Saturday, January 7, 2012

Gently, in the heart

To you, my dear and most patient friends, I offer my sincerest apology for being away for so long. I pray that you have had a blessed Christmastide and that the new year has begun well for all of you. Family and friends have needed me, and there has been little time left over to spend here. I have missed you all very much and I am grateful that you have waited for me to return.

It has been three years since I took the first step on "A Trail of Flowers," and so much has happened since then that it seems as though much more time has passed than that. The seasons have come and gone, though it appears as though Winter weather will not come at all this year to my little corner of the world. I do not miss the bitter cold: in fact, this January reminds me of those youthful days I  spent along the banks of the Mississippi River. It is almost balmy now as it was then, and so I send these warm words to you in the bleakness of Winter, along with the hope that you never forget, dear friends, that I hold you all "gently, in the heart."   

"I'll never forget the days of my youth. When the waves rippled between my toes, taking the pink and silver grains of sand back out to the depths of the sea. There was a peace then; an indescribable feeling of immortality in the ebb and flow of the tide, and the seemingly endless stretch of beach and sky. Now as I gaze out upon those same sparkling waters, I realize that youth is never left behind, but is carried always, gently, in the heart." --Hetty King of Avonlea

11 comments:

  1. Welcome back, you were greatly missed

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    1. Thank you very much, Anonymous, for your very nice words. May God bless you and your loved ones.

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  2. Welcome back indeed! I missed your gentle words of inspiration and encouragement.
    Blessings and prayers,
    Ann

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    1. Thank you very much, Ann, for your warm welcome and kind words. It is good to be back! May God bless you and your dear ones.

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  3. Kindred Spirit, that quote is extremely beautiful (as you are also). My heart is happy today because you have returned! I missed you and worried about you. Funny isn't it? We touch each other's lives in ways we cannot even imagine. May our Good Lord bless you this day and always. Love, Hannah

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    1. Dear Hannah, it is a joy to hear from you! I'm so sorry that you were worried about me, but I'm very glad to have been missed. Thank you for your beautiful words. May Almighty God bless you and your dear ones.

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  4. I love the photo at the top of this post. It fits what you wrote perfectly and is so lovely to look at. I always enjoy visiting you.

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    1. Thank you so much for your very nice words, Barb. It is always so good to hear from you. May Almighty God bless you and your loved ones.

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  5. I did miss you, I look forward to your blog posts very much.
    -Rachael

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    1. Thank you so much, Rachael. Your words are very kind. It is so nice to have you here and to know that you look forward to reading these posts; it is my joy to write them for such dear people. May Almighty God bless you and your loved ones.

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  6. How good it is to be back with all of you dear folk! May Almighty God bless you and Our Lady protect you always.

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