Snow-covered mountains soothed my spirit and brought me joy! We are home and tired! But, it is a good weariness, for we enjoyed Italy and look forward to returning some day to more areas, like Rome and Florence. We left Montesilvano on Friday morning, a two hour car trip to the airport, and finally arrived... Continue Reading →
Making the Best of Our Trip to Italy
Hindsight is not helpful in changing past decisions, but it will save you some heartache in the future. Not to be disingenuous, I should have either waited until we returned to have the defibrillator surgery or postponed the trip until I had healed sufficiently to enjoy all that Italy has to offer. Yet, I am... Continue Reading →
An Italian Adventure Begins!
We are here! A little worse for wear, but preparing to have a great time, with pictures added each day, hopefully. I had surgery last Tuesday to place a new pacemaker with defibrillator that required me to stay a night in the hospital, because I was slow to overcome the anesthesia. Still, the doctor said... Continue Reading →
Bent but Not Destroyed: Saturday Mix
The tall pines on the hill poked at the clouds, A battle centuries old which always brings delight. On this May morning, I sit quietly on the porch, Admiring nature's waltz in the shimmering light. It speaks of a force that's invisible to our eyes, One that causes the trees to continue to stand Through... Continue Reading →
Redefining What It Means to Be a Spiritual Mentor
At one of the churches I once attended, I was asked to be a mentor for young women who were part of the Women's Ministry. It required being a spiritual compass of sorts for new Christian women, helping them understand the Scriptures and how to live a life acceptable to God. I turned it down,... Continue Reading →
Poets are Healers of the Soul
In elementary school, our teacher, Mrs. Geraldine Hawkins, introduced us to the poetry of Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, and other black poets. The poems made us laugh, cry, reflect, and reminded us that we were identical to whites, all of us Americans. We were required to learn each poem line by line, reciting them... Continue Reading →
Let’s See Who Wins: Using Deception to Keep Us Healthy
Even though Douglas has been teaching a class on healthy living at our church and has been eating much healthier, he's having a hard time losing more than five to ten pounds. As I prepare for my new reality, having my own personal defibrillator in my chest, I, too, need to lose some pounds, something... Continue Reading →
Blogging and Inclusion: Tale Weaver #218
Blogging is a place of inclusion and diversity. I marvel at the different people whom I follow, people that I will probably never meet in person, but with whom I share nearly every day. I am in awe of the pictures of courage, perseverance, resilience, and determination that I read each day. Each person's story... Continue Reading →
Disc Golf and Me!
I wrote about becoming a disc golf widow. Douglas plays nearly every day, either on his way to work or coming home from work, according to the hours he is scheduled to work. On his days off, I have started going with him, deciding that I need the exercise of walking the course and just... Continue Reading →
Ode to Interracial Couples: Weekly Writing Prompt
There is no real dichotomy between you and me, For we both have eyes, ears, noses, and feet. Thank God that hearts don't notice color or race, But only seek another heart with the same beats. Delirious were we when love finally found us, It reminded us of our value and worth. We had both... Continue Reading →
