A Writer's Circus

I am writing again. I may not be posting a lot, but I have good reasons. Frustrating, but good. We still do not have home internet. While we have a good lead on a new company, they have pushed their hookup date into June now. So, when I post, it has been the mere peckings into my iPhone. That's how much I love you. And sarcasm. ;) 

However, I do have my borrowed laptop, which still does not like me at all, and suddenly paragraphs of hard-written work will just simply...poof! Gone...and with it...what was left of my mind. 

More sarcasm. Because humor is all I have left! 

So, it's back to the almighty pen and notebook, which is slow, but good, kind of like all inventions from my childhood of which I still mourn from time to time. 

Anyway, I am writing and hoping to be able to share again soon. Laptop willing, pen and paper obliging...and hoping my hand doesn't suddenly turn into a foot. 

If so, I will know I'm not supposed to be doing this and I will join the circus!! 

Butterfly

I think I might know how a butterfly feels. This past year has been a cycle of major life changes, some lasting longer than others. Some much harder to escape, requiring much effort and courage. Most, very isolating and quiet, requiring strength and some kind of hope that if I fall, it won't hurt if I don't fly right away. 

But I'm flying, a little sticky-winged at times, a little tentatively, and still testing the fall. But flying all the same, and trusting the few flowers that remain. 

I am calling them forget-me nots, because I won't forget that they helped me form my wings again. 

Hope

She bloomed again! We wait in anticipation every spring to see if our "miracle tree" will blossom. I've posted about her before, but here she is again in all her glory...

She's an old apple tree, as I've mentioned before, and her lifeblood appears to come out of nowhere. 

Her trunk is rotted, and appears you could push it right over. With your finger...

But in the mess of gnarled limbs, there lives one sturdy living one, from which all the blossoms grow. Not just grow. They flourish! And the scent is breathtaking! 

In the presence of this tree, I have found tremendous peace.

Peace, because life is still beautiful...

In brokenness...

In sadness...

In disappointment...

In wrong turns...

In slammed doors...

In things you don't understand.

Life blooms on you...

On the parts of yourself you thought were long gone. 

On the life you thought you couldn't have. 

On the future you hope for. 

Life will keep blooming even as it leans

And you will keep blooming too. 

And you will be beautiful

And you will bring fragrance

and joy and peace. 

A Walk in the Woods

The weekend was finally made for being outside, doing what we love best! A little work mixed with a little play. 

The girls and I took a break from some yard work (well, I was doing most of the work), and visited a very large triple oak tree on the property. They climbed inside for a series of photos. 

We then came across some dead birch trees that we "karate-kicked" to the ground. That is the best stress reliever!! 

Natalie got busy collecting plastic bags, joking that "these just aren't naturey enough to leave in the woods". Funny girl. 

Serena found a limb to bounce on. Who needs a trampoline?? 

We then took the difficult way back, and the girls made me cross the "ditch plank".

Natalie took the harder way and crossed a slippery ditch log. 

You can't beat a walk in the woods on a beautiful day! Just try!!