HILARY WEEKS: Love Your Life

 

ai art by me

Little pieces of love

 

I know... I know...

My children are probably just as guilty as every other kid their age when it comes to spending too much time on their phones. 

But there's one thing I absolutely can't complain about...

My seven-year-old spends her summer days sending me little snapshots of her world while I'm at work.

A picture of a sleepy cat... A silly moment with her siblings... A random little adventure that made her smile.

And every single time my phone buzzes...

My heart smiles too. 

Those little notifications aren't interruptions. They're tiny reminders that even when we're apart, she's thinking about me.

One day these summer breaks will become school days again. Then they'll become jobs, families, and lives of their own.

So for now... I'll happily treasure every blurry picture, every random update, and every little "Mom, look!" that pops onto my screen.

Because someday... I'll probably miss hearing that phone buzz.

Love doesn't always arrive in long conversations.

Sometimes... it arrives as a picture of a cat. 

Carry one. Pass one on.

Source: Pieces of me, By Lyddi on Facebook

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The History of Appalachian English

 

The History of Appalachian English-Why We Talk Differently: The Appalachian dialect is an ancient connection to our rich heritage and deserves to be safeguarded and honored. The language we speak is known as Appalachian-English and actually serves as one of the oldest varieties of English spoken in this nation. But why do we speak it and where did this dialect come from?

Like nearly all things related to Appalachia, there is no one clear answer to this question; however, extensive research has been conducted on this very topic for the better part of a century in order to determine why so many of us pronounce words such as “wire,” “fire,” “tire,” and “retired” as “war,” “far,” “tar,” and “retard” respectively.

Appalachian-English also places an “-er” sound at an end of a word with a long “o”. For example, “hollow”— a small, sheltered valley— is pronounced like “holler”. Other examples are “potato” (pronounced “tader”), “tomato” (pronounced “mader”), and “tobacco” (pronounced “backer”). H retention occurs at the beginning of certain words as well. “It”, in particular, is pronounced “hit” at the beginning of a sentence and also when emphasized. The word “ain’t” is pronounced “hain’t”.

But why is it that we speak so uniquely?

The predominate theory is that the existence of Appalachian-English is the result of the isolation the mountains beyond the Blue Ridge ensured — making our dialect one of the most ancient and protected dialects in the nation.

While our high-browed relatives who moved to the big city and lost their accent may frown upon our words and pronunciations, it is believed that the Appalachian dialect is a remnant of Elizabethan English.

An evidence of this is the use of words such as “afeared”, a Shakespearean word that is largely forgotten by most English speakers outside of the Appalachian region.

Interestingly, Appalachian-English has virtually no Native American influences (with the exception being place names, e.g., “Appalachia”, “Tennessee”, “Kanawha”, etc.) while so many other regional dialects in the nation do contain heavy influences from Native Americans. This is noteworthy, as it showcases something we know and realize today — the people who settled this region are not easily influenced by the accents and languages of others, even if they become displaced, Appalachian-English is a hard dialect to lose.

(From Appalachian Magazine)

Source: History of Kentucky on Facebook

Who Am I?

 

Source: Poetry for the Soul on Facebook

Hollow Coves - Blessings (Official Music Video)

 

Blessings 

Sunlight fell and reminded me that life can be so gracious sometimes
And I felt like everything around me was connected somehow
Mm

At night I hear the rhythm of the ocean as it breaks on the shore
And I think about all the things that I am grateful for

And they say, hold on to the ones you love
Keep 'em close to you
And they say, hold on to this time we have
And let the light shine through

Sometimes I get a little bit emotional when I see love unfold
Two hearts bound by reflections of the memories they'll forever hold

And they say, hold on to the ones you love
Keep 'em close to you
And they say, hold on to this time we have
And let the light shine through

There are blessings all around you
Open up your eyes
Feel the sunlight fall upon you
Let it free your mind
There are blessings all around you
Take a step outside
Let your heart shine in a new light
See it come alive

And they say, hold on to the ones you love
Keep 'em close to you
And they say, hold on to this time we have
And let the light shine through

Zach Williams - "Face to Face" Rescue Story Tour Live Session

 

Face To Face
by  Zach Williams 

Album: Rescue Story 

---

Verse 1
Oh, I'm a traveler far from home
I get lost but I press on
There's a mansion in streets of gold
Where I belong

Verse 2
Yes, there's a day coming soon
Where the old will be made new
And Heaven's glory shines like the morning
Before our eyes

Chorus
When we all see Jesus
When we all see Jesus
No more sickness, no more madness, no more pain
When we all see Jesus face to face

Verse 3
Then we will sing with angel voices
There will be a great rejoicing
Holy holy, worthy worthy
Is the Lamb, oh

Chorus
When we all see Jesus
Yes, when we all see Jesus
No more sickness, no more madness, no more pain
When we all see Jesus face to face
Yeah, when we all see Jesus face to face

They are like earth angels.

 

In the end, we hold onto the memories of those who crossed our paths and left soft marks on our hearts. These special people often came during our darkest times, bringing warmth and comfort when we needed it most.

Their kind actions might have lasted just a moment, yet they offered us small gifts that linger long after, a smile, a gentle word, or a helping hand.

Each of these simple gestures spoke volumes; they whispered, "I care," "I remember," and "I am here for you." We find joy in remembering the kind smiles of strangers, as their sweet words wrap around us like a warm blanket.

They are like earth angels who touch our lives in tiny but powerful ways.

Even though they might have moved on, the love they shared stays with us, creating a treasure trove of precious memories that brighten our future days, as we recall the feeling of 'being seen' ...

~ C.E. Coombes

Artwork ~ Nom Kinnear King