I sit at my dining table looking out at my patio garden that is bare--except for the scattering of leaves I need to rake. Birds fly to my feeder, grateful that I just loaded it with a rich blend of seeds and peanuts, something to suit the taste of multiple species and the squirrel who … Continue reading Letting Christmas Go
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The White Christmas of Childhood
Christmas is a season of remembering. The older we become the more we work to recall those earliest memories that have grown fuzzy and faded over time. As I watched the local evening news this week, every night included the weatherman's predictions for snow and if we'd have a White Christmas in central North Carolina. … Continue reading The White Christmas of Childhood
Shoring Up Our Joy
Over the past week, I've done two things that brought me joy. Storing up good things in my internal well helps to balance out the sadness of grief--that I spoke of last week in my post Struggling During the Holidays: Hope for Depression. Yesterday, I took lunch to my cousin. Growing up, she was like an … Continue reading Shoring Up Our Joy
Struggling During the Holidays: Hope for Depression
Last Sunday was the first in the Advent season of the Christian Calendar, a time of waiting for the birth of the Messiah--the incarnate God who would walk this Earthly journey. People of other faiths have their own traditions that are special at this or other times of year. When we're in these seasons of … Continue reading Struggling During the Holidays: Hope for Depression
Dwell in Thanks Giving
Next Thursday we'll gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. For some, this is an almost overlooked holiday in order to move on to Christmas. In retail, the Halloween displays were quickly replaced by loads of goods for Christmas, with the scant offerings for Thanksgiving edged out, and "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" … Continue reading Dwell in Thanks Giving
Bittersweet Halloween: The Passing of Time
Last night, I enjoyed Halloween with my grandsons, Baker 6 y.o. and Parks 4 y.o. I felt fortunate that Baker had asked me the week before, "Grammy, will you go trick-or-treating with us?" Fortunate, because he lives within a thirty minute drive and secondly because he wants me to join in with the group that … Continue reading Bittersweet Halloween: The Passing of Time
Cooking Up Zesty Travel Memories
Some of my great memories of my time in Portugal and Spain were all the meals of fresh seafood---really fresh seafood. On one of those days of walking by the Portuguese coast, I passed by a fishing village. Not long afterwards, I stopped at a restaurant where they were grilling the fresh catch. I think … Continue reading Cooking Up Zesty Travel Memories
Appalachian Trail Interrupted: Challenges Unforeseen
It's been two months since I left for the Camino; I'm amazed that that much time has gone by. In the days before I left, when I was walking for miles at Hunter St. Park with my loaded backpack, I gradually built up muscle and strength. During that time, I was visiting at my sister, … Continue reading Appalachian Trail Interrupted: Challenges Unforeseen
Internal Pilgrimage: Questioning Long-Held Assumptions
Last week I shared with you a section of the book, The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within. It's a resource I'm using to prepare for my upcoming Camino journey, but on a broader level, one for looking at the internal journey that we're all walking. In the book, Christine Valters … Continue reading Internal Pilgrimage: Questioning Long-Held Assumptions
Memorial Day: The Sacrifices of War
Tomorrow we observe Memorial Day in the United States. According to an article on the history of this holiday, it was created to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history This came immediately after the Civil War in 1865 which "claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. … Continue reading Memorial Day: The Sacrifices of War
