Tag: outdoors

My Great Escape~Part I

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I climbed the wall.

It was a great escape. No one had me locked in. There were no mean guards or dangerous people. It was a prison I built around myself. A prison of fear. A lockdown for love. A jail of jitters. Have you ever constructed your own cage? Maybe it’s a career you can’t change, others’ expectations, a health hazard, a lack of resources, insecurities, or perhaps, unhappiness? To be fair, I must be wise. Should I be climbing any wall,… alone,… with tons of tumors?

Seven years ago, I was told I had a “fairly common” mutation. Two years later, my body ached even more. Pain, questions, doubts, and confusion didn’t stop me from the 4,000 miles I traveled, round trip, twice. The miles would end with what matters most. I needed to SEE and hug my sons and families-to SEE the beautiful country with a different view and perspective. Today, I still ache. 4,000 miles is no longer doable alone. 40 miles? It’s doable. All the things that COULD go wrong were noted. Everything that COULD GO RIGHT became my motivation. The plans? Plan A-rent the R.V. and a campsite. Plan B-scrap the whole plan if I felt worse. “My blood count won’t dip worse for two more weeks”, I thought to myself. I’ll be careful with my back and call for help if I need it. Humidity was down. Schools were still in session; holidays a week away.

It was time.

“God, you are the creator of the universe. You’re in charge of me. I shift my focus from the problem to your peace and presence.”

She’s back to loving car rides! “Let’s go, Finn!”

Friends, how are you? For the last 5 days, I enjoyed time in the Great Outdoors. It was there I enjoyed peace, tranquility, and God’s beautiful creation. Thank you for joining me this week for my “Compact Camping Series” 🤗

As I reflect on holidays and anniversaries I’m acutely aware of the tragedies we remember each year. My heart goes out to the 21 lives lost at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. I can’t fathom losing my child, grandchild, or loved one in such a way. It’s overwhelming to think of the mass shootings that continue and the number of lives tragically cut short daily. My prayers revolve around healing and love in divisiveness. The mass shootings, hate, and divisiveness are devastating. My little life is blessed. I know it. Like I’ve said time and time again, I’m not a tragedy. Let’s not forget the tragedies. Let’s also remember the good things in life that we might take for granted each day. As for me, I choose to dwell on that which helps me focus on spreading a message of hope, love, and friendship. What can we do, this Memorial Day weekend and each day thereafter, that can bring hope to another human? Can we spread a little joy? Can we offer kindness? Do you have hope? ❤️

You are loved. No matter what. 💚 “Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. They are weak, but he is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.” 🎶 HE LOVES YOU, TOO!

Have faith 💚

Springboarding

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The most frightening moment wasn’t standing on the edge looking down. The climb was terrifying. Sweaty palms on slick side rails were scary. Walking to the end of the board was undeniably a daredevil deed though.    

Photo credit-Markus Spiske on Pexels.com

Less than 10 feet above the water, the springy board sought to hold my confidence captive.  My outstretched arms, like wings, kept me balanced as I tiptoed across the fiberglass.

I made it to the edge!  The height didn’t bother me.  Trusting my body, and the lessons learned from the swim lessons my parents insisted upon, I’d hop on one foot and jump (I HAD to leap on one bounce).   Consecutive jumping would end tragically, I was certain.  

Later in life I was introduced to the humorless high dive.  The swimming “friends” above or below me on the ladder, tossing taunts, were terrifying.   These “friends” would try to bounce the springboard while I was on the edge.   It didn’t take long to learn to wait at the side of the pool until the “nice” kids headed towards the ladder.

With time my confidence grew.  Jumping off the board became natural.  Making a splash hitting the water was satisfying.  Sometimes I’d gurgle because I left my mouth open.  But most times I’d swim to the safe side with a huge smile.  Ah, the valiant feeling of victory. Conquering that fear gave me the courage to climb even higher objects in life.  

The last 5 years have felt like climbing that ladder for the first time again.  I’ve been scared.  It would have been easier to just sit on the side and admire the waters from a distance.  Just like the gravel bar on the river. 

A year and half ago, I grabbed the handrails and took a step up.  This year I’ve continued the climb (beyond a doubt it’s a high dive).  On-line classes-a step up. Coaches and fellow writers-a few more rungs.  Faith, friends, and family support-I made it to the top.   My legs are a bit shaky. But it’s time to jump again.  I wonder if I’ll make a splash.

Relearning.  Reinventing.  Repurposing.  Reimagining.  Reinforcing.  Reconstructing. Recovering. Rediscovering.  Rearranging.  Researching. Revising. Rebuilding. Remembering.  REASSURANCE IS RESTORED.

You can climb the ladder too (if you’re not afraid of heights).  I will never taunt you. I’ll even jump in and help you if you struggle after the jump.   There’s this lifeguard who knows exactly when to throw me a life preserver.  He’ll throw one to you too.🤍

It’s time to SPRINGBOARD into something special and new. I want to thank Lisa Jochim (please visit https://blueberrypancakespublishing.wordpress.com/about/ to support Lisa). She had a huge following on WIX, she’s part of our family now. For 4 months she has coached me once on week. Thank you to Jon Bard and Laura Backes for the wonderful courses and resources https://writeforkids.org/come-join-the-insiders-2/?wlfrom=%2Fclubhouse%2Fthe-back-issues-archive-annual-members-only%2F. Jeff, Kim, Martha, Kristy, Vicki, Pam, Kate, Ashok, Kathy, Richard, Vicki, Mitch, Eddie, Kathy, Mark, Julie (both), Dawn, Dwight, Jane, Michelle, Nico, Brenda, Tangie, Vincent, and so many more…Thank you for your unending WordPress support!

Friends, If you have children, grandchildren, or just a fan of children’s’ books, I hope you peek at my new page (click on Faith and Finley at the top of my site).

Faith and Finley Tour the 50 is the beginning of a series designed for ages 7-11 (ALL AGES 😉).  

Why support Faith and Finley?  Readers can explore a few facts and meet friends as we journey across the state lines.  What’s near your own back yard to explore? What makes YOUR state special?  There’s history that can’t be forgotten and facts to uncover.   There’s a world outside of the walls.  It’s closer than you think. Feel the feelings but find the facts!  Find your park.  Enjoy Earth’s playground.  Get out. Don’t lose faith.  There’s beauty to behold when we seek it.

See you on the road and in a bookshelf near you!  

Have faith💚

A Wednesday Walk in the Park 💚

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  • Finley being fine
  • Home
  • Essential Essence
  • The Grist Mill (I forgot to take a pic of the working water wheel)
  • Ben’s HideAway
  • Friends and fires
  • Hidden Treasure Pond
  • Belles Arbres Treehouse
  • Misty View Treehouse
  • Owl’s Roost Treehouse
  • Rec Hall
  • One of 6 cabins
  • African Lodge Treehouse
  • Captain’s Quarters Treehouse
  • Southern Comfort Treehouse
  • Peaceful Path
  • Pitch a Tent

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of looking at things.”

Henry Miller
Never closed~everyone welcome~Stress distancing

Have faith 💚

Can I be Cliché?

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You know the old’ cliché, “I don’t mean to sound cliché, but…would you pardon me as I purposefully be cliché? I know, I know-as writers, we’re supposed to “avoid them like the plague.” Please don’t get your “knickers in a knot” or a “bee in your bonnet.” It’s always good to “think outside the box” during times like these.

I know I’m not “over the hill”, “older than Methuselah”, or even as “old as dirt” YET.  And thus far, “laughter has been my best medicine.”  I’m a “chip off the old block” and work hard to “keep my chin up.”

And for the rest of us? Only “time will tell” if we all choose to actually “live happily ever after.”

I’ve seen the “writing on the wall” and some are “scared out of their wits.”   In the face of so many challenges it’s also evident that “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

Knowing that “time heals all wounds” and that “every cloud has it silver lining” help solidify my faith in the unknown.  Truly I know the “grass isn’t always greener on the other side”; therefore, I’m working diligently to “water my own grass.”

Times like these seem to “last an eternity.”   And sometimes I relish in the fact that “ignorance is bliss.” But I also know it’s wise to “be safe than sorry.” 

“You can’t please everyone” when dealing with such crisis situations.  Some of us are living “frightened to death” and some know “nothing lasts forever.”

It’s true that “love is blind.”  God truly loves me despite everything.  So far, “what hasn’t killed me has made me stronger.”

There’s “no time like the present” to allow our “actions to speak louder than words.”  Though we may wear a mask, are we smiling with our eyes?  Though we may not handshake, are we gesturing with encouragement?  

Do you think all this “absence will make our hearts grow fonder?” 

“Only time will tell” …

Have faith 💚

“A picture is worth a thousand words.”

Pictures taken on my hike at Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area, Branson, MO 4/7/20

  • “Don’t look back”
  • Bloom where you’re planted
  • Friends are flowers in the garden of life
  • Bless the flowers and the weeds, my birds and bees.
  • Avoid the plague
  • Blame it on the rain
  • Gaining ground
  • Down to earth
  • Between a rock and a hard place