Confident that I would make it to my intended destination, I wandered with determination, faith and God’s grace into the darkness and discovered God’s hands reaching out to me time and time again.
Grateful am I to know a loving God. Jesus has always been beside me and his Mother, Mary has never failed to comfort and assist me when I felt lost or fearful. Her prayers joined my own and I felt heard, understood and able to relax into the next venture.
Presently, unemployed, I find myself at one of life’s crossroads, and I wait patiently until the fog lifts and the direction is clear.
Grateful for sight, hearing, touch, ability to walk and lose myself in nature and occasionally my sense of smell. These gifts went unnoticed when I was little and now, I thank God for all of them.
May Peace and Gratitude fill your Heart today and always.
A path in the woods to listen to the silence and inhale the fragrance of the pines and hemlocks, squeeze the oaks, poplars and beech trees, and breathe gratitude for the oxygen they give to all so selflessly.
By the River floating sticks under bridges and looking through the clear water to the jewels of stones glimmering in the sun’s warmth!
In the Garden to walk among the tulips, daffodils, roses and other friends, breathing in their fragrance and letting it intoxicate me into a smile.
On top of the Mountain after a long winding hike under the canopy of the pines, hemlock, maples, poplar and dogwoods until a stone clearing presents itself with a view of the valley below or the clouds above with a blue sky and mountain ridges as long as the eye can see until my heart feels their gifts.
Walk along the seashore in search of seashells, sounds from the surf, a feeling from the wind and the warmth of the sun.
Clouds carry me gently into the Heart of the Creator one minute, one day at a time.
Yesterday we had a beautiful surprise of snowfall, flakes large enough to catch on my tongue – a moment of Joy during a time of intense grieving
Hurricane Helene left her mark on our beautiful community of Asheville NC and surrounding areas, homes, businesses, lives, trees, trails, the devastation is so glaring especially to those of us who grew up here in what was a very safe, serene and beautiful oasis. It’s been almost two months since the storm hit. September 26th ! No one was prepared. No power, no cell phones, and days later no water for over a month! Water was resumed on the 18th of September. It was deemed safe enough to shower in and consume. For me, and I think for many others, the water does not taste safe. I will continue to drink bottled or spring water and to cook with these instead of consuming them.
The day after the Water was deemed safe, my heart while not keeping up with the grief, exploded into sobs which turned into physical heaving and a need to reach out to someone to share this grief. God, in his infinite wisdom, gave me the courage to contact a friend, who was just the person to let me process some of this grief in the form of tears. I imagine it will take some time before we are able to process all of it and before we feel truly safe again in our homes from the next wind or torrential rain event.
Four Season Girl
Spring is a happy time that beckons all to plant, explore, enjoy the outdoors and the color of green is all around us dotted with flowers in every shade and the birds as they find their way back to our feeders, baths and ponds
Summer is a time for travel, vacation, cleaning out the excess visit the beaches for a swim and shell seeking OR float down the French Broad River in a canoe or kayak quietly and enjoy its ebb and flow while looking for the Eagle, Herron or Egret (please NO tubing with boom boxes and beer – it’s disturbing to those of us who love the serenity floating down the river brings.)
Autumn is a time to walk the trails and mountains and absorb the last explosion of colors red, orange, yellow and greens in all the trees that one can see on any given day
Winter a time to slow down and look inward – bake, bask in the shorter days and rest more while still awaiting for a much desired snowfall and its silence and cleanliness as it blankets the trees and eventually the ground as if it to clean the air, the trees and the earth
Spring – White Trillium- Photo: Anita Adams, NCTreesPhotography.com
Summer – Mountain Stream – Photo by Anita Adams, NCTreesPhotography.com
Autumn – Japanese Maple Tree in all the Beautiful Colours by Anita Adams, NCTreesPhotography.com
Winter – This photo was taken of the last REAL snowfall in 2022 – Crisp, White, Blanket of Snow 5″ deep or more. It’s silence is an invitation to be quiet and enjoy or play if you wish. Photo: Anita Adams, NCTreesPhotography.com
Grief and Joy One couldn’t exist without the other As we all move forward into the Holy Days (Holidays) Smile more to the Stranger Look into the Eyes of those we meet and live with it every day Don’t forget to say I love you to those you love Hug a Tree and squeeze it again for me. ~Anita
Red Bird lands atop the garden and tomato stake to view the latest morsels below for a scrumptious breakfast,
Daffodils dot the bank of grass in shades of yellow; while forsythia makes a show
Atop the pond, on a slab of granite, an Angel rests, hand on cheek carefully watching over the fish and fauna below,
It’s an overcast day with clouds gathering the 17th day of March, St. Patrick’s Day, and the grass is green,
With no Winter to speak of in 2023 in the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina, one can’t help but wonder, if we will ever see snow again?
Grateful am I to have a computer and ability to gather my thoughts to articulate what is underneath,
Three years of COVID, Russia at war with Ukraine, Earthquakes in Turkey, Enormous amounts of Snow in the Northern USA, stories of water shortages to come associated with climate changes and a homeless population that continues to grow out of control, increased food, and gasoline prices. We recycle, plant trees, garden, have rain barrels to catch water from the roof to water the garden, pond as needed.
If we didn’t have faith, love, compassion, and a true sense of gratitude for those in our lives and those gifts provided to us by our Creator, we’d go mad.
This is why writing and recording the days, months, seasons or years helps me to put my life into perspective. This is why I am sharing a snippet of what’s good in my backyard and what I know about worldly events.
This piece may wind up in a time capsule at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church to be uncovered in another 100 years.
Know that I am Catholic, a member of St. Eugene’s Parish in Asheville, NC, God willing, I will be 63 in June, I am married to Steve Henry, the Facility Manager of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and my friend for more than 19 years. I have two children, Richard, and Alicia and three grandchildren, Grayson, Lincoln, and Saylor Marie. My parents are Bob and Peg Adams of Windsor Road, Asheville. My Dad is an amazing Golfer with 20 hole-in-ones, they are both 91+. I have four brothers, Michael, David, Mark, and Richard. My husband Steve has two brothers, Paul and David.
As I close this piece of history, I will add to my picturesque view of the backyard oasis to say that with the Red Bird, Cardinal, Mrs. Cardinal appeared along with a Squirrel, and a Titmouse who are all seeking the black sunflower seeds I placed in a birdfeeder which hangs from the pruned Cherry Tree.
May this snippet of one’s life on this day, St. Patrick’s Day 2023, and the times as I see them, find their way to the hands and hearts of loving Beings who are seeing a world better than what we are experiencing and/or predicted to see.
What have I learned? What have you learned? What would I like to learn?
It’s a BIG question.
My answer is this: to TRUST more .. LISTEN more to the soft Whisperer within (God/True Source) – to BELIEVE with my whole heart
Life is fleeting. I’ve endured much loss – friends, spouses, days and nights to worry or fright – only to realize shortly thereafter that there is no need to worry – no benefit – however, to TRUST, PRAY, LISTEN, OPEN my HEART to God/True Source’s guidance and BELIEVE all will be well , therein, I find my wish for ALL persons – CONTENTMENT
What does Contentment look like to me?
It’s realizing that ALL I need, ALL around me is ENOUGH and ENJOY every moment of…
Breath
Warm Water
Clean Water
Healthy food – my Green/Fruity/Nutty Shake in the mornings
ability to learn and practice Yoga
Legs that move and allow me to roam the Mountains I love so much
Conversing with the Trees
Taking Photographs of all that catches my eye
Enjoying the Light of sunrise and Moonrise
to listen and walk by the River’s edge
my Grandchildren
my Children
the gift of my spouse, Steve and his innate laughter and support
my Church family
my Alanon Family
my Telephone calls and walks with Friends
a Job with loving people
Moments found to create Art
the gift of my Parents, my Brothers, my Nieces and Nephews
Friends abroad, Friends on Facebook
Trees and Flowers of so many varieties in my back yard – and a Pond
Life is NOT all doom and gloom – it’s different
What I’m learning is to look with eyes open, ears and heart open, hands – open to what’s ALL around me and say Thank you!
As I said I’m learning – NOT perfect, nor, would I want to be.
Happy year of Contentment is my wish for ALL in this New Year!
Called to Write 