A Mother’s Day Farewell

May 14, 2023.Reading time 2 minutes.

“Moments before she passed away, I asked my Mom if she had any words of wisdom to share with the world. She bit her bottom lip, shook her head, and replied: “No. I’m not that kind of person.” I disagree. Mom was both humble and wise. What she lacked for in words, she conveyed through […]

Muskrat

April 14, 2023.Reading time 1 minute.

Went to the river to clear my mind. It’s been a rough couple of weeks helping Ukrainians. Some, feeling they can’t make it in Canada, or missing family too much, have gone home. Worse than that, we uncovered human trafficking. One employment trafficking, and another procuring young women for the sex trade. I have felt […]

Sunflowers and smiles

January 23, 2023.Reading time 1 minute.

A local craft shop owner makes votives in yellow and blue with sunflowers on them and all proceeds go to Ukrainians. A BC retailer saw her work online and ordered 100 candles, selling them at $5.00 each. Ryan Reynolds saw the effort and doubled the intake. She sent much of the proceeds to a non-profit […]

Heart Full

January 20, 2023.Reading time 3 minutes.

When can we meet? The message is from Alla, whose bright voice messages always made my day back in the Spring, when I helped her family of five find flights and a host. We are opening our little bakery…we will be very glad to see you. Another message from another family, who with my help, […]

Moose-capade

January 6, 2023.Reading time 6 minutes.

Every Christmas for the 20 years we have been together, Ric has threatened to decorate the front yard (or roof) with a herd of reindeers. Every year, I offer up an emphatic NO! This year, our Ukrainian guests got in on the fracas. They seem to be amused by how easily he baits me. Entertainment […]

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 […]

Please Know This…

November 7, 2022.Reading time 3 minutes.

I received a heart wrenching letter from a Ukrainian whose family has moved to Canada as a result of the war. It brought to mind how often immigrants are vilified, especially to serve political purposes, and how wrong we are when we jump to judgment without knowing the whole story. So, next time you come […]

Adjusting Focus

October 28, 2022.Reading time 2 minutes.

Sometimes my focus is off. Like in the photo above – I thought I was capturing the body of water beyond, but in reality I only managed to get the fronds and a bit of fence. I’m still sick. I’ve stopped counting the days, but two bouts of antibiotics and many weeks later, I am […]

Brief Encounter

October 23, 2022.Reading time 1 minute.

We’re off to the city to pick up a car for our Ukrainian family. Ric has been on a mission to locate and purchase suitable vehicles for the many families here who need transportation but have limited funds. Yesterday, we were looking at houses for rent. Tomorrow it’s a Professional Development day for teachers, so […]

Uh…Okay?!

September 30, 2022.Reading time 2 minutes.

The twins went to school…for a day. Mom and I celebrated with lunch out, except then one got sick and so only one boy got on the school bus while the other lingered home, and when he was finally feeling better, the other 4-year-old came down with a cold. Of course, the first day we […]

Discord

Does illness have a voice,and if so; is it melancholy,or dark and dank, divulgingdeepest despair, or revealinga vileness of nature? Discord creeps along my veins,disrupts muscles, systems failingunder the oppression –“Stay strong,” friends counsel,cannot hear the gathering storm,feel the heaviness cloaking me. I am not myself, but then;who am I? Is disease a mutationof the […]

Save Us

Discharge the gun –protection a vesselthrough which our depthsare undefined…adrift Fear is a burrowerwears a false crownbirths losstrusts danger Hearts beg,amid this trigger-readinessfor a guardian – unafraidto court this meaningless Futility unchecked –to study productive optionsunimaginable in the current state of chaos on repeat. (Art my own)

I Am Willow

These bones, they saywill finish me – too brittleto withstand the race But I am Willowrecollection wispymy dance defiant Porous as a sea spongesoaking up each daymettle despite the rattle (Tuesdays I borrow from Twitter @Vjknutson. Image my own.)