• horizons,  landscape,  mountains,  Plants,  poems,  poetry,  sunsets,  trees

    I like that…

    July 12, 2023

    I, who live by words, am wordless when
    I try my words in prayer. All language turns
    To silence. Prayer will take my words and then
    Reveal their emptiness. The stilled voice learns
    To hold its peace, to listen with the heart
    To silence that is joy, is adoration.
    The self is shattered, all words torn apart
    In this strange patterned time of contemplation
    That, in time, breaks time, breaks words, breaks me,
    And then, in silence, leaves me healed and mended.
    I leave, returned to language, for I see
    Through words, even when all words are ended.

    I, who live by words, am wordless when
    I turn me to the Word to pray. Amen.

    Madeleine L’Engle, “Words”

    Those prayers of my youth for help have evolved over time to become more about gratitude, listening and staying present. I like that. Prayer has become much more than the words I say and more about the words I hear, yet are unheard. I like that. I can also say the same thing with my journaling, blogging and my photography. Each is becoming what it is meant to be. I like that. My friend shared this poem with me. I found it to resonate with me so I wanted to share it with you. This is last night’s sunset along Overland Trail. Directly behind me is a pond with a wonderful chorus of croaking frogs. I like that. Moments like this have become prayer to me, no need for my words. Well, maybe “Thanks.”

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  reflections,  sunrises,  sunsets,  Uncategorized

    A Good Decision

    April 29, 2023

    Each decision we make, good or bad, offers an opportunity to learn.

    ms

    This morning as I stepped out of my car and loudly shut the car door, I startled two Great Blue Herons feeding along the banks of Dixon Reservoir. As they flew away I realized I was rushing into this scene, looking for the image rather than being there. So, I took a deep breath, relaxed and watched the sunrise unfold, which brought a smile to my face. That was a much better decision than when I arrived. Lesson learned. Weather forecast is predicting 72 degrees today. Enjoy your Saturday! 1The decision to write this post was inspired by my friend Deb.

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  • clouds,  gratitude,  landscape,  sunsets

    Yes, giving thanks…

    April 10, 2023
    Friday evening’s sunset at Cobb Lake State Wildlife Area

    At the end of the day, give up your worries and give thanks for the journey.

    Ben Vereen

    It is another beautiful day here in Colorado. Just finished a busy morning with cardiac rehab and an echocardiogram. Good news is the new aortic valve is working just fine. Hope everyone is thankful they remembered where they hid all the eggs!

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  • landscape,  mountains,  Plants,  seasons,  sunsets,  trees,  winter scenes

    Post Surgery Update

    March 16, 2023
    A cold blue sunset back in February 2021

    Overcast skies dominate and it’s windy, definitely a bad hair day. Want to update my status after surgery. The TAVR procedure went well. They were done in just over an hour. Surgery started at 7:00 am and I was home about 5:00 pm. They fractured the original valve that was installed back in 2018 and inserted a new valve inside of that one. All done through the arteries. Amazing! My body seems to know nothing about a new aortic valve being installed. However, my groins are well aware of the three catheters invasive entry into my body, one in my wrist and one in each groin. I walk with pain, bent over like an old man, slow and deliberate, one foot in front of the other. Getting up and down from a chair is a slow process also. All tests done so far show the valve working perfectly and the gradient numbers of 40 we saw before surgery are now below 20. That tells us the heart is not working as hard pre surgery. I cannot say enough for the care I received from the medical staff and all the support and outreach from family and friends. Now comes the slow recovery process but this is nothing like I had with my open heart surgery four years ago. More to follow. Hope you are having a wonderful day!

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  • Avian,  landscape,  quotes,  sunsets

    Sacred Bond

    March 4, 2023
    Setting sun at Rowland Moore Park – 2017

    Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.

    Robin Wall Kimmerer
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  • landscape,  natural areas,  sunsets

    Sunset

    February 15, 2023

    All went well with the Left Heart Catheterization on Monday. I am still a bit tender around the entry point on my right wrist today but other than that it was a breeze. The good news is there are no blockages or need for stents. My heart is in good shape.

    I met with the surgeon this afternoon to see what options are available. We have a difference of opinion between the doctors. The surgeon wants to wait until my platelets numbers are back to normal before any open heart surgery. He also described a second open heart surgery, with grafting, as major surgery. He seemed reluctant to do the surgery and believes placing a valve via TAVR a better solution. What we have are two doctors seeing this from two different viewpoints. So the two will get together and discuss this more. May have word by Friday.

    Tomorrow I will have my first of four iron infusions in an attempt to bring my platelet numbers into the normal range. They will also draw blood to see what my numbers look like. It has been almost 4 weeks since they did blood work. Thanks again for your prayers and positive thoughts.

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