The Great Escape-Part II

Posted on May 23, 2023May 23, 2023 by K.L. Hale — 49 Comments

Winding roads, curves with caution, and unchanged signs of times abruptly lowered my heart rate. Each mile marked a memory.

In many ways, I was headed home.

Home-the place you sleep. Home-a building with comfortable “stuff”. Home-the walls that raised love. Home-made of sticks and bricks. Home-a place on wheels. Home-where love resides. Home may change or stay the same. Home is where you lay your head in hope. It’s a place to grow.

Stability in the heart can’t be stunted. Outside the walls is a place that needs our attention and care. A world that NEEDS our love. Home-I’m just passing through.

A tiny life was once what I knew. 335 sq. ft. became 1,000 sq. ft. and grew to 1,500 sq. ft. For five days, 133 sq. ft. would be just enough.

Site 35 whispered, “Welcome Home.”💚

Have faith 💚

Pics-K.L. Hale-Table Rock Lake, MO

Springboarding

Posted on May 10, 2021May 11, 2021 by K.L. Hale — 51 Comments

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💚

Feeling the Heat

Posted on July 16, 2020July 23, 2020 by K.L. Hale — 51 Comments

It was hotter than 90 degrees one summer day forty years ago. The sun was sizzling. Mom plastered us in white cream. As beautiful as ever, and brown as a bear, she made sure us freckle-faced girls were protected. Hours of swimming and reapplying lotion passed; anxiously I ran to the tall chain link fence to await Dad cresting the last hill from the 18th hole. His two wheel chariot was my dream ride. He was my knight bearing a shiny club. Life was perfect; even with the heat.

Yesterday my R.V. was dripping with water. So was I. It seemed we were both crying. “She” from sputtering so much air to keep Finn and I cool. Me?…just sputtering over disappointment. “You can handle the heat!”, I convinced myself.

This is the worst part of me. And it occurs two seasons a year. Movement is limited by the “air I wear”. The battle aches of the arthritis and autoimmune issues try to wreak havoc on my psyche. Luckily, at times, fog will settle into my mind and distract me from the physical.

My hot tears weren’t all about the humidity. Haven’t we all felt the sweltering swirl of disdain? The heat behind the masks? What about the burning tires of busyness~ the rat race in which so many are forced to participate? Can you feel the heat from the roads?

Being an “in the middle” kind of gal I prefer temps in the 70’s. One where the extremes of hot and cold aren’t experienced. Most certainly I would feel spoiled. But would I be prepared the next time for a visit to the frigid cold? Would I still be able to withstand the heat again? Am I even insulated for either?

When things are too hot to handle I have to ground myself. I allow my shoulders to fall and take a deep breath. My face smoothes out and my jaw becomes relaxed. “Thank you heavenly Papa”, as I inhale. Exhaling slowly I whisper a blessing. This isn’t going to last long.

Meanwhile in the rest of the world we are all longing for perfect temperatures and dreamy places to balance our temperaments. The plague continues its spread like a heat wave. You’d think there’d be brief relief from the coolness of indifference.

I’m not alone. You’re not alone. Don’t get burned. Protect yourself and salve your soul with the paste of these promises:

“Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.” -Proverbs 30:5
“For everyone will be tested with fire.”-Mark 9:49
“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.”-Psalms 5:11