Tag: Pandemic

First Christmas Letter

September 2, 2021 ·

Karl and I sponsor a child with Compassion International. He is four years old and lives with his family in Mexico. We received a form to write a Christmas letter, to add to our gift online. This week we wrote a short note, to say Merry Christmas to the child and his family. Translation takes time, and then the delivery of letters.

We also correspond through email at Compassion International. We have worked with them for years, and have also sponsored children in Kenya and Peru. It is also possible to help without being a sponsor. Their commitment is to make sure every child in their program receives a Christmas gift, whether or not they have a sponsor.

I am also thinking a lot about veterans, including my father and others in our families.

Notes and Poems – 2

July 27, 2021 ·

a painting
every morning
tree branches
with new growth
and sky

June 2020 Archive

with all the ways
life can change
still they bloom
every year
daylilies and hosta

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning . . .

From Psalm 143: 8

July 2020 Archive

there are poems
in the clouds and
sunrise

and light seen
on the garage
from the kitchen

and one yellow leaf
on the birch tree

there are always poems

August 2020 Archive

Yesterday’s post: Creative Notes and Poems

Creative Notes and Poems

July 26, 2021 · 1 Comment ·

Summer poetry journals arrive, and I also read current posts and books. As we know, artists are adding their work to our common journey with COVID-19. Grateful for all. Karl and I are fully vaccinated and wear our face masks. These are two of my poems from this time. My goal with blogs is to offer a few moments of hope. Thank you and take good care.

May garden
daffodils bloom
through the night

May 8, 2020

I take a break
from the news
and all the stories
that matter so much

and am blessed
by the sight
of tomatoes
in an old bowl

kitchen counter sun

May 16, 2020

And always the Psalms:

God be merciful unto us, and bless us;
and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.

That thy way may be known upon earth,
thy saving health among all nations.

Psalm 67: 1 – 2

Grateful for Community

November 22, 2020 ·

The Sheboygan County Wisconsin site has current and important information about Coronavirus (COVID-19). We follow the data at the Sheboygan County Coronavirus Case Dashboard.

So often I think of my parents and the history they lived through. We are all living through COVID-19 history. We wear our face masks, practice social distance, wash our hands often, etc. We take care of one another and ourselves. Our common story, one day at a time.

Future posts will feature the libraries in our area. I am always so grateful for libraries.

Thank YOU for your posts from many places. You add so much to my days.

I am creating a lot at home, since I am here most of the time. I can see this in my haiku. Recent posts are examples. I am calling these “Study Poems.”

Thank you and take good care.

endurance and trust

October 25, 2020 ·

gold hosta leaves
rest on the ground
cover the ground
by the ash tree stump
windows and porch

images of beauty
work complete for a time
endurance and trust
through fall and winter
to spring and summer

When we moved here long ago, a neighbor said, “You learn to save some things for winter.” I love the quiet of late autumn and winter. And at this time, I like the sounds of the outdoor work. People are getting done what they can, and then that work too follows the weather and seasons. Patience.

I think there will be more letters and emails with requests for donations this year. Already a few on our kitchen table.

We plan some donations of Quiet Christmas Poetry. We published the book in 2014, and it is still new. The second printing of the book was in 2017. Thank you to GT Graphics in Sheboygan, Wisconsin for their excellent work. Perhaps there will be a third printing this year.

Poems From Oostburg, Wisconsin

Ellen Grace Olinger