Emotional – Page 2 – Woman Warrior

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What Am I Aiming For?

Posted on September 11, 2024September 12, 2024 by deannagreensandgardenart

My husband and I recently had a visit with a nephew, his lovely wife, and their adorable 3-month-old baby girl. Being with this young family brings us back three or four decades, when we each were up in the middle of night for diaper changes, feedings and then, trying to catch a few ZZZ’s during the baby’s daytime naps. Nothing compares to the joys of those cuddles in the rocking chair.

“There is a large measure of joy in ordinary moments ” ~ Susan Gale Wickes

I feel I rushed those moments that turned into years while looking for the next season and stages of life. Isn’t it living in the present moment that is most essential? Watching the birds feed and protect their young warms my heart. Time spent in nature with the trees, rivers, beach, and meadows of wildflowers calms any qualms. Writing poems and short stories keep me balanced along with reading Holy Scriptures and inspirational words.

The feeling of regret is uncomfortable; therefore, I have chosen to slow down a whole lot in this season of my life. With my partial retirement, I am shifting to a lower gear. I don’t want to stop discovering and living a full life. My energy is spent on worthy endeavors. Lifelong learning, embracing newness, intimacy with my relationships, thankfulness, and giving to others continue to be my aim. What do you aim for in this season of your life? If need be, start all over again.

“If you knew that hope and despair were paths to the same destination, which would you choose?” ~ Robert Breault

barrier, book, boundary, change, feelings, God, heart, Holy Spirit, hurt, listen, memoir, path, prayer, quote, rejection, scripture, season, spirit, Spiritual, time, write

A Turned-Up Hand

Posted on August 17, 2024August 17, 2024 by deannagreensandgardenart

“There is a time and place for everything“ an old saying goes probably based on the holy scripture in Ecclesiastes. I know it is not what you or I want to hear after a turned-up hand shows up in the face. I have had plenty of turned-up hands, rejections, and boundaries set lately. But a boundary set gives me permission to thrive and live within the boundaries God has given me.

“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens …” Ecclesiastes 3:1

For the time being I have laid aside teaching culinary classes. The continuing education courses at the local community college have made too many changes I am comfortable with. Hence, the boundary set, and I take heed to. I will and have taken opportunities to teach culinary and writing-related workshops to young adults and adults. I am open to more venues to share my love of cooking and writing. In the meantime, God has prepared a time space whereas I can be more available at the senior center. Besides being a culinary professional, I have taken on more training and duties with regards to inventory and ordering at this season.

“I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” ~ Flannery O’Connor

I have completed the first draft of my memoir. I have two readers combing through proofreading and making edit suggestions. The next steps are a professional editor, then the publisher. I have folks in mind for each of those roles for my first full-length book. There may be a hand turned-up in the process, but those brakes are a barrier that leads me to something better. In the meantime, I completed a 49 haiku challenge, seven haikus written for seven days. It was very therapeutic, and I was able to see my thought and feeling process after a difficult week. Writing does that for me. A green light means “go for it”! I have taken the opportunity to have my haikus printed into a mini book entitled Balancing The Seesaw.

Prayer was a very significant part of my difficult week, too. Relationships hurt sometimes. I was able to give my feelings of rejection to our God, who “knows when I sit and stand … understands my thoughts from afar” as Psalms 139:2 tells me. Are you listening to your own comfort zone? What stop sign have you encountered? What has God laid on your heart? What new path is the Spirit directing you to? There is a season for everything.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time for hate,
a time for war, and a time for peace.
~Ecclesiastes 3: 1 – 8

bible, comfort, faith, God, provision, scripture, Spiritual, trust, victory

Where Is My Trust?

Posted on June 21, 2024 by deannagreensandgardenart

Trust is a big word, because it induces big faith with big action. While I read the Word of God, Psalms says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord, our God.” Chariots and horses are not what most of us deal with in our everyday lives. But what or who do you put trust in for protection, comfort, and provision as you battle everyday life? Our talents, intellect, job, bank account, personality, heritage, health, and people we associate with can all change at any moment’s notice. Another version of this Bible verse says it like this: “Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the Lord our God.” What or who do you take pride in?

“Some people trust the power of chariots or horses, but we trust you, Lord God.”
~ Psalm 20:7 CEV

Here is a Pray The Word podcast where pastor and author David Platt goes into depth about this scripture. Platt summarizes this Bible verse, “our God is the only one who is worthy of all of our trust, all of our hopes, all of our plans, all of our dreams can be trusted with God. All of our lives, our family, our work, everything we have, everything we are, we can trust God with them.” Trust in our God, who is worthy of trust.

“A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the Lord.”
~ Proverbs 21:31

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In The Pink Reflections

Posted on May 20, 2024 by deannagreensandgardenart

These past few days have been a mixture of memories and enlightenment as I continue to write my memoir. Original poems, short stories, and recipes collected in one place. I am thankful and humbled by all the experiences I have lived with some incredible people. My Father God has blessed me beyond measure. Surely, I am having in the pink reflections.

“Pink is a beautiful color, because it is one of the colors that the sun makes at twilight and in the dawns.”
~ C. Joybell C.

Pinks, purples, fuchsia, and orange melt the evening skies this month. Fuchsia painted the night sky when the Northern lights came to us on May 5. Varied shades of pink roses, peonies, and wildflowers bring color to the yards, fields, windowsills, baskets, and vases. The warm weather season’s clothing and linens shout pink, the color between red’s passion and white’s purity. My heart.

My favorite is the brightest pink color, fuchsia. It evokes feelings of happiness, excitement, romance, maturity, assurance, acceptance, safety, self-confidence, and achievement. It’s warm red characteristics can have a comforting effect, promotes relaxation, intuition, and reflection. Fuchsia represents femininity, creativity, luxury, royalty and wealth. All provisions from God.

authority, believe, faith, God, love, nostalgia, quote, Spiritual

Nostalgia

Posted on February 13, 2024February 13, 2024 by deannagreensandgardenart

This week bring some nostalgia to your Valentine’s Day. A little goes a long way. Wear red or pink. Type a love letter. Gift a bouquet of flowers. Bake some cookies to share. Give an old-fashioned Valentine card. No sweetheart to spoil? How about the friends in your life, or someone who needs a friend? Bring lunch to your elderly neighbor. Your sweetheart has not been so sweet lately? Be the example. And pray for him or her. Quoting A.W. Tozer, “While it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who has not surrendered His authority.” With faith, love and believe.

"Most of all, have a true love for each other. Love covers many sins." 
~ 1 Peter 4:8 NLV

age, body, comfort, death, eyes, Family, God, grandparent, health, heaven, Jesus, life, Physical, scripture, spirit, Spiritual, words

Our Bodies Wither

Posted on January 21, 2024 by deannagreensandgardenart

As I age I am more aware of the limitations of my own body. I was never an accomplished athlete, although I played a mean game of tetherball as a kid as well as softball in my youth into my middle adult years. I have been fortunate with fairly good health. So many do not have this. These past few years I also have been made aware of death. Another family member has passed away, not to return to this earthly life but pass onto his heavenly body. Thank God for the eternal salvation he and we have in Christ Jesus!

Aging

Aging came with hard work and active play.

Hands in the dirt, body stooped downward

to grow the trees and flowers to beauty full array.

Age spots, stretch marks, and belly rolls came

with each sunburn, baby, and those homemade recipes.

Hopefully aging with grace into this older woman I became.

These wrinkles do not melt away with the sun.

Unlike the layers of ice on the window

that drip, drip with the warmth of the sun.

Somehow those suntans subtract, then add age.

Camouflaged with lotions and makeup,

those wrinkles became more defined with age.

A gray here and there in my already multi-colored hair.

My first streak of silver looked intentional,

But one streak turned into more streaks to wear.

Bald patches, seasons of stress replaced with fun.

Hair loss eventually replaced with more white,

now volumes pulled up into a messy grandma’s bun.

Waking up in the morning it is harder to move.

House cleaning and plant tending chores

challenge this aging body to keep a groove.

That arthritis causes the joints to painfully inflame.

The irony is to keep moving those joints,

alternatively, idleness will be the ultimate blame.

The eyes grow dimmer, reading glasses to aid.

Fashion aware by the style and color of the lens’ frame

with these circling back around with a 40-year cycle made.

“Grandma glasses”, “grandma jeans”, “grandma bun”, they say.

What does it matter, I learn to comfort dress,

live how I want, with what I want, and with whom I may.

Memories come and go with each passing day.

Past photos capture and poems reflect,

some words said and not said are regrets today.

Other words remembered bringing warmth to the heart.

Like “I love you”, “I do”, “forgive me”, “I forgive you”,

and the wordless, kind gestures play a lasting part.

With you by my side come what may.

We will weather the threatening storms together

even to your last breath and my last day.

No matter who passes on first, the aging body will have its last word.

That word, the hardest will be saying “goodbye”,

Although our ageless spirits live on as promised by God’s word.

Anna Gall ~ January 21, 2024

"O death, where then your victory? Where then your sting? For sin—the sting that causes death—will all be gone; and the law, which reveals our sins, will no longer be our judge. How we thank God for all of this! It is He who makes us victorious through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
~ 1 Corinthians 15:55 - 57

Alice Morse Earle, authors, change, church, Emotional, gift, God, Gretchen Rubin, Jesus, listen, love, prayer, present, quote, Spiritual, thankful, well, words

One Word For This Year

Posted on January 14, 2024January 14, 2024 by deannagreensandgardenart

Years ago I would begin the new year with writing down a few resolutions, a list of goals to accomplish. I have curbed this down, so life’s goals can be more focused and obtainable. A couple of years ago I read a suggestion from author Gretchen Rubin. Think of one word to summarize your new year’s resolution(s). For example, this year Gretchen has chosen “revisit”. Her goals and actions in 2024 will reflect “revisit”. For me the word for this year is “present”. To coincide with the 7-dimensions of wellness model I believe in, for 2024 I have in mind to be “present” in the spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, social, environmental, and occupational aspects of my life.

The first thought to the word “present” is to be “present moment”. That could fall into every aspect of my life, but I feel it most pertains to my spiritual life. Prayer, talking to God and being present with God throughout my day, every day, every moment. A relationship is a 2-way street, so listening to God every moment of every day throughout my day most importantly. ”Present day” is an extension of “present moment”. It is living each day like it is a present. “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why we call it ‘The Present’,” a saying attributed to Alice Morse Earle, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bil Keane, and A.A. Milne. Treat each day as a gift. Giving thanks to God for this day He has gifted me with. Like the awesome sunrise He gave me this morning as I sat on the couch looking out the front window covered with ice and snow.

"This is the day which the Lord has made;
 Let’s rejoice and be glad in it." ~ Psalms 118:24 NASB

It is Sunday today. With the frigid subzero temperatures and my severe allergy to the cold, my husband and I chose to stay home and participate with the televised Mass from our home parish St. Charles Borromeo. So happy we chose to be present in this worship time and to hear the homily even if via online. This homily is one of the most compassionate messages to address nontraditional marriage. The truth is the infinite value God has placed on each and every human being at the price of the blood of Jesus Christ. Then charity shown by sharing and acting on this message of infinite value, and the change that takes place in each of us when meeting our Savior.

I will stop here for today. To be continued in future posts a reflection on the word “present” related to the other aspects of life. What’s your one word for this year?

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Willingness and Readiness

Posted on December 11, 2023 by deannagreensandgardenart

“Prepare for God’s arrival!
Make the road straight and smooth,
    a highway fit for our God."
 ~ Isaiah 40:3 The Message version

Christmas Day is two weeks away. Are you prepared in your heart? Am I prepared in my heart? All the commercialism can get me off track. Even going to church this past Sunday white twinkle lights at the altar are blinking to catch attention. Has the commercialism invaded the church sanctuary, too? Preparing for Jesus is a heart matter.

This craziness this world is in can have our heads spinning and our hearts aching. The hatred, wars, and unrest are disturbing, distracting from what matters. The love of God is there for each of us to embrace. Hatred has to stop! We think we arrive with our religious views, rituals, and teachings. But what is in each heart of man, woman, and child?

"As John preached he said, 'The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will change your life. I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out.'"
~ Mark 1:8 The Message version

God, change me from the inside out. Help me to be an instrument of Your peace, Your love, and Your purposes. Give me courage and strength to carry out Your will today, tomorrow, and always.

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One Big Chore, One Big Love

Posted on November 4, 2023 by deannagreensandgardenart

Life has become one big chore once again. Busyness and obligations have taken over my calendar and mindset. I dislike it when I allow these to take over my gratefulness and joy in life. Little time to think about what I want to think about and do what I want to do. Like reading, writing, and creating, the introvert’s dream.

This busy season too shall pass as other seasons have and will do. Besides carving out the space and time for a few days of reprieve, it is taking moments during these pressing everyday things to thank God for the breath I breathe, the food I eat, warm bed to sleep in, and loved ones to care for. I count it a blessing to be a part of the lives of many family members that include my husband, children and their spouses, grandchildren, a parent still with us, and a big extended family. Then there are my friends, co-workers, and neighbors. I feel I neglect so many. One day at time, sweet Jesus. Allow time for a tea with my granddaughter, hug and cuddle my grandbaby, party with the young ones, or an early morning breakfast at the neighborhood diner with my love. Guide my tongue to speak words at the apt time.

“Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken at the right time.”
Proverbs 25:11

Tyler Childers does a wonderful rendition of Space and Time, a song original to S. G. Goodman. The lyrics so eloquent and apropos. My heart is singing again …

I never wanna leave this world
Without sayin’, “I love you”
Without sayin’ what you mean to me
You know you make me happy
Oh, when we, share this space and time
Want you to know you shape this heart of mine
And I never wanna leave this world, oh
Without sayin’, “I love you”
Oh, and out in the woods
This picture is clear to me
I owe my life, to even my enemies
The ones who have loved me
The ones who have tried
Thеir grips on my heart
And their grips on my mind
The strangеr I pass, my momma, brothers
Friends and my father
They’re God undercover
I’m tellin’ you now
In case I must go
Want you to know
I never wanna leave this world
Without sayin’, “I love you”
Without sayin’ what you mean to me
You know you make me happy
Oh, when we, share this space and time
Want you to know you shape this heart of mine
And I never wanna leave this world, oh
Without sayin’, “I love you”

death, differences, gift, God, Jesus, language, love, neighbor, People, Physical, prayer, scripture, sick, time, words

Above All

Posted on October 20, 2023 by deannagreensandgardenart

The word “love” is interwoven in God’s Holy Scriptures approximately 310 times, depending on which version you read. It would be remised to ignore the importance God places on love. Of course, the most referenced is 1 Corinthians 13, “Love is patient, love is kind … love endures all things”. Jesus’ love is the most perfect.

Why do we have a difficult time feeling love towards others or showing acts of love? Or in the reverse, accepting others’ love towards oneself? Some of it is just recognizing the differences between people. A person’s love language can be words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and/or physical touch. Yours might be different than your neighbor’s, spouse’s, sibling’s, parent’s, co-worker’s. Sometimes we don’t give love because we are wrapped up in our own life, being selfish with our time, and don’t want to be inconvenienced. It may be envy or arrogance that stands in the way. Or is it you have been hurt by someone on multiple occasions? You do not want to be set-up again for offense or disappointment another time. Is that person incapable of receiving love? Pray for God to reach them.

Some things are meant to be left undone, so that others God has appointed can carry the torch to the finish line. But does it take sickness and death to know that some things like love are meant to be for now, forever, and always?