Breathtaking Blessing

Rainbow’s bright colors 🌈
Appeared unexpectedly
In front of me-
New hope
Bursting into my heart ❤️
Out of the blue-
What a wonder! 🙏

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Words

Sometimes when we write, words flow. They just come. We can hardly scribble or type them fast enough.

Other times, words are hard to come by. They hide. We sit with a blank paper or screen and just stare.

Harvey. Earthquake. Irma. September 11. DACA.

It’s hard to find the words.

Kindness. Compassion. Neighbors helping neighbors. Strangers helping anyone in need. Giving.

So many stories being told.

Words of hope. Let’s spread them.

Labor Day at the Lake

Sunny skies,
sunny smiles
Family gathering
for fun
Boat cruising
across the lake
Burgers sizzling
on the grill
Watermelon dripping
down chins
Conversation flowing
back and forth
Laughter ringing
in the air
Sunny skies,
sunny smiles

Celebrating with Ruth

I am glad this week to join Ruth and so many others in celebrating her new book. It is a book that will make a difference for teachers who truly do want to reach children who live every day with hard circumstances. The story in the book is personal and powerful. So many who were at AllWrite and heard Ruth share from her heart know the impact of the story. The practical help will guide teachers. Ruth has a gift for helping teachers reach writers.

We celebrate with you, Ruth! Thank you for generously sharing your work and your heart.

Long Day

Awake and out of the house,
On the road even earlier
Than usual

Quick stop along the way
To buy popsicles
For later

Arrive at daughter and
And son-in-law’s
Apartment

Put popsicles in freezer
Make sure we have
What’s needed

A short drive to the
Surgery center
Sign in

Soon she’s ready and
Rolled away-
We wait

My grown-up “baby”
Got her tonsils
Out

Done so fast
It went well
But now

Here comes a kind of
Rough recovery
They warn

So you see why
There was that
Quick stop

For popsicles

Celebrating a Good Neighbor

The alarm clock went off yesterday morning, and as usual, I tapped the snooze alarm (an unfortunate habit). A few minutes later, a piercing alarm filled the air. Confused, I sleepily realized it wasn’t the alarm clock, but the smoke alarm. As the realization sank in, the sound stopped. Whew, just a warning the battery was failing. I made one foolish attempt to climb up and replace the battery, but quickly realized I couldn’t safely do it. It was too early to try to get someone else to help, so I got ready and headed to school for the day. Off and on, I wondered if the alarm was blaring or if it had stayed silent. I thought I should head home ASAP after school to get it taken care of. Then a retired friend dropped by after school, and I went out to dinner with her. When I finally opened the front door at home, I was relieved to be greeted with silence. I walked next door and explained my dilemma to my neighbor. He grabbed a small stepladder and came right over and replaced the batteries in both of my smoke detectors. So this morning, I am celebrating safety and quiet… but most of all, celebrating my good neighbor.

Shine the Light

Fog
Haze
Gloom
Shadow
Eclipse
Darkness
Blindness

Fog is rolling in

Sun
Glow
Light
Vision
Clarity
Radiance
Brilliance

Shine the light