The Reframing Project

The first day of summer finds me filled with adventure as I embark on a project for the season. 

This Reframing Project came to mind as I photographed various scenes for Claire's PhotoPlay

From June 21 - September 21, I invite you to join me as I view my work, world, and ways with renewed vision.

What do I mean about reframing?  Glad you asked...

The Collins English Dictionary includes the following definitions for reframe:

• to look at, present, think of beliefs, ideas, or relationships in a new or different way
• to say something in a different way

The Reframing Project provides the opportunity for me to look at and think about certain aspects of my life in a new or different way.  For example,  I am reframing my ideas and beliefs about:

 work, relationships, relaxation, fitness, fun, faith, and life dreams 

Remembering Daddy

Father's Day comes to me with mental snapshots of times with my father who died over 15 years ago. While life with Daddy was predictably unpredictable, I learned to appreciate and receive what he gave to me.

Interestingly, my husband helped my eyes open to the depths of my father's love for his children.   Past memories of disappointments obscured my vision at times.   Seeing Daddy - truly seeing his heart - could be as difficult as spying a butterfly (whose color blended with a branch) among flowers.

For about five years my husband and father worked in the same building - Daddy worked a night shift, while my husband worked during the day.  The two men - connected by me - often chatted in the morning during their coming and going.   At home, I would hear my husband share how proud my father was of his children and how he lovingly spoke of each one of us in the workplace. 

Slowly, surely, my vision expanded to see my father's heart for his children...to see him.  My heart made room for the father I came to know in a new way.  Compassion, gratitude, and love back filled the ruts from the past.  I am forever grateful to my husband for new perspective and to my Father God for healing.   I am grateful to my father for being my father.

Help Comes

Summertime and the reading listening is easy...

My daughter sent a gift to Grandma, my mother, in the form of an audio book: The Help

My mother was "the help" for several families during her young adult years. 

This work of fiction introduces the reader (or listener) to the 'help' and the 'helped' - the lives of women in Mississippi during the 1960's.

We listened; we chatted; we dozed; we smiled...

Mama shared memories of her experiences as the 'help.' 

Young woman whose mother died when she was little girl, mothered her children and children in other families. 


Young woman whose father died when she was a teen, learned to cook and clean and create.


Young woman learned  to live, love, lean because...

Help comes...

Forget-Me-Nots

This spring finds me digging in the earth more than I have done in years.

From basil to salvia; from tomatoes to peppers - life is blooming.

In the midst of the dirt; and with the drips of water, I remember:

We do: over and over

For 30 married years, my husband and I quietly repeat our wedding vows during weddings we attend.  We hold hands, just as we did the first time, and let the words of commitment form on our lips once again  -  I do. 

Simplicity and Ordinariness

Spending time at the beach (or near a body of water) provides an atmosphere in which I hear and see more clearly.  A recent visit to the ocean launched me into thoughts of simplicity - living life with clarity and purpose.

I had an opportunity to reflect on a visit with dearfriends.  While sharing time with them, I was given gifts of encouraging words that spoke specifically to my heart ponderings.  I was far from the beach physically, but the effect of that time of sharing was like a week on the shores of my favorite part of the ocean.  The simplicity of living an authentic life - knowing who I am, what my gifts are, and the guiding principle for living out the who and what of my life resurged within me.  I am grateful...

Community Health, Community Wealth

posted by Donna

Community Health

Throughout my career as a registered nurse, I worked primarily in community health settings,such as home care, hospice in the home, and schools.  Aside from the health care aspect of my work, community health settings reminded me to:

know and acknowledge my values, social customs and attitudes; and

be open to learning the values, social customs, and attitudes of the people with whom I came in contact.

Interactions with clients, families, and colleagues were enhanced when I remembered to live out the above two ways of being.