Vessels for my Voice

Have you ever felt overpowered by others' opinions, or found yourself withdrawing your voice to make room for the voices of others? If so, this poem is for you: https://youtu.be/Xi1f3EjFsxw As an artistic type, I've found other ways to express my voice when I find myself receding. Writing poetry, and then visualizing the poems by …

The Muse of Memoir: Share your Story

https://youtu.be/qM2ifcWCqO0 Watch the video version using the link above. A woman arises from the mist and walks towards me. All my writing until this moment seems but mere child’s play, splashes in puddles of rain. She unfolds her soft, supple hands, not gnarled, and scarred as I would assume for one having put her hand …

Bird of Paradise the Wingless Bird of Surrender

I'm captivated by the Birds of Paradise that grace my garden. These lovely flowers hold special significance for me. They remind me to surrender lofty aspirations in exchange for blessings that come from living an everyday life in an attitude of surrender. Like the Bird of Paradise, the wingless bird of surrender, life plucks our …

Welcome Home

Welcome Home is my tribute to the millions of immigrants who have sought refuge and a better life in America. We welcome you! Welcome Home is a mixed media oil portrait. https://youtu.be/wuAQAUxwCuk The project began as a collage of photos from my husband and my trip to Maine. Originally, I titled the artwork "Art and Soul" …

The Seven Virtues

I came across the seven virtues listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7 during the Covid 19 pandemic. They seemed like the perfect antidote for the social unrest and animosity happening, even among families and friends as people divided over issues. These virtues stirred my heart, and I found myself longing for character traits that had eternal …

A Return to Writing: New Year’s Resolution 2022 

My pen lays dormant. Unfettered from the demands of work; yet cocooned for an unknown becoming.  In retirement, days stretch long and lazy. I can now do what my heart desires, and a return to writing is one of those desires. Yet, my former practice of daily writing has reduced to an occasional burst of …

Leaving a Legacy

With the start of the New Year, I’ve been thinking a lot about leaving a legacy. If I've got a limited number of days upon this earth, how do I want to spend them? Could I make someone’s life better because I’ve been, their faith stronger because I’ve believed, their creativity blossom because I’ve shared …

Fresh Starts

There are times when you find yourself facing a fresh start, a new beginning, a chance to do things differently. It's as if the canvas of your life gets to be reworked, changed, or created anew. Maybe you’ve graduated from high school or college, gotten married or divorced, lost your job or changed jobs, moved houses …

Clarity

Have you ever longed for clarity? Or noticed that when vision blurs, daily life frustrates? It's not as if you can tell yourself, "I have to do this now, but I'll get back to ___________ later" because you don’t know what _______________ is. Every interruption increases internal turmoil. You feel as if life's daily demands …