Wednesday September 30 2015  A QUICK NIGHT

Time went by too quickly today with all I had to do.  But I am here now and intend to just check in on my blog site for a few minutes and then get to bed as early as possible.  I have a big day tomorrow.  I will leave the house about 6:15 a.m. and not be home until evening.  I have the honor of watching my grandsons for the day.  The oldest will be in school for part of the day but Xander and I will hang out together.  He is such a super little boy.  Actually, quite amazing.

Since his ear surgery, while I was away, he has done remarkably well.  He had hearing loss in both ears, 30% on one side and 40% on the other side.  His diction is improving and he seems to respond more readily to conversations.  I am just so thankful that his situation was discovered early in his life.  He will be four years old next month.

My metal table is dry and is ready to be brought indoors.  The problem is that it is very heavy and Dave is not supposed to lift more than 10 pounds at present.  We can’t park in our garage until we get the table and base into the house.  Hopefully someone will show up who is just so desiring to carry a heavy, cumbersome, antique tobacco starting table and its base into our house.  We need a Mr. Muscleman!  We need a miracle!

Actually, I need a miracle to get to bed on time.  So here goes.  I’ll try to make my miracle happen.  I was thinking a lot about TIME this morning as I sat in the Lord’s presence.  I decided to look TIME up in the dictionary.  TIME has many connotations attached to it.  Is is a noun.  As I read the dictionary I recognized a poem was coming, I confiscated the words that the dictionary used for its definition and created the following poem.

 

TIME

By Kathleen Martens

September 30, 2015

 

A non-spacial continuum

With irreversible succession.

An interval separating,

As well as duration.

 

A collection, as of years,

Minutes, or days

Representing separation,

That knows its own way.

 

Or a similar number

Representing specific points

Of an arbitrary past

Our memory anoints.

 

Thank you for your “TIME”. 

Good night and God bless you.

 

You know I can’t close without a P.S.  

So, P.S.

I will add a few poems below for those who like to read poetry.  These were written in past years.  

 

Time With Self

By Kathleen Martens

May 14, 2013

 

Spending time with self,

What value may that be?

Do you enjoy your time of solitude

Or is there someone else you’d rather see.

 

Are you interested in thinking,

In quiet time alone?

Or rather be on Facebook,

Or perhaps talking on the phone?

 

Are your thoughts important?

Do you remember how to think?

Or must you have someone to occupy

Or connect with on Twitter’s link?

 

Are you thoughtful, well read and curious

Or consumed by what others say?

Do you believe you have interesting thoughts

That help you throughout your day?

 

Alone with self, what a privilege,

No hustle, bustle or race.

Do you know what your spirit looks like?

Do you recognize your own face?

 

 

Do you like who you are?

Would you choose YOU as a friend?

Perhaps that’s a question you should ask

For its YOU you’ll be with till the end.

 

 

MY FAVORITE TIME OF DAY

By Kathleen Martens

July 29, 2013

 

Oh to awaken

To a brand new story

The beauty and sounds

Creating morning’s glory!

 

My favorite part

Of each day’s birth,

When the rising sun

Kisses the earth.

 

Noontime comes

Ever too swift,

And the brilliance of day

Causes my heart to lift.

 

It is the very best

In my 24 hours,

By light and energy

I’m renewed with power.

 

Then afternoon comes

With cooling breeze

And the melodic lull

Of the honey bees.

 

My most ideal time

For a cup of tea,

A most welcoming place

I choose to be.

 

And then the evening

Bringing day’s end.

Each hour the day gives

Is My Favorite Friend!

 

I love them all!

Every moment I Iive,

Each moment that passes

A new gift it gives.

 

And then the next

That I like best

Is when it’s time

For bedtime rest. 

 

All are favorites

When in joy I receive,

For each moment God gives 

In Him I believe.

 

 

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN TIME AND SPACE

By Kathleen Martens

July 15, 2010

 

Oh Lord, just take me off

To that wonderful place,

Somewhere between

Time and space.

 

Take me into

The realms You know

Where there is freedom

Where ever You go.

 

Your spiritual world

Where no time dwells,

Where there is no influence

Of that place called Hell.

 

Just existence,

Secure in God’s arms,

Shielded forever

From outward harm.

 

Your presence and knowledge

Just part of being;

And Spiritual eyes

Given for seeing.

 

If I could but exist

For just one hour

In Your presence

Consumed by Your power.

 

I don’t think 

I could ever come back,

Too much of You

I would surely lack.

 

Someday it will be time

To walk through that door,

And then I’ll be with You

Forever more.

 

Until then I’ll dream

Of that wonderful place.

Somewhere between

Time and space.

 

Good night again!

 

 

 

Tuesday September 29 2015  HEARING GOD’S VOICE

 

It is always interesting to receive feedback from a blog I have written.  I have been informed that more than one reader believes I am a bit off my rocker in reference to yesterday’s topic.  I do hesitate to share my personal journal because if a person reads it who does not understand where I am coming from, they may very well think that what I write is unusual.  Hearing the voice of God has different meanings to different people.  I personally refer to the impressions I receive from the Lord as my HEART SOUNDS.  “Heart” is often referred to as the inner self where deep feelings originate.  I think it is a place that some may refer to as their spirit.  For me it is my inner quiet self that feels the deepest and connects with the spiritual aspects of the Holy Scriptures and with God.  It is the inner place of my integrity that connects with God. 

I believe that as the Bible teaches, when I accepted Jesus to be Lord and Savior of my life, the Lord placed His Holy Spirit within me.  My spirit, my heart, communes with the Holy Spirit of God.  Some may refer to this as “the Lord has enlightened me” or “I awake with wisdom from The Lord” or “have received better understanding”.  I choose to refer to that which others may describe as having been enlightened, or receiving words of wisdom, or a better understanding, as my HEART SOUNDS.  I also refer to this experience as hearing the voice of God through my thoughts.  I just happen to go one step further than most and write down the words of enlightenment.  Some may ask, does God really speak to those who follow the teaching of His Son Jesus?   Can we, mere mortals, really commune with God in the quiet of our hearts?  After searching the scriptures, I believe the answer to be yes.  Below I will copy part of I Corinthians chapter 2.  Read it very carefully to fully understand the concept of how the scripture is written.

I Corinthians 2: 9-16

^“But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”^[c]

^“10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. ¹¹ For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

¹³ These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy^[d Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴ But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. ¹⁶ For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?”^[e] But we have the mind of Christ.”

Even reading the above scripture may sound foreign to those who are not familiar with the Bible.  I have been a student of the Bible for several years and there is always something else for me to learn.  It is the most amazing book I have ever read.  When I sit down to read and study I always pray that God will open the eyes of my heart and bring the scripture alive to me, giving me discernment to understand His Word as I read. 

I also stated in yesterday’s blog that I love to spend time in the morning, sometimes for several hours, with God.  This time consists of quiet reflection, listening to praise and worship music, reading God’s word, praying, thanking God for what He has and is doing for me, writing in my journal, listening for His HEART SOUNDS to me, writing poetry, and worshiping Him.  I use study guides or books to gain a better understanding of His scriptures, listen to learning CD’s or sermons , and sometimes I just finish my mornings reading for my own pleasure and enjoying my solitude. Every once in a while I set aside an entire day to do all that I described above.  It is like a mini vacation to me and I come away from my day refreshed in the Lord’s love, filled with peace and joy.  This is how I live.  I would hope that this insight into my spiritual life will not discourage people from reading my blog, but rather, make you curious to find out the validity of what I am sharing with you.  I promise you that I do not participate in a cult, but rather, I am a follower of Jesus Christ who is described in the world’s best selling book of all times, THE HOLY BIBLE.

If anyone has any questions or comments please go to my contact page and send me an email.  I would love to hear from you.  Oh, by the way, have you ever prayed?  If so, then you too speak with God.  Just listen carefully and you may be impressed with thoughts that you have no idea where they came from.  They just might come from God.  I just happen to write down what I am given in the still quiet of my heart.

I don’t know if any of you have ever heard of Sarah Young, author of many bestselling books.  One of her most popular books is “JESUS CALLING”.  It is her experience of learning to hear the voice of the Lord and then writing it down.  It is truly an amazing devotional.  What is especially eye opening is reading the introduction.  It explains a lot about why she sits before the Lord to hear “His voice”.

Thanks to those who contacted me following yesterday’s blog.  I hope my response in this Blog gives you pause to think and ponder and look up the scriptures in the Bible about all the times God spoke to those in the Bible.  One of my favorite search engines is www.biblegateway.com  Enter in the word(s) you are interested in reading.  I put in the word “HEART” tonight and I was delighted that I had hundreds to read.  Give it a try.

Just so you know, God enlightened me again this morning.  His words are always awesome for me to wake up to.  I will not share the words I received but I will share the poem I received this morning.

 

SHOW ME LORD

By Kathleen Martens

September 29 2015

 

Show me Lord

How to be more like You.

To say what You say,

To do what You do.

 

Teach me Lord

Your compassion and grace,

And make Your light

To shine from my face.

 

Instruct me Lord

That in obedience I follow

My days assigned in Your Book

That my steps not ring hollow.

 

Use me Lord

That Your plan is fulfilled

That my days you have fashioned

Will be walked as you willed.

 

Finished my painting tonight.  I may be able to bring the table in tomorrow.

Good night and God bless all of you. 

P.S.  Just thought you might be interested that I have taught classes on “Hearing God’s Voice”.  If anyone is interested I could post the teaching references and book used for the class.  It is an interesting study.

 

 

 

 

Monday September 28, 2015  BECOMING MORE AWARE

 

I actually have some thoughts already in my mind as I type this first line of my blog.

And the above first line is the only line I was able to write before I was called away due to a duty that had to be done when the timer went off at about 5:30 p.m..  It is now 7:50 p.m. and I have just this moment returned.  

I have been painting a pedestal and table throughout the afternoon.  It was planned to be done this morning but my husband’s friend called yesterday and informed him that his mother had just died.  She was 90 years old and in a care facility.  This friend has not missed a day attending to his mother in the care facility for the full seven plus years that she was there.  Dave is a very close friend to this person and was asked by his friend to come to the viewing today before she was cremated.  I think he needed Dave there for spiritual and emotional support.  I was asked to come as well.  That is why our plans did not go quite as planned this day.  So I am behind in what I planned, but in the scheme of life it is not a big deal.  Going with Dave and helping support his friend in his grief was much more important.

Overall, this has been quite an interesting day for me.  I shall back track a bit here and refer to my trip again.  Before I went on my trip my life was quite regimented.  Up to my departure I was usually up and out of bed between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m..  Then I spent time in my Library meeting with God, praying, worshiping, and meditating in His presence.  Then time for exercise, lunch, work (photography), housecleaning, and whatever else needed to be done, and back in bed by 9:00 p.m..  Dave was not yet retired so my days were a bit less busy, in that I wasn’t cooking lunch and preparing breakfast for him, or using up time talking and going places together, not to mention lying in bed each morning for an hour or more after awakening to listen to sermons together, or just talk, etc…  (I’ll leave the “etc…” to your own imagination.   

Needless to say, my routine was derailed from my then normal routine and we have settled into a bit of a new normal for us since Dave and I are both retired now.  There has been one great thing that I have missed tremendously however, and that is the time I always spent in the Lord’s presence in the quiet and tranquility of early dawn, sometimes for two or three hours a day.  I have been listening to sermons each day at the gym while I exercise, I still love the Lord and try my best to be obedient unto His scripture, but I was beginning to feel a “lack” in my life.  It has been gnawing at me because I knew what was missing.  It was my intimate time in His presence daily in the secret quiet place of my heart.  Lately I have been burdened by this and I knew it was the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life calling me back to this important time of intimacy with God.

Lately it has been hit and miss.  Sometimes I could get up early enough to have my quiet time, but most times it was not possible due to how busy I have become with “life”.  I can see why people go through fast food lanes.  But that is something I choose not to do.  Since I’ve been home, Dave and I have eaten out two times and one was Friday night when we took Lana and Tim to dinner.  I can also see why people hire house cleaners.  That is something I wouldn’t mind doing.  But, I found spiritually that “hit and miss” was not doing it for me. 

I want to share my conversation with the Lord this morning.  Remember, I do not hear God speak in a booming voice, rather I hear Him speak in a quiet thought that comes into my head as I write furiously to capture it.  God is very patient with me.  He puts the thoughts in my head in spurts and I write them down, then He continues.  It’s as if there is a fluidity of thoughts that just comes to me.  I pause occasionally to respond, or ask questions, and then the flow begins again.  Well, this morning is an example of such a conversation.  But the reason I am sharing this with you is because of what happened the rest of the day in regards to what I wrote this morning.  After my morning time with the Lord I went to the gym to work out.  I listened to a session from a series I’ve been listening to regarding INTIMACY WITH GOD.  I was so amazed as I heard the speaker use some of the very phrases that I received from the Lord this morning.  Over and over again there was a repetitiveness from the speaker of what the Lord had impressed into my heart this very day. 

Now, let’s fast forward to this afternoon when we arrived home from the funeral.  Dave brought the mail in and there was a letter in the mail from a Minister, Dr. Charles Stanley, that I receive each month.  I enjoy reading his letters because they are always so right on with the scripture and very uplifting to read.  I opened and read it, and there again were the same phrases and connotations that the Holy Spirit and delivered to me this morning.  It was as if God himself was emphasizing the importance of what He trying to get across to me.  So…I will once more create a “new normal” for my retirement days.  I believe that I must return to the practice of meeting with God each and every morning.  My time with the Lord is my most favorite time of the day and it is something I must reclaim.  Here is my conversation with the Lord in regards to the matter discussed above.

“Lord, how do I best use my time, though so short, with You?”

HEART SOUNDS:  “Come into My gates with thanksgiving in your heart and enter My courts with praise.  I await to hear your voice lifted high, rejoicing My name.  Open your heart that I may restore your soul and that you will again come boldly to my throne of grace.  I never stop calling your name.  Come close and take my hand.  It is only through perseverance that you come daily into our intimate secret place to seek My face.  I long for you to come.”

“Lord, refresh the fullness of Your Spirit within me.  I desire more of You.  Restore to me a double portion, so that I may be used to minister unto others.”

HEART SOUNDS:  “Ask more of Me.  I desire to bless My children.  I am your strength and refuge.  I am your help in time of trouble.  When your spirit is troubled, ask for restoration and I will flood you with My living water which will pour through you to overflowing.  Our relationship is a daily, ongoing intimacy.  You cannot live on yesterday’s abundance.  Your abundance is for this day.  Ask and you will receive. 

Rejoice in this day for yesterday’s blessings were for yesterday.  I want you to understand that I desire to give you good gifts daily.  Joy comes in the morning and fills you throughout the day.  You must wait until tomorrow for the joy that will come with tomorrow.  It is DAILY THAT I RESTORE YOUR STRENGTH AND FILL YOU WITH JOY, PEACE, AND LOVE.  Ask, and you will receive enough that you will be filled to overflowing, so you will have plenty to share.  When I overflow through you, My presence touches each person you come in contact with.  Also, continually ask for the infilling of renewed strength and power.  It is Mine to give.  I watch and listen for My children to desire more.  DAILY IS THE KEY.

Open your day with the awareness of My presence, and then you will be more sensitive to My presence as well as hearing the words I speak to you, throughout your day.  My Holy Spirit lives within you, and beckons and woos you to come daily.  Do not grieve My Spirit, rather turn and run toward me.  I wrap you in My loving embrace.”

“Lord, thank You.  I know I am too busy.  Please give me direction as to what to cut out of my day.

I love You Lord.”

I wrote the following poem immediately following the above dialogue.

 

SEEK FIRST GOD’S KINGDOM

By Kathleen Martens

September 28, 2015

 

Every day has twenty four hours

For all that must be done.

I really do think God intended

We work our hardest, yet have some fun!

 

Our morning time is our first fruits,

Best designed to walk in God’s presence,

And when we purposely follow this course

Our day will be lived in His essence.

 

Seek first the kingdom of God

And He will add all else we need.

But we must first dwell in His presence

And on His Holy Scriptures feed.

 

Worship first in dawn’s early light

That you are planted firmly upon His road.

Daily God will renew our strength

And He willingly helps lighten our load.

Matthew 6:33:  “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

I give my thanks to those of you who have read these words, as you are allowing me to share my personal handwritten journal with you.  I don’t do it very often, but I thought today was quite special because I have felt the Lord calling me back to my quiet time with Him.  Then to have it confirmed three times in one day seems awesome.  He has certainly made me more aware that He is calling me to return to our morning time together.  I hope you too set aside time daily to become better acquainted with God.  Remember, we serve an AWESOME GOD!

Now back to a capsule of today.  This afternoon I was able to spray several light coats of paint on my table and its base .  I have one more coat to apply but will not be able to do so until 6:00 p.m. tomorrow evening due to the instructions on the paint can.  Hopefully, that will be my final coat, otherwise I will need to buy one more can of paint.  I look forward to seeing it in the light tomorrow.  I have it in the garage and it was getting dark before I finished today’s final coat.

The picture of Calendar Wisdom is set next to the table’s pedestal. 

I would love to write more but it is now bedtime, so good night and God bless you.

Sunday Sabbath  September 27 2015  WORDS THAT YOU SPEAK

 

WHAT TO WRITE?

By Kathleen Martens

September 27, 2015

 

I sit at the keyboard and think, what to write?

Nothing at all seems to come to mind.

So I ponder a little bit longer

Hoping that somewhere in my brain I find

A story to tell, a thought to say,

Hoping some bright idea explodes alive,

But nothing seems to come my way.

 

I think I need more time to read

To feed my soul with wonderful words.

To be filled with new experiences,

And recollecting all I’ve heard

So I can share new things acquired.

And others too will be refreshed

Rather than feeling tired.

 

Ah ha!  I just thought of something to tell you!  I met two new out of town visitors today at church, David Michael and his daughter EL.  I asked them both for their wisdom and I will share it with you.

David Michael’s wisdom: “Never underestimate your influence on others.  The good words that you speak to them go deep into their hearts and change their life forever.”

EL’s wisdom:  “Keep smiling”.

I thought both contributions were extremely significant.  We sometimes forget the power of our words.  Our words can make or break a person.  Our words can tear down or build up.  Which words do you choose to deliver to others?  Better yet, ask yourself, which words would you rather have spoken to you? 

Just as important as the words you speak, or the words you receive, are the words you speak to yourself.  I have talked about this in the past, but I think  it is worth mentioning again.  The power of the words you speak to yourself actually dictates what you believe you can or cannot accomplish, your self-worth, how you perceive who you are, and so many other aspects of who you believe yourself to be.  Stop and take a listen as to the kind of self-talk you do.  Listen to the speech others say to themselves, especially listen for all the negatives with which we address ourselves.  Things like, “Oh, you are so dumb”, “That was a stupid thing to do (say)”, “I am just so clumsy”, “I can’t do that”, or a host of many other negatives.  When you change your self-talk you will see changes in what you can do and that you really aren’t “clumsy” but just bumped something and it is no big offence.  We seem to be hardest on ourselves. 

The book that I read a few years ago “Talk Sense to Yourself, The Language of Personal Power” by Chick Moorman was well worth reading.  It is amazing to have your eyes open to all the things you say to yourself and the affect it has on your entire life.  It’s worth the read and can be purchased very reasonably on Amazon half price books or on half.com (website).  The other book I recently referenced in my blog is, “You Don’t Have the Luxury of a Negative Thought” by Peter McWilliams.  It too is worth reading.  The last book I will mention is one I just started reading, “The Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient” by Norman Cousins.  I haven’t read too much yet due to the fact that I only have a chance to read when I am eating alone, and that doesn’t happen very often now that Dave is retired.  However, what I have read is very insightful to the workings of our self-talk and beliefs and how they affect our health. 

The words that David Michael spoke to me this morning have already shown how true his wisdom is.  Just the words he said to me in the quote above went deep into my heart and actually gave my memory a jog as to what I should write my short blog about tonight.

This day is winding down and so am I.  I wish all of you a wonderful night and a tomorrow that is filled with positive self-talk.  And oh, by the way, try giving a word of encouragement to another.  Not only will it lift their spirits, it may very well lift yours.

Good night and God bless you.

P.S.  Here is a poem I wrote in 2012 about God’s Word to us.

 

In the Garden of God’s Word

By Kathleen Martens

June 9, 2012

 

God’s Word is alive and well

In our secret place I stop to dwell.

Verse by verse, line by line

No other words quite so fine.

Over and over I read the same

And so many verses say my name.

As if written just for me

Offering knowledge to set me free.

Words of comfort for my pain,

Refreshing as a summer rain.

Words that convict the ere of my ways

Giving direction on which path to stay.

Words that enlighten my soul’s yearning,

So hungry am I for daily learning.

Words warning of what’s to come

I face with confidence for I know God’s Son.

The words of salvation, God’s great plan

For those who believe, for every man.

I learn how to praise through the Psalms

And I worship freely without qualm.

History that teaches me not to dread

For Revelation explains what’s ahead.

And Proverbs gives instructions for today

So that I will know God’s perfect way.

And no matter how often I read,

In my heart God plants His seeds

Of fresh insight not understood before

That seems to open brand new doors

In new places in God’s garden of words

For faith comes by what I’ve heard.

I eat and drink and devour what is said

From these pages on which I’m fed.

God’s garden of words alive and well

Where each day I choose to dwell.

 

Good night again!

 

Saturday September 26 2015  HEARTFELT THANKS

 

Next Thursday, Oct 1^st, I will have been home from my trip for three months.  These are the fastest three months of my life.  So much has happened since I’ve been home that I actually haven’t had my feet hit the ground much.  On the flip side it seems as if it has been a time of forever, as if time has stood still and at the same time a whirlwind swished through my life causing so much to happen that I can’t keep it straight.

Today has been a day to remember.  This is the first day I have had since I have been home that has not been scheduled.  And that is only because I didn’t sign up last week for an event, which took place today, and that I look forward to attending each September.  So what did I do with that time?  I promptly fell asleep on the couch when I laid down to rest for a few moments. 

I’ve worked hard, played hard, cleaned hard, talked a lot, spent time at the hospital with a sick husband, had the grandkids overnight, cooked incessantly, had overnight guests, planned another upcoming trip, and a myriad of other situations, including writing my blog each evening.  Finally, today I had a few unscheduled moments, and I FELL ASLEEP!  It felt good!

I said all that to say this:  I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank every single person who hosted me as I traveled cross country this spring.  It is amazing all that must happen in one’s life to prepare, plan, rearrange one’s schedule, entertain, clean, and cook for someone to come and spend the night.  I want everyone who did that for me to please accept my heartfelt thanks once again.  I know many will probably not read this blog but I wanted to write it perchance there are those who are still reading it.  I offer the hospitality of our home to you as our guest if you ever have a chance to be passing through our area, or even if you want to make us your destination.  My friend Lana who was with me the last three days hosted me on two separate occasions on my travels.  What a blessing she and her husband were to me when they opened up their home, served me delicious meals, took time off to visit and drove me to special sights.  It was such a pleasure for me to be able to reciprocate even a fraction of what they did for me!  It was such a joy to be with Lana but it just didn’t seem like it was long enough.  Is any part of life ever long enough?

Many thanks to my nephew Eric and his wife Karen for treating me to lunch on my first day on the road.  Thanks to Karen’s aunts who hosted me for my first two nights of travel without ever having met me.  It was so good to see my Aunt Gracie and Uncle Bob as I traveled through Rolla.   Many thanks to my longtime friend Kathleen and her husband for opening their home to me in Willow Springs Arkansas.  Thanks to my cousin Rita and her husband for allowing me to spend several nights with them in Branson and taking me to Springfield to see my cousin Janey and her family.

I would especially like to thank my Aunt Esther for opening her home once again to me as a headquarters in the Russellville Arkansas area so I could visit with her as well as see my sister Scarlett and my Aunt Vela and Uncle Buddy.  Thanks to my cousin Janet and her husband for opening their home to me as a stopover on my way to Austin Texas.  And even though I disturbed them due to the sounds I made being up so late while writing my blog they even allowed me to come back again.

Thanks for longtime friends Dave and Peggy in Texas who hosted me for several nights.  They are two of the most significant people in our entire lives.  It is because of them, allowing God to use them in their ministry of finding homes for adoptable newborn babies, that we have our daughter Rebecca.  It was after this visit that I returned to Euless Texas to stay once again with Janet and her family.  Thank you Janet for all the work and any disturbance I may have caused.  She made it possible for me to also see her sisters Nora and LaFawn.  Nora, I thank you with a deep heart for taking time off work to go with me to the gardens in the Fort Worth area and President George Bush’s Library in Dallas.  Also thanks for the trip to Old Fort Worth.  That was awesome!  One of the things I really loved was our shopping spree!

It was during the next interlude that I stayed with Lana.  Intermittently along the way I stayed in Air BNB’s.  I am so thankful for the Air BNB families who rent rooms in their own homes to strangers who are traveling through their cities.  I had a respite time with Lana and then took off for Denver to stay with my “other” adopted daughter, Cynthia.  Thank you Cynthia and hubby for your hospitality and the love I felt while in your home.  Cynthia had a newborn baby waiting for me to meet.  Her oldest son was also a delight.  He calls me “grandma”.  I will never forget going to Red Rock with Cynthia and Chris.  It was amazing!

And then I drove back to Albuquerque to stay at Lana’s for several more days!  Twice in one trip.  And she still came to see me!  She left last night and I am already missing her.

After I left Lana’s I stayed with someone else very special, a friend from church who moved to Arizona with her husband when he retired.  The drive to her house was one of the most magnificent drives I have ever seen.  I drove through the Tonto National Forest.  It was worth the entire trip.  Seeing JoAnn and her family was also worth it.  I felt like was living in a dream at her place.  She lives right in the middle of the most beautiful desert I have ever seen.   I never realized how beautiful the desert really was.  She treated me like royalty and I felt as if I slept in a queen’s bed every time I climbed the steps to reach the mattress. 

From Mesa Arizona I drove across Southern California, almost to the coast, to a little town in the San Diego area.  There I visited with friends whom my husband I met right after we first married 42 years ago.  She and her husband lead a quiet, very private life on top of a mountain in the middle of an avocado ranch.  That too was an amazing stay!  And what an amazing story their life is.

I am concerned that if I mention any more places I stayed in tonight’s blog no one will continue to read.  So, I will continue at a later date until I thank each and every person I stayed with along the way.  What these friends, family, and strangers did for me, and with me, will never be forgotten.  Simple words seem not enough.

 

WORDS SEEM NOT ENOUGH

By Kathleen Martens

September 26, 2015

 

Simple words seem not enough

To express my thanks to you.

All because of friends and family

My one wish came true.

 

My actual dream was to see

Once again all those I love.

It was my joy to visit each,

But your love went far above.

 

Each and every place I stayed

In memory I hold dear.

Wonderful thoughts I will hold

To reminiscence year after year.

 

Thank you for such hospitality

That you so freely shared.

Your time was like pure gold to me

And showed me that you cared.

 

And now nostalgia rears its head

As I think about the recent past,

With hope that my thanks to you

In your heart will forever last.

 

There are still so many places to remember along my way.  I will finish at a later date to give my thanks to each and every one who had a part and made it possible for me to visit those I love.  There were so many I did not have opportunity to see for various reasons and that will forever be a loss to me.  I am just so thankful for all that I did have chance to visit.  Thanks for letting me relive my travels in this evening’s blog.

I shall now see if I can salvage this day and “feel accomplished” before bed time.  Perhaps I shall take another nap.  Now that would be an accomplishment.

God bless you, and good night. 

Friday September 25 2015  CALM OR CHAOS

A long day, so a short blog.  My friend Lana and her husband are safely settled in their new housing situation in Columbus.  Dave and I picked up Lana’s husband at the airport at 4:30 this afternoon and then drove over to Olbrich Botanical Gardens to enjoy the summer evening before going to dinner.  That didn’t last too long because the buildings in the garden were closed and there were no available restrooms.  With two women, that ended the garden session.  So we went to dinner.  A place in downtown Madison called Tubbs Tacos.  It has been there for years and I have never noticed it before.  It was absolutely amazing.  The selections were delicious, reasonably priced, with fresh local organic produce and fresh meats with a wide variety of picks on the menu.  I highly recommend it if you enjoy Mexican cuisine.   Very interesting menu.

Our day started out early with a workout at the gym and then a trip to St. Vincent’s in Madison.  We had a great time shopping for our one of a kind apparel.  We all left very hungry and went home and had lunch.  We all cleaned up and then took off for the airport and the rest of the day described above.  It all sounds so simple and not very long to do.  WRONG.  Everything uses up time so quickly.  And now I am at the end of the day trying to stay awake at the computer while I type.  Tomorrow I hope to sleep in.

While at St. Vinney’s I met a delightful lady, and you guessed it, I asked her for her wisdom.  She gave me some great wisdom and when I asked her if I could quote her in my blog she said no.  I finally received her permission to use her wisdom as long as I didn’t use her name.  Here is her wisdom:

“CALM…

OR…

CHAOS. 

YOU CHOOSE.”

I found this wisdom to be quite personal for her.  As I thought about her statement I realized her choice of words went strong and deep in her life.  As she spoke her words she lifted first her left hand, looked at it, and spoke forcefully “CALM”.  Then she lifted her right hand and emphatically said “CHAOS” and then looked me in the eye and strongly spoke her words, “YOU CHOOSE”.  I wish I knew the rest of her story.    I so choose the “calm”.

 

CALM OR CHAOS, WHAT DO YOU CHOOSE?

By Kathleen Martens

September 25, 2015

 

Calm or chaos, what do you choose?

It’s your response that will win or lose.

Slow to anger is a good sign

That with calm your spirit aligns.

 

And when you stay calm

Tranquility ensues

With peaceful rest

That is always renewed.

 

Disorder the fruit when chaos reigns,

And to others you may cause pain.

Confusion and bedlam rears its head

Until inside, your heart feels dead.

 

So what is best when you must decide?

How to self do you confide?

When undergoing turmoil and all its commotion

Choose peace, and sweet emotion.

 

Think not on self but on the Provider of Peace

Who calms troubled souls with sweet release.

Allow confusion to depart from your day,

As cool composure settles in to stay.

 

CALM…OR…CHAOS…

WHAT

DO

YOU

CHOOSE?

 

Tonight I will stay calm by allowing my bed to lure me into peaceful slumber.  I choose CALM.

 

THANK YOU ANONOMOUS LADY FOR YOUR RICH INSIGHT AS TO THE CHOICES THAT ARE OURS.

Good night and God bless you.

P.S.  I enclosed a photo of Dave and I taken today at Olbrich Gardens.

Wednesday September 24 2015  ALAS, I AM NOT PERFECT

 

I am not perfect.  Never have been.  Never will be while on this earth.  But someday I will be perfect.  That will be the day I enter into heaven.  Until then, I will make mistakes, bad judgments, things won’t always go as I planned, but I will tell you one thing.  Even when those things happen I will try to remedy the mistakes, learn from them, make better judgment calls in the future, and try to plan more accordingly to what I am capable of doing.  Especially, now that I am aging.  I am like a toddler going backwards.  While a toddler is learning to walk he/she gets back up over and over and tries again.  Eventually, the child will learn to walk and go on to even greater achievements, little by little as they will test their boundaries and try new things.  Do they always make the best decisions?  Not really, but they keep at it until they can accomplish what they set out to do.  For them it might mean climbing on a chair, or greater heights, like the kitchen counter.  They keep on, keeping on.

As a “toddler going backwards” it means that there are things I’d like to do but no longer have the ability to do.  Do I just cave in and decide to quit?  No.  I keep on, keeping on, until the day comes when I can no longer accomplish what I set out to do.  I don’t let one misjudgment of time, or intensity of work, cause me to sit down and go no farther.  No, I press forward to see what I CAN do.  But someday the time will come when I may not ever again be able to climb as high as I used to, or walk as far as I used to. And that is when I slow my pace a bit.  Regardless of what I must give up along the way, I will keep pressing forward to ensure that I can no longer do it before I give up trying.  The toddler presses forward.  Old age hangs on to the tug of war rope for as long as possible until the opponent of time pulls them across the line.

Yes, yesterday was a bit helter skelter as far as amount of things I needed to accomplish and my timing limitations.  It happened in an unintended way.  And when things started mushrooming I decided I could muster what it took for the challenge, rather than let the day get the best of me.  And besides, what happened was really no big deal when I look at the scheme of what it means to my entire life.  So today I rested.  Well, at least for a while.

This day has been a blessed day.  A time to share with my friend as I hosted a luncheon for her and her friend.  Lana’s friend offered to give Lana a foot massage before lunch.  They went into the sun room for a time together as I prepared lunch.  Lana’s time here is so limited and today was planned so she could visit as many friends as possible.  When I found out Lana was coming I wanted this to be a pampering time for her.  Lana has been fighting breast cancer for several years and her cancer reared its head again a few months ago.  She has been working about 20 hours a week with therapies, both physical and nutritional to shrink the cancer marker numbers and the tumor.  The numbers are lowering and she can now have the surgery she needs.  Her numbers should be low enough by November for her mastectomy.  She has been under a lot of stress and pain.  Please pray for her total recovery.

Lunch was awesome (I will say no more) and afterwards I prepared for the open house that started at 3:00 p.m.  Lana had a wonderful turnout of friends, and once again had the opportunity to visit with those she loves.  We closed up shop at 7:00 p.m.  We had dinner and she is now tucked in bed as I sit and type at 9:51 p.m.  Dave is reading in the next room as he patiently waits to help me proof read this blog.

Though I have no great words of wisdom tonight I did ask one of Lana’s friends, Diane, what her wisdom is.  She quickly responded: “Enjoy your parents while they’re around.”

I thought this was very sound wisdom.  My parents are no longer living.  My father died when I was 17 years old and my mother died in 2010 at the age of 91.  There are times when I so wish I could call my mother for just one more time to talk.  One thing I know for certain, I will enjoy my children while I’m still around!  AND MY GRANDCHILDREN!!!  And even my granddogs!  I just truly hope that they will enjoy me.  You never get too old to desire being cherished.

 

A PARENT’S LOVE

By Kathleen Martens

September 24, 2015

 

A parent’s love for their newborn child

Is a love that never parts.

It only grows more each year

Deeper in their hearts.

 

Children grow and walk away,

Loving parents the best they can.

Only when they become mom or dad

Are they really able to understand.

 

It is then that they experience

How deep a parent’s love goes.

They see mom and dad with new eyes

Because now they really know.

 

The above poem was inspired by the words of wisdom from Diane.

 

Another short blog.  My husband is fortunate.  Not too much to proof.

God bless and keep you in your tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday September 23 2015  ME AND MY IDEAS

It would be such an easier life if it wasn’t for some of my ideas.  I am always interested in so many things and so many people and so many books and so many new recipes and so many, so many, so many, etc…etc…  And they are all wonderful at the time.  What I forget to remember, is that if I take on something new, then I must give up something I already do.  I don’t seem to have learned that yet.  I just keep trying to do it all.  Somehow it all gets done, but sometimes it takes a mighty long time.

I’m still working on my metal tobacco table that I purchased in early August.  I finally realized that I did not like the looks of it after I scraped the paint and the rust off.  So I perceived the bright idea of having it sandblasted.  Remember me mentioning that our life here in Wisconsin is predicated by the season?  I knew I had to get this table done this week or at the latest, next week, due to the weather changing soon.  So, I called Stripmaster Sandblasting Company yesterday, and yes, it could be sandblasted, and it could be done tomorrow (which meant today September 23^rd).  Also, remember that I told you my friend was coming in at the airport this afternoon and I was to pick her up and then make a dinner for her and a friend she invited.  The man at the sandblasting business said if I brought it in early it would be ready by midday.  No problem I thought, I could just pick it up next week.  WRONG.  When I dropped it off (my alarm woke me at 6:00 a.m. to take it in) this morning the man told me he would have it finished for pick up later and he would call and make arrangements as to when I could be there to pick it up.  I didn’t understand that I didn’t have the option of another day, just the option as to what time I would pick it up before noon today.  He then informed me that I would need to have the primer coat on the metal before nightfall or the steel would oxidize and immediately start rusting again.

So, best laid plans flew out the window.  I had a lot to do in a little time.  Went back home, broke my fast, and picked up the copies of time-sensitive legal material that needed to be mailed today and another batch that needed to be dropped off at a destination across town.  I then left the house to go to the gym for a short workout.  Then I proceeded on my rounds, stopped at one store for an item which I forgot yesterday that I needed for company dinner tonight, then to the hardware store to pick up the rust-oleum, next the carwash, then on to Costco, and then to drop off the legal papers, and barely made it back to the Stripmaster Sandblasting Company before they closed at noon..  And you got it!  When I arrived home I had to then clean the two pieces of metal and start spraying rust inhibitor on everything.  I did three coats on one side, went to the airport to pick up my friend, came home and while I was preparing the guest cuisine, finished spraying two coats on the opposite sides of the metal.  Now the pieces that started with an idea are safely tucked in my garage, comfortably coated with primer to protect their 150 year old designs.  And I didn’t even mention all the last minute details that had to be accomplished when expecting an out of town friend and then a number of her friends the next day.  Well, to be truthful, not exactly everything was accomplished.  But that’s okay, my friend still loves me.  Oh yes, I don’t want to forget to mention I rested today also, for fifteen minutes!

Lana’s in bed, I’m writing, and Dave is still out on the town (it’s Wednesday).   I too hope to be in bed soon.

 

SO SOON THE DAY IS OVER

By Kathleen Martens

September 23, 2015

 

So soon the day is over

And it seems to go so quick.

And all that I did becomes a blur

Especially the words I pick.

 

All I actually desire to do

Is write a little poem for my blog.

But my thoughts say I am too tired,

And my brain seems to be in a fog.

 

So I will wish my friends good night,

And say have a great tomorrow.

Try to live each day to the fullest,

And never from the future borrow.

 

Use up today for all its worth,

For it expires all too soon.

Think of these 24 hours

As its own personal room.

 

Tomorrow can never again recall

What was yesterday left undone.

So use each day that is the present

By utilizing all its fun,

 

And then when you say goodnight,

You will have no regrets

Because you did all you could

And you have no need to fret.

 

And that says it all!

Good night and God bless you.

P.S.  Need I say that I used up my day, every minute of it?