Nostalgic Nursing Refections on Life

Spiritual Transitions, like physical change, are essential threads that together weave the fabric of life. When change happens a transition is coupled to it... A baby is born...people become parents... The child grows... a lively home becomes an empty nest... The physical body ceases to function... the spirit is set free... The spirit transitions from a world of man... Shedding Human Nature... in exchange for a celestial life of everlasting love, comfort and understanding. So what does it mean to live a "good" life???? Every man and woman must travel from point "A" (birth) to point "B" (death)... There are NO exceptions to this math equation. God given "free will" allows EVERY person to choose their path from "A" to "B". Choosing the "right" path through life is difficult... Staying on the "right" path throughout life is even harder. Exceptional people not only choose the "right" path and strive e...

Everything Changes… Change is Life in Forward Motion… I embrace life’s changes… but sometimes I grieve the loss related to change. Seasons Change…the hue of the Autumn Leaves is breathtaking… the blank canvas of Winter allows for a fresh Spring start… and Summer brings the family together for backyard barbeques and adventurous vacations. Close relationships can become “loose” over time, situations and distance. Loved ones supplement the quality of the world we live in…then die leaving “holes” that cannot be filled. Seeds become plants that produce flowers and fruit then shrivel and turn brown. Quaint towns become urban driving nightmares. Weekly family dinners evolve into occasional telephone calls and yearly visits. Warm welcomes change to respectfully correct interactions and the cool feeling that the “Connection” has been lost. Nostalgic family homesteads become a battle of property rights… destroying the very principles that the family was built on. Innocence Matures to Understandi...

By nature I have been fashioned as a caretaker. I truly believe that God never makes"junk", so I do my best to invest in, and take care of Gods creations. My daughter's can confirm that on one car ride I hit a chipmunk... I was emotionally devastated... I stopped the car got out and tried to administer first aid/ CPR to one of God's littlest creatures... when that didn't work I put him in the car and took him to my grandmother... well because she knew how to fix everything... when we reached her house and presented her with my dilemma she asked me if I were crazy???? She said it was in good spirit that I tried... but now I needed to let nature take its course... let it go...and so I did. That being said , I have a horrible confession that still haunts my adult mind... I was a girl of about 3 to 4 years old... I had been staying at my grandparent's country farm... the farm was filled with animals of all kinds... including many, many barn cats. One of the barn c...

Well, it is almost 11:40pm... I am the only one awake... can't sleep. My mind is drawn to my Aunt Jackie. Age-wise she could be my older sister, we are only about 10 years apart. A few years back we would have an occasional "night out with the girls", I was forbidden to call her "Aunt" Jackie on those fun occasions . As a young girl I looked up to her... I have always believed her to be one of the most beautiful females that I know. One particular thing that stays with me is a bandanna bikini she made and wore well... boy was she something to a young impressionable girl... but you know what, she may or may not still sport the bandanna bikini but she still makes an impression on those she touches. She is a survivor... she has seen some challenging times in life and has persevered through it all. She emits a kind gentle-natured spirit that is nice to be around. My heart is heavy as I learn of Aunt Jackie's recent life challenges. I feel the weight of the h...

Strong, Honest, Giving, Kind, Hard-working, Committed, Loving, Insightful, Peaceful, Family-oriented, Funny, Resourceful, Flexible, Understanding, Easy-to-talk-to, are just some of the adjectives that describe this remarkable woman. She has been a pillar in my life and in our family since early childhood... many times she was "the glue" that held us together. She is modest, never boastful, and always lends a hand to anyone in need. I thank God that she came in to our lives! I remember introducing her to our horse "Patches" and showing her how to feed him... I remember thinking how Cool she was on her motorcycle... I have always enjoyed sharing thoughts, feelings and life in general with her... she is an excellent listener who truly cares. She is a therapeutic painter who has experienced a fair share of "color" throughout this life... I have been blessed to have her in my life! I really do think the world of her:-)

Life has been a whirlwind of activity, work, travel, family events and motion. While I embrace life in forward motion it is a special jewel when a moment of calm presents itself. So many people are caught in a whirlwind of, "life in motion" these days... As I talk with friends and family members my prayer list grows ever longer and my spirit can struggle to "focus on the positive"... In my heart I truly believe that focusing on the positive and working through the challenges is the best way to navigate this life. I have so very much that I am grateful for... so many blessings... God will help manage the rest:-)

My Dad has played a big role in adding "color" to my "not-so-monochromatic" life! There have been times that our passionate personalities "lit up the sky" with the fireworks sparked by our differing mindsets... But there is only one person on this planet that I learned to dance with on the tops of his feet... One person who inspired my love of antiques, unique collectibles, auctions, yard sales, recycling , remodeling, refashioning, reusing and reinventing what is old and making it new again. I planted my first tree with him... I rode my first horse with him... I depended on him to kill the bugs I was soo afraid of when I was only 2... I learned to change car oil with him... I learned how to use power tools from him... I went "smelt fishing" once in my life, in the middle of the night, with him... I will never forget how he saved my injured dog (Jodie) and warmed my young heart... I will always remember how upset and sad he was when as young chi...