Time to Trust

October 1st, opened "as a beautiful, bright autumn day, with air like cider and a sky so blue you could drown in it." – (Diana Gabaldon)  Trees began to change their colors with some reddish and golden hues.  It was time for Lady Autumn to spread her colortones so the season could mature.  She did not hurry through this transition from September to October, yet she opened her heart to couple the natural plan of seasonal movement with the Lord's plan and His gentle blessing for earth. 

In mid-afternoon today, I drove through the countryside to the Capital Caring Adler Center for Caring, the hospice site where my husband passed on. I was in awe of nature's countryside scenery. The quiet of nature's still movements and the beauty of early autumn allowed me time to feel what Henry David Thoreau thought centuries ago, "Heaven is under our feet as well as over our head."  It seemed apparent that Nature was not hurrying through the transition of seasons. I was to trust in the slow work of God.  While not a patient person since childhood, I finally found that being in the present moment is a positive self-care choice to slow down. I trusted that my journey on the spiritual journey would bring a sense of peace.  While feeling the progression of ups and downs along with perpetual in-and-out grief, I knew I needed to take a giant pause.

When arriving at the Adler Center this afternoon, I delivered the flower bouquets for patients and staff that were created by my Creekside Cares community. I then decided to pause and walk the beautiful grounds searching for the labyrinth maze my bereavement counselor told me about. The pathway and benches offered mindfulness in the moment time with the art of being calm. My son said a prayer for his father before entering the labyrinth. There was peace in the air as the birds chirped and the sun continued to send its rays to earth. In those moments of remembrance, I wished my husband could have shared the beauty of this autumn day in a setting that God had blessed, but life is what it is.  I know now how vital it is to put my trust in the Lord's hand and honor His plan.  

Once again, I look back to January and my one word, restore. At that time, I needed hope to restore my soul, revive my heart, and renew my life in every part.  Now at this time of year, I realize it is a necessity to add trust as another goal. I need to slow down and believe that God is gradually forming a new spirit within me.  I want trust to become a sacred word, so I shall lean on the Lord who is my strength and my song - Isaiah 12:2.  

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Today is Spiritual Journey Thursday, hosted by Patricia Franz. She asked the community to reflect upon the following prompt on trust, "Where, how are you trusting - or struggling to trust - in the slow work of God?  Patricia offered us a beautiful prayer, Patient Trust by Pierre Teilhand de Chardin, SJ. I have read this prayer many times tonight. I hope you join Patricia and other writers in the community.

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I incorporated Poetry Friday with my Spiritual Journey Thursday blog post because my just-for-me time is always sparse. I thank Margaret Simon for hosting the PF Roundup this week. You can find that here. Once you are in her website you may also be interested in reading Margaret's post on trust. You can find that here.

Now that we are entering October, I hope many of my colleagues will offer your creative work for Autumn's Ephemeral Gold Gallery of Artistic Expressions. The invitation can be found here and the padlet here.

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

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we walked the shores of life

throughout the seasons

met challenges, celebrated what was

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until his lifelong journey

suddenly stopped    grief entered

faith guided me

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he now rests with God

in pure peace for evermore 

I rest with pure faith

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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.

Rainy Days Pass On

I breathe in, breathe out, while the series of rain storms soak the neighborhood. Despite the darkness and dampness of several days of showers, a new day dawns with a blue sky overhead and the greenness of earth surrounding me. Red azaleas are blossoming after the latest storm saturated the bushes. This sign of life lifts my spirit and dresses the earth in color. As I sit watching the morning sunlight and the swaying of branches on my pear tree, I feel a quiet stream of words unfolding. Using the inspirational quote by Vivian Greene, I review the digital collage I designed and begin to write a golden shovel poem.

I breate in life,

washing away what isn't

anymore. I listen to birds singing about

the freshness of life waiting.

I breathe in springtime's air for

a revival of my heart beating in the

 sloshing, pounding storms

of fear hoping for calmness to

wipe away sorrows that will  pass.

What life offers is in the future; it's

spring shaping new buds, news about

humans understanding and learning

how to bring about a new era, to

not engage in animosity, but dance

with each other in

calmer times, breathing in the

peaceful sounds of gentle rain.

draft, CVarsalona, 2026

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It's the last day of the 2026 National Poetry Month, 30 days of trying to push away grief bursts, and find time to write. I am amazed at the commitment of our community to create a Progressive Poem that grew from one map and one line to a poem of 30 lines of outstanding verse. This poem not only is a magical adventure to the Land of Poetry. It ends with an inspirational mantra, 'Words transform and restore us!"  I am delighted to add the Progressive Poem with the its map to my Spring Seeds Grace April Padlet that you can find here.

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For those who are interested in adding an artistic expression to the Spring Seeds Grace April Padlet, please do so. I plan on showcasing the Padlet Gallery in mid-May. 

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The Poetry Roundup is hosted by a long-time poet friend, Rose Cappelli, at Imagine the Possibilities. Rose is sharing her tankas that are her 2026 National Poetry Month project.

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It is time to bid adieu to the 2026 National Poetry Month, but you can visit the projects at Jama Rattigan's Kidlithosphere Events Roundup.

National Poetry Month-Day 30/30

Autumn Leaves

As the wind tosses fresh leaves across lawns and driveways, I paused reflecting on Emily Bronte's words from her poem, Fall, Leaves, Fall: "Every leaf speaks bliss to me / Fluttering from the autumn tree". Then, I discovered Emily Dickinson's envelope poems.

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How to Write Your Own Envelope Poem (that begins and ends with the same line)

See Writing Workshop at Teaching Authors for more information

from April Hayland Wayland.

1. Brainstorm what you'd like to write about.  

2. Now start writing-mediocre ideas or good ideas, it doesn't matter-just keep your pen moving. 

3. Play with lines until you find one that is strong enough to begin and end your poem. 

4. Polish your poem. Read it aloud . 

5) Let it rest for a few days. Read it again. Polish it some more. 

6) Do you love it? Then, let your poem out of its envelope! Share it with a friend.

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Quick Write - Haiku

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Thank you, Patricia Franz, for hosting Poetry Friday this week. Besides being a wonderful author and poet she is inviting writers to join her with their own place-based, outdoor-themed poem.

Continue to have a wonderful autumn. The trees are finally parading their finery. Don't forget to check out the poetic goodness from the Poetry Friday writers at Patricia's blog, Reverie.

Not a Typical Mother's Day

Sometimes, life moves in ways not expected. It can be as unpredictable as storms that pass through or as bright as spring skies offering rebirth. As I reflect, on this past Mother's Day, I realize it was a day not expected yet filled with the love of family. 

I never imagined that I would celebrate the day in the ICU wing of the hospital as opposed to having a leisurely breakfast brunch with my family. What began as a simple umbilical hernia repair turned into much more, two rare hernias most common in women over 65 with a bladder tear, a second surgery detained, pneumonia, and a fungal bacteria. I am spent but there is always hope and family love.

I turn my attention to author/poet Patricia Franz, who is hosting Poetry Friday. It feels so good to join the Friday Roundup this week. After 10 days of medical treatment, I feel the strength of nature surrounding me. I join Patricia who speaks of a forest joy experience and a commitment to the ways of tree-being, silent and tireless. 

Since I am still in the hospital on the medical floor, I need to take my time reading all the poetic goodness offered by the Poetry Friday community of writers. 

Love Is...Spiritual Journey Thursday

Love is space and time measured by the heart. - Marcel Proust

 

February is Loveuary

 

love

spans years

underlies frosty pathways

weaves golden moment threads

together

love

brings sunshine

sorrow and connection-

selfless act of being

together

love

finds space

a timeless union

a surrender of souls

oneness

©CVarsalona, January 2024

Elfchen poem series

It is quiet in the great room. The fireplace is glowing and warmth surrounds me. I found a song on YouTube that brings a peaceful ending to the day: love, hope, and possibilities. Please join me as I listen to a song of love and praise? Click here to fill your heart with Phil Wickham's official lyric video, Falling In Love. 

1 Corinthians 13:8 holds a message of endurance and promise. Love NEVER  Fails!

The GREATEST Love of All! Click here.

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With deep love and conviction, Patricia Franz, the host of Spiritual JourneyThursday, offers the topic, Love Is..., for our reflection. 

Click here to read her post that beautifully wraps her topic into prose and poetry with a message about the reality of everyday love. "Love is showing up."

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May you be filled with the spirit of love as you walk the spiritual pathway this month.

Winter Light In The Dark

Eight days ago, December announced her runway debut with easy strides to end the year with joy. Her first task was to shorten daylight and let darkness bring a sense of chilled calm to earth. During these first days of December, I looked for traces of light flickering in the darkness. I sat by the fireplace watching flames flicker warming the chilled rooms. While I cherish the silence of darkness, I also enjoy the brightness of lights, especially at the holidays. 

To keep the light shining in our home, we had pathway lights and spotlights installed illuminating our new trees. One Magnolia specimen tree stands proudly in each seat wall garden area. In addition, the front of our house has a new bush, a Ruby Falls Red Bud. It's devoid of its leaves now but arches gracefully. Each night, a long strand of lights and six round balls illuminate the front garden attesting to Mahatma Gandhi's quote, "In the midst of darkness, light persists." In the Bible, John 1:5 states, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." 

darkness

shortens day

earth waits patiently

for a Silent Lght's

arrival

©CVarsalona, 2023

German Elfchen cinquain poem

Jone MacCullock, the host of the December Spiritual Journey Thursday, invited our community of writers to ponder several questions on Light and Dark.

1. How do you honor/embrace this time of darkness?
2. Where do you find the points of light in your life?
3. In a few weeks, the winter solstice will be here, how do you honor this and Christmas?
4. How do you use this time of year for self-reflection? 

Reflection is warranted during the last month of the year. I honor December's time of darkness with firelight, warm blankets, and spotlights on our new trees. Finding points of light begins and ends with the real meaning of Christmas. "Longing for light, we wait in darkness. Longing for truth, we turn to You. Make us you own, your holy people, light for the world to see." (Christ Be Our Light song) 

"We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light the candle that can guide us through the darkness to a safe and sane future." (John F. Kennedy)

While the sun is shining and the outside temperature mild, I continue to sit and stare at the magnolia trees and the beginnings of Christmas decorations. I will invite you inside when the preparations are ready for a showing. In the meantime, follow me to Jone Mac Culloch's Spiritual Journey Thursday blog and the Poetry Friday Roundup hosted by Patricia Franz on her blog. While Jone chose the theme for Spiritual Journey Thursday, I think Patricia's Dear Santa post allows for reflection also. There are so many people in our lives and on this earth that need light this year. The holidays are the best time to remember all and send good wishes.

REMEMBER

This week life came full circle. Both a new birth and a passing from life occurred in my family. While contemplating how life meets at crossroads, I turned to poetry to let thoughts surface like spring blooms. Coincidentally, my friend Ramona Behnke wrote a post sharing Poet Laureate Joy Harjo's poem Remember. It touched me so much that it became a mentor text for a silent conversation poem between my 94-year-old uncle and me during his last days in hospice. Because I live in Virginia and he is in Central NY, I could not travel to his bedside. The poem became my way of honoring his life.

Joy Harjo has said, "Poetry is like singing on paper". I celebrate my Uncle John's life through verse with the hope that he is spiritually close by listening to the lines.

Remember. . .

Remember the beginning as your mother cradled you into this world.

Remember receiving your father's name.

Remember your patriotic duties during wartime.

Remember your return to civilian life and stepping into college and a new career.

Remember your flights around the globe.

Remember your devotion to family and faith.

Remember your heritage and the delicious meals your mother prepared.

Remember your challenges and joys.

Remember your independent spirit and your willingness to support others.

Remember your nimble fingers creating crosses made of palms.

Remember your niece holding your hand and your family sending thoughts and    

     prayers from a distance. 

Remember your brother and sisters who are waiting to embrace you in eternity.

Remember the Lord is with you in your silent moments.

Remember!

©CarolVarsalona, oldest niece, written during John's final days at Francis House, 2023

These poetic lines from Harjo's poem remind me of the immensity of the world, the possibilities it holds for each individual, and the celebration of life. 

Remember you are this universe and this

universe is you.

The above poem will be featured in my Uncle's funeral program and read by m eat the gravesite next week. Now, I offer this post for Poetry Friday at Patricia Franz's blog, Reverie. She is celebrating 40 years of marriage and sending Memorial Day weekend wishes to all. Thank you, Patricia for accepting my poetic offering so late.

My antique postcard above reminds me to fill this Memorial Day Weekend with praise for my uncle, a veteran of World War II who enlisted in the Marine Corps at a young age.

His memory and the memory of so many other veterans are remembered throughout this weekend. 

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Patricia Franz invites the Poetry Friday community to enjoy some poetry-bathing this weekend. I look forward to reading other poet friends' poetic offerings.

☆HAPPY POETRY FRIDAY☆

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