It never leaves, this ache. I can press it down, punch at it like bread dough, pat it into a nice ball, and cover it up. But still, sometimes it spills. I think of Elizabeth, barren in her old age. Heart and arms heavy with the ache of it. As time passed, maybe she […]
Grit-Crusted and Glory-Strengthened
When I washed, I saw. ~John 9:11 (Message) There’s a hush this morning. Branches bow under the weight of wet white grace. I stand robe-wrapped and slippered on the porch and drink His whispers. Come to me all who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Giant flakes fall, and boughs droop to […]
The Gift of Paying Attention
I don’t remember now when I first started to pay attention. When I first picked up the baby camera and started to see through a new lens. Took those first steps. When I started to look for details or to see in a new light. My husband, ever patient, waits as I trail behind […]
Five Minute Friday: I Blame Trust
I blame trust. I leaned into it. Silly goose. It burned. Cut deep. Shattered dreams. “Close the doors,” I prayed. They opened wide. If I had not trusted, things might be different. Or not. Maybe worse. There’s no way to know. No way to know the rest of the story until the end. Were […]
The Fragrance of Possibility
The world rests white this morning. A fresh palette waiting to be color splashed. When spring unleashes all soft and vivid. There are colors, Jodi commented, that we can’t see. Colors we can’t duplicate. Colors that will never grace a mixer. Kathleen talks about the excitement of a new box of Crayola crayons, becomes […]
Your Toothbrush is on Fire!
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. So it was the first thing that popped into my head when I read Lisa-Jo’s word prompt today: awake. I can’t really do the story justice, though. What would be best is for me to video my Sissy telling it. That’s enough to make the tears flow and […]
I Want You to Roar
A free-flying heart and mind and fingers for five short minutes. No second-guessing. No over-thinking. No editing. For Lisa Jo. On the word prompt . . . ROAR! Ready . . . set . . . GO! I want you to roar. To sink your teeth into the back of my neck and give […]
Connected to This Place
A quick five minutes for Lisa Jo on the prompt connected. GO! We will commit her ashes this afternoon. And I will go home tomorrow. Back to my husband’s home. The place where he is connected. Where his family came over 100 years ago. I will be buried there. Next to his parents. In […]
Five Minute Friday: So Tired
Lisa Jo asks us to write for five minutes today on tired. I think I know a little about that. I can tackle five minutes. Just five minutes though. Because I’m so . . . tired. GO The tables were beautiful, draped in white linen and scattered with Hobby Lobby pirate gold coins. Mom would […]
Five Minute Friday ~ Grateful
GO! Grateful for this home away from home that will in so many ways be hard to leave. Grateful for staff who have become friends–no, family–who have kept watch and cared for her with such love and dignity. Grateful for tender hands and compassionate hearts. Grateful for Nick who has seen so many come and […]
