Life of Kim

Singer Songwriter Blogger Bookworm www.lifeofkim.com

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Bread and Wine, a Lenten and Easter companion

For those of us who observe the Christian liturgical year, we have come to the end of Lent, and are now in the Easter season. Lent always feels long and this year even more so with what is happening here in the US and around the world. When I am feeling the cold and bleakness of Lent, or when I am feeling anxious and fearful, I am always thankful for the words of wise people who have gone before…

Bread and Wine, a Lenten and Easter companion

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Three British TV Shows, Two Books on Spiritual Matters, and a Poem on Peace

Photo by Vlada Karpovich on Pexels.com I am still getting over Covid, which I had earlier in the month. As someone with asthma, allergies, and some other chronic conditions, it’s taking me longer than I’d like. So, I’ve been reading several books and watching a lot of shows during my downtime. Let’s start with the poem: I came across it while searching for a John O’Donohue poem for this…

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Lifting our Wands in the Darkness

My favorite scene from the Harry Potter films, which I’ve mentioned before is the one where everyone from Hogwarts stands in the courtyard and lifts their lit wands to the night sky against Voldemort and his minions. Everyday, we, too, can lift our wands. We have a choice. We don’t know whether or not we will win in the end, but we can both collectively and individually raise our power. How can…

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What is Saving My Life Right Now (July edition)

I haven’t done one of these in a long time, but the “what is saving my life right now” concept came from author Barbara Brown Taylor in her memoir Leaving Church. Here’s a morning photo of our garden, from the messy herbal end. The garden, of course, is what’s saving my life right now. In the morning, when the day feels full of possibility, I love to walk around and see how everything is…

What is Saving My Life Right Now (July edition)

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Get Real, Lucille! (a picture book review)

Get Real, Lucille! by Laura Petrisin is a colorful, fun picture book with a positive message. Lucille is a rubber chicken who performs in a traveling circus with her friend, Peaches. But Lucille wants to be different. She wants to be real, like the chickens in a nearby farmyard. Will Lucille get a magical transformation to make her real? Or will she learn to appreciate who she is and the…

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January, with its Allure of Newness and Spaciousness

Once again, the time has flown by and it is almost three months since I posted here. Partly it’s because I’m writing so frequently on Substack, and partly it’s that the holidays took more time than I anticipated, no matter how much I tried to have a slower season. But I’ve been planning posts for you here as well and now that we’re into a new year, it was time to write and catch up with you. I…

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Two Books For Midlife Women

I have many book recommendations for women approaching or in mid-life, however, I will share two with you today. The first book I recommend is The Queen of Myself: Stepping into Sovereignty in Midlife by Donna Henes (who just passed away last month). I purchased a used copy online, as it’s an out-of-print book, although you can purchase the Kindle version here. You may or may not have heard of…

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Evening Poetry, October 9

The Bright Field by R.S. Thomas I have seen the sun break throughto illuminate a small fieldfor a while, and gone my wayand forgotten it. But that was thepearl of great price, the one field that hadtreasure in it. I realise nowthat I must give all that I haveto possess it. Life is not hurryingon to a receding future, nor hankering afteran imagined past. It is the turningaside like Moses to the…

Evening Poetry, October 9

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On the Edge of Autumn

This morning I awoke to another day, with muted birdsong, and an orange sun rising over the trees at the end of the field across the street. My goal is to get up just before the sun and stand on the front porch or walk around for a few minutes to be present at sunrise. This is supposed to support a healthy circadian rhythm as well as give my eyes some much-needed red light therapy. My eye doctor…

On the Edge of Autumn

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Fiction to Read or Consider

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep my blog ad-free. Family Family by Laurie Frankel had such an unusual feel to me. Themes include teen pregnancy, adoption, and childhood trauma, but it isn’t sad or even serious. Everything almost feels like a joke. Her main character,…

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Lent Begins Again

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep my blog ad-free. This morning I set out my Lenten spiral and spent a few hours decluttering and cleaning as I make room in my heart and living space for what Lent holds for me this year. I know what the traditional three aspects of Lent…

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Evening Poetry, January 25

The Moon over the water, Whitby by hayley green is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0 This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. This helps keep my blog ad-free. Moon Clock by Donald Hall Like an oarless boat through midnight's watery ghosthouse, through lumens and shallows of shadow, under smoky…

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Showing Up For Our Future Selves Today

Now that we’re past Quitter’s Day (Jan. 19) and perhaps some of us see more clearly which New Year goals will stick and which ones we might not be ready for quite yet, let’s talk about discipline. Discipline can have so many negative feels, right? Just hearing the word “discipline” reminds me of punishment when I was a child. I’ve been letting this word roll around in my mind for a couple of…

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Gluten Free Waffle Tales

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. This helps keep my blog ad-free. Since I went gluten free eleven years ago, I’d never tasted a homemade waffle. I made regular waffles for my kids when they were at home and purchased frozen waffles for myself whenever I had a hankering for some. Until…

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Evening Poetry, December 3

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. This helps keep my blog ad-free. Advent Calendar by Rowan Williams He will come like last leaf’s fall. One night when the November wind has flayed the trees to the bone, and earth wakes choking on the mould, the soft shroud’s folding. He will come…

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Evening Poetry, December 2

Moon setting over The Sound of Arisaig by Dumgoyach is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0 Why Are Your Poems So Dark? by Linda Pastan Isn't the moon dark too, most of the time? And doesn't the white page seem unfinished without the dark stain of alphabets? When God demanded light, he didn't banish darkness. Instead he invented ebony and crows and that small mole on your left cheekbone. Or did…

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Evening Poetry, December 1

Approach to B9119 junction by Stanley Howe is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0 This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. This helps keep my blog ad-free. Slow Down by Michelle Weigers This morning I'm so tired from pushing myself hard, that as I drive down this country road I can't bring myself…

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