Author Archives: Donna Coulson
Pancake Love
I love pancakes. Two circles of doughy, warmness fill my belly and satisfy me like no other breakfast. I like them slathered with melted butter and sprinkled generously with white sugar. (Syrup makes them soggy and, well, the taste of maple – yuck.) When we go out for breakfast, I order crepes or omelets or … Continue reading
Hope
Gardening is a lesson in hope. What we had on our property, before the hurricanes precipitated our horrid landslide, was a verdant green slope of rainforest. Thanks to Maria and what we had to do afterwards, much of that expanse of property was converted into an ugly slash of rock, debris, and concrete. It has … Continue reading
Mother’s Gifts
Yesterday was Mother’s Day. I love Mother’s Day, well, really, I love May. May is a little like my own personal Christmas – one that’s all about me – since this sweet month brings blooming flowers, Mother’s Day and my birthday. I get awakening gardens, presents and flowers, cards and calls and texts. I … Continue reading
Defining Joy
Joy is an interesting hmmm…not sure what noun to use here…endeavor? gift? emotion? Really, maybe I should scrap this topic and choose something else, because now that I’m thinking about it, I’m not at all sure what joy is. My Merriam-Webster says it is “happiness that comes from success, good fortune, or a sense of … Continue reading
Anoles and the Art of House Painting
Anoles, the tiny lizards who live at my house, are small little guys. The largest, most formidable ones are maybe five inches long nose to tail-tip. The fattest one I’ve ever seen was less stout than my index finger. I’ve talked about these creatures before, and I hope you aren’t tired of them, but they … Continue reading
Sufficient Grace
I’ve been thinking this week a lot about the verse in 2 Corinthians 12:9 where God says to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” It seems to me that there are a lot of ways to absorb this verse, and from where I’m sitting this moment, … Continue reading
Froggy Friends
I found a new painting project last week, and I’m happy (and proud) to say that I got started on Monday and finished on Friday. Karl was a bit worried about this project, I think he had doubts about whether I had the patience and skills to do it well (that isn’t unfair, my track … Continue reading
Signs of Progress
There’s something so satisfying about weeding the garden. When you start, there’s a problem. When you finish, everything is neat, tidy and pristine. It’s the same with cleaning. Start – dirt and mess. Finish- shiny and smelling good. Painting is a joyous task. Start with ugly, end with glossy. Being able to see the fruit … Continue reading
New Coat of Paint
Now that we have a new front door and the roof is nearly on, tasks of somewhat lesser importance can be begun. This past week, I took on a task myself that I’ve always been just a mere helper on before, but this time I was It! That task was painting the exterior of the … Continue reading
Love in Action
I’m tired today, but not nearly as tired as the fourteen people Karl and I took to the airport this morning at six AM to catch a flight home. That dozen-plus-two worked hard this week, and they leave behind some real progress in the hurricane recovery and restoration for Frederiksted Baptist Church and the home … Continue reading
