Happy Father's Day .........

Good Evening My Friends.  Today is Sunday, June 17^th.  I trust all of you have had a good week?

Everything is OK here.  I will provide you a quick recap as well as a couple of interesting moments, but first I want to take this opportunity to honor Janelle's and My Dads on this very special day.

Here are a couple of fun moments from the past.  You can see that the smile My Janelle has shown you so many times lately was always part of her.  On the left is the Hayes Family, April 1997.  One of our many trips to central Florida to visit my parents.  The kids always enjoyed these trips because they ALWAYS had at least one day at one of the Orlando theme parks.  Based on the date, this puts Britt at age 13, Ian at one month shy of age 11.  On the right, this is the Hayes / Clausen Family, December 1987 in Southern California.  Britt at age 4, Ian at age 19 months.  We miss our Dads very much, we have always been so thankful that they were and are a part of who we became.....Kenneth McCray Hayes and Robert David Clausen were great men!

Tuesday, I went to the bank.  I rarely go inside; I am an ATM type of guy.  This week I had a couple of deposits to make and I wanted to ask some questions about what type of short term CDs were available so I ventured inside, got in line and waited my turn for one of the charming ladies behind the counter to call me forward.  There were four of them, when I made it to the front I was signaled over by a nice young lady.  Asked my questions, handed her a couple of checks to deposit and in the next moment she looked right at me and asked…..”Are you Janelle’s husband”?  A few brief tears later I acknowledged that I was and she proceeded to inform me that her daughter had just finished her first year at the school, last May when she was trying to decide the right place to enroll her daughter she happened to come by Sharon and was provided a personal tour of the school by you know who and the decision to enroll was made immediately.

Wednesday, I left Charlotte for my first out of town business trip since last June 10^th.  Landed in Boston, very overcast sky, slight drizzle, my thoughts immediately went to My Janelle.  You see for years I have always kidded her that when the sky is grey, when the drizzle is in the air, she is the happiest because it reminds her of her growing up years in the state of Oregon (lots of rain in the Northwest).  So after a few special moments reflecting on that, I got to the Avis counter and got my car.  Check this out...... they gave me a car that just happened to have Oregon license plates.  I have no doubt that My Janelle was smiling down on me.

So, my trip to Boston pretty much went as I expected.  Not bad, not great, just kind of trying to get back into my Sales mode,trying to determine if I even want to do this anymore.  No major movement on that subject at this time.  As I mentioned last week, for sure my highlight of this trip was that I was going to meet one of you.  Gerry is a very special lady to me.  Last August when we were exploring possible medical treatments, she offered her house to us as a base if coming to Boston was something we wanted to explore.  I won’t get the story completely right so at the very end of this post, under my sign off I am providing you the text of the email Gerry sent me when I asked her how she found Janelle and became so involved in our journey.  I think you will enjoy it.  I do want to say, that what you read is an example of numerous emails I have gotten from many of you that have invested in our journey without knowing who we are.  I am so grateful.  Back to Gerry, she started sending Janelle and I daily email prayers / encouragement and I do mean daily.  She did not miss a day from late August until May 10th, Janelle's home going.  Once Janelle got to the point where she really could not focus on reading emails, I read these to her every day.  Back to the immediate, Wednesday night, I arrived, rang the door bell, was greeted by a dear lady who I already considered a close friend, now we have the personal face to face experience to add to it.  Lots of great conversation with her and her husband Harold and one great Italian meal fit for a King, even a name tag for my place at the table.  You know what My Janelle would show you right now?  Here is it…..

This coming week will also be pretty busy, I am tentatively planning a little vacation trip to the Midwest.  Roxy is coming with me, should be interesting to see how she does for 10+ hours in the car at a time.  I say tentatively because I am at the point where I feel the freedom to change my plans on a moment’s notice.  So to my extended family out there reading this, I may see quite of few of you over the next week, but I may not also.  If you don’t see me, don’t worry.  I just most likely made a game time decision to spend some time alone.

Can’t end this without again Thanking all of you reading this for all of the encouragement you are providing to me.  I love the cards, emails and comments.  I read all of them numerous times each week.

I will plan to check in with you again next Sunday night.  I hope all of you have a great week.

Ken

Khayes1032@aol.com (Email)

khayes@carolina.rr.com (Facebook)

 

Strength and Peace to You ….. Psalms 29:11

 

From My Friend Gerry......

Well, back in August, I became acquainted with Papertrey Ink (and blogs).  I bought a few sets, but lacking the talent Janelle and others have, I didn’t know how to use some of them.  So, I googled “Boxes, Bags and Tags.”  This is when Janelle’s blog came up.  I went to it, and was in awe of her work, the way she ‘spoke,’ and sharing with everyone.  So, I continued from whenever that post was dated and saw tons of her creations and started to know about her and her life. 

Reading it and getting excited for the wedding, and seeing all her beautiful things she made for the wedding.  Then I came to August 1^st blog submission.  What???  What???  I could not believe what she was writing and saying.  And the way she was saying it and being so faithful. (it wasn’t me who was sick, I didn’t even know her but I was mad)  Here was this beautiful, kind, talented, young, giving, faithful woman whose life just turned around.  As I’ve said a million times, even though I am a person who cares about people and I try to help others, I was struck by Janelle’s story.  Was it because it was two days after the wedding?  That her blog is her – with her heart wide open?  Yes, I still have three other friends fighting brain tumors right now, but my heart hurt so much for Janelle.  So, I posted encouragement on the blog. 

A few days later I somehow searched out your address and wrote that 2 page letter.  I believe one of the first lines said “please don’t think I’m stalking you,” and told her my age and that I’m a grandmother (that always helps J) – I just didn’t want you all to think I was a weirdo.  If you had wanted to come to Boston for another opinion I wanted to offer my help.  Just looked back and it was on August 18^th that she responded to my blog reply and from there I just said I wanted to email her a prayer every day – that it was something I could do along with praying for her.  I also said she did not have to reply to the emails, I didn’t want to bother her and take up her time (kind of what I say to you).  But every so often she would write back.    We realized we had some things in common.  Like our own company.  Happy at home.  Love sweets (although she knows how to control them).  How sons are different from daughters.  Many little things.  And now you know!  This lady of yours is deeply imbedded in my heart – and will be always.  

Comments

[janis]

Beautiful... have a great trip - if that is what you decide on... love, janis

[Armando Cortez]

Great to hear from you again! It's truly amazing how Janelle touched so many people throughout her life in everything she said and did.

[Sherry in MI]

Thanks, Ken, for another update. Glad that
your trip was successful. I, too, found
Janelle's blog through another blog and
followed it daily. I offered Janelle's name
up in prayer on my own and in our Tuesday a.m.
Bible class. She was always on my mind, even
though we never met. Yet I felt "connected",
especially after learning of our Michigan
connection through you. I continue to pray
for your healing and strenth and for Britt and
Ian, too. Keep blogging....we are interested.

[Lynn]

Ken, safe travels to you. I'm assuming your heading to your sister's house. We continue to pray for your brother-in-law, Mike. I remember your last visit up this way. I think you were going over a bridge in Kentucky but Janelle thought she took the picture of the bridge in Cincinnati. My memory might be wrong, but we had a laugh over it because I'm from Cincinnati and didn't notice either :) Sending lots of hugs and prayers your way.

[SueB]

I loved this post. I both chuckled and got a lump in my throat when I saw the photos of the delicious food your friend made you. That was one of Janelle's signature posting characteristics - showing the food she/both of you had enjoyed. I wish we were home so we could visit with you next week if you choose to come to the midwest, but we're still traveling and are a very long ways away. God be with you ALWAYS, wherever you go. I look forward to your Sunday posts and I hope you keep them coming.

[Kelley Smith]

You are amazing, Ken. Thank you for continuing your posts and inspiring others, just the way Janelle did (and continues to do).

[Jan Frost]

Hey...that license plate looks just like mine! I can't help but know that Janelle WAS smiling on you! And Gerry's amazing dinner...! Enjoy your trip, you and Roxy, and have a relaxing vacation - you so deserve it. Continuing to pray for your healing every day.
Jan

[Connie F.]

Thank you for your Sunday posts. I think of you and Janelle so often during the week and I enjoy hearing how you are doing and what is going on with you. No doubt Janelle was smiling down on you driving the rental car with Oregon plates =) Travel safely and enjoy your trip (if you decide to go.) I continue to keep you and your family in my prayers and I'm sending you (((BIG HUGS))).

[Tricia T]

I love the "coincidence" of the license plate. Are there any coincidences with our Father? It is an encouragement to me to see how He continues to encourage you. I pray you have a safe trip and are able to continue to grow and trust and heal. Blessings!!

Tricia

[Marybeth L.]

I hope you enjoy your trip. I think bringing Roxy might be nice for you , but you do lose a bit of freedom . Praying for a nice happy trip. Love that Janelle was in some way sending you a bit of a smile with the rent a car. Love hearing from you ! Big hugs!

[Kathy Mc]

I still catch myself praying for Janelle to beat that cancer and then realize I'm praying for the Hayes family now. Hard to believe so many of us could be touched by the loss of a sweet lady we only knew through her blog. Got a chuckle out of the Oregon license plate but yet also kind of eerie. What are the chances in Boston? Have a fun, safe and relaxing trip, Ken, and thanks for keeping up the blog! Happy Belated Father's Day, too!

[Susan]

Ken, I saw the advertisment for the new show, Craft Wars on TLC and the first thing I thought was, "boy, Janelle would love that show!" Still miss her and think about her everyday. Much love to you and your family.

[Jan Konetchy]

Thanks Ken

[June K.]

Ken, thanks for sharing. No doubt that your Janelle was looking down and seeing you when you reached Boston. The Oregon plates could not be just a coincidence.

[Colleen]

thank you so much for sharing your heart and soul and "Your JANELLE" with us still...I think you had a "God Wink" there with the car...definitely a sign from above...a little miracle just for you, to give you hope and joy in what's ahead. I am another acquaintance through the blog world...she was a gifted person in so many respects. Remember Philippians 4:13!

[Goodly Creations (Volcano)]

Aloha Ken,
So glad your trip went OK and that your Janelle was "there" to help bring you strength and hope! What a great way to think of it, as others mentioned there are no coincidences, God was there with Janelle cheering you on too!
Wishing you a safe trip to the mid-west if you do decide to go. Michigan is a beautiful place in the summer. . . family can be good. . .
Take care of yourself. You and your family remain in my prayers.
Goodly Creations

[Margie Nance]

Great to read about your journey. If you end up staying in Charlotte next week, let's plan a trip to Forest Lawn on Sunday.

[Tresa]

Happy Be-lated Father's Day to you!
I think all of the coincidences are a super neat way of letting you know that she is still near, the weather, the rental car, the lady at the bank. Thanks for the updates and safe travels to the midwest.

[Jessie McLaughlin]

Hope you had a happy Father's Day Ken! I pray for you all daily!! Love all the signs that Janelle's showing! Safe travels if you go!

[Janet Brattin]

Look forward to each week Ken, I love the photos you included, and yes, Janelle would have done those pictures LOL!!! Have fun traveling, or not, you deserve the time to get to really know where you want to go.