Andalusia

 The grounds where once cows gave their milk, stands a home and memoirs of a lady of silk. Flannery was a lady who showed how she felt, and spun a life I marvel, taking all she was dealt. I hope I can live as she did in some ways, to be more intentional and productive with days. What a treat it was to visit her home, as I crave inspiration on adventures I roam. I could feel her intention and eye for the good and even the fearful in her mind where I stood.

 

I am a Strong Tree

 

Reach

 I need to write

So I visit the beach 

To let my cares go 

And my spirits to reach 

I need to dream  

So I watch the sun set 

Reality meets hope 

In the wonder I get. 

I need to soar 

So I rock with the waves 

Till the wind takes me higher 

In the heavens I bathe 

It never disappoints 

As the years bring me here 

Always new horizons 

I hold each of them dear 

So I reach like the monuments 

Shining at Saint Joe 

And await my surprises 

Every year I still go 

So if you need a lift  

Or a promise to hold 

Join me at the sand 

We'll live a tale to be told. 

~Sharon Cecil

A Little Bird Told Me...continued

 Go out on a line- with a large group or alone...look up, down, all around

Fly in freedom, no destination required

Sing when you arise, just because.  Someone may be listening and be joyful with you      

Nature provides ~ God is the author

There's plenty of room for us all, same or very different 

Being small is relative 

Feathers are light

Food is from the ground

Nests come and go after their purpose.   💛 Life is fragile but beautiful

64

 I’ve had the joy of 64 Christmases.  That’s a lot of great memories, many years of celebrating baby Jesus’ birth, love, lights, gifts, and family happiness.  Being part of this family is something I’m so grateful to God for. My family is alive, it grows in number and memories.  64 birthdays, Easters, winters, springs, summers and autumns experienced.  64 cycles of time that I know follow each other.  This predictability gives a sense of safeness and peace.  God thought of everything when He created us and this beautiful world.  As this Christmas approaches, I realize this will be my 65th.  Time marches on.  Let’s cherish each moment, hour, day, and year ~ thanking God for all of the beautiful memories. I thank Him for all of the people in my life throughout the years, all orchestrated by Him especially for me.  64 is really the 65th chance I get at it all again. Death is really life of the soul for eternity, Jesus’ death was really eternal life for us all and a chance to be with Him, our Father, and the Holy Spirit forever.  Things aren’t only what they seem.  This darkness that we are in right now will be brightened by the Christ Child and beyond.  Count it all good. 

The Train Whistle

Just a couple of days after Christmas in 2000, my 3 children and I moved into our new home in the country.  The city we had been living in was changing from a quaint Catholic German neighborhood, to a place where gangs were coming in as older homeowners passed away and the homes became for profit rentals.  My children were getting older and problems were arising.  I longed for a country atmosphere.  I had been so active in my parish and community so this process probably took longer than it should have.  There were so many obstacles to overcome and we moved temporarily a couple of times awaiting our final move.  It was horrible and I cried every time I drove toward the country looking for a place I could afford. It seemed like it rained every time I went searching.  I was very despondent wondering why God led me to look around Walton, KY but everything was falling through for a couple of years.  Finally one day I drove through a very small subdivision being built which I had applied for a down payment subsidy but fell through the cracks.  We stopped in front of one of the houses and a man was out front of his house next door.  As it turned out, his daughter was the realtor and they were kind of scrambling to get the remaining homes sold to complete their grant - the same one I had applied for and couldn’t get  worked out.  We exchanged information and within weeks, everything was approved for my loan on the house next door to this man.  I actually got to choose which property I wanted!  I chose the biggest yard even though it was a hill.  It was an absolute miracle.  I had a dream previously, kind of envisioned rolling hills.  The view from my new home was those rolling hills.  One of my sweetest memories and what I hold dear as an analogy for our family happened the night we moved in.  The day I got the keys I anxiously awaited because the electric couldn’t be turned on until the next day.  We had a big snow storm that night but I still couldn’t wait another day for the electric.  We drove those snowy county roads and made it inside the dark house.  We huddled up in lots of blankets, my two teen sons and daughter along with our golden mix dog Cuddles.  I heard the train whistles all night long.  It wasn’t an annoyance but rather a joy because there were no distractions, just us together ~ nothing else, with all the hope and dreams ahead.   I always loved to hear the trains because it reminded me of that night and all it represented.  God miraculously provided that small but brand new home for us.  This was particularly miraculous that I was approved for the loan on a part time job salary as I was still homeschooling the children.  We lived there for 18 years.  I sold the house and retired in October of 2018.  The kids were grown and the home had served it’s purpose.   I downsized to an apartment so I wouldn’t have repairs.  As it turned out, the builders had seriously cut corners causing me lots of repairs and expenses.  So I’m so enjoying this place with all new “everything” - some of the things I had actually picked out when I was considering staying in the home and taking a loan for repairs.  God specifically provided only to show me He is in control and is taking care of me.  It’s nothing fancy but a great neighborhood, lots of deer and wildlife in the yard and a balcony with a lake view.  The other night when I laid their quietly and couldn’t sleep, I heard a train whistle.  I’ve been here two years now but never heard the train before.  It made me smile and remember that loving feeling of our first night in our home.  God is so good ~ especially in the darkest nights.