From the Heart... Vol II August 2025 -

Welcome to more creative writing From the Heart. And while I must admit I am new to creative writing, I really do enjoy it, and hope to write more as the memories come my way, in moments of quiet or reflection! 

In life, there are so many happenings, people, and changes that affect us deeply. And as kind and loving people, it is only natural that it will spill over into all that we do, know, and love...and while writing down stories and ideas is not new, these stories are mine. And the more I return here to offer a story or two, I realize this is as much a diary of my life as it is stories to entertain. 

I decided to dig some out of my memories, write them and others down, and post them here. To share yes, but more for my own self-encouragement to write even more...Because life continues to roll along on a wonderful route, and I no longer want to be comfortable as just the big girl in the back. Where I felt safest for the vast majority of my life. And with that said, I thank you for indulging me with your visit today...

please note: While this is a published page, I will from time to time return to the stories and memories already shared to update with a photo, correct a typo, or continue a dropped thought, thank you for your understanding.

I do love roses!

They are a bit fussy, the nursery pots attract ants like they were a free condo offering an all you can eat buffet 24/7, and right about the time you think you have given the roses everything they need in the way of water, sunshine, fertilizer, a massage, and essential oils to offer a pleasant environment to grow in, they might give you a bloom or two! I jest, but in some ways roses are too fussy and in other ways they offer me memories that cannot be ignored. 

The yellow rose in the lower left corner is a rose I bought in Montana, in reembrace of my beloved Grandmother Carter. I have actually purchased and planted a yellow rose in the last six homes I have lived in. All to remember grandmother by. And as the house was flipped and hit the market, not only did I say goodbye to the home I had built, but the rose as well. Of course by now it was well established in the garden of that house, and became a gift to the new owners. 

But when we hit Montana as a stopping place for our next adventure, I felt that I did not want to leave my yellow rose behind anymore. When we packed up to move to Wyoming, that rose in the lower corner, came with. And I even took it one step further with the help of my husband. When we started National Park Service Volunteering once again, that rose, hit the road with us and was part of every camp we lived in during our assignments. As well as on the road to get there and back again. The first item off the truck was the rose when we arrived and the last item loaded on the truck when we left, was, yes, the rose. 

Grandmother's rose gave us blooms for Christmas in Arizona. Grandmother's rose was on and off the truck until we packed up to move to Texas. And it was the last thing loaded for that move. It bloomed right away once here! Which turned out to be one of the hottest summer in decades! Immediately Grandmother's rose became the yellow rose of Texas. 

Currently all the roses need a good trimming, but Grandmother's rose needs it most of all. It is bushy, and the blooms are almost miniature in size. It has continued to grow and offer me beautiful flowers for the dining room table, year after year, move after move. Proving how strong and resilient something considered delicate can be, even when the reputation of being delicate is earned, LOL. And reminds me everyday that I too, need to show up, and never give up! 

 

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News we never thought we would ever hear?

What do you do when you get a report of news you never thought you would hear? Do you crumble? Do you shrug it off? Do you need to think about it until you no longer have a gut lining? Or do you come back around and realize that just the day before, receiving the news, you had no idea of any issue, and were living life as you always had? 

Speaking for myself, I do it all. Upon hearing the news, I am absolutely shook to my core, then I go through every scenario of doom, and then I slowly come back around to realize that I can (and will!) continue to do the best I have the ability to do to manage it all, and that it or rather I, will be OK. 

Sometimes OK, is all there is. For those times when you cannot reverse what you were just told or learned about. So it is best to get the first few knee jerk reactions out of the way and simply get back to living. Because that was exactly what your were doing right up to the exact second the phone rang... 

Thank you for visiting From the Heart Vol II beginning August 2025.