Hello, blog friends. . .

I'm home from the family reunion at Priest Lake, ID. What a wonderful experience! The area itself is magical with extraordinary views, great hiking paths, boating, and warm campfires. One evening we were treated to the rainbow you see above. 

The best part of the reunion was catching up on family stories. My three brothers and two of my sisters were there with spouses, so you can imagine the excited conversations. The children ran freely and kept us entertained - especially with their run-ins with three black bears. OMG!

Below are a few photos. I could fill pages with the snapshots, but hopefully this small sharing will give you a sense of the area. 

Family members rented ATVs and drove along the perimeter of the lake and to the Lookout on Sundance Mountain. From this elevation (6,298'), much of Priest Lake is visible. I was not one of the adventurers, but my eldest son smiles for me. 

One of the blessings of Priest Lake is that visitors have very limited Wi-Fi. Most of my family gave up even trying to get a signal. This handicap meant we could not check email or send text messages or watch the news, etc. We were in an isolated world -- and it was beautiful.

If you haven't had a social media break for a while, I highly recommend it. I will visit you this week through your posts and hope to get caught up. Till then, I send good wishes with these photos of the Northern Lights.

Hello, blog friends!

Last night I returned from a family reunion in Idaho. It was extraordinary, and I'll write about the experience in another post. Today I'd like to share a book I read while traveling to and from the mountain campsite: Born for Revenge by Staci Troilo. ​

Staci has a knack for writing unforgettable stories, and this one is no exception. I was drawn in from the very beginning pages. The unfolding drama is fast-paced and darkly mysterious. At the nucleus is envy and pride. We all know these sins or aberrations, because we see them manifest everywhere - in the political arena, in our schools, and perhaps even in our neighborhoods. Staci makes them real through well-crafted characters, and ingeniously, takes us back in time and through our own experiences. As the horror unfolds, the secrecy and deceitfulness unravel.

If you're looking for a fast-moving and heart-pounding story, this is one I can heartedly recommend. 

WEBSITE: www.StaciTroilo.com ​

Some of Staci's other books:

Hello blog friends,

It seems many of us face erratic weather this week. The forecast spares no one - of the worries of high winds, heavy rains, or electrical storms. And I wonder, is Mother Nature struggling with the human division we've created in our neighborhoods, towns, and countries? 

This week Colleen Chesebro invites us to reflect on any topic we'd like. I've chosen to focus on the turmoil we see on the streets. If I had magical abilities, I'd find a way to soften hate and resurrect kindness, but magic eludes me and probably hides from you as well. 

I tend to stand in the middle - not directing traffic but trying to bridge positions, circumstances, and crises. I listen and pray - not for the Divine to intervene and stop the madness, but for Love to mercifully clothe each of us as we chart our way. 

My Tanka reflects on Nature's role as it accompanies us through life's storm. I hope it resonates, and more importantly, I hope you have a wonderful week. 

And on a happy note, I'll be visiting my granddaughter later this week. She just graduated from high school and will attend the University of Washington in Seattle, where she'll study Environmental Sustainability. If anyone can save the planet, she can.

I'll share a sweet story.

When I last saw her, she explained that she shops in places like Salvation Army and Goodwill, because there is so much needless waste. She objects to buying anything new. I smiled and explained that my favorite business suits came from Goodwill. But there was a big difference between us. I needed to buy the family clothes there, and she has the choice. 

​Seventeen years have passed, but my granddaughter's smiles live with me. 

P.S - I'll try to keep up with blog posts, but if I miss yours, you know where I'll be. ❤️

Hello, blog friends! 

The season is changing, and magic is in the air! Yes, summer is finally taking leave. Colleen Chesebro invites us to write a syllabic poem to celebrate this change. I've created two tanka, inspired by the autumn sunsets.

This is my favorite time of the year. The skies are alive, and everyone seems relieved by the cool winds. Creatures, large and small, have returned - the pronghorn and geese, foxes and rabbits, and birds of all sizes and shades. Nature's orchestra has begun its song. 

Last week I mentioned a unique gathering in Phoenix - the IANDS (International Association for Near Death Studies) conference. I attended one day in person and another live-streamed. The experience left me in awe of the gift of life. Many medical professionals (surgeons, general practitioners, nurses) attended. And, as well, those who had a Near Death Experience. This was an evidence-based gathering.

​What are my take-aways? I've many, but here are three that stand out for me: (1) The NDE experience is transformative. When people recover from the death experience, they change their lives - often dramatically. (2) Love is at the core of creation, and we can begin to experience that Love in our lives now. (3) Life is eternal. 

The presenters often mentioned nature as a means of touching into the realm of Love. They spoke of the difficulty of using words to describe their experience. They explained repeatedly that in the heavenly or celestial or Love realm, our human words cannot adequately capture the felt emotions. 

I remain deeply moved by my experiences at this conference, and I look forward to attending such gatherings in the future. 

​Have a wonderful week, dear friends! ❤️