Early morning and I wait looking out on the morning sun that is peeking just beyond the horizon. It's been a tough year. I feel worn out, used up. In the window I see my rescued poinsettia glowing in the morning's light.   They say you can’t grow poinsettias here in Zone 4. They say...

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I’m not sure when I picked it up Like a baby, it just seemed to need holding coddling It seemed so light at the time, so helpless surely I could be for it a safe place, a “knighted” mom a rescuer a hero to the helpless and carry it to the other side ... (for...

I did it. I climbed it. I gathered my resolve, and the waning “last” chance and I burst through his darkening silence “I’m going to climb your tree. Now. Will you come with me?”   Forever it had mocked me, For a lifetime it sneered its accusations For an eternity it laughed at my regret...

Life waits just outside my window vibrant and still quiet and boisterous ... full-to-overflowing life Life waits dancing in its stillness pulsating with every breath White-breasted Nuthatch flits here, soars there Mama Deer wanders by – gone in the silence Baby charges toward its source     Everywhere I look, Life pulsates running in the...

I sit here, on today’s beginning and this thought dawns on me, like Sun’s morning rays awakening my soul: There are no vacations… there is only life     Life to awaken to to explore discover unfetter Life to listen to to stop observe embrace Life to hold on to with hope expectancy gratitude Even...

The ocean stretches out before me. Tugging at my soul, it draws me out further still. And in the morning quietness,  I feel the familiar nudge and I hear the small still whisper, “When you let go, you’ll find what you're looking for.” But that's the problem:  I’m not sure I even know what or...

re – do again store – stock up, save for a rainy day, gather up for the purpose of giving away … a place with plenty for those that need joy – deep-down, unshaken-by-circumstance, unquenchable happiness which is infused at its core with gratitude   Re store joy!   Order in the depleted supplies Dust...

He returned! I can’t believe it. Everyone said he would but I worried. I fretted. I held my breath all night long… and then, just like magic there he was!   He tried sneaking up on me. But he’s never been much of a sneaker. My heart could feel him coming even before my eyes...

I heard your call, early in the morning. I slipped out, past my snoring cabin mates and I went…  out to the stillness. Out to the lake. Out to You. And there I settled, wrapped in my blanket, looking out at the lake stretching before me. Dark Lake, Camp Tamarack - where magic happens for...

  I am hidden in the secret of this blank page wrapped between a jumble of feelings and the squiggles of twenty-six letters unfolding   into a game of hide-n-seek   with each space and dash, each comma, each line break I search ... for me   seeking Truth I stretch out the letters across...

Mourning Morning Two peas in the same pod One speaks of death One speaks of life Both must find a way to coexist together. And I find myself here again...   every day the crossroad   choosing which one I will embrace today life or death hope   or   loss   Hope sees beyond...

Settle me, Lord.   Take this chaos, this black holed vacuum, this perfect storm of all my emotions spinning, churning, replaying over and over and over around and around and around over under in between and every which way but where they need to be   Take this chaos and bring peace, this heart that...

Tired. I’m just tired. Down to the soul tired. The wind whips around me, above me, through me, imploding from the inside – a vacuum and nothing is left nothing but the weary ache of a chilly breeze that closes in too near to my soul oh sweet Jesus, my heart, My heart feels too...

French toast. All he wanted was French toast. And she said no. She didn’t know he’d have an aneurysm the next day. She didn’t know he wouldn’t make it back to their breakfast table. She didn’t know he’d leave her holding guilt, instead of eggy milk and bread, and a spatula to try to flip...

Choosing to Agree

    Here, in the heart of winter, I find myself slowly cultivating spring. Bit by bit. Looking, seeking, and dare I say:  maybe even starting to believe again ... a little.   I look around and I see Hope.   A flower in a desert landscape. An eagle soaring against the expanse of an...

  It’s black outside. Inky black. Seems it’s blacker this year than ever before. Used to be I loved the cover of dark in these early hours. I used to love the hug of Time taking its time to spend moments with me. I used to love the feeling of there being no one but...

(29) Iceland Dreaming… Drinking Deep: A Final Reflection

Iceland dreaming... and what a dream it's been. But as I sit here, knowing this is my final Iceland entry, I'm keenly aware that no words, no pictures, no holding of breath or wishing on a star can ever really describe a waking dream... yet, a girl's gotta try, right? So I sit here hoping...

(28) Iceland Dreaming … Just when you think it’s over

We left our last Iceland home at 8 am. We drove through pouring rain, bursts of sunlight and a tunnel that led under the sea for 3 miles. 1923.7 miles we drove - more than twice the Ring Road ... We had come full circle.   At 17:15 (5:15 pm), we left Iceland. For 7...

(27) Iceland Dreaming … our last full day

There is something surreal when you "wake up" from a dream, but find that you're still dreaming. I woke up the next morning in the ever-present day, knowing it was the last full day. Yet even with the 'end' in sight, there was palpable peace. When you know that you've had not only one perfect...

(26) Iceland Dreaming… Journey to the Center of the Earth

New Day. Sunshine gone. Light showers return. And nearly the end of our trip.   Today would be a full journey to the center of the earth... no thinking ahead. No thinking behind. Just soaking in the present and drinking deep.   No better time to walk the neighborhood.   Neighborhood park. Neighborhood sculpture. A...

(25) Iceland Dreaming… part 2…again

Leaving the visitor center we came upon this guy stacking a cairn. and maybe even leaving us this wonderful piece   But we couldn't stop and join him because we were hungry! So we were off to redeem yet another "two days for one"  deal. Man, I love Iceland.   Heading down the road we...

(24) Iceland Dreaming … Once upon a time

Part one, who am I kidding. I already know this will be a two parter! Ha.   Woke up to sunshine! And saw the glacier, Snaefellsjokull, out front. Five minutes of beautiful glory! Then she retreated behind her mountain-made cloud curtain for the rest of our stay. (Just as well, don't think I could have...

(23) Iceland Dreaming… our last stop

The rain finally came and engulfed our 6 hour drive to our last 4 night stay in Iceland - the Snaefelsjokull peninsula. Jökull, means glacier or ice cap and this volcano with its icecap was made famous by Jules Verne "Journey to the Center of the Earth." The rain seemed a bit fitting as we drove,...

(22) Iceland Dreaming… Rain? Part two

With one hour to spare, we got Chris to his motorcycle museum. And I went down the road to do some more exploring on my own on this "rain, rain, rain" day. Ha. (Not that I would have minded seeing the motorcycles, but alas, the museum required a bit more cash than this casual uninformed onlooker...

(21) Iceland Dreaming … Rain?

Today was going to be our rainy museum day. Ha! Ain't no way we're spending it inside!   But mornings always start with binoculars. And check this monster out, all the way from Malta! 2000 passengers and 1000 staff. (Yep, Chris is still doing his research. 🙂 ) (The above ships might have come in the...

(20) Iceland Dreaming… Don’t count on the weather.

According to local weather, today was going to be cloudy, and tomorrow would have the chance for the most rain. No problem. We've already lived this dream to its very fullest, and we ain't no complaints. Not even one. But we did think this "cloudy only" day would be good to see a cool fishing...

(19) Iceland Dreaming… continued from our Christmas stop, (’cause days here give you two for one!)

So how do you follow up a morning celebrating Christmas in July? You keep traveling up the valley. You celebrate every tree you see, because there are very few in Iceland. Thirty years ago they began a program to reforest the country. But their reforestation looks like our clear cuts in reverse! Packed in so...

(18) Iceland Dreaming… Not planning on waking up anytime soon

We woke up to this. One thing this vacation has taught me more clearly is the importance of seizing each moment and then soaking in them. They are gifts, and the opportunity of having another "just like it" might not come. But if you have enjoyed what you were given completely and fully, then there...

(17) Iceland Dreaming … A time for every purpose

Akureyri - a time for resting.   I have to explain first that there is one singular moment in all my yearlong vacation planning that I both dread and embrace with dream-meets-reality excitement, expectation, hope and throw in just a touch of angst. That is the moment we enter the town drive down the street,...

(16) Iceland Dreaming … It’s a long way to Akureyri (not to be confused with Tipperary, but rhymes with it. :)

On our way to the second largest city :Akureyri,  Iceland (about 18,000).  It is a port city that welcomes most of the cruise liners from Europe, and is the best skiing in Iceland, we are told. ... and what do you do when you start the day's journey? Visit a local "bakari" of course. So...