Where is Hope?

When you take a break from something, do you ever have a hard time rejoining that activity? I have so missed being able to join in with the Haiku Poetry Challenge offered by Ronovan Hester over at his site, Ronovan Writes. So when his words for this week's prompt showed up in my inbox yesterday, "Hope&Stay," … Continue reading Where is Hope? →

The Gardener Sees

This Gardening heart of mine is finding new ways to be satisfied in this Season of Slow. I may have had to change my activities, but I am finding that God still names who I am in the deep places of my heart.Have you heard Him call your name?Have you heard the whisper of "Beloved, follow … Continue reading The Gardener Sees →

Spring Brings New Life

Every spring I wait for it. And every spring I stand in awe.The colors of new life astound my eyes. Has there ever been another green so vivid or so pure? Surely this is the first time I've seen anything like it. I tell my heart to slow down. I've seen it all before. But silly … Continue reading Spring Brings New Life →

Let Me See You

I spent a lot of time this week thinking about the gift of marriage. A lot can happen over the course of the decades, both for the good and the bad. When my husband and I were starry-eyed teenagers, we thought we saw Beauty when we looked in each other's eyes.What we really saw were dreams … Continue reading Let Me See You →

When Worry Wastes Beauty

The springtime sun revealed the sad state of our yard this weekend. And while my husband mowed the lawn for the first time this year, I tried to be thankful for the abilities that are still mine, and enjoy the small containers that I had filled with pansies. They were my Mom's favorite spring flowers, … Continue reading When Worry Wastes Beauty →

In Awe of Wonders

The early morning quiet was shattered by the pounding of hail on the roof, and I knew my sleep was finished. So I turned on the light and checked outside: sure enough, there were the little white balls, bouncing in the pouring rain. Even though fatigue still had the better of me, I put on … Continue reading In Awe of Wonders →

After the Fire

It was a cloudy, grey day, but my heart longed to hear the early spring birds that were gathered at the lakeside, so we drove again to our favorite spot. What a difference there was at the lake this week! The Park District had managed their "controlled burn" over most of the land there. The … Continue reading After the Fire →

The Gardener Must Prune

Hydrangea ArborescensHave you been smitten by the Hydrangea-Love that seems to be overtaking many gardeners? I know I have, but living here in a cold hilly pocket close to Wisconsin lakes, it takes a gamble to risk most varieties. I wrote about my sweet neighbor and the hydrangeas in her Secret Garden here,and the summer that … Continue reading The Gardener Must Prune →

Spring Breath

This is the time of year when my hopes get the best of me. A sunny day suddenly appears, and all thoughts of snow and winter are far behind. Even if the temperature is all over the place, it's the first day of Spring, after all!Do you see springtime in the blue sky also?This week … Continue reading Spring Breath →

Springtime Snow

Soooo Spring is one week away? I'm not sure about that. . . Last week, my dear elderly neighbor from the Ukraine told me that they have a saying in her country when March 1st comes around:"Vinter ist fight mit de Spring,"she told me in her lovely Eastern European accent. We laughed about it then, as … Continue reading Springtime Snow →