Life is Sailing

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

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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.

    Movies That Age with Us

    (written Monday, August 18, 2025)

    Sometimes I miss being in my twenties or thirties. When we hit our forties, everything starts changing. That can be frustrating to accept, at least for me it is. Life is just a whole lot different now than it was a couple decaes ago – busy life with older children involved in school and activities, changing skin, health appointments to keep track of, changing health of family and friends…

    So I have found great joy in watching movies like Top Gun Maverick or Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning or even James Bond: No Time to Die. These movies seem to have aged with me and provide a gravitas to otherwise fast-speed, youthful adventure films. The main characters each face age and the responsibilities of being an older person. We still adventure on as we age, but we approach life with more perspective, richer stories.

  • 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.

    Rainbow Kisses

    (written Sunday, August 17, 2025)

    We drove along the highway, peppered with downpours and sunshine, just skirting the center of the summer thunderstorms. Perhaps the result of Hurricane Erin? Suddenly a child exclaimed, “A rainbow!” Sure enough it was a bright skittles-worthy rainbow, just a piece at first. As we watched, a full rainbow appeared and then a double. We were all taken by the beauty and majesty of this rainbow out our window. Storms to the right of us and gorgeous rainbow to the left of us. Then as the sun began to set above the storm clouds, the warm decline stretched from one side of the van to the other, almost encircling us with soft yellow and orange and blues. God’s rainbow bent a kiss to our family as we journeyed through the countryside.

  • 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.

    Beach Breather

    (written Saturday, August 16, 2025)

    I woke this morning prepared mentally for a trip but needing some time outside before we loaded into the van. So I laced up my tennis shoes and headed toward the beach. Normally I would slip on my slippers (flip-flops for mainlanders) and enjoy foot freedom, but my toe is still slowly working through its injury.

    Although the hot Florida sun had already begun to heat up the day, being outside felt amazing. I strolled along the docks, enjoying the pleasant sounds of a Florida Saturday morning. The smell of the salt water, the sound of boaters preparing their pontoon boats, trailers backing into the water, people chatting happily, a casual “Mornin’, ma’am.” I smiled and sighed. I love being outside by the water.

    Leaving the wooden-planked docks, my shoe-covered feet found the squeaky white sand of the beach. All the way to the end of the small, empty beach I strode until I reached the very last beach chair. Its view was the best. I could see the stretch of beach and the boat launches. Out of the shade I dragged the green chair close to the water. Shoes came off and my toes, even my injured one, dug into the sand, the water lapping gently up my ankles. Cold and refreshing.

    I thanked God for where I was and for the beauty right there.

    Life gets busy sometimes and keeps us away from the activities that bring peace. Today, before a big trip, I needed that breather before sitting in a full van all day. Our delayed departure was totally worth it.

  • 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.

    Flash in the Dark

    (written Friday, August 15, 2025)

    A shooting star
    A burst of light
    It flashed above our heads

    My eye did catch
    My head jerked up
    I spied the glinting tail

    With glee I jumped
    Delight and joy
    To witness such a sight

    Etched in my mind
    This streak of heaven
    Straight across the darkened sky

    Light in the dark
    Dear Christ, would that light 
    Could shine so bright in me
  • 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.

    Searching for a word:

    (written Thursday, August 14, 2025)

    What’s that word to describe knowing human nature and not being gullible? You know, the one that means you kind of know the ways of the road, you have street smarts and know how to work around things that don’t make sense…

    Ah, yes…

    Savvy

    ——————————————–

    My child was studying for a spelling test and asked me to quiz her. As she did not take my recommendation to write the words down, I decided to write them myself. “Guile, integrity, meticulous, scrutinize, perspective, disconsolate.” Solid words. Savvy happened to be a word that came up in conversation. Words… beautiful, powerful instruments of communicating messages.

  • 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.

    Reasons for Writing

    Well, I am in the progress of catching up again with the writings I have been completing. I write in my phone, often not taking the time to pull out my computer to publish what I write. I am still keeping up with writing everyday, though, so I am excited about that.

    I wrote something today that I won’t be sharing on here, although it is out there on the internet now. I had an unfortunate experience with a tourist activity today and turned my writing interest to submitting a thorough review of the situation that occurred. I don’t know that it will do any good, but I hope someone will read the review and benefit from it. I wish I had known what to expect before paying a good chunk of change and having my children unfortunately exposed to subject matter I did not anticipate.

    I am thankful for the written word which can express and share concerns beyond a one-time encounter. However, I had much more fun publishing my belayed writings today than submitting a disgruntled review. I hope some people enjoy reading these recent posts.

  • 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.

    Swallow Sighting

    (written Wednesday, August 13, 2025)

    She soared as one who has no cares, no anchor of her freedoms on this green earth.  Dipping and rising, graceful and light.  A slight twist of her torso and she veered to the right.  A tuck of the chin and down she dove.  Zip, zip!  Across the rippling waters, scaling cement walls, above the green lantern which holds the water from the twenty-two seas, across the fields of lacrosse players young and old, returning along the row of cars to golden waters along the seawall.  She is a swallow, free as can be, symbol of endurance and hope.  It is spring and she returns home to her nest and her one mate for life.  Loyalty, hope, endurance, and happiness.

    ———————————————–

    I am fascinated with the meanings attributed to animals.  I believe God the Creator of this earth is ruler over all.  It is not some spirituality of the animal itself that brings these meanings to people’s minds but God showing who He is through His creation and encouraging us with His creation.  So I love to read about the meaning people found in animals.

  • 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.

    Henderson Beach State Park

    (written Tuesday, August 12, 2025)

    The crystal clear rippling water 
    Tickled feelings of freedom
    Deep within my peaceful soul.

    (Walk with my four boys along the shores of Henderson Beach State Park)

  • 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.

    Ohi’a Lehua Honey

    (written Monday, August 11, 2025)

    Ohi’a lehua honey
    The sweetest, creamiest honey
    Brings brightness to my soul

    Patient boys, 
    First day of “school”, 
    A long walk home
    Watch out for bears
    Package at the doorstep

    Ohi’a lehua honey order!
    Add a little bread and butter
    Nourishment after car trouble galore
    A batterly AND alternator?!
    Oh me, oh my!

    The heavy jar
    Laden with golden joy
    Bright red, wispy flower
    Symbol of resilience
    Refreshing
  • 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 Heart and Soul Blessed

    (written Sunday, August 10, 2025)

    A husband, faithful and true, blesses the heart and soul of his wife.  The person she was, the person she has become, and the person she will be are all linked to this man.  May he hold her heart tenderly, for much affection it contains, they of which is love.  So spend time, intention and focused habit, in cultivating this love.  Connect with her, share laughter with her, secure eye contact with her, debate with her, serve with her.  May the “with” be what binds the two, no matter what life brings, for “with” each other the burden becomes more bearable and the joys multiply.  God at the center, husband and wife with each other side by side.  And may she, in turn, bless the heart and soul of her husband.

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.