Welcome to Sunflower Chronicles
I’m Sandra. thank you for visiting. I love to look at life through a lens of positivity, seeking bright moments among the challenges that will inevitably be part our lives. Over the last few years as I faced an especially difficult health crisis, I adopted one of my favorite quotes as a personal mantra:
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It’s what the sunflowers do.” – Helen Keller.
This mantra gave me resiliance and hope. I noticed cheerful sunflowers everywhere and was reminded to turn my face towards the sunshine and cling to faith. I especially loved the ones growing bravely along country roads. I was inspired to look for joy even in the tough moments. My hope is that through the sharing of story, you too will see sunflowers along life’s winding path.
Set Free
"but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7 The phrase : “and the blood of Jesus ...
Celebrating My Courageous, Creative Hero!
Anticipation of Dad’s birthday prompts me to browse through stacks of old pictures. The photographs trace the journey of his life, calling sweet memories to mind. I see my dad again through the eyes of a small child. I remember his humor and affection. I...
Refreshed by the Rain
Snuggled in my office on the first morning of...forever. The feeling inside me is a mix of relief, joy, possibility. There’s a bit of angst too. I’ve set aside my need to be super woman and admitted to my oncologist CNP that I’m exhausted. She pointed out that after...
Glimpses of Dad
A quiet moment suddenly is transformed into an extraordinary one when the sight of someone or thing triggers a memory, touches our hearts and brings us close again to a loved one. This morning I was blessed to catch a glimpse of my dad. Memories of his smile flooded my mind as I watched the man in the pew in front of me…
Sweet Cortina
This sweet little doll has watched over me from my bookshelf for much of my life. I received her from a dear friend more than 40 years ago. Her felt headdress is tattered, and one arm hangs at an odd angle after enduring being boxed and moved to a new home several...
Perseverance
I’ve been a little agitated lately; there’s so much I want to do each day, and too few hours available. Always, I run out of energy before I get to that one thing that I wanted most to accomplish. I’m still adjusting to the idea that my physical energy is not yet...
Pancakes!
Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent on the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday offers us a beautiful, solemn moment of pause where we can consider our attitudes and actions, recognize where we are wandering off the path, and turn back to God. Many take this...
My Hair Changed Me
Recently I ran into an acquaintance I hadn’t seen in a few years. He looked so perplexed when I enthusiastically greeted him. After I reintroduced myself, he noted my hair was different. We talked for a few minutes and parted. A few days later I saw him again, this...
A Kiss Goodbye
I’ve been browsing through photographs and memories this past week, remembering mom.There’s so much to say, yet I struggle to find words.It’s her birthday. And the anniversary of her death. Mom was born on January 22, 1933, and given a beautiful name: Angelique. This...
The Sound of Silence
I am being drawn into silence. On a typical morning when I sit in my study, I begin the day by listening to a guided mediation. I tend to be a bit restless, even in a contemplative posture my mind is busy. Frequently, I have to pause the daily meditation and back it...
Revise?
How’re you doing with your plans and goals for the new year? Are you still excited? Or does it feel like it’s already time to revise, or even give up on, the vision for 2024? This year, I gave myself time to dream freely about the new year. Over the years I’ve...
