strength – Rivers Renewed

Emma on the Border

The French cuisine was exquisite along the border. Emma reached for her steak knife, cutting deeply

into the honey glazed chicken, as she was bathed in the soft glow of candlelight in a quiet corner of the café. The meal reminded her of a certain general who always wanted her, honey glazed

The plan worked.

show ‘em a little leg, have him caught in a web of a beautiful seduction, and before he could be her champion… she called forth the wolves,

he learned his deadly mistake as he quivered on the marble steps. She had towered over him

another Nazi leader decimated,

eliminated,

then fertilizing the moss covered soil that would one day carry Allied tanks.

Emma poured herself another glass of wine, smiling sardonically, looking at her reflection in the shine of her steak knife. Then she cut deeply again into the honey glazed chicken, while a wolf howled in the distance.

She would never be the victim of anyone.

It was 1941. Or was it?

Early Summer

I hid my heart in the fragrance of early summer

never looking any further,

because I was stunned

by her offering of healing,

I stood

while wholeness in the wind

enfolded me.

Thankful for Spring

I’m so thankful for the way spring fills us,

the way God intended

making us alive again,

lifting us, strengthening our hearts,

moving us forward.

Yes, I’m so thankful for spring, and for you my readers. You’re wonderful! Thank you also for your patience as we practice self-care. I know it should be easy to do, but it’s not.

When I practice self-care I have to put things aside. Which means I’ve been here less often than I would like to be. This is new for me. I sign on less often and post less often.

Please remember that I don’t blog with my phone! Thank you for your patience as I answer your messages. I’m very grateful for your comments.

Thank you so much for reading!

Happy International Women’s Day!

Today, like many around the world I’m celebrating International Women’s Day! We are celebrating the achievements of women.

And you know what? I’m ready for some women leaders to govern our world. Wars and dictators would be far fewer, I’m convinced of that!

Imagine a world of gender equality. You think we have that in the U.S.? Nope, we don’t. And parts of the world are much worse. So it’s time, past time to do some lifting up.

Celebrate women today.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Looking into the Winter Sky

Looking into the winter sky brings a quiet to my mind,

a softer peace to my spirit, while my wordflow

increases, within rivers

of strength.

There is Joy in the Journey

There is joy in the journey and strength for the asking,

if we know

if we truly believe,

we are loved.

Walk in the knowledge you are loved today.

The Peace Within

There are times we struggle, seeking to understand

the reasons

why,

when what we truly need

is to find within

the peace

we have already been given,

and the strength

that goes beyond our selves.

Blogging Encouragement

How can we blog effectively in this social media driven world we live in? Do we need a bunch of new apps on our phone? Not really!

Be who you are, and continue to create the wonderful poetry, fiction, quotes, photographs, and art you do every day so beautifully!

And here are a few tips that I’ve learned:

Be there.

One of the most important things we can do to improve the health of our blogs is to visit other bloggers. If all you are doing is posting, that will not work out very well. Think of blogging as a community and we need to visit one another.

I had a college professor once that said 90% of life is just showing up. It’s that way with the blogging community as well.

Practice your craft.

Whatever you do in an excellent way…..give it your best! Write your best possible article or reach for that camera or drawing pencils and paints. Work on your projects and then don’t hold back!

You not only have a gift to share – you are the gift!

Be positive.

Yes, we all get down (even me!) but don’t live there. Offer hope and encouragement in your posts. Tell the world about the beauty and power of love.

This also includes leaving some comments to encourage others.

And enjoy yourselves!

Thank you so much for reading!

Peace.

Emma and the Deep Red

As Emma stared at the horizon, her long dark hair flew behind her in the wind. This particular wind was playful tonight, even adventurous. She smiled. She had known a seducing wind before.

The deep red of the sunset made her think of him. His blood running strong in his veins. How in healing the wolf she was made whole. There would be no more hiding for her.

She allowed the richness, the power of the sunset to penetrate her very being, finally bursting deep with her soul. She was made new once more. Yet she staggered and nearly fell.

Extending her wings fully and even beyond, she took one step into the air and the red filled her…. lifted her so completely she flew, mastering the gusts of air. She reached for the wildness of it.

Captured the essence of it.

She would run with the wolves to be with the one she loved, but she would always own this wind…..she was certain of it now.

With a Trans Woman at the Vegan Place

She rushed in front of him to pull the door handle when they walked up to the restaurant. She opened the door saying, “This way sir!”. When she laughed her head went back, and he noticed she really did look like a woman when she did that. All he could think of to say was, “Funny lady…” They both smiled.

Once they were inside though the staring began. He had been going there for 2 years and had never seen anything like it. When they found a table, a young blondish woman walked over setting 2 menus on the table. She said nothing and walked away. And she was not smiling. The two of them looked at each other.

They were on a first name basis now, so she said, “Nathan what do you want from me?” He looked at her bewildered, saying nothing. “Nobody is nice to a Trans woman unless they want something…..so what do you want….? Her raised eyebrow told him more than her words.

“Oh God!” was all he could think of to say. “You think that??” He was stunned and hurt by her words. “I don’t want anything!” Ok that came out too loud. A couple of people turned to look at him. “Ally why would you think something like that?” She was quiet but her eyebrow lowered.

The same blond waitress came out to take their order a short time later, but she said nothing. She simply stood there silently, with a disgusted look on her face, holding her notepad and pencil. They did place their order and he was about to say something else when the waitress walked away silently.

Ok now he was hot. Ally could see it coming, and cautioned him, “Nathan don’t!” Too late. He pushed his chair back, stood up and declaring loudly said, “Hey wait a minute! Who do you think you are??” “Nathan please! Sit down!” Ally was beginning to panic while the whole restaurant was quietly watching them….” Yet he continued, “You can’t treat people that way!”

To be continued later today.

Category: strength