• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

March 25, 2017

Our Terminal

My dear friend Sarah doesn’t know I’m sharing this with you today. She hasn’t asked me to do this and maybe that makes me even more determined to help her in any way I can.

I’ll let Sarah share her story with you in her own words….

“On a crisp evening in February 2015, I sat beside my mom in an ER room as the doctor confirmed our fears. Mom had cancer…for the third time. Unsure of the details, the days of waiting began as tests were ordered and prayers were said. Several days later the oncologist pulled up a hospital chair beside Mom’s bedside and delivered the fateful news. It was a worst case scenario – stage four pancreatic cancer.

In these moments of wrestling, grace collided with my story. Friends reminded me that I was giving my all. Scripture assured me that, though I am not enough, God is. Family flew cross-country to step in and give me some time for self-care. All these gifts reminded me that through this incredibly arduous season, I could rest knowing that I was loving well, and giving what I could, and that it mattered.

All of it.

Mom’s final months were some of the hardest, most raw, and beautiful moments of our lives. I can be thankful for the big and small ways God demonstrated His love for us. The only thing I would really change in this story is not having to walk it to begin with. But as life happens, and our fallen world demonstrates, we don’t always get to choose our journeys, but there is good and blessing in all that comes our way.

Our Terminal grew out of Mom’s death and hardest struggle. My prayer is all of you who visit these pages find grace sprinkled amidst your pain and everyday hardship. And that other people’s stories encourage you to love others well through their final terminal of life.”

Even in the midst of the most difficult seasons of her life, Sarah knew that she was being called by God to use her experience to come alongside others in their experience with a terminal illness, whether they were going through it themselves or with a loved one. She kept being reminded over and over again of a terminal, that place where we wait for the next part of our journey.

And out of that Our Terminal.com was born.

Your loved one is at the bus terminal of life—their journey on this earth isn’t over. At a transition point from their healthy past life, to their eternal home waiting in the unforeseen future. This terminal we should not fear. Many people don’t get to ever sit at this transition point with their loved ones, never getting the opportunity to “gather ’round” one last time. To listen. To laugh. To learn. So many loved ones never get to wait patiently on the bench of life, enjoying this sweet sliver of time together. This terminal is a gift to us. Hard? Yes. Are tears shed? Many. Do we wish we could take them off the bench and firmly place them back to their past life? Definitely. However, we can choose to see this “terminal” as a gift; space where we can share memories of the past, show love in the present, and hold hands as we wait for the bus headed to their eternal home. Today the word “terminal” can become one of the greatest blessings God could ever give.
And our hope is that this community will be one of the redemptive pieces of your terminal story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’m sharing this with you today because I have a feeling that there is someone in our At the Picket Fence community who needs to know about this incredible site and is longing for some support on their journey. At Our Terminal, you can not only hear from the experiences of others, you can also find access to a variety of resources that will help you navigate through the maze that is dealing with a terminal diagnosis.

We aren’t meant to do this life alone. And we definitely aren’t meant to walk through dark seasons alone. Whether you are dealing with a terminal illness or struggling with depression or infertility or job loss or chronic pain or whatever it is that makes you feel like you are about to drown, reach out. Find support. Get help.

And if you aren’t in a dark season, come alongside someone who is.

Like my friend Sarah is doing.

Thank you so much for meeting me at the fence today and please know that this is a place where you are always welcome, just as you are, with whatever you are going through. We do life together here…all of it.

 

13 Comments Filed Under: Community, Faith

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Our Best Spring Ideas and Inspiration
Next Post: Repurposed Wreath Ideas »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Karen says

    March 25, 2017 at 2:56 AM

    THANK YOU

    Reply
  2. Jeanie says

    March 25, 2017 at 6:44 AM

    Very touching…

    Reply
  3. Mary says

    March 25, 2017 at 7:41 AM

    Thank you for using your space to share such a valuable resource. We humans are wired with a need for community, especially during times of hardship and loss. This is sure to fill a need for many, whether at present or in the future.

    Reply
  4. Linda says

    March 25, 2017 at 9:19 AM

    As someone who’s had cancer twice now, 10 years apart, I can relate to this strongly. It’s frightening at best and never too far from my thoughts on any given day. What are my chances of getting yet a third diagnosis. But what will be will be. My thoughts are with Sarah and her family.

    Reply
  5. MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) says

    March 25, 2017 at 9:47 AM

    Vanessa, what a lovely post.

    How we need to be aware of all those hurting people around us. It has been my prayer (since going through my breast cancer) that I will be able to be there for everyone who is going through a really tough time. It really is a blessing to be able to do this — to just sit with them, hold a hand, wipe tears, hear them talk about all they are going through, to pray for them, to bring a meal to them. It has been a wonderful journey to be able to share my faith — I thank God for these wonderful opportunities! You can never do too much for others!

    Have a blessed week-end!

    Reply
  6. june says

    March 25, 2017 at 12:30 PM

    I have a friend who has had cancer twice that is taking her mom through this process. Doctors gave her six months two weeks ago.

    My dear dear friend of 50 years…met in high school has pancreatic cancer. Still uncertain what stage. Doctors at Mayo Clinic have her on a second round of chemo. They have not done surgery yet which is there plan.

    Please keep these two amazing women in your orayers.

    My mom passed 10 years ago next month…I often felt alone with the process. Wish I had a site like this to refer to. I am always sharing the resources I found with others and this will be put on my list.

    Reply
  7. Rose L. says

    March 25, 2017 at 12:53 PM

    Lovely as written. My mother had discovered she had breast cancer when 83 and had it removed. She has been taking a pill after treatment and has been now 1 year cancer-free.
    My husband suffered from frontal lobe dementia the last 6 years of his life (doctors though he would die by 2nd year) and passed into God’s loving arms Nov 10, 2012 at age 56. I am in a grief support group as felt the need. I feel I lost him more than once, having gone through the dementia caring for him.

    Reply
  8. Bonnie Schulte says

    March 25, 2017 at 1:49 PM

    I believe your post today, has touched many of us in ways you might know and feel, although some feelings are so heart wrenching even I sometimes wonder how we (I) made it through that doorway. But I did, we all do ,those of us left behind, by loved ones. Thank you so much for this post, things are felt much softer, when we know we are not alone…

    Reply
  9. Wendy Johnson says

    March 25, 2017 at 4:59 PM

    One nice summer day 18 years ago my dad went to till the garden and dropped dead in the neighbors yard, with his many health issues it was a great way to go for him , but devastating for us. i was an oncology nurse for 31 years so I have seen both ways many times. Lovely ,touching post .

    Reply
  10. Sue says

    March 25, 2017 at 7:09 PM

    I have a chronic pain and fatigue condition, rheumatoid arthritis, scoliosis, and Stage IV kidney disease. My dear sister in law who has dementia is living with me and my husband and I take care of her. He is showing signs of early dementia now, (their older brother had alzheimers too, so it seems to run in the family…) and I am just overwhelmed at times with all this. Thanks for your posting of your friend’s story today, it hit home for me in so many ways. Thanks for the reminder that I am not alone, am Never alone, in my life’s journey.

    Reply
  11. Michele (Finch Rest) says

    March 25, 2017 at 8:43 PM

    This is amazing.

    Thank you both – and thank you, Sarah, for letting us know about this.

    May your sweet mom rest in peace.

    And peace be with all of you!
    \

    Reply
  12. Connie R Brown says

    March 25, 2017 at 9:13 PM

    As a 3 time survivor of colon cancer, I was deeply moved by your story. I had amazing friends & family who walked us through this journey in prayer. I am so thankful for God’s grace, mercy and love.

    Reply
  13. Julie B. says

    March 26, 2017 at 7:50 PM

    Love how the Lord is at the center of this whole post. During our most dark times, here on Earth, I’m so thankful for a loving Father and Savior that promises all of this is His best for us! Thanks for posting.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Take the Quiz

Stay updated!

Get all the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Must Reads

Decadent Valentines Day Chocolate Bark from At The Picket Fence

Recent Posts

  • Open Now December 17, 2020
  • Tradition and a Christmas Home Tour December 9, 2020
  • Tabletop Hot Cocoa Station November 29, 2020
  • A New Front Door November 10, 2020
  • Gaining Perspective October 26, 2020

Get all the latest straight to your inbox

Footer

Instagram

I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 y I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 years now and every year I ohhhh and ahhhh over the blossoms like it's the first time I've ever seen them. I gush and I take photos (that look exactly like the ones I took the year before and the year before that) and I make my family come outside and look at them with me which you know they just LOVE to do. 😉 I think that is one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. On the one hand, it's predictable and yet, on the other hand, it still feels like such a surprise after the long months of barren branches.

And yesterday, as I was staring at the gorgeous blossoms for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think that I hope this is how I feel when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hope that the predictable feels special and that the typical feels anything but. I hope that I ohhh and ahhh over the simple things I've realized I've taken for granted. And, most of all, I hope that feeling doesn't go away for a very, very long time! 💗
Are you living with great expectation friends? Bec Are you living with great expectation friends? Because He is risen!

Happy Easter from my home to yours!
Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for sure but some things don’t change. Have you been baking and getting ready for tomorrow? What’s one thing on your menu that you have to have every year?
If this is Good Friday, why doesn’t it feel so “good”? It all seems backward doesn’t it?

What could be good about the unspeakable pain he suffered? What could be good about the shame and betrayal?

Easter Sunday is so joyful, bright and cheery. Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”? It just feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to rejoice over His resurrection, unless I have felt the pain of His death. I have realized that in life the sweetest victories are the ones which were realized after a pain-filled journey.

And, so it is with Good Friday. I know there will be victory over death, but I can’t skip ahead in the story.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew what he would experience. And he knew why he would go through it. He did it for me. He did it for you.

Do you know that? Have you felt it down in the very core of your soul? 
Sometimes it makes me squirm a bit. Why would anyone do that for me?

Well, because, I can’t do it for myself!

There is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love and mercy.

That is why it is called GRACE.

His grace is freely given. We don’t have to pay for it. He paid the price for us already.

Do you remember that movie from years ago called “Ransom”? A couple’s young son was kidnapped and the parents went to hell and back trying to find him and pay the “ransom” demanded by the kidnappers.

Well, Jesus is our “ransom”. (1 Timothy 2:6) His life was the payment.

Why is it called “Good Friday”? Because that wasn’t the end of the story….
.
…It was just the beginning!
Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house that’s become the landing zone for ALL THE THINGS! 🙋🏻‍♀️🤪 I’ve never been more thankful for our rarely used dining room table as it’s become command central for school books and laptops and games.

Where are things collecting in your house right now?
“Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every si “Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every single one of these emotions has made their way through our home in recent days and, my guess is, they have in your home too.

I SO needed this reminder today from the new book ‘Adore’ by @sarahagertywrites.

Adoration isn’t just sitting at His feet gazing longingly with stars in my eyes. It’s bringing my fears and my sorrows and gray roots in my hair that desperately needs to be colored and my messy house and all of the things that threaten to send me over the edge right now and laying them down before Him, soaking up His word and His presence so that when I stand back up, I am changed for having spent the time adoring the ONE who is... Healer, comforter, peace-giver, deliverer, redeemer.

What do you need to bring to Him today? I’ll share mine in the comments and I’d love to hear from you too!
I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole lockdown thing began, I’ve come to appreciate this time of day even more.

It feels the most...normal. Daytime is strange and foreign right now. My husband has taken over our home office, I’m suddenly taking over the responsibility of managing my kids’ distance learning and let me just say that teaching 7th grade algebra to my daughter is hugely ironic since I struggled with math all the way through school. I’m trying to do my own work but it feels utterly futile with the constant interruptions which take precedence right now. In the daytime, I’m constantly reminded of how upside down life feels.

But, in the evening, I cook dinner like I’ve always done and we gather around the table like we’ve always done and we laugh and tell stories and then clean up and play games or go on a walk or watch a show. And that feels SO gloriously normal.

So now I love evenings even more than I ever did before and I’m so grateful for this little chunk of time where the rhythms we established years ago are helping to sustain us now when so much of life feels outside of our control.

What feels ‘normal’ to you right now? Whatever it is, keep doing it. 🌿
When I was in college I would frequently call home When I was in college I would frequently call home and pour my heart out to my mom, sharing with her all that was happening in my life in that completely unfiltered way that you can talk with the person who potty trained you. These phone calls usually took place at night and my mom would patiently listen as I vented frustrations about professors, roommates, boyfriends and the food in the cafeteria. And, inevitably, they would end with my mom saying, “Everything seems worse when you’re tired. Try not to overthink things or make any major decisions tonight, especially when you are feeling emotional.” Dear friends, may I pass along this advice to you today?

If you don’t absolutely HAVE to make a decision right now, I want to encourage you to wait until life gets back to normal. If you are finding yourself over-analyzing relationships and family dynamics, I want to encourage you to remember that everything seems more dramatic when looked at under a microscope. And, let’s face it, being homebound with our loved ones non-stop makes us all feel like lab rats in an experiment.

If you are tempted to quit a job, start a business, start homeschooling permanently, stop homeschooling permanently, move to a new city, buy a farm, quit pursuing your dream, join a commune or make any other major life decision just…wait. Because, if it is in fact the right decision, it will be made even clearer once our lives return to their ‘regularly scheduled programming’. Instead, in this strange season, let’s all just take a deep, collective breath and let it out slowly, releasing the anxiety that threatens to overtake us. Let’s help each other maintain some perspective and not slip into a posture of over-thinking every little thing in our lives. Let’s remember that the enemy of our souls would love nothing more than to use this time when things feel dark to manipulate us into thinking that aspects of our lives are worse than they actually are.

My prayer for you in these days is that you will have the clarity to know what is true and that you will be filled with peace even while we live in this season of so many unknowns.
Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking thes Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking these days! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m trying to avoid gaining the #corona15 but my daughter and I LOVE baking together and it does help to pass the time plus it counts as a science lesson right?

If you’re able to find flour in the stores (for the love people please stop overbuying!) and you’re doing more baking at your house too you need to add this apricot bread to your list of new recipes to try!

Normally I’d point you to my blog for the directions but I’m going to do you a solid and leave the full recipe in the comments.

What have you baked so far during this time of social distancing? I’d love some new ideas!
There are a LOT of people out walking in our neigh There are a LOT of people out walking in our neighborhood right now (but still social distancing!) and she decided that she wanted to bring them some joy and put a smile on their face when they pass by our house. Also, the square with ‘say no to coronavirus’ is priceless. 😂 I just love her so much!
Follow
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

Log in as an administrator and view the Instagram Feed settings page for more details.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 At The Picket Fence