31 Days of Story {Day 9} Flamboyant Life

Up, up, up

bare feet

knobby knees

sweaty palms

Hugging the trunk

with my body

like a monkey

clinging to momma's waist.

Each groove and curve familiar

shaped by my growing hands and feet.

Friends on my heels,

I clamber on

Eager to be the first to climb,

to reach the highest branch

where tranquil breezes await

cooling the skin

from the heat

of the Caribbean sun.

Brushing leafy limbs

left and right

as I scramble higher and higher

until I find the place

where the seat

holds my small frame

with perfection.

Reaching for the soft petals

of the native flamboyant

holding their brilliant fragility

with tender affection,

Breathing deeply

sunshine on my face

wind in my hair,

I close my eyes

holding on tightly

afraid that I could fall

but feeling more

like I could fly.

And for a moment

I really do.

After sharing MANY memories that I Remember yesterday, I pulled one from my archives about the joy of climbing my flamboyant tree ... almost EVERY day!

The joys of childhood....hope you enjoy!

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Five Minute Friday: Sheer Delight

We went to go see The Vow for Valentine's Day, my love and I.
It was beautiful, magical, enchanting, even.
I was mesmerized by the level of commitment in their love.

For a week ahead of time, we both could not seem to get Taylor Swift's words "...I was enchanted to meet you..." out of our heads. I would sing it lots. He would ask to hear the song again or maybe quote a line to me. I told him the story behind the song. He listened to the guy's reply back to Taylor, thanking her for the song, telling her he was "...enchanted to me her tooooo..."

What can I say?

We are both a bit romantic at heart? We love a love story.
A silly young romantic connection.
A heartfelt life-long commitment in spite of impossible circumstances.
No matter the story.

The delight.
The wonder.
The enchantment.
In this thing called Love.

Ann said it this week...a thing of amazement...as the Bible says...the way of a man with his maiden.

Sheer delight.



Sooooo today was more like a {6-minute} Friday as I longed to "try" to capture my heart's song in just a few late night minutes. Scary magic. Wondrous trepidation. Heart-stopping intrigue. Excruciating heart break. Perfect harmony of the soul.

Oh love...what can one truly say about that illusive thing.....??

{Sigh}

Okay....so hook me up with your 5 minutes? Even if you do not have a blog, try it in the comments below. I promise you. It is scary FUN, emphasis on fun, fun, fun.

Happy Weekending!

What I'm Into These Days

Listening ... In Christ Alone performed by Adam of Owl City seems to be what I press repeat on the most these days. I cry almost every time.....

Watching ... I love watching a whole series at a time, so I spent time in the late 90's WB shows for awhile -- shows that I missed while I was busy studying in college. As of late, I have watched {and caught up completely, I might add} Downton Abbey, which I can honestly say shot a thrill of excitement through me from the musical intro of the first episode. There is a reason it has been named by Guinness Book of World Records as the "most critically acclaimed English-language television show" for the year 2011, becoming the first British show to be so recognized. And finally and currently, another British drama, Lark Rise to Candleford has captured my senses.

Reading ... I seem to do most of my reading online lately -- blogs and such, but I am finishing up Grace for the Good Girl, and then I plan to dive into The Ragamuffin Gospel. I am a bit late to that party since it was released over 25 years ago, but I think it is the right time for me to be diving in. Fiction is my favorite, and I seem to have a backlog of book waiting for me. I will have to carve out some time for them soon.

Pinning ... I found all of these lovely bucket list items on Pinterest last and had a blast pinning over 150 items. Some I have done and some I haven't. It encouraged me not only to remember thing that I have done but to remember that I have a lot more life left to live!

Eating ... I am pretty well addicted to Multi Grain Pringles. I buy 3-4 cans at a time so that they will last me for awhile. And lest you think I am SO healthy -- Hot Tamales and Twizzlers Filled Twists are, too, a great weakness of mine currently.

Drinking ... I am always drinking Clear American Sparkling Water, preferably in Key Lime, but also in Lemon. I started over a year ago, and I try to drink at least 2 liters a day.

Wearing ... With the variety of part-time jobs I have, doing personal/virtual assistant work, most of them take me either TO someone's home or working at my own home, so there is not always a lot of incentive to "fix" up. However, I try to at least half of the week. So on any given day you will either find me in one of my artistic, random outfit creations, or Arno's T-shirt and yoga pants. LOL!

Feeling ... I have been feeling quite anxious during January. I think between unresolved health issues, pending house closing that keeps getting put off, and my perfectionistic need to have a schedule, even when impractical, I have to learn to give my self a break!

Weather ... The weather has been unseasonably warm around here, which is so nice for the chronic pains to be lessened.

Wanting ... Primarily for our house to close soon...but also to go to 1 or 2 blogging or writing conferences this year. My mom just told me today that she would like to go with me this summer! Eeee! How exciting -- as I get my love of the written word from her. Praying that the right doors, place, timing, finances all work out for these things to happen.

Needing ... to find a balance between my left-sided schedule orientation and my right-sided need to breathe deep and just enjoy

Thinking ... about the future...house, children -- foster & biological, dreams that the Father has for me...for us.

Enjoying ... this season of life -- scary as it may be sometimes, I realize I am walking in the middle of a HUGE step of faith and I am not sure how I got here, but I am finally learning to just enjoy the ride.

What about you? What are you currently up to?

Thanks to my friend, Sarah Styles Bessey, for the inspiration to do this list! She will be joining us here on Valentine's Day during the Relentless Love series....so you will not want to miss that!!

Five Minute Friday: The Colors of My World

Five Minute Friday

Stop.

Drop.

Write.

No major editing.

No big fuss.

Topic :: Color

Ready?

Set?
GO.

My world has always been filled with color

From the golden sunsets over Hispaniola

To the white crest waves of my Eastern US home

From the amber waves of grain in my midwestern college days

To the Rainbow Nation that I married into

I love color.
Red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in this sight.
Seeing the world in the many hues is the advantage of growing up with the title "missionary kid"

But the colors of life are vaster, wider, deeper, even now than my little girl eyes ever knew
The deep dark black and blue waters of pain and sorrow
The radiant yellow and orange sunrises of new love awakening
The deep, warm, & mysterious greens of the inner psyche of the ones around me.

Pause.
Deep Breath.
Sigh.
I'm glad for the God of the multi-colored-dimensional world.

STOP.

My mind is in many deep waters today....all part of the color of being ME...I suppose. {smile}

Join me over at Lisa-Jo's today?

Summer Fun :: Farmer's Market

Summer time is full of exciting activities, fun adventures, & yummy treats. So, I want to share a series of posts of MY SUMMER FUN with YOU! I hope you enjoy and will share your summer memories and days with me too!

One of my very favorite parts of living in the rural farming communities

of the East Coast is fresh fruits and veggies.

From local Farmer's Markets

To random veggie stands where you serve as your own cashier

{gotta love the trust, right?}

And the best part is...well...of course....THE TASTE!

Nothing like that FRESH grown taste!!

Do you buy from a farmer's market in the spring & summer?

Does your community have smaller veggies stands where you can

buy & go by just putting your cash in a jar?

Check out the rest of my posts on my summer fun ::

Summer Fun :: Fun in the Sun
Summer Fun :: Crab Picking

Summer Fun :: State Fair

Summer Fun :: Old Friends

Summer Fun :: The State Fair

Summer time is full of exciting activities, fun adventures, & yummy treats. So, I want to share a series of posts of MY SUMMER FUN with YOU! I hope you enjoy and will share your summer memories and days with me too!

Summer in my neck of the woods just would seem

QUITE complete with going to the state fair.

With all of my travels and living overseas most of my life, I haven't ever really had a lot of time to be invested in the fare that fairs provide, but being from rural farmlands, it reminds me of HOME....well, at least one of my homes, and I just kind love it!

Tractors!

Prize Farm Animals!

Mechanical Bull Rides!

Carnival Games!

And of course.....the FOOD!!

{I forgot to take the pic of our funnel cake & stand so I borrowed one from here and here.}

But the best part is sharing all of this with the one you love!!

Have you gone to a local fair or carnival this summer? What was YOUR favorite part?

Check out the rest of my posts on my summer fun ::

Summer Fun :: Fun in the Sun
Summer Fun :: Crab Picking

Summer Fun :: Old Friends

Summer Fun :: Farmer's Market

Summer Fun :: Old Friends

Summer time is full of exciting activities, fun adventures, & yummy treats. So, I want to share a series of posts of MY SUMMER FUN with YOU! I hope you enjoy and will share your summer memories and days with me too!

One of my favorite parts of summer comes in packages of all shapes and sizes, with various names & backgrounds, hearts, & personalities.

What might that be you may ask??

FRIENDS!!

This summer, I have been blessed to not only spend time

with 1 of my old college pals

...not merely 2...

...but 3!!

Catching up with their dreams & accomplishments, their heartaches & sorrows; reminiscing about old memories and making new ones to carry in our hearts until we see each other again; meeting and/or learning about their special someone and their littles -- there is just NOTHING like it!!

I wrote a post about this after the first visit, but I realized that it is SUCH a cherished part of my summer that I want to share it here in my summer fun.

Have you been able to catch up with old friends or far away family this summer?

Who and what was your favorite part?

Check out the rest of my posts on my summer fun ::

Summer Fun :: Fun in the Sun
Summer Fun :: Crab Picking

Summer Fun :: State Fair

Summer Fun :: Farmer's Market