Thank you for including me in this powerful list of writers to be able to share your writing and your video. It has been a pleasure, Deborah. What is so lovely is your giving heart and your invitation to all of us to share it. Thank you, sweet friend, thank you most sincerely.
Oh how I love the video…Your Violet resembles you so much! I miss the days of taking my littles to playgrounds! How their joy and innocence just fills you up, right! And bravo to John doing slide 😀I remember when I could do it, the kiddos cheering me on! 😅
Moments like these captured forever, they will remember these days! Writing your way from dispare to hope and anticipation of a brand new summer speaks for us all! Just a beautiful piece my friend! 🎉🥰 Thank you for including my amongst these brilliant writers and friends. Wishing you a fun-filled June and beyond, my dearest friend! Love you! 🥰😘
Dearest friend, I so appreciate you and our friendship here. It means the world to me that you would watch the video and read my stories! That little Violet, all those precious littles, all our littles and bigs are so special aren’t they? Being a grandparent is such an extra special and unexpected gift. I know you were an amazing grandma and good influence on your grandkids! Still are! You are going strong and so supportive of them. I know they love you to pieces. And, I can see you joining in on the activities when they were young! I have had my share jumping on the trampoline! ha ha! and running down the street (on orders of the grandkids!) to yell goodbye as they drive away! We started to run with them on the sidewalk, as they drove away, windows down — and the littlest, Violet, when she was two-ish — would put her little fingers up in the air from her carseat and say “wun nana, wun!” It took me a minute to figure out that she knew and was asking us to run! ha ha! Kinda silly but a big memory for sure!
Thank you for this lovely comment. You consistently inspire me to keep going and that is a great gift to my heart. Love you and wishing you a peaceful week. oxox
Deb, watched your video first. What a beautiful documented day of fun. (I would have needed a nap sooner!) Then you waded us into deeper waters. Things outside the playground. A learned pastor once penned and spoke, 'God digs wells of joy with spades of sorrow'. May that gentle play return to us all. Thank you, Deborah.
Thank you so much Ron for indulging me! ha ha! We were definitely tired but it was a “good tired!” Always a good tired. I really appreciate your kindness and how you have supported my writing. And I absolutely love that quote. It really hits home. Seeing like a child and moving forward looking for joy. Grief gently holds the hand of joy and allows us to keep moving. Have a good week. ox
Dear Francesca, this made me smile so big today. It’s weird but so many things have changed in such a short amount of time. It feels so quiet now. Children’s laughter is such a gift. I’m really going to miss seeing them play together. It was rare - but so special. Life and changes move faster than we expect — as you know. I hope this finds you on a good day. I know it’s been rough. I can relate in so many ways.
Oh and I began to read your poetry book early this morning and then I left to have coffee with a friend, then look in the shops together (in a sweet university town), then we grabbed lunch — and thought of The Bohemians! I love it!!
Dear Deborah, I’m glad you smiled. I’m smiling knowing you smiled; isn’t that the way?! My daughter is here and we are going into Girona to look at the shops and I’m praying my body will cooperate and not throw a hissy fit. Im willing myself to be fine! Sometimes I’d like to be a character in The Bohemians. But then I guess that’s why I wrote it! I hope you enjoy my book :) Sending you big hugs xx
Yessss, smiles are contagious! Hope you had a lovely shopping trip with your daughter (and the body cooperated!). So special. I love how you write the characters you dream to be. When things were really bad in our life for a few years (that I somewhat write between the lines about) - I dove into looking at real estate — to the point where I really know it well now. But it was similar because I wanted to be anywhere but here and I didn’t actually want to be here physically (in a bad way - which was NEVER me - and it still hurts bad to say that) and it saved me in a way - to keep looking and thinking I was living inside of all these old homes. Like characters in a sense. Living outside of our physical and emotional selves. Sending you a big hug. oxox
I understand the not wanting to be here physically, I really do. It's a weird thing, isn't it, that? So I get living vicariously through other houses, it's the same, really. It's our capacity to keep on by escaping in a way. I guess we're all addicts, sort of...which is a thought worth riffing on, or not? I don't know. I only know that after not writing for so long (over twenty years, in which time my "addiction" was horses), now if I don't write I feel off. And it's not that I'm addicted to the "likes" (although the likes and the comments are lovely when they happen, which they didn't for a long time, and even now I don't get that many), I just love the process of riffing with a thought. Like my jasmine poem today. It came from the heady scent of jasmine in full flower that lines our road from one end to the other. I rode my bike along it this morning and it was almost sickly! Beautiful, but potent.
I think we're lucky to have this capacity to amuse ourselves with words and ideas. It saves me every day, even if I'm pretty stable now, emotionally.
I am so late with my apathy! (and the films take a lot out of me too! lots of work - but I love it) -
I can’t agree with you more Francesca. I knew you would relate. So far, I think this is the greatest addiction! I call it a “beautiful addiction” - to write, create. There is nothing like it. And I adore horses so I can’t imagine the loss of riding them - but you can write about them and continue to love them. There’s always something for us.
And for some reason my jasmine plant has struggled this year! There is nothing like that whiff! As potent as it can be - it speaks life! oxox
Oh Deborah, this video had so much love and beauty in it. I don’t know all of the changes and losses your words later referred to, but I know your love for your grandkids is enduring. What precious children and moments together. I appreciate you and your sensitivity. You capture moments of wonder.
Thank you so much Susan for this kind comment. It’s been real. So many changes and losses and regains and tender losses again - since 2020 - but it is life and we try and go through it with grace and trust that all will turn out for His purpose. I am so glad I met you here. You are a blessing and an inspiration to me. ox
Thank you Julie. It’s so true the older we grow, the more loss — and now so many gone before they’ve barely lived. Which is why to let go and love is so important - Hope you have a great week. Sending love always. oxox
Thank you so much Rivka! There is always comfort to be found. Growing older is most definitely to let go and grow wiser. Hope you have a peaceful week. oxox
Thank you friend for reading and for being a bright light. We can keep moving and it’s such a blessing to know we are not alone. Sending you much love. ox
I am happy and honoured to be part of your community. 🤗 And that film above, it was meaningful to me. The children’s screams and laughter were so organic. Reminds me that I was once a young granddaughter too. ♥️
I’m too overcome with the blessing of you and this piece and dedicating it to creatures like me. Your light makes a huge difference in the dark shadows of my life 🙏❤️✨
Dear Friend, you are a beautiful creature. God's gorgeous child. I see you and I love you. I know it's been a long road. We're on it together. Thank you for this. oxox
Thanks for the Mention! And congratulations on your three year Stackaversary! This is an absolutely beautiful piece of writing, and it's so wonderful you've captured those moments on film so they can always look back on them, and remember those special times they had growing up together. It's hard not having family close to us, when they move away, but thank goodness we have Video Calls these days. It's comforting to know we can still see them, and almost feel like we're in the same room, even when we're not... 😎
Dear Chris, thank you so much for this great comment! And I agree, where would we be without all this modern communication (and where were we all those years ago? letter writing and the occasional expensive 'international phone call!" -- savoring every. single. word. as my Granddad spoke for a second to us!). I have to say that the letter writing was still awesome and I wish it wasn't a thing of the past because it holds so much tangible meaning that our brains need. I'm going to be my granddaughter's penpal just for that reason. I hope this finds you doing well. I appreciate you. oxox
Dear Nancy, thank you so very much. I cannot treasure that laughter and these times enough. I wasn’t sure I would share so publicly but the story that goes with it is the reason I began my Substack - so it was a move of the heart that just happened. I’m grateful that writing/creating has been source to healing. ox
This video gives me so much joy to watch my 4 beautiful little great grandchildren having the time of their innocent little lives playing together at the park. Happiness abounds! It is a keepsake for our memory book. Nana Debbie did a great job!
Thank you for including me in this powerful list of writers to be able to share your writing and your video. It has been a pleasure, Deborah. What is so lovely is your giving heart and your invitation to all of us to share it. Thank you, sweet friend, thank you most sincerely.
Thank you, C.J., for your kindness and for the inspiration you exude here. I am so glad we are friends. Have a peaceful week. oxox
Aww, I’m so glad we’re friends, too, Deborah, and I thank you for your support and your kindness.
much love
Oh how I love the video…Your Violet resembles you so much! I miss the days of taking my littles to playgrounds! How their joy and innocence just fills you up, right! And bravo to John doing slide 😀I remember when I could do it, the kiddos cheering me on! 😅
Moments like these captured forever, they will remember these days! Writing your way from dispare to hope and anticipation of a brand new summer speaks for us all! Just a beautiful piece my friend! 🎉🥰 Thank you for including my amongst these brilliant writers and friends. Wishing you a fun-filled June and beyond, my dearest friend! Love you! 🥰😘
Dearest friend, I so appreciate you and our friendship here. It means the world to me that you would watch the video and read my stories! That little Violet, all those precious littles, all our littles and bigs are so special aren’t they? Being a grandparent is such an extra special and unexpected gift. I know you were an amazing grandma and good influence on your grandkids! Still are! You are going strong and so supportive of them. I know they love you to pieces. And, I can see you joining in on the activities when they were young! I have had my share jumping on the trampoline! ha ha! and running down the street (on orders of the grandkids!) to yell goodbye as they drive away! We started to run with them on the sidewalk, as they drove away, windows down — and the littlest, Violet, when she was two-ish — would put her little fingers up in the air from her carseat and say “wun nana, wun!” It took me a minute to figure out that she knew and was asking us to run! ha ha! Kinda silly but a big memory for sure!
Thank you for this lovely comment. You consistently inspire me to keep going and that is a great gift to my heart. Love you and wishing you a peaceful week. oxox
Deb, watched your video first. What a beautiful documented day of fun. (I would have needed a nap sooner!) Then you waded us into deeper waters. Things outside the playground. A learned pastor once penned and spoke, 'God digs wells of joy with spades of sorrow'. May that gentle play return to us all. Thank you, Deborah.
Thank you so much Ron for indulging me! ha ha! We were definitely tired but it was a “good tired!” Always a good tired. I really appreciate your kindness and how you have supported my writing. And I absolutely love that quote. It really hits home. Seeing like a child and moving forward looking for joy. Grief gently holds the hand of joy and allows us to keep moving. Have a good week. ox
This whole piece gave me goosebumps, and I love the video, just those joyful spontaneous noises the kids make made me smile. Precious. Special.
Thank you, Deborah 🙏🤗
Dear Francesca, this made me smile so big today. It’s weird but so many things have changed in such a short amount of time. It feels so quiet now. Children’s laughter is such a gift. I’m really going to miss seeing them play together. It was rare - but so special. Life and changes move faster than we expect — as you know. I hope this finds you on a good day. I know it’s been rough. I can relate in so many ways.
Oh and I began to read your poetry book early this morning and then I left to have coffee with a friend, then look in the shops together (in a sweet university town), then we grabbed lunch — and thought of The Bohemians! I love it!!
Thank you again for this special comment. oxox
Dear Deborah, I’m glad you smiled. I’m smiling knowing you smiled; isn’t that the way?! My daughter is here and we are going into Girona to look at the shops and I’m praying my body will cooperate and not throw a hissy fit. Im willing myself to be fine! Sometimes I’d like to be a character in The Bohemians. But then I guess that’s why I wrote it! I hope you enjoy my book :) Sending you big hugs xx
Yessss, smiles are contagious! Hope you had a lovely shopping trip with your daughter (and the body cooperated!). So special. I love how you write the characters you dream to be. When things were really bad in our life for a few years (that I somewhat write between the lines about) - I dove into looking at real estate — to the point where I really know it well now. But it was similar because I wanted to be anywhere but here and I didn’t actually want to be here physically (in a bad way - which was NEVER me - and it still hurts bad to say that) and it saved me in a way - to keep looking and thinking I was living inside of all these old homes. Like characters in a sense. Living outside of our physical and emotional selves. Sending you a big hug. oxox
I understand the not wanting to be here physically, I really do. It's a weird thing, isn't it, that? So I get living vicariously through other houses, it's the same, really. It's our capacity to keep on by escaping in a way. I guess we're all addicts, sort of...which is a thought worth riffing on, or not? I don't know. I only know that after not writing for so long (over twenty years, in which time my "addiction" was horses), now if I don't write I feel off. And it's not that I'm addicted to the "likes" (although the likes and the comments are lovely when they happen, which they didn't for a long time, and even now I don't get that many), I just love the process of riffing with a thought. Like my jasmine poem today. It came from the heady scent of jasmine in full flower that lines our road from one end to the other. I rode my bike along it this morning and it was almost sickly! Beautiful, but potent.
I think we're lucky to have this capacity to amuse ourselves with words and ideas. It saves me every day, even if I'm pretty stable now, emotionally.
Big hugs to you!
And a whiff of Spanish jasmine!
Francesca xx
I am so late with my apathy! (and the films take a lot out of me too! lots of work - but I love it) -
I can’t agree with you more Francesca. I knew you would relate. So far, I think this is the greatest addiction! I call it a “beautiful addiction” - to write, create. There is nothing like it. And I adore horses so I can’t imagine the loss of riding them - but you can write about them and continue to love them. There’s always something for us.
And for some reason my jasmine plant has struggled this year! There is nothing like that whiff! As potent as it can be - it speaks life! oxox
Oh Deborah, this video had so much love and beauty in it. I don’t know all of the changes and losses your words later referred to, but I know your love for your grandkids is enduring. What precious children and moments together. I appreciate you and your sensitivity. You capture moments of wonder.
Thank you so much Susan for this kind comment. It’s been real. So many changes and losses and regains and tender losses again - since 2020 - but it is life and we try and go through it with grace and trust that all will turn out for His purpose. I am so glad I met you here. You are a blessing and an inspiration to me. ox
Beautiful words, music and images Deborah. Thank you ❤️✨
Thank you so very much friend! I so appreciate it coming from you. Sending my love always. oxox
Love back to you xx
Heartfelt Deborah. The older we grow the more people we lose. But that also means there are more people we have loved, for greater lengths of time xx
Thank you Julie. It’s so true the older we grow, the more loss — and now so many gone before they’ve barely lived. Which is why to let go and love is so important - Hope you have a great week. Sending love always. oxox
Very beautiful. I hope you can find comfort.
Thank you so much Rivka! There is always comfort to be found. Growing older is most definitely to let go and grow wiser. Hope you have a peaceful week. oxox
Yes!
Very special and beautiful Deborah.
Thank you for sharing and encouraging to grief, remember and move forward.
Thank you friend for reading and for being a bright light. We can keep moving and it’s such a blessing to know we are not alone. Sending you much love. ox
Wow, this is very special Deborah.
I appreciate your reply very much.
All the glory to God always.
Definitely all the Glory goes to Him. ox
And thank you so much for sharing this!
I am happy and honoured to be part of your community. 🤗 And that film above, it was meaningful to me. The children’s screams and laughter were so organic. Reminds me that I was once a young granddaughter too. ♥️
Thank you so much friend. I am grateful that we met here. Isn't the sound of children laughing an absolute blessing? Hope you're doing well. ox
Thank you for the shout-out. I have been very busy this summer, so my time online has been limited.
I’m too overcome with the blessing of you and this piece and dedicating it to creatures like me. Your light makes a huge difference in the dark shadows of my life 🙏❤️✨
I’ll return again to watch the video
Dear Friend, you are a beautiful creature. God's gorgeous child. I see you and I love you. I know it's been a long road. We're on it together. Thank you for this. oxox
Thanks for the Mention! And congratulations on your three year Stackaversary! This is an absolutely beautiful piece of writing, and it's so wonderful you've captured those moments on film so they can always look back on them, and remember those special times they had growing up together. It's hard not having family close to us, when they move away, but thank goodness we have Video Calls these days. It's comforting to know we can still see them, and almost feel like we're in the same room, even when we're not... 😎
Dear Chris, thank you so much for this great comment! And I agree, where would we be without all this modern communication (and where were we all those years ago? letter writing and the occasional expensive 'international phone call!" -- savoring every. single. word. as my Granddad spoke for a second to us!). I have to say that the letter writing was still awesome and I wish it wasn't a thing of the past because it holds so much tangible meaning that our brains need. I'm going to be my granddaughter's penpal just for that reason. I hope this finds you doing well. I appreciate you. oxox
Your posts, Deborah, always bring me joy. I see your tinder heart. Thanks for being a Substack friend.
Thank you so much Charles. This means a lot coming from you. I admire your writing. ox
Hi Deb,
What a beautiful video. Memories are treasures for the heart.
Dear Nancy, thank you so very much. I cannot treasure that laughter and these times enough. I wasn’t sure I would share so publicly but the story that goes with it is the reason I began my Substack - so it was a move of the heart that just happened. I’m grateful that writing/creating has been source to healing. ox
This video gives me so much joy to watch my 4 beautiful little great grandchildren having the time of their innocent little lives playing together at the park. Happiness abounds! It is a keepsake for our memory book. Nana Debbie did a great job!
Dear Mom, I am so happy you can enjoy it! Just the sounds are wonderful. Thank you for this. I love you to the moon and back. oxox