Life is Sailing

A place of life exploration, sailing journeys, and piece of thought

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about

I am a woman who loves beauty and fun. I sail, read, play games, learn instruments (piano, flute, ukulele, tin whistle, Scottish drums, harmonica), hike, sing, Pickleball, explore, and write. My greatest joy is playing or exploring with my five children and husband. My greatest peace is at the piano or sailing. At the center and surrounding it all is my Savior Jesus Christ.
  • Today I challenged myself to 365 days of writing for no less than ten minutes a day and to take a picture of the location.

    Veterans Day Weekend 2025

    Monday, November 10, 2025

    One by one they fall

    Summoned to the throne

    On their knees they fall

    Fetal positions they assume

    And lay prostrate on their backs. 

    Time it takes to recover,

    Slow, deliberate time. 

    Waiting and resting

    With water a must to rehydrate

    To ensure through the pain and discomfort

    And settle out the bad from the good

    Wash and drink

    Sip and munch

    Gentle, taking time

    Allowing what must happen work its way through

    Until finally a corner is turned. 

    Finally life feels alive again

    Taste and flavor return

    With energy abounding for the good things of life. 

  • Today I challenged myself to 365 days of writing for no less than ten minutes a day and to take a picture of the location.

    A Visit from Aurora

    Tuesday, November 11, 2025

    This was quite the way to end a weekend of crazy sickness and destroyed travel plans. To be able to peer outside and catch a glimpse of such a colorful display of God’s creation restores life in my soul. And to share this sight with my husband, after he toiled alongside me caring for our sick children, was indeed a sweet blessing. 

  • Today I challenged myself to 365 days of writing for no less than ten minutes a day and to take a picture of the location.

    sandpiper

    A sandpiper pecked proudly at the ground, outrunning the waves as he found hidden food under the wet sand.  He was just like every other sandpiper on this peaceful morning… except for one key difference. He  had but one leg.  Whether born with just one leg or due to an accident, this bird had healed and overcome the appendage anomaly.  And he was living his best life snagging food among the bubbles in the sand.  

  • Today I challenged myself to 365 days of writing for no less than ten minutes a day and to take a picture of the location.

    The Crane

    swooping from the sky,

    the crane floated onto the splintered wooden rail,

    his beady eye kindly nodding my direction. “Peace to you, best wishes, and happiness,” his long, curved neck silently chortled. With graceful ease he brushed his beak by his feet and resumed his debonair posture. I gazed at his beauty, his seeming wisdom, and praised my Creator for such a bird to admire.

  • Today I challenged myself to 365 days of writing for no less than ten minutes a day and to take a picture of the location.

    Leading up to Halloween

    (Oct 30, 2025)

    As we approach Halloween, also known as Reformation Day, it seems like an appropriate time to reflect and remember what is beneficial to dwell on in our minds and hearts. Children are getting excited to dress up. My own children enjoyed pouring candy into a large bowl to get it ready for trick-or-treaters. It is fun to see the excitement and to hand out sweet treats. However, on October 31, 1517, hundreds of years ago, something happened that changed the world forever. Ninety-five theses were nailed to a door. It is worth excitement in our souls, for the reward that came from these 95 thoughts lasts longer than a gob stopper jaw breaker. As frightening as some of hte Halloween costumes and decorations are today, the death that the church taught in 1517 was far more real and devastating to souls. And yet from this darkness, a man was called to share God’s grace from the Bible to the world. The typed word proclaimed His justice but also His merciful provision, without need for intervention or interceding by the church or its rituals.

    So as Halloween celebrations happen, perhaps we will reconsider what our minds dwell upon and choose to “seek first His kingdom.”

  • Today I challenged myself to 365 days of writing for no less than ten minutes a day and to take a picture of the location.

    New Book… Maybe Not

    (Oct. 28, 2025)

    I thought I would try a new book recently, one recommended by a library book club. It was utterly disappointing. The drama and convoluted love affairs and murder seems to communicated the author’s desire to stir up a sadistic delight in broken relationships and sordid affairs with endless lying leading to death. What a waste of time! This book was given a notable book club award. I will be very wary of reading a book with that award associated with it and hope never to pick up such depressing material again. Pardon my point blank review of an unnamed book.

  • Today I challenged myself to 365 days of writing for no less than ten minutes a day and to take a picture of the location.

    Life to the soul

    It’s hitting the yellow ball with the center of the racket,

    It’s rounding the mark so close I could touch it but don’t,

    It’s the hum of the water against the hull of my sailboat as it planes across the bay,

    It’s the sight of a pelican spanning its wings across the surface of the water as it glides along,

    It’s the tender embrace of my son putting his arms around my back as we enjoy a few moments of silence on the pier,

    It’s the sound of two F-22s coming in for a landing,

    It’s being asked to help a new friend with a project she cares about.

    Joy to the heart.

    Life to my soul.

  • Today I challenged myself to 365 days of writing for no less than ten minutes a day and to take a picture of the location.

    Intellectual Swimming

    We swim in a sea of little fish
    Searching for food beside each other 
    A school of hungry, curious minds
    Looking for morsels of knowledge and friendship
  • Today I challenged myself to 365 days of writing for no less than ten minutes a day and to take a picture of the location.

    Money Management Matters

    Teaching children about money management is important and there are so many real life examples of helpful institutions that end up in a bind because of poorly managed accounts and spending priorities. It’s complex, but a bit of planning and forward thinking goes a long ways.

    Two private schools in debt, still bringing in revenue and more students each year but losing money and struggling to maintain their facilities with the budget they have. Prioritizing money management can save a lot of headaches.

  • Today I challenged myself to 365 days of writing for no less than ten minutes a day and to take a picture of the location.

    Singing

    (September 3, 2025)

    Singing helps heart rate go down. I found myself almost late to a Wednesday night sailboat race. It meant a lot to me to get out on the water, but being safe and staying out of an accident meant more. So I started to sing. “Lord, I know you’re with me even if I’m late. It’s gonna be ok, and there will be another day. Everything is gonna be ok.”

    My tight grip on the steering wheel relaxed, my breathing slowed, my tired eyes saw more clearly the traffic around me. Sing those songs that help us relax. It’s going to be ok.

Leader
Will you lead through the fire?
What when the fire dies?
Who are you leading and do you know your why?
Do you promote yourself above others?
Or do you look and see others, weaving talents together to yield a cloth of multiplied strength?
Deceptive is the idea that the best leader is one most skilled in his craft (be it flying a plane, designing technology, etc).
Perhaps leading others is a skill in itself.  
Look just below the highest performing worker… for the one who watches, observes, encourages, challenges the team to grow.
Can an intrinsically skilled leader of people lead in multiple contexts, regardless of his/her specific job training?
Leader, lead people and know why you lead.