Recalibrating Life Rhythms

Life takes me on a new road now as I have wished for a year-and-half since my husband passed away suddenly. During this time in which grief overtook my life, I have been out-of-rhythm with clutter all around me. Overwhelming thoughts and things-to-do followed me each day. Family and friends bolstered me as I searched for the slowdown moments and ways to restore my soul and revive my heart. Recently, I found the turning point that led me to a new road. 

It started in August with the family vacation back to Long Island and then on to Cape May. The beach environment provided time to calm down while watching the glistening waves rolling into shore. Nature's sparkles and the sun's warmth provided memories from years of summertime moments at the ocean.

Then,. on August 27, 2026, my husband's ashes were interred into a beautiful, peaceful place of rest, the columbarium niche in Arlington National Cemetery. The grounds, military chaplain, interment specialist, and the precise rhythm of diligent soldiers offered a tranquil setting. This memorable event opened my heart to a new chapter of life. For eight days since then, I have felt the spirit of hope allowing me to rest in the ocean of God's infinite love. Richard's journey has come to rest also with a serene spiritual closure.

A Life of Journeys

he brought me to seas

cuddled me in ocean waves

wrapped me in sunsets

💗

we walked the shores of life

throughout the seasons

met challenges, celebrated what was

💗

until his lifelong journey

suddenly stopped    grief entered

faith guided me

💗

he now rests with God

in pure peace for evermore 

I rest with pure faith

💗

I feel our bonds

across the ocean waves

in God I trust

draft CVarsalona, 2026

This month has reminded me that life does not have to be out-of-rhythm. September days bring a celebration of life for my adult children's and cousin's birthdays. The escalating heat of summer will transition into the cool breath of Autumn days. With hope in my heart, Nature's rhythms will ground me on my spiritual journey. I know that time will flitter on like a butterfly moving within from flower to flower in our garden.  Instead of worrying about lost time, I shall appreciate each day in a slow-down approach to life. Will this new rhythm bring me a continual, gentle peace? I hope so but in the real world of life, I know that there will be roadblocks on the journey. It's time to reclaim the rhythm of life!

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Spiritual Journey 2026

Logo: Margaret Simon and Photo: Molly Hogan

This month, a dear friend, book lover, and writer, Ramona Behnke, is hosting the community's Spiritual Journey Thursday . Her beautiful post shares a book, The Sacred Pulse, Holy Rhythms for Overwhelmed Souls by April Fiet. I eagerly found the introduction online and dug into its thoughts. This is a must-read book for me. Thank you, Ramona.. Click here to read Ramona's post and find other sojourners ' posts.

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Poetry Friday

Ocean on a Calm Moment (CVarsalona)

The Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by the creative poet and author, Patricia J. Franz. Her post, Summer Wanes, is a beautiful combination of Emily Dickinson's poem, Forever, and Patricia's Summer Ends' poem. Click here to read Patricia's and other poet's posts.

Postcard from Long Island's Sunkissed Shore

There's nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away."          - Sarah Kay

For 45 years, the south shore of Long Island, New York became my family's go to happy place. My husband was a beach lover since a child. Sea air fresh like morning dew drew us to the ocean throughout the year but summer was a special season for sunkissed days of rest and renewal. I fell in love with the sea breeze, sound of the tide moving in a rhythmic pattern, and the ease of relaxing in sparkling sand. To capture the beauty of the ocean, I created the above digitized image of the Atlantic Ocean in Long Beach. A postcard was created after I captured the ocean waves rushing to shore. 

While in vacation in New York and Cap May, I felt the ocean wind luring me back to nature, I  watched the tide dance toward the shore. I paused to ask myself one question, "What opens my heart and mind to the mystic call of the sea?"

the ocean lures me

shimmering like royal jewels

in summer's sunshine

seagulls circulate

skyward landing at shore lines

watching ocean tides

sea treasures surface

rinsed by tidal water

families gather

seawaves swell with might

slow down with gentle noises

sea souvenirs surface

within the ocean

one finds the rhythm of life

rest and renewal

the ocean calls me

quiet presence free

draft ©CVarsalona, 2026

Dear Friends,

Sea waves and gushing sounds lulled me into quiet moments of deep thought. A new pathway unfolds as nature and hope nurtures my life. I realize now that my one word, restore, arrived at the beach along side me  I felt its presence. The summer of 2026 has become my turning point. Jeremiah 29:11 states,: "For I know well the plans I have in mind for you-oracle of the Lord-plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope." (Catholic New American Bible) With hope I shall move onward. - Carol

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The Poetry Sisters (Liz, Sara, Tanita,Tricia,Mary Lee)

invited #PoetryPals to write a haiku sonnet. While not ever writing one, I gave it a try using the four 3-line haiku plus a couplet of 5 syllables and 14 lines format. 

and Mona Voelkel, our host.

Mona found a wishing rock on Charlestown Beach and created a delightful poem. Join her blog to read more poetry from the Poetry Friday community.

Note: It was a busy week so my entrance is later than I wished. I will indulge in Poetry Friday reading this weekend.

Lure of the Ocean

"At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun." - Sandy Gingras

Sunset Beach, Cape May, 2026

Last Sunday, my family and I drove to Long Island, New York and midweek to Cape May, New Jersey. The ocean was calling us to enjoy its seaside beaches. I was inspired by the first line of Sandy Gingras' quote and made the decision to push grief aside and let nature nurture life. Below you will discover the golden shovel poem I created with the first line of the Gingras' quote, "At the beach, life is different."

🏖

August's dog days call me to vacation at

shimmering shorelines that bring the

breath of breezy ocean winds to the beach

I walk on heated sand pondering my life

style, from a harried year and a half to what is 

needed for a pathway that is different

©CVarsalona, 2026, Golden Shovel

🏖

For fifty years, my summertime days rested on nature's shores. There was a lure about the ocean. I recalled the glorious vistas of Long Island and Cape May beaches with the sun's awakening rays and billowy clouds layering a blue-toned sky. Early on the first by-the-sea-day, the brilliance of the ocean was inviting. The beach was a calm place for rest, recovery, and renewal on summer days, so this morning, I paused to remember the golden days of past summer excursions to the beach. Memories of family vacations brought images of soft, warm sand, and seagulls swirling above rushing waves, seeming to be free and unburdened by life's challenges. Small seashells and smooth rocks road through sea foam back to the shore as tides rushed in. I heard the squeal of my grandgirls, as they searched for ocean treasures that nature offered. Their excited glee blended with the swooshing sounds of the sea from Long Beach to Cape May. It was a time to relax, reflect, and recharge!

gateway to peace

golden sunrise, rushing waves

sunkissed moments rise

©CVarsalona, 2026

Sunset at Cape May, NJ

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at

Denise Krebs' Dare to Care blog.

Denise is today's Poetry Friday host who has been writing poetry and reading throughout August. The Roundup of poets and their writing begins tonight.

Looking Back on a Special Summer Day with a Midyear Pantoum

Friday, July 31st is a revered day in my home. 

On this day in 2026, I remember excitedly peeking through the doorway of the church to see my husband-to-be. "I love him so much, I blurted out to my uncle. Time passed. Each decade brought joys and challenges. Five years ago, Richard and I decided to commit to a renewal of vows at the beautiful Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Northern Virginia. Little did we know that our dream would not come to be.

Over the years, I have learned that life is fragile and uncertain as  it continues through seasons of change. I did hope for my Golden Anniversary to be a celebration of love and enjoyment, not to be spoiled by the hands of grief. Two weeks ago, my family gathered at Girasole, a countryside-garden restaurant for a celebration dinner of authentic, regional Italian cuisine. The beautiful country restaurant was the site my husband and I chose to have our anniversary dinner a few years ago. This year, I wished to have a special family gathering and my family agreed. A beautiful summer evening became the site for a quiet, private remembrance of what was in life.

It just so happened that the Poetry Friday Roundup was scheduled for July 31st. I started to write my blog post on Thursday with a thoughtful intent to join the August Challenge created by the Poetry Sisters', Tanita, Mary Lee, Laura, Tricia, and Liz.  The prompt for creating a pantoum poem was selected from Padraig O Tuama's Poetry Unbound challenge in January. Padraig introduced a Midyear Pantoum on where you are now, and where your hopes take you by the end of the year. He noted that the first step was to write eight lines that would fold into a pantoum. I always enjoy the writing of the Poetry Sisters and Poetry Pals, Michelle K Patricia F, Denise, and Margaret. who contributed to the challenge. Because of the family weekend, I never was able to submit my post so two weeks later, while on our family vacations, I pause to finish what I started.

Midyear Thoughts regarding a pattern of life changes. (Instead of eight lines, I clusted my thoughts under three ideas: the past, present, and future.)

• How did my life move forward after April 2, 2025? For a year, I passed through seasons of change without my husband. I listened to Earth's movements, especially at night while I was alone. Throughout the first few months, sleeping was erratic. I felt broken down as tensions stormed like rainstorms. I grieved, held on to faith through the storms, and prayed in the stillness of night, noting that changes needed to unfold.
• Where am I now? I hold on to faith and hope, like my Nonnie and Mother did during trying times. I listen for the call to mingle beyond family life, open my heart, not be frightened by the darkness of grief, and step forward to seek bereavement counseling. Tears still appear like rainstorms when I feel the loss. Coldness at night brings back memories of the past, when I had more than just a heating blanket to keep me warm. I watch the transitions of nature's seasons and write when there is time.
• Where will this journey take me? The petals of springtime, the variations of summer sounds, and the shore melding with swooshing ocean waves are nature's way to nurture my mind, body, and spirit. I am eager to feel the soft sways of the sea bringing me to a calmer me. On the summer vacation, I will dig deeper, pausing to meditate what will come next. With two more seasons ahead, I trust that my mind, body, and spirit will feel the power of faith growing while I hold on to the hope of joyful tomorrows. Little, watchful steps is what I need and the transitions of season will help me find deeper ways to move forward.

Passing Through Seasons of Change

darkness covered the path

one life passed on

nighttime sounds began to echo

tensions rose like April storms

one life passed on

nature changed seasons

tensions rose like April storms

grief found its nesting spot

nature changed seasons

wisps of springtime air moved through

grief found its nestling spot

as sleepless nights brought prayer

wisps of springtime air moved through

slipping loneliness inside darkened spaces

sleepless nights brought prayer

summer shared joyful memories

loneliness slipped inside darkened spaces

sun's rays reached out

summer shared joyful memories

family life moves onward

Draft, CVarsalona, 2026

morning gull observes

sea-sparkling foamy tides

swooshing through life

nature's meditation time

shares sunkissed peaceful moments

Draft, CVarsalona, 2026

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Poetry Friday logo by Molly Hogan

Thank you to our wonderful Poetry Friday host, photographer/poet, Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone. Her blog shared Georgia Heard's and Irene Latham's workshop, "Words that Sing and Soar: The Joy of Words in Poetry" followed by her own poem,"Still".

What's On My Heart and In My Spirit!

Prompt for August's Spiritual Journey:

What is on your heart and in your spirit?

Linda Mitchell, the host of August's Spiritual Journey Thursday, invited the Spiritual Journey community to reflect upon what we felt today. Since my life is still unpredictable, I will start with what happens in my real world. I often need to juggle my thoughts based on issues, challenges, or appointments. Let's start with the:

Evening Disturbance & Morning Thoughts

 

While reading this morning, I discovered a light on the virtual path. I would like to say that I tossed grief aside, but in reality, grief never goes away. With my one word, "restore," on my side, the Bible verse below confirms that my broken heart and spirit will be restored in my spiritual journey.

DailyVerses.Net

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What's On My Heart and In My Spirit!

On sunkissed days

I breathe in summer air, 

Pause, then listen to the call

Of my grieving heart and spirit.

I breathe in summer air and 

Clear what's causing confusion within.

My grieving heart and spirit

Accept the challenge to let go of fear and doubt.

Clear what's causing confusion within.

Divine Truth will restore my life in every part,

Accept the challenge to let go of fear and doubt.

With this, I shall walk a renewed path.

Divine Truth will restore me in every part.

Calmness will bring a crown of peace.

With this, I shall walk a renewed path,

On sunkissed days

©CVarsalona, 2026, Pantoum

Photos at Adler Hospice Center, A Place of Peace

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evening light glows

layered in peace

tranquility speaks

©CVarsalona, 2026, haiku and photo

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

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POETRY FRIDAY

Off to the Beach

Ruth at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town is our host from Uganda where she teaches. She shares a cheerful poem, For the Bird Singing Before Dawn by Kim Stafford.

My timing is off these days, so excuse my late entrance.

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Sea Scattering Remembrance

"To the waters and the wild-I leave you not in sorrow, but in love." 

Sea Scattering Remembrance

on a sunkissed day of memories

tiny feet mark morning sand

seawater sparkles in sunshine

little grandgirls quietly wait  

tiny feet mark morning sand

a tranquil ceremony begins

little grandgirls quietly wait 

gentle waters offer solace

a tranquil ceremony begins

seasparkles illuminate the ocean

gentle waters offer solace

our heavy hearts sigh

seasparkles illuminate the ocean

peaceful waters move closer to shore

our heavy hearts sigh

tiny hands watch and wait

peaceful waters move closer to shore

grandgirls tiptoe forward

tiny hands wait their turn

on this sea scattering morning

grandgirls tiptoe toward the tide

light sweeps across the ocean

on this sea scattering morning

we honor Grandpa's endearing love

light sweeps across the ocean

in tribute to what was

we honor Grandpa's endearing love

his story remains in our hearts

©CVarsalona, Summer 2026

"Let the gentle rocking of the ocean carry you away. You are loved, you are cherished, you are deeply missed."

Note: The above quote and the opening one are signed anonymously. AI states that the first quote "adapts phrasing from W. B. Yeats' poem, "The Stolen Child".

The Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Tanita S. Davis, who is enjoying the excitement of new publications and a reminder that the Poetry Sisters will open the door to a new challenge for next week. Click here to read her blog and many others in today's Poetry Friday.