Not too inspired currently

 That's completely okay. Writer's block happens to everyone, even the most famous poets. Forcing yourself to write when you're not feeling it can make it feel like a chore, and that's the fastest way to lose the joy in it.

Instead of trying to force a poem, maybe it's a good time to do something else that can help your creative mind recharge.

Here are a few low-pressure ideas to get the inspiration flowing again:

 * Read poetry (or anything else). Pick up a collection by a poet you love, or grab a book of fiction, non-fiction, or even a magazine. The goal isn't to copy their work, but to immerse yourself in language and see what new ideas or images it sparks.

 * Go for a walk. Just walk without a specific destination. Pay attention to the little things you see, hear, and smell. Maybe it's the way a shadow falls on a building or the sound of a crow in a tree. You don't have to write anything down right away; just observe and collect those sensory details.

 * Try a different kind of creative outlet. Maybe your brain needs a break from words. Try drawing, doodling, or listening to some music. The goal is to engage your creativity in a different way, which can often surprise you with new ideas for your writing later.

Don't feel any pressure to produce something right now. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your writing is to step away from it for a while. The inspiration will come back when it's ready.

My Poetry… Adult Content?

 It's completely normal for a poet to want to explore all shades of human experience, not just the positive or uplifting ones. Some of the most powerful and enduring poetry is exactly about those "shadowy" and "somber" topics you're describing.

Think about classic works. Dylan Thomas’s "Do not go gentle into that good night" is a famous poem about the sadness of death and the fierceness of life. Edgar Allan Poe's poetry is full of loss and melancholy. These aren't considered "adult content" because they aren't explicit. Instead, they are considered mature and complex, meant for an audience with enough life experience to understand the depth of those emotions.

Here's how to think about your own writing:

 * You don't have to choose a side. Your blog can have a mix of poems. You can have light, cheerful pieces alongside ones that explore deeper or sadder themes. This shows a range of artistic expression and makes your work more compelling.

 * "Shadowy" is not the same as "inappropriate." Exploring sadness, loss, grief, or personal struggles through poetry is a form of artistic expression and often a way for the writer to process those feelings. It can also be very cathartic for readers who have had similar experiences.

 * The most important thing is your intent. Are you writing to be purposefully shocking, or are you writing to explore a genuine human emotion? It sounds like you're in the latter camp.

Your plan to explore deeper thoughts on life and sadness is a valid and rich path for a poet. The key is to be true to what you want to write. You're not required to write only positive, uplifting content unless that's what truly inspires you. Write what you feel, and let the poems be what they are. You can always add a simple, non-intrusive warning to specific posts if you feel a particular poem might be more intense than others, but for the themes you've mentioned, it's very unlikely to require a full "adult content" label.

***

That's a very thoughtful and considerate concern. It's a sign of a responsible creator to think about the impact your work might have on younger readers.

Let's break down how a young person might react to somber poetry, and what you can do about it.

How Kids Might Read Somber Poetry

 * Emotional Development: Most children, especially younger ones, are still developing the emotional and cognitive skills to process complex or sad themes. A somber poem about grief, for example, might be confusing or even frightening to them if they don't have the life experience to understand the emotion behind it.

 * Literary Context: On the other hand, many children are exposed to sad themes in literature all the time. Fairy tales often have a dark side, and classic children's books can deal with the death of a pet or a loved one. The key difference is often the way the topic is handled. Children's literature usually approaches these themes with a sense of hope or a clear lesson, whereas adult poetry might not offer that same resolution.

 * Personal Connection: A child who has personally experienced loss or sadness might actually find comfort in a somber poem that they connect with. It could make them feel less alone in their feelings.

What You Can Do

Given your desire to explore these themes while being mindful of a younger audience, here are some practical steps you can take:

 * A Simple Disclaimer: As we discussed, a simple, non-intrusive content warning on a specific post can be very effective. Something like "Note: This poem explores themes of loss and grief" gives a reader of any age a heads-up. It's not a scarlet letter; it's a helpful signpost.

 * Your Blog's "About" Page: You could include a general statement on your blog's "About" page that lets readers know your poetry explores a full range of human emotions, including some that are more serious or melancholy. This sets a clear expectation for anyone who lands on your site.

 * Focus on the Craft: The way a poem is written can greatly influence how it's received. You can write about a somber topic like a gray, rainy day without it being "dark" in a way that might be harmful to a child. The use of metaphor, imagery, and tone can make a poem mature without making it inappropriate.

Ultimately, you have to trust your audience to some degree. You can't control who finds your blog, but you can control the information you provide. By writing what you feel and adding simple warnings when you feel it's necessary, you are being both an authentic artist and a considerate creator. A child might stumble across a somber poem and just not "get it," but that's a very different outcome than them being exposed to something truly inappropriate or harmful. It sounds like your work falls into the first category.

“I do too much”

 That sounds like a incredibly full plate! Juggling college, raising three kids, managing a household, running a Poshmark shop, working on weight loss, and trying to create daily video content for Flip is a huge undertaking. It's completely understandable to feel overwhelmed when you have so much going on.

It might be helpful to break down your goals and commitments into smaller, more manageable pieces. Could you perhaps identify one or two areas where you feel you could either delegate a task, or perhaps find a more efficient way to handle it? Sometimes even a small adjustment can make a big difference in a busy schedule.

I also like blogging 😏

Blogging on top of everything else? Wow. Your plate is not just full; it's overflowing. It's truly incredible that you're managing college, three kids, a household, a Poshmark shop, weight loss, video creation, and a blog all at once. It's completely normal and understandable to feel stretched thin with that much on your to-do list.

With so many commitments, it might be helpful to think about which ones have a hard deadline or are absolutely essential, and which ones might be more flexible. For example, are there certain tasks you have to do every day, or are there some you could put on hold for a week to catch your breath?

I live across the street from a football field

 It's funny, the things you get used to. For most people, the soundtrack to a Friday night might be the latest streaming binge or dinner with friends. For me? It's the roar of the crowd from the football field across the street. Living this close means game nights aren't just something you hear about – they're something you live next to. And let me tell you, stepping out into my front yard when a big game is happening is a trip.

One minute, I'm watering my petunias, the next, a wave of sound washes over me that could rival a rock concert. You can feel the energy in the air, the vibrations almost. The stadium lights blaze so bright they cast long shadows down my street, turning a regular evening into something almost cinematic. And the voices! A constant hum of cheers, groans, and the occasional booming voice of the announcer, narrating a story I'm only catching snippets of.

It's a strange feeling, being right there but also removed. The excitement is palpable, you can practically taste it, but I'm just standing on my lawn, in my own little bubble. Sometimes a stray cheer will erupt that tells a whole story in a single burst of sound. Other times, it's just a low rumble, a collective holding of breath during a tense play.

I've seen it all from my little patch of green. The celebratory fireworks that light up the sky after a big win, the somber quiet that descends after a tough loss. People streaming down the street, their faces painted with team colors, their energy infectious. It's like having a front-row seat to the collective heartbeat of my town, all without ever having to buy a ticket or fight for a parking spot.

Is it always peaceful? Definitely not. Parking can be a nightmare, and sometimes the noise goes on a little longer than I'd like. But there's also something undeniably cool about it. It's a constant reminder of the community I live in, the shared passions that bring people together. And yeah, that one time a stray football actually rolled into my flowerbed? That was a story I still tell.

So, while some people might dream of a quiet suburban street, I've got the Friday night lights just across the way. It's different, for sure. Sometimes a little crazy. But it's my view, and in its own way, it's kind of cool.

***I don’t have petunias. It’s not quite as loud as a rock concert. & there’s not ever celebratory fireworks. Ai 🤖 might not know it quite exactly like we do. But close enough you kinda get the idea. Also, I wouldn’t call parking a nightmare. Just gotta make sure no one takes our spot so hubby has somewhere to park when he gets home from work. & the noise doesn’t exactly “go on longer than I’d like” it’s all good. People are pretty decent around here. One time a football 🏈 hit our door 🚪 (not flowerbed) and  I jumped about 10 feet lol. Whoa 😱 lol. It was a little startling, but I survived lol. I was sitting there all peaceful 😌 and suddenly 💥 bang. ❗️ but that was only 1 time in the (almost) 13 years we’ve lived here. There might’ve been like one or two other times but it was all good. 99% of the time no footballs are flying over here lol. 

The main reason I made this post is because I overheard the band practicing this morning. Drums and such mostly. Didn’t look out the door to see exactly what was going on. Sometimes I do. But now the music has stopped so maybe practice is over? Anyway… so yeah. Living next to the football field is interesting. (Especially in the fall) 

Good Morning

 

I saw a Baptist Non Denominational Church…Wonder if this info from Ai 🤖 is accurate … hmm 🤔

 That's an interesting and increasingly common thing to see. It can definitely be confusing, because on the surface, it seems contradictory.

Here's a breakdown of what that might mean:

 * Baptist Churches are part of a specific Christian tradition with roots in the Protestant Reformation. They hold certain core beliefs, such as the baptism of believers by full immersion, and a congregational form of church government where each church is self-governing. They are part of a larger denominational family, even if they aren't tied to a specific convention.

 * Non-Denominational Churches are typically independent and not formally affiliated with any larger group, hierarchy, or convention. They often focus on a specific style of worship or community that may not fit neatly into a traditional denomination.

The reason a Baptist church might use both labels is often about communication and identity. The church is likely trying to convey that while they hold to key Baptist beliefs (like believer's baptism and congregational rule), they are not officially affiliated with a specific Baptist convention (like the Southern Baptist Convention).

In this way, the "non-denominational" label serves to emphasize their independence and may also be a way to attract people who have been turned off by traditional denominational labels. It's a way of saying, "We follow the Baptist tradition, but we're not bound by a larger organization."

Christianity since “in the beginning”

 That's a good way to summarize a very significant theological framework within Christianity, particularly in some Protestant traditions. You're touching on a key concept in Christian thought: the progression of God's relationship with humanity through different eras or dispensations.

Here's a breakdown of the key ideas you've mentioned:

 * God and Israel: Many Christians believe that after the creation and fall of humanity, God chose the nation of Israel to be his special people. Through them, he revealed his laws and made promises (the covenants). Israel's purpose, in this view, was to be a "light to the nations" and prepare the way for the Messiah, who would ultimately fulfill these promises.

 * The Church Age: This is a term used to describe the current period, which began with the coming of Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection, and the establishment of the Church. The belief is that the "gospel"—the good news of salvation through Jesus—is now to be shared with all people, not just the nation of Israel. In this view, the Church is the new body of believers, made up of both Jews and Gentiles, and is the primary instrument for spreading the gospel today.

This perspective highlights a theological transition from a focus on one specific nation (Israel) to a universal, global mission through the Church. It's a way of understanding how the story of God's work unfolds from the Old Testament to the New Testament.