A sacred space
Exists between
Birth and death
No matter the
Length of time
It is so much
More than time
Influenced by
Persons
Places
Choices
Everyone
Experiencing it
Differently-
We embrace it
Hide from it
Run away from it
But it finds us
And sometimes
Miraculously
Surprise us
Tag: Sunday
Simply Sunday
It is difficult
To remember
The me who
Once was seven
Do you find the same to be true?
Oh, there are glimpses
Flashes of childhood
Aided by photographs
And the reciting
Of stories at
Family gatherings-
I believe at seven
Happy outweighed sad
And freedom came
When swinging way up high
High enough to touch the sky
Then bravely jumping out
It is difficult
To remember
The me who
Once was seven
But I am grateful
For her spirit
Continuing
To reside in me
Even when I’m afraid
To jump out of the swing
Simply Sunday
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
Simply Sunday
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
Simply Sunday
Holding
My breath
Muscles tense
Heart racing
Afraid to move-
You take my hand
It’s ok-breathe
I feel my lungs
Expand
Deep breath
Fresh air
Relaxing
In your care
Unable to
Completely
Close off
My heart
As we
Breathe
In time
Together
Simply Sunday
I am learning
There are many ways
To express my grief
Tears, laughter
Listening
Remembering
But also through words
Not always sad
Many times sweet
No matter which way
I choose in any
Given moment
The healing happens
In the expressing
Transformation
Simple recipe
Words on a card
Pat of butter
Two cups of flour
Ice cold water
The comforting smell
Of pie crust baking
Warm milk
Cocoa powder
Sugar, of course
Touch of vanilla
Continuous stirring
Required
For perfectly
Smooth filling
I can almost
Taste it now-
Watching my sweet Dad
Wearing his apron on
Thanksgiving morning
Remembering
With gratefulness
His smile
As I tasted
The leftover filling-
The simplest of
Ingredients
Transformed
Into so much joy
Yesterday’s poetry circle with Ali Grimshaw https://flashlightbatteries.blog/ was a precious gift. I am grateful for both the words I wrote and the ones I was blessed to hear. ❤️
Simply Sunday
Changing Colors
Yesterday fades
Into the light
Of tomorrow
Hellos and
Goodbyes
Echoing
All along its
Colorful trek
Remembering
Without
Looking back
There is little
Room for
Looking back
Only for living
Within each
Change of color
Quietly guiding
Measure by measure-
Yesterday fades
Into the light
Of tomorrow
Greeted
By today-
Time spent with Miss Emi reminds me of the importance of being present. Taking it all in. Not simply for remembering but as part of living. This weekend was filled with baby noises, eating, playing, napping, and lots of family! Oh, and just a tiny bit of shopping. 😉
I am grateful. I am also beginning to understand why my mom always said the house was too quiet after one of our visits with our kiddos. ❤️
Simply Sunday
This time
It snuck in
With a dream
One of those
Chaotic
Makes-no-sense
Dreams
Ending suddenly
In a moment
Of clarity-
A familiar photo
From the past
One I have seen
Many times-
And I woke up
Remembering
How much I miss you
After a great first week at my new job, I wasn’t expecting a visit from grief. But that’s how it goes. My capacity to hold this grief will continue to grow. That acceptance that death is part of life. It does not make me miss my dad any less. But it does allow me to both cry and smile over sweet memories. ❤️
Simply Sunday
Sometimes an
Easy decision
Is difficult
To make-
Kind words
Well wishes
Sweet treats
Sending me
On my way to
New adventures
Goodbye
See you later
Bear Hugs
Tugging at my
Heartstrings
I’ve been here before–
Acknowledging
Each decision made
Affects more than
Just the decision-maker
On Monday, I am starting a new job! The work is different (more on that later,) but the place is familiar. Union Public Schools has been part of our family for twenty years. I am excited to be returning, although not as a teacher. In some ways, it feels like going home.
Saying goodbye to my current co-worker friends was bittersweet. I will miss them. ❤️
Simply Sunday
Words are stuck
Crawling
Through the fog
In my brain
Thoughts swirl
Bumping
Into each other
Vying for attention
Light approaches
Burning away the fog
Sorting through my thoughts-
Perhaps I should close
My heavy eyes
Lay my head back
And bask in the warmth
Of the Light on my face
Watching sweet Emi fall asleep is a gift. That transition from active to hungry to sleepy-we all know it well.
She doesn’t want to miss a thing!
I’ve used that phrase many times. And it’s true! Babies will sometimes work so hard to stay awake. Truthfully, we adults often do the same. Instead of listening to our tired bodies and minds, we keep pushing.
It’s ok. Lay your head back. Close your eyes. The world won’t stop spinning. 😉
Piano Girl 