“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” ― Anaïs Nin
Begonias are fading, the little button plant’s eyes are closing, enormous elephant ears are going back to the earth and we already feel a chill in the morning air-way too soon.
I love the now and savor the Holy in it. I walk out in the garden touching each plant, thanking them for their perseverance, their strength – their contribution to my world full of soft summer.
Is it dread of change I feel with the fading of the summer, some dying some holding on? Always I am trying to make more of the present, and yes holding on with great thankfulness.
Time creeps up and it’s been a year since I started sharing my heart with you. I thank those who just drop in from time to time, and much gratitude to you weekly followers, my patient tutors who comment, encourage, disagree, and suggest.
The year of blogging has shown me much. Posts I thought were not so special turned out to be favorites of yours. A handful that meant more to me had lower readership. The most private one I wrote and the most difficult to write is still the one read most often.
Most of you find delight in the same silly things I do, many thanks for comments that gave me the ear to ear grin. I know some of your heartaches and stresses; I am sad with you and you have my prayers.
From across the globe, Costa Rica, Germany, Vietnam, France, Russia, the UK, Bolivia , Brazil, South Korea, and here in the US, you teach me that what we share is larger than what we do not.
On this showy pre-fall morning after a remarkably gentle summer, not doing the work that pays, but pulled always to this exercise in expression, I am humbled by the year past. 
A wild love for the written and spoken word prodded me and keeps me here. I can feel and taste each phrase. I tuck them away to pluck out later when my spirit runs dry.
These writings, little meditations with God, are only crude thanksgiving. The title I chose for my observations, “Holy and Not so Much”, has proved true. Has my writing caused God to start stress eating? Are the church elders tearing their clothes and gnashing their teeth? In spite of these possibilities, I carry on.
The gifts I receive from the writing are overwhelming. The gift is in the writing-the crafting of each sentence, acquiring a new depth of honesty, birthing a willingness to be transparent, the assurance it has been time well lived, and recognizing the Holy in each day. I am grateful to you for sharing your lives and for this opportunity.
Special thanks to Monica, my daughter in spirit, for illuminating the path and believing I had something worth sharing.
The look and format of the blog have changed. You will see it is very much a work in progress. When we imported the archived blogs to my site some of them turned out a bit—woogity. We will eventually correct these issues, I think. For now, it is easier to sign up as a follower, I’ll suggest great reads, share more of my dodgy photography, there is a new a search feature, comments should be simpler to post and my new site is full of livin’ color!
And a few surprises. . There may even be an occasional post from the Sweetie!