Author Archives: Andi

For 22 years I looked off and on for something, that I discovered, was never truly lost. What happened, I do not understand. Actually, it wasn’t a something. It was a someone. I found my friend. There are a few good things that have come out of this pandemic. Life is slower. You have moreContinue reading “Lost & Found”

Muse (n.) a person or spirit that gives a writer, painter, artist, etc. ideas and the desire to create things. I started to write in the eighth grade. I wrote for a couple of years in school, and then as an adult, I submitted writings to “Letters to the Editor” in various newspapers, mostly onContinue reading “My Muse”

Is the heaviness of today getting you down? Probably to some degree. Dealing with this on top of the ebbs and flows of our personal life makes every day a little more challenging. I’ve noticed more frequently in public now, the frustration among people as the mask wearing lingers on and an irritation at justContinue reading “A Few of My Favorite Things”

Galatians 5:22,23 Patience: the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset; forbearance, tolerance, restraint, long suffering. Virtue: behavior showing high moral standards; goodness, righteousness, morality. One of my favorite scripture verses begins in Galatians 5:22. I can easily remember this verse because it happens to be my birthdate.Continue reading “Patience is a Virtue”

Birthdays and Christmas were big when the kids were young and still at home. Christmas was so much fun for this Mrs. Claus. I tried to get most everything, if not everything, on their wish list, or spelled out in detail in their letters to Santa. I have a couple of notebooks where I keptContinue reading “Worth More in the Box”

I have a most faithful companion. And the older he gets the more clingy, I mean faithful, he becomes. Hercules was born July 19, 2011, in a town southwest of Atlanta. My now ex-husband, our oldest daughter, Denae, and I made the trek down to Georgia to his cousin’s place as she had the litterContinue reading “My Faithful Companion”

It’s funny how you can go from having so many words and so little time to having much time but zero words. Imagine me being speechless. Well, I am. My mind is full.My heart is heavy.My pen is empty. I’ve been struggling a lot the past week and a half. I find myself yet fullyContinue reading “Writer’s Block”

I am fortunate to have a nest of baby robins next to my front porch. I sit on my rustic red glider and watch the parents take turns in bringing food home to their four little ones. They are quite homely children with mouths that are disproportionately large for their little bodies. And faces thatContinue reading “Life…”

Isaiah 55:8, 9 I have not been inspired to write lately. In fact, this is my first post in a week. I’ve never gone a week without having something to say. Or several somethings. It’s not due to lack of things to write about. There are plenty. But although I’m buried in thought, the wordsContinue reading “Why?”

Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills.From where does my help come?My help comes from the Lord,who made heaven and earth. The days of Covid have been long and hard. The numerous difficulties and challenges it presented has caused many to lose hope. Even to the point of death. And before thisContinue reading “Spiritual Encouragement for Dark Days”

On my day off, I did my best to relax and just enjoy the quiet. I was outdoors most of the day, mowing, trimming bushes, and just lounging around. I was lying face down on a lounging chair just staring at the deck when I saw a rather large black ant walking toward me. I’veContinue reading “The Ant”

Take time today to reflect on good and positive things in your surroundings. I made the tough decision to get off FaceBook. I’m still on Instagram currently, but that may go as well. I have never been on Twitter or other social media. With just making the decision to get off FB, I slept betterContinue reading “Make Your Surroundings Just a Little Smaller”

**fair warning**This blog was written yesterday prior to removing myself from FaceBook. This blog could be considered a continuation of my last post on FaceBook. You may find this to be harsh and controversial. You may not like me. You do not have to proceed. These are my thoughts and my opinions. -Andi Dear RiotersContinue reading “Dear Rioters and Looters”

Proverbs 23:7 I haven’t had many words to share this week. I still don’t today. But I do have plenty of tears. There is a great wickedness attacking our country and it’s beautiful people. No matter if you are a believer in God or not, not one of us can deny the evil in thisContinue reading “My Sunday Blog”

The Overcomer Once upon a time a princess was born into a large family in rural Indiana. She was a happy baby and was doted upon by her four older siblings. Her eyes were a stunning green and her hair was the blondest you could ever imagine. She could have easily been called Snow White.Continue reading “Listen to Your Kids, LL #577”

Me: Hello God. God: Hello. Me: I’m falling apart. Can you put me back together? God: I would rather not. Me: Why? God: Because you aren’t a puzzle. Me: What about all of the pieces of my life that are falling onto the ground? God: They fell off for a reason. Take some time andContinue reading “Becoming”

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your fleshContinue reading “Proverbs 3:5-8”

I’m not ready… …to live a life without little ones under my feet, who hide behind me, holding onto my pant leg, or who fall asleep in their plate of food after running around outside on a sweet summer day. I’m not ready… …to sort through boxes and containers filled with one memory after another…ofContinue reading “I’m Not Ready…”

Rerouting is sort of a continuation of yesterday’s blog, Reboot. I hope you don’t mind. I had additional thoughts come to mind this morning that I felt had value and worth sharing. Last October I visited Maine. I put on my big girl pants and ventured out exploring on my own. While it was outContinue reading “Rerouting”

There comes a time in your life when things are just so routine that life isn’t fully lived or enjoyed. I was discussing this subject with a friend this morning. I stated that I really don’t want life to go back to normal. Not my normal anyway. He messaged one word. Reboot. Hence the birthContinue reading “Reboot”

Sometimes something wonderful can come out of an unpleasant situation. While we should always walk away with a lesson learned, once in awhile we might walk away with a gift as well. I recently received such a gift. Without going into details of my situation, I would like to share with you the gift IContinue reading “Back to the Garden”

Four years ago, was my first Mother’s Day without my mom. I still cannot believe she’s gone. Such a longing I still have for her. I guess the heart doesn’t consider age when it comes to the love between a daughter and her mother. It remains the same. May 7, 2016Tomorrow is Mother’s Day.My firstContinue reading “Mother’s Day”

St. Joseph, MichiganNorth Pier Lighthouses I found this wonderful place in the fall of 2010 and enjoyed it so much that I have shared it with two of my daughters (so far) and with my friend, Chelle. My youngest is anxiously awaiting for our trip which is supposed to be this summer. We will seeContinue reading “A Happy Place”

I just can’t imagine life being harder than it is this right now, but I know it certainly could be. I don’t know how to handle each day and I’m feeling pretty lost. Crying is as routine anymore as brushing my teeth and washing my hands. I cannot say that there isn’t something sinister goingContinue reading “Hard Days”

We often visualize flowing creeks, streams, and rivers when thinking of this idea of “paths of least resistance”. They will move around rocks and earth to find the easiest path to take them on their journey. We pretty much do the same thing with the many paths traveled in our lives. It’s not necessarily theContinue reading “Paths of Least Resistance”

In one of my earlier blogs, I mentioned that I write with me in mind first and foremost. It’s because I need to hear it maybe more so than anyone else. Writing is therapy to me and I typically feel better after writing. But I want you to know something else about me. While IContinue reading “Unraveling”

I don’t know about you, but I am greatly troubled with all that is going on in our country. The virus and the political madness, the stresses at work, my personal finances, decisions to be made, indecision, sleepless nights, loneliness…the list goes on and on. I do feel uneasy. I feel unsure. I wonder whatContinue reading “James 1”

Lately, this word is being tossed around a great deal. That along with quarantine. Two words that rarely touched our lips are now more popular than mac and cheese. But this morning, I question the very definition of essential. Those who were essential last week have now been moved to nonessential. This makes me questionContinue reading “Essential”