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. 💔
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.
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…
In the shapes Of clouds In the leaves Of trees In the feathers Of backyard birds It is everywhere But do we recognize it? They say… It is the spice of life. Maybe there is more to it than that? In the colors Of our skin In the traditions Of our cultures In the songs Of our hearts Variety draws us in Gives us cause To pause And wonder Encourages us To embrace Our differences Before showing us How very much We are the same
I wish I knew the whole story. How your life began. The circumstances surrounding your birth. How your big sister played with you. What you were like as a toddler.
When we first met, you were bossy and tall for your age. But you had a big smile and beautiful long, dark hair. You loved flying high on the playground swings. I’m glad for those moments of joy in your life.
Schoolwork did not come easy. You worked so hard. No matter what we tried, letters and numbers couldn’t find their way into your memory banks. Not long-term, anyway.
You enjoyed listening to stories and spending time playing pretend with your friends. Somehow, unphased by the lack of remembering academic details.
Traveling between Mexico and Oklahoma seemed to be the pattern. You, your mother, and your older sister. That must have been stressful and scary. Not knowing how long you would stay in one place or where you belonged.
I wish I knew the whole story. Why the older you grew, the less care you seemed to receive. Understanding there must have been challenges in raising a child with disabilities. But still, you deserved to be cared for and loved.
What love there was somehow faded with the birth of a new baby. Slowly turning to neglect and abuse. My heart breaks over what I do know.
You are unable to tell me your whole story. Only bits and pieces. Maybe I shouldn’t wish to know it. One thing I do know is you will always wear the scars. Yet, you still manage to smile. You give and receive love. And just maybe, that is the whole story. ❤️
Our sweet friend, Marie. So glad she is part of our lives.
You and I have A difference Of opinion As far as Differences Of opinion go Since an opinion Is quite often Not completely Based on facts Perhaps we could Put this one aside Yes, it seems Important now Emotions heightened With every discussion But is it worth dismissing each other? Flesh and blood Heart and soul Isn’t it worth attempting a connection? If our hands could Briefly touch Surely our hearts Would follow
President Biden spoke last evening concerning the epidemic of gun violence in our country. His words expressed sadness, compassion, and anger. His call to action was passionate as well as logical.
So many lives were lost. Families destroyed. Are we so stuck and stubborn in our thoughts and opinions? Is there no room left for compromise? I refuse to believe that is true.
One glance Then a second Wrinkled brow Curious smile Where do the mountains end? Where do the clouds begin? A closer look Would perhaps Provide answers If answers are What I seek- On third glance I choose to simply wonder At how this Humble horizon Takes over my thoughts Leaves me dreaming Of sitting At the foothills Longingly Looking up Toward the highest peak Where questions cease And peace overcomes With the passing of a gentle mountain breeze
I sat with The heaviness All-day My heart wrapped In a blanket of grief The day wrapped In weeping clouds
A peak of the sun Broke my stillness Only a glance Out the window Surely I should not soak it in How could I? Amid so much suffering
That sweet sunshine Not to be ignored Determined to draw me out Shone a little brighter Bravely displaying light And shadow Simultaneously
I couldn’t keep from smiling Even as my heart Continued to cry
End of the trail. Keystone Ancient Forest. Sand Springs, OK
I participated in a writing circle yesterday facilitated by Ali Grimshaw fashlightbatteries. Time writing and sharing with this group of women was just what my heart needed. ❤️
Today, my husband and I went on a three-mile hike. It was a bit more challenging than I care to admit. 😉But the time spent with him, walking through the forest with no outside distractions, was also much-needed. I am so glad he encouraged me to keep going.
Schools are failing Some would like You to believe Wisdom says Otherwise One only Needs To look To listen Hundreds of lives Working together In community Not simply teachers Teaching students But people, both Young and old Connecting on Common ground One that seeks To meet needs Heal wounds Tell stories Solve problems- So, what are schools? They are not failures But holders of the future- Take a minute To stop To look To listen Not at the ones Talking about Schools But the ones Walking inside Every Single Day
As a teacher, listening to political rhetoric can quickly become discouraging. Especially when I truly stop and think about all of the stories. And I am only one of many. So, I only hear some of the many.
I watch as students take home extra food. Listen as concerns are shared among staff. Notice when students receive much-needed services. And this is in addition to the love and care received from their teachers.
Each day there are tears of joy and sadness, screams of excitement and frustration. But isn’t that life? Don’t miss the bigger picture because of the voices attempting to drown it out.
The second poem was written for a recent school volunteer celebration. But it seemed fitting for my teacher friends as well. ❤️
Ready to Bloom
Imagine the Blooming daffodil Magically captured In time-lapse Photography Instant joy in Sunshine yellow If only you could see The results Of your work In this manner- Nurturing hands Thoughtful words Freely planting Seeds of confidence Gently watering Pulling weeds Re-planting when Necessary Always shining Your light… So much light Tending to Each new stem Each new bud Each precious child With love and patience As they emerge At their own pace Right alongside you Ready to bloom
But I know it’s true And those words? Spoken in love So, why is it Still so hard To admit? As if speaking The words Out loud Gives them power When actually The opposite is true
You’re right I’m depressed Not simply End-of-school Exhausted Though also true
Today’s remedies? Sunshine Fresh air Newly planted Flowers Only enough Planning to Ease some stress For the coming week Small steps Moving me Forward Gentle reminding Only I can take Those steps But I don’t Need to Take them Alone…and Neither do you
Piano Girl 