Penny J. Johnson's Blog, page 13

25 Years of Christmas Poetry: Third Sunday of Advent

25 Years of Christmas Poetry: Second Sunday of Advent

Books of the Month: November 8-December 6

November was a slow reading month for me, partly because I released a new book of my own. I also switched up how and in what format I was reading. I used my Audible books while walking the dogs or cleaning and less when doing my knitting or art journaling. I read a paperback when […]

25 Years of Christmas Poetry: First Sunday of Advent

This is the first poem I wrote for my mom’s Christmas card twenty-five years ago.

25 Years of Christmas Poetry

I realized that this is the twenty-fifth year I have written a Christmas poem for my mother’s Christmas card. As a result of writing so many for her, I have written some for my own Christmas cards. When asked, I have also written about this season of Advent for church publications and programs. Many of […]

2020 Treasures: What’s Next?

I think this question defines 2020 well. Depending on the inflection, it can be loaded with implications. The answer is somewhat rhetorical. Perhaps the best response is a shrug of the shoulders. We don’t know what’s next? This thing is . . . we never did. As I wrap up these posts about my 2020 […]

2020 Treasures: What Is Meant to Last

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 ESV Remember that […]

2020 Treasures: Completion

Completing a task is a treasure in itself. There is a heft to the weight of the thing done to the best of one’s personal ability. There is credence added to the project handed-off to others who provide specific skills and professional prowess. There is satisfaction in breaking the seal of a long-awaited box to […]

2020 Treasures: New Things

In this year of worldwide chaos to pandemic proportions, each member of my family has experienced a new thing. My husband started a new job. My oldest son got engaged. My middle son started working. My youngest son graduated from high school and headed off to college. Along with that last new thing, I retired […]

Now Available in Paperback and on Kindle!

Redefined: A Year of Poetry Redefined: A Year of Poetry began as a word search for one-word titles. With two exceptions: each poem is one word defined—with various trappings of double meanings, juxtaposes of synonyms and antonyms, and allusions to scripture and literature, along with bits and pieces from personal experiences—to be read one at […]