Aspiring Poet, heartfelt thoughts.I have Just Discovered that I can write

The house still remembers her. Not in a way I can prove, not in anything I can point to and explain cleanly, but in the quiet way a place changes when someone who shaped it is no longer walking through it. It is my father’s house, and he still lives there, but it is not the same home it once was. I go to see my dad. But I still go to see her too. And both of those things are true every time I pull into the driveway. The couch is still there. The rooms still hold the arrangement of her life, even if no one says it out loud anymore. Nothing has been dramatically changed, but everything feels permanently altered. Like the house is still learning how to exist without the one who made it feel complete. When I step inside, my eyes still do the same thing first—they look for her. Not because I expect her to be there, but because love does not stop searching just because it has been told the answer. My dad is there. That matters more than I can say. He is still in the house, still holding on t...

 At the feet of Jesus there are no years to measure— no anniversaries, no “one year gone.” Only now. I wonder what that now feels like for her. Does she remember the ache of this world, or has it already fallen away like a coat she no longer needs? Here, I count days with a tight chest. There, she stands where love has weight, where faith is no longer whispered but spoken face to face. I wonder if she knows how often I still reach for her, how time keeps pressing forward while she rests outside of it. She is not waiting. She is not missing anything. She is where all questions finally exhale— at the feet of Jesus, where eternity is gentle and grief cannot follow. And I remain, learning how to live in seconds, trusting that one day time will loosen its grip, and I’ll step into that same now, and see her there.                                                   ...

  I'll see you again mama Her hand in his grasp— each breath a frail, fragile wisp, her faith steady, sure. He remembers love’s tender warmth, those hands that bore his childhood weight. Memories surge in— the lull of her voice, her arms that sheltered his storms, her gentle strength in each word, her laughter that filled the dusk. Tears streak down his face— each sob a testament to her devotion’s light. He leans close, his voice a vow, softly through his trembling lips: “Sweet Mama, I will come when my earthly journey ends— we shall stand in perfect peace together at our Savior’s side. ” She takes a labored breath— her final breath upon this earth— now no pain, no sorrow, only joy untold. ----JHF

  Fifty-six weeks. Over a year of searching, applying, waiting, and hoping. I knew finding a job wouldn’t be easy, but I never imagined it would take this long. One interview this week. Another chance. Another hope. But no call back—at least, not yet. I’ve filled out more applications than I can count. I’m pretty sure I’ve applied to the same job multiple times, like a goldfish swimming around the bowl and getting excited about the same castle every lap. Every morning, I wake up, check job boards, refresh my email, and send out another round of resumes. Some days, it feels like screaming into the void. Other days, it feels like the void is screaming back, laughing at my futile attempts. It’s easy to get discouraged. The longer the search drags on, the louder the doubts become. Maybe I’m not good enough. Maybe I’m wasting my time. Maybe I should just stop looking, stop hoping, stop trying. Maybe I should take up interpretive dance or start a farm with a single goat and a dream. But ...

 Embracing Rejection: The Art of Resilience in the Face of Repeated Setbacks Rejection is a universal experience, yet it often feels incredibly isolating. The sting of being turned down—whether for a job, a project, or even in personal relationships—can lead to feelings of inadequacy, doubt, and despair. If you’ve found yourself on the receiving end of rejection after rejection, you’re not alone. Many of us have been there, and the journey can feel endless, especially when it seems like the world is saying “no” at every turn. The Weight of Rejection   After a year of searching, it’s easy to feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Each rejection can feel like a personal indictment, a reflection of your worth, your abilities, and your dreams. You may find yourself questioning your decisions, your skills, and even your identity. The emotional toll can be profound—an overwhelming sense of hopelessness can settle in, making it hard to see the light at t...

The Struggles of Getting Hired in 2024 and 2025: An Emotional Journey of Rejection and Perseverance There’s no easy way to say this: the job market right now feels like a battlefield. The path to landing that elusive job offer is riddled with obstacles, and no matter how hard you try, it feels like the odds are stacked against you. If you’ve been navigating this difficult journey for a while, I don’t have to tell you that it’s exhausting—emotionally, mentally, and even physically. You put yourself out there, time and time again, crafting the perfect resume, tailoring your cover letter, and sending applications into what often feels like a black hole. Each rejection email feels like a punch in the gut. And as weeks turn into months, the sting doesn’t fade; it lingers, weighing on your heart, making you question your worth, your abilities, and whether you’re ever going to make it to the other side. The Job Market in 2024 and 2025: A Challenging Landscape The job market in 2024 and 2025 i...