A picture is worth a thousand words. What about a picture of words from when you were a child, just finding her way with words and feeling a strong connection to them? The worth seems deep and important. I'm so thankful that one of my writing projects from childhood was saved. I cherish this snapshot of my seven year old self.
Spring was full of one thing after another and then Summer started off with millions of details to pull together for our first graduation party and then a big trip for our senior and myself. It had been such a long time since I had last traveled to the west coast. After eight days away, I came home feeling blessed. Each issue I had stressed over beforehand had turned out just fine and really more than fine. God answered a lot of prayers and it was a super trip.
The delight of travel for me is exploration. From trying new foods to seeing new sights, it's a true adventure to be discovering a place for the first time. I wanted to carry into the remaining weeks of Summer wonder and excitement, a challenge regardless of how much I enjoy experiencing new things. There are dishes to be washed, driving, then more driving to take kids to work, to go grocery shopping, to pick up mulch from the garden store. Then of course meals need to be made, and for this dry spell we are in, gardens need to be watered and then watered day after day after day. In July, I kept that spirit of exploration alive but now the school year has already started. What explorations can I fit into the Fall routines to keep life Fresh?
I've been thinking over a concept for about two years and decided to try to put it in to a poem. So many times life throws the bad at us while something beautiful is happening. One day our family was enjoying the last day of a fun soccer season. The weather was sunny, breezy and warm. The kids were jumping into the van laughing and sharing stories of the day's games and the pizza party. We had the together feeling; family and goodness. I remember thinking it was a perfect moment of joy. Then I got a text letting us know that a family we had been investing in had lost their young mom to suicide. It stopped me in my tracks, sitting in the front seat in shock. And that's what life is like. The beautiful and the devasting happen often right at the same time. Maybe it's grace? Enough good to help us in the trials?
Train
On the train
Tattered overnight bag in my lap
Leather handles smooth in my fingers
Seats are empty
I travel alone
Quiet
The tracks under the floor rumble in a comforting rhythm
Strange experience this
Train
I look out
Clear window on my left
I inhale deeply
Beauty
Green leafy trees brush glass as the
Train ticks by
Bright sunshine
Soft breeze
Children laughing on a set of swings, higher and higher
Picnic table by a lake
Shining water in the light
A trail up a mountainside
Log cabin with a stream of gray smoke
Ascending in a smooth line
A couple holding hands
Walking along a white sandy beach
Toes in the water at the shoreline
A little town with a coffeeshop
Scent of fresh bacon sizzling and coffee brewing fills the
Train car
I inhale deeply
Smile
Stretch my legs out in front of me
My seat is soft and velvety
I look to my right
Rub my eyes
Suddenly
Dark
Shadows blur by
Trees have turned into
Claws
Sun to
Rain pelting the windows, they start to
Crack
How long before the break and
Shatter in the storm
The breeze is an angry wind
Lightening cuts the sky, explodes
Sparks burst into the darkness
Train tips and shakes
I grab the seat in front of me
Hold tightly
My grip is the only thing
Holding me steady
Long cruel arms of the trees
Wrap around the train
Try to rip it from the track
All is darkness
Until
I look to the left
Calm
Snow falling gently
Pure white feathers
Floating down
Covering the land in inches then feet of
Downy diamonds
Sweet cinnamon fills the air
Warmth
My bag pops open
A thermos of hot coffee, a sweet roll are ready
I pour coffee into a pink mug
Sip, savor, relish the richness
Sweet roll to my lips
Is this heaven?
Mug warming my cold hands
Look to the right
Darkness, fury, storm
I close my eyes
Warm hands, quiet breath
Music begins
Melody of gladness
Strain of dissonance, conflict
Then clear, gentle, bright
Melody
Flute trilling the song
Bluebird rising
Life.
photo credit: Dirk Vetter/ pixabay
I took a lovely writing course called Winter Writing Sanctuary by Beth Kempton. Her Calm Christmas podcast was the perfect relaxing listening I needed to help me get into the Christmas mood so I checked out her free course for the week in between Christmas and New Years. The next few posts I'll share the poems I wrote.
Frost
Walking down the gravel path
Sun warming my face, my hair
Air as I exhale turning to a soft fog in the
Cold
Shoulders relaxing, weight lifting
Legs stretching forward
Breathing
Beauty
Fields
Strands of green winter wheat
Growing even in the
Cold
Morning
Frost melting the tips of
White outlined strands
Frozen
In the wind
Frost
Shining
Unexpected
Beauty lifting weight of
Grief, life, one thing after another
Sun
Peeking up, rising over the fields
Opening my
Gaze to find
Unexpected
Beauty even on a brown stalk of feathered grass from the
Season gone by
Days of heat and rain now
Cold
Clear
Sparkling
Frost
Time has flown by and while I had hopes for getting a website launched and waited for that, the wait stalled my blogging. I wasn't sure if I should blog more or just wait for the website. As I plan for the next thing I thought it was about time to get back to the blog. So we'll see where the future of sarahswritingcafe ends up and for now get back to basics here.
This year we have a senior! What? Oh my goodness. Yes! "The days are long but the years are short". I'm not sure who originally said this but Gretchin Rubin quotes this often on her podcast Happier. And you cannot get a better summation of the motherhood/parenting experience. Some days feel like an eternity when you are home with babies all day. Then snap your fingers and your oldest child is a senior in high school and making plans for college and buying a car. Looking back I wouldn't trade the hard days: the teething, the tears over schoolwork, sleepless nights, hot sweaty hours balancing a bike without training wheels, coaching through teen struggles. Here we are and the bond we have runs deep. The beautiful moments (Look Mama I can...moments, seeing countless smiles for all the heartfelt wins from first Bible quizzing awards to getting her license) outweigh the struggles and looking over her senior photos my heart wells with thankfulness for the journey already passed and the road ahead. For privacy reasons I won't share our favorite senior photos but I love them all and our photographer did such an amazing job: Honest to Goodness Photography
My favorite new gadget is this drink adapter for my van. Gone are the days of my water bottle rolling all over the place. It also holds my favorite healthy treat: Sobol smoothie bowl. It's adjustable so pretty much anything from a bowl to a coffee fits nicely. This would make the perfect gift or stocking stuffer.
Kayaking! If you've never gone you should try it out. The tricky part for me is balancing the kayak getting in or out but if you can use a boat launch and walk into the water it helps tremendously. I also have an open top so I don't feel like my legs will get stuck and my kayak is short and slides right up the the middle of my van and I can get the trunk shut easily. Just slide it in and GO! I love the feeling of sitting in the water and paddling fast or slow is so calming and peaceful. We also have 2 inflatable kayaks and they are smooth in the water and an easy way to get started, transport, and store. The bonus is that the Intex Kayaks are more affordable and come with a paddle and a pump.
Since 2017 I've been a huge fan of Chatbooks. It's been a lifesaver and game changer to keep up with all my photos and get them off of my phone and into our hands. I do all of it on an easy to use app right on my iPhone. The kids love getting their Chatbooks in the mail (who is on the cover this time?) and often I see them with a stack on the couch browsing through for fun. No more bulky photo albums taking up space or taking forever for me to finally finish. If you want to try out Chatbooks let me know and I might be able to get you a coupon code.
Hope you enjoy my latest favorite picks!
Feel free to leave a comment and share what you are loving right now!
