I was locked into an unexpected 2nd period prep yesterday - given one hour without anything to do and without my Kindle - so I decided to write a haiku. I was sitting in one of my favorite classes to sub for - a French class. Here we go:

A French classroom

Gold glitter projects
splash the walls. Paris! Venez!
Global dreams take shape.

Fin :)

Port Townsend

On my retreat, I am walking wooden piers and watching the seagulls glide. I am easing into talks with a friend that dip smoothly from tangential to deep. I am surrounded by a world of water that is cool, rhythmic, deep. 

Grey mist lifts to reveal a sun-kissed landscape around me. Snowy mountains encircle us but remain enshrouded in cloud – silent and invisible guardians of our space.

On my retreat, I am at home in rooms painted warm hues of yellow and orange. The walls are splashed with family photos that recall memories of laughter and joy. The world is brought near by homegrown artwork that evokes journeys we have shared. 

On my retreat, I eat. 

The garden is alive, even if in a wintry “in between.” It gives me my first taste of mustard greens, and it enthralls me with the life that always beats beneath the surface. I am fed – Moroccan delights, spiced eggs, fresh salmon - and my own scraps feed the chickens, who then feed the earth. 

Twinkle lights, laughter. Freshly baked cookies. Painting at the kitchen table. Endless cubbies of tea. The hot water kettle delivers in an instant. We enjoy cozy couch sites. Together.

Here to greet me and care for me, on my retreat: a doctor, caregiver, storyteller, friend, a bank of knowledge and humor - many people wrapped up in two kind hosts.

My retreat- a gift given and gladly received. 

Solace

Salmon-spawning area of the American River at Effie Yeaw. Taken: 10/18/22

This has been a place of solace for me over the past two years. Here it is, at "magic hour," though the magic hours at Effie Yeaw Nature Preserve are easier to find than at other places, and they are not confined to the traditional parts of the day. 

The magic begins for me as I first step onto the park's dusty paths. There is a stillness that pervades this place; it envelopes me. I am in a new dimension; the noise and chatter of my everyday life left behind. 

New sounds emerge from the trees and the blue sky. They greet me and bear a message of Life that my soul didn't know it needed. The chirping birds; the rustling breeze... 

Walking further on, I open myself to discern their meaning.

In this space, nature unfurls its beauty and manifests its complexity for those who are ready to study and see. I am a patron of the arts, meandering the latest exhibit of natural wonders on display around me. In observing the whirls of a retired tree stump or the algae-shrouded pond, it's easy to see how Life pulses through this place. It's in the soil, the foraging wildlife.

All my senses are soon alert to the reality proclaimed by this place - the message it bears: God is alive! Not only alive, but knowable, personal. He is manifest in the details of each element's design, and He Himself breathes life into everything I see. 

My path ends and the sky opens up on a view of the river. I am alone, gazing at the water's reflective surface. The birds' song and the rustling leaves once again encircle me, and my Creator speaks an even more intimate message to my heart:

"Consider the birds of the air. Consider the lilies - all that you see around you. See how I take care of them. Yet you are even dearer to me than they. Therefore, I will take care of you."

Held by His words, I journey home. Though I leave the stillness and "magic" of this place behind, the message it bears goes with me.

March six | 3.6

I thought I would set myself a challenge: select a photo seemingly at "random," and create a post about it. Today being March 6th - 3/6 - I decided to head into the third folder of my Pictures album on my hard drive and select the 6th photo in it. (Thank you, sticky Facebook posts, for this inspiration from awhile back.)

Here it is:

My mom is known for being festive. She puts on a party with flare, and the table settings take center stage. My sister and I receive text messages from my Mom on occasion, filled with stunning photos of her latest centerpieces and themed decor for a party thrown for friends or the latest holiday celebration.

This setting was for an occasion very special to me personally: my baby shower. February 2017. Mom went all out, planning for weeks so that her many friends, and a few of my local friends, would have the chance to bless the socks off Ted and me and our growing family. The back patio was filled with gifts for our little one. The white board in the hallway replete with name suggestions for the yet-to-be-born munchkin. And the tables were set with precision, color, and care.

Mom had at least four tables decked with bursts of blues and sweet polka dot and chevron patterns. Tasty cakes and berries mounted peoples' plates, and dozens of friends chattered and shared their advice and well wishes for my forthcoming foray into motherhood. I reconnected with many family friends that day, in a way that was akin to my wedding reception 7 years earlier.

A fun-filled day; a truly festive occasion. And it all started with a picturesque table setting. (Photo credits: Erica Oswald.)

So that you can see some more fun from that day:

Stems

I am not one to keep many plants alive at once, so I appreciate these accents of flora in our home all the more!

These have proven pretty hard to kill, mercifully. I love house plants. :) 

Puddles

Behold! A boy on the brink of some epic puddle splashing. 

He's got his boots on; he is ready. 

(Effie Yeaw Nature Center, 2019.)

A few of my favorite things

I found this list I began over a year ago of some of my recent "favorites" (t.v. shows, books, activities.) I updated it and thought I would share it now:

The Renovaré podcast with Nathan Foster

The Enneagram. (Reading Cron and Stabile's book now, The Road Back to You; enjoyed Jen Hatmaker's interview with Ian Cron, too)

Parks & Rec (we skimmed Season 1 and then got into Season 2)

The Bodyguard (British thriller miniseries, available on Netflix)

American History Teller's "Cold War" podcast series

Ushpizin movie (try your local library; description here.)

TheBibleProject.com video series and Bible study tools

On Being podcast interview with Eugene Peterson, "The Bible, Poetry, and Active Imagination"

Abstract series produced by Netflix (Episodes 1 & 2 are highlights.)

James leaning in for butterfly kisses ;)