Tag: hope

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl3 Comments

I decided to look back a year and see what I posted. Decided to share it again today with a new pic. I love the flowers of Spring and the hope that accompanies them. 💛🌼

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

Strength in Tears

On By Piano girl4 Comments

You are stronger
Than you know
Holding it together
When you feel
Like falling apart
Not that tears
Are a sign
Of weakness
Not at all
But sometimes
True strength
Is shown in
A moment of
Thankfulness
Realizing the storm
Has calmed and
Tears of relief
Can freely flow

Sometimes, we don’t realize our strength until the need for it lessens. Our family has experienced that truth this week with our sweet Emi. It was hard to see her so sick. Especially hard for her precious parents.

We are relieved that she is home from the hospital. We are thankful she is eating, crawling, laughing, and playing. ❤️

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl10 Comments 
Miles in front
Miles behind
Yet, it feels like
I'm standing still
Stuck in a loop
Remembering the past
Looking toward the future-
Past and future
Each holds 
An importance 
Of its own
One influences the other 
The other reflects the one
Perhaps the secret
Lies in the stillness
Of a single breath
When they are
Momentarily the same

I drove from Tulsa to Dallas yesterday. Our nine-month-old granddaughter is in the hospital with pneumonia. I checked the remaining miles on my map at least one hundred times.

Even when I knew I’d traveled a distance, it felt like I would never arrive. Those last ten miles were the slowest. 

But I made it. Held my sleeping granddaughter. Sat still, watched and listened to her breathe. Silently breathed a prayer.
Happy to report our sweet girl is getting better. ❤️

Painting the Day

On By Piano girl7 Comments 
I watched
And listened
Curious
As they fell
Both individually
And collectively
Creating patterns
For eyes and ears 
To interpret
And hearts
To contemplate
Providing 
Sweet relief
For scorched
Nooks and corners
Aching for relief
Grateful recipients 
Ready to flourish
Alongside
Spring flowers
Sharing space
In the day’s landscape-

I don’t think I’ve ever seen 
Such pretty raindrops!
 

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl5 Comments

Quiet, Not Empty

The house is quiet
I’ve felt versions
Of this quiet before-
A missing laughter
From the next room
Absent sounds of one
Coming and going
Or the rattling of a
Bucket of Legos-
Yes, it is quiet
But it is not empty
The space holds
Memories from
All that occurred
Along this path
Of parenthood
Love and laughter
Heartache and tears
So much hope and joy
Perhaps more than
These walls are
Able to bear
But that’s ok
My heart is more than willing
To share in the holding

Expecting Unexpected

On By Piano girl4 Comments

Morning drives
Typically, uneventful
Leave at a certain time
To arrive at a certain time
The same certain time every day-
Despite the routine
Most days my heart hopes
For the unexpected
And when it appears
It is always in the same spot

How does that still count as unexpected?

Grazing quietly
In the field
Looking up quizzically
As I drive by
Or hopping through the grass
Showing off fluffy white tails
Any number of soft brown deer
Passing on a surprised smile
An audible gasp
Pure unexpected joy

Another poem from a recent poetry circle. ❤️

Stillness

On By Piano girl8 Comments

Unaware
I was searching
Looking up
To the wild sky
Surrounded
By towering pines
Unaware
I was searching
Listening intently
To the bird’s morning song
Carried on the afternoon breeze
Unaware
I was searching
Until a stillness
Within the motion
Caught my breath-
There you are!
Aware
I was both
Finder and found

Wellspring

On By Piano girl7 Comments

I often forget
The depth of the well
And its capacity to hold
The fluidity of feelings
No matter their origin-
Until one sentiment
Rises to the top
Threatening a flood
Before slowly floating
Down, down, down
Once again resting
At the bottom of the well-

What would happen
If the tide was not
Contained
Allowed to spill over
Soaking its surroundings
With grief, joy, sadness, peace…

Perhaps next time
I feel a catch
In my throat
I’ll let all of the tears fall
Then search for my reflection
Along with those of the
Blue sky and green leaves
In the puddle that forms
Beside the tree
Where I choose to rest

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl11 Comments

When we know what our children want from life, we want those things for them. Whether it is finding that first apartment, going to college, getting a job, or finding their life partner.

That last one has its challenges. Finding that one person who gets us. One who loves us for who we are. But when it happens, there’s a profound combination of excitement and calm.

All that being said…

Our daughter, Rachel, got engaged this week! ❤️ Simply seeing the smile on her face (and his) makes me happy. And seeing them together gives me hope for the future.

Welcome to the family, Austen!

Both Places

On By Piano girl8 Comments

I’m getting used to
Not knowing
What to expect
Or how to feel
Choosing
Not to view
This turn of events
In a negative light
That would be
A contradiction,
Would it not?
Light has a way of
Lifting, drawing out
Right as the heart
Begins to cry
Whether the tears
Come from the reality
Of grief’s reminders
Or from the joy
Of new life’s smiles-
Light can live
In both places
Perhaps that lesson
Is teaching me peace
Even in the not knowing

I always look forward to poetry circles with Ali Grimshaw of https://flashlightbatteries.blog/ I wrote the above poem during our most recent circle. Thankful for this space and the precious friends I’ve met. ❤️