Happy Announcement!

On By Piano girl10 Comments

Faith is personal. It ebbs and flows as we move through life. Hymns and scripture are part of my journey. They offer hope and simple reminders of God’s love.

I’m excited to announce my poetry collection, Quiet Embers-A Poetry of Faith. It will be available next Tuesday, June 25!

What a joy to work with tara caribou of Raw Earth Ink https://raw-earth-ink.com/. Her creative attention to design and layout added so much to the collection. Also, a big thank you to my son, Ryan, for the beautiful cover art!

I will post links once it’s available for order! Until then, here’s a sneak peek.

Fifteen Minutes or a Lifetime

On By Piano girl8 Comments

Ideas and actions
Some good
Some not so good
Often designed
To bring fame
Even if only
Fifteen minutes worth
Fifteen minutes
Or a lifetime
Eventually, the attention
Rings hollow-
I used to think
I’d like to be a rockstar
Wearing rockstar clothes
Playing piano on stage
But now, I’m grateful
That I get to be
A friend
An encourager
Someone who cries
During sad movies
And laughs at
Her husband’s jokes-
Someone who plays piano
Singing a simple song
Smiling as her granddaughter
Stands nearby swaying
Back and forth to the music…

Gravel Roads

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Looking at me now
You might not guess
Where I come from
Sometimes, I even forget
But today, I choose
To remember
I come from
Climbing trees
Digging in the dirt
Making mud pies
Walking down the
Tree-lined gravel road
Leading away from home
While hearing
Don’t go past the red clay hill!
I choose to remember
Loving this place
That held my life
In love and security
Loving this place so much
When the time came to leave
I was ready to go
Not to run away
But to continue
Walking down the
Tree-lined gravel road
This time, hearing
Come back soon!
As I passed the
Red Clay Hill
Taking home
Along with me
For the journey

Sharing one of the poems I wrote in a recent poetry circle. Many thanks to Ali Grimshaw https://flashlightbatteries.blog/ for sharing her heart and creating such a beautiful space. ❤️

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl4 Comments

A recording of
Ocean waves
Playing
On one side
An actual bird
Outside
The window
Chirping
Good night!
You and me
Me and you
Sitting quietly
In the middle
Gently rocking
The weight
Of my world
Gradually easing
With the increase
Of your sweet sleep

Rocking our granddaughter offers time for reflecting. I often think about how my parents felt when their grandchildren were babies. Which, of course, reminds me how much I miss Dad. And even though I wish he could have met Emi, I am so thankful for his influence on my children.

What a joy. Witnessing my dad, my husband, and my son be loving fathers. I do not take it for granted and will be forever grateful for their examples. Happy Father’s Day! ❤️

Undertow

On By Piano girl8 Comments

I’m not sure
If sad is
The right word
I’m not sure
If sad is
The right feeling
Sometimes emotions
Seem to trade places
Not in a swirling
Sea of whitecaps
Tossing me from
Side to side
No, more like
A silent undertow
Gently shifting sand
Beneath my feet-
Knowing I can’t
Call you to say
Happy Father’s Day!
But remembering
All the times I heard
Thank you! How’s my little girl?

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl6 Comments

Serving Security

Nothing fancy
No gourmet recipe
This batch was not
As fluffy as I’d
Have preferred
Then again, I haven’t
Made them in
Quite some time
Still, there’s something
Sweet in the making
And in the sharing
A Saturday morning
Family tradition
For many years
Before I even realized
It was a tradition
But the kids knew
They sensed security
In such a simple thing
And for that
I am grateful-
This batch may not
Have been my best
Let’s face it, it wasn’t
But my little granddaughter
Ate them up just like
Her dad, her aunt,
And her uncle used to do

About the Sky

On By Piano girl3 Comments 

It’s a curious thing
Raindrops so huge
They land with a splat!
On my windshield 
While across the sky 
The sun fights its way
Through dark clouds
There must be a rainbow close by
Natural progressions
Able to awaken 
A belly full of emotions 
Welling up through 
My lungs, exiting
With each breath
Pulling me 
Into the day
While a song 
About the sky
Plays quietly 
In the background
Another sky photo from my Mom. 🤍💙

TO BE NEEDED

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My recent desire for a pet may be related to our recently empty nest. What is it about that need to care for someone or something? As a young mom, someone always needs you. And though some moments felt overwhelming, part of me misses those days. Yes, they will always need me at some level. And I will always be their mom. The difference now is I realize how very much I need them. ❤️

MEET MALIBU

You were scared
No purring
No quiet meows
Only hiding
Not in an
Unfriendly way
You were scared-
I think she needs me
Even though
The thought of
Taking you home
Made me nervous
Pets bring responsibility
But here we are
And I think maybe
I need you, too

Nap time…
I think she’s decided we’re ok. 💜

Simply Sunday

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Side by Side

Every now and then
A sweet moment
Becomes an instant
Replay of the past
Even if not initially
Recognized as such-
A smile captured
Awakening a
Recollection
Prompting a search-

A search for
An image from
Another time
That when placed
Beside the new
Allows past and present
To share smiles
And sweet joy
Cherishing a
Precious treasure
Handmade with love

A rocking airplane built by my husband almost thirty years ago.
Son and daughter on the left, granddaughter on the right. ❤️

Simultaneous Smiles

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How is it
When I sit
Across the table from you
Noticing your beautiful
About-to-get-married
Grown-up smile
I simultaneously see
Your sweet smile
As you held
Your baby brother
For the first time
Your hesitant smile
On the first day
Of kindergarten
Your teary smile
On the last day
Of fifth grade-
All of them
Spun together
Into the lovely
Tapestry of you
Each thread, a memory
Sewn into my heart
I suppose that’s why
It is how it is
When I sit
Across the table from you

For Rachel ❤️