his wife during the seven days we were there, and we're all good. This showed us that we can and want to be friendly with each other, and that we can almost be like one big, blended family. 

I also have to say about Dustin, how thankful I am for him. He was there with me every single day, and he's now officially met all of my people. He kept us supplied with waters, Gatorades, and food each night. I didn't necessarily mean for him to meet everyone so fast, but it's what happened. The good news is that everyone loves him, and he loves them! Ha. Even Todd and Jennifer met him and both of them told me at separate times how much they love him. I realize that's so strange to say here, but we're taking that time we spent together in the hospital with our oldest son as a fresh page to start over. I believe if we want it bad enough, that it's something we can accomplish. I'm proud of us both for this! And it's proof that good things can come from something not so good.

Anyway...enough rambling. I'll see you back here tomorrow, friends. Love to all!


Jen 

the Wednesday hodgepodge

 

Happy Wednesday, friends! Thank you for all the kind responses to my Monday post about Graham and a life update regarding him and where I've been. I appreciate the prayers, please keep them up! I'm linking up with Joyce for today's hodgepodge post. I'll jump right in!

1. Our November hodgepodges always include a question related to gratitude. What is one small think you're grateful for today? It's not a small thing, actually, and it's related to my son who is still in the hospital as you read this. He's been here since Thursday of last week, and I am just so grateful to be on this side of his stay here this week. He was very, very sick, much more so than any of us thought (even him), and I have so much to be grateful for regarding his health. God has him in the palm of His mighty hand, and He is sovereign over Graham's health and the timing of his life. I won't be over this anytime soon, friends. 

We are hopeful that tonight is our last night here! I've been staying with him each night since they admitted him, because never again on my watch will anyone I know and love stay alone in a hospital.

2. Chrysanthemums, pansies, burning bush, ornamental cabbage, camelias...which is your favorite in an autumn garden? Would we find any of these in your garden/yard this year? I love mums and pansies, but neither will be found in my flower beds right now. Just because I love them doesn't mean that I'm good with them; unfortunately, I do not have a green thumb when it comes to such things.

I loved these autumn landscapes in New England last October!

3. If you could clear out or organize one physical space or mental habit before the year ends, what would it be? My one physical space would be something in my house. My kitchen bothers me a lot, so I'll go with that one. I need to go through everything in the cabinets and purge! 

4. Brussel sprouts...love 'em or no thank you? If you said love 'em, how do you like them prepared? I will eat them sometimes, but not always. I have had them prepared in ways that I both like and didn't like. My favorite so far was shredded and seasoned. They were delicious! 

5. It's reassuring to know that......God is my Comforter. 

I read two different passages in 2 Corinthians yesterday: the one pictured above from chapter 1, and another one from chapter 4. I love how His word encourages and strengthens me! 

6. Insert your own random thought here. Quiet time hits different when a loved one is in a hospital room.  

Another thing that hits different are the people I've been leaning on during this. I have so much more to say about this someday, but for now, just know that we've been surrounded by so many loving friends. I feel so fortunate to be able to say this! I have seen so many good things come from something that has been traumatic; God is good, though. He works in all circumstances, and I believe that He is working things out in ways that we haven't even begun to imagine. 

Thanks for reading here today, friends. I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I'll see you soon. Love to all.

Jen

life update since Thursday afternoon

Hey friends. I love this verse and it felt appropriate to share again today as I update on my blog. I think it goes without saying that I don't post for attention, but for myself and to ask for prayers that my family often needs. That being said, it's why I'm here today after a very tumultuous weekend. I don't often talk about my kids here these days, but I want to share here with his permission. 

Most of you know that Graham has been sick for a few months. He had what he thought was a sinus thing, and an annoying cough that has persisted. He started seeing a doctor (three, to be exact), but their prognosis and meds never worked for him. A friend that he knows fit him into the schedule of a lung specialist group that he works for, so Graham went the week before last. 

Fast forward to last week. Thursday morning he had a CT scan scheduled; he went and it seemed fine. They let him leave. A few hours later, literally at the end of my Thursday at work, he called me and told me they had told him to get to the ER immediately. They found a pocket of fluid on the outside of his lung between the lung and chest wall cavity. After a few hours, they decided to admit him and tentatively talked about a chest tube the next day to drain what was there. On Friday morning, his pulmonologist came in and told him that they would instead be doing a VATS procedure (you can use Google for this) on him to scrape off the puss/blood or fluid that was there. They would intubate him for this, he would come out with a chest tube, stay in the hospital for two days, then be released.

This happened on Saturday. 

They came and got him at 11:50 a.m. and started on him at 1:50 p.m. Four hours later, they finished what was supposed to have been a two hour surgery. It was so much worse when they got in there. It was determined that he had had pneumonia and a necrotizing infection had set in and had nearly eaten through his lung. He didn't know he had pneumonia, by the way, because he never felt that sick. And he did start going to the doctor eventually when he felt bad enough, but still...

So the infection was outside of his right lung, just kind of hanging out in the chest cavity space that doesn't get blood flow. This never would have gone away on its own, had he not had this surgery! His lower lobe in that lung was so bad that it was adhered to his chest wall; it's still there, actually. She didn't want to try to pry it away, causing him more damage. Hopefully with his age, this will fix itself. He came out of surgery with three very large drains; they will keep those in place as they monitor him over the next few days. Hopefully he'll be released by Thursday or Friday; she said this surgery now required a 5-6 day stay with continuous IV medicine. 

So I've lived at the hospital since Thursday, and that is where I will stay until I know he is better. I am adamant about him not being alone in a hospital with all that's going on, because of what happened to Chris. Gone are those days! His dad and I are kind of tag teaming for this; I'm actually going to work today from the hospital and then going back to the hospital after work for tonight and tomorrow since I'm off Tuesday. It's perfect timing, because I expect Tuesday to be hard for him since it's the third day after surgery. They always refer to that day as the worst, because everything is settling back in and the anesthesia has fully worn off.

When he comes home, he will be coming home to me so we can help him fully recover. He won't be able to drive for a good bit; he'll be with me and his dogs are temporarily living with his dad. I'm grateful that it's all worked out the way he has and that he is on the mend. I'm thankful that he went in when he did. I'm thankful that he is alive and that he has age on his side to fully recover. I've never seen anyone look so beautiful as he did after I laid my eyes on him after his surgery. We have lots of things to be thankful for, but we also have some hurdles to jump. 

Will you help me pray for these things? We need that left lower lobe of his lung to become full of life again. We need it to reinflate and detach on its own. We need whatever lingering infection is there due to surgery to leave his body completely. We need for his lung to be able to function normally once again. These are big hurdles, but I know God can do it, and I trust Him; I take comfort in the fact that if I love my son as much as I do, He loves him even more because He created Graham in His image. He created all of us in His image! 

Thank you for reading; thank you even more for praying. I don't know when I'll be back here, but you can always email me or reach out through Instagram. Love to all!

Jen 

Share 4 Somethings

 

Happy Saturday, friends! Thanks for being here today to talk about something you loved, something that sustained you, something you're carrying forward from this month to the next, and something you're making space for. I'll jump right in! I'll join in with this later in the week, and will explain more later. My son Graham is in the hospital at the moment, so...

Here's the link. I'll see you back here next week.

Please pray for him! Thanks for being here today, friends. Love to all.

Jen

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Friday Favorites, 10.30.2026.

 

Happy Friday, friends! I hope your week was good; mine went by really fast. I have some favorites from the week that I thought I'd share today! 

Sunday was my favorite day! I loved the time I spent with myself doing all the things I love; this frozen latte was to die for, as was the company I was with while drinking. I love seeing co-workers outside of work! I'm so grateful for my friend, Karen. I ended my day in her room on Wednesday, and when I shared something with her, I broke down crying. She just got up and came to hug me. I feel like I'm in such a safe space when I'm with her! That is a priceless feeling.

The trees are just barely starting to change here! It's coming, though. In two weeks, these will be on fire with color.

Scripture writing has been my favorite! I'm so glad to be continuing in this for November. It's kind of taken the place of my quiet time, which I love, because that has been a struggle since August.

The library will always be my favorite! But I'm ready to let someone have my spot on the board for this once my term expires in November. I attended my last meeting Tuesday night! 

New nails are always a favorite! I got Every Month is Oktoberfest to match my pedicure from the weekend. 

Thursday night dinner was a favorite because I got to see 3/4 of my sons! Jonah made dinner; this was incredible!

Freshly sharpened colored pencils are a favorite.

Other favorites from the week include it being a dress up week, fun moments with Mandy, fun plans Thursday night, a quiet week home at night, a sweet student bringing me bread he made at home on Wednesday, good dinners and lunches, and having fun getting to know someone I've been dating. I'm still not quite ready to talk about any of that here, but it feels good and right. I can't wait to tell you the story of how it came to be...it sounds like a Hallmark movie, honestly, or at least one of the better fiction books about someone meeting someone else. I hope you have a great weekend! I'll see you back here tomorrow for Share 4 Somethings! Love to all.

Jen

Thankful Thursday

 

Happy Thursday, friends! I'm coming at you pretty late on Wednesday night with this, so this post will be short and sweet, and written from the point of view that wasn't feeling very grateful for anything in life at the moment I sat down to this. Perspective is everything, though, and I needed some new of that...so, here goes. 

I'm thankful for friends who come by when they know I'm upset.

I'm thankful for Lisa, who seems to sense when I'm upset and calls me at the right time.

I'm thankful that I have sons who are grown and who can handle my emotions when I let them fly around them.

I'm thankful for the mercies of God that are new every morning, and that He forgives me when I let cuss words come out of my mouth in a moment of extreme anger.

I'm thankful for laughter.

I'm thankful for the gift that work is to me; I love my people there and that I look forward to going every day.

I'm thankful for plans that I've been looking forward to all week finally taking place tonight.

I'm thankful for my mom, and that she's living to take my phone calls. My heart is heavy tonight for people whom I love that are left on earth without parents at far too young an age. 

I'm thankful for my sweet student's mom who prays for me with her daughter each morning, and who trusts me enough to let me in on when they have needs as a family. I love them all so much!

I'm thankful for a house that is all mine, with the people who live in it with me.

I'm thankful for doctors and modern medicine to help when someone is sick.

I'm thankful that I got to see 3/4 of my sons last night when Jonah made dinner!

I'm thankful for you who always shows up here to read this and to encourage me. Thank you! Love to all.

Jen 

the Wednesday hodgepodge (a spook-tacular Halloween)

 

Happy Wednesday, friends! I'm linking up with Joyce for today's hodgepodge post. I'll jump right in!

1. What most recently gave you goose bumps? Well this week, I've had the literal kind because the fourth grade classroom I'm in is so cold. I'm not complaining, though! I'd rather be cold than hot. But the metaphorical kind is another story. I recently read something on social media that gave me chills; it was about someone who was somewhere at just the right time. Some people call such things a coincidence; I call them kisses from the King. 

2. What does Halloween look like in your home or neighborhood these days? Do you participate? I'll be honest; this is always one of the harder days for me. I used to love Halloween as a wife and mom; once the kids grew up, we would sit outside in the driveway surrounded by the neighbors doing the same. It was always a fun night to visit with people and to see the cute little trick-or-treaters looking for candy. I've avoided it the last two years, but this year might be different. Stay tuned! 

3. Pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, chia...your favorite seed on the list? What is something you like to make or eat that includes one of these types of seed in the recipe? I love sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. I love them plain or toasted in the oven!

Me and Trish...this is one of my favorite pictures of us!

4. What's the most (or one of the most) fall photos you've ever taken? Share it here; just one.

I'll share this cool picture from my Maine sisters trip last year!

5. Somehow we're rolling into November next week. If your October were a chapter in a book, what would the title be? How about this one: Somewhere Between Sweater Weather and a Plot Twist?

6. Insert your own random thought here. I've been rewatching A Different World on Netflix, the one from 1987, which is where this thought is coming from. There should be a word for that moment when a song comes on and you suddenly remember an entirely different version of yourself. Three minutes ago you were just a middle aged woman sitting down writing a blog post and watching a show that's playing in the background; now I'm seventeen again, riding around with my friends. Somehow I still remember every word of that song, why I loved this show, and who I loved watching it with. 

Please tell me I'm not the only one. Well, thanks for reading here today, friends. I'd wrap this up with something more witty, but it's Wednesday of a dress up week in my elementary school, Halloween, and an impending time change; I've already used up all my good brain cells. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow! Love to all. 

Jen