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“B”lessings can be …
Blessings can be unexpected and yet I need to look for them and acknowledge them.
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The Easter Promise
Easter means hope for healing the heart
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“B”rrr, someone frosted the trees!
It’s April 2 and this photo was taken from our front porch this morning. Someone flew over the city and frosted everything. It’s so pretty, and unexpected. That’s the way life is sometimes. I am a fan of snow (having moved from Denver to Indiana) so this was a gift to me but probably a disappointment to many others. I think it’s winter’s last hurrah before giving in to spring’s blooms. It’s been great hearing the birds chirping in the morning but I bet they were surprised as we were with the snow. It’s been a harder winter than normal, and I don’t necessarily mean the weather. Life’s changes have…
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“A”pril is here – no foolin’
So, it’s April 1 and the beginning of the A to Z blogathon. It’s also Easter Sunday so I thought this photo was appropriate. It was taken on my way to work one day last year about this time. Believe it or not, we got a few snowflakes just an hour ago but the daffodils are in full bloom and the dogwood blossoms are about to open. Happy spring to everyone, whether you’re celebrating the Risen Christ and the joy and blessings that His living spirit bestows on us daily or you’re celebrating the awakening of plants, animals and a warmer spirit that will lead us into the coming months.…
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Clean laundry
When I was little, my mom washed and hung our clothes outside on the clothesline to dry. We had a dryer but keeping costs down was important and our clothes smelled terrific afterward. Over the years, we lost grass in our backyard and the clothesline poles rusted. Using the dryer became more convenient. My parents also raised English Springer Spaniels so I imagine the dogs playing fetch with our clean clothes was an encouragement to bring the chore inside. The Amish in Indiana still dry their clothes outside and I couldn’t help but take a picture because of the fond memories that surfaced. Seeing white and colored clothes, newly cleaned,…
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Five Minute Friday: A bittersweet BLESSING
Usually when I think of blessings, I think of positive things that I find incredibly heartwarming or awesome, that have happened in my life. Today, I’m counting a blessing that is bittersweet. Our tabby striped, 12-year-old Maine Coon cat, Tikey, had to be euthanized last night at the vet, amidst hugs and an ocean of tears. What my husband, Joe, and I thought was an aggressive ear polyp that was next to his eardrum and had begun bothering him (with dizziness and nausea which had caused him to stop eating), was compounded by stomach/colon lymphoma. A good quality of life was no longer possible for him and I believe he…
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#IWSG: How to find blogging topics?
The first Wednesday of the month is the official Insecure Writer’s Support Group day! When I first started my blog, it was as much for my own sanity as it was for others. I hope that doesn’t sound too selfish! I’ve always written for my day job/career but most of my writing has not been “creative”. I do remember when I was a copywriter for Joslin’s Department Store in Denver, Colorado (think Macy’s but on a smaller scale). I wrote a few punny paragraphs about athletic shoes or dreamy text about an evening dress. The pay was horrible. I then got involved in B2B publishing after that (layout, collecting ads,…
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#AtoZChallenge: Music as prayer
Photo by Diane Weidenbenner I’ve become more aware of the transformative experiences in my life. Those things that edge me a little closer to the person I want to become. Close friendships contribute to my life. Spending time with family, although not as often as I’d like, strengthens my foundation. Reading the Word, going to church and hearing an inspiring message are encouraging. Swimming with my husband (at least that’s what I call it) allows me to reflect, pray, focus on my breathing and relax, especially when followed by the whirlpool. Music also has the ability to touch my heart and soul. Many times it can lead me to prayer…
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#AtoZChallenge: Life everlasting
Since it’s Good Friday, I’m reposting an appropriate reflection for the A to Z Challenge. Hope you enjoy! I recently talked about going on junkets with my friend, Sandy. One of our favorite sites to explore is an older graveyard. No, we’re not into the macabre and we don’t visit them at night. (We wouldn’t be able to see anything in the dark!) We like to read tombstones and wonder about the people behind (or as it were, underneath) them. The stories are different. We may find families that are buried together at different times. Some of the headstones are worn, overturned or broken but you can still decipher what…
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#AtoZChallenge: Gardens and good friends
Photo © Diane Weidenbenner Spring has sprung and it has me thinking about gardens. Buds have appeared on our lilacs, irises are springing up and the roses have green, velvety leaves. I can’t wait to get a whiff of the lilac-perfumed air from our bedroom window. I also begin thinking of new plants to add to the landscape. Do they require a lot of care? Since we’ve had a drought these past few summers, how much water will they require? I have a lot of enthusiasm at the beginning of the season when it’s sunny and warm (and not humid.) As the summer progresses, and it gets muggy and…
