New Beginnings

Have you ever stood in the middle of a field of sunflowers? I did last weekend while in Virginia visiting my granddaughter. It was a unique experience. There were rows upon rows of glorious yellow blossoms. Onlookers gathered, oohing and aahing over the beauty. Photos clicked constantly. 

I found myself amazed by what I saw. A sunkissed moment came upon me. While gazing across the sunflower fields, I felt the magnitude of nature's hand. Joy, my one word chosen in January, filled the air. A feeling of peace and contentment arose and I realized that I am a journeyer of life, choosing a path to finding joy. Have I succeeded this year in allowing joy to guide my travels?

I turn to my 2017 creed that I created for a mid-year check-in.

With a genuine spirit of wonderlust, I shall notice and wonder more about the ordinary, the commonplace, and the small things in life, seek joy daily, and share thoughts and feelings on positivity. By searching for joy, I hope to send it out into the world as a reminder that a "joyful heart is good medicine..."(Proverbs 17:22)

Beyond the great expanse

of poised sunflowers,

saluting the sun,

opportunity lies.

Joy exists.

©CV, 2017

a new chapter
new beginnings

a journey of faith-filled forevers

This month the Spiritual Journey first Thursday community under the leadership of Irene Latham is hosted by Julieanne Harmatz at To Read To Write To Be. I am heading over there now to read through the various responses. Join me! 

In the meantime, I leave you with a photo of my sunflower grandbaby, Sierra Kathryn, that brings immense joy to my family.

Beaching in the Atlantic Waters

July in Long Island always has had its heated days but this summer it seems to have been hotter than usual. 

What's a family to do when the heat reaches a record high? 

We go "beaching" because the cooling Atlantic Ocean waves are always ready to greet us for summerscapes moments. 

Take a stroll with me, #digipoetry style, 

to my favorite summerscape site, the beach.

Gentle reminder that I am collecting #imagepoems, digital creations, inspirational quotes, music, and photos for the digital, global gallery, #Summerscapes, I am designing. August 31, 2016 is the deadline. I hope that additional Poetry Friday friends will participate. 

Please visit my colleague, Julieanne Harmatz, at To Read, To Write, To Be for the Poetry Friday Round-up. Be sure to wish her a happy birthday.

Face-to-Face Meet-ups at NCTE 14 Lead to Forever Professional Friends

Slicers enjoying a morning Book Swap
with Margaret Simon, Julieanne Harmatz,
Fran McVeigh, and Tara Smith

There is nothing better than meeting up with a connected educator in person. First time moments are sheer joy. Eyes meet eyes and bear hugs spontaneously happen as a genuine greeting of friendship. When you connect via social media there is a bond that forms. Lives are shared. Learning is exchanged, and friendship is developed, but when there is a meet-up, the friendship is solidified.

It is quite an interesting feeling to have an online acquaintance meet-up. I have experienced many such "aha moments" this past week at NCTE 14. To the right are my Twitter buddies, now face-to-face friends, with whom I met up with and spent many stellar moments at NCTE 14. 

These lovely ladies are slicers, poets, and friends who make me smile as we learn together on line or write as a community for Slice of Life, Poetry Friday, DigitLit Sunday, Celebrate This Week, or Spiritual Journey Thursday. Margaret Simon, Julieanne Harmatz, and Fran McVeigh have even joined me as REFLECT WITH ME writers for my global galleries of artistic expressions. You can view their poems in the latest gallery that I unveiled: Summer Serenity Gallery.  Tara Smith will join us in future galleries. 

Two Writing Teachers'
Presentation at NCTE

As the weeks unfold, I will tell more stories of NCTE 14 and how it affected my learning and the growth of my PLN. For the time being, let it be known that slicing is now part of my language and life. I am grateful for The Two Writing Teachers' community of learners who have broadened my scope. Thank you, Stacey Shubitz, Dana Murphy, Betsy Hubbard, and Tara Smith for opening doors to an enriched writing collaborative and for a first time warm greeting at NCTE. (I am sorry that I did not take a photo of our first meet-up.)

Please visit Two Writing Teachers for the Slice of Life Story Challenge.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!