Hands clutching a mug of sweet coffee, I pinch my eyes closed to hear the sound of the ocean in tree leaves. Wind sways them like waves. I open my eyes to return to the reality of neighbours, concrete and hydro lines. Far above it all, wind pushes thick layers of grey cloud toward the single patch of blue sky. I consider how it must look above the clouds –sunny, clear sky, a perfect day. The patch of blue shrinks and is swallowed by a sky of grey. All is cloudy and grey from where I sit, yet I know the sky above has not changed. It is still blue, sunny and clear – just hidden from my view. I ... Read the Post
Archives for March 2014
The Missing Texts
Almost a week had gone by, and I still hadn’t received reply texts from several of my friends. I sent one friend a silly photo. I asked another a question. And I was trying to make arrangements with the other friend. Yet, none of them replied back. I struggled with not being offended by this compound shunning. I had to capture every negative thought. I knew my friends, and they usually always communicate back with me in a day or two when they get a chance. However, it had been six days and I began to worry. Did I do something wrong? Were they busy? Did I somehow offend them? And I wrestled ... Read the Post
The Search
I was laying on the floor of our boys’ bedroom one afternoon, peering behind their bunk beds, when Cole walked in. “Help me look for Spike,” I mumbled. “I can’t find him.” The Johnson house is a critter haven, one of which is a sixteen-inch Chinese Water Dragon named Spike. Spike is allowed loose in our boys’ lizard-proof bedroom for a couple of hours each day, and he often hides out on the tall fake tree next to the window. Occasionally he scrambles off the tree and hides when he’s frightened. I figured that’s what happened this particular time, but as Cole and I searched their room, our ... Read the Post
Simply Uncool to be Me!
I learned that long ago some doors closed because Simply Me wouldn’t do. Other doors opened because I was courageous enough to be me. Those doors that closed were meant to close. Simply Me would not have been welcome there. Simply Me would have become someone else--someone I was not created to be. After all, God made me, Simply Me: Organizer, side-ways humor, ideas and thoughts bursting inside to come out, the boldness to voice maybe too often, awkwardly hugging with arms wrapping word hugs, information gatherer, asking questions because I know someone is like I used to be--afraid of my ... Read the Post
What is Good
I spent a lot of time with my grandparents as a young child - some of my fondest childhood memories stem from time spent with them. As a teenager I found Grandma far too old-fashioned and always came up with an excuse to not go to their house. As a young wife and mother, she seemed just a bit too conservative for my modern ways. I look back and sorely regret not spending more time with her and as time passed I began to relish her knowledge and wisdom. Her patient endurance and her rock solid faith when Grandpa went home to Heaven. Her unwavering trust in God to give her peace in her ... Read the Post