Courbevoie, France, May 2023 Ezekiel 36: 26-27 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and... Continue Reading →
The Spirit Must Be Fed, Too: Thursday Inspiration
I feed my body every day, Often feeding too much to it. But, I've learned the hard way That I must also feed my spirit. Silence or just being very still, Listening to some sweet music, Whatever will quiet my tired soul Is what I use to feed my spirit. But most of all, I... Continue Reading →
Taking Off the Mask: Being Real in my Calling
It's difficult and painful to realize that you have been wearing a mask for a long time, not really being as authentic as you should have been. It does not matter if the mask was worn unintentionally; what matters is finding the courage to admit that you need to change and to be real in... Continue Reading →
Living to The Fullest Towards the End of This Journey
Image Credit: Sebastian Knoll @ Unsplaah I looked at the older woman in the mirror, Wondering where the years have gone. In my seventies now, and still moving forward, Much closer than ever to the dawn. I ponder what lies beyond this world, As I approach the tip of the dark spaces. I struggle to... Continue Reading →
Braga, Portugal, You Stole My Heart
We are spending nine weeks in Portugal to decide on where we might want to live for the next three years. My husband’s only grandchildren live here, so he wants to come and spend time with them before they go off to college. I am still ambivalent about leaving the United States and my family,... Continue Reading →
I Look At Social Media, But I Don’t Share My Life
I came off of Facebook because I spent too much time distracted by reels. I also began to be disturbed at the ugliness of the rhetoric. Even when I taught college students, I advised them to be careful what they posted on social media, for fear of losing a future job because of an ill-advised... Continue Reading →
Speaking to My Daughter Every Sunday, No Matter Where I Travel, Keeps Me Connected to Family
Daily writing promptDescribe a positive thing a family member has done for you.View all responses My youngest daughter and I talk every Sunday. I have always found a way to. speak to her, no matter where my husband and I are traveling. That’s why when we arrived in Portugal last Thursday, and I could not... Continue Reading →
Hamburger Heaven in Porto, or I Came All This Way for a Burger?
Porto, Portugal, April 10, 2026 We came to spend the night with the grandchildren and their parents before we started our explorations. They suggested a hamburger festival.It was amazing to see so many burgers, but some were over the top. The grandkids and their mother are vegetarians, so they found burgers they could eat, and... Continue Reading →
Happiness Makes the Soul Rejoice in Being Alive!
Daily writing promptWhat are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?View all responses I don’t think we are meant to always be happy, but it would be absolutely wonderful if we were. That would mean that everything brings us happiness. Yet, without the sadness of trials and tribulations, we would not be able to comprehend... Continue Reading →
A Colorful Seat Brings Joy to a Cancer Survivor! Every Day is a Gift!
Beaufort, South Carolina, 2024 As a colon cancer survivor for nearly 18 years, I found this seat inspiring and beautiful. Every day is a gift! Posted for Pull Up A Seat Photo Challenge from Xingfu https://xingfumama.blog/2026/04/10/pull-up-a-seat-photo-challenge-2026-week-15/Mama https://xingfumama.blog/2026/04/10/pull-up-a-seat-photo-challenge-2026-week-15/
It’s the “What-Ifs” That Makes Suitcases Heavy
My husband and I are in Braga, Portugal, and as we decided at the Porto airport whether to take a low-cost bus or an Uber that costs a little more, the decision was made by the fact that we have six pieces of luggage or bags. This meant we called a Uber, rather than having... Continue Reading →
Knowing When To Let Go Has Made Me Happier
Daily writing promptDescribe one positive change you have made in your life.View all responses It was learning to know when to let go of relationships hat made my life happier. I was watching Kenny Rogers” movie, The Gambler. When he sang,”You got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when... Continue Reading →
In Five Days, the Next Adventure Begins
Lisbon, Portugal, 2024 I searched for my birth certificate yesterday. I had forgotten that it was so torn up, but I don't have time to send for a new copy. We leave for Portugal in five days! We are scouting for a home there, to have more time with the youngest grandchildren, so we plan... Continue Reading →
