Tuesday, April 12, 2016

J is for Joy


Me, alone. Life after loss.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. 
~ Psalm 30:5

While I never wept for a night, I wept, strange word that, old fashioned. Yes, I wept more this past year than I would have thought possible. But then I began to heal and once more,


I wanted to capture the joy of a sunrise, of springtime in the mountains, of tiny wildflowers on the hillsides.


Now, almost a year has passed, the house finches have come back to find their old nests destroyed by house renovating humans.


But not deterred, they are busy building new ones, and their twitter makes me smile, helping 


me to again know the joy of an April morning. 


These mornings, these April mornings, I walk in the hills with my dogs. It's different from before, when we walked together with our dogs, four of them, two of us. Different, but joyful still.....







29 comments:

  1. Inger this is absolutely beautiful in every way. I could feel the emotion and the introspection. Thank you for blessing us with this post.

    Cheers from Germany.

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  2. Hello Inger! I have been once again missing your blog, and have been reading your posts. I've read each one in this series, and they are beautiful and each has given me (and others I am sure!) an insight into this "new chapter" in your life as you have very poignantly put into words what you've felt this past year. Thank-you for sharing your life and yourself with all of us. Never doubt that you are truly an inspiration and loved!

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  3. I hope the new spring will help heal some of your pain, Inger.

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  4. i think nature is the best place of all to find joy. yellow flowers are full of joy. and i love that weed with the colors in the green stuff.. weaping is healing to me and this verse is my mothers favorite. when she was dying she used to say it over and over.

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  5. Glad to hear you are out walking. Nothing like nature to soothe the soul. Your posts show that you are healing and that is good to know.

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  6. Walking is really good for you no matter what. I know it's hard to return to the things you enjoyed before but it's so good for you. Sending you lots of hugs today, Diane

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  7. Beautiful post and yes, there is much joy in Spring!

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  8. To know real Joy sometimes we need to have sorrow. Tears are cleansing and healing . They dissolve the sadness and tension that have accumulated in our body. Tear are cleansing. We have tears of sadness but also tears of Joy.
    Wishing you a joyful day.
    Warm hugs
    JB

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  9. Dear Inger - you do write and express your feelings so well ... it's good to read them in conjunction with your photos ... and to feel your thoughts here ... I think of you as our Spring really does start blossoming here ... the first real warming day by the coast ... with the leaves sprouting ...

    We are lucky to have your joy sent out to us ... we can imagine you and your dogs walking in your Canyon ... the sun will dry your weepy moments and time will ease and heal the sadness further ... with thoughts for the coming days .... big hugs - Hilary

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  10. Lovely pictures and verse.
    You are better, aren't you?
    Big Hug.

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  11. Nature is so beautiful if you take the time to stop and see it. God knew what he was doing.
    My heart goes out to you.
    http://enchantedfantasies.blogspot.com/

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  12. Life never remains -- yet joy somehow manages to thrust its way in between the concrete slabs of life at the most unexpected moments. May peace and healing ever be your walking companions. :-)

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  13. Nature is restorative, I find that too, Inger. It reminds us that life continues, especially in the spring. Looking for the little things that make us smile - birds singing, a song, a photograph, or even a memory. We may get blindsided by life, but we get back up again and keep looking for that beautiful sunset, the rain when it's dry, or just the warmth of your pups giving you comfort. I admire your spirit, Inger, it's what makes you a beautiful person.

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  14. This post is so upbeat--I love it!!

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  15. This is probably totally weird but your series gives me hope. My biggest fear is losing Brett -- he's eleven years older than me. Your posts, so full of grief resonate with that fear, but I see life on the other side -- joy even, and it gives me comfort. (He's healthy as can be right now, but not getting any younger).

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    Replies
    1. I understand what you mean. I feel that way too.

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    2. Strange, Errol was more than six years younger than I. And I thought he would always be there for me.

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  16. Joy is always there but we sometimes can't see through the pain to find it. You have managed to and that is wonderful. You are an inspiration.

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  17. I think tears help wash away the sorrow.

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  18. You are teaching me my future. I hope that joy will survive for me/us too. We are still two, but the end is stepping up and when there is just one, I too will have to relearn to live life as it is meant to be lived. Every day I tell myself that I can still see him, feel him, hug him, and I take care that I hug his poor frail, shrunken body at least once a day. The time will come when his illness makes him forget who I am but I will continue to take him in my arms and share my warmth.

    I am so glad that life and death have not crushed you. There’s hope for me too.

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    Replies

    1. Oh, Friko, this touched me deeply. I had no idea you were going through this.

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  19. You grieve, remember and heal in such beautiful surroundings.

    Blessings.

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  20. I used to think that Joy and Grief were mutually exclusive. But I learned that they can actually walk side by side.

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  21. What a hopeful post. I wish you joy, and peace, and good memories on those walks and quiet nights.
    Mary at Play off the Page

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  22. The way you have grieved and overcome and grieved again and overcome again and shared your process with us, is a great gift to give us.

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  23. Time does heal and yet we still remember with a fondness. Such lovely photos from your walk.

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  24. I am glad you are healing and finding joy. Love your pictures!

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  25. I agree with yiour friend, Hilary! You do write and express your feelings so well!
    You are an inspiration to me, dear Inger!
    What a gorgeous flowers and true Psalm: "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

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Thanks for leaving a comment.. ~~ Inger

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