of puddles and scars and turtles with wings

This week was
grumpy rumblings gnawing at my tummy
as I let go of gluten and sugar and everything creamy
in a gasp for more air,
lungs so hungry

and digging miles of hard ground,
body scrunched down low,
hundreds of plants tucked in ready
for growing joy

of hurry biting like a nervous dog,
overheating and melting down
fear puddling in the street.

while wildflowers singing wisdom from roadways and fields
took me in,
tugging at the trueness
….they know it’s their highest praise just to be

and hubby and I finding each other’s hands in it all

and shadows not gonna steal  my peace away,
heart going light and defiant
against  the roar of silent monsters
beneath the bed

and I’m grateful still
for tears and scars
and turtles with wings.

“You need more scars.  You need to live.”   -Julien Smith  (The Flinch)

25 Comments

  1. kelly on May 6, 2012 at 11:28 am

    I’ve really been contemplating giving up the gluten and sugar, but it’s such a huge change…I don’t even know where to start! I love that quote! I am grateful for my scars. 🙂

  2. S. Etole on May 6, 2012 at 11:28 am

    “Just to be …” How easily we lose track of the importance of just being in the moment.

    Blessings in the midst of it all.

  3. elk on May 6, 2012 at 2:18 pm

    oh the wildflowers do SING!! hang in there on the giving up J..it gets easier!! xo

  4. beth on May 6, 2012 at 2:38 pm

    i gave up gluten for a week and didn’t’ notice anything except that i was eating more of the foods i could since food was on my mind all the time:(

    yesterday i started the 30 days to flatter tummy diet that was on dr. oz and so far so good. who knew that rice cakes with almond were so yummy !!

  5. rachel awes on May 6, 2012 at 2:58 pm

    oh my goodness, friend!
    big brave rumbly tumbly food leaps!
    your vessel deserves only the most supreme goodness.
    so you can swim like the glorious otter YouAre!
    XOX

  6. Marcie on May 6, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    Scars are a sign of a full and well-lived life. What a beautiful post!

  7. Kel on May 6, 2012 at 5:51 pm

    ‘the roar of silent monsters beneath the bed’
    perhaps a mixture of gluten and cream shaken in a bottle and sprayed under the bed will bind those monsters forever 🙂

    how’s that for my brain playing lego with bits and pieces 😉

    laughter is medicine

  8. Kathy on May 6, 2012 at 8:44 pm

    Hi Jennifer! Thank you for dancing under the moon! I was tested and found out that I do NOT have Celiac’s so I dont have to give up gluten foods. Best to you for working at that. Diets of any kind really challenge even the strongest of us. Your photos are gorgeous. Breathe. Dance in your flowers. You are loved.

  9. Lynn Fisher on May 6, 2012 at 8:52 pm

    Such beautiful words and stunning photos…you are a natural communicator Jennifer!
    I too am trying to break up with sugar/gluton and other white flour stuff. it is a difficult but, for some of us, nessessary change. Take care : )

  10. Barbara on May 6, 2012 at 10:45 pm

    So beautiful and inspiring, Jennifer. Makes me want to shout it out with you!

    “…and shadows not stealing my peace away,
    heart going light and defiant
    against the roar of silent monsters
    beneath the bed.”

    Amen! Thank you!

  11. Lindsay Drya on May 7, 2012 at 3:24 pm

    Wonderful.
    The first part made me smile… I definitely should try that too!
    I have no idea what the last picture is but it looks delicious! (Can you eat it?)

  12. Louise G on May 7, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    And I am grateful
    your beauty radiates
    out like sunlight
    streaking through the garden
    coaxing reluctant blossoms to bloom
    and turtles to wander
    where ever they may go.

    Hugs

  13. Anita on May 8, 2012 at 9:01 am

    Scars are the sign of a survivor! I tell mister that all of the time; he has a scar from his long hospitalization at birth, scars from the accident he barely survived, scars from the surgeries to improve his quality of life. And I love every one!
    All of our scars, the seen and the unseen, are beautiful.
    As are you!
    xoxo, Anita

  14. Lee Ann on May 8, 2012 at 10:33 pm

    Scars are what make us more beautiful inside and it shows through the eyes and our hearts! it certainly always shows through Y♥U Jen!

    I gave up sugar during lent and was so bummed that I didn’t loose a pound!!! In my past I had ulcerative colitis to the point of having to have surgery. I have often wondered since if my problem may have been gluten related. So have you been feeling tummy yucky for a long while? And what is that yummy stuff in the jar on your last photo? Made me instantly hungry.

    ♥Lee Ann

  15. kathryn on May 10, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    good luck with the diet change…that can’t be easy!!

    I finally found my first patch of Queensanne Lace in southern CAL!! I love that plant!!Lovely photo!!

  16. Mimi and Tilly on May 11, 2012 at 6:39 am

    Scars are beautiful. I agree. Changing your diet is tough! I have stopped eating bread and wheat products jsut to have a break for a while. It feels good. Thank you for being such a strong supporter of my journey, it’s good ot connect with like-minded souls and share the joys of it all. Big hugs, Em x

  17. JBR on May 14, 2012 at 6:50 am

    Great post. I am trying to relax in the moment and rest as the Lord has been telling me. Love the bird photos especially dear one. Blessings.

  18. Leslie Avon Miller on May 29, 2012 at 11:13 pm

    Change is good. Change is a challenge. I just found out that I can’t tolerate gluten, corn (which is in everything even toothpaste) or dairy. That eliminates processed foods and means a lot of cooking, dish washing and produce shopping….Its like being a pioneer!

  19. Sandra L. on May 31, 2012 at 1:14 am

    I love fat fuzzy bees! Glad to see one visited you, my friend.

    I have a pet turtle. I’m not sure he’s winged but he is trying to get out of his house right now (at 2:13 a.m.) Somehow he gets these nocturnal thoughts…!

    XOXO

  20. Lynn on June 5, 2012 at 6:45 am

    You make gardening even more beautiful than it already is! Love!

  21. how to get rid of scars on February 9, 2013 at 4:40 am

    Very good blog post. I certainly love this website.

    Continue the good work!

  22. Lakesha on February 17, 2013 at 9:03 am

    I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.

  23. chwilówki bez bik on June 19, 2013 at 11:20 am

    Hi there I am so excited I found your website, I really found
    you by accident, while I was looking on Aol for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say cheers
    for a incredible post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time
    to look over it all at the minute but I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds,
    so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the excellent jo.

  24. best way to lose fat on August 6, 2013 at 10:23 pm

    Whether hiring a rapid weight loss diets service
    or company before you start you are going to know the typical health insurance workflow after
    a claim is denied.

  25. Agustin on August 7, 2013 at 1:58 am

    When used together, these works are the one-two
    punch and the basis for all disaster restoration for procedures performed throughout the world.
    disaster restoration services provided by physicians and other healthcare practitioners
    are properly reimbursed.

Leave a Comment