Washed Away

I haven’t heard rain like that in a long time
Rain preceded only by strong winds-
No sprinkles
No light showers
A horizontal wall of water
Falling with a thunderous Woosh!
So loud and powerful
It would surely wash me away-
But I’m still here
Lying still-listening
As it pours harder and harder
Grows louder and louder
And I begin to wonder
If it will ever stop-
Not in a sense of despair
Instead, wondering how long
It will take to wash away
The mounting layers
Of arrogance and hate
So eyes and hearts will
Once again, be open to the truth
Of loving our neighbors as ourselves

Moving Day

It brings a different
Kind of Energy-
Up early
Focused
Get moving
Lots to do-
Boxes packed
Furniture loaded
A flurry of motion-
Until feet pause
Allowing hearts to
Say their goodbyes before
Heading toward hellos-
Another beautiful instance
Where joy and grief
Grasp hands and
Feet, once again,
Take the next step

Our family has experienced many moves of varying distances for many different reasons. Most recently, our son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter moved back to Oklahoma from Texas. We are excited to have them close by!

Today, we moved my mother-in-law from her home of forty years to a retirement community. The memories of five generations live in those walls and our hearts. Representatives from four of those generations were present today.

Many hands most definitely make for lighter work.

Sunshine, family, and love put into action. ❤️

Simply Sunday

The warmest of oranges
Disappears into the deepest,
Darkest of Blues –
Perfect backdrop
For a display of
Silhouetted trees-
Their true colors
Temporarily invisible
Yet, they stand tall
As details of their searching
Rewards from their reaching
Are etched into this brief
Window of time-
A reminder that each day
Will come to an end
But on the best of days,
A lingering gratitude
Like glowing coals
From a dying campfire
Holds enough affection
To warm my hands
Leave me with rosy cheeks
All the while, melting my heart

What Can I Do?

Gray clouds linger
Matching the heaviness
Hovering over my heart-
As deceptions spread
Anger and sadness
Try to sneak in and
Overtake my emotions-
But worry and fear are not
The way forward-
Returning hate for deception
Will not lift this haze-
Love enveloped in grace
Mercy grown from love
Sentiments that begin to
Calm my anxious thoughts-
The gray clouds will lift
Long before this heaviness
Hovering over my heart
But I must believe it, too,
Will eventually clear-
In the meantime,
What can I do?
Love my neighbor as myself

Simply Sunday

We teach by example
Intentioned or not
They learn from the example
Intentioned or not
Little eyes watching
Little ears listening
Little hands reaching
Little souls speaking-
If I look long enough
Glimpses of my actions
Will be seen in
The hearts of those I love
There is no avoiding-
Praying I give more thought
To the intention
And reflections seen
Give cause to smile

Winter Wisdom

Each tiny twig
Like a cold hand
Reaches toward the sky-
Too many to count-
Each held in place
With its larger branch
Securely attached to the trunk-
The roots, always unseen
Yet, their presence felt
With every passing storm
Their wisdom entrusted
In this season when youth
Fades with the falling leaves
And lessons emerge
From an intricate design-
A skillfully drawn
Pen and ink against
A blue-pink watercolor sky-

Teaching my outstretched hand
To soak in the warmth of even
The most short-lived
Patch of Sunshine

Remembering my sweet Dad today. Miss him so much. ❤️

Simply Sunday

Tea parties and bears
Building blocks and bubbles
Favorite shows
Favorite snacks
Silly Songs
Belly laughs
Rocking chairs and
Rhyming books
One more drink
One more snack
Soft blankets
Sweet lullabies
Sleepy eyes
Dreamy naps

Only Then

After all the leaves have fallen
And bare branches
Are covered in snow
Only then can we see
The precious homes left behind-
Homes constructed using
Carefully gathered materials
Perfectly woven in preparation
For a season of life
Lived in the trees –
A temporary season
Filled with holding
And protecting precious cargo-
Fragile eggs and then tiny birds
Chirping and eating
Sleeping and growing
Until all are ready to fly off
Into their next adventure
Leaving their home behind-
Providing an opportunity
Within their leaving
For us to wonder, reflect,
And possibly even relate