Category Archives: Musings

The joys of kite flying are immeasurable! I was reminded of the timelessness of such pursuits recently when our granddaughter rushed outside to launch her first kite of the season. Racing barefoot through the pasture grass, arms held aloft, waiting for the wind to catch the plastic kite just so, she persisted with unfettered expectationContinue reading “Fly Your Kite Right Out The Window”

If we could see from up abovePatterns that our friendships make Mantilla shawls our twining beOur woven lives like gauzy laceSome strands drawn closer tighter hereWhile others open up the weave Though near or far all are secure Make up the pattern one does see For reasons hidden to the strands The way of weaveContinue reading “Woven Lives”

Among a stand of stately pinesA tree grew slowly in their midst With gnarled trunk and twisted limbs‘Twas not the same but different It grew from seed that was like kindIn soil rich on mountain sideWith rains and sun and starlit nightsThe same pristine environment But oh this tree found challenges Growing straight though itContinue reading “The Crooked Tree”

What happened to that little girl?Stop, years! You’re flying by too fast!She rode on Gigi’s walker seatJust yesterday she toddled pastNow she runs the Kitchen AidMaking butter out of cream Just yesterday she was a babeJust yesterday was but a dream Eleven young, yet older still Her mind and spirit sprinting onWait! Slow down! LetContinue reading “Churning Time”

It seemed just a flash as I passed by, a shiny newer model golden-tan sedan turning on to Ustick. It appeared the chassis had been elevated a bit, above four wide white wall tires. I laughed out loud exclaiming, “A car with bobby socks! And a high water one at that!” Having grown up inContinue reading “The Car With Bobby Socks”

Father’s Day comes quickly again this year. I turn around once or twice and we have zoomed from winter into the throes of summer. It seems our Idaho weather has skipped most of Spring, or maybe my memory has faded a bit in the bright sun. All I know is that it is near theContinue reading “Thoughts On Fathering”

“Consider this,” a new thought suggested recently: “What if hurtful words said to you are a reflection of pain in the speaker; not really meant to wound you at all, but to actually defend themselves? What is behind their behavior? Think about that before jabbing back!”  Finding myself pondering reasons for why I am soContinue reading “Forgiving Past The Person”

Awakening to the vague pulse of life breathing around me, I linger in bed just thinking of the dreams dreamt, slowly opening my eyes to a new day. No matter the time, for I have no schedule and no responsibilities other than myself this morning. In our retirement, dear husband and I usually arise atContinue reading “My Ideal Ideal Day #2”

As I think back over the years I see a constant thread that has woven its way throughout my life, that of yearning to be perfect. Repeatedly I have learned that in an imperfect world perfection just cannot be achieved, try though one might! Even daydreaming of what my ideal ideal day would be isContinue reading “My Ideal Ideal Day”

Sometimes I choose to not step out. Hiding is easier, safe it seems. The sun is too bright, I feel exposed, and I run back to my covering. It’s safe in here. My wounded self has been so wrapped up in that identity, it’s hard to throw it off . . . for will IContinue reading “Hiding”

Standing naked, unclothed Opening eyes, really looking My imagination and reality Collide How do I accept this truthOf who I think I amBut am not And live with it Pull it off Or let it rule me Honesty feels scaryThe painful excision of shadows And lies that bind, twist, restrain Tether me from flying YetContinue reading “Becoming Honest”

“Mama Mia” blared aloud As we jigged and jagged about Sweeping arms and bobbing heads Moved in rhythm as were led Laughing right out loud The child in me was joy in full Playful happy freely still Though my aging body looked Truly weird when I took A peek at me later dancing on TheContinue reading “Dancing With The Grands”

I now know why grandchildren come into our lives when they do. Or puppies, small furry kittens, hedgehogs named Tulip, ponies named Strawberry and May, or any number of little people or animals that burst upon our lives with their boundless energy. Oh, sure, along with all that cuteness comes a pile of taking careContinue reading “Joys of a Second Childhood”

In an online conference recently we were blessed to listen to a woman of ministry ask a prayer of healing over nearly 650 listeners. Through the responding chat it was evident many had received immediate physical healing. While waiting for reports to be collected, one lady testified of relief from swollen, painful joints: she nowContinue reading “Healing My Vision”

“No!” screamed my mind, “I don’t want to go out to pull weeds!” “But, why?” asked my body. “I’m in sore-full need of exercise, and weeds only get worse if not tended to.”“Because,” lamented mind, “I want to think, mull, turn over and inspect all that stuff in my head. It is so interesting, bewildering,Continue reading “Mind-Body Do-Si-Do”

A ray of light begins to dawn Peeking faintly o’re the riseHarbinger of things to come Mist wafts gently past my face Gauzy offerings to the day Beseeching light break forth Perplexed, on point there I standWalk in wonder swirling roundAwait the light to fully shine Stillness reigns the hallowed hour Bidding shadows fall awayContinue reading “Walking A New Path”

She stood at the crosswalk, a dog near her feet barking at something unseen. The traffic roared by, and with the change of lights, slowly came to a stop. She could cross now, but for some reason was hesitant to step off the curb and cross to the other side. It was as though theContinue reading “Hesitation”

As the need for acceptance Rises from the deep Raging waters cascade down Carve gorges in the steep Exo- and endo-skeletons of my soul When the sense of rejection meanders Close to my watching mind As runlets fill dried gorges And trickle steadily downI anticipate the flood This time I’m more prepared though Many floodsContinue reading “Facing The Flood”

The undulating valley floor lay before us, stretching for miles ahead. We gazed from above, as we sat on a rock outcropping catching our breath from the hard climb up. As clouds moved across the sky, the light playing across the land brought sharp focus to the ravines and hillocks that lay hidden at firstContinue reading “From A Mountain View”

Trudging on the road of life Occasion brings gifts of surpriseA person with a heart that can Truly listen, understandHow oft when words are flung out loudMeaning’s lost in vocal air Translation haps before the thought Has fully landed on listener’s ear To listen well one must set aside Opinions, preplanned thoughts, retorts To hearContinue reading “Heart Talk”

It’s sad the walls and fortressesOne builds around one’s self To hide, protect, justify To keep the peace, so not To have to open doors That have been firmly closed Content without relationship Than trekking brambled shores Losing precious fellowship That still could be restoredIf one would take courage What makes those hurtful attitudes ThatContinue reading “Behind The Ugly”

Recently in an online video a speaker commented on making choices through fear or faith. It caught my attention for it succinctly stated the reality of how we live most of our lives. It seems many of those deep-seated angsts from childhood center around the nauseating fear of rejection, ridicule, or humiliation. Interesting that suchContinue reading “Fear or Faith?”

Her mind was twirling, the day beginning to spin before she had had her morning meal. Usually a cup of chocolate bone broth, and a few spoonfuls of ricotta cheese with her meds, took care to keep her stomach comfy. Thoughts pinged: “This house is a mess, I really need to get this taken careContinue reading “Death By Ricotta”

Whenever I hear “the balm of Gilead” I recall fond memories as a choir girl singing that old old spiritual. Little did I fully understand the meaning of the word Gilead, and what the balm of it was all about. Yet I knew there was something surely special about that balm for people to singContinue reading “Marinating in The Balm of Gilead”

She had stood tall, proclaimed her thoughts, and found herself cast out into a wilderness place. She had been brave voicing her opinions to her father, the unchallenged patriarch of the family. Her opinion defied his, valid though it was. Now here she was, in a valley of dry bones. Bones not literally that sheContinue reading “The Balm of Gilead”