Learning to be in this season

As I near 70, I’m learning something I resisted for longer than I’d like to admit, my body has its own agenda now.

It doesn’t always move when I want it to move, and it certainly doesn’t move as fast as it used to. Somewhere along the way, “just push through it” quietly turned into “maybe you should sit down for a minute.” And as much as I hate to admit it, those rest breaks? I need them.

Since my knee replacement, things feel different. Not bad… just different. My stamina isn’t what it once was, and I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that I can’t do everything the way I used to. That realization has been humbling. It’s also been a little frustrating, okay, sometimes a lot frustrating.

And then there’s this thought that sneaks in every now and then: I likely have more years behind me than ahead of me.

That one will stop you in your tracks if you let it.

But instead of letting it steal my joy, I’m trying to let it sharpen my focus. I’m learning, slowly, to take life one day at a time and truly enjoy it. Not rush through it. Not wish it away. Just… be in it.

And honestly? This new little life we’ve stepped into is helping me do just that.

We’ve been in our new home for exactly one month and one day. Long enough for the boxes to (mostly) be gone, but not quite long enough to feel like seasoned locals. Our home sits on a quiet cul-de-sac, and behind us is one of my favorite places, our screened-in back porch.

We recently had it finished, and it has quickly become our little sanctuary.

There are large trees that sway in the breeze, offering shade like a gentle hug on warm Georgia days. We sit out there and read, share lunch now and then, and listen to the sounds of nature like it’s our own personal playlist.

And then… there are the geese.

A whole flock of Canadian geese visits the pond behind our house daily, and let me tell you, they do not arrive quietly. There’s nothing subtle about a goose landing. It’s a full production, honking, flapping, splashing… it’s like they’re announcing, “We’re here!” whether you’re ready or not.

We laugh every single time.

Just this morning, a great white egret made an appearance, standing so still and elegant it felt like we were watching something sacred. Moments like that slow me down in the best way.

I’ve spent my whole life with animals, and while we’ve talked about maybe getting a small dog (our fenced yard would make it easy), we’ve both come to the same conclusion, we travel too much. As much as I love animals, I think our pet-owning days may be behind us.

And you know what? That’s okay.

These days, I find just as much joy in the birds that visit our feeders and the wildlife that passes through. There’s something peaceful about appreciating them without needing to chase them down or clean up after them.

(That might be one of the hidden blessings of this season.)

We haven’t made friends yet, but we’ve waved to a few neighbors, and that’s a start. This Sunday, we’re planning to visit a local church, and I’m hopeful we’ll find a place to belong, a community to grow into.

I’ve never been someone who enjoys change. In fact, if I’m being honest, I usually resist it with everything I’ve got.

But this change?

This one feels like a gift.

A quieter pace. A softer rhythm. A chance to breathe a little deeper and notice the things I might have missed before.

I’m even dreaming about planting flowers in the backyard, something that will invite butterflies to join us. Because if this season is teaching me anything, it’s this:

There is still beauty to cultivate.
There is still joy to be found.
And there is still life to be fully lived.

Even if I need to sit down a little more often while I’m doing it.

New City, new season of life

Well, a lot has changed since I made my last blog post. We put our house on the market for sale the middle of February and the day after we put it on the market, we had a solid contract - a cash offer! God is so good and we even got our asking price which was a huge blessing. 

We had one month to pack up, move, and find a new house. So the month of February went by quickly but we were able to accomplish all of those goals. 

We found a lovely home in a city of rural Georgia that is known for agriculture. It has been a huge blessing to be here and be around gorgeous peach trees, pecan orchards, and nature in general. 

We finished unboxing the last few things yesterday and are finally feeling at home in our new house. Now we can focus on finding a good church, making new friends, and getting used to this new city. 

This season of our lives feels so different. We are realizing we have more years behind us than we have ahead of us. With that in mind, we've tried to start focusing on taking one day at a time instead of being long range planners. 

We are looking forward to what the future holds and we know that God has great things in store for us. 

While we will miss our old city, and the friends we had there, we are looking forward to the changes ahead. It is hard to be away from all of our family, but they can come visit whenever they choose. 

Change has never been easy for me. I like things to stay the same, but God is teaching me that change can be good. All I have to do is relax and go with it. So that's what I'm trying to do this year- take one day at a time, enjoy whatever that day brings, and be thankful.

Our real estate agent came by yesterday to bring us a closing gift. She had wanted to do it earlier but was having this special made. It's a carving that is an exact replica of our home. It was extremely thoughtful and kind of her. 

I do want to mention we had an unexpected visitor today - a large black rat snake. I don't know how he managed to get in the yard and get under the fence but he did. Hubby was scared to death! I took a garden rake and flung him over the side of the fence so he can be closer to the pond. You never know what a day is going to hold that's for sure!

Nature Poems to See By - a book review

Recently, I was given a complimentary copy of Nature Poems to See By: A Comic Artist Interprets More Great Poetry, illustrated by Julian Peters, and published by Plough Publishing House. As someone who has long loved poetry—and who also happens to be a visual learner—I was immediately intrigued. This book beautifully marries both worlds, pairing beloved classic poems with expressive comic-style artwork that brings each piece to life.

The collection includes twenty-four classic poems thoughtfully arranged by the seasons of the year. Each selection is accompanied by carefully crafted illustrations that illuminate the heart of the poem without overpowering it. The comic art format offers a fresh and accessible way to experience poetry, allowing readers not only to read the words but to see them unfold.

I believe this book will appeal to a wide range of readers. Adults will appreciate revisiting treasured classics in a new format, while younger readers—especially those who may feel intimidated by traditional literary works—may find the visual storytelling an inviting doorway into poetry. By presenting these works through art, the book gently encourages curiosity and may even spark a lifelong love for verse.

Many of my personal favorites are included—poems I first encountered in high school and others I’ve discovered over the years. Reading Daybreak in Alabama by Langston Hughes (which was new to me and a wonderful surprise), alongside classics like Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, Fog by Carl Sandburg, and Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare, transported me back to my ninth-grade English classroom, where a teacher with a deep love for poetry faithfully introduced us to it each day. Those early encounters shaped my appreciation for the written word, and this book rekindled that same sense of wonder.

I am grateful to Plough for publishing such a thoughtful and creative work. I look forward to sharing this book with my grandchildren—some already in their teen years and others still young enough to sit close and turn the pages slowly. I can already imagine reading the poems aloud, watching their eyes move between the lines and the artwork, and witnessing that spark of discovery as they begin to fall in love with poetry and art in their own way.

A special thank you to Plough Publishing House for providing this complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Bread and Wine - Readings for Lent and Easter

Bread and wine is a beautiful devotional book filled with poignant readings for Lent and Easter. 

I especially enjoyed the selections written by Oswald Chambers, Watchman Nee, and Madeline L'Engle. 

Readers will enjoy this book because each devotional points to what Jesus did for us on the cross. 

As I read the selections, I felt closer to Christ as my spirit was fed, and  being able to read the thoughts of different authors helped me reflect on various points I had not considered before.

I'm so thankful Plough Publishing offered me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.