tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233099032024-03-06T21:29:19.465-08:00Keep current, connected and active with North's healing journey out of cancer and the miracle community forming to support Stef and North over the next 8-9 months. It may be a new model for care, community and frienship.North McKinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12645960477683739802noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-28085493395620294442008-06-26T14:31:00.000-07:002008-06-26T14:42:15.159-07:00

Hello friends!http://stefsjournal.blogspot.com/In a recent conversation with my pal LeeAnn in Florida, it came to my awareness that this part of the overall journey of the last few years is new - its different - and its mine. Although I feel North with me everyday it feels like this new chapter, this cross country healing odyssey, needs a new title and a new look.North actually created an

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-78419479237876688722008-06-04T14:36:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:00:22.842-08:00

What a journey this continues to be in every way. Barnie and I have been exploring Florida (the top half anyway) for about three weeks! It has been such an amazing experience to be able to liesurely wander along the coast, which is gorgeous. I don't know what I was expecting but it was not the lushness of the forest making its way to the water. This state really does its state parks right!

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-40496377638154974422008-05-12T20:33:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:00:25.732-08:00

Oh My! Am I ever having a fabulous time in the South. "Loozyanna" the state where my honey was born- I LOVE it!Old churches to swamp tours (yes, we were that close!).. To a sunset dinner of crawdads and beer (Brother Bruce said I HAD to get them to really do it rght- messy but yummy!)To joyfully joining up with Cousin Dan and Vicki for tours of the still recovering (sort-of and slowly)

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-87059373969545560272008-04-25T20:30:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:00:28.074-08:00

After almost my first full week spent driving through the desert (in all its beauty AND manotony!), I watched the terrain gradually begin to change from flat and brown, short plants, to hills and green trees, flowers and wildlife. Welcome to The Hill Country of Texas and Rainbow Hearth Sanctuary and Retreat Center. My first ever random on line search for neat places to visit along my path

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-51557148747746972362008-04-17T19:51:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:00:29.291-08:00

Hello Everyone! Today is Thursday, April 17th, 2008. And, at long last, I am finally on the road.Getting the “Mac Truck” flu (thanks for taking care of me Mom!), having and replacing three (yes, 3!) dead or dying batteries (it takes one for the engine and two for the RV systems), banking and paperwork issues, and finally, when I thought I was all ready… high winds…all contributed to delaying my

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-43048492125410789922008-03-18T22:27:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:00:29.829-08:00

So I woke up this morning to go to work and the first thing that came to mind was my momma. She is having a hard time, as any mother would, with my leaving and having no real idea if and when I am coming back. Letting go can be hard to do and she is doing the best she can. WE treasure our horseback rides more than ever these days. Then I realized that due to temporarily losing my camara, I had no

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-49254695125909872242008-03-17T18:49:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:00:31.677-08:00

AKA... "Birthday Boys, Friends, Z, Fields of Gold and a new RV!"My cross country journey is just around the corner. I look forward to sharing blogs on the road that carry the flavor of previous heart and soul explorations: writings akin to those shared by North and I during his cancer journey that brought people to this site; not only for information, but inspiration and the opportunity to

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-73896452901190077942008-02-09T09:18:00.000-08:002008-02-09T09:33:18.632-08:00

Hello loved one's,Here is an e-mail exchange with my friend Jeannine (the bean) that, once I completed my response to her, I realized would make a fine blog up-date. Much love, health and happiness to all who visit and read here.Stef(P.S. Pls notice my new e-mail address - stefmcswink@yahoo.com)----- Original Message ----From: Jeannine Stark To: stefmcswink@yahoo.comSent: Thursday, February 7,

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-40141951837932504022008-02-01T09:35:00.000-08:002008-02-03T15:42:01.132-08:00

Once, a long time ago, I heard the following phrase; "The only thing constant is change." My reaction at the time was nervous discontent. It felt, to my 20 something self, that there was no way to control the circumstances of my life... no way to keep what was good in place, no way to ensure an outcome of my desire. Well, add another 20 years of life, and plenty of unexpected change, and oddly

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-25981776262795058612007-12-25T14:57:00.000-08:002008-12-08T17:00:32.693-08:00

WHITE CHRISTMAS!(View from my window when Barnie and I woke up!) Thank you Sweetheart. We all feel you here with us and also wonder if this magical white Christmas is a gift from you, especially since yesterday this was NOT in the forecast! I think so!Yippee! It must have started to snow just after the last person went to bed at 1:30 am. Because when we woke around 8am, it was, and has

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-1422316975443206062007-12-24T17:05:00.000-08:002008-12-08T17:00:35.569-08:00

Hello All!There is so much I want to share and so much fun and togethernes happenning here in Evergreen that I am going to let some great photo's tell the tale. The captions are not in place but there is live music downstairs and I think ya'll can figure out who is who if you already don't know.I am not alone in missing North very pointedly right now. But none of us question how present he is

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-27710877603151017712007-10-11T10:52:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:00:35.993-08:00

Hello and blessings from Stef.It has been a whole lot longer than I expected between entries on this blog. My intentions were to post pictures and acknowledgments of the many significant events and people involved in the past two incredible, bizarre, painful and nearly unbelievable months since my beloved died. Yes, two months ago today, on August 11th, 2007, North released his final breath.

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-57542819406002997492007-08-14T14:30:00.000-07:002007-08-14T15:56:28.710-07:00

Hello and warm blessings of peace and thanks to everyone who loves and supports us. For some I imagine this blog may be the first time news of North's (or Norman McKinnon's) passing has reached you. If so, please read the blog below this one for clarity and comfort about what took place last Saturday, August 11th. Obviously this is a strange and indescribable time for us. It is difficult

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-72738615966229992202007-08-12T12:15:00.001-07:002008-12-08T17:00:36.860-08:00

The Sun has set on one chapter of our lives; the final chapter of North's physical existence has been written. My beloved has released his body and is now free and wild. No more cancer, no more pain. His evolution now continues on a whole new level and the explorer that he has set out upon an entirely new exciting adventure.He let go on Saturday, August 11th at 2:34 pm. He was at home as he

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-92027288616177149322007-08-08T12:48:00.000-07:002007-08-08T13:16:11.043-07:00

Help and love are pouring in. How incredible this all is... North is spending long hours these past few days at the hospital receiving hydration along with radiation to both his brain and hip/lower back area. Here are 2 e-mails about making donations and a note of clarity regarding that. I am not able to work at this point so I sure do appreciate Dr. Taub's request for help financially as

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-39971144311124214002007-08-07T15:01:00.000-07:002007-08-07T15:34:29.897-07:00

Dear Friends of North and Stef; North's and Stef's odyssey provides a renewed sense of courage and hope for all of us who know them. The strength and courage that sustains them and the love shining through their triumphs and disappointments are epic in scope. Their strength and faith may not be equaled in many of our lifetimes, and God only knows how long North will be with us. So in

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-2801379310872649832007-08-05T08:22:00.001-07:002008-12-08T17:00:38.649-08:00

Sunday, July 29th, 2007 (through today 8-5-07)(NOTE - You can click on photos to see them larger. Then hit your back arrow to return to the blog entry.) People are so incredible. I mean… God. They write deep and loving words of support. They call and e-mail, hug and pray, love and show up, cook and clean, help and give… so very much. They give of themselves, to me and to North, from a place

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-52162160600899377902007-07-27T23:45:00.000-07:002007-07-28T00:01:14.807-07:00

I just sat here for 5 minutes trying to think of what to say in the title line of this blog. I still don't like it but I need to go to bed. I decided to let the e-mails Jenny has written tell the latest news. I can't or don't want to write and explain it all and I feel that all people who are interested and care, near or far, ought to know. Plus, she did a lovely job of sharing the info and

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-88416421228182388232007-07-24T07:05:00.001-07:002008-12-08T17:00:39.897-08:00

It has been over two months since our last posting on this blog.It's been almost a year and a half since we learned there was cancer in North's body.As of tomorrow, July 25th, it will be a year since North proposed to me.That same day marks the completion of 4 decades around the sun for me. 40 years old. Wow.Here is a favorite photo of North and Zach on Father's Day at my Dad and Linda's place.

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-64130264233692714302007-05-11T07:48:00.000-07:002008-12-08T17:00:40.706-08:00

It's Friday morning, May 11th, 2007, and a gorgeous spring day in San Clemente. As my beloved sleeps and I sit at my computer, such a variety of recent experiences spin in my head. (By the way, thank you for the comments and e-mails from my last raw journal enetry. THIS one is just an update with some cool pictures that I hope you enjoy.) The first thing grabbing my attention this day is the

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-21353889051288765842007-05-01T02:08:00.000-07:002007-05-29T10:39:28.879-07:00

I became introduced to Byron Katie though Wil, who is a mutual friend of North and mine. Byron Katie's "The Work" in its most basic form, consists of four questions and a turnaround:1 Is it true?2 Can you absolutely know that it's true?3 How do you react when you think that thought?4 Who would you be without the thought?Then (as she describes) you turn it around, and find three genuine examples

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-11296871257035686982007-04-30T10:40:00.000-07:002007-04-30T12:49:20.206-07:00

Its a cloudy Monday and nearing noon already. North is just beginning to rouse. On Saturday night I journaled on the computer into the early hours of morning. I did it because I was compelled to, as an outlet for all I've been thinking and feeling.All day Saturday I pushed away the voice encouraging me to reach out to friends or family for support. I felt on the edge of something I could not

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-27688171351874244972007-03-09T17:26:00.000-08:002008-12-08T17:00:41.133-08:00

Hello Loves!Well, it’s a gorgeous and chilly Friday afternoon and I just shaved North’s head down on the front lawn. Ahh.. the whistle blows on the tea kettle - back in a moment...So, as per usual, my lovey has a phenomenal attitude about the loss of his hair. He says it’s a sure sign the chemo is doing what it is supposed to and that if the chemicals stopped his hair follicles from growing,

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23309903.post-1171480098298557272007-02-14T09:14:00.000-08:002007-02-14T11:08:18.396-08:00

Hello Everyone! We write this blog together today as “Mr. and Mrs. McKinnon” with great joy and appreciation for our “togetherness” at its new level. We are happy, in love and so very grateful for all our friends and family who have loved and supported us, and helped carry us so far in such a short period of a year. We deeply appreciate your continued prayers for North’s well-being

Stef Swinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06376956330628168797noreply@blogger.com2