Tag: Reflections and Gratitude

Poems

fragrance of leaves
in the gardens
what good friends
we became
as we grew older

Time Of Singing, A Journal Of Christian Poetry. Fall 2019. Lora Homan Zill is the Editor.

They Gave Us Life: Celebrating Mothers, Fathers & Others in Haiku. Edited by Robert Epstein. Middle Island Press, 2017.

cooler weather and strong winds
all the leaves falling and we see the shapes of trees
light streams into the house as the sun moves south
red geraniums still bloom
October turns to face November

Poems From Oostburg, Wisconsin
October 2011

reading
in a sunny corner
of the house
I could be
any age

WestWard Quarterly, The Magazine of Family Reading. Winter 2016. Shirley Anne Leonard is the Editor.

Image is from wpclipart.

Poems are by Ellen Grace Olinger.

sitting in the sun

sitting in the sun
with a cup of decaff
wearing 3 layers for warmth
Aunt Merc’s daffodils
warm as the sun

My great-aunt, Mercedes Schwanke, lived to be almost 100.  She lived on the East Side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I planted daffodils after her funeral, years ago, as a symbol of the Resurrection.

L  ove
E  xpressed
T  ranscending
T  ime . . .
E  verlasting
R  emembrance of
S  ouls

Acrostic poem for LETTERS

Ellen Grace Olinger – April 2012 archive

patterns on my floor

Easter And Spring Poetry

patterns on my floor
moving with the breeze
sun from the West
highlights
branches of leaves

Time Of Singing
Volume 38, Number 1
Spring 2011

The vintage image is courtesy of Reusable Art.

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Growing Older: Reflections and Gratitude

How grateful I am to be growing older. There were significant health challenges for me in 2018. I think of this year as “Recovery Phase 2.” I rest in faith and good care. I also say “daily dedication and small steps.”

As I helped with my mother’s care, I saw that part of being older is the acceptance of how life changes. People we once knew “in person” may no longer be here.

In 1987, I earned the Doctor of Education (Ed.D) degree at Northern Illinois University. This past week, a fellow student, Gretchen, passed away. In the previous many years, Regina, and then Karen, also passed away. I help with an email newsletter, as professors and students have stayed in touch. They all have achieved so much, and continue to serve. We honor all.

Many ways to serve and make a contribution. A blog post that sends out light, joy, creativity, and hope is wonderful. I enjoy reading/viewing posts each day.

Karl’s photos add so much to my/our blogs. Here are a few from 2018:

Lake Michigan
Oostburg, Wisconsin
July 2018

Garden Journal
July 2018

I continue to pray the Psalms. They give me strength, hope, and are both familiar and always new.

Ellen Grace Olinger