Seeking

There is no denying
It exists in every
Corner of our world
Brokenness
Most days, it lives
In my periphery
On the news
Down the street
Other days
It parks itself right
In the center of my heart-
The same is true of love
Whether noticed
Around the edges
Or in the center
Love holds the ability to grow
From the tiniest bits of joy-
The first chirp of the
Robin’s morning Hello!
The yellow-gold leaves
Of mountain Aspens in the Fall
The evening whisper of the wind
As it says Goodnight! to the pines –
Listening causes me to look
Seeing causes me to smile
Feeling causes me to
Open my window just a crack
So joy can find her way inside-
Do you hear the birds?
Do you see those trees?
Did you feel that breeze?

They may sound like
Unimportant things to ask
But what if those questions
Are the first notes in a
Song of hope for the one
Seeking a hand to hold

A few images from Rocky Mountain National Park today. 💛 Soaking in each little bit.

Complementary


Delicate lace flowing
Across natural curves
Gently draping
The sturdy frame –
A frame strong enough
To carry heartache
From great loss
While sharing joy
From great love-
Delicate and Sturdy
Words that don’t seem
To complement-
Say them out loud
Delicate and Sturdy
One rolls off the tongue
While the other lands flat-
Even the one landing is
An integral part of the foundation
From where love and joy
And heartache and grief
Have the freedom to flow

Last night, I had the pleasure of writing with Ali Grimshaw. Ali’s blog Our circle was smaller than usual, but nonetheless filled with joy. ❤️

Simply Sunday

Heartbeats

Broken hearts
Happy hearts
Both are a part
Of this life
When we feel lost
Waiting to be found
When we are found
Hoping never
To be lost again
The heart measures
Time Differently
It never forgets
Being filled
Broken
Mended
Filled again
It never forgets
Growing, loving
Beating in sync
With another
Like the tick-tock
Of the clock
Even though an
Inaccurate gauge
Where hearts
Are concerned-
Time is fluid
Holding all
The possibilities
Of the universe
Within the rhythm
Of each heartbeat

Sharing a poem from my recent collection, Quiet Embers-A Poetry of Faith. Available at the following: Amazon, Lulu, Barnes & Noble

Interlaced

We hesitate to say
It is so good to see you!
When the circumstances
Bringing us together
Are times of sadness
Yet, those are the times
Seeing you is most needed-
A knowing smile
Through the tears
A quick but strong
Grasp of the hand
A sweet, simple hug
The truth that one person’s life
Has the power to influence so many
On display in real-time with real people
Gathered in an honest attempt
To provide loving support-
Go ahead and say it
It is so good to see you!
Connections interlaced
With grace and
Gratefulness

While seated at a funeral yesterday, we noticed many familiar faces. Memories of my father-in-law’s service eight years ago immediately came flooding back. Many of the same faces were in attendance that day.

Eight years ago, we were the family sitting up front. Yesterday, we were part of the support. Connections across years of life’s experiences.

In the Stitches

I have described it before
A safety net
Of people and memories
Sewn together with care
Each stitch increasing
The vastness and strength
Of the shelter
Fashioning a living
Security blanket
To wrap me
And those I love
In the knowledge that
We are never alone-
Now grown
I see myself in the stitches
Understanding even more
The comfort and
Encouragement
In this welcoming refuge
Where whether weak or strong
I am never out of place

Smiling Blue

A lovely patch of blue
Smiles from behind
Stormy gray swirls–
Its presence like that
Of a trusted friend
Their hand resting
On my shoulder
Offering calm assurance
And a wise reminder-


There are always storms
Out in front, left behind,
Or directly overhead –
But the rain travels
From head to heart
Washing away stormy grays
To reveal the lovely
Patch of blue
Residing inside of you

Community

Dear Friends, I have shared before about my sweet friend and former student. She is a precious soul whose life has been anything but easy. Traveling between countries, and enduring years of abuse, all on top of having intellectual disabilities.

Since she is now over eighteen, she lives in an adult companion home. It is comparable to foster care. I am her legal guardian outside the home. She is in desperate need of dental work and there are no funds to assist.

We are asking for help for her. If you are so inclined, you may click on the link to learn more. https://gofund.me/2d38c145

Simply Sunday

Surprisingly Beautiful

Have you ever
Felt surprised
By being surprised?
It is a curious feeling
Like realizing no matter
How beautiful
The sunrise
On any given morning
It can be
Beautifully
Different
On the next–
Security may reside
In the routine
But hope radiates
From the surprising

Morning Song

You make it look so simple
Perched on a wire
With your closest friends
Perched nearby –
They may sit on a
Different wire-there may
Even be a wire
Missing from your staff
But your melodies still
Mingle to create
A sweet morning song-
And while I can’t
Physically hear your songs
Above the music currently
Playing in my head
I can feel it in my soul

Blackbird Kelley Morris, piano

Lessons From Raindrops



A few clung tightly
To green tree leaves
Even after most of
The others had fallen-
Falling was the
Ultimate goal
Surrendering
To the ground
Patiently waiting below-
Their landing providing
Refreshing
Nourishment
The power to change
An entire landscape-
Why would some choose to hang on?
Perhaps fear
Of the unknown
Perhaps love
To fall with
A gentle touch
Teaching this passing traveler
A valuable lesson-
Though alone for a moment
Surrounded by many for a lifetime