Home again…after spending a week in Minnesota cold, where we enjoyed family togetherness, good food, laugher, holiday lights, and lots of family game time.
Today, the postman delivered this to to us,
so we can continue a German tradition at our house.
More fun times to come.
June 10, 2025
It is not real life…
Awaking early, I couldn’t go back to sleep. An unease hung in the air, which I couldn’t explain. The steady drip, drip, drip of tension has been raining down on us for months. Some go about their days, seemingly oblivious to the erosion of values supposedly held dear by Americans. Others witness this degradation occurring, but cannot process it nor know how to act. Public conversation rarely occurs. People are cautious about their speech and who they are open with. I suspect other homes are as abuzz as ours when the doors are closed, though I do not know what their conversations are.
I feel the need to prepare myself for the days ahead. Yet I do not know what that means, or how to prepare. I expect things to get worse. Much worse.
My hubby asked me if I was anxious. I had no solid answers for his question. Instead, I told him of my feelings. You know the feeling you get when you are on a steep roller-coaster. The whole time the car is slowly edging to the top, you feel the anticipation or dread building within your whole being. Then, many times, the car stops at the top, leaving you suspended in space hanging above the steep drop. In an instant, you are hurtling down the steep drop at record speeds. You scream. Everyone does. Then the ride levels out and gradually slows to a stop. You get out, laughing, barely able to catch your breath or your balance, and finally recognize that you’ll be okay. Right now, I identify with the stage where the car is slowly edging to the top, to pause, suspended in space before dropping. Just not sure how safe the fall will be, not sure what life will look at the bottom, or if I’ll even stand.
It seems to me that the warning signs have been presented to us for months. With each passing event, the acts become more brazen. I listen to people bemoaning how we may be losing our democracy. This morning, I awoke to news that the National Guard and the Marines are in the streets of Los Angeles. Really? Losing our democracy? It is safer to say that the ship has already sailed. It is gone. People think we can return to something. How? Nothing goes backwards.
I have no vision of what is forthcoming, or knowledge of what it will be, or how it will materialize. Yet I believe once the burning is complete, something will arise from the ashes.
I consider we are in for some hard times. Again, I’m uncertain what that means, what it looks like, or how it will affect me and my family. My goal is to continue to focus on individuals, to bring peace and love to those around me. My hubby and I will continue to encourage and support one another. Both of us feel the tension of these days and recognize how important it is to be gentle with one another, to keep seeking things we enjoy, things that bring us peace and contentment.
This won’t happen, but how I would like to awake from this nightmare and declare, “This is not real life,” then sigh and enjoy a sun-filled day.
March was a whirlwind.
Weather changes
Time adjustments
Traveling adventures
House projects
Some quiet downtime
Midwest adventures.
Just a few photos…
Traveling is fun, but so is returning home.
Last night we went to the theatre to see Tartuffe.
It has been years since I’ve seen a Moliere play.
What a treat!
I’d forgotten how timeless his work is.
Kudos to North Coast Repertory Theatre for doing such outstanding work with this masterpiece.
Traditions
Just the word evokes many thoughts
Different for each of us
Impact of these thoughts is equally dissimilar
Some individuals become melancholy
Others upbeat and joyful
The word suggests something one can count on
Yet in truth, traditions reflect change
My granny baked an abundant assortment of cookies
Enjoyed by all, with each of us having our favorites
I took my favorite and ensured it was made every year
Thus, my children were introduced to my favorite for the Christmas season
Then their children delighted in these same little delicate sweets
Each of these children have carried some traditions from my home to their own
Adding new twists and turns creating something unique for their families
No littles at my house for the holidays
Yet these little green trees still get pulled from the oven to be enjoyed by others
An adult grandchild, with children of her own
Requested her gift be a box of these cookies for her family
I smile
How my granny would be honored to know
These little gems she so readily baked
Are still being enjoyed five generations later
A tradition continues.
The Beginning
Dinner in Milwaukee
Stage set for five days of non-stop activity.
Trip was planned around a family wedding.
Sister provided our resting location.
Visited with as many family and friends as time allowed.
Good times and memories abounded.
Last sight in Milwaukee
The Ending
Our second in this house
Much different from the first
When we shared a simple meal alone
This year–
Family, food and laughter filled the house
More food than we needed
Laughter abounded
Memories to savor
Traditions from years past
Introduced with new foods and different stories
For 2021, this event is over
Yet, the memories linger
Bougainvillea plants explode with color
Petals are thin
Each bloom holds four to six petals tightly together
Two white dots fill the center of each as identifying marks for the species
Some tower to the sky growing against the house
Others fill large areas of the garden
Whichever, they fill their space with color and gaiety
Colors vary depending upon plant
The blossoms dry then flutter to the ground
They swirl in the air, ultimately landing below
Like tissue paper scattered and left after a celebration
The yard represents life
Family visited for two weeks
House filled with laughter
Children played games, ran in the garden
Shared cooking experiences
A glass of wine enjoyed in the evenings
Tomorrow’s adventures planned
Car loaded
Family departed
Time flies
Memories are left scattered around
Different shades and hews
Much like my bougainvillea tissue flowers
This whirlwind year is coming to a close.
Memories of people and places are swirling through my head like the winter wind blowing in snowflakes; looking to see where they will settle.
As the flakes blow in circles, memories of the year flash before me. Reflections of time spent with family and friends make me smile. Beauty within the world spins by in my mind’s eye.
God’s love has been obvious this year in so many aspects of my life.
The peace I’m filled with confirms the many things I have to be thankful for. Words and lists are inadequate to express all that encompasses these thoughts.
I wonder how my family, my friends, those I’ve met and interacted with this year, view 2019.
How do you regard this past year?
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to encounter a bear in the wild?
Gabriel and the Bear is now available on Amazon.
Read the story and you can experience the event through Gabriel’s eyes. At the end of the book, there’s a collection of bear facts to familiarize you with information relative to bears and living in close proximity to them.
We returned home to Colorado in early June. Since that time, we’ve been connecting with old friends and family. Anyone who has spent a large chunk of time out of the country may relate to the re-adjustment time when returning to your homeland. We’ve been living through this change process. Many of our discussions have centered about “when we will return to Ireland.”
As part of connecting with family and friends, we made a trip back to the mid-west and attended the church Tom was part of for many years. It was our first opportunity of speaking to a group about Ireland, our time there and the vision for the future. It was an excellent experience for both of us. Besides being energizing, this time identified areas where we need to clarify our vision.
We send a hearty “thanks” to the folks of New Hope for allowing us to share our experience and vision; for your interest in this work; and for reminding us that when with Christians, one is never far from family.
For more information about this mission, check out CelticMissions.org
Journey to the Heights 