marriage

A Stroll in God’s Park

| Laura Lee Bonde

In the beginning, when I’d had it planned to move out here to Texas, I wasn’t interested in finding a church right away, but because of the difficult times during packing and the drive, I KNEW I needed to find like-minded people to be around and knew I’d be needing a church.

During that first week in Harlingen, I’d been SO close to sinking into a dark depression and knew I was in trouble, if I didn’t get out and about, so right away, I began going to church. Continue reading →

Bouncing off the Walls

| Laura Lee Bonde

Last week, we went to Verizon to switch our phones over to Scott’s plan, and in doing so, we had to turn our old phones in for new ones. Who’d’ve thought Verizon would’ve broken my laughter free from prison.

As we were waiting for the sales rep, Scott and I were discussing (away from them) which phones the kids could pick from, and as we were about to tell them their options, Scott said, “Your mom said you don’t need phones,” which caused me to laugh a BIG laugh.

Immediately, every head in the store turned to look: some out of shock; some out of surprise; maybe some out of fear (my laugh scares people sometimes), and of course, Carolyn smiled, while covering her face, and Nathan smiled, as he sank a little lower. It felt good. Continue reading →

The Quarterback

| Laura Lee Bonde

Last week, Nathan was able to join the football team and played two games. The way it works here…practice Mondays and Wednesdays…games Tuesdays and Thursdays. Well, on Thursday, Nathan got a touchdown, but it wasn’t a “smooth” one.

At first, he bobbled the ball but was able to hold onto it and juked past the defense for a touchdown. Of course, I didn’t get it on video but recorded it in my mind, and as the memory made it’s way to my heart, God spoke to it.

It was the next day, and as we were driving along, the thought came to me: what has God passed you lately…not just me but everyone?

Being married…moving to Texas…at first, I bobbled the ball but was able to hold onto it, and after “juking” some darkness…made a touchdown.

Now, I’m back in line, ready for His next pass!

“Around the Ring”

| Laura Lee Bonde

as much as I thought I was ready
to be a wife
I found I wasn’t ready
to be a wife

to have my body
not my own

to have time
but not alone

to have a voice
that doesn’t matter

to have ideas
but be shutdown

to have to care for
instead of cared for

or being cared for
instead of care for

to be in a city
without any friends

to have a future
without an end

I know it WILL BE good
it’s just a matter of time
and just a matter of road
to trudge on

learning to be a wife
learning to be a husband
learning to live together
as one

holy matrimony!!

“Out of Whack”

| Laura Lee Bonde

the thought of change
is much more exciting
than the reality of it

the clouds still form
the trees still blow in the wind
yet
everything looks different
and I’m beginning to realize why

the perfect alignment
body-soul-spirit
how I feel?
body-spirit-soul

maybe the first step
of realization
is seeing

now to take the next step

“Set Up”

| Laura Lee Bonde

why didn’t I get to choose
from my mind
from my heart
why was it from God’s heart

I feel cheated

now
living in Texas
no friends
no laughter
no
dancing

yet

it’s my

forever

“Hitched”

| Laura Lee Bonde

I’d love to tell you that everything
was a piece of cake

the packing
the loading
the drive
the move

but it wasn’t

there was stress
but we made it
together

it’s hard to explain the emotions
felt behind the wheel
as I watched the trailer in front of me
hold my stuff

my things
my life
everything I had
in a trailer

it was weird

thinking every thing would melt away
when we got here
but it didn’t

unpacking things
only to realize
my things didn’t have “a place”

then it hit me

I left my home
to be a visitor
nothing “fitting in”
not even me

not yet

I’m not sure how much of my bath
was water
and how much
were tears

learning to live
a different way

I wonder what poetry
was inside Abraham