My breath catches
in the bitter cold
Teeth chatter
Shoulders shake
To escape Winter’s arrival,
I need to move faster
Instead, my motions slow
Besides, there is no escaping
And winter won’t last forever
Merely long enough
to remind me what
is important
Warmth from
a cozy blanket
Steam from a
cup of hot tea
The much-needed
rest that occurs
as I lean my head
against your shoulder
Tag: seasons
Echoes of a Season
The last of the Fall leaves
let go, falling to the ground
Bare branches stretch,
reaching toward the Sun
Wonders hidden in the
heart of the tree, protected
from the elements at
their most vulnerable,
now sit in plain sight
A carefully woven nest that
once held delicate eggs,
patient parents and fragile
chicks-now, its walls hold
only the echoes of life
The cracking of shells
by tiny beaks, little chirps
sweetly announcing
We have arrived!
Sleeping, eating, growing, learning to fly
Whether the leaves,
The mama bird, or
each of us-Letting go is difficult
But, oh, what wonders
wait to be revealed
May my hands always
stretch toward the Light
as my heart remains open
to that which needs protecting-
Even when only for a season
Happy Christmas Eve! ❤️💚
Go Ahead, Reminisce
We were so young then.
And now? Young at heart?
Photographs and nametags
temporarily transport us
back in time to the
start of our journeys.
We had no idea
where circumstances
and choices would take us.
Reuniting, we share memories.
But more importantly,
losses, loves, mistakes, and grace.
Seeing each other as individuals.
Connecting with more than just a memory.
So go ahead, reminisce,
just for a moment.
Let the images, old and
new, meld into a sweet
recollection before saying,
Goodbye, it was so good to see you.
Class of 1985 reunion
Pinnacle Mountain
Hurry! Go Outside!
Like magic, pops of color
appear in the trees.
A seemingly sudden
transformation.
Leaves, once dark green,
now shiny apple red,
sunshine yellow,
and burnt orange.
Evergreens stand resilient,
in perfect contrast with
Aspens, Oaks, and Maples.
Appearing unchanged, but
transformed nonetheless.
The evolution seems
sudden, but it is not.
An invisible process
requiring sunshine, rain,
cool breezes, and patience.
One whose resulting beauty
will disappear as quickly
as it arrived. Or at least,
that is how it will seem.
Simply Sunday
The sun’s warmth on my face
Fall’s breeze across my back
before circling my arms
A brief pause on its journey
to nearby trees, where leaves wait,
ready and willing participants
in a breezy afternoon lullaby
A beautiful first day of a new month-
Welcome, November
I sat outside yesterday for some much needed Vitamin D and a little inspiration. 🧡
Marriage
I can’t say there’s
A set recipe
For thirty-two years-
Only that laughter
Eases many tensions
Creating lasting memories-
Patience and understanding
Cover a multitude of
Life’s challenges-
And commitment is
A bond that carries
Far beyond feelings-
All of these ingredients
Leave me with a grateful heart
Looking back and looking ahead
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.
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. ❤️
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
Fade to Smile
Twinkling Christmas lights fade
Snowman family on the corner
Waving goodbye. Until next year!
Santa and his sleigh? Long gone
Nativity scenes? Packed away
Beautiful reminders of
Love and innocence
Drawing smiles from even
The grumpiest of Scrooges
Shhh! That’s our little secret
Realizations accompanied
By gray morning skies
And approaching cold
As deer graze in the field
A little while longer
Piano Girl 