Interlude

December 19, 2022.Reading time 1 minute.

Ah Christmas…the barrage of lists, the constant bustle, my aching legs…. When we have a moment to rest, we celebrate that two Ukrainian families have now successfully flown our nest. We are exhausted but warmed by the knowledge that our family has grown. We’ll be twenty at Christmas – our two families of five, plus […]

Photo Shy

December 9, 2022.Reading time 2 minutes.

“Mom, we need photo with you!” This from my emotionally adopted Ukrainian daughter. Her words strike a chord. While I love to be behind the camera lens, I detest having my picture taken. This is unfair to my children, I recently realized. When I’m gone, they’ll have nothing to remember me by. Another Ukrainian family […]

Last of November

December 2, 2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

For Bushboy’s Last on the Card challenge. Featured image is an iPhone capture. Below is last on my camera:

Chronic Illness

November 30, 2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Chilly Reflections

November 18, 2022.Reading time 1 minute.

Although my body is healing, my heart is aching still. The requests for help from Ukraine keep pouring in, and the response on our end is drying up. Three families arrive in the next month, and one is already here, with nowhere to go. Three more have reached out. I have no answers. Just ache. […]

I Have Faith

November 16, 2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Changes

November 14, 2022.Reading time 1 minute.

After 7 weeks of respiratory illness, I think I’m finally on the mend. The family of refugees we’ve been hosting signed their first lease yesterday, and will be moving December 1st. Although hubby and I agreed that we wouldn’t host another family, we have committed to a single woman, my age, who we’ll take in […]

Golden Moment

November 11, 2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Golden eagles migrate through here in October/ November. Spotting them is rare, but when I turned the corner and came upon this scene, I knew this bird was not a local. Sorry about the quality. I daren’t roll down the window for fear he would flee, which he did when another car came by.

Birdspeak

November 9, 2022.Reading time less than 1 minute.

What speaks to you?

Wings

(Written during my bedbound years with ME/CFS)

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

May is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis awareness month. Also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, this disease is characterized by exhaustion after exertion. The exertion can be physical -taking a shower; emotional – worrying or obsessing; or mental- filling out forms. The best source of information about ME/cfs, as we call it, is the Bateman Horne Center. They […]

Sorry

Sorry –so much inadequacybundled into one wordas if five letterscan conveydepths of regret,shock, dismay seems I am the sparkto your lighter fluid –unintentional, I swear still reelingfrom the aftermathof the explosion attempting todeconstruct theformula –precautionary I am sorry –that you are enraged,that you are so obviously disappointedthat you are consumed with resentment –except, it is […]