Savor

 Breathe in

Life is 

Not a race

I repeat

Life is 

Not a race

I must run

With speed

But leisurely walk

And truly savor

Questions

 Any weekend plans?

What are you making?

What are you cooking?

What’s in your cart?

What is making you smile?

Not sure yet

Nothing yet. Trying to decide. Want to get crafty. 

Made tuna fish sandwiches last night

Just got some new jean shorts

You all. You all make me smile

Observe

 Yesterday I went analog for seven hours. So simple yet so revolutionary. Did I feel like I was missing something. Yes. Did I constantly search for it wanting to take a picture of something?  Yes. Then I had to remember what life was like before phones. Like survival skills almost. What did I learn yesterday. 

Lack of information inundation leads to true presence. 

You are more observant. 

You use your imagination. 

You turn to music. 

And after going analog, you breathe a sigh of relief. For making it when you realize how dependent you are on your phone. 

Hugs

 Sending love

Hugs

And good wishes

To all

A little grin

A sweet kiss

And a joy

That passes all

Understanding

Anyway

 These days, I’m learning what growth is. Growth is not arguing or proving a point. It’s not about explaining. God made me like this. I still don’t like it. God didn’t ask me what I liked, however. It’s an about loving unlovable people.  It’s still hoping even as the cruel and deceitful of the world prosper, while the marginalized suffer. It’s about not trying to understand what I cannot. Trusting the process, journey, take your pick isn’t glamourous. It’s painful, unsexy and unappealing. It is daily. I’m learning for my own sanity that every day I must walk. It’s my daily commune with God. I say nothing. Nothing at all. It’s the only time I’m truly silent. 

I’m realizing that growth is not doing things the American way. Please don’t ask me to elaborate.  I don’t multitask. I can’t hurry. I can’t get with the program. Sadly, even though therapy and treatment make disability seem invisible, it is not. And that reality greets me daily. It’s the reminded that doesn’t cease. And that is acceptance right there. 

I’m learning that people can be good, and still disappoint you. I’m realizing people don’t want truth. After Sunday’s sermon on self-denial where I cried, but I paid attention. You may not like me after this post. I need to be free more than I need to be liked. Never thought, I’d say that. Another thing is:  I’m doing things I swore I’d never do. Don’t tell God what you won’t do. You will end up doing it anyway. 

Questions

 How was your weekend?

What did you cook?

What did you watch?

Did you have fun?

Did you shop?

Hope you have a wonderful start to your week. Love you all. 

Prayer

 Lord

Keep my 

Mind on you

When I look elsewhere

My brain hits the gutters

Rainy days

 Good book

Sweet drink

As the rain

Continues to 

Lazily drip

Down the windowsill 

A good day

To just be

One with oneself

And marvel

At small miracles

Happies

 Making me happy 

Unexpected gifts

Banana pudding

Receiving souvenirs from others travels

Snail mail

The rain

Your turn?

upside down

 A little strawberry lemonade

A little rain

All it takes

To turn

The frown

Upside down

prayer

 Lord

Calm my

Racing heart

As I continue

To trust

In a story

I don’t 

Recognize 

Or understand 

Joy

 Finding the good

In a nostalgic life saver candy

An extra cheesy

Slice of piece of pizza

A refreshing fruit smoothie

A hour at the thrift store

A smile and a fist bump

Exchanged after

Realizing our sports team

Of choice got the win

Joy, I will seek you

As fervently as needed

God knows I need you

Like the air

I’m so fortunate

To breathe

Could use some prayers today. If you’d humble me. Love you all. 

Regine

Questions

 What is making you smile?

What are you baking?

Any favorite cookbooks?

Favorite desserts?

Favorite restaurant?

Summer sonnet

 A walk 

Down the

Sandy lane

Sandals

In one hand

Sarong in

The other

As Southern sunsets

Are on

The horizon

The veranda 

Is calling my name 

After a long day

Baking in

Blissful sunshine

Sweet tea

And my favorite magazine 

Await me 

This evening

As the thunder

Booms overhead

Questions

 What did you do this weekend?

Favorite hobbies?

What are you buying?

What are you reading?

Any new blogs or Substacks to recommend?

Rest

Reading and doodling

Food

Switching between new reads and old favorites

Awaiting your responses

Your turn?

Help me

 Help me

To trust

Even when

Faith is quiet

When my mind

And body seem

To betray me

Harnessing

 Harnessing your peace

For my own

Upward my eyes

Go as

I meditate

On who 

You are

Not who

I am

Plan

 Open mind

Warm heart

Steady hands

Strengthened legs

For the battles

I’m to face

May I 

Have faith

Persevere and trust

That it’s all

A part of

His perfect plan

way

 Lord

I don’t even

Know anymore

But this test

Is testing

My resolve

In every way

Sardines

 Let me tell you

My emotions

Have been all 

Over the place

Gratitude one minute

Bitterness the next

Sadness appears

Then joy appears

As soon as

I step one foot

Outdoors

My soul has

Been on the 

Merry go round

It’s not fun

But today

God gave me

Little blessings

Little miracles

To hold onto 

Until the desires

Of my heart

Become reality

When one of you said in a comment that God keeps blessing me, and I just don’t know it, I didn’t believe you. Now, I’m going to eat crow apparently. The level of my impatience these days is beyond quantifiable.  I’m not proud of this. I have no idea why I’m admitting this. I don’t know if I will ever know why. God is obliterating my timetable with absolute force. Everything is back to basics. I’m going back to the ABC’s of faith. And it’s not fun. I must need a refresher course. Everything is being flipped. I guess God use anything to get my attention. Who knew it would involve a conversation about the tastiest sardines while trying to find them on the shelf in Wal-Mart today. 

Questions

 Favorite food

Favorite drink

Favorite US destination

Favorite piece of clothing

First blog you checked this morning 

Deep dish pizza

Diet Sprite

Nantucket

Jeans

Couture Carrie

Your turn

Flowers

 Let me be

As the flowers 

Of the field

Basking in grace

Rain or shine

Whose aroma

Sweetens with

Each day

Monday questions

 How was your Mother’s Day?

What are you reading?

What are you eating?

What are you buying?

What is making you smile?

Good. Took Mom to Zaxby’s. Small town. Not much open. She enjoyed her salad. Told me it was the thought that counted. I guess fancy doesn’t matter sometimes. 

Kinfolk magazine

Protein bar

Browsing my favorite boutique The House of Ford out of Greenville

A sweet text message I didn’t expect. 

Your turn?

Mom

 Mom

The one 

Who will

Still kiss

Boo boos

Tell the truth

Yet still remind

You everyday

Not to mention

Her idiosyncrasies

They will soon 

Become your own

Happy Mother’s Day

The struggle

 Who am I

I’m still meeting me

These past few years

Are still teaching me

That all the money

And fame 

Might bring attention

But seeking attention

For attention’s sake

Will leave one

With a lonely heart

A starved soul

A warped mind

And a lost sense of self

The numbers on this blog

Leave me speechless each day

Because too often

I’ve let the world

Determine my worth

And when that happens

Turmoil erupts

Like angered volcanoes

I don’t know

Much

But I know this

I must trust God

Over everything else

Even if 

Even when

It’s an hourly struggle

Place

 Lacing up

Those tennis shoes

Freedom in

The feet

In the street

As each step

Brings my body

Back to a place

I can be

Proud of now

And forevermore

Questions

 Favorite hobbies?

Random fact about you?

Favorite magazine?

Favorite author?

Favorite book?

Reading, writing, thrifting

I like to doodle

Vogue or Tatler

Tolstoy

Too many

Your turn?

Hands

 A little smile

A big hug

A joy

That isn’t spoken

In simplicity 

An ordinary life

Becomes extraordinary

Not because 

What we want

Changes

But how

We approach it

Shifts

And we realize

That as

My hands

Are occupied

My mind

Can’t wander 

Down the rabbit hole 

sea of glamour

 Swimming in a sea

Of tulle and jewels

Regal Red

Corseted Back

Diamond Brooch

Pearl studs

Gold slingbacks

The best accessory

The smile 

That steals

The global community’s

Heart

Batting average

 As the sun rises

On this beautiful morning

I’m reminded that

What I thought

Were losses

Aren’t looking

That way

Anymore

I’m still impatient

And want it

My way

So folks

I’m still

Being molded

I’ll take small wins

All day long

Because my 

Batting average

Lately

Is nothing

To write 

Home about

These days

Questions

 How was your weekend?

What’s for breakfast?

What’s on your heart?

What is your cart?

What are you reading?

Pretty good. Had some company over. 

Honey Nut Cheerios

Too much. 

Food and not much else

A new book by Lorraine Brown. I just started it. No review yet. 

Happy Monday

Fails

 Good morning

What do you

Want from me

To be me

Without pause

To not question

My love for you

To trust

And put 

Your faith

In the One 

That never fails

saturday.

 I’m learning in all this that the complicated things don’t faze me, it’s simple mundane tasks that give me anxiety. I’m realizing that asking for help is not something to ashamed of even if I still do feel shame. Full dependency on God looks like His fellow children every day. It seems I have to ask for help every single day. I have to not see this as failure. My mind has to rewired completely. I wish I were joking. To be so intelligent, yet feel so inept. So inadequate. The things I have to ask help with would make you laugh. If it were funny that is. I’m embarrassed of all the things I need help with these days. You all said to let it out, so here it is. I’m glad God doesn’t laugh at my needs. Some days it feels like I can follow directions correctly 

Sending love on this Saturday

Wet

 The rain is 

Cleansing for

My spirit

As I 

Savor the 

Stillness

That is 

Calming me

Down with

Each raindrop

That pelts

The roof

With impunity 

Friday happies

 Friday happies

Downloaded a new book to read

Watching clay court tennis

A good cup of coffee

A good blueberry muffin

A good nap

I never thought I’d enjoy a nap. I guess with age I learn new things everyday. Share your joys with me please.