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I started my blog in 2004. Many of the original readers and commenters are homeschool mothers.
Family and homeschoolers.
(Mainly from The Well Trained Mind boards)
Then Ree, the Pioneer Woman, also a homeschooler, joined the blogging world and invited me to write for her website. (I was inspired to pick up my big girl camera from her photos and then in turn she liked my photos and asked me to write photo tutorials.) Many more people came along because of Ree.
Meeting all of you thru the years has been the best part of blogging for me.
The covid years were a black hole of worry and boredom, loneliness, confusion and anger.
My blogging mojo was kaput.
As I start making a few piles of good,
I've tried to blog a little more.
I'm dancing in the kitchen every day.
I'm not watching television and have even cut down drastically on political youtube watching.
I do watch Jeopardy with Patrick every evening.
I have become a big LA Angels fan because of Shohei Ohtani and watch every game.
I watch Kdramas all the time.
(big blog post about Kdramas to come)
and I have fun on Instagram finding funny and touching stories to share.
How does this all go together with the thoughtful poem at the beginning of this post?
Di Wheeler sent it to me.
Many of you will know her and her name.
But I thought not everyone will.
We became friends because of this blog.
We know what will touch one another's hearts.
And because it touched ours (mine and Di's)
I know it will mean something to many of you, too.
The poem is a continuation on the theme of suffering.
Those great sorrows we all must endure.
“Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.”
~Victor Hugo
Endure we must and endure we do with the help of God and loved ones and encouraging words shared with long time friends made in the strangest of ways...
This is my community
I don't really have another.
Sorrows become a part of you,
but I think the sweetness of kinship shared between beloved family and friends most definitely becomes a part of you also.
These joys are the beauty of enduring.
Encourage one another,
Donna
I am so grateful for you always reminding me of the BEAUTY of enduring.
ReplyDeleteLove you!
Di
P.S. I highly recommend following David Gate, poet extraordinaire, on IG. He often writes what is already singing in my soul.
Will do. Love you right back, Di!
DeleteYes to David Gate! Marvelous.
DeleteQuiet Life felt like home for me. For years. And still today feels like a home-going when I stop by. I'm going to picture you dancing in the kitchen when I'm feeling old and gray. The poem is almost transcendent. That might not be the perfect word but it's the one that popped out. And the Victor Hugo quote? Fresh goosebumps every time I run across it.
ReplyDeleteI tell Emma what songs I am dancing to and she says, how do you dance to that?? I say. Step touch. Step touch. It feels so good to be moving.
DeleteBeautiful poems, encouraging words - thank you, Donna!
ReplyDeleteYou know the QLCS was full of mentors for me.. and I called you Pastor for the way you drew us together and shepherded us! When it all moved to social media, I felt the loss deeply, and am so grateful to see you dipping your toe back in these much-more-manageable-and-less-neurotic waters. There is peace to be found. And I'm so proud of you for stepping away from the political stuff. It's so easy for it to sneak in and steal our hours, our joys, our soul... dancing in the kitchen is a much better option.
ReplyDeletelove you! mean it!
Stephie
Oh Stephie. Thank you for the lovely and encouraging words. Dancing has lifted my spirits as has blogging again with a clear focus: Add to the Beauty. The empty nest has been a big challenge for me and I'm trying to discover what I love besides my children. ha. So far it's playing music really loud and feeling it deep down and you guys. Truly.
DeleteI have specific memories of holding my newborn aderyn while sitting at the desk and scrolling through the blog, innocuously asking about TVP and suddenly I had a tribe of moms helping me learn how to feed my family. :) You all carried me through my mom’s death, drama with my kids, multiple moves… and that little baby aderyn just graduated from high school and is about to LEAVE ME… ;) So it’s a lovely time for me personally to see so many beloveds here again. God has been so, so good. Thank you for pointing us toward the beauty again and again and again, Donna. 💜 -Steph
ReplyDeleteI’m so happy to see you’re posting again, I’ve missed you! I have followed you for many years and I love the love that radiates from you, your words, photos … always thoughtful in looking for the good, showing kindness and understanding, all while being ‘real’, knowing life is imperfect and exemplifying strength and compassion through challenges. If I may add a poem that resonates with me …
ReplyDeleteThe Lifeline by Pádraig Ó Tauma
Here is what I know
When that bell tolls again
I need to go and make something
Anything
A poem, a pie, a terrible scarf with my terrible knitting
I need to write a letter, remind myself of any little lifeline around me
When death sounds I forget most of what I learnt before
I go below
I compare my echoes with other peoples happiness
I carve that hole in my chest again, pull out all my organs once again
Wonder if they’ll ever work again
Stuff them back in again
Begin
Again
He is such a beautiful poet and wonderful man! He has several books and a podcast, Poetry Unbound, and can also be found on the podcast On Being.
~Ceallaigh ❤️
Thank you so very much for sharing, Ceallaigh, and for the really kind words. Begin Again. How perfect.
DeleteSo beautiful, Donna! I have followed your blog since the "Ree Drummond" days (I don't follow her anymore), but your soft heart always resonated with me. Thank you for your kind and thoughtful quotes, photos, words and wonderings. And, it's nice to see you back blogging again! Whether you realize it or not, you do make a difference in the world. Thanks for being here. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the very dear comment.
DeleteDonna, I have no idea when or how I found you but it has been YEARS. I am next door in Minnesota. :o)
ReplyDeleteOur beloved Mom died suddenly last August. I am going to print these words for my family. The loss still is so crushing for so many of us (big family).
Anyway, I always look for you. You are a tremendous encouragement to your corner of the 'net. Thank you. God bless you.