Shilah Writes

Something I have learned after miles and miles of marriage is that God often improves on what seems like failure to me. After our door was unlocked and we were safely in our car, headed down the highway, we felt exhaustion slowly seeping into our bones. The miles seemed to creep by. But we were thankful that the roads were good and we were heading home once more. Throughout the afternoon, Google maps informed us of road closures due to snow storms, but all the roads we chose for our route still looked good.  So onward we drove. North into Colorado, a scenic route we had never taken before. Occasionally we saw drifting snow beginning to form on the edge of the highway. Tumble weed rolled across the road countless times. Even elk and coyotes were on the move. Things took on an ominous feel shortly after we entered a small town late in the afternoon and began looking for our new road. We only got about 500 yards down our new route when abruptly the road stopped. The snow bank covering...

  Miles and miles of marriage. That's true after 27 years. The last two anniversaries have been quite memorable. The one last year was so extreme that I've only talked about it in small sketches. It is far enough away finally, that I am beginning to see the humor in it. This past anniversary celebration was on vacation in Italy. Which in a lot of ways was not nearly as bizarre as the prior one, but still had it's moments of touch and go. My husband has the ability to shut out a bad memory about five minutes after it happens. So when you are in the midst of a series of unfortunate events, each one disappears as a new one makes it approach. I am not like that. My experiences are felt, tasted, and seen with deep poignancy, joy or agony. Except I do have to admit, after 27 years I am learning to temper all those emotions with realism and practicality and help from the Holy Spirit. Thank God. Anyway...Anniversary #26 We are in Arizona...It's six a.m. and we are just leaving ...

  Sunday afternoon. I look up from my computer and see a small area of blue sky and sunshine. We are rapidly losing our snow. I don't mind at all. Winter lasts forever and takes away all hope of another spring.  And then suddenly, the forever of winter is over and hope comes alive with buds forming and muddy walking trails.  Bruce and I are leaving on our first trip to Europe this week. It's our anniversary month. 27 years, if you were wondering...In 2020 we started picking and doing an adventure of some sort in the dead of winter. This year we are finally able to go to Italy. One thing I am learning about life is that it brings lows with highs and sorrows with joys. It's often both at the same time. Also, I am thankful more than ever for the steadfast love of our God. His faithfulness unto all generations. I have a current situation where fear lingers on the edges of trust. If even for a moment, I take my eyes off God Almighty and His power and His victory, the fear and ...

  I dreamed last night my cell phone was stolen. In my dream I was surprised at my depth of grief over its loss. I had no idea how attached I had become to minute by minute reports of my children's whereabouts and their well-being. Shaunti is starting her second term of Bible school and has been sick for two weeks of the three weeks of first term. I hear her voice over the phone and watch her program over the internet and see her carry her familiar water bottle around on stage...the same tactical part of her that sits on my kitchen counter most evenings in preparation for the next day of work, when she's home. Funny how a lifeless item can mean something to a mom. A week goes by so quickly. So does a year. I went in for a cleaning to the dentist this week and found it was time to renew my yearly plan. And that I have need of a crown. This doesn't suit me at all. I am going to Italy the month of February with my man and that is expense enough. About crowns...I figure if I am...

  It has been wicked cold the last week. Cold makes people do weird things. Like browse seed catalogues, debate about hybrid or organic practices of horticulture, order seeds, and plan their gardens. They sit inside endless hours looking at the beautiful sunshine and resisting the urge to go out in it. Looks can be deceiving as we know, the frosted over windows and doors bely this. Better to stay inside and stay safe. However, after a few hours of snuggling in with YouTube, Instagram, and Netflix or Prime, you feel generally overwhelmed with the state of the world. Some people, will even succumb to its clutches and let it upset them and make proclamation about how people are getting dumb and dumber. And I agree. Except I think people have always been getting dumb and dumber but didn't always have social media platforms to expose themselves to the whole world. Which leads me to remember the lawsuit many years ago about the woman who spilled hot coffee on her lap from a known fast fo...

  The week between Christmas and the New Year is one of my favorite...maybe I like it even more than Christmas. I love the cleaning up, evaluating, and closure of one year's accumulation.  I don't feel bad if I don't reach all my goals. This year I wanted to read at least 23 books in honor of 2023. I felt that should be fairly attainable since I would call myself an avid reader. However, I did not read that many books. Camper living while building a house is a lot harder than it looks. And I had a very nice "wait and see" garden to keep up with as well. But I am happy to say I still read 13 or 14 books plus my Bible quite faithfully. So that is better than not having made a goal and tried at all. Right? I put away Christmas on the 26th. By that, I mean, the decor. The pine and ribbons and tree. All gone. Put away. And the feeling of light and air and freshness inspires me greatly. I see surfaces again. My house plants take back their place in the living room under...

  I learned that a month goes by very slowly when one is challenging herself to write everyday. Also, I learned that a month goes by very quickly when you are noticing moments and thinking about what you will write next. I found that I didn't always know what was going to come out of my pen. And I was surprised by what did somedays. The uncovering of ones soul is refreshing and embarrassing at the same time. I realized I have a very good life and that I like it very much. I am deeply grateful for ordinary and boring moments. God's grace is abundant in my weakness. That makes living so very good. My dog teaches me lessons about my relationship with God. I'm not a dog person naturally but am morphing into one. For sure. I promise you however, I am not one of those people that tolerates dogs better than babies on an airplane. I will never forget flying with babies and being given the dirty eyeball, whilst the dog owner was doted on. I digress. I saw more what I value and also ...