Author Archives: Andi

Original post: October 20, 2021. Edited. A long time ago, somewhere in the middle of my marriage, my husband said, “I don’t need you. I want you, but I don’t need you.” I will never forget how that made me feel. Those words cut through my heart like a knife. It took my breath awayContinue reading “Needed vs Wanted”

I love the sun. It makes me feel so amazingly wonderful. I feel healthy. I feel more energetic. And, youthful. My skin rejoices with a new healthy glow. When God created the sun, he said it was good. And it is!! As the sun goddess sat on her throne today, I witnessed…I mean, she witnessed…manyContinue reading “The Sun Goddess”

Philippians 4:6–7Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Praying you might have a peaceful rest this night. ♥️ Andi Photo:Continue reading “A Goodnight Prayer”

Original post: November 13, 2021. Edited. Life’s challenges will either make you or break you. I’m teetering today. Trying to excel in all aspects of life is probably just a little too aggressive. But where do you draw the line? How do you not try? And when trials bombard you in a variety of ways,Continue reading “Life’s Challenges”

I spent Easter weekend at my oldest daughter’s home. It was a wonderful time spent loving on my grandchildren and having some long overdue quality time with my daughter. When I was getting ready to go to our Easter dinner at my son-in-law’s parents’ home, my daughter watched me as I put on my makeupContinue reading “My Hairbrush”

I collect skunks. It’s a lot of fun actually, because skunks are a challenge to find. I have found an array of antique skunks. Salt and pepper shakers, an ashtray, pins, and figurines. I have several Pepe Le Pew Christmas ornaments, salt and peppers, and a cookie jar. I even have a light switch cover.Continue reading “I ♥️ Skunks”

Original post: March 23, 2021. Edited. (adj)1. smitten2. state of nervous excitement3. how I feel aboutcha I feel alive again. Is it because of the lovely trail walks with its touches of greens, purples, and yellows, or the warmer temperatures and open windows, or the tiny bit of tan on my cheeks? Do I haveContinue reading “Twitterpated”

…that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures… A day for rejoicing! Happy Easter! ♥️ Andi

There are two times during my life when the world came to an eerie silence. The first time were the days following the 9/11 tragedy. Especially those first three days when the skies were void of any air traffic. The second time were those two weeks of Covid lockdown. Fear kept us quiet. No oneContinue reading “The Loudest Silence”

💔♥️ Andi Photo credit: newsroompost.com

Original post: September 23, 2021. Edited. Life is full of situations that can teeter one way or another. We can make a bad situation worse though simply by not thinking things through. Sometimes when we see a loved one hurting at the hands of another, we get angry right away along with them. We talkContinue reading “Minimize the Ugliness”

Original post: March 13, 2022. Edited. My youngest daughter and I took Nyx for a walk one lovely Sunday afternoon. For most of that day, I’d been going through my jewelry, trinkets, and keepsakes; sorting and pitching as I went. There were a lot of journeys down memory lane. Happy and sad journeys. Much ofContinue reading “There’s No Learning in Easy”

Original post: April 18, 2021. Edited. Life is meant to be colorful. Otherwise, why would God have created our world so beautifully? When you look at the blessings of the ability to see in color, and the endless array of color, how could we choose to not live colorfully? A colorful life isn’t by chance.Continue reading “Paint Your Canvas”

Yesterday I went hiking with my daughter, Charlie, and my dog, Nyx. It was a gorgeous day after lots of windy, cold, and rainy days. It is a beautiful park with many nature trails. About a mile into our walk, along the creek, I rolled my ankle, and in the slowest of slow motion, IContinue reading “A Little Walnut and A Great Big Fall”

Whoever said aging was graceful, didn’t age, otherwise they’d know there’s nothing really graceful about it. Trying to get out of bed is anything but graceful. Not to mention putting on my jeans or socks, or trying to retrieve something I’ve dropped on the floor. Which is pretty often. My body doesn’t like to bendContinue reading “This Point in My Life”

There is great power in words. We know what it feels like to have a harsh word spoken to us with sarcasm or in anger. It cuts like a knife and leaves a scar forever embedded in our heart. Our mind marks it unforgettable. Knowing how words have the ability to leave a lasting impression,Continue reading “If I was dying…”

I’m a dreamer and a pretend planner. I want to do this and that. But do I? No. Because I’m afraid of absolutely everything. I might talk big with all my ambitiousnesses. But in reality, I’m a horse, tied to a little plastic yard chair, believing she is powerless against the almost weightless anchor. Today,Continue reading “Fear Keeps Me Tied”

Jeremiah 1:5aBefore I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you… God knew me before he formed me in my mother’s womb. Just as he knew you. He designed us just as he wanted us to be. And we are perfect. We should embrace who we areContinue reading “A Gift Given”

Have you ever thought about how much time and energy we spend pitting what is fair, and what it not, against each other? We are bombarded daily with situations and issues that first run through the filter in our brain to be categorized as either fair or unfair. Depending on which it is labeled determinesContinue reading “Unfairness”

Original post: April 1, 2021. Edited. Tonight was the Celebration of Life for my father. It was held at his favorite Italian bakery, La Casa del Pane in St. Pete Beach, where he visited every day. Except for Mondays. They are closed on Monday. These wonderful people prepared lots of authentic Italian food for thisContinue reading “Story Time: A Night of Remembrance”

Original post: March 30, 2021. Edited. These were my thoughts after Dad passed. My father passed away at 12:30 pm. Life support was removed at 12:23. He was on his own for a mere seven minutes. The hospital staff was beyond gracious. They kept Dad comfortable and pain free as he crossed that thin lineContinue reading “That Thin Line”

Original post: March 28, 2021. Edited. On my way to St. Petersburg for a second time that month to meet with my sister and say our goodbyes to Dad before his final journey. After my parents divorced, my father bought a sailboat and set sail out into the Atlantic. This was quite a shock toContinue reading “Setting Sail”

Original post: March 28, 2021. The night before my dad was to be taken off life support. Two years ago. My brother did not make this second trip to Florida. He had said his goodbye and was good with that. I flew down from Indiana. My sister drove from North Carolina. This was our timeContinue reading “Sisters ♥️”

Original post: May 6, 2021. Edited. Time. I will continue to write about it until there is no more time. And I’ll probably write about it many more times. Everything runs on time until we run out of time. Time is of the essence. Time out. A waste of time. Good time. Outta time. ChangingContinue reading “Make Time”

Original post: August 20, 2021. Edited. I went to the farmers market one Saturday morning a couple of years ago and came across a booth of homemade jewelry. I’m a sucker for stuff like that. I try to get ideas so I can make my own jewelry. Right away I saw a stone that caughtContinue reading “A Raw Emerald”

Original post: April 30, 2021. Edited. Today was quite breezy. In fact, it’s been windy for the past several days. I love the sea breeze in my hair, but here at home, the wind blows my hair in my face when I’m trying to work outside so I have to pull it back. While IContinue reading “The Need for Stress”

On December 28, 2018, I had a hip replacement. This event happened that day as well. A second chance… The surgeon stopped by my room while making his rounds for the day. He told me that my hip replacement was much more complicated than he expected because of the severity of the damage so theContinue reading “A Second Chance”

Original post: May 3, 2021. Written by my youngest daughter, Mattea, as she reflects on the home where she spent her first eleven years…before divorce moved us to another home. This place was gorgeous and I spent much time outdoors, planting and perfecting, or walking through the woods, dreaming and reflecting. Sweet house, oh…dear, sweetContinue reading “Dear Sweet House”

I’m not sure where you live, but I live in Indiana, and I’m a little tired of sunless, cold days. This morning when I took Nyx out, it felt warm. Well, warmer than it’s been. A welcome 50 degrees. Today was my Friday. So glad. I’m home in my recliner, watching Second Hand Lions, andContinue reading “Thunder”

This is one of my most favorite verses in the Bible. Leaning on my own understanding has probably been my greatest downfall in life as I knew what was best (for me) most of the time. My history proves I’ve been wrong, a lot. I’m aware that I would think and act on a whim.Continue reading “Lean not…”