Seeking to be CONTENT in all things, JOYFUL in HOPE, PATIENT in affliction.
When someone dies, they leave a space. Sometimes, it is a small space, easily overlooked, that regrettably disappears without fanfare. Sometimes, it is an awkward emptiness. Those left behind gather around it, uncertain how to respond to the change. Family may talk about this void, collect mementos, and then busy themselves with other people and …
Now that I’m recovering from pneumonia and realizing Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I find myself nesting. The gloomy weather makes it easy to stay indoors, cleaning forgotten corners, sorting through that overstuffed drawer, and uncovering what’s hidden beneath and behind. How do things get so dusty? As much as I love my house, …
He covers the sky with clouds; He supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. Psalm 147:8 Today, the sky finally opened up. Real rain at last. The flash and crackle of lightning and the boom of thunder preceded its arrival. It was a welcome sight after all the dry months. …
Grieve not the future nor the past but in the moment. That is where joy can be found along with peace and wonder and, yes, sorrow can be there, too.
Was it really 5 years ago when the world stopped? We learned so much during our time of isolation. Unfortunately, I think we’ve already forgotten many of those lessons. We learned to make peace with peace. Empty streets and the emptying of public spaces made the whole world quieter. We learned to be ok with …
Continue reading Peace and a Pandemic: Lessons Learned in 2020
The endangered California Red-legged Frog (Rana draytonii) in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area The worst thing we used to say about winter was that it was dull. After brightly lit festivities, the warmth of friends and family together, January has always seemed bleak. Just cold and barren. February isn’t much better, although there is …
I am not superstitious. But as fires rip through communities around LA, it is hard not to feel uneasy about 2025. Five days after they packed up their Christmas goodies, hugged us good-bye and headed home, our daughter and her husband are living in a hotel. They are among the estimated 180,000 people who have …
I went outside to drink my coffee by the fireplace and the warming sun and light breeze summoned me to stay. Come find the first camellias hidden beneath leaves and fern fronds, it bade. Come to see if the hydrangeas are budding. Oh no! Something is infecting our berry vines. Make a note to head …
City sidewalks, busy sidewalksDressed in holiday styleIn the air there's a feelingOf ChristmasSilver Bells When did Christmas become a checklist? Somehow it happens every year. I asked a neighbor if she was managing to avoid holiday stress. “When is holiday prep not stressful?” was her response. When indeed? And yet, that is the opposite of …
It is ironic that we can have difficulty giving thanks as we prepare for Thanksgiving. “Who has time?” you might be thinking as you bend beneath the considerable weight of family needs, expectations and your own desire to get it right. The challenge is particularly acute during this season of weariness. Many of us are …
SMALL MOMENTS FULL OF GRACE 