Goodnights

On By Piano girl9 Comments 
Tiny hand
Gently
Patting me
On the back
Head quietly 
Resting
On my shoulder-
Hands folded
Held still
Near your face
As I tuck you
Snuggly in bed-
Seemed like
Overnight
You were too big
To be tucked in
Staying up 
Later than
Mom and dad
A sweet
Reversal of roles
The big kid
Coming in
To tell us goodnight-
I don't remember 
When any of those
Goodnights
Changed
But they did-
And that's ok

Preparing to be a grandma has me thinking about those early days and years of motherhood. They change so fast.

We are looking forward to welcoming sweet Emilia June very soon! 💗

Mom and Dad to be!
Great-grandmas. 💗

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl8 Comments

The Firsts

I have felt
The joy in
Celebrating
The firsts-
Smiles
Steps
Words
Birthdays
The one being
Celebrated
Too young
To remember
Yet, later seeing
Thru the eyes
Of those who
Were present
Knowing their
Foundation
Was built
In love-
Strange how
Those firsts
Continue
But change
After one is gone
A birthday
An anniversary
A holiday
Without them
The one being
Remembered
Not here, and yet
Our tears
And smiles
Confirmation
Of that same
Foundation
Still standing

This is our first Easter without Dad. Just me and Mom watching church online as my Uncle James preached from the church where he and my Aunt Martha serve in Massachusetts. It was quiet. The message was hopeful. And we are thankful. Happy Easter! 🕊

Freshly Sliced Strawberries

On By Piano girl7 Comments

A regular guest
Always
Managing
To find his
Way back
To this place
Always
Managing
To keep his
Path hidden
From his host
Which was okay
Reservations were
Not accepted anyway-
The proprietor
Remaining
Ever ready
To welcome
His friend
However long
The space
Between visits
With freshly
Sliced strawberries
And a kind word-
A life lesson
For other guests
Young and old-
All creatures
No matter
Their stature
Deserve freshly
Sliced strawberries

My sweet dad and his turtle friend, Buddy. ❤️

I’m not sure how many years this turtle visited my parent’s backyard, but it was several. When our family visited, we would go outside to look for Buddy. On one particular occasion, there was some construction involved.

Our youngest son, Ryan, decided Buddy needed his own little resort. Ryan found a plastic container and gathered some rocks. After careful placement, he added water. And believe it or not, Buddy crawled right in!

Today, I am grateful for this sweet photo and memory.

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl5 Comments

Being Me

As quickly as
The sun’s warmth
On the back
Of my hand
Disappears
With the shadow
Of a passing cloud
So changes my mood-
Sunlight smile
Grateful for
A new day
Knitted brow
Remembering
Recent loss
Cheery gasp
At the sight of
Deer hopping
Across a field
In the rain
Into the shelter
Of welcoming trees-
Resisting the labeling
Of these sudden shifts
As good or bad
Accepting them
Simply as what is
On this journey
Of learning
To become me

Provision

On By Piano girl4 Comments 
Blue morning clouds
Gently float across
Downward streaming
Sunbeams gracing
Dewey green grass-
I cannot tell if
The Sun’s rays
Are in front
Of the clouds
Or behind them
Or perhaps 
Piercing right
Thru their center-
Not for purposes
Of Destruction
On the contrary
For giving guidance
Providing warmth
On their journey
Whether it means
Quickly dissipating
As they transform
Into raindrops
Quenching parched
Ground below
Or peacefully 
Lingering
Long enough 
To provide shade
For someone in need

Sky Full of Sorrow

On By Piano girl7 Comments

I need a tree
For an umbrella
Its branches
The spokes
Its leaves
The fabric
A little rain
To touch
My head
My arms
Not enough
To drench
Just enough
To mix with
My tears
Shield my heart
From the drops
Too heavy to bear
Falling like sorrow
From the sky
For the lights
Of the innocent
Once again
Violently
Senselessly
Extinguished

Simply Sunday

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Conversation in the Sun

One lonely
Bloom
Fighting
To stand up
Underneath
The weight
Of recent winds
And rain
A tiny speck
In the vastness
Of this world
Has anyone noticed?
Bent so low
Only able to
See my shadow
On the ground
As the sun
Shines above

Hey! Over here!
Bend your ear
My way
It seems you have
Grown weak under
The pressures of
Life in this garden
Don’t lose hope
Rest, recharge
Together
Our roots will
Grow stronger
And you will
Once again
Stand up tall
Your face
Soaking up
The sun’s rays

Reblogging a post from last year. Seemed like a good reminder.💛🌸

Drop of Grace

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One footprint
Great or small
Shallow or deep
Creating a pause
Within each step
Each space
Left behind
Able to catch
Raindrops
From a cloud
Following
Overhead
Or teardrops
From a friend
Following
Close behind
And within
This catching
Of rain and tears
Lives freedom
To release
A drop of grace
With every step
A drop of grace
To meet each
Follower
Cloud or friend
With this message-
I know you are there
I won’t leave you behind

The Daffodil and Me

On By Piano girl2 Comments

Buried deep
In the earth
Surrounded
By fertile soil
A cycle of
Moisture
And Warmth
From the unseen
Source above
Encouraging
The tiniest
Of stretches
Baby roots
Begin to reach
Grounding
And seeking
In chorus
Ready to follow
An unknown path-
The hard work of
Seed to sprout
The patience of
Bud to flower
All while weathering
Wind, rain, and cold
Until the affection
Of the sun
Lifts her face
Toward the sky
Begging the question-
What comes next?

I am enjoying the daffodils this year. Their resistance to our unpredictable weather is amazing. They may droop a little due to an unexpected cold but stand right back up the next sunny day. They may shiver in the wind, but they don’t fall over. Hmmm…I think there’s a lesson in there somewhere. 😉

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl2 Comments

According to the calendar, spring begins tomorrow. Well, the sun is shining this morning in my little corner of Oklahoma. But the temperature outside reads 27 degrees. Brrrr.

The daffodils in our front yard have made me smile all this past week. Each day it seemed another one had bloomed. So, this morning, I decided to walk outside and see how they were fairing in this cold snap.

They are a bit droopy. But I am hopeful that the bright sunshine will bring back their smiles. Here are a few previously shared recordings. Hoping they make you smile. 💛

Sunshine on My Shoulder by John Denver-Kelley Morris, piano

Daffodils by Kelley Morris

Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles-Kelley Morris, piano