I’m grateful for your boosting words to my morale in the last post as I hashed out my small self-identity crisis. The sun is shining (at least for now), the dark cloud has mostly removed its icy grip from my soul, and life moseys on cheerfully. It always does.
I still have posts to do about Provence, probably two of them, given the amount of pictures. I will likely start on that next since my brother-in-law has to borrow our camera to go to his brother-in-law’s posh chateau wedding where women wear hats and men wear tails and children are neither seen nor heard.
I also want to do a recipe post (finally) on fish with sorrel sauce.
“Sorry?” you say, “sorrel?” I’ll give you a minute to google it.
But all that is put to the side for the moment because I really liked the idea behind the link-up that Galit and Nicole are doing right now. And I’m not even late! For once.
I borrowed a small excerpt of Nicole’s words directly (from By Word of Mouth) because I thought she expressed it well:
In The Lorax, that little man who holds his ground – he speaks for the trees. He is a protector, which brings us to the question my dear friend Galit posed the other night.
‘Who do you speak for?’
And now it’s up to me to speak.
I speak for me, so that whether I am writing about struggles or things that tickle the funny bone or the precious gift that life is, my words still scatter over the field of the internet and produce a harvest of expression that is good for my soul.
I speak for God (not in any sort of legally binding way, mind you). Although I chose to make my blog a place where friends from all beliefs (or no beliefs) felt welcome, God inspires me and his presence cannot help but permeate my words.
I speak for France and it’s culture
the cheerful place it is to live (most of the time)
the food …
(Saucisson: goat, figs, mushroom … and can you tell which one is donkey meat?)
I speak for the earth, which produces beauty so abundantly.
Can you believe this iris is almost as tall as I am?
A royal purple gift wrapped in beige silk.
I speak for loss, that it may be filled through expression.
The first year that we get a peach tree in Alistair’s honor and it is already bearing fruit!
I speak for those who have no voice that their stories may be told.
And I speak for this one
and this one
and this one.
Because when the funds we’ve set aside for their future therapy sessions are all tapped out, and they are clamoring for more, I want to be able to point to all these stories and say,
“What are you talking about? You had it good kid!”
So I speak for them.
I clearly have a lot to say. And I thank you for listening.
Your gift with a lens always blows me away .. but your words, and your voice here is perfection. You speak for good things, for great things – and you use your voice to make a difference!
Thank you so much for linking up with us – it has been a very special and ear to my heart meme! xxxx
ps. may be in France in July – near Versailles.
Cool! If it’s in the last two weeks we might be able to meet up. The first two we go to Bretagne. We’ll see each other at BlogHer too, right?
Where in Bretagne are you headed? Will it be your first time? Hope you bring some sunshine to our area when you visit, because we (okay mostly me) need i
You speak for all those things so eloquently and beautifully, both with your images and your words. I feel honored to share them when I visit here 🙂
I’m so glad I read this today. GORGEOUS pictures.
I like this so much! I like that you say, “I speak for me,” as we all should speak up for ourselves, “even if my voice shakes,” but also for others who have no voice or need a voice or need our support. I wanted to let you know I mentioned you in my blog today. You can find it here if you are inclined, but I wanted to share with my readers your site. I always smile when I read your blogs, even though sometimes you bring me to tears. 🙂
Have a lovely day!
I am so happy to see that Alistair’s peach tree is blooming.
And you do it all so well. (Speak for all these things, that is.)
I love this sweet, cheerful little post and of course your always lovely photos.
So glad to see that your uninvited guest seems to have left the building.
You are giving a wonderful voice to all of these things and more.
You have amazing talent of writing and photography and I’m so glad that you’re sharing them with us.
Always listening to you, your voice, and your heart.
Oh my sweet friend – these are all of the reasons I come to your space. Because I like who and what you speak for, and with how much heart you do it.
(Beautifully done! xo)
Oh, I love you. 🙂
I’m so glad I found your voice Jennie. Your words are always a pleasure to read.
Simply wonderful. I would love to travel to France someday.
Beautiful as always. You really are living a dream.
You sweetie – but I laughed because I had just mentioned “livin the dream” in my post about the rat.
Your words draw me to joy and strengthen me against sorrow.
So whether intentional or not, you also speak for me.
Love.