Tuesday, March 13, 2007

In This Skin

Morning Glory and her friend Lei have started a new series of writing challenges. I decided to challenge myself to write down a few thoughts this week and hopefully each time, I'll be able to think about some of life's deeper questions as they relate to me, in this time, at this place. So the first challenge was

"In This Skin"

In this skin,
I view life with more tolerance, patience, respect and compassion than ever before. I see the joy of small daily wonders - tulips gracing the kitchen table, a pretty envelope in the mail, a steaming cup of tea. I see a few (but only a few!) wrinkles - thanks to the many glasses of milk I've drank over the years. I don't see many grey hairs - thanks, E., who's the only one who really knows for sure!

In this skin,
I smell fresh buns baking and candles burning, spices and herbs simmering in soups and sauces, laundry fresh from the dryer, logs burning in the fireplace, silage and animals on our farm and the sweet baby powder softness of our 2 granddaughters.

In this skin,
I touch papers and thread in my studio as I retreat to play and create while preserving pieces of our life story. I smooth clean clothes and my early morning bedhead. I caress my husband's beard and his strong arms that offer me a safe retreat from the day's stresses.

In this skin,
I taste delectable treats - chocolate, cheesecake, chai lattes, pizza and fruits. But more importantly I taste the good things God has blessed me with so very generously - health, family, friends, all I need day to day, beauty in nature and goodness in people.

In this skin,
I hear the voices of loved ones as they call from their own homes now scattered further away. I hear the joyful sounds of our 2 sweet grandbabies as they play serenely and discover their voices. I hear myriad questions from my grade three students and their cries of wonder as they discover new things. I will soon hear the cries of new baby calves searching for their mama cows.

In this skin,
I am serene in my fifties, a child of God, seeking new challenges, striving for gains in personal fitness, happy with the little things, studying God's word, blessed beyond measure, immensely grateful, motivated to help others and eager to embrace the next stage of life.

19 comments:

  1. Wow! This was absolutely beautiful! I just loved reading your post. Just Wow! Serenity. Grace. Contentment. Happiness. How blessed we all are.

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  2. Mom, I love these little glimpses into who you are. It's amazing how I still think of you as mom, but long more and more our friendship to grow each day. You are elegant with your words, pulling at heart strings, and yet arousing bubbles of joy as we read about who you are and some of those most inner thoughts. I love you so much. Thank-you for sharing a little more with me today. Hugs.

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  3. Beautiful! I LOVE your perspective and appreciation for the little and subtle things. I love your descriptions. I want to appreciate the little beauties of life as much as you do! Thank you for the inspiration.

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  4. How amazing are you Crystal?? Such beautiful words and thoughts! I loved reading all of it!

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  5. Very moving and beautiful. Your thoughts are amazing!

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  6. Very beautifully said. Thank you.

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  7. Oh Crystal... You made me bawl here at work when I read your beautiful thoughts put into words. I really need to make more time to do this. Thanks for the inspiration

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  8. I love your approach to this via the five sense. So descriptive, unique and beautifully written!

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  9. Anonymous5:22 PM

    It's so obvious reading "in my skin" that you are filled with peace and happiness. God bless you always dear sister.

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  10. What amazing words Crystal! I loved reading this. I think I need to do a writing challenge too...I have some prompts saved...might have to pull them out. Thanks for being an inspiration! I miss seeing you around! :)

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  11. I love your take on this topic and the way you used your five senses to describe it all.

    It really is the little things in life that make it precious.

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  12. Hi Crystal,
    What a beautiful heartfelt post! I felt an instant connection to you, as we have so many similar blessings in our lives...
    I'm so glad you did this so that we had a chance to meet!
    :)

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  13. These were such wonderful expressions of how you feel. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this and to be part of this event.

    Just beautiful!

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  14. What an UPLIFTING post to read this morning! THANK you so much for sharing the wisdom that God has blessed you with in your life...we "younger" women need "older" women like you to look up to, model ourselves after. Thank you for being a godly woman with a godly perspective!! God bless!

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  15. p.s. Thanks for stopping by my place and for your very kind words! :-)

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  16. Enjoyed reading this post and "meeting" you for the first time.

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  17. Loved reading your beautiful thoughts. Very touching and inspiring to us all.

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  18. Oh, I LOVE how you used the five physical senses to touch our spiritual sense as well. Mmmm, we like the same smells!

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  19. Wow, what more can I add? What a great way to "count ones blessings". Beautiful...

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