Celebrating the Story of Winter

When winter decided to make its entrance this season, it announced itself through many a storm. Its story unfolded each month through news flashes across the states and the ins and outs of winter blasts. This week, winter roared like a lion as it entered March. Its message was clear and visible: I am just not ready to give up my domain. I celebrate winter's story this week and reflect on each step it took. 

While winter raged this week, storm watch headlines became a gift of the spirit. Instead of bringing the tone of positivity down, it stimulated positive feelings for me. Weather became my kick starter for poems or stories as I creatively and positively approached what winter had to offer. Below is a progression in images of how I captured March's wintery entrance this week.

http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2015/03/in-like-lion-slice-of-life-challenge.html

http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2015/03/digging-out.html

http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2015/03/which-will-it-be.html

http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2015/03/journey-onward.html

http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2015/03/winter-morning.html

As I wake to celebrate another Celebration Saturday, there is a heaviness to the morning. The sky's grayness is weighted by the snow as it settles over the neighborhood. There is a mournful look to the landscape but as I search through my Google + posts, I see three by blogger friends (Violet Nesdoly, Vicki Day, and Amy Brennan) that resonate with me. In the words written are a message that leads me to a realization. Leaning in on someone is a step toward meeting each day with positivity. 

Words celebrate the story of life. Today, I offer this: when winter's world feels heavy, it is time to lean in, find the special someone to lift your heart, and walk out onto a fresh, clear day. Within the coldness of the air, find the breath that warms the morning. 

Celebrate life as we know it. 

Celebrate winter's story by sharing together moments. 

As the frost settles on the window pane, look over the Celebrate This Week site that Ruth Ayres created for bloggers to bring light to their special weekly moments and joys.

Also, find the warmth of friendship among the bloggers at Two Writing Teachers' Day 7 of the March SOLSC! #SOL15 site. 

May the beauty of the winter morning be reflected 

in the way you celebrate your day.

Journey Onward

In the stillness of the day,
listen to the whistling of the wind
as it whispers through the trees. 

Focus your gaze.
Look beyond the dense forest 

blanketed by snowdrops.

Follow the path, set in silence.

 With foresight and God speed,

let it lead you on. 

With an adventurous spirit 

Turn your gaze to the heavens.

Find the beacon that glistens on winter's land.

Reach up to the sky.

Dive into pillows of snow.

Stretch your arms to hold the joy of the sun.

With angel's wings

upon your shoulders 

fly above snow-kissed spaces.

Behold the wonders of the land,

untouched by earthly bonds.

Await the stillness.

It unfolds in shadows

kissed by winter's snowsun-

idyllic in its imaginings.

Hear the breath
rustling in your being,
holding court in the stilled quiet.

Pause and reflect
under the arched passageway
of spiritual peace and beauty.

Then, listen again for a gentle presence.

Live the adventure called life,
crafted by the Divine Hand
that holds the majesty of humankind. 

And in your quest find the means to walk the journey with the 

fruit of the Sprit-

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 

faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

(Galatians 5:22-23)

For those who reflect, this song will carry you to a meditative place as you journey.

In the spirit of adventure, move over to Holly Mueller's Spiritual Journey Thursday site to hear the perspectives of the blogging community on the word adventure. 

The storm keeps raging here on Long Island and so the journey of winter wonderings continues. May the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge accept this poetry as my offering for Day 5 of the winter collection of stories that I am piecing together during this month's challenge.

Life is a journey. Be inspired to walk it with a reflective eye and a thoughtful soul. Peace!

Which Will It Be?

I am out and about today in between appointments. I savor the moments of sunshine and warm weather-38 degrees and counting. The balminess of a March day that can't decide what it wants to be is felt.  My neighbor is outside with a shovel in her hand and we exchange laughter because shovel in hand, snow, water puddles, and frozen ice mounds are typical sights in the neighborhood. Snow shovels mark the perimeter of my house as symbols of what is to come.

As I start my day, I am appreciative of the winter snowsun that seems ready to melt some of the ice away. What a treat!  So off we go.

Everywhere I travel I find potholes-small ones, medium-sized ones, and big gapping holes in the roadways. Driving is a challenge. I need to dodge the holes in the streets. My son comments, "It's like being on a buggy ride today." Indeed! 

Up and down,

Bumpety-bump

we go.

Must we drive

oh, so slow?

Headline reads-Potholes have become just another part of the daily grind for New Yorkers. 



Channel 12 News spot announces that there is a shortage of salt to melt the ice.

It starts to rain-a change from snow but the big sign on the parkway flashes: 
Weather advisory from 7 pm to 7 am. 

Will the rain turn to snow and freeze leaving ice?

Will there be school closings? 

Will our LILAC/NRC Conference keynote presenters, Dick Allington and Pam Munoz Ryan, be able to travel into the New York airports before the storms hits Long Island? 

Suspense mounts. 

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Which Will It Be?

The itchy, twitchy feeling 

begins to swell.

I know it well.

People squirm

as weathermen tell.

Rain, snow, ice

Roll of the dice.

Which will it be?

Tomorrow we'll see. 

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Oops! 

Power outage cuts all lights. Computer goes down. I sit in total darkness with no flashlight in sight. Shades of Superstorm Sandy days.  

Stay tuned for more weather reports and how they impact life as I know it. In the meantime, I hope your roadways don't look like this:

It's Day 4 of the SOLSC. Check out Two Writing Teachers' Slice of Life Story Challenge and #SOL15 for record breaking numbers of offerings from bloggers across the states. 

Please also stroll over to Heidi Mordhorst's my little universe site to see the Forward...MarCH Challenge. Today's word is twitch.