So many Conflicting Thoughts On one side Shouts of anger Worry and fear On the other Celebrations Claims of victory Somewhere In the middle Feeling Desperately sad Yet, believing There is a way To bridge This chasm Life is precious Feel it in my bones But it is also Devastatingly Difficult If I fail to Acknowledge The latter Celebrating The first Rings hollow Solutions Only arrive Covered In layers upon Layers of love So deep, one voice Can neither explain Nor take credit For the outcome
Let love and kindness be the motivation behind all that you do. I Corinthians 16:14
My intention is not to simplify our current state of affairs, only to take a breath. 💔
Early morning When there is Barely enough Light to see Or early evening After the sun Sinks below The horizon Those times Are safest For romping And playing In the soft blades Expending All energy Before pausing To graze our fill- But some days When the sun Sits high in The middle Of the day Temptation Is too great Warmth and light Too much to ignore All concerns Disappear As I run thru Open fields Fearless and free For just a few Moments Until lovingly called Back into the grove Protected In the shade Of the trees
I’ve previously written about the herd of deer near our home. We often spot them in the early morning or late afternoon. I’m always glad to see them happily grazing in the field.
One day recently, I got a surprise. Driving by in the middle of the day, I spotted a young deer hopping in the field! It was all by itself. I could just imagine its mom calling from the edge of the trees, Ok! That’s enough! Playtime is over!
Moving is a multi-faceted project that takes on a life of its own. Packing all your belongings in boxes, bags, and tubs. Strategically placing said containers, along with furniture, in the moving truck. Like playing a championship game of Tetris, according to my husband.
And then, after driving to your new abode, you work backward. Unloading all your belongings from the moving truck. Not wasting any time making the new place feel like home.
For most, if not all, of our many moves, our parents were there to help. College dorms, apartments, houses. Each new stage of life took us blocks or states away and back. Moving was a family affair.
Today was another moving day. But this time, I was the proud parent, listening and helping. Though my helping was more moral support than heavy lifting. Cold drink runs and a dryer plug from Home Depot.
Our son and daughter-in-law were moving to a new apartment. A different town, more space, a new home. As they loaded the truck, I overheard several neighbors.
You guys were great neighbors! We will miss you guys around here. I was planning to ask your husband if he could mount my tv on the wall.
After the truck was unloaded, we had a nice lunch out. And once the washer and dryer were hooked up, my husband announced it was time to go. I sighed. Not before documenting. A snapshot of the three sweaty guys-dad and his two boys. And a picture of the happy couple standing by the fireplace.
Another moving day in the books. A hot, sweaty, full of laughter, family moving day. Not the last in our family, I’m sure. Just need a little rest before the next one. 😉
Each careful step Across the floor Cushioned by Layers of history What was once alive Now protects as it Deteriorates Feeding the earth Lying underneath How many have Come and gone Taken these same steps Across lines of Time and space- Did they notice The Luna moth Drying her wings In frilly foliage Of gentle ferns Or the bright orange Mushrooms Peeking out from Underneath The fern leaves Were their steps cushioned as well? Steps that allowed Time for pause Time for soaking up All the forest Has to say About the past The present And the future
Feelings Often show Right On Our Faces Before We even Understand them Ourselves There they sit Right On Our Faces For all the world To see For all the world To interpret And though Interpretations Are likely Incomplete Perhaps The attempt To understand Will prove A first step To understanding
I caught a glimpse of myself in an airport restroom mirror. The person staring back at me did not look happy. Add another inconvenience. Nothing major. Just a broken latch on the restroom door. That’s all.
What is wrong with me? I don’t like the look on my face.
An investigation provided the following information:
My 4:00 A. M. alarm was rude. I need my sleep.
No time for tea before my first flight. Tea wakes me up.
Travel is exhausting. But the adventures are worth the stress. I think…
Now put a smile back on that face and get on the next flight home!
The past two years brought health challenges for my dad. Open-heart surgery and heart failure were encapsulated by complications from diabetes. I am grateful he is still with us. And he is thriving.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad!
He and my mom have coped well with the struggles of health combined with pandemic living. I know it has not been easy, and I am proud of them.
On this Father’s Day, I miss my father-in-law, Bob. I often wonder what he would think about the current state of the world. The political divide in our country? He would be disappointed. The challenges of living through a pandemic…not sure how he would have fared. Isolation from family and friends would have been difficult. He lived for his family and was quick to whip us into shape. 😉❤️
But, oh, what good things have happened. Grandchildren graduated from high school and college. Several are now married. And three new great-grandchildren have joined our family.
Anytime we are together as a family, I know he is smiling. He is smiling, and we are remembering.
Stoic He stands In the center Of the forest- Looking From behind The years of Weathered ware Show clearly So much so A passerby Might question Whether or not He was still alive Unless they Keep walking Circling The forest floor And spot his One good arm Outstretched Hand waving His face in Full view- Grandfather Tree With his welcoming Well-worn smile I’ve got my fishing pole. Are you ready to go?
Another cool and breezy day in Vermont. A morning hike and an afternoon winery visit. A yummy maple creemee. Not looking forward to the Oklahoma heat!
We drove under a canopy of trees. So thick in stretches, we wouldn’t have been able to see the sun even if it had been shining. Winding switchbacks took us to the top of Mt. Mansfield. We marveled at the beautiful views.
Some of us closed our eyes and held on tight at certain turns. Well…one of us did, anyway. But that was not the thing that caused me to gasp. Instantly feeling like a little kid. Any guesses?
Giant rocks!
Boulders with great veins of quartz running through. Some were standing solitary. Others were stacked, forming small caves. Even others with trees growing against their faces. Those might have been my favorite.
Standing in the shadows of these giants, the kid in me wanted to fill my pockets with pebbles. No, I did not. Managed to rustle up some restraint.
Instead, I stood in awe of these majestic formations. Felt the embrace of their cool breeze. Accepted their invitation to climb, stand, and sit. And finally, to walk away feeling confident, steady, and grateful.
Walking through an airport can be a tad overwhelming. Where is my next gate? The restroom? Starbucks? Ok, so maybe not Starbucks. But the level of activity and the sheer number of other people…can feel a bit frantic.
Today while walking through Chicago O’Hare airport, I heard the sweetest phrase.
Hold hands and follow me.
When I glanced across the walkway, I saw a mom standing with a baby on her hip and two other littles standing close by. The words I heard were her message to the kids. They listened, grabbed each other’s hands, and followed her.
What a precious picture. Yes, mom looked travel-worn. Her responsibilities were many. I don’t know where they were headed, but they were going together.
This scene caused me to question. Is that how God talks to me? Does he say, Look! Here are your family and friends. Just grab a hand and follow me.
Or perhaps, if unable to reach out, pick me up. Carries me like the baby on the mom’s hip. Leaving the hand-holding and following part to family and friends. Either way, I am never alone.
Side note: I really was traveling today. 😊 Spending a few days in beautiful Vermont. More to come…
Yesterday marked four years since my first Piano Girl blog post! I continue to be thankful for this WordPress family. I look forward to reading your words and continuing to find new connections.
A lot has happened in four years. Not the least of all, living through a pandemic. Times of sickness, death, isolation, masks, and vaccinations. Challenging does not begin to describe.
And yet, good things pushed their way through the muck. Extended time with family. New friends connecting across the miles thru zoom. Resilience tested and proven within so many. I even had my first book published!
No, those things do not erase current events distress from the wars in our world and gun violence in my country. They do, however, encourage me to cherish the connections I have, old and new. They remind me of the importance of loving, even when we disagree. They give me hope.
Here’s to year five! Prayers for peace. Actions with intention. Words to encourage. Stop by and say hello!
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. I Peter 4:8
Piano Girl 