This Sunday will mark the second in the season of Advent and the Faith candle will be lit. For me, the Christmas story of Mary and Joseph on their sojourn to Bethlehem, is mostly a story of faith. The practical reason for this trip was to pay taxes. But the overarching story is to fulfill … Continue reading Walking a Path of Faith
thankfulness
Subtleties of the Season: Leaning into Hope
Over the days leading into Thanksgiving, I watched the changing of colors from the bright autumnal golds and reds to the muted monochromatic of beige and browns. Beauty is less obvious in the fading, but it's there in subtlety. While the bold oranges of Halloween get our attention, the muted colors of waning flowers and … Continue reading Subtleties of the Season: Leaning into Hope
Rites of Passage: Divorce
Last night I resumed my binge watching the series Nashville on Netflix. I'd enjoyed that show when it first came out in 2012 until it ended in 2018. I liked the drama around musicians and was familiar with the city of Nashville, where my younger son went to college. Now, I can slip into a … Continue reading Rites of Passage: Divorce
Solo Journeys: Wide Open Spaces
When I rode my bike last weekend at Ft Caswell, I was transported back to my second Solo Journey. That year I turned fifty and gave myself a trip--alone, for my birthday present. I'd remembered how freeing that first unexpected serendipitous trip to Sedona had been when I was forty-six: no carpooling teenage sons, no … Continue reading Solo Journeys: Wide Open Spaces
Artist’s Retreat: Ft. Caswell
Today I returned from my writing retreat at the Ft. Caswell Coastal Retreat and Conference Center in Oak Island, North Carolina. I appreciated that even though I'm not of the Baptist denomination, the facility is open to folks, like me, who are not. What a gorgeous setting on the 250 acres that was part of … Continue reading Artist’s Retreat: Ft. Caswell
When the Morning Glories Bloom
Late last spring, I planted two seed packets of Heavenly Blue Morning Glories. Years ago when I first saw that vine with trumpet-shaped blooms spilling over a mailbox. I stopped in my tracks, startled with an "Oh my!" at their azure-blue unlike any other flower. Soon after that, I found myself in the garden aisle … Continue reading When the Morning Glories Bloom
Livin’ the Dream: Phases
This week I enjoyed a late morning walk on the paved path around Hunter Street Park. The weather was perfect and the leaves were hinting at fall with branches displaying some orange-gold color. The nice thing about retirement is that I don't have to walk in the early morning darkness like I did all those … Continue reading Livin’ the Dream: Phases
Sheltering Trees
It's finally feeling like fall in central North Carolina. The temperatures are going to dip down to the upper 40s tonight. I love jacket weather and feel energized by a chill in the air--compared to the lingering heat and humidity that has been so oppressive. In a few weeks, I'll be heading to the mountains … Continue reading Sheltering Trees
A Twenty Dollar Chain Reaction
My friend, Delores has an empathetic heart; one way she expresses this is by sending her homemade cards. She delights in taking breaks to retreat to her "She Shed," her RV camper in the backyard, where she has her table set up with all her card-making materials. She also takes it upon herself to encourage … Continue reading A Twenty Dollar Chain Reaction
Surrendering to the Seasons of Life
Last year in August when I walked on the Portuguese Coastal Path of the Camino, I was amazed that there were flowers blooming that are at their peak in spring and summer in North Carolina. I was surprised to find a pumpkin growing on a garden fence which we'd typically see in September. In that … Continue reading Surrendering to the Seasons of Life
Connie Rosser Riddle 