No Ice Skating

No ice skating 

Watching the "Winter" Olympics together 

The excitement and beauty in Italy

The shimmering snow, ice, and outfits, beautiful 

ice-skating, dancing and feats of grandeur on so thin blades

Walking together, she picks up a stick and asked me too as well

Her shimmering coat and crocheted, gifted hat

-warm and the colors of the Olympics 

We walked to the lake, iced over by the cold, cold winter

I tried to explain "no ice-skating"

you could see the dreaming in her eyes

She asked me to throw ice chunks onto the lake 

Her eyes brighten as she watched as they skid across 

First the thud, the echo under the ice, and the scattering chunks

slowly coming to rest 

New excitement 

A gray fox walks across the ice while we look across the vast frozen waters 

Large cracks freshly frozen again 

The fox walks briskly on the frozen waters and did not heed the sign. 

Glad she's still dreaming, the silent moment, the look in her eyes

"No Ice Skating " does not register in her beautiful mind

Does not diminish her imagination, hopes, and dreams

And Winter, winter in our arms resting, dreaming 

About this poem: No Ice Skating is a poem about a walk with our granddaughter Maude after watching the Winter Olympic figure skating. She is so alive and inquisitive on many aspects of life. Sticks and ice chunks along the way capture her attention as well as the path along the frozen lake. She notices the sparrows and squirrels in the woods near the lake and the lone fox brisky crossing the lake. I notice the No Ice Skating sign near the lake and see her still head and fixed intense eyes looking. It's the silent moments seeing her look with wonder at all the newness of the day. We also think fondly about the joy of this winter and her lovely sister, Winter, who we will gladly greet on returning home sweet home.

- Joe Holuta

For you

For you 

for you - this sunset 

     "why me"

why not you

      "I once was spectacular as the mighty oak, the vibrant sunset"

your roots are deep, an anchor, vital 

      "we once were strong, three together"

another grows upward in its place 

      "there are times I do not see the new growth and the good in front of me"

there is nothing new under the sun - but remember new mercies

"What has been will be again,
    what has been done will be done again

new mercies every morning under the sun."*

new day

"every morning"

About this poem: For you is a poem about a place I walk regularly where there are three very large trees and at sunset you can see them so beautifully. One of the large trees now fallen was remove, but there's another one growing up in this place. One evening I was walking and wrote this poem as a dialog between someone questioning times of their life when they were younger and then God answering them to bring more clarity to their view of life. Though they once may have been mightier, now their roots are very deep and solid and they're strong in so many ways. At times we don't see the growth from life's struggles or trials.

Many times, we have blessings and gifts that are right in front of us we fail to see because we may want to go back to an earlier time in life. Despite the pain and trials of this brief life, God wants us to take heart and know there's nothing new under the sun, and we will get through the hard times. New mercies are given freely to us every morning for which I am so thankful. - Joe Holuta

* Lamentations 3:22-23

White Pass

White pass 

Blue sky 

Family 

Mountains, snow

Memories 

Fresh air

Summit lodge 

Speed 

Laughter

Rivers 

Volcanic mountains 

Wind in the pines 

Fireside

Creation and Creator

"Was I on Your mind?

What was the joy set before You?

Was my heart Your prize?" *

"I couldn't tell where heaven stopped, and the Earth began -so beautiful

 Millions of sparkles on the river

"It looked like two skies on top of one another"

About this poem: White Pass is a poem about a visit to White Pass and Packwood, WA and spending time with our oldest son Matthew and our grandchildren Ethan and Adelaide. We enjoyed three blue sky, sunny days skiing. Great times at lunch in the lodge. Mt. Rainier in the background, the Cowlitz river, and sunsets. Great pizza, fireside times together with family- so good. -Joe Holuta

*Lamb, Elevation Worship

Winter Aylin

Winter Aylin

Winter Aylin* arrives

The longest night- her hair is raven black 

yet the Moon was bright 

Borrowed light and a halo around 

God formed her beating heart

Breathing life into her spirit 

Today she breathes for the first time 

And gives us life as well 

Beautiful days

Grateful lives 

The journey, the joys 

A glimpse of love that bonds sisters' hearts and father and mother to daughter 

The family, a starling now flying as part of a murmuration- together 

Dad and mom look on the sweet loves

Bonds that only grow more secure

All encircled by radiance of Winter Aylin

Oh, what love, oh what a love 

“Just how deep and just how high”

The love 

Winter - your mother loved you first - soon you will see "summer's light" in December

About this poem: Winter Aylin is a poem about our youngest granddaughter's birth on 12/22/25 during the longest night on the year. She breathed life - so very quickly this night. A dream few weeks before that the baby had very dark hair- and she does. We are so grateful for Winter and look forward to many, many, beautiful times together. Her family  and her cousins will be sure that she enjoys this "one beautiful, amazing life" we have to live. - Joe Holuta

*Aylin is a popular Turkish girl's name meaning "moon halo" or "one who belongs to the moon," derived from the Turkish word "ay" (moon) with a feminine suffix. It evokes poetic imagery of the night sky, symbolizing femininity and intuition.

Lay It all Down

 

Lay it all down 

Lay it all down 

      Under the 🌲 tree

       Gifts wrapped 

             Anxious thoughts

                   Dreams and forgotten ones

Lay it all down 

        Your burdens, your questions

               And rest, quietly, softly 

                   Like the shelter

                 At the base of a towering pine 

Lay it all down

          Yet wanting to pick it up time and

                  time again

                        Blue sky, pines wavering         

                             Wind blowing the trees

                                Waiting, waiting,     

                                  trusting timing is 

                                          Right

   

About this poem: Lay It All Down is a poem about waiting and when we don’t see the full picture to wait with hope.“Waiting is part of the human experience. We wait for healing, for answers, for breakthroughs. But Christmas shows us that God doesn’t waste the wait. He is near in it. And his timing, though mysterious, is always right. God will be faithful to you.” - Joe Holuta