Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

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I’m Leaving Now

September 1, 2011 By Sandra Heska King

My mom fell Sunday.

I’m grateful that my sister lives only a couple blocks away.

My phone is text hot.

And I battle guilt.

Again.

I’m squished between grandchildren and aging parents.

And in every crisis I struggle with whether I need to go now or to see if my presence is more needful later.

I live 200 miles away.

My bags have been packed all week.

Waiting.

They’ve found a brain tumor they believe is malignant.

Things don’t seem to be going too well right now, and my sister has to be tired.

My dad, too.

I can’t stand it any more.

I’m leaving.

Now.

 

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Comments

  1. Glynn says

    September 3, 2011 at 11:37 pm

    Sandra – we’re praying for your family.

  2. S. Etole says

    September 3, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    The Lord is with you in those tight places … hiding you in the cleft of the rock. Prayers for all … many prayers.

  3. diana says

    September 4, 2011 at 12:26 am

    Oh, Sandy – I know exactly where you are. I, too, am sandwiched between grandchildren for whom we care two days each week and an aging mom who lives 130 miles from me. I have no sister, just one brother left, who lives 300 miles north of me. Sigh. Prayers are with you, dear bird-loving-sister-whose-granddaughters-have-the-same-names-as-mine. I am so, so sorry for this hard news. Blessings of love and peace surround and fill you!

    And oh, how I hope you can come to Texas! (Along with every other dear one I’m learning to know this year!)

  4. Beth says

    September 4, 2011 at 12:27 am

    Sandra my heart aches for you.
    Go in God speed and be safe.

    Lord we lift Sandra and her travelign up to you. We ask that you would lead and guide her. Give her traveling mercies Lord. Thank you that you are with her family Lord give each one your peace that surpasses all understandng in Jesus name. We thank you that you are giving stregnth to all. Send those perfect laborers to help up lift and encourage Lord. We thank you for your healing balm upon her mom Lord and that she is the healed in Jesus name. Thank you Lord for your comforter in Jesus name Amen

    Will be praying.
    Blessings

  5. Mari Mayborn says

    September 4, 2011 at 1:24 am

    Sandra, I’m praying for God to surround your family in a special way and for Him to give you sweet, sweet time together.

  6. Cassandra Frear says

    September 4, 2011 at 6:14 am

    This is so difficult.

    We are the sandwich generation, squeezed between the needs of those before us and after us.

    May God give you strength.

    When you are ready for a break, I posted about the wedding at the Moonboat. 🙂

  7. Linda says

    September 4, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    Praying for all of you Sandra. I am in the same season – this sandwich generation. I pray His grace and peace will sustain you.

  8. Cindee Snider Re says

    September 4, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    Praying for you, praying for your mom! The photo above is absolutely gorgeous — just like your heart.

  9. Melinda Lancaster says

    September 5, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    I’m joining the many others who are praying for you and your family, Snady.

    LYI!

  10. Robin Arnold says

    September 5, 2011 at 7:30 pm

    Surrounding you in prayer, for rest, for healing, for decisions, for relationships. You bless me so often. Prayers up sweet Sandra.

  11. Jennifer@GDWJ says

    September 5, 2011 at 11:17 pm

    Heart sinking here… I’m so sorry, Sandra. I join the chorus of prayers tonight. Love you, friend. xoxoxo

  12. Nikole Hahn says

    September 6, 2011 at 9:24 am

    Saying a little prayer for you right now. :o( I am so sorry.

  13. Nikole Hahn says

    September 6, 2011 at 9:25 am

    That’s suppose to be a sad face. Sigh.

  14. jeri Taira says

    September 6, 2011 at 11:22 pm

    Praying in Hawaii. I hope with you Sandy.

  15. HisFireFly says

    September 6, 2011 at 11:25 pm

    continuing on in prayer for ALL of you, but for you in particular!

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“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final t “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” ~ Philippians 4:8 

#fall #southflorida #hope #thoughts #philippians4 #dayafterelection
“My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in th “My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.” ~ William Wordsworth in “My Heart Leaps Up”

🌈🌈🌈

From my back door and then from the patio. A phone can never capture the true glory of a rainbow. I hope my heart never fails to leap at the wonder of one.
We were monarch parents a couple years back, but o We were monarch parents a couple years back, but our food was not enough to support all our “children.”
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But some were better parents. And next month @tspoetry is celebrating with a garden party. And you are invited. 
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✨ An evening poetry celebration with Dheepa Maturi, Laura Boggess, Jules Jacob, and Sonja Johanson
✨ sign up today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/year-of-the-monarch-garden-party-tickets-1005650847757
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This is called a sweetheart plant. I bought it at This is called a sweetheart plant. I bought it at a farmers market in Ponte Vedra in Feb 2023. And it hasn’t done a thing except not die. I did repot it a few months back just cuz I thought it might need it. A few days ago I noticed it was sprouting a sprout. And today—10 days after having my aortic valve replaced and the day after having a loop recorder inserted—it has UNFURLED!!! A new heart. 🩷
Looking west this morning. “Sometime, enough o Looking west this morning. 

“Sometime, enough of us should plan
to gather and form our own
luminous cloud.” ~ Luci Shaw in “The Weight of Air” (from The Generosity)
Security is on the job. Security is on the job.
So after 13 years of checkups and annual echos, it So after 13 years of checkups and annual echos, it's finally come to this. One week from today I will have my aortic valve replaced. Eeeek! I know it's done all the time--piece of cake. But that's to other people. 😂 Speaking of cake, I've always hoped to blow out 100 candles (at least), and I keep singing this line in my head...

"And my heart will go on and on." Thanks to @celinedion. 💕
Hi! Long time, no post. So… I grew this from a Hi! Long time, no post. So…

I grew this from a pineapple top. We repotted it again over the weekend. Still no fruit, though. Our neighbor has a baby growing on a small plant, though. What’s up with that?

(Also, I do not have a green thumb. Currently the only things still living are this, an avocado, and a little Boston fern.)
We got out here early today, but it was already so We got out here early today, but it was already soooooo hot (later on the"feels like" was 110), and I was just plodding one foot in front of the other wishing I was still in bed. There was not much to see--except the crane family, some blackbirds, a dove. And it was buggy. And a deer fly bit me on the forearm, and it swelled up, and I still have a 1- x 3-inch reddened area. But then... a pink parade.
Just snapped a couple photos of a normal looking s Just snapped a couple photos of a normal looking sky from my back patio with my iPhone! I grew up in Michigan and never saw them before! #northernlights #westboca #southflorida
“So they took branches of palm trees and went ou “So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” ~ John 12:13
🌴
🌴
PALMS

He had a date with them. ~SHK
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~ Six words I wrote on my blog in 2015 as part of a daily “One Word Less for Lent” series.
🌴
Photo taken in Israel, 2022.
Dressed for success... Dressed for success...
“Sing, hope, to me” ~favorite line from “The “Sing, hope, to me” ~favorite line from “The First Spring Day” by Christina Rossetti via Every Day Poems and @tspoetry in my email this morning. 
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Whole poem (with lots of favorite lines) here:
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https://open.substack.com/pub/everydaypoems/p/the-first-spring-day?r=3acod&utm_medium=ios
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Wild red poppy anemones from our spring trip to Israel in 2022. And, of course, red is the color of hope. 
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Sweet baby colts. Just one parent. Apparently the Sweet baby colts. Just one parent. Apparently the other was hit by a car. 😭💔
Bufo serenade AKA the Ballad of the Bufo Bufo serenade AKA the Ballad of the Bufo
South Florida is confused. South Florida is confused.
“Somehow she learns to breathe.” ~ @gyoung9751 “Somehow she learns to breathe.” ~ @gyoung9751 in “The mermaid breathes,” a woven poem from tweets. In my email today from Every Day Poems via @tspoetry.
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"You have what you need / is what the birds sing a "You have what you need / is what the birds sing all morning" ~ Annie Lighthart in "Conditions of Happiness."
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In my email this morning from 
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#dipintopoetry #poetry #poetrycommunity #everydaypoems #poem #poetsofinstagram #tweetspeakpoetry
If you’ve made it this far, the rest of the week If you’ve made it this far, the rest of the week should be a snap. #wednesday
Stay behind me. I’ll protect you. No worries. So Stay behind me. I’ll protect you. No worries. So will all those shots. Mostly.
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D still has PTSD from the Great Possibly Rabid Raccoon Brouhaha of 2021.
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