Welcome to my updated website and blog. Template changes were long overdue! I hope you like the new look. Last Monday was Canadian Thanksgiving. We, in Canada, certainly have a lot to be thankful for. My personal list includes continuing gratitude for health during this pandemic and the fact that we can again attend church… Continue reading Gratitude on Thanksgiving week
Sunday is Mother’s Day—I’m sure I don’t need to remind you! Mother’s Day reminds me of my own mother and the fact that it’s already 15 years ago that I gave her her last Mother’s Day card. She died about six weeks after Mother’s Day in 2006. I still miss her, though signs of her… Continue reading “Portrait of my mother at twenty” – a poem
When presented, by my writing group, with the challenge to write about my experience during the pandemic, my first thought was to do it in poem form (seeing as how it’s April and National Poetry Month). “Pandemic Lifestyle” is a snapshot of some of the things that have characterized the last months for me and… Continue reading Pandemic Lifestyle – a poem
A few weeks ago I attended the Global Leadership Summit (by simulcast). One of the speakers was Sheryl Sandberg (COO of Facebook and author of the book Lean In). This gorgeous young woman looked like she had it all, and had it all together. Then she shared the story of her young husband’s sudden death… Continue reading Gratitude (Spiritual Journey First Thursday)
As I contemplate “finding joy” (our Spiritual Journey Thursday topic this month), it occurs to me how little it takes for me to lose mine. A stretch of bad weather, a cold that hangs on, misplacing my things, upcoming obligations that worry and stress me… These and many more easily grab my attention and, if… Continue reading Teach me
Though I haven’t joined in on Poetry Friday for a couple of weeks, I’ve enjoyed reading the #haikuforhealing (Mary Lee Hahn’s idea) that keep popping up in my Twitter feed and various blogs this December. Today I’m bringing my little haiku side-dish to the potluck. Christmas Snapshots #haikuforhealing Road choked with cars. She signals merge—let… Continue reading Christmas Snapshots #haikuforhealing
Happy Thanksgiving to our American neighbors! In my search for a poem of gratitude today, I came across “To Skin” (which I wrote some years ago but don’t believe I ever made public—at least not here). It reminds us of one thing we have to be grateful for which, though all around us, is easy… Continue reading To Skin
Dancing in the Reflections by Patricia Mussolum My rating: 5 of 5 stars In Dancing in the Reflections, Patricia Mussolum rejoices in the beauty of nature and the simple pleasures of home. Dancing is full of stories of God's simple gifts to her—like an armful of lilacs when she was hankering for a small bouquet,… Continue reading Dancing in the Reflections (review)
Earth Day Prayer O Creator of the Earth from its systems and creatures may I learn and make my own the faithfulness of the sun the inevitability of day-night rhythms the wisdom of cycles the faith of a seed the determination of a shoot the generosity of green the persistence of water the kindness of… Continue reading Earth Day Prayer (NPM ’16-Day 23)
I had a lovely experience of gratitude expressed to me last weekend. A bit of backstory. Years ago, it became customary for our church's small groups to discuss Sunday's sermon in their meetings. The church office provided sermon notes for that. In February of 2011, the pastor responsible for small groups asked me if I… Continue reading Gratitude (NPM ’16-Day 13)
Violet Nesdoly 