Today, my heart is filled with overwhelming appreciation. Friends and family who share in my fear and anxiety, my sadness and hope.
Beautiful dishes of food, cookies, desserts and love arriving on my doorstep. Meant to comfort and heal.
Phone calls, texts, emails, messages of well wishes, friendship, love.
Today, my heart is grateful. Grateful my precious Tink is home with us, healthy and recovering. She’s not the first adult child to be ill or endure a difficult surgery. There are those who have suffered much more. For this my heart grieves.
I wish I could write this post about something comical Tank has done this week. Even he has been a bit somber. Missing his girl, knowing something was different. Giving her tons of kisses when she returned home and not wanting to leave her bedside until I insisted.
I’m sure no one needs reminding… life is messy. It’s scary, it’s heartbreaking. But it’s also glorious. A reminder to cherish every moment. Even when those moments are less than Norman Rockwell, or the prettiest, perfect blog.
You know the old saying “when it rains, it pours”. It poured this week. We endured. Together. With love and friendship, generosity and kindness.
I am humbled and reminded… Life doesn’t just happen to me. It happens around me. To everyone who touches my heart.
I wish you all the best of health, love and happiness.
Loads of Love,
Karista
To Good Health and Happiness… A Roasted Beet Salad with Cucumbers, Red Onions and Smokey Bleu
Serves 2
Ingredients
2 beets, roasted and sliced
1 cucumber, sliced (as much or as little as you like)
1/2 red onion sliced
Handful of Rogue Smokey Bleu
Balsamic Vinegar
Your favorite good quality extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Place the sliced roasted beets on a plate, arrange however you like. Layer the sliced cucumber on top of the beets, followed by a sprinkling of sliced red onion and a dash of smokey bleu. Spritz with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Season with a pinch or two of sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper.
Enjoy with the ones you love 🙂
Karista, you know what they say… Good things happen to good people. You are amazing and such an inspiration to others. I’m so happy all is well with your family.
Thank you sweet friend! And thank you so much for your love and support. It means the world to me! Hugs, Karista
Beautiful Karista and much strength to you and your loved ones as you end (what sounds like) a testing week – I totally know the feeling though I don’t know precisely what you have endured. Either way I am with you in your celebration & gratitude and wish you and your family much love and joy! XO
Shira, thank you for your sweet words! I feel I can share with you… my oldest had a brain tumor. Thankfully, benign, but growing quickly and causing all sorts of havoc in her little 5’2″ body. She’s wrestled with this for about 8 months and it was heartbreaking to watch. It’s a tough decision to have such invasive surgery but it was successful and after recovery she should be very healthy. We are juicing daily, and I put her on a vegan diet before the surgery and she will continue with that for a while and then eventually add some fish. She’s feeling very positive at the moment. Love to you and your beautiful family Shira!
Love your post and good endings happen to good people. Love you and the family
Sent from my iPhone
Thank you dear friend!! I wish we were closer. But I feel your strength and love, always. Love and hugs to you!!
Brought tears to my eyes… beautiful. Hugs.
Hugs back to ya Maya! Thank you for your love and friendship!
Sending you and your beautiful family lots of love, hugs and healing thoughts!
Thank you Sara!! Hugs to you and your beautiful boys 🙂
Sending some positive thoughts and hugs your way. Wishing her a speedy recovery and you strength to get through this week. Take care, BAM
Thank you Bam for your sweet words!
Sending you my love Karista, x
Thank you Claire for your kind words!!
Oh, Honey…it’s such a helpless feeling when something happens to one of our children, no matter how old they are. You’re in my prayers, all of you.
Thank you so much! I so appreciate your heartfelt words. Hugs!
Oh My God. I cannot believe what you’re going through. My heart goes out to you – I’ve never had to go through something this serious with my girls. Please take care of yourself through all of this. It’s better for you as well as for everyone around you. Us moms tend not to…
beautiful salad.
Thanks Mimi! Yes, we Mom’s tend to be the last to bed and first to rise. And for the moment, quietly sneaking into my daughter’s room during the night just to be sure she’s ok. Feels as if she was little again. Thank you for your sweet words. Hugs!
Simply Beautiful! May God bless you and yours…
Thank you for the heartfelt words!
So beautiful and moving.. You and your family are loved more than you’ll ever know. So happy that she is recovering well!
Thank you my sweet friend!
Karista – I can only imagine what you are going through with your beautiful daughter.
I am sending you and your family love and the very best wishes for your daughter. May she recover soon and return to natural vibrant health!
XXXX Thinking of you!!
Thank you Anne! Yes, natural and vibrant health! I love this. 🙂
Sending lots of hugs and sunshine all the way from Sydney. Sorry to hear it’s been a trailing week for you and your sassy gals, Rsnger Craig & even little Tank. Glad that your Tink is home now and with her mumma’s cooking, I’m sure every ache & worry will be immediately cured! x
You are a dear Alli! I wish I could reach through the computer screen and give you a hug. 🙂 Thank you for your sweet words.
What a nice post, Karista 😀
Thank you Frugal. Not the happiest subject but then again, life isn’t always a walk in the park. 🙂 We’re better here today. It’s looking sunnier. Have a fabulous week!
Sending thoughts and prayers Karista and hope you too can take some time to recoup. The emotional toll of this must be immense. xo
Thanks so much my friend 🙂 Things are good right now and the recovery process is underway and looking positive. Wishing you a beautiful week and I’ll email soon! Hugs 🙂
Karista, my heart goes out to you and your lovely family. I have two very close friends who’ve had similar circumstances, and grateful to say, they are both fully recovered a year later. Yours too will be 100% very soon, promise! Amazing things do happen to amazing people as yourself. Hugs!
Thank you so much Kirsten for your sweet and encouraging words. Wishing you a beautiful week. Hugs to you too!
Oh lady….I cannot imagine what you must have been going through! Do you need anything? Food? Dog coverage? A stiff drink? Sending much love to you and yours. xo.
Hahaha! I had a few stiff drinks. LOL! We’re all good at the moment but thank you so much for your generous offer. Tink is in the recovery process and will be tip top in no time. Hugs to ya!!
Karista, Whatever happened, I am so glad your daughter is home safe with you to recover. Your grace and eloquence in coping is truly a parenting inspiration. Sending healing thoughts and hugs! xoxoxo
Thank you Alyssa! I sent you an email. 🙂 Hugs!
Karista, I have been missing your blog for so long.. and am so heartbroken to come here today and read that your little family has been through an ordeal that no family should have to endure. My heart goes out to you and your family, I will pray for your daughter tonight.. I am so relieved and glad to read that the surgery went well.. all of you will be in my prayers.. Sending you hugs and love.. Barb xxx
Thank you Smidge for your thoughts and prayers! Things are well, muddling through the recovery process but it’s looking good. Wishing you a beautiful week! Hugs 🙂
xxx
Beautiful writing, as always Karista. My heart goes out to you and your beautiful family – thinking of you all.
So relieved to hear that your daughter’s surgery went well. I hope that she is continuing to recover well Karista. Life certainly isn’t Norman Rockwell every day. You are right that we need to enjoy every minute. I can tell that you have a great relationship with your sassy gals and that will make all the difference for Tink as she bounces back from this. You are in my thoughts.