Snare a Smitten

“The day brought about an uncertainty of certainty. For this was a time of change and change does not come easily for some bears. Especially a bear named Winnie the Pooh.”

Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You

Like my activity during a typical wacky weather week in Missouri, I went from cleaning my garage on a near 70 degree day on Monday to a 60 degree drop in wind chill during the last 24 hours. Change. Aren’t we used to it?

Change is necessary; but not always easy. This morning as I walked on my treadmill (attempting to prevent further pain with the drastic temperature drop!) I watched the classic Winnie the Pooh: A Valentine for You. It took me back to my own childhood, my time as a Mom and teacher, and especially warm thoughts of my precious grandchildren. Don’t you love watching and doing things you did when you were younger? You’re still that dreamer if you wish :-). That’s what I love about Winnie the Pooh. In this episode he was worried Christopher Robin no longer loved him. Tigger shared that Christopher had been “bitten by a smitten” (the “love bug”)! It was time to snare another smitten to “unsmite” Christopher Robin! Low and behold, a tiny light appears on Pooh’s honey jar! It must be a smitten!

The whole gang (how do you choose a favorite?) set off on a journey that took them deep into the heart of the 100 acre wood to snare the smitten. “Which way is this way,?” asked Piglet. Beaver points and says, “That way is this way!” Eeyore pipes in, “All we know is nobody knows!” (I hear ya, Eeyore) If only Christopher Robin was there to help them find their way! The group felt alone and afraid. BUT for the smitten! It flitted while lit and tickled Pooh enough to make him follow! The cute crew, lost while searching, all saw the light and gathered around it’s “winking and a blinking”! “Whatever it is it brought us out of the dark and back together!,” exclaimed Rabbit. “He’s shining his light on all of us!”

Christopher found them. Pooh begins to release the smitten until Christopher shows a Valentine he made for a new friend. Pooh hangs his head as the others try to get him to unsmite Christopher. The smitten was released and freed. Pooh shared, “Christopher is happy and I shouldn’t want it any other way. This is the saddest Happy Valentine’s I can ever recall.”

My pic and view this morning-not the best quality, but you see why I love it–K.L. Hale

Pooh really thought Christopher had found a new friend and didn’t need his old friends. BUTWinnie and all his friends found valentine cards at their homes. Of course Christopher had made and delivered them!

“There are places in the heart that always know a friend. In good and glad and sad times, the heart remembers them. There are new friends yet to meet, there’s a place for them to start, but old friends…always keep them…in places of the heart.”🎵 -Christopher Robin

“So as winter changes into spring which changes into summer there are things which go on forever such as a way a certain boy cares for a certain bear. And we will know for as long as we care to remember somewhere in that enchanted place on top of the forest, a boy and his bear will always be playing.”

Winnie the Pooh-A Valentine for YOU

Today is “Random Acts of Kindness” Day. Although the weather is keeping me in, kindness has still been my focus. Yes, it’s easy to be like the weather-a roller coaster of drastic shifts. But when you become smitten by the light, with friends, new and old, on your side,…well, love wins. 🤍

Have faith💚 You are loved.

One of my all-time favorites. Music performed by Kenny Loggins. I’ve sang this many times and will continue singing it for as long as I can.

Speaking of kindness…

This morning my Mom texted and said, “I want to send you a picture and then I’ll call.” She was having her morning quiet time and coffee, reading the Missouri Life magazine-she was on page 26, under a section, “More Good Reads” and there, in print, was my little book. My little book!💛🙏 We were both shocked to say the least. I couldn’t believe it! I can’t say THANK YOU ENOUGH to Missouri Life Magazine https://missourilife.com/for the review and nod. It means so much to me! Yesterday, Gage and I met to begin our next collaboration in the series. Meanwhile, I’m still marketing this one in my home state. Because of family and friends, old and new, I feel smitten- totally and completely smitten. Your support means the world to me. 🤍

My sweet niece holding the magazine :-).
Thank you Missouri Life Magazine!
Finn checking out our new Vinyl Banner delivered this morning!

Long-Awaited Launch

Are you awaiting a launch? A new career? Motherhood? Fatherhood? Relationships? A new season in your life? New technology? At the beginning of the year, I planned a launch date. It is here.

While in Alaska I stepped into a cardboard “boat” with my little grandson. I’d sing, “We’re sailing, we’re sailing, we’re sailing on the water! What do you see captain?” His little body would stand with his hand planted ever so cutely on his forehead, “I see a dog,” he’d say in his precious 2-year-old voice. He was excited to launch…everyday! As I gazed at his tiny newborn sister, I thought of the world that they, along with their sweet cousin in Washington, will experience; so much launching ahead. During my trip I experienced my first “tiny” earthquake rumble, a mere glimpse of the Northern Lights, plenty of moose, and a beautiful fall that quickly turned to winter. It has been more than a year since visiting Washington and seeing my precious loves there. Yet, as majestic as the scenery, nothing can hold a candle to the sight of all of them. Nothing.

My personal launches now take more intentional focus, energy, and effort. There have been times I’ve wanted to launch things across a room (particularly a cheap laptop). Innovative programs were launched. I have launched new careers. You may wonder if you even have a purpose, much less a longing to launch. You might struggle with launching out of bed due to doom and gloom that seems ever so present in media (or the opposite, complete tone-deafness to the genuine issues of humanity). You may long for a life that can no longer exist (why yes, I’d love to live on Walton’s Mountain or in a Little House on the Prairie for a bit). Maybe you rely on luck to launch you. Perhaps your purpose is paused by panic. Has melancholy muddled your mind? Do you repeatedly regurgitate regret? We all feel like this at times.

Do any of you remember the old hymn, “Love Lifted Me”? Written by James Rowe in 1912, the lyrics refer to Jesus in the book of Matthew. He walked on water, saved Peter from drowning, AND calmed the storm on the sea. While working on my new launch (after a safe landing from Alaska), I tweaked the title just a bit, singing happily, thinking of my grandmas and all my family around the piano, “When nothing else could help, love launched me!” Isn’t it true though…what a little love can do? My tank is full. I am ready to launch.


Finley loves being on the cover! My little grandson loved the book (although I told Mom that I did NOT hide all the other books 😉)

Have faith🤍

I’m so glad I was introduced to this song in Alaska. Tears fall with the love I hold for my kids and grandkids. Listen and enjoy. ❤