ALPHA-HOP

One of my favorite writing exercises (because it’s fun!) is an alphabet poem.  So, I’ll be posting them from time to time and would love it if you joined me.  Feel free to share your alphabet poem here.  Comment here if you’ve posted a poem on your blog so I can come visit.  Let’s find like-minded sisters through “alphapoems” (Kay Adams’ term).   The link will be up from6/29 ~ 7/6.
In honor of July 4th, the suggested word (as in, I hate rules so use what word calls to you) for this hop …..Freedom

Flow with internal
Rhythms
Escape
External Controls
Dream
Of forever
Moments

Technorati Tags: writing exercise,blog hop,journal writing

Blogged Down

I began this blog in February as a way of self-expression and connection.  I’ve enjoyed it as well as “blog-hopping” (love peeking into others’ worlds and saying hello).  Sometimes though my brain starts a spin cycle from all there is to read and learn.  It doesn’t help that I’ve always considered myself a technological-illiterate! 

Would love feedback on what others do to manage blog-time and blog-info!

Stress Relief

 Backyard Oasis

Views from a Pool Raft

 

 

How do you de-stress at the end of a long hard day?

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY…

 

THANKS!

For the belly rubs…

Beach Walks…

Dress-Up…

“Coolness Factor”…

And a decade of song

Treasure Chest

I've been working on "Your Journey's Passport"  ~ a collection of guide books for your journey which includes "Treasure Chest" and took this picture.  I don't consider myself an artist in the traditional sense and at this point only have my cell phone for pictures but enjoyed "staging" anyway.  So thought I'd share it here and ask ~ what's in your treasure chest this weekend?  For me, in honor of father's day:

My dad has new lungs!

My husband has great dimples!

Cooking out all weekend & soaking up the summer

(Yes, I can write much more about what I treasure but keeping it simple...)

Meltdown Monday

So Meltdown Monday came late to me this week but after a work day full of speaking clearly yet no one heard, humidity for weeks that my flat iron can't battle and a restless feeling that something needs to change, I pulled out my shears @ 11:30 p.m. and...well, the picture shows the seven inch deficit that is no longer my hair. 

The plus side ~ wash & go during a hot summer will be liberating and I forgot I had curls!

Stess and Parenting

I'm beginning to work on a graduate thesis as well as a new offering & would love your feedback about stress and parenting.

~ What are your top five stressors as a parent?


~ What impact does stress have on you emotionally & physically?

~ What impact does your stress have on your children?

~ How do you handle stress?

~ Your age?

~ Child(ren) age/s?

~ Number of hours a week worked (beyond household responsibilities)?



I appreciate your response ~ you may respond here or e-mail me @ dawn@lifelinesjournaling.com


thanks so much!

Meltdown Monday

We all need somewhere to vent once in awhile so I've created "Meltdown Monday."  Post your comments, rants & raves here BUT you have to end your post with a positive!  Post through Wednesday ~ on Thursday, using random number generator a winner will be selected for a self-care item; this week that giveaway will be my journal writing workbook, "Life Lines: Celebrate Your Journey".  Hope to hear from you!

Letting Go

Troubles 95-6/1/10

Story Circle Network (SCN) is sponsoring their annual Lifewriting contest and the theme is “letting go” (www.storycircle.org/Contests). Although I am not entering as I have other obligations to SCN, I realized that I needed to write something for Trouble, our family cat, before I could move on to other blog posts. So, the following is not a full-blown story but something I needed to say. Thanks for “listening.”

I listened to the vet talk about options as I pet Trubs; mounds of hair flying due to dehydration. I knew it was time, knew it before making the call. She was almost 15 years old, had a tumor in her mouth and was experiencing kidney failure. But did I really have it in me to say the words? To begin a catnap from which she would not awaken?

I heard facts ~ down to 5lbs, IV bags, blood tests, dialysis, age, etc..…


I saw images ~ an eight week old kitten with a partial shadowed face amidst a solid black litter; the mixed aromas of Lysol, ammonia and dirty fur at the pound; a symphony of barking dogs, mews and children squealing “look at that one mommy”. My oldest daughter, then eight years old, quietly gravitated towards the smallest strangest-looking cat, matching green eyes looking somberly at one another until my daughter turned to me in a silent plea.


I’m sure I tried to talk her out of it. That’s been my way for so long, needing age to mellow like a fine wine, to learn that I don’t have to be in control of everything.


Except on this day at the vet‘s office, I do. I have to make a decision. Our cat was alive in that moment and could have more time. But Troubles was suffering in that moment too. So through tears I said “it’s time”, blanketed Trouble in her favorite bed and toys and prayed for a paradise of green fields filled with flower-shaped, salmon-flavored treats.