Archive for the 'Joy' Category

Finding Daheim

For my 15th birthday, my  mother’s sister (Tänte Ilse) gave me a collection of some favorite poetry handwritten into a yellow, leather bound journal. Some poems are in English, others in German (Tänte Ilse’s native language). This journal is one of my most treasured possessions because there is so much love in each carefully printed word. 

A German poem called, “Daheim” is one of my favorites. Daheim is a tricky word to translate, but essentially, it means “home” as in homeland, or the place that lives in your heart as home. 

Carefully taped on the page opposite this poem is a folded slip of paper with a pressed flower and one simple phrase, “Daheim bin ich gewesen.” (I’ve been at home.) Tänte Ilse… Continue reading

Published on Thursday August 25, 2011 in Blogs and Joy. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Beauty Queen

Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.”  ~ A.A. Milne

The garden in the front of our house is mostly perennials, but every year we plant some annuals here and there for color. This year, we splashed the garden with happy snapdragons and bright pink petunias. It was only after we finished planting that we saw a bare spot where one of our coreopsis plants was mysteriously missing. Maybe it died over the winter and was pulled during spring cleanup, but we somehow missed the obvious bare spot when planting the annuals.

A few weeks later, James and I noticed tufts of fringy green leaves sprouting in the bare spot. It didn’t look… Continue reading

Published on Thursday July 21, 2011 in Blogs and Joy. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Are We Having Fun Yet?

On Saturday, I woke up wanting to have fun. James and I had no specific plans for the day, so I thought, my intention is to have fun doing whatever we do!

I sat down at the computer and sent out this tweet.

“Today’s Intention: Create fun out of thin air. ღ˚•* ♥˚˚✰˚˛★* Look out world!”

I even posted this quote on the Strong & Wise Fan Page: “In the beginning it was fun. In the end, it was all for fun. And in between is where it tickles most.” ~ Oaqui ~ Go find some giggles today! :-D

Soooo the rest of the day was fun right? Not exactly.

Shortly after I “tweeted” I received a text from a friend who was sitting… Continue reading

Published on Tuesday July 12, 2011 in Blogs and Joy. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

The Buddy System

I’ve always believed in the power of words. Now I have proof that putting thoughts into spoken word somehow sets unseen forces into motion. You see, a few weeks ago, my mother and I conjured up a dog. No enchanted potions, or mystical spells were used, just one magical word: buddy.

While working on a project together, my mother and I took a break for lunch. We were well into the post meal lingering (part of any good lunch), when my mom began thinking out loud.

“I guess it’s time for Misha to go visit his family again.”

Misha is my mom’s dog. He’s a gorgeous, fluffy white Spitz that only plays with other dogs. All efforts by my mom and stepdad to get Misha to play… Continue reading

Published on Tuesday August 24, 2010 in Joy, Serendipity and Writings. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Mr. Halloween

On a cool, mid-October Monday, a little boy’s voice pierced the early morning quiet.

“What’s that Grand Pop?”

I peered out of my bedroom window and saw a small boy and a gray haired man standing across the street. Their walk to school had been halted by curiosity. The boy pointed at a plastic tarp hanging from a wooden frame in my neighbor’s driveway.

“Oh,” the grandfather explained matter-of-factly, “that’s Halloween.”

The boy studied the thick, dark plastic moving with the breeze and exclaimed, “Oh yeah! The fun house!”

High-pitched tales of last Halloween at “the fun house” resounded down the street as they continued on their way. The grandfather’s response echoed in my mind.

“That’s Halloween.”

“It’s that simple”, I thought, “Bob’s… Continue reading

Published on Tuesday August 24, 2010 in Joy, Parenting and Writings. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Just Like The Ones I Used To Know…

In uncertain times, it’s natural to yearn for simpler days and comforting traditions. This year, the holiday season has an added dimension of nostalgia.

Let me explain.

Turn back the clock to a few decades ago, where a bunch of high-energy nursing students have gathered inside a hospital lobby to celebrate the beginning of Christmas break with some impromptu caroling. They mill around in last minute costumes made from red, green and gold garland, silver tinsel as well as assorted other decorations that, only moments before, had hung on the walls of their dorm.

The group strolled through hospital hallways, singing carols and delighting hospital staff, patients and visitors with their unbridled enthusiasm and outrageous garb.

When the flock of “human Christmas trees” reached a patient… Continue reading

Published on Tuesday August 24, 2010 in Joy and Writings. 0 Comments Tags: , , .