Rarely do I want to post something for you to listen to, but tonight, I can’t get away from the idea. Our Worship was so good today, and the sermon felt like such an honest call to God’s people.
If you need a good listen, I invite you to click on the link and listen in (Starting at 19:00). I hope it speaks to your heart as well! ❤️ trish
Today, I enjoyed the day with my niece and her fiance. It was a combined housewarming and engagement party. Olivia is creative in her decor, and so much of her style is about creating and speaking to her heart in beautiful ways.
Olivia works remotely from home and has this curtain in her window…
The day you plant the seed…is not the day you eat the fruit.
I find this to be such a hopeful and encouraging phrase. It reminds me never to stop planting and never to stop anticipating the harvest of seeds planted. It is about being faithful in the work and patient in the waiting. As I grow older, I believe those may be the two areas in which I have learned the most valuable lessons: faithful in the work and patience in the waiting!
I wonder where you have planted seeds and celebrated the fruits. It is my hope you never stop planting! Fresh fruits make the world a better place! ❤️ trish
At the end of each day, I reflect with gratitude on what I could experience and the people I could spend time with. Sometimes, there are specifics; other times, there is an overall sense of peace. Some days, gratitude comes easier than others.
Today was a more difficult day for me. My heart is tender as the anniversary of my Dad’s death (5/21) approaches. I don’t always have it on my mind, but it seems to be in my body’s memory.
I am feeling emotions that come in waves,
and I am choosing today to name them as something I am grateful for. I remember in my early 20s when I felt numb to my heart, and I prayed that God would awaken my feelings. I am thankful that I can live into (and out of) my tender spaces.
Today, I especially felt the hardships of others. People I love face complex spaces. What is someone in their early 20s supposed to do when education did not come easily and now their earning potential can not cover the cost of rent in our city? What do we do when Section 8 is closed to new applications? How do you foster independence when those hurdles feel too big to jump without resources that are not realistically accessible? I believe that where there is hope, there is possibility. I have not lost hope; therefore, I believe we will find a way!
I am grateful that the birds will sing in the morning!❤️ trish
Dear Johanna, If a picture is worth 1000 words, I have so many words to share the joy you bring us. Each photo shows
the extraordinary joy in your smile and personality. I know your days are not all smiles, and I am so proud of how you have grown in managing your emotions. You can handle the curve balls that come your way in stride. I am so proud of where you are in your emotional spaces as you begin year 15!
You are a hard worker. You know what it means to work for what you want, whether tennis, golf, or saving for something. You work hard, 
know how to save, and remain generous. I love that in you and am so proud of you. Never lose your generous spirit!
Your caregiving skills have gone
up ten notches as you have assisted me through my two knee replacements and two Achilles surgeries. Bless you and Evy for always showing up and bringing just what I needed. Thank you for your willingness to wash my hair, refresh my ice packs, manage my meds, clean the house, or 
sit and be. Your presence is a gift!
I hope you enjoy this next year, which will be filled with lots of time with Nub, driving, babysitting, and playing tennis. This fall, you will have another baby second cousin who will be all about you!
I am the luckiest Aunt in the world. Always remember how much I love you, and never forget to
live each day fully. Be brave and full of courage, and ask for what you need when needed!
I love you so my dear one! ❤️
We all have or have had them, and almost everyone has a mom they would call their own. We may have come by them differently. Some of our Mothers may be original, or we found them through adoption, and some may be borrowed or shared, but I hope you know the love of a Mom.
My Mom is a woman of strength, honesty, humor, and generosity. She is always in the process of knowing herself more fully. Her story began in a family of 12 children in the Netherlands. At age 10 they immigrated to New Jersey. She lived so much by 10 years old. So much of who she is today was birthed from the early stories and we are shaped by her life. She has nurtured so many people. We are so grateful she is ours and nurtures us! There is a song by Wes King I used many years ago for her Christmas gift. The lyrics continue to fit her today! (See the video below)
I am grateful to share alot of life with my Mom. She lives fully each day and acknowledges how she misses the presence of my Dad in her life. She gives her all to her children, grandchildren and their worlds and her great grand children. And she acknowledges as she is now in her 80’s, her energy wanes more quickly than it used to. She works part time, participates at the gym, is active at Church and enjoys visiting with her friends, attending book clubs and engaging her neighbors.
Happy Mother’s Day Mom….I am grateful for you every day! I love you!
Today was a favorite day for some of our cottage ownership team members. I am not a huge water person, but for those who love to ski, tube, and kneeboard, today’s events indicate we are one step closer to summer joy!
Today did not feel like a summer day. It was windy and cold, but today was the first step to enjoying the promised warmer days ahead! I am sharing a picture of just how chilly it was today. You now understand
how dedicated our dock team is to getting the dock in so water sports can begin ASAP. While some were doing dock work, we cheered on Johanna at a tennis match.
I am so grateful to be a part of my village. In 48 hours, we did gardening, weed pulling, and boat cleaning, shared a good Mother’s Day meal, cheered on Johanna in tennis, and got the dock in the water! No matter the weather or the task, we have learned to work together and get the job done.
I hope that you have also been given a village to work with. It may be made up differently than mine, but I hope you have people around you with whom you work. It makes life’s happenings quite a bit sweeter! ❤️ trish
Mother’s Day is a sensitive day/weekend for many women in our communities. Think about getting out those note cards and sending a note with your heartfelt words to someone who comes to mind as you read the words below. You do not need to make the pain less or better with your words. Simply knowing that you see and stand with them in the ache can be precisely what is required. May we love one another well in the joy, celebration, ache, and sorrow! ❤️trish
One of my very satisfying and delightful jobs was Adoption Social Work. I loved the intensive home studies meetings with the parents! Such good conversations unfolded as we discussed opening their hearts to bring in a child from another culture and embracing them as their own! I
also prepared the families for the day they got the call that they had been matched. Then, there was often a significant wait for travel, and eventually, it was GOTCHA DAY! Frequently, this whole process takes from 1 to 3 years!
In my early 20s, I went on a mission trip to Russia with my church. We joined up with another Church, and Cathy was the next closest in age to me, so we paired up as roommates. It began a friendship that continues today.
About 18 years ago, Cathy initiated adoption from China as a single parent. She brought home Caili Mae 17 years ago today. I have watched them go from being total strangers bound by Cathy’s commitment to take Caili in and love her forever to creating a life full of adventure and joy.
In 17 years, a mother and daughter have come to know and love one another with a strong bond of love, laughter, honesty, friendship, faith, and prayer.
Do you know someone who has been adopted or who is adopted? Consider asking about their
GOTCHA DAY. Adoption is not a one-and-done thing. It has themes and stories. Curiosity about one’s adoption story, birth country, birth mom, or family are all ways to invite tender conversation. Remember, these stories are Holy Ground, so move with kindness and grace!
I am so grateful Cathy chose to love through Adoption, and in that choice and risk, she was blessed with Caili. My life is so much better with Cathy and Caili in it. I am so grateful for GOTCHA DAY! ❤️ trish
Another perk of vacation is we went out looking for dolphins. This is a more accurate term than dolphin watching. Dolphin searching could also work. We did manage to find a few. We had an excellent guide with stories and educational information, so the experience was fantastic. He told us about how artificial intelligence is used to communicate with whales. AI has been used to draw Whales in, and researchers found they gathered around the boat, chattered back and forth, and then swam back into the ocean. On the Dolphin tour, we talked a bit about what the messages of the whale might be to us.
How far do we go with artificial intelligence? We see how it can write emails and academic papers, increase productivity, decrease loneliness through in-depth conversations, develop websites, and many other things. But is it reasonable to communicate with whales in the ocean? Many will find that fascinating and impressive. It is in so many ways, but what is next?
Education is our best friend in this changing and new world. This piece from PBS was beneficial to me. I invite you to listen and learn! It is 21 minutes of understanding a fascinating topic!
Can AI Help Us Talk to Whales?
Our world is changing, friends; buckle up and hang on for the ride. Sometimes, I need a break, but I am reminded to reenter and keep learning! ❤️ trish
I have been working hard to prepare to be a delegate in our denominational Synod. At this time, representatives come together to discuss the church’s crucial conversations. Not every conversation requires a decision, but many do.
This year will be pivotal, as there are some significant conversations. I quickly feel overwhelmed and discouraged as I work through the reading, but I am grateful for finding inspirational words that help me through.
I understand that the quote I choose to be inspired by today uses the word violence. This is not war violence, but violence comes in so many different ways. Silence can be violence, and words can be violent. Our tones, our attitudes, our cynicism, and our misuse of scripture can be violence. This is not criminal violence but more like an assault on a soul violence. Please keep that in mind as you read the words below!
If you are facing something difficult, perhaps you can embrace these worlds with me and trust that no matter what we face, we can bring hope and perspective to the space we enter.❤️trish
