Observing Flowers Coming Around

May 3, 2022 / law2374 / Leave a comment

Spring has finally started to emerge in our area with a number of blooming trees, shrubs, bulbs, and flowers. The landscape is now dotted with pockets of white, pink, purple, blue, red, and yellow blooms. These colors combined with the now ultra-green grass in the fields and lawns make it appear as if nature and God are coloring, creating their own pictures to share with anyone willing to look. The colors have been especially encouraging after the number of gray, cool, wet days and nights in our area. With sunrise at 6:21 AM and sunset at 8:15 PM, we have more daylight to do our activities, a most welcome change for our household, and like the flowers coming around, we are starting to bloom and grow in our perspective of life. We thought we’d share some of our learnings in this week’s post.

“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” –John Maxwell

Theme of the Week: Gathering Seeds

Our theme of the week started in our reflection readings about gathering disciples, faith, and strength for the journey that remains. We also noticed clouds, animals, and plants gathering in groups among the landscape features during out time outdoors. One day while running, I watching the sun unfold through the clouds as if God was asking every creature watching to come into the light. It was an awesome, uplifting sight after several long stretches of clouds in our area.

This theme continued at work while trying to assist some coworkers, all with different levels of understanding on the topics at hand. By listening to each person’s input, I was able to devise a way to communicate on a variety of levels what was expected or required. Granted, it was a frustrating task at times, trying to get everyone on the same page. It was during one very frustrating moment that I realized God was helping me gather my faith to continue onward.

My dog Lena also gave us some thoughts on gathering as well. She took off twice this past week and I had to go after her both on foot and in the Jeep, chasing her all over the property. What possessed her to do this is beyond my understanding, especially since I don’t know many people who would put up with her less than stellar puppy behavior at times. However, she does what she does, and though Leo and I try our best with her, we apparently fall short. This leads Lena to taking off and then we have to gather our resources to catch her and keep her safe. This is not how I had hoped our relationship would be, for I had my share of chasing four legged friends through the neighborhood with my late dog, Luke. As fate and God would have it, I apparently have not chased enough and still need to work on building character while running my tail off to catch Lena.

“Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.’ –Albert Einstein

Lesson of the Week: Letting Life Be

Our lesson of the week came as we accepted some changes that we had hoped we would not have to encounter. We have a number of people in our inner circle going through a variety of issues, and as we try our best to be supportive, hopeful, or whatever it is we feel we should be to these people, we realize we cannot change them or the world or the circumstances. However, we can change our perspective, which has the power to make or break both us and them.

In our household, we try our best each day, but often fall short of the goal. This is very disappointing given the effort put forth. Lately, we have started to understand that is not the effort or the comparison of our efforts to the efforts of others that matters. What matters is we try. There is so much value in trying, be it on a personal, spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, or other level. Perhaps what the world needs is to accept what is and then try to move on instead of defying, denying, protesting, fighting, or enraging someone else with the response to any given situation.

The exclamation point of this lesson came while talking with a friend about the values we have and hold and try to impart on others. Though we may all at some point in our lives may have to agree to disagree, we need to respect the effort put forth and the fact not all efforts are created equal. This inequality should not equate to inferiority, but rather to respect for the facts that are and will be true no matter how much we try to change or alter them.

Like the flowers coming around to blooming this time of year, we are all different. We all have our good and less than stellar traits of character the add color to us. Any combination of us creates a bouquet with the potential to be beautiful in a variety of ways.

“Bad times have scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Song of the Week: Together We Shall Be

Our song of the week is a favorite hymn that came to mind while reading our reflections Sunday morning. The hymn was one I learned only about twenty years ago, but it became a huge part of my faith formation. The words and the melody of the music are soothing to the soul, as well as practical for any given time of life.

Gather Us In

Here in this place, new light is streaming,
now is the darkness, vanished away,
see, in this space, our fears and our dreamings,
brought here to you in the light of this day.

Gather us in, the lost and forsaken;
gather us in, the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken,
we shall arise at the sound of our name.

We are the young, our lives are a mystery;
we are the old, who yearn for your face,
we have been sung throughout all of history,
called to be light to the whole human race.

Gather us in, the rich and the haughty;
gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart so meek and so lowly,
give us the courage to enter the song.

Here we will take the wine and the water,
here we will take the bread of new birth,
here you shall call your sons and your daughters,
call us anew to be salt for the earth.

Give us to drink the wine of compassion,
give us to eat, the bread that is you;
nourish us well, and teach us to fashion
lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

Not in the dark of buildings confining,
not in some heaven light years away,
but here in this space, the new light is shining,
now is the kingdom, now is the day.

Gather us in, and hold us forever;
gather us in, and make us your own;
gather us in, all peoples together,
fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

(Written by Marty Haugen)

Science Lesson of the Week: What Are These?

Our science lesson of the week came as we tried to identify a flower on a bush along my running route. I’ve been trying to find out what this flowering bus is for years. While stopping to inspect closer, I noticed flowers on another bush with tiny hair-like structures sticking out among the blossoms. Now I had another question to explore in learning the name of these hair-like structures.

After a number of hours researching, we found the first bush is a flowering quince. Flowering quince is related to roses with thorny, mounding growth habits. The flowers last 10 to 14 days and are followed by green fruits that can be used to make preserves and jellies. Flowering quince grow in full sun, attract humming birds, and prefer acidic or more neutral soil PH levels.

The hair like structures on the other bush I observed are called filaments, and they have heads on the ends of them called anthers. Together, they make up the stamen, which is the pollen producing part of the plant, tree, or shrub.

So, now we know more about our little and our larger environment. In gathering observations and information, we have gained knowledge that will help us now and in the future. All it took was taking a moment to stop, look, and then read. Stop, look, and read are all small words with huge impacts in life. These words are also words that imply gathering of some sort. If we stop, we gather moments in time, information, insight, or perspective. If we look, we gather images, facts, details, or other components that help us ask and answer questions. If we read, we open up our minds, hearts, and souls to new worlds, ideas, concepts, theories, stories, and life lessons.

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” -Thomas Huxley

Words of the Week: A Little Variety

Our words of the week from the Daily Word devotional included: pray, free, protected, supportive, oneness, and power. As we learn to pray, we find an inner sense of being free. This free aspect of life has the potential to make us feel protected. Our sense of protection allows us to be supportive to and for others in our lives. This leads to an aspect of oneness with our community or environment. This oneness has the power to overcome the misadventures of life. These words are like the flowers in the landscape coming around. Each has its own season, characteristics, and offerings for us to bloom and grow in our own time.

May we find the flowers in our lives to be bouquets for hope. May the colors and textures of the blooms lead us to knowledge and wisdom, and may we come to see ourselves as flowers coming around.

Flowers Coming Around

April’s days have departed

And May has just started

To take shape

Graced by the sun’s rays

In the early morn

Across the landscape adorned

With dots of color near and far

And spots that shelter the heart

Of the season running without sound

In the flowers coming around.

Pink of the azalea, bleeding heart, and cherry blossom

Wink in the regalia they have upon them

As the tulip, daffodil, phlox, and red bud

Fill up the hills not to be outdone

Beneath the blue, blue skies

Leading on, in, and through this life

Where the colors come to be

Part of the stellar sea

Humming a resound

With the flowers coming around.

Near and far across the miles

Hear the heart of nature’s smiles

In the leaves and stems

That reach to extend

Inspiration and hope

Through tribulation and unknown

So that one can learn to see

The love of God eternally

Offered in the dove’s wooing sound

Above the flowers coming around.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to our friend, Joyce B. for sharing her insights on some of the above topics. We thank her for always being willing to share and impart knowledge, wisdom, and life experiences with us.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Observing Nature’s Alleluia

April 29, 2022 / law2374 / Leave a comment

Editor’s Note: This post was to appear April 22, 2022 but was delayed due to circumstances beyond our control.

We celebrated Easter this past Sunday, but the Easter season is far from done. The Easter season lasts fifty days from Easter Sunday through Pentecost Sunday. The first eight days of the Easter season are known as the Easter Octave. It appears nature is helping to celebrate the season this year with a number of trees and flowers finally emerging from the darkness of winter’s sleep to dot the landscape with a variety of colors. With sunrise at 6:30 AM and sunset at 8:06 PM, the added light this week has added its own version of alleluia, or “Praise the Lord” to the celebration.

“Bloom where you are planted.” -1 Corinthians 7:20-24.

Theme of the Week: Glory Be

Our theme of the week started in church with a variety of Alleluia sequences sung at different intervals of the mass. Though I had heard some of the verses before, a number of them were new to me. This led me back in time to when I was a little girl attending church and how we always seemed to sing the same songs and hymns. The frequency was a great way for a child like me to learn the words. However, in hindsight, the lack of variety led me to believe there were only a handful of such songs. Granted, a number of years have passed, and many contemporary versions of familiar hymns now exist. Perhaps the best lesson in my reflection is one that my mother taught me years ago—you need a good balance and variety in life. Mom preached this to my sister and me no matter what life circumstances we faced, and as we all know, all moms are right when it comes to this wisdom they do their best to impart upon their children.

The theme continued after church when I went to the cemetery to visit the graves of loved ones now in heaven. At each stone or crypt, I paused to think of times with these relatives. Most of my recollections were of visits on Easter or Christmas or Sundays. Our family had a tradition for a number of years to go after Sunday school and visit with our great aunts and great uncles who lived closer to the city. We had several sets of great aunts and great uncles, so sometimes we went to a town called Etna, other times to
Glenshaw, and still other times just down the road. No matter where we went, we got to play cards or board games and hear or tell stories of family adventures in life. Sometimes we also helped out with chores or projects. It was a great way to connect, understand our family history, and learn how to treat others. As the years went by, a number of these relatives passed away or had life altering circumstances, so we adjusted and did our best to keep connected. I personally am glad we all did the best we could in and with life’s changes because it helped deepen my faith and work ethic.

Also this week in our adventures, we really enjoyed time outdoors with some warmer temperatures and even some sun. Every day seemed to have at least a few moments of natural awe and wonder to keep us mesmerized, make us thankful, and offer us hope. The best part of all this was it cost us nothing. We did not have to be members of any club, have any special titles, need any specific technological gadgets, use or create any passwords, or have any special connections. All we had to do was be ourselves. What a great feeling that was, to just be eternal eight-year-olds at heart, doing what we do best.

“There are times when dreams sustain us more than facts.” –Helen Fagin

Lesson of the Week: Free

Our lesson of the week tagged along with our theme of the week. The glory of the Easter season has set us free from the dust and dirt of the past. Granted, we know more dust and dirt will again accumulate and we will have to set ourselves free once again, most likely during Lent next year. This brings us to two good questions:

Why is it we can go through the process of Lent (or any other step by step program) to correct our habits or open our minds or improve ourselves and still somehow find a way back to old habits?
What does it take to really wake us up and get us on the right path for a longer time frame?

While the answers may vary from person to person, we have a general explanation we found by accident of life experience in our household. The fact we are human and therefore prone to habits is most likely the reason we find ourselves having to redirect each year (or more often in some cases). As for what it takes to stick with something and really improve, our answer would be faith and determination, which require hope, perseverance, patience, kindness, and a host of other qualities that in themselves take time to acknowledge, develop, and improve. So, as we say in our household, we are one big construction project.

“Know what you want. Be flexible about how you get there.” –James Clear

Song of the Week: Alleluia Peak

Our song of the week is one we sang in church on Sunday. Though most people know this song as only an Easter hymn, it can be considered any time of year to help guide the heart and mind along the journey, for every day has its holy moments if only we take a minute to acknowledge them.

Jesus Christ is Risen Today

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once, upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia!

But the pain which He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation hath procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s king, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing, Alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as His love, Alleluia!
Praise Him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia!

Sight and Science Lesson of the Week: Trails Airplanes Leave

Moments of clearer skies this week enabled us to see a number of streaked lines in the skies created by airplanes. We grew curious about these streaks, so we did some research and thought we’d share some interesting facts about them in this week’s post.

The trails left by airplanes in the skies are called contrails. They are formed when the hot, humid jet exhaust mixes with the air and water vapor in the upper atmosphere. The freezing and condensing of the jet exhaust create the trails. The thickness, extent, and duration of contrails is affected by the plane’s altitude and the temperature and humidity in the atmosphere. Thin, short-lived contrails indicate low humidity air at high altitude, indicating fair weather. Thick, long lasting contrails indicate humid air at high altitudes, which can be early indicators of storms.

Admittedly, we have not had as much time as we would like lately to stop and look at things like contrails in the sky or flowers slowly coming into bloom. We have gotten caught up in a number of life issues, most of which are out of our control. Seeing the contrails reminded us that it is okay to stop for moments of reflection each day in order to move forward with a clearer path or better perspective.

The Easter season offers us many opportunities to take in nature’s greatest creations. These creations impact our lives in many ways, most of which can go unnoticed unless we make the effort to really look and consider their impact.

“Physical strength can never permanently withstand the impact of spiritual force.” –Franklin D. Roosevelt

Bonus Lesson of the Week: Slow Down Please

Our bonus lesson of the week ties into taking some time to pause and reflect, and this lesson is courtesy of my manager. We have had a number of issues at work to deal with and in trying work through these things, have had to stop and redirect our efforts. This can be challenging for two eight-year-olds at heart, which we both are. However, it is in taking the time required that we find the answers or solutions as well as lay better foundations to build upon.

Perhaps this is what the Easter season offers us: a chance to either begin a new foundation or shore up old foundations in our lives. Doing so is not only an investment in ourselves, but in those around us, which has the potential to make a difference in the world one step at a time.

“Sometimes you have to slow down in order to go fast.” –Michelle Tognarina

Words of the Week: What the World Needs

Our words of the week from the Daily Word devotional are Easter, prosperity, world peace, helpful, healing, earth care, and pray for others. Easter offers us time for spiritual prosperity, allowing us to find different perspectives. These perspectives may not lead to entire world peace, however, they can impact our own portions of the world. Doing our part of being helpful leads to healing within ourselves and others. The others around us include our environments, impacting earth’s care. As we continue to open our minds, hearts, and souls, we may find it easier to pray for others, offering up our own verse to nature’s alleluia for the season.

May we come to see the Easter season as one of prosperity in our lives. May what we learn through living each day offer us hope and strength for the journey ahead, and may we come to hear the song of nature’s alleluia.

Alleluia

Alleluia

Love of all through the

Lord’s great grace

Explored and embraced

Lessons that come

Unto everyone

In the light of life

Across the sky.

Alleluia

Looking through the

Last, first, and in between

Expanses of earth’s great seas

Lapping the shores

Unwrapping the Lord’s

Intertwined love

Across the divides from heaven above.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week go out to my manager mentioned above, whom we affectionately call Tognarina. We deeply appreciate her taking the time to share life’s adventures and misadventures, along with her eight-year-old heart and love of learning and nature’s wonders. We thank God for allowing our paths to cross upon the journey of life.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Observing Holy Week 2022

April 17, 2022 / law2374 / Leave a comment

We end the season of Lent with Holy Week this week. It has been a journey for many to a better state of mind or well-being, a different perspective in or of life, and maybe even a time to refocus. Whatever changes made upon this journey, even if they were or are short-lived, have an impact upon our lives and the lives of others. Like the Lenten season, spring has graced us with a time for renewal with reminders in the budding trees, flower blossoms, greening grass, longer daylight hours, and warmer temperatures. All these things coming together as one illustrate the holy part of life through creation.

“The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can oly be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists.” –Charles Dickens

Theme of the Week: Holy Holy Holy

Our theme of the week is based on the Lenten traditions in the Catholic church. Holy week is the time from Palm Sunday and Easter. This week is also known as Great Week in Greek and Roman liturgical books. The name Great Week comes from the great things God did during this week. The term Holy Week started in the 4^th century. Good Friday and Holy Saturday were the only original holy days of the week. Later, Wednesday as added, and still later, other days added to commemorate the events of the last days of Jesus.

The days of Holy Week include Palm Sunday (also known as Passion Sunday), Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday (also known as Spy Wednesday), Holy Thursday (also known as Maundy Thursday), Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. The time between Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday is also known as the Sacred Triduum.

On Monday of Holy Week, Jesus entered the temple to drive out the money changers and healed the sick (Matthew 21:12-17). On Tuesday, the hour had come for the Son of man to be glorified. Jesus offered the lesson of a grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying in order to bear fruit (John 12:20-38). Judas betrayed Jesus on Holy Wednesday in return for thirty pieces of silver (Luke 22: 1-6). The Last Supper occurred on Maundy Thursday. Maundy is from the Latin mandatum, meaning command or commandment. Jesus gave the disciples a new commandment to love one another as He had loved them (Mark 14:12-25 and John 13:34).

On Good Friday, Jesus was scourged, sentenced to death, carried the cross to Calvary, and died (Mark 1:1-47). Good Friday is called good because Jesus’ passion and death brought about mankind’s greatest good of redemption. The Stations of the Cross summarize the events of Good Friday through a variety of scripture readings from both the Old and New Testament of the Bible.

Holy Saturday is the day Jesus descended to the dead. It has been referred to as a “no man’s land” or a “time beyond time” before the resurrection on Easter Sunday. Often a day of prayer, reflection, and solemnity, Holy Saturday is the bridge between the old and the new.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” –Philippians 4:8-9

Lesson of the Week: Within Thee

Our lesson of the week came about through frustration. We have been doing a Lenten challenge, trying to do a special thing each day that coincides with the season of Lent. We were doing really well until this week when the challenge each day was tied to a church activity. Given my work schedule, I simply could not do the ask of the day. This was frustrating and disappointing. However, several friends reminded me that in life (and in Lent) we are faced with things that either stretch our limits or cause us to face the truth of our limitations.

On a particularly frustrating day, I read the challenge and said aloud, “Now really, how am I supposed to do this?”

I later went running and started praying, but soon my prayer turned more to listening to nature and God’s voice. The experience led me to realize that it was not really what I did that counted, but rather what was in my heart. A conversation years prior came to mind. In that conversation with one of my mentors, we talked about faith and man made rules to live by. We also acknowledged that the man made rules were not always reasonable and what mattered most was our personal relationship with God. I recalled wishing I had met my mentor twenty years prior in order to have avoided so many years of inner angst and feelings of unworthiness.

Perhaps that is what Lent and the events of Holy Week illustrate best. It is not necessarily what or how much we do, but rather the intentions within that lead us to where we need to be.

“Listen with the intent to understand, not the intent to reply.” –Stephen Covey

Song of the Week: Depths to Seek

Our song of the week asks a question that may be difficult to measure or answer. It is a poetic song with a variety of interpretations. The question is a good one to ask ourselves regarding our love. It is also a question we think God asks us every day through the trials and tribulations of life.

How Deep Is Your Love

I know your eyes in the morning sun
I feel you touch me in the pouring rain
And the moment that you wander far from me
I want to feel you in my arms again
And you come to me on a summer breeze
Keep me warm in your love, then you softly leave
And it’s me you need to show

How deep is your love?
How deep is your love?
How deep is your love?
I really mean to learn
Because we’re living in a world of fools
Breaking us down when they all should let us be
We belong to you and me

I believe in you
You know the door to my very soul
You’re the light in my deepest, darkest hour
You’re my savior when I fall
And you may not think I care for you
When you know down inside that I really do
And it’s me you need to show

Na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na

And you come to me on a summer breeze
Keep me warm in your love, then you softly leave
And it’s me you need to show

(Written and performed by The Bee Gees)

Sights of the Week: Blossoms on the Trees

Our adventures this week led us to discover blossoms on the magnolia, eastern redbud, flowering pear, dogwood, buckeye, and weeping cherry trees in our area. Though we had a week filled with rain and some cooler temperatures, the times of sun and warmer air really helped the buds open up into blossoms on the trees. It was to us nature’s sign of moving us on despite our struggles in life.

Like the blossoms on the trees, we can take the light of Lent and use it to guide us and open our minds, hearts, and souls to being who we really are. Also like the blossoms on the trees, we have a variety of colors and beauty to offer to the world around us.

“Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you are climbing it.” –Andy Rooney

Words of the Week: Guides for the Seed

Our words of the week from the Daily Word devotional include Palm Sunday, guidance, faith, divine order, grace, forgive, and comfort. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the end of the Lenten season. This season offers much guidance for the soul. The guidance deepens our faith, which in turn allows us to better acknowledge and accept divine order. As we come to accept divine order, we learn to recognize God’s grace. This grace allows us to forgive ourselves and others. As we learn to forgive, we find and offer comfort to others along the way.

May we take what we have learned during Lent and allow this learning to guide us throughout our lives. May we find comfort through times of both loss and growth, and may we come to see the depths of what holy means.

What Holy Means

Blossom on the tree

Like a microcosm in the breeze

Opening in the sun and rain

Through growth unrestrained

So that the seed can bear the fruit

Of the tree from the root

Blessed by the unfolding of time’s seas

In what holy means.

Sacred and secure, the sun endures

To place more into life’s storms

That destruction and fear

Allowing the resurrection to come near

In the heart and the soul

Rising from the dark and the cold

To emerge in the triumphant beams

Through the compass of what holy means.

Take the day and take the night

In the waves within the tides

Keep the faith and the hope

Throughout the days together and alone

Mark the rising and the falling

In the biding of the Lord’s calling

So that in the end the mold that comes to be

Is blessed by what holy means.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to the special people we have found upon our journey who have helped us learn the depth and width and breadth of what faith and holy mean through a variety of perspectives. We call this group of people our “inner circle” that helps keep the inner eight-year-old and the adult within us eternally hopeful.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Observing Buds and Shoots

April 16, 2022 / law2374 / Leave a comment

Despite some cooler than average temperatures in our area this week, we noticed a number of new buds and shoots in the landscape. The additional daylight with sunrise at 6:55 AM and sunset at 7:51 PM has played a part in helping the grass to turn green and all the little buds and shoots to emerge. This cycle of life and time of renewal has been augmented by the Lenten season. Lent is the church’s spring, a time of bringing back to life what has gone dormant or died. Both nature and faith offer us many occasions to witness this rebirth of sorts, and as we witness this renewed life, we come to realize the everything in life is connected in some way.

“We’re saved because we’re connected, not because we are worthy.” –Richard Rohr

Theme of the Week: Back to be Seen

Our theme of the week started on our outdoor adventures. We noticed a handful of flowers blooming on the myrtle, some new crocus shoots and blooms, salvia coming back to life, peony shoots, tiny leaves growing on the briar and rose bushes, and blossoms starting to form on some of the flowering fruit trees. All of these were welcome sights, especially since the temperatures remained cool, the skies gray, and precipitation falling in all forms from rain to hail to sleet to snow. Honestly, we were starting to feel like Job in the bible with all the things going not so right around us, but the sights of nature gave us hope that we could carry on.

Additionally, the grass turned green almost overnight, and the maple trees sprouted like little star bursts. Toward midweek, we actually got to see the sun and patches of blue skies for the first time in a while. The sunlight alone was like magic, making us feel warm despite cold winds and very damp conditions. It was as if nature was trying to draw us out from our shells, offering us room and encouragement to grow.

Like the trees, flowers, and grasses in nature, we too need time to go dormant or retreat in order to recharge and bring new life and perspectives to our minds, bodies, and souls. This can be a difficult adventure, especially when there seems to be more darkness than light surrounding us. However, if we remain hopeful and patient, we can come to see both the light of life and the growth of our souls.

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” –Lao Tzu

Lesson of the Week: Simply Be

Our lesson of the week is a tag along to our observations in nature. In our household, we try very hard to be outside as much as possible and enjoy whatever nature has to offer. Even in inclement weather, there are things like fluttering snowflakes, calling birds, or running water to observe and be thankful for. This past week, we were out in all kinds of weather, and just being able to do a few of the things we so enjoy was enough for us. Though at times it was challenging to run and bike in the wet, cold, and dreary weather, forging ahead felt triumphant. Seeing all the buds and shoots emerging as I ran and biked was my reward for trying. And it was a great reward because it got me to thinking about different issues which lead to some deep philosophical thoughts and a few solutions or things to try.

Perhaps this is really the key to life these days—to try. Try is a little word with only three letters, yet with a mountain of potential. Like the mustard seed in the parables of the Bible, try is one of those words that offers hope, encouragement, and a means to get beyond the present moment. If we try, we can discover more than we ever dreamed possible. If we both try and have faith, the possibilities are endless.

While many people may view Lent as a time of praying, fasting, and giving up something, it is really a season to try. By trying new things, trying to give up bad habits, or trying to discover more about our faith or ourselves, we can learn and grow. Like the buds and the shoots, we have no boundaries to our growth except when we hold ourselves back.

“Every single cell in the human body replaces itself over a period of seven years. That means there’s not even the smallest part of you now that was part of you seven years ago.” -Steven Hall

Song of the Week: Rollercoaster Melody

Our song of the week has been running rampant through our heads. It is a personal favorite from a most prolific songwriting and singing trio who took the seeds of potential within themselves, shared their talents with others, and impacted the world over five decades of hit songs for themselves and other artists.

Emotion

It’s over and done but the heart-ache lives on inside
And who’s the one you’re clinging to instead of me tonight
And where are you now
Now that I need you
Tears on my pillow wherever you go
I’ll cry me a river that leads to your ocean
You never see me fall apart

In the words of a broken heart
It’s just emotion that’s taken me over
Tied up in sorrow, lost in my soul
But if you don’t come back
Come home to me, darling
You know that there’ll be nobody left in this world to hold me tight
Nobody left in this world to kiss goodnight
Goodnight
Goodnight

I’m there at your side, I’m part of all the things you are
But you’ve got a part of someone else
You’ve got to find your shining star
And where are you now, now that I need you
Tears on my pillow wherever you go
I’ll cry me a river that leads to your ocean
You never see me fall apart

And where are you now, now that I need you
Tears on my pillow wherever you go
I’ll cry me a river that leads to your ocean
You never see me fall apart

(Written and performed by The Bee Gees)

Science Lesson of the Week: What Makes Raindrops Be

Many of the buds and shoots we saw this week were covered in raindrops. This led us to wonder about the shapes of raindrops and how they form. Through research, we discovered small raindrops less than one millimeter are spherical. Larger raindrops are more like a hamburger bun shape. Raindrops larger than a radius of 4.5 millimeters become distorted into a parachute shape with a tube of water around the base.

Surface tension of the water and the pressure of the air pushing against the bottom of the raindrop as it falls are the two factors that determine the size and shape. Small drops are the result of surface tension winning the battle of forces between it and air pressure. Increased size equates to increased velocity and increased air pressure on the bottom of the raindrop, creating a depressed shape.

“Plain question and plain answer make the shortest road out of most perplexities.” –Mark Twain

Question of the Week: Where Are We?

Given all the world issues, plus family and work issues, we find if we have but a few minutes to watch the sunrise or sunset, listen to the breezes blowing, or observe some of the wildlife in the area, there is something so therapeutic in the simplicity of life. It is our way of trying each day to stay rooted in faith, connected to God and nature, and ultimately energized by the faith and hope we carry with us. This week in the few moments we had to do so, we found ourselves asking, “Where are we?”

The question relates to work, life, home, faith, physical and mental health, and a host of other life aspects. The question is a good one to ask at any time in life. Lent is a good time to ask this question several times to see where one is at the beginning, middle, and end of the season and compare the answers. If the answers are not what we had hoped, we need not lose faith, but rather rely on faith to lead us to better answers in time.

“Time is the longest distance between two places.” –Tennessee Williams

May we find buds and shoots in all aspects of our lives during the spring season. May we share what we learn with others to help keep the cycle of life going, and may we come to see ourselves as part of nature’s greater picture.

Buds and Shoots

Buds and shoots

That come from the roots

As the leaves of the vines

Are released to climb

Up to the sun’s rays

Through the clouds’ rains

Past the arc in the bow

To the heart bestowed.

Buds and shoots

That run in pursuit

Of the sun and the skies

Where the Lord’s love resides

Watching over one and all

From the clover to the tree that falls,

Each day, each hour, each minute

Filled with the powers of forgiveness.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to our faith community for helping us learn and grow during the Lenten season.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Observing Life’s Mnemonics

April 4, 2022 / law2374 / Leave a comment

The weather in our area continues to be more like winter or fall instead of spring, however, little signs keep emerging as reminders that the seasons have changed and there is still hope for better days ahead. These little signs along with our march through the traditions of Lent are preparing us for what is to come in both the short and long terms of life. Our observations this week offered us much to contemplate, question, consider, adapt, adopt, and accept. These things are not always easy, but rather challenging, and we have come to view challenges as opportunities to grow spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. We thought we would share some of our learnings in this week’s post.

“Wat you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Theme of the Week: Test of the Memory

One of our morning reflections very early in the week talked about mnemonics, or techniques to improve memory. The word mnemonic took me back to elementary school when my teachers used different methods to help the class learn facts and lessons. Often times, we used flash cards or pictures. When we were a little older, we learned to make up phrases to remember things. One of the first phrases I remember was Roy G Biv, which our art teacher taught us to help remember the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, indigo, and violet.

One of my favorite lessons was in fourth grade when my reading teacher, Mrs. McCaskey, taught us a method to help us remember what we read. The method was called SQ3R, which stood for survey, question, read, recite, and review. We would survey the article or story for our required reading by reading the subtitles or paragraph titles. Next, we would ask questions pertaining to who, what, when, where, how, and why. Then we would read the article or story to find our answers. As we read, we would recite key points or elements. Lastly, we would have to answer questions about the story or article. This method of learning served us all through our remaining school years and even into college and the workplace.

At work this week, some coworkers were going over words in Spanish and were surprised when I volunteered what I knew. I then related to them how I had taken four years of Spanish in high school and how my Spanish teacher, Mrs. Carlson, made us recite and memorize phrases and words. In Spanish I and II, we learned key words and phrases. In Spanish III and IV, we learned about masculine and feminine words and word tenses so that we could write sentences and paragraphs in Spanish. Mrs. Carlson made some of the lessons fun by translating well-known songs and the Pledge of Allegiance into Spanish. Each year, we would have to stand in front of the class and recite what we knew. Though it has been years since I was in high school, I can still rattle off the alphabet and the Pledge of Allegiance thanks to all those times I practiced reciting them.

Now with spring slowly taking shape, nature is offering us little reminders of what we know about life. The little buds on the trees and the bulbs sprouting shoots tell us that life indeed goes on. The rains and winds remind us that like everything in life, this too shall pass. The birds singing offer us reminders to be thankful for the day, for it is what the Lord has made. The changing colors of the coats of the deer remind us that we must at times shed what we have or know in order to survive and grow. Though nature uses more images than words to illustrate her points, the lesson is still there for the learning and the knowledge for our taking if we so choose.

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” –Dr. Seuss

Lesson of the Week: Return to Me

Our lesson of the week came about through the passing of a family member. Though we were most definitely sad to go through this experience, we found it to be a good reminder of life’s journey. We live and grow and repeat this process many times over until God calls us to live and grow in a different way according to His time, His will, and His purpose. This is hard to accept or even at times to realize we are doing this all day every day in some way. However, moments like the passing of one chapter to another or from one season to the next act as reminders for us.

Several of the funerals I have attended during the pandemic were rather restricted and unorthodox due to restrictions in place to keep everyone safe. This was the first funeral I attended that was more orthodox and traditional, and I must say, it was such a relief to have some sense of normal back into our lives, though it took losing a loved one to experience it. This sounds like a paradox of sorts, but if we really break down our lives and the many comings and goings we experience, we can see a pattern of having to let go in order to hold on and of holding on in order to let go. That is the essence of nature and God’s will.

“Our moments of inspiration are not lost though we have no particular poem to show for them; for those experiences have left an indelible impression, and we ae ever and anon reminded of them.” -Henry David Thoreau

Song of the Week: No Fear in Need

Our song of the week is a personal favorite hymn, which we sung at the funeral mass mentioned above. The words are timely no matter our season of life, and particularly inspiring given all the world has gone through and continues to go through with the pandemic and areas of unrest.

Be Not Afraid

You shall cross the barren desert
But you shall not die of thirst
You shall wander far in safety
Though you do not know the way
You shall speak your words in foreign lands
And all will understand
You shall see the face of God and live

Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come follow me
And I will give you rest

Blessed are your poor, for the kingdom shall be theirs
Blessed are you that weep and mourn
For one day you shall laugh
And if wicked men insult and hate you all because of me
Blessed, blessed are you

Be not afraid
I go before you always
Come follow me
And I will give you rest

“Come to understand your fear, and you may find that we’re all just trying to figure out how to love.” –Gareth Higgins

Sights of the Week: Spring Memories

We were very excited to find some new blooms in our adventures this week. We found henbit, hyacinth, and chickweed blooms, along with shoots from the peonies, wild onions, and parsnips. After the rains of midweek, we also noticed the fields and lawns turning green, a much welcome and sure sign spring has indeed arrived, albeit in a cold and somewhat hidden fashion.

While riding my bike this week, I saw ducks and geese on the ponds making ripples through the water as they swam. Their bodies cutting through the water acted as reminders that we must always forge ahead with good intent and purpose and leave the rest to God. I also got to see some deer and squirrels, hear the turkeys and other birds calling, and see the sun on a few occasions. Each of these sights was a sign to keep going, keep trying, keep doing the best we can each day no matter what life throws at us.

“ Nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what we need to know.” –Pema Chodron

Words of the Week: Remember Please

Our words of the week from the Daily Word devotional include divine order, pray for others, adventurous, protect, world peace, and brilliance. Spring offers us a reminder of the divine order in life with all of creation rising from the slumber of winter in order to grow and pass on to the next generation some form of life lesson. Included in the this divine order are our prayers for others ,and with Lent and spring coming at the same time, we have good reasons to focus our prayers. This focus may seem adventurous at times, for we often rely on the hum drum of life to keep us going instead of realizing all the inner workings going on around us. During our adventures, we may or may not feel protected, but through faith and prayer and time learn that we are not alone. As we learn to accept we are not alone, we can find peace and extend this peace to others. Whether they receive it or not is not up to us, but we can keep trying to spread the message through faith, hope, and love, which are the brilliant stars that lead us all through life, no matter what season it may be.

May we allow spring’s signs to teach us the way. May the lessons shared and learned bring us closer to who we are, and may we find the blessings of life through spring’s mnemonics.

Spring’s Mnemonics

Little signs here and there

In the vines and the air

In the birds and the bush

In the earth and in the push

Of the root to the sun

Through the shoot of love

Taking whatever is placed upon it

In spring’s mnemonics.

Henbit and daffodil,

Hyacinth growing upon the hill,

Peony in red rising up,

Sun beaming as it comes

Out from the clouds

That run around

In the awe admonished

By the thaw of spring’s mnemonics.

Bud and leaf and twig and vine

Sing silently their praise for life

As comes the day

To run and play

Through the grace of the Lord

In space unexplored

Glory Be sings the soul astonished’

By the sea of spring’s mnemonics.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to the teachers mentioned above, Mrs. McCaskey and Mrs. Carlson, for teaching lasting life lessons. We also remember in a special way my cousin’s husband, Dan, whose funeral we attended this past week. Dan was a rather quiet but very strong man, and we thank him for taking the time to inspire and guide others around him with his faith and love.

Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Observing Spring’s Release

March 26, 2022 / law2374 / Leave a comment

The vernal equinox is now behind us, and the weather is starting to shift to more spring-like conditions. We’ve had a mix of sun and clouds, rain and dry days this past week, allowing us to experience a number of new things. The additional daylight with sunrise at 7:16 AM and sunset at 7:38 PM has really helped our household get things done despite having a number of extenuating circumstances. It has been so nice to come home from work and still have enough daylight to run and bike outdoors without having to hurry, skip parts of my routes, or short change other responsibilities and duties. Spring has indeed set our household free, helping to negate the paralysis of winter’s hold.

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” –Maya Angelou

Theme of the Week: Set Free

Our theme of the week started Sunday morning. I had a mixed up work schedule that day, which meant I would not be able to attend mass. So, we got up early and watched Heart of the Nation mass on Youtube. The priest’s homily dealt with respect of others and his examples showed how offering respect releases us and others around us to learn and grow. This really resonated with me because for many years as a youngster, teenager and young adult, I was bullied, teased, or picked on for pretty much everything I did. Had I not met some coworkers who accepted me for who I was, I would have continued to believe I was all those things others around me claimed.

Our theme of the week continued through some readings we are doing regarding habits and how we create or destroy these habits. One of the lessons was about being a product of our environment and how our environment influences our thoughts, actions, words, feelings, and reactions. What we offer or do not offer to others has both a direct and indirect effect upon us, though we may not realize it.

In addition to the homily and readings, we had the opportunity to explore options at both work and home. These options were not all glamorous, but some of them were intriguing. Though they would all require accepting change of some sort if we chose to fully incorporate them into our routine, the fact we took the first step to explore felt most liberating. One of the options was to change my thought process for running and biking each day. Though I love both activities and like to keep statistics on them, there are certain circumstances where doing both is just not possible. So, I can choose one or the other, or I can do shortened routes for each with the time I have. Some days the first option works best and other days the latter option works better. The challenge lies in the decision and not feeling regret for having to make the decision.

“We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” –Oprah Winfrey

Lesson of the Week: Different Ways to Speak

Our lesson of the week is somewhat of a byproduct of our theme of the week. I often pray while running or biking, and this week was having difficulty focusing on the words to my petitions. At one point while running, I grew frustrated and said, “God, I’m not sure what to say, so can I just listen instead?” Listening was what I did, and the experience was most rewarding, for God spoke back to me, allowing a sense of freedom and relief to wash over me.

We don’t always need words to communicate. There are many signs and symbols, images and gestures we can use instead. Sometimes, the best words are no words, or as the Swiss proverb states, “Sometimes you need to be silent in order to be heard.”

There are also times in life when the best form of respect and communication is to allow space. Allow the inner child to run, the inner adult to go off to a quiet place to rest, the person you are angry with to walk away, and the heavens above the time necessary to bring about the desired or best outcome for all involved parties. This does not mean to not communicate, but rather to offer space or room as the seed for communication to grow.

“What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Song of the Week: Flowing Release

Our song of the week is one we’ve used before, but are using again because it always reminds us of spring, no matter what time of year we listen to it. The introductory music sets the mood and the lyrics team up to say the rest of the song’s message.

Let Your Love Flow

There’s a reason for the sunshine in the sky
And there’s a reason why I’m feeling so high
Must be the season
When that love light shines all around us

So let that feeling grab you deep inside
And send you reeling, where your love can’t hide
And then go stealing
Through the moonlit nights with your lover

Just let your love flow like a mountain stream
And let your love grow with the smallest of dreams
And let your love show
And you’ll know what I mean, it’s the season

Let your love fly like a bird on a wing
And let your love bind you to all living things
And let your love shine
And you’ll know what I mean, that’s the reason

There’s a reason for the warm, sweet nights
And there’s a reason for the candle lights
Must be the season
When those love lights shine all around us

So let that wonder take you into space
And lay you under it’s loving embrace
Just feel the thunder as it warms your face
You can’t hold back

Just let your love flow like a mountain stream
And let your love grow with the smallest of dreams
And let your love show
And you’ll know what I mean, it’s the season

Let your love fly like a bird on a wing
And let your love bind you to all living things
And let your love shine
And you’ll know what I mean, that’s the reason

Just let your love flow like a mountain stream
And let your love grow with the smallest of dreams
And let your love show
And you’ll know what I mean, it’s the season

Let your love fly like a bird on a wing
And let your love bind you to all living things
And let your love shine
And you’ll know what I mean, that’s the reason

(Written by Larry E. Williams, performed by The Bellamy Brothers)

“The greatest enemy of ordinary daily goodness and joy is not imperfection, but the demand for some supposed perfection or order.” –Richard Rohr

Words of the Week: Paths to Seek

Our words of the week from the Daily Word devotional were positivity, faith, awe, wholehearted, comfort, and creativity. Our positivity in and for life shows us the way to faith. Through faith, we learn to have awe and respect for our surroundings and ourselves. This awe leads to a wholehearted approach to life with no restrictions or limitations. The whole hearted factor allows others to feel comfort, and in turn, leads us to feel the same. We are most creative when we feel comfortable to express ourselves.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” –Winston Churchill

May we come to find freedom in the spring season, allowing for an inner sense of peace and courage to change. May each change lead to growth in some way so that the fears and doubts we have are released.

Released

Released

Envelopes and boundaries

Lacerated by the winds of change

Emancipating the inner angst

Actions exerted

So that habits can be converted

Enlarging the possibilities

Down through the hills and valleys.

Released

Exercised and seen

Loved for a time

Expressed by the divine

Accepted and rearranged

Such that what was is changed

Exerting the strength within

Determined to win.

Released

Earthen seed

Lily, tulip, and hyacinth

Enchanted by the wind

Alleluia, Amen!

Sung over and over again

Echoing in the expanses of time

Demonstrating grace from the skies.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week is in remembrance of our beloved canine friend, Bo. He passed away on March 25, 2013, just three weeks shy of his second birthday. Bo’s passing released him to heaven, and us to live again in time after learning of our limitations in life. Though these limitations saddened us, the acceptance of them led us to freedom through faith.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Observing Welcome Spring

March 25, 2022 / law2374 / Leave a comment

Though our area is still experiencing a tug of war between winter-like and spring weather, the signs in nature tell us we are on the right path to the spring season. This has indeed been a journey, not only from a time and space perspective, but also from a monumental shift in steering through the pandemic and emerging somewhat in tact. Nature’s signs have always been inspiring to us, and this year is no exception. From the little buds forming on the lilac to the in-stereo calling of the spring peepers, we find encouragement each day, along with the grace and blessings of life. These things don’t always come easy, however, the struggle is what builds the stamina and strength to carry on, one step at a time.

“To start is easy, to persist is an art.” –German Proverb

Theme of the Week: Signs Speak

Our theme of the week came on Sunday as I was running. I spotted some snowdrops in bloom out of the corner of my eye. The flowers had not been there the night prior, so their growth in such a short time told me the increased daylight along with warmer temperatures were working their magic to bring the landscape back to life. A day later, several bunches of daffodils we had planted around the buckeye tree in the front yard shot up, literally growing three inches before nightfall. The next day we found little purple shoots of the bleeding heart emerging in the landscape beds. All this growth was a most welcome sight after the gray skies and snows of winter.

We also saw in the sky the shift of the sun’s position at sunrise and sunset. Sunrise is now due east, and sunset is due west. This notes the vernal equinox has arrived. Additionally, sunrise at 7:26 AM and sunset at 7:32 PM have moved us to almost equal amounts of daylight and darkness, yet another sign spring is here.

While the weather has had its ups and downs with above and below normal temperatures; mixes of rain, snow, and sleet; and very clear to totally cloudy skies, there is a sense of emerging balance in nature. The additional green and red in the landscape from the leaves and buds emerging on the trees and shrubs adds a hint of color to the olive drab, gray, and tan of the grasses and fields. The colors are indicators that chlorophyll is working in conjunction with the sun and rain in the process of photosynthesis. It is in this process that light energy is transformed into chemical energy, allowing the plants to sport their colors anew.

Like the plants and sun mentioned above, we go through changes and phases in life that take us through levels of dormancy, growth, decay, and rebirth. Each stage has its own sets of pros and cons, but all stages are necessary to get us to where we need to be upon our journey. We may not like, understand, or agree with all the things we go through in life, but we can adopt an attitude of willingness to try, flexibility, and hope to get us through the tough parts so that our spring seasons are memorable and positive.

“We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners to it.” –Rick Warren

Lesson of the Week: Yippee Skippy!

Our lesson of the week came in realizing we are making each day count both upon our Lenten and life journey. We made it through the second week of Lent without too many issues and even added a few things to do to help make the season meaningful not only to us, but to others around us. We mentioned in a prior post we are going through some lessons about building good habits, and this is more for learning and exploring than actual engagement right now in our lives.

We added to this a diocesan Lenten challenge, which asks us to do a different thing each day during Lent. The tasks range from praying to reflecting, taking action to sitting in the stillness of God’s presence, and both giving and receiving. Some tasks are five minutes, others thirty minutes or more, but all the tasks are a way to view things from a different perspective AND take some action, be it short or long term.

While examining habits and figuring out ways to do the daily challenges, we stumbled upon a thought that led us back to a book I read many years ago as a teenager. The book is about the lives of the saints and contains mini biographies along with facts and prayers about and for each saint. We’ve been reading this book a little each day, expanding our understanding of the saints, their lives and causes, and the parts they played in the history of the church and world cultures.

All these things in themselves can be challenging, especially when trying to shoe horn them into an already busy work/life schedule. However, the combination of each little thing leads to a much greater sense of character and flexibility than one can imagine. It is one of those paradoxes in life where what you put in and what comes out do not necessarily make sense, but are most welcome, especially when the efforts lead to results beyond our wildest dreams.

“Don’t go through life, grow through life.” –Eric Butterworth

Song of the Week: Spring Peeps

Our song of the week is from nature’s very own spring peepers. Hearing the peep, peep, peep while riding past the local ponds on my evening bike rides was such a welcome sound. It was also a sign the temperatures are warming enough to support more wildlife species after the cold of winter. Though spring peepers can survive in cold temperatures due to an antifreeze-like substance in their blood, they are not active until the temperatures rise. In addition to the antifreeze-like substance in their blood, these small tree frogs have the ability to change color to mimic their habit, which allows for longer survival rates.

Pads on the spring peeper’s feet allow them to be good climbers, but they spend most of their time on the ground hiding in leaf litter or along pond edges. With a life span of three to four years, these creatures don’t have a lot of time to waste, and often have an impact on the ecosystem by eating beetles, ants, flies, spiders, algae, and microorganisms.

Like the spring peepers, we humans have the ability to climb, but often choose to stay put or remove ourselves from the circumstances at hand. While we don’t have antifreeze-like substances in our blood, we can choose to challenge ourselves and not succumb to the colder aspects of life’s storms and winds.

“Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.” –Bernice Johnson Reagon

Question of the Week: How Can This Be?

Our question of the week centers around what we have seen transpire in nature. The greening of the fields after the winter’s drab days, the sprouting of shoots from the bulbs in the ground, and the shifting of the sun’s position in the skies has us marveling at how all these things can change without a sound, often in a short time span, and with such determination (especially given the still rather cold nighttime temperatures). The answer is nature has its ways, be they understood or not, on how things transpire, and fortunately for us, nature keeps on going no matter what happens. Nature is successful because nature invests in itself through its processes. We could definitely benefit from observing nature more and worrying less about things out of our control.

“The swiftest way to triple your success is to double your investment in personal development.” –Robin Sharma

Words of the Week: Well, Let’s See

Our words of the week from the Daily Word devotional include: light, healing, guidance, surprises, joy, focus, and grace. The light of spring leads to an inner healing of sorts in many of us. As we pass from the darker days of winter into the spring season, we find this healing helps provide guidance upon the journey. This guidance prepares us for the surprises that may come, allowing for a sense of joy in being able to accept what was, is, and is to come.

May we find ourselves more often in the light than in the dark of life, and when we do find ourselves in the dark, may we not be afraid. May we come to see life’s challenges as opportunities for growth and welcome spring, no matter what time it arrives in our lives.

Welcome Spring

Spring peepers calling from the pond,

Sunrays streaming in the dawn,

Bluer skies and longer days,

Clearer nights and temperatures raised,

Robins and killdeer calling,

Starts and stops of snow falling,

Winds high, low, and in between

Finally the show we’ve longed to see

Welcome, welcome spring coming around

In the sea of life we’ve found.

Morning glow sitting due east

With the echo of the geese

Flying by

High in the sky

To the ponds and fields

Above the lawns that reveal

The tint of green growing

Beneath the hint of light flowing

To welcome, welcome spring coming around

And the glory that runs to be found.

Wispy clouds in the clear blue

Echo the sounds of the truth

As the snow drops and lilies poke their shoots

Up from the socks of their roots

Along with the bleeding heart and daffodils

Casting nature’s art through the hills

To brighten the sights before our eyes

And lighten the loads carried in this life

Through the welcome, welcome spring coming around

Praise and honor to the skies above the clouds.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes to our friend, Buffy, for helping us transition not only from one season to another, but from one chapter in life to another with the best outcome possible. We thank her for her enthusiasm, support, friendship, and shared determination to help us get to where we need to be.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Observing a Week of Firsts

March 12, 2022 / law2374 / Leave a comment

Mother Nature appears to be refereeing a tug of war between seasons this week in our area. We went from clear skies, sunshine, and temperatures in the mid 60 degree range to snow, cloudy skies, and temperatures in the lower twenty degree range in the past week. With sunrise at 6:39 AM and sunset at 6:23 PM, we are seeking close to twelve hours of daylight. All this light and the contrast of the seasons and events in our lives this past week led to observing a number of firsts, some of which were not very pleasant, yet all of which were needed to lean upon life’s journey. We thought we would share some of our observations and lessons in this week’s post.

“The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Theme of the Week: First, Please

Our theme of the week started in church while singing a favorite hymn, On Eagle’s Wings. While singing, I recalled the first time I ever heard the hymn. It was at my cousin Marla’s funeral mass in August of 1989. Marla passed away unexpectedly after having surgery. Though we did not see each other often, she was only a few years older than me, which made her passing hard to understand. I was only fifteen at the time, but remember the church and how the sunlight shone through the windows. The woman singing the hymn that day had a beautiful voice, and combined with the music and the words, made for a most emotional experience.

Driving home from church that day, the sun was shining and the temperatures were rising, setting up our first nice day in a long time. By nice, we mean sunny, warm, clear skies, low winds, and tranquil in nature. Later that morning, Leo and Lena watched as I gave the Jeep a good washing for the first time this month. All the cold temperatures made pulling the hose out and using car soap impossible up until this day, so we were eager to get out there and do it right after so many bucket washes of warm water. Also that morning, we had a visitor to our house, a friend whom I had not seen in over a year. The time spent with this friend was the first time in months that I actually sat down to talk and did not worry about what was or was not getting done on our to-do list.

The events of the day led me to run and bike on Sunday evening instead of morning for the first time also. The weather allowed for a nice, long run and bike ride that did not leave me frozen like a popsicle. How nice that was! However, as I ran, I realized I was having some trouble focusing on the experience and instead was inundated with thoughts about work, the state of the world, and other less than stellar topics. Normally, I am able to zone in and write poetry in my head while I run, but it just was not happening and I was starting to wonder if maybe my days of doing so were over. However, around mile six of my eight mile trek, the light and clouds in the skies caught my attention and the words just started coming, almost too fast for me to remember them. It was then I realized that sometimes firsts in life cause us to break down a barrier of sorts so that we can fully experience the lesson and the message.

Later while biking, I heard the first spring peepers calling from the neighbor’s pond. Oh, what a joy it was to hear them calling! The peep, peep, peep echoed through the valley making it sound like a symphony as the sun was setting. The sound released a sense of tension in me. Once again, nature’s creations had worked her wonders for the heart and soul.

“Every act of creation is first an act of destruction.” –Pablo Picasso

Lesson of the Week: What First Means

We also found the first hyacinth shoots popping up from the mulch in the landscape beds on Sunday. The sight in addition to seeing daffodil and tulip shoots the week prior acted as signs of hope for spring to arrive. Given we also made it through the first week of Lent without too many issues, we know we are slowly inching toward the much anticipated season and better weather ahead.

On Tuesday, we had our first significant snowfall of March in a very short time. The morning dawned nice, but winds and clouds quickly moved in to dump over two inches of snow onto the ground in six hours. The commute home from work was a far cry from the one to work that morning. The experience made me reflect upon how first experiences differ from additional experiences in life and how our perspectives change over time.

Firsts are not always best, but rather act as eye-opening or awareness raising events. These experiences also can make us face the truth or reality in a rather abrupt fashion, which may or may not be comfortable. Just because something is new does not mean it is correct. Often times, we use the first experience as a measuring stick or baseline of sorts, but we must be careful because if our first information in not correct or trustworthy, we can end up with a very wrong perspective.

“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” –Thomas Jefferson

Science Lesson of the Week: In Metamorphosis All Are We

In our readings this week, we read about a teacher whose class observed a caterpillar turn into a butterfly. The students watched as the caterpillar transformed into a prepupa stage, whereby its body becomes hardened to form a chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis, the pupa waits before emerging as a butterfly. Often emerging can take time, and in this story, the students waited over two weeks to see a change. When they did see a change, they observed a very weak butterfly struggling to break through the chrysalis. The work the butterfly had to do to break through helped strengthen its legs and wings so it could eventually fly.

The struggles we have in life (be they through first experiences or otherwise) offer us the opportunity to build our strengths and notice our weaknesses. We must encounter friction of sorts along the way to make us work. The physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual inputs we exert in turn change us. Like the caterpillar, we go through stages in life, but unlike the caterpillar, our emergence into the next stage may not be so glamorous or noticeable to others.

As we make our journey through Lent, we may feel like the butterfly trying to emerge. We are still not certain of the sacrifices we are making, and though we know how the story ends with Jesus’ resurrection and renewed offer of life everlasting, we may struggle with the commitments, energy required, or thought process of our faith. Each day of the journey helps strengthen us and our faith with hope renewed through what we have overcome along the way.

“At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable.” –Christopher Reeve

Question of the Week: Number of Firsts Seen

Our question of the week came to us as we counted how many firsts we had encountered in the week. In addition to the firsts mentioned above, I completed my first day and first week in a new position at my employer. Those firsts came along with additional first learning sessions, meetings, and other interactions. How many firsts had I seen? How many firsts do we see or experience in a day, week, month, year, or lifetime?

While the answer will differ for each person, one thing remains clear—we will always have firsts in life, and sometimes these firsts will lead to lasts that start the cycle all over again.

“A problem is only a problem when viewed as a problem. All change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and gorgeous at the end.” –Robin S. Sharma

Words of the Week: First Journeys

Our words of the week from the Daily Word devotional include: glory, letting go, grateful, tranquil, bold, prosperity, and contentment. If we take a moment to recognize the glory in each day, we allow ourselves the opportunity to let go and allow God to guide us. Letting go often leads to experiences we are grateful for, especially when letting go of negative things we have harbored. When we are grateful, we offer up our best to others around us. What we offer has the potential to lead us to a tranquil state, even if it is temporary or short lived. This tranquility gives us the inner confidence to be bold, not in negative ways, but rather in ways that nurture life’s positive aspects. This boldness fosters prosperity, not only for us, but for those around us. The prosperity shared leads to contentment, not necessarily in a complacent manner, but rather a most thankful one. So what started out as a moment of recognizing glory turns into a culture movement within and among us.

May the firsts we encounter in life allow us to learn and teach others along the way. May we not fear firsts, but rather have hope in them, and may we come to see each season of life as opportunities for firsts, no matter how old we are.

Firsts

A new day sits waiting, waiting

With many gifts for giving and taking,

From the first crack of dawn

To the dew upon the lawn,

And the clouds in the sky

To the ground full of life,

Each has a first to share

Leading us to hurts healed with care.

As the sun rises and the temperatures follow

So does life fly along with the swallow,

The lark, the crow, the bee, and the butterfly

Allowing us to grow thankful for what lies

Before and behind, about and within

From shores to the mountains,

Each with a first to offer

Come what be in life’s coffers.

At end of day when the light fades

So too it makes its own ways

Through the moon and the stars

To the blue, blue afar

Where in the silence one can hear

The quiet draw near,

Each with a first to share

So the seed within can grow prepared.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week is in remembrance of my late canine companion, Princess. Princess was one of my first puppies in life, first best companions, and first teacher of how to forge ahead no matter the circumstances. Her enthusiasm, antics, intelligence, loyalty, and trust led us through years of learning and growing together. She passed away March 10, 2006 at the age of fourteen years, three months. Read more about Princess and our adventures in her book, Angel in Disguise.

-Lisa, Leo and Lena

Observing Lent Along With Sunset Songs

March 5, 2022March 5, 2022 / law2374 / Leave a comment

We entered the season of Lent this week, and in our household, this is one of our most favorite times of the year. Going through the season of Lent means spring and spring weather is on its way to brighten life and renew energy lost over winter’s cold. (Not that our little posse ever loses much energy; we somehow find it no matter what). Lent also means a time to focus more on spiritual things and how we can learn from life how to find hidden blessings. With sunrise at 6:52 AM and sunset at 6:14 PM, we have almost eleven and a half hours of daylight to do our activities outside, and this is a most welcome blessing to us. All this daylight has allowed us to see things from a different perspective than in days prior. We thought we would share some of our learnings and observations in this week’s post.

“Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing…”-Galations 6:9

Theme of the Week: Set Us Free

Our theme of the week came as we prepared to start the season of Lent. In our household, we actually start our sacrifice, or as some people call it, giving up of something the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, instead of on Ash Wednesday. Now, we know this sounds crazy, for why would anyone want to make the challenge of sacrifice any harder? Well, honestly, it is just something we wanted to try many years ago, and being who we are in our household, we said why not make it harder? It is not like life is going to hold us back from doing so.

Historically, the extra first days are not fun, but we have found them to be quite liberating, freeing us of habits or thoughts that we really don’t need anyway. The extra days also kind of lead us into the holiness of Ash Wednesday, clearing our heads and setting a focus for us. (And anyone who knows how we live knows we don’t always focus well being eight year olds at heart and tend to literally and figuratively chase our tails). This focus is important because it has the potential to set the tone for the season.

Our theme of setting free was punctuated by several events. One was that of listening to the priest’s homily in church. This was the first time I had ever heard this particular priest speak. He explained he was not only a priest, but also taught at one of the local colleges. His message talked about words and how the words in the readings that day asked us to understand the impact of words along with actions. His examples included being told as a young boy that he would make a good priest some day and later in life being told he would be a good teacher. His point was those words impacted and help direct his life. Those words helped set him free to explore his callings in life. As a result, his words now have the potential to impact others around him.

Another event was seeing the sunrise after several very gray sky days. The feeling that came over me as I ran and watched the sunrise was most liberating, almost like the gates to the cell of the clouds had been opened wide to let the light in and cast away the shadows of negativity. That morning run was a cold one, but well worth the effort and the sacrifice.

The third event was a rather somber one. It came in learning that a most influential person in my life had passed away suddenly. This hit me pretty hard, but while working through my thoughts and feelings with recollections of talks we had over the 28 years of knowing each other, I realized not only the positive influence, but also the freedom he helped me find. He always said, “Lisa, you are a determined spirit.” (Which I think was his polite way of saying I think you are nuts).

All of these events also helped me to remember something else my dear friend had said to me. He said, “Lisa, you can write your own ticket to anywhere.”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” –Proverbs3:5

Lesson of the Week: Things to Keep

Our lesson of the week came through a guide I am currently reading regarding better habits. The guide is by James Clear, author of the book Atomic Habits. How this all came together during Lent is most likely Divine intervention, for I was not looking for one more thing to do during Lent, but while researching some information for a writing project came across the book and the guide and thought why not add another thing. As it turns out, many of the lessons in the guide are things our household already does, so really, it is not a stretch to add this to our to-do list.

Mr. Clear writes about how to make choices and how these choices affect our focus in life. The focus we have helps us to build “rules” or structure for our lives. This structure can be impacted by our sense of time and how much time we have to do things. So, in essence, as we go about our habits and lives, we find things to keep and things to toss away. The things we keep can either propel us forward or hold us back. The fine line between them lies in our perception of each.

Reading this information brought me back to my friend and how he lived his life. He definitely had structure with what he called quiet time every morning, reading scripture or inspirational materials or even some of my writings I shared with him. He also had an exercise routine, a work routine (which later became more of a responsibility routine when he retired from teaching), a play routine (usually time spent with his guitar), and a rest routine. Through all the years I knew him, he stayed true to the structure, though did make adjustments as life circumstances required. The key was he managed to keep the structure, and I think this was due to his faith. His structure helped form the person he was and became.

The routine or structure of Lent offers an opportunity to take steps toward our aspirations and goals while being thankful for whatever else comes along for the ride. The whatever else often plays a part in what we call building character in our household. This building helps create the foundation for who we become.

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” –James Clear

Sight of the Week: Daffodils to Be

Our sight of the week tied in well with Lent. We found some daffodil shoots coming up out of the ground. Though the shoots are still green and growing without any flowers on them, the sight gave us hope. Daffodils are also known as common daffodils or trumpet narcissus. They are part of the amaryllis family with trumpet like flowers. They are perennials that grow from bulbs with flowers in shades of yellow, white, and orange.

The daffodil and its European sibling known as the jonquil are the official flowers for March. In folklore, the daffodil is a symbol of rebirth and new beginnings, as well as faithfulness and honesty. Herbalists have used daffodils to cleanse the body. Daffodils can also be used to clean wounds, soothe burns, and ease joint and muscle pain. More modern medicine has also used the properties of daffodils to combat Alzheimer’s disease.

Like many things in nature, daffodils do not speak vocally to us, yet have the power to say the silent words we need to hear to give us hope. This hope in turn creates a feeling of freedom, and this freedom gives us the courage to live life to the best of our abilities.

“This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” –Proverbs 3:8

Song of the Week: Calling Thee

Our song of the week is a hymn I only recently learned. It asks us to consider our words, actions, and thoughts as we go about living our lives. These questions may help us focus more for Lent (or any season in life) and give us hope for brighter days ahead.

The Summons

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

Will you love the “you” you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around,
Through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I’ll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” –Proverbs 19:21

Words of the Week: Life Recipe

Our words of the week from the Daily Word devotional included comforted, world peace, ready, Lent, inner peace, and harmony. The comfort we offer and accept from others has the potential to impact world peace. While we may or may not feel ready to provide or receive comfort, we can use seasons like Lent to help prepare our hearts and minds. This preparation in turn can lead us to a sense of inner peace. This inner peace allows us to find harmony in our daily routines, though sometimes in a more hidden or less than conscious sense. As we come to find harmony, we start the cycle all over again. Each time we go through the cycle, we change in some way, so that the individual ingredients put in create a better wholesome outcome.

May we come to view the Lenten season, as well as other seasons in our lives, as times to learn and grow. May what we learn allow us to find fertile soils to grow not only our seeds, but also the seeds of those around us. As we learn and grow, may we find the sun’s light toward our sunset song.

Sunset Song

Life is a journey, no two the same

Full of learning moments that take

Us to forks in the road

Where the Lord’s grace shows

Us the way to the truth and the light

Coming in and through the days and the nights

Each step leading us on

To our sunset song.

Crossing the bridges and paths beneath

Making decisions past what is seen

Through faith and hope

On the way through the unknown

Where in the twilight hours we find

Something to inspire or leave behind

As we reinvent our rhythm along

The way to our sunset song.

Where we stand and where we go

Flows with the sand in the hourglass’ globe

Each grain adding a note to the melody

Tapping our toes and our feet,

Moving our heart, mind, and soul

So that the guitar we strum and hold

With fingers across frets playing along

Creating the music to our sunset song.

In Loving Memory of

Mr. Mike Aikens

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to my friend mentioned above for his many years of caring and sharing his life with those around him. A most faithful person he was and ever will be in the lives of many, for his words led us to writing our own tickets with our own determined spirits. His structure to and in life offered a great support system for those around him, and the light he gave to everyone remains a most welcome beacon. No doubt he is already working hard looking over us from heaven while playing his guitar among the angels.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Observing This Week

March 4, 2022 / law2374 / Leave a comment

Editor’s Note: This post was to appear February 24, 2022.

The past week has been one of those times in life when many changes have a person wondering which direction is which. With continued cold snaps and a few teases of warm air, the weather is starting to play tug of war between seasons. We have less than a month until spring arrives, and winter is not easily letting go with snow squalls, ice, and Arctic winds in our area. However, the moments of clearer skies and sunshine are reminders that better weather and days are ahead. The cold snaps did set us back a bit on our outdoor activities, so we used some of the time we would have spent outside to do some thankful reflecting for the present moments. We thought we’d share some things we learned and observed in this week’s post.

“When we open our heats to the wonder of the journey and search through the pain for the truth of our experience, we begin to glimpse a new light that will guide us deeper into ourselves, below our insecurities and the broken dreams of our lives.” –Richard Rohr

Theme of the Week: Topsy Turvy

Our theme of the week was dictated mostly by the weather. We started out with sunshine, has rain and clouds midweek, and very cold temperatures at the end of the week. The differences in temperature along with the timing of the precipitation created a number of issues with ice in our area. The ice was not always visible, often appearing as just a wet surface, but once traversed via foot or vehicle became apparent.

Of course, the “hidden” conditions led to some missteps and accidents in our area. These events put many lives into a state of turmoil, wondering if injuries incurred were minimal or substantial. This sense of unease created a connection between people, some of whom may have been strangers until the fateful moment or moments that came to be.

Faith can be like the ice, hidden beneath with or without our conscious awareness. Like the ice, it can challenge us to learn hard lessons and make us aware of circumstances or facts that had not been considered prior. Unlike the ice, faith does not cause damages, but rather acts as a healing mechanism (albeit a very slow one at times) for us.

As we head into the season of Lent, perhaps it is fitting to have such things on our minds, kind of nature’s way of leading us through the cleansing and renewing properties of Lent. Perhaps also, the last week of February is a good time to finally clean out the dust left over from the year just past and really start fresh. It may also be a good time to look at progress of goals or resolutions and redirect our steps or efforts as deemed necessary. After all, one of the greatest motivators in life is that of change, often steered by our faith.

“Faith consists of believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.” –Voltaire

Lesson of the Week: Flexibility

Our lesson of the week came as we tried to juggle weather conditions, work schedule, responsibilities, and other tasks. This time of year is always a challenge, for the inner eight-year-olds among us feel the whimsy to explore and release energy while the adults in us feel a tug of resistance from the cold, gray days. As we went about our daily routine, we had to make a number of adjustments, most of which pertained to our attitudes and realistic expectations. This can be a challenge for anyone, but we have learned over the years that flexibility is key in such times. So, if the ice and rain are not cooperating, then we can do other activities indoors. Conversely, if being indoors is making us restless and the sun is inviting us outside, then we can switch gears and do something outside.

The hard part for everyone in life is time and trying our best to carve our way through it. Perhaps we need to think of time as less of a rock for carving than a sea of fluid water whose waves give less resistance than the friction of the rock. If the water slows its flow and becomes ice, then maybe that is both God’s and nature’s way of saying it is time to stop, reflect, and redirect our efforts or thoughts.

“Be clear about your goal, but be flexible about the process of achieving it.” –Brian Tracy

Song of the Week: Acceptability

Our song of the week is one we heard several times on the radio, which set it playing in our heads every day. The song was released in 1994 by the country group Blackhawk. In hindsight, the song was way ahead of its time, but also rings true and relevant today.

Just About Right

My old friend lives up in the mountain.
He flew up there to paint the world.
He says, “Even though interpretation’s what I count on,
This little picture to me seems blurred.
Hard lines and the shadows come easy,
I see it all just as clear as a bell,
I just can’t seem to set my easel to please me.
I paint my Heaven, but it looks like hell.” Yeah

Your blue might be gray,
Your less might be more.
Your window to the world might be your own front door.
You shiniest day might come in the middle of the night.
That’s just about right.

He said “I ain’t coming down ’til my picture is perfect,
And all the wonder is gone from my eyes.
Down through my hands, and onto to the canvas.
Still like my vision, but still a surprise.
Real life,” he says, “is the hardest impression.
It’s always moving so I let it come through.”
“That my friend,” I say, “is the glory of true independence –
Just to do what you do, what you do, what you do.” Yeah.

Your blue might be gray,
Your less might be more.
Your window to the world might be your own front door.
You shiniest day might come in the middle of the night.
That’s just about right.

Well my old friend came down from the mountain.
Without even looking, he found a little truth:
That you can go through life with the greatest intentions,
But you do what you do, what you just got to do, yeah.

Your blue might be gray,
Your less might be more.
Your window to the world might be your own front door.
You shiniest day might come in the middle of the night.

Your blue might be gray,
Your less might be more.
Your window to the world might be your own front door.
You shiniest day might come in the middle of the night.
That’s just about right.
That’s just about right. Yeah.

(Written by Jeff Black)

Sight of the Week: Venus and a Buddy

Our sight of the week was that of Venus and Mars in the skies before sunrise. The brighter Venus appeared above the smaller orb of Mars on clear mornings. The thin crescent moon added to the scene. This is the peak of brightness for Venus. Though somewhat difficult to see since the planets were so low in the sky, the glimpses of shining light amid the deep, dark night sky was most peaceful and encouraging.

Words of the Week: Everyday Scenes

Our words of the week from the Daily Word devotional included inspiration, leadership, healing, blessing, forgiveness, and faithful. As we grow on our faith journey, we learn to accept and give forgiveness. This in turn leads to blessings. The blessings found help to heal the heart, mind, body, and soul. The healing process requires courage, often given to us through the leadership of the Holy Spirit or a significant person or pet in our lives. This leadership takes us to and through moments of inspiration, often starting the process all over again. Each cycle is a learning adventure, often taking us through the days of our weeks with paces we don’t necessarily desire. However, if we keep an open mind, stay flexible, and try our best to accept what does and does not happen through the changes of life, we can find our way.

“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proves, what harm will come to you f you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” –Blaise Pascal

May our days lead us in and through the lessons we need to discover our blessings in life. May we be thankful for every moment, and may we come to see more beauty and less negativity this week.

This Week

This week, this day, this month, this year

So much to see and become as the skies clear

In the cycles of the sun

Before becoming stifled by the clods that run

In and through, around and back

On the way to the journey to be had.

This week, this day, this month, this year

Who is to say what will come to fear

Or bring peace and joy, love and hope,

As Venus displays its light above in heaven’s home

And the birds come calling back again

After the rising and falling of the snows sent.

This week, this day, this month, this year

Come what may in time’s ship steered

Through the winds and the water of the storm

That open up to offer life all the more

If only the mind and heart and soul remain

Open to life, art, and whatever gets hold of the day.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to our own little Lena, who turned one year old on February 26^th. Her determined and energetic spirit keep life interesting and my bank account from getting too large with all her adventures into misadventure. Love you Lena Bean-a!

Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Natural Deltas

Exploring nature's changes by Lisa A. Wisniewski

poetry

Observing Flowers Coming Around

Observing Nature’s Alleluia

Observing Holy Week 2022

Observing Buds and Shoots

Observing Life’s Mnemonics

Observing Spring’s Release

Observing Welcome Spring

Observing a Week of Firsts

Observing Lent Along With Sunset Songs

Observing This Week