baby mine

Nothing turns out how we expect—

Sometimes, it turns out better. 

Nothing can be better

Than what and how reality is. 

Stand rooted in the beauty of truth 

Be strong in righteous endeavors

Be you, a queen within all of creation. 

for my daughter, miss d.

my love

Where did you hide, 

Sweet dream of mine? 

Where did you go?

I am so low. 

You need to find me, 

darling, come see— 

The time is waning, 

And I am fainting. 

Catch me before 

All the time is gone.

not today

Writing of flowers and sunshine and kisses 

Is very well for the unforgotten, the ones where 

Promises are still kept. 

But it gets to be ridiculous when all you have known

Is leaving, lying, and cheating.

These words flow from a place of 

Disappointment— 

A place of pure and poignant

Sorrow—

A place of deep and abiding 

Wishing for better

Than she has ever known.

And yet, she writes—

Of happiness and love and joyfulness

Most days—

Just not this day.  

fate

nearly endearing

nearing our critical mass

near the finish, love

top shelf

Her heart is sitting on a shelf most days.

It looks around and makes a few wishes, 

Taking time to contemplate all the ways

Of how good life can be as it swishes

By unconcerned with how long it takes

To see around the corners and become 

Something like the wish she makes 

As the shelf begins to feel like home.

And nothing is quite the same again

And she see this and must pretend

That everything is fine

Even when it is not.

to choose

looking around, trapped

slow-boiled mentality 

His gospel frees us

my Jesus

I love the way you make me feel when the skies are clear

And everything from before now and looking toward heaven is near

Family is all I can think about and dream about and hope for

I look at the past, present, and future, and realize you are an open door

Leading me to forever, leading me to always

Leading me to the best of everything God could give

Because you are the way home, showing the way

As I strive to make it through the strife and live. 

You are the light I need;

You are my friend indeed.

invaluable

I am invaluable—

A real treasure divine. 

I am insatiable

When I lose track of time. 

I am creativity personified—

Holding nothing back, nothing kept inside. 

I am invaluable—

God's child to be glorified—

Sent through the fire meant to refine. 

I am watching, awaiting, anticipating—

To be claimed for all eternity. 

fighting chance

Darkness permeates

Leaning into light, truth, joy,  

Radiating hope

bloom

Bloom. 

Just bloom a little more, 

A little longer, 

But bloom. 

It is not time to wither; 

It is not time to stop growing. 

It is not time just yet 

To let go or say goodbye. 

Bloom, darling, 

And be daring while you're at it. 

Bloom into a new flower 

That knows where the sun shines. 

just for a little while

wishes and kisses 

moving in all directions 

grow down a little 

*dedicated to my children and to my dad for inspiring my thoughts

a full plate

wringing out the dishcloth

with dishes still in the sink

is like the days of being a mother 

teaching you that the work is 

never all done

time putting us all through the wringer 

wishing for more time but less wringing 

hoping for a little stretch of peace

but that's not what life is all about

so the blows just keep coming 

day after day, the dishes keep coming

and going but showing that 

there is always a little more one can do

to make a difference 

to feed a soul 

joy (a blackout poem)

Seek and find joy,

The great blessing relating to

Something like sun-split clouds

Lifted over the changed world 

Flying together—

Take and see—

Caught up in the exhilaration, 

Rejoiced delight. 

This heart! 

I speak about something—

Laughter—

Wings. 

memories

My collection is growing with time 

And space and friends and opportunity. 

My collection has colors innumerable— 

Indescribable and incredible. 

My heart is filling up so full that

All it takes some days is one more 

Drop of joy, and my cup overfloweth

In the form of tears or laughter—

Or both. 

Some days, I trick myself into thinking 

I have not been given enough chances, and 

Then, I remember and I start counting, and 

There just is no room in one person to hold 

All the good and wonderful and happy 

That has been given to me. 

My friends, my family 

And all this love that I hold and see

Everywhere I look, surrounding me. 

halfway

Isn't there a little something special about knowing 

You are halfway there? 

Halfway where, you ask?  

Halfway to finishing

Halfway to accomplishing something

Halfway to doing something different

Halfway to the goal 

Halfway to knowing something—anything 

Who knows what the something is

Other than the satisfaction of being all done? 

Or is there something more? 

Do you ever feel a little wistful? 

Sometimes a little wishful 

That maybe time could slow down just a tad

To grasp the second half after halfway a little longer

To savor it and save the feeling for on a rainy day?

And smile

Because you remember how it felt to be halfway 

And there is just something special about 

Being there in the middle of doing 

Creating, writing, teaching, 

Thinking, hoping, dreaming, singing 

Being in the middle of making something 

Out of what used to be nothing 

Waiting for you, and all that you bring, to show up. 

to the bone

raggedy and worn

tired and wishing, war-torn 

pushing on toward light

i am

I am tenacious and giving.  

I wonder if my mother likes how I'm living.

I hear the bells of Christmas Day ringing. 

I see the light when I feel the Holy Spirit's tingling.

I want to touch true freedom.

I am tenacious and giving. 

I pretend I am honestly fun. 

I believe Scotland's unicorns once were living. 

I touch ever so softly the velvety warmth of purple. 

I worry I let red prevail in this life devoted to purple. 

I cry when the blue hues are winning. 

I am tenacious and giving. 

I understand that I am a daughter of God—a queen. 

I say I am sweet and loving but also a little bit mean. 

I dream of good things to come, truly believing. 

I try to be exceptional. 

I hope my life will be be inspirational. 

I am tenacious and giving. 

 

fight on, write on

Every time I try to really write,

A silence washes over me in an effort 

To show me that maybe I need to step back

And listen for awhile, but then

I remember how many days, months, and 

Years went by in guarded silence

Keeping me from freedom and safety and

Saying what needed to be said, so 

I keep writing and speaking and sharing

With a world that seems to not want to 

Hear what I have to say, but 

I will say it anyway, and stop letting 

Silence wash over me without a fight. 

I shall write on. I shall fight the good fight.

precious, whole, seen treasure

PRECIOUS 

We belong to Him, every one, 

Spiritually, divinely—all

Changing, growing, effervescing 

Following Him today—now. 

WHOLE

Working on believing that

Someone like me

Is allowed to be made clean

Permitted and persuaded

Through the redeeming blood

Of the Lamb

To be healed, to be fully loved 

Connected and invited

To not only survive but

To live eternally

Powerfully—

Whole. 

SEEN

Salvation gained through grace and holy love

Given by the ultimate Friend from above, 

One who sees, seeks, and finds the one—

Our joy-maker, our Savior, God's beloved son.

He reaches me; He teaches me. 

He waits for me and for you; 

We are always—forever—in His view. 

TREASURE

Golden moments of faith and devotion

Following the Light, the Truth, the Way

Into the world with strength only He can offer

As we begin to see just what price He paid

As our hearts begin to scratch the surface

On what our Savior sacrificed for us

Because He loves us

And we love him. 

not (very) funny

dichotomous, real

mirth unbound by deep sorrow

parched desert humor