Tag: thankful

Announcements, poetry, TTOT

Ten Things of Thankful-January 13, 2025

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld
Photo by Raul Kou017eenevski on Pexels.com

Happy TTOT Time! So many things to be thankful for…Let’s do this!

  1. Another birthday! This time it was for my sweetheart. We had a home celebration with a favorite meal. He had cheesecake at work, so nothing made at home. But…there’s always ice cream!
  2. Workshop time! We had an interesting Poetry Workshop at the Garden of Neuro. Chyrel Jackson and I taught it. The theme was “Social commentary from the perspective of community, race, rage, social injustice.” We are writing a group poem as a result.
  3. Projects that find a way to getting done. Whew and I sent another book to the press.
  4. Cardinal spotted! I don’t see them often and never have seen one on the porch, but there was a fat one looking for dinner, just hopping around the porch. He didn’t like what I had to offer. I suppose the squirrels will.
  5. Sister memories. Speaking of cardinals. Cardinals are symbolic-in our family-of memories about my nephews Michael and Keith. Both were Saint Louis Cardinals fans, big time. My sister, who passed away a few years ago in January, received a cardinal painting from my great niece, who painted it.

7. As a family, we participated in the Angel Card Project for Christmas. We expanded this, now to other occasions. As many of you know, daughter makes cards. She has been sending more cards for special occasions, such as if someone is sick and needs cheering. And now, she seems to have become the sympathy card sender. She decided to make some sympathy cards awhile back and now she’s being asked. It’s a great feeling to know that someone might smile when they receive a card. I am happy that daughter has found this hobby.

8. Glimpses of heaven. A friend shared their testimony about how they had a near death experience and how they were told, from the other side, that what they would take with them, what the memories would be, would be the love. Love is the one thing that you would remember and take with you. It really got me to thinking about how the soul is simply full of love moments.

9. Flowers and a sweet exchange. My sweetheart loves flowers. It’s understandable, since his father established a tulip bulb business in Mount Airy, NC after years of traveling from their home in the Netherlands. Sweetie doesn’t really feel comfortable picking out flowers for me, but since he would like me to enjoy them, he makes sure I can get some when I get a notion. My go to place is usually Trader Joe’s. I was there last week, picking out a bouquet, and a lady probably my age struck up a conversation with me. She was selecting a bouquet for herself. She was so sweet and telling me about her relationship with her ex and how she preferred the flowers over him. ha-ha All through the store, I kept running into her and she always smiled. I just found this to be a joyful moment.

10. You! What’s your thankful this week? Please share. Oh, and this is coming up! I will be one of the presenters. 🙂

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Announcements, art, poetry, prose, writing

ANNOUNCEMENT! Dear Heart has been published!

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

Before computers, we wrote letters. My mother’s letters were like little novellas, several pages long. Her family members and friends loved to get her “books.” Letters from mom were heartfelt and brought tears of love. As her pen moved passionately across the pages, sometimes her clear, blue eyes would well up. Letters were her release. They were her way of expressing herself in ways she could not voice. Occasionally, she would write letters to people out of anger and then tear them up. These could have been to politicians, relatives, and those are the ones I knew about. She would express her heart’s desire, open up her soul, and pour out her thoughts.

While I did not have the beautiful penmanship of my mother, I learned that the pen was my power. Some of my letters were releases which I destroyed. At age 15, I even wrote one about the need for a doctor in our little town. The letter and story was published in the newspaper.

As a writer and a poet, I write as if my words are letters to the world, perhaps to express the desires of my heart. Other times I write to simply write.

When we do express our desires within our heart this has a way of stirring up thoughts and even action plans to make things happen. They could be acceptances of things that can’t be changed, but often are steps toward courage to make something happen.

I posed this question and requested to others: What is the desire in your heart? This is my challenge to you. I would like to read about the desires in your heart in the “Dear Heart” anthology of letters, poetry, art, photography, and whatever ways helps you express your passion.

There was a caveat to this. In honor of my mother, the expressions were to be sent to me via good old fashioned snail mail.

Now, it is my pleasure to bring to you these beautiful heartfelt responses via Dear Heart.

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

Contributirs: Alice Taylor, Chyrel J. Jackson, Danielle Martin, Jia-Li Yang, Jill Sharon Kimmelman, Jodi Lynn Nehring, Karen Monteith, Max H. Tomey, Nanci Arvizu, Pratibha Savani, Rebecca Herz, Richa Dinesh Sharma, Robin Klammer, Sarah Ryan, Shiela Denise Scott, Steve Anc, Terri Michels, and Zaneta Varnado Johns.

Special Shout out to Kay Doiron for the cover art and to Zan Johns for her wonderful editing skills.

Get your copy today on Amazon