The Challenge
Most of my
adult life,
has been
indoors,
regardless of
the weather.
Cooking, cleaning, care-giving,
writing,
exercising, painting,
playing my uke,
singing,
crocheting, record
keeping,
studying the Bible
and college courses,
journaling, redecorating,
reading,
taking care of
my plants,
jig-saw
puzzling, watching TV.
When the cold
winds blow
and the snow
deepens,
I don’t lack
things to do,
but nice
weather challenges me
to drop what I’m
doing
and enjoy the
great outdoors.
Treasures
Books, vases, walking
sticks,
Pictures, plaques,
paintings, puzzles,
Art supplies, Knick-knacks,
ukuleles,
Hand-made afghans,
egadgets, luggage.
An appraisal of
all my stuff
wouldn’t amount
to much,
which reminds
me to treasure
friends,
family, and the eternal.
Pizza and Pasta
When it comes
to comfort food, the Italians have it right, pizza and pasta. When I was in
Italy, Sis and I even took a pizza-making class. Mine turned out rectangular
while everyone else’s was the traditional round, but just as yummy. We had so
many delicious pizza and pasta dishes that I thought I would never want to look
at another dish of pasta or another slice of pizza again. After returning to
the USA, it took me a while, but when I did start eating it again, I realized
something that surprised me. I actually preferred the Sam’s Club stuffed crust,
chicken and bacon pizza and the spaghetti I made al dente with canned tomato or
alfredo sauce over the authentic Italian stuff. Dorothy had it right, there’s
no place like home (cooking).
Pizza and Pasta
Nothing like
our home cooking
Sorry Italy
Anxiety Dreams
The night
before a big event,
my dreams are
filled
with a frantic
attempt
to get ready to
go.
The shower is
cold.
I look in the mirror
And I’m too old.
And I’m feeling
low
My clothes are
too small.
Or I show up
With no clothes
at all.
Embarrassing I
know
But I’m glad
That event’s
realty
Isn’t so sad.
Anxiety
happens, even though.
Daily Dose of Dreams
I have a list:
365 things I
want from God
Each day
throughout the year
I pray for one
of them.
Does He answer?
Yes, He does,
“Yes, no, or
wait a while.”
Dreams
D reams filled
with
R emembrances
and puzzles
E motions and
fears
A ccess to life’s
M ysteries.
Maybe.
S leep and
dream away.
Panama
Where next? Oh,
Panama perhaps.
Sounds like a nice
place to relax.
Toucans, monkeys,
beaches, palm trees,
Mud huts, sky
scrapers, crystal seas.
Sis and I are
itching to go,
Perhaps the
canal on a cruise.
Researching to
be in the know.
Nothing like it
to stir my muse.
At the Nature
Center
Just a short six
hours
Eleven kids
Meaningful
crafts and lessons
Focusing on uniqueness
Exhilarating
hikes through snow flakes
Feeding the alpacas,
goats and geese
Petting
Chisholm the dog
Marching
through Ponderosa Pines
Knitting and
weaving in a warm studio
But it felt
like time went backwards.
How could a
short day seem so long?
ASAP: Always
Start Adventures Prayerfully
Wanderer, I
know,
Planning where
to go.
I get antsy
when I stay.
Travel quickens
me,
All to do and
see.
Adventure calls
me to play.
But in walks
some fear,
Bad news year
to year.
But soon I’ll be
on my way.
Fear can’t hold
me back.
Though courage
I lack,
I can be bold
when I pray.
Hello, 2025!
I’m excited to
meet you.
I hope you
treat me kindly
as did your
brother, 2024.
May I be kind
as well
and reach out to
others
when our paths
meet,
Whether it be
in my home,
in my church,
in my small town,
in another
state, or country.
I’m looking
forward to the opportunity
to meet my
goals, make new friends,
and to learn
and grow as a human.
Will I hike, get
a kayak and ebike
I’ve been
wanting? Lose weight?
Will I attend a
new Bible Study?
Will I continue
my two part time jobs,
finally get my
website up,
and my writing
out there?
Will I keep up
on housework?
Get a new front
yard put in?
Do better at
practicing uke?
Will I learn
more Spanish?
Take college
courses?
Travel the
world?
Whatever happens,
I’ll be 365
days closer to God.
And that’s
exciting, too.
Twenty-twenty
five,
please, do your
best,
for all of earth’s
inhabitants.
A Fresh Start
My sister is
facing a fresh start,
since her
husband of forty-three years
has passed.
But first the
funeral
The getting affairs
in order
The reorganizing
her house
The donating of
his disability equipment
The sadness
The grieving
She’s my travel
buddy.
And with her
fresh start,
I see some
trips in our future.
A bit of light,
color and music
on a dismal
day.
And maybe even dancing.
Goodbye 2024
Goodbye twenty twenty-four.
As I exit out your door,
I look back with gratitude
at many blessings I’ve
accrued.
The church that I attend.
Each one that I call
friend.
The exciting trips I took.
My work done on each book.
My work at NCBC.
In America, we’re still
free.
The training camp I went
to.
The writers retreat we
went through.
That Mike is now in Your
care
and Judy has more time to
spare.
That Kathy’s kids take
care of her
The exciting places where
we were.
That Linda has a new grandbaby.
He’s a cutie I don’t mean
maybe.
That Charlie’s getting the
care he needs.
The brothel ministers who
do good deeds.
That Karen’s heart is
doing fine.
That Kathie’s hip is now in
line.
That Rebecca and I still hike,
The gift of doing what we
like.
For Regina and the walks
we take,
the gifts she gives, her
love’s not fake.
For the friends who I see
seldom,
But from them all I glean
wisdom.
That Lester and Cathy came
to stay.
For the fun we had, the games
we played.
For Ineke and Leonard that
they still live.
For the Penningtons and
the way they give.
Goodbye twenty twenty-four.
As I exit out your door,
I look back with gratitude
at many blessings I’ve
accrued.
The Lord’s Return
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God;
believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so,
would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if
I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me
that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:1-3 NIV)
I do not know if He’ll be
back,
before we die and meet Him
there.
I know He keeps His
promises.
Of this, I am fully aware.
Don’t let your hearts be
troubled, friend.
Seems easier said than
done, true.
Let’s let our minds be calm
in Him.
He will do what He says He’ll
do.
It may be soon that He
returns.
Perhaps two thousand years
or so.
May we be busy doing good,
Until it’s time for us to
go.
Counting the Days
I’m counting the days till
his mom’s return.
I’m halfway to ten, after
today.
His health and wellbeing, always
a concern.
I’m counting the days till
his mom’s return.
For my travels, the money,
I’ll earn.
Though the job’s not
difficult, I must say,
I’m counting the days till
his mom’s return.
I’m halfway to ten, after
today.
Wales
I don’t know what I like about Wales—
Its history, its castles, its music
Its flowers, its greenery, its beaches
Its long hiking trail, its hills, its trains.
Maybe because my great uncle,
born and raised there
somehow, not through genes,
passed his country down to me.
I’d love to return to Wales.
If I had lots of money, I’d spend
my annual summer vacation there
and walk its entire coastal path.
Popping Up
Thank You, Lord,
That as I come to You,
Not only in the morning
But throughout the day,
I become less stressed,
And joy, peace, patience, hope, and love
Pop up like bluebells, columbine,
and Indian paintbrush
on the mountainside.
If I had Time to Write
“If I had time to write,”
I’ve heard so many say.
But with me, I think,
writing’s here to stay.
If I had time to write
is like, If I had time to breathe
If I had to sleep at night
Or time to brush my teeth.
If I had time to take a bath
If I had time to eat
If I had time to get dressed
If I had time to watch TV.
Writers write.
That’s what they do.
I’m a writer.
Are you?
We Lay Awake
We lay awake for a long time,
And knew that gifts we liked to shake
Would wait till out of bed we’d climb.
We lay awake.
All five girls did what it would take
For Christmas day to turn out fine.
And Mom put turkey on to bake.
To sleep so long seemed a bad crime.
Yes, hurry Dad, for goodness sake!
We waited long to hear, “It’s time!”
We lay awake.
Amazing God
The Christmas story
The angel and Mary
The angel and Zecharia
The shepherds,
The heavenly host.
the star, the wisemen.
An amazing story,
A beautiful story
by an amazing and beautiful God.
I worship You.
May all I think, say and do
be from a heart of worship.
My watch
Counts time, steps, miles
Takes blood pressure, heart rate,
Temperature, calorie count
O2
Morning
My quiet time
Meditating, praying
Getting sorted out for the day
Hopeful
Time
T icks by, second by second.
I nsistent in its passing.
M oving onward toward
E ternity. Tick, tick, tick.
There’s Snow
In my small southwestern town,
When the winter skies bestow
The white stuff, which is lovely,
Oh, there’s snow and then there’s SNOW!
From September clear to May,
It can cover us, we know.
In general, it’s not bad,
But there’s snow and then there’s SNOW!
The center where I work at,
Up mountain twelve miles or so,
I have named it the North Pole,
Since there’s snow and then there’s SNOW!
We lead kids on snowy paths.
A-sledriding, we will go.
That is, when it’s not hip deep,
Yes, there’s snow and then there’s SNOW!
Through tall, Ponderosa pines,
We trudge along as we go,
Under the brilliant blue sky,
True, there’s snow and then there’s SNOW!
Only One (Make that Two)
There’s a longing in my heart
At the age of sixty-six.
But this whole situation
Will not be a simple fix.
I have a son and daughter
Who are getting up in years.
And they both remain single,
So this aggravates my fears.
I’d love to have a grandchild.
Only one is all I ask.
For the Lord of creation,
It should be an easy task.
I ask with an attitude
That’s hopefully meek and mild,
For one small bundle of joy
My own precious, sweet grandchild.
So till my grandchildlessness
Is something the Lord pities,
I will try to be content
With my three large grand-kitties.
A Communion Prayer
Sometimes I feel lonely,
though I know You reside in me.
May I always be aware of Your presence
and Your love for me.
May we be soul to soul
in peace and joy.
I feel like I’m always waiting
on a bus that never comes,
waiting to understand
how to live my life,
knowing I’m on path
You want me on.
I always feel like
I’m just not doing life right.
Lord, fill me with the
knowledge of Your will
through all the wisdom and understanding
that the Spirit gives, like Paul wrote.
May I have joy in knowing
You smile on me,
You say well done
good and faithful servant,
that I’m accepted in the beloved.
May I have the joy
in knowing that you like me,
you laugh with me,
You walk with me
and squeeze my hand.
I long for Your favor
like You have with Daniel.
Lord, this is what I want above all else
and that’s why I feel
so disappointed in
myself
in how I spend my time.
Help me truly prioritize
with Kingdom eyes.
And even in all my mistakes,
dumb things I do,
missing the mark,
wasting my time
and wrong priorities,
help truly rest in knowing
You love me as I am.
The sun beamed down
through tall spruce trees
lighting up a small glade,
a perfect peaceful place
for fairies to dance about.
Hiking at the Nature Center
Tramping
Through the forest
The canyon
The pinecones
The rocks
The logs
The mud
The snow
with seven children in tow
pulling sleds with their
newly built birdhouses
to put up in the pines,
we felt we were in undiscovered territory,
knowing that a fifteen minute walk
would take us to the fence line.
After doing that twice,
now I feel, what seems like,
previously undiscovered muscles.
One Piece at a Time
I put together jig saw puzzles
to train my brain
to take things
one piece at a time.
You don’t climb a ladder
by standing at the bottom
and leaping up
to the top step.
And you don’t
keep changing ladders
in hopes that one day
you can do it.
I used to enter the door
of a new year
with the change-the-ladders-
to-make-it-to-the-top mentality.
Every year,
I would redo my schedule
in hopes
I’d accomplish something.
Then it dawned on me,
January 1st is only one day
after December 31st.
I didn’t have to redo my goals.
So, I put together jigsaw puzzles
and have a little faith
that as I take the next step
I’ll eventually reach my goals.
Like the appearance of impossibility,
when staring down 2,000 pieces,
knowing it will form a whole picture,
I enter the new year, one piece at a time.
