Monthly Archives: September 2015
Tuesday September 22 2015 BLOG OR JOB
Tuesday September 22, 2015 BLOG OR JOB?
I should be working. Simple statement. Big job. But…I would rather blog first. So, since I am a woman of reason I decided to do what I like to do first because I know for certain that I will still have to do the “job” and will somehow get it done. If I do the job first I may run out of time or energy to blog.
So what is the BIG JOB? It is the one job in my house that I like the least. If I ever win the lottery ticket I will pay someone else to do it for me. We have lots and lots of tiled floors in our house and it takes a long time to clean them. That is what I must do, TODAY. My friend Lana is coming tomorrow and I must have my floors clean and sparkling before she arrives. So now that you know what my job is, let’s get down to what I want to write.
I actually do not know what I want to write. I’m just stalling for time to see if anything pops into my head. Nothing yet, but let’s see what I can come up with. It has been a busy day, every moment taken up with something, but not a great day of accomplishments. I just now went downstairs to put a second rise on my shower curtain that is in the washing machine. I need to get that rehung so Dave can take a shower in a bit. So that will be at least one accomplishment. I always wash the shower curtain before overnight company arrives.
Dave and I had a conference call this morning regarding legal matters and that took up a portion of our morning. We then went to the gym, then to the store, and home for a later than normal lunch. Since then time has just disappeared.
WHEN TIME DISAPPEARS
By Kathleen Martens
September 22, 2015
What to do when time disappears?
How do you hold it in place?
No matter how hard you try,
How do you beat the race?
Work has a way of piling up,
Always so many better things to do.
And time just keeps marching on
As if it doesn’t care about you.
If I could put time in my pocket
And pull it out whenever I need,
It would be like living in paradise,
If I could make time heed.
But alas, it has a mind of its own
And keeps running when I sit,
And all that needs to be done,
Cannot be accomplished quick.
So I ponder to work it out,
What exactly must I do?
Then I have it figured clearly,
Just have no clock in view.
Well to be truthful I did get a few things done. I’m just not allowed to mention it. Oh yes, I do have something worthwhile to tell you. Remember the metal table I purchased a while ago? Well, I worked and worked at scraping and scrubbing and trying to clean it up. The more paint that I removed, the less I liked it. I finally sat down and called to find out how much it would cost to have it sandblasted so I could start over with a near new finish. The price was very reasonable. Now remember how heavy I told you that table was (and still is). I knew Dave should not help me lift it. I asked the lady next door if she would help me get it in the car so I can deliver it to the shop tomorrow at 6:30 a.m.. She came over and we two muscle-women put it in the rear of my car and it is ready to go. I haven’t told Dave yet because I have no time in my pocket right now and he is out mowing and I am in here keyboarding. I’ll try to remember to tell him before he proofs my blog and finds out by reading it. I already made the mistake of perturbing someone else because they found out a certain bit of information via the blog and I had failed to call them. Or at least they think I failed to call them. We did call and leave a message but I suppose it didn’t get to her. I certainly do not want to make anyone upset with me about anything I write. I’m saving that for my next blog that I will be posting next year. The name of that blog is: The Opinion You Did Not Ask For. My son asked me what I was going to put on the blog. I simply said, “My opinion, of course”. I figure that may irk a few people. But I will force no one to read my blogs. I think I will have open forum on the blog next year. (I just hope I’ll be able to get it done by next year).
Well, my floors await. I know that this is a short and uninformative blog but please know that I just wanted to come and say hello. Sometimes if I get my blog posted too late I have comments about people being worried about me because of past health issues. Please do not worry. There may even be days coming up that my blog will not be posted due to my traveling plans. Even if I can’t write an essay I’ll try to at least say hello and good by on each day so you’ll know I am still kicking.
I shall go now and do my back breaking labor. Sometimes a small house would be such a delight. And I mean that from my heart!
God bless you and good night.
Monday September 21 2015 AUTUMN IN THE AIR
Monday September 21 2015 AUTUMN IN THE AIR
This is the time of year that I feel sorry for people who do not live in Wisconsin or other states that have such a display of nature as we have. There is something about the air that is different. It begins in the evenings. In Wisconsin during the summer, it can sometimes be warmer in the evenings than it is during the day time. It seems like summer midday or afternoon should be the warmest part of the day. Not so here. As we approach fall that changes. The evenings start turning cool and the nights drop down quite rapidly. We have had beautiful sunny warm 70° to 75° days and the nights are now in the low 50°. The frequent rains keep everything green and air clean and clear. Flowers are still blooming and many do so until the first frost. Frost have been as early as August and as late as the early to mid November. Usually we begin expecting them in early October. Wisconsin has 90 growing days for crops. That is all that can be counted on. A late frost in autumn is always hoped for. What is worse is when you get a late frost in spring. Most farmers do not plant to early but when we have early warm weather and the apple orchards start blooming a late frost can kill an entire crop. And that is really sad because we have a great apple orchard just around the corner and down the road. We stopped by on the way to the gym on Saturday morning to buy a bag of Honey Crisp apples at 9:00 a.m.. I like to buy seconds, the ones with a little spot or indent on them because they are so much more affordable. We go through a bag of apples (probably about 10 pounds or more) every week during the apple picking season. We eat them every day. I cook with them, make soup out of them, or bake apple cranberry pies. Just remember I didn’t say the f_ _d word.
Well, I said all of the above to tell you that the season is changing for us here. Another six weeks or so and our life will be a lot different. Windows will be closed, the air conditioners covered, millions of leaves will have been picked up or still falling from the trees, and the heat system might even need to be turned on. We sleep with our bedroom window open and close the door to the rest of the house so it won’t lose its heat. Actually, we do not heat the entire back wing of the house where the bedrooms and bathroom is. We have three heat zones and only heat the main living quarters. In the deepest and coldest part of winter when it gets down to minus 20° we must turn on all the heat zones for about an hour a day to keep water running through the pipes of the baseboard water heating system. We have a boiler room with a huge boiler that has an electric starter but is powered by natural gas. The boiler room is included in our laundry area which is right below the kitchen. The kitchen floors are tile and the heat conducts up from the boiler room and heats our kitchen floors wonderfully. We also have a large shop, about 20 feet by 40 feet or more attached to the end of our home and goes under the garage. The pipes also go through the shop and keep the shop from freezing. The shop has an extra wide door so a riding lawn mower or small tractor can fit through it. We also have dual window panes that helps keeps the heat from escaping. We had these windows installed about eight or nine years ago and it actually saved us about $100 to $125 dollars a month on heating costs.
In the winter when we sleep in our bedroom, even when the windows are closed once it hits freezing temperature, we awaken in the morning and our windows are covered with a thick layer of ice on the INSIDE of glass panes. That is how cold it will become. With both Dave and I breathing in the enclosed space it creates condensation on the windows which then freezes solid. As the day warms up a few degrees the frozen breath starts melting and I must go and wipe it out several times before it totally thaws. We have an April Air Humidifier that comes on automatically and the rest of the upstairs window panes also freeze but not to the same extent. We have a lot of windows so I do a lot of wiping in the winter. I hope I have painted a realistic picture of what it like to live through a Wisconsin winter. And I haven’t even touched on Dave having to go out in the cold and clear our driveway with the snow thrower. You ought to see what he wears when he goes out in the extreme cold. But I won’t get into that now. I’ll just take a picture later and blog it.
So now you can see why we love autumn. And we also love spring and summer. I even love the few days of humidity we get. It seems we had more this year but I loved every time I was out in it. It makes my skin feel so moisturized and refreshed. Winter does the opposite. Everything dries out. And when I say everything, I mean everything. It was quite frightening the first time we lived through a winter and our house started making the loudest cracking sounds. EXTREMELY LOUD, like lightening striking the attic. The booms were so loud and frightening that we thought a tree had fallen on our roof. The entire house shuddered. And there would be several cracks in succession. We heard the sound all over the neighborhood. That was even scarier. Well, once we found out about it we understood what was happening. It only happens in the extreme cold, literally minus 20° to minus 26°. I think minus 26° is the coldest I have experienced outside while here. It has gone down lower but I wasn’t shopping at the mall at the time. These temperatures do not include windchill. Windchill will cause it to feel much colder. The temperature can plummet in just a few hours and you don’t want to be caught out in it. I remember getting into the car (barely able to get my keys in the lock because my fingers were so numb even in my moon gloves) and once in the car it took 30 minutes for the motor to warm up enough to allow the oil to start moving through the car’s engine. The car absolutely would not drive until the motor was warm enough. Needless to say it wasn’t plugged in anywhere. As a matter of fact the car we had didn’t even have a plug adapter. When it is so cold the battery will often die and the car can’t even be started. I watch the weather very closely before venturing out. Last year when I was doing a winter photo session at about 7:00 a.m. on a minus 12° morning I came home and my fingers were almost frozen stiff. It was awfully painful! I think the cold is what makes Wisconsin such a wonderful place to live. I learn to live indoors for the winter months and then I have the pleasure of living in a very unpopulated area of the country the rest of the year. After my trip through the cities this past spring, it makes me so thankful for our low population state. Believe me, you don’t want to move to Wisconsin. I hope that sounds convincing because for several years we have been winning awards for the BEST PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY.
Well, now I will tell you that I said all the above so I could copy my poem into the blog that I wrote this morning during my quiet time. I have gone past my bedtime now so I shall make it quick and then will say goodbye. Enjoy all that warm weather you are having and be thankful you do not need to look forward to a Wisconsin winter. But autumn is lovely.
AUTUMN PRAISE
By Kathleen Martens
September 21, 2015
Autumn knocks gently at the door
And summer relinquishes her hold.
A graceful transition does ensue,
Summer sun is no longer bold.
Tempered nights carefully adjust
The blankets upon our bed.
A quiet stillness falls on the fields
As harvest looms ahead.
A time of change and grateful praise
For the bounty of summer’s end.
And the fall in decadent color
Soon becomes our intimate friend.
Sweaters and scarves are soon adorned
To deter the wayward nights.
And the days grow ever shorter
As earlier we turn on the lights.
Work increases to beat the clock
Of preparing for winter’s cold,
For there is always much to do
For a season that lives to be old.
And never is one truly prepared
For the blasts of the arctic wind,
Which takes control of how we live
Until Mother nature, spring doth send.
Usually I write my poem about what I have written in my blog. Well this evening I have written my blog about the topic in the poem.
Have a wonderful tomorrow.
Good night and God bless you.
Sunday Sabbath September 2015 REMEMBER THE SABBATH TO KEEP IT HOLY
Sunday Sabbath September 20 2015 REMEMBER THE SABBATH TO KEEP IT HOLY
I like that verse in the Bible that says to remember the Sabbath and to rest on the Sabbath. I haven’t always been faithful to the resting part but I do believe the Sabbath is a Holy Day. It is a day when my heart is turned to God so that I will always be reminded of his love and protection over me. It reminds me that God loves me so much that He sacrificed His Son to atone for my sins. I so desire to know more and more about the character of God. It says in Isaiah that the entire universe fits in the span of God’s hand. Can you imagine a God that big? I am still studying the prophecies in Isaiah and find them totally interesting and fascinating. What is so interesting to me is the way the speaker (Damian Kyle from Calvary Chapel Modesto) presents the verses as well as verifying the facts from the prophesies to situations that are now happening in the middle east, down to the geopolitical moves that are currently transpiring. There is no fear for me when I study the scriptures regarding all the things yet to come. I realize that God is so in control and I do not need to fear. Actually, so many of the prophecies have already been fulfilled. There are still many more to come. If I did not know the God orchestrating the coming events I would be quaking in my boots. But, like I said, I need not fear. God has already promised and fulfilled my eternal salvation through the death of Jesus on the cross. HOW AMAZING IS THAT. I know I have said this before, but if you have ever wondered about the prophetic scriptures yet to be fulfilled, go to Isaiah and Revelation taught by Damian Kyle that I mentioned above. Go to the “THRU THE BIBLE” tab.
So today is the Sabbath and I choose to keep it Holy. Today I will rest and tonight I will attend a beautiful concert our church is hosting to sing and give praise to our Father above. Thus, I am writing this blog extra early so I may come home and go to bed.
Dave and I just played a card game called 9 Hole Golf. Just thought I would tell you that I won! We are practicing for our Ladies verses Men tournament in Branson. I cleaned his clock today if you know what I mean. Now I am not being proud or anything, just stating the facts. (Husband is proof reading for me and this is his comment regarding my last sentence, “Yeah, right!” (Spoken with a growl).
I have nothing else planned for this day (God may have surprises for me) except to lie down a bit and rest my back. I was hoping this “old age stuff” would just pass me by but it doesn’t appear it will happen that way. I think I need a little bit more education to see how it is supposed to be done. Actually, I think it would be a great thing if women would get together in groups, based on age, in order to mentor those younger. Everyone’s teacher would be someone who is 20 years older than themselves. All the secrets would be revealed, all the “unmentionables” mentioned and a bit more education of what it is like to be 20 years older. We could then in turn be teachers to those who are about 20 years younger than ourselves. I know we all age a bit at varying rates according to our genetics and lifestyle, diet, drinking, smoking, exercise, and attitude. I still think a general study of what is physically changing in our bodies, minds, and psyche would be an excellent place to start learning so we could prepare for what is to come. The problem being, is that a lot of women may be too much like me, and need to live the experience in order to learn it thoroughly. I learn best by experience and hands on contact.
Even though I learn by experience, I did know enough a few years ago to prepare for my aging. I knew I needed repair on several parts of my body. I put it off for as long as possible and then decided the time had come. I had both rotator cuffs repaired. I had major foot surgery on one of my feet because I could barely walk and doing weddings was extremely difficult. I had a breast reduction because I was tired of my back and shoulders hurting me so much. I suffered through a most agonizing and difficult recovery of a thumb/wrist joint replacement because I had so much pain in my disintegrating bones of my left hand. That surgery was absolutely the most painful thing I have ever experienced (that is until I remember when I had to have my jaw bones operated on and my mouth wired shut for six weeks). After the wrist replacement it took about six months of grueling therapy to recover the use of my thumb. The jaw surgery about two months. I often wondered if the jaw surgery was so painful because I couldn’t speak for six weeks. I also needed repair work on the outside edges of my eyes because I no longer had peripheral vision because of a fold of skin that drooped and covered he outer edges. The surgery wasn’t painful, but because of the surgery I had to have a second follow-up surgery that could have cost me my life or the removal of my left eye. I ended up with a drug resistant bacteria in the wound and was extremely ill for quite a while. All the above was done in order to improve the quality of my life as I aged. I knew once I entered into Medicare years the above surgeries might not qualify for payment.
I also needed bunion surgery. I had my surgery date and went in for the preoperative appointment, had an x-ray, and then was told I couldn’t have the surgery. The x-ray showed that I was missing two bones in each foot and there would be nothing to anchor the bones to after the bones were realigned. Because of all the things in my body that have fallen apart my husband likes to tease me that when God made me he saw a pile o f “seconds” that had been tossed aside and decided He could make me out of them. When I came home and told him about the two bones missing in my feet he looked at me and said in all seriousness, “Wow, I knew you were made out of “seconds” but I didn’t know that God had run out of parts”. So we laugh at the analogy.
Well, my retirement years are greeting me with bells and whistles. It’s as if your body knows when you retire and when Medicare begins and then just starts crumbling, slowly for some, faster for others. Well, I am doing everything I can to push back a bit. So far I have lost weight, eat healthy, exercise, meditate, have a great attitude about life, go to bed earlier, and now I have decided that I must now rest during the day. I rest, but not because I want to, and on most days don’t even feel as if I need to, but I try to do it anyway. I realize however, that resting is accumulative. It is sort of like being a baby again. Remember back to your parenting days with infants and toddlers. Every once in a while a nap could be skipped without too great a repercussion. However, try to skip two days in a row of napping and you have a melt down on your hands. And that is how it is as we age. I can go and go and go and then I crash. My crashing consists of becoming dizzy and my heart being out of rhythm. I am seeing a bit of a pattern and I realize now that RESTING DAILY is essential for me, just as is was for my babies. It might not be what I want to do, but…it is a necessity.
I will close, leaving you with the above wisdom to do whatever you so like. If you are twenty years younger than me, then enjoy these next twenty years or so. If you are twenty years older than me, send me some insight as to what it will be like for me when I’m approaching 90. If you are only 10 years older you can just tell me what is happening to you now but spare me the gruesome details. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
If I live long enough, I guess I’ll just find out for myself.
So…enjoy this day, regardless of your age or health or size or attitude. FOR THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE AND I CERTAINLY DO NOT WANT TO WASTE IT! I’ll go rest now.
I almost forgot to write my poem. I can rest my body but it is nearly impossible to rest my thoughts. I hope I can think for a long time to come! Today I am going to post a poem I wrote in 2011.
YOUR LIFE YOUR CHOICE
By Kathleen Martens
March 23, 2011
As you walk
Down the road of life
You’ll encounter joy
And you’ll encounter strife.
Decision made
Consequences yours,
Reaping benefits
Or settling scores.
What you do
Is your choice,
To be silent
Or give word a voice.
What do you desire
To accomplish in living?
A life of selfishness?
Or a life of giving?
The struggles you live,
Do strength impart.
Wisdom of life
Instilled in your heart.
Without temptation
No growth made.
And part of you
Would only fade.
Under trial
Self control grows,
Walk tall in God’s sight
And your maturity shows.
The easy road
Not always right.
It may lead to darkness
And not the light.
With best foot forward
Hand in God’s
Your steps will be firm
Upon this sod.
To live is Christ
To die is gain.
He’ll take the sorrow
He’ll cover your pain.
God is the answer
Through all we live.
Surrender to Him,
As your life you give.
Just in case I don’t get back to you I will say have a great rest of your day (no pun intended) and a wonderful tomorrow.
9:48 p.m.
I’m back. It is past my bedtime and I thought to write a little poem today on my Sunday Sabbath to honor my King
YOUR SABBATH PLAN
By Kathleen Martens
September 20, 2015
Thank you Lord
For Your Sabbath Day
I’ll follow Your plan
For I like Your way.
I will rest
And give honor to You.
As I praise Your name
And Your plan ensue.
God Bless you.
Saturday September 19 2015 FLOGGING FOR MY BLOGGING
Saturday September 19, 2015 FLOGGING FOR MY BLOGGING
Well, as my mom would say, “you are in Dutch”. Has anyone ever heard that saying before? In today’s language it means I am in hot water. To say it more bluntly, I am in trouble! I bared my soul last night and my sister in California (who has not been to my home in probably 20 years or so) was absolutely HORRIFIED that my house is in the condition it is in. I must have made it sound even worse than it is. First off, we have quite a large home so I can have a mess and still have a very neat and organized living area without anyone ever seeing behind the scenes. What she does not realize is how very busy every moment of my life has been for the last 15 years or so with my photography business. When you own a business it seems like your life is no longer your own. Once our home was reconstructed I never had the time to get into the rooms we stored everything in and sort it out and reorganized. I used minimum supplies from what I stored and shut the door.
Things are different now. My business is over (almost), my studio is dismantled waiting to be priced for a sale I will have in the spring (everything in Wisconsin is predicated by the seasons), and slowly between mine and my husband’s health issues that must be addressed as they crop up, I am sorting and purging and cleaning. And when I came home from my travels I had a professional come in and clean the entire floor we live on. Is there still a lot to do? Yes. Is it going to be the end of the world if it is worked in around our living rather than stopping life and just tackling it? No. Would I like to have it done? Yes. Well then, what is stopping me? Again, predicated by the season. Garden season is almost over and later I won’t have the work that comes with harvest.
My sister was so horrified that I think she actually became upset with me. All said in an email but she has issued a decree that she wants to have a conference with the both Dave and I in the near future with her email printed out so she can go over it. My sister is 9 years older than me and takes on the persona of a mother when it suits her. I let her. I just choose not to get upset about it. I think her letter was written seriously but I could not help but chuckle all the way through it. Like I said, “I AM IN HOT WATER WITH HER”! We are about as opposite as you can get and still be sisters. And more than likely according to her, she is the good opposite. As I write this blog I am beginning to wonder if I will actually post it. Dave is already in bed tonight so I won’t have a sounding board. I’ll give it some thought. In other words, I guess I better get my house organized! But I still can’t help but chuckle.
So, now I will change my topic and go to today! It was a wonderful day until I read her email. Sister, I am truly sorry that my lifestyle has horrified you so. Just so you know, I sit here in a clean and healthy environment. A little cluttered? Maybe. But, just so you know, I am totally happy, content and totally enjoying each and every day. As I have said before, my interior world is a wonderful place to exist. You are the one who told me to enjoy my life, and I took your advice very seriously. Well, I do enjoy it very thoroughly. So today we had a thoroughly, wonderful day.
My son is attending law school, works full time plus overtime, has a wife, two young sons, and very active with his boys. I knew he had two law papers due, and had just worked a long overtime shift at work. When I spoke with him yesterday he sounded exhausted. So I suggested Dave and I pick up the boys today and take them on an outing and then to our church picnic. They sounded very pleased. So our day was packed from the time we got up until we arrived home from the picnic, showered the boys, had story time and tucked them into bed (actually a pallet on the floor). The oldest one was asleep before Dave finished the stories. The 3 year old was asleep before I could get down onto the floor to kiss him goodnight. We had a blast. Earlier in the afternoon we went to the Amish community because I needed to go to the Amish store there and buy some supplies before we left on our trip. Both boys were intrigued by the horses and buggies, the clothes the Amish wore, the lines full of fresh wash blowing in the breeze, and the store without electricity. We explained a lot about the differences in how the Amish live in comparison to modern day conveniences. When I asked Zach (7 year old) which way would he like to live, he answered quite promptly, “like I live, not like they live”. I think it was the lack of computers and T.V. that was quite the head turner.
The Amish community is quite a ways out of town and we drove through back country roads most of the way. Keeping the boys awake in the car is always an accomplishment so we had a little “school time” in the car. Every event for me is a time to teach. They learned about silos, crops of corn and soy beans, drying the corn, planting and harvesting. We ended up playing “I spy” looking for all the silos. Even the three year old had an eagle eye. He found silos the rest of us missed. The day was perfect with blue sky and puffy white clouds. The temperature was in the 60’s with a high of 70. The air was crystal clear from the last two nights of storms and lots of rain. The fields were beautiful in the late summer day. This week is the beginning of autumn. I wish I could paint words to describe the beauty I breathed in today. I have so been longing for a day such as this, when Dave drives and I just have the pleasure of beholding the beauty that God spreads out before us each day, if we but take the time to observe. It was worth every moment of not being home organizing my house.
My grandsons are asleep in the living room floor (remember I have company coming and I already have the bedroom all spruced up for her), my husband is tucked in, the kitchen is clean, towels are washing and I am here doing what I love to do. And all the boxes that need sorting and purging are sitting very peacefully in the two rooms downstairs awaiting my attention. I would rather have the memories of this day with my grandsons than have a house that is perfectly put together. I don’t think the kids will remember the mess (especially since they do not see it) but I think they will remember this picnic. It was truly awesome. If I have time I’ll tell you more about it tomorrow. It was held at an old farm with the most amazing barn and out buildings. It had lots of playground equipment for the kids, crafts to work on, and lots of other interesting games to play. I even went down the slide.
AND SO I CHOOSE
By Kathleen Martens
September 19, 2015
What is the worth of a day set aside
When memories are created that will abide
In the hearts and souls of two little boys?
What else could be worth so much joy?
To be spontaneous is sometimes best
When you can pursue the latest quest.
Places to go and new things to see,
A time when your spirit is totally free.
Childhood is over all too soon,
And responsibility sings its tune.
And grandparents grow too soon old,
And grandsons grow too big to hold.
So celebrate life while you still have breath
All too soon will come our death.
And so I choose to enjoy each day,
While my grandsons still like to play.
REMEMBER: THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE. REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.
(Even if your house is messy)!
Good night and God bless you.
P.S. I have no one to help proof this blog tonight or to give me their opinion as to whether or not I sound disrespectful to my elder sister. I would like to make a disclaimer here. In no way do I mean to be disrespectful or hurt anyone’s feelings. I wrote from my heart. Nothing my sister could say would ever make me love her less. Even though she is “HORRIFID” with me (her word used several times), I hope she feels the same. I actually hope you are smiling. I am.
Friday September 18 2015 TOMORROW REALLY IS SATURDAY
Friday September 18 2015 TOMORROW REALLY IS SATURDAY
EVERY DAY IS SATURDAY
By Kathleen Martens
September 18, 2015
Remember, when you are retired every day is Saturday.
The only day that is different during the week is Sunday.
Saturday skips Sunday and then it’s Saturday Monday.
Oh how wonderful when every day is Fun day.
All the days seem to run together
Faster and faster as each week goes by.
How do I slow the rapid pace
When each hour seems to fly?
I wake each morning with all my plans
Of everything I intend to get done.
Then the day gets gobbled up
When I’m on the run.
And even when I am no longer running
It seems I go in circles.
What I really seem to need
Is a few great big miracles.
I would like to own a magic wand
That would cook and clean on demand,
So I could have everything accomplished,
All that is on the list I planned.
All the “stuff” I need to do
Constantly stares me in the face.
Actually, the only thing that needs to be done
Is to have everything in its place.
But that is where the problem lies
For there are no more places to fill.
And besides when it is Saturday
Work is not what I will.
And Sunday Sabbath is a day of rest,
A time that I spend with my Lord.
I just wish these Saturdays’
Would quit trying my time to hoard.
Then I would have Monday to do the wash,
And Tuesday to work even more.
And Wednesday I could dust the house,
And Thursday scrub the floor.
And Friday I would do all else,
So Saturday I have would have nothing to do.
But since every day is always Saturday
My work never seems to be through.
Oh my goodness! I guess I am telling on myself. To be serious, it is a bit difficult at times to remember which day it is, but it seems regardless the day I am always busy, always on the go, always with one more thing to accomplish. How was I gone for four months and not do all this “stuff”? Well, for the most part, it just didn’t get done. I am digging out from three years of chaos in the house. About three years ago we had a water valve break and water leaked between our top floor walls and floor area to the ceilings below. Oh, what a mess when that was discovered. We had to move everything out of five rooms of our house. The rooms we moved out of consisted of our master bedroom, my photography office (a major undertaking), two bathrooms upstairs and one downstairs bathroom.
Within two days following the discovery of the damage you could stand in our lower level, look up through the ceiling of the office, through the master bedroom floor area that no longer existed, through the walls of the bathrooms, through the bathroom ceiling to the attic and see the roof rafters. Almost every room in the house was impacted. The spare bedroom had to be emptied to accept our master bedroom furniture. My prop room next to the laundry room had to be rearranged to accept two tables of computers and printers and photography equipment and orders and so on and so on. The only room that was sacrosanct was the photography studio. I still had clients coming for photos. After a few days we realized we couldn’t live in our house while it was under reconstruction. We had no working bath or shower. The only other bathroom upstairs was far away from the bedrooms and only had a toilet and sink. We moved into a local temporary hotel suite designed for short term living with the bare necessities in the kitchen.
Every day I drove from the hotel to my studio and worked in my temporary office with all the electronic equipment cords taped to floors and walls, down hallways, around corners and into the room where my makeshift office was set up. This happened in March. Our house was not finished until February the following year. We lived out of boxes and things became quite disordered. And…there are rooms that are still in disorder. Even more so now. I have since retired and dismantled my studio so I could truthfully tell clients that I no longer had a studio to work in. I took off for an odyssey and had an amazing four months. Now I am back and reality is rearing its head.
My initial homecoming was not quite what I thought it would be. I thought I would come home, unpack, get my house back in order, finish my orders from last year and buckle down to finish editing the books I am working on. Well, that didn’t happen. If you just joined the blog family, go back to the beginning of July and read what has happened since I arrived home. I won’t repeat it here. Needless to say, I have not accomplished diddly squat. Since I am confessing all, please be informed that I have not hand-washed all the clothes I had on my trip that must be hand washed. Summer is almost over so I guess I just won’t get to wear them again this season. Nor have I sorted through all the keepsakes I brought home or the gifts I bought to give others. Everything is piled on the coffee table in my former studio just waiting to go to their rightful homes. Nor have I gone through the many piles of books I purchased on my travels. And this is my most favorite thing to do.
I say all the above to say this. Things will need to change and change soon. I have my friend from Albuquerque arriving next week and the week after she leaves Dave and I are leaving for a trip. We will need to cut our trip shorter than we planned because Dave is scheduled to have surgery the week we will arrive home. The doctor said he will have a 6 week recovery period when his activity will be very limited. He will not be able to lift, exercise, or do anything strenuous. Well, nature doesn’t wait for a man to recover. When it’s time to drop leaves the leaves will drop. We only have a few hundred trees to clean up afterward. Well, maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit but we have many, many, many, BIG, BIG, BIG, trees to clean up after. And these trees have BIG leaves. I guess this is the year we’ll hire someone with a tractor to come in and do the yard work. When you have the kind of yard we have you absolutely cannot leave the piles of leaves on the lawns or the lawns would be damaged beyond repair next spring after the snow melt. We also have many flower beds that must have piles of leaves raked on them in order to insulate the gardens. So, this is not a good time for surgery! But, what must be will be. I may have to hog tie Dave to keep him from getting out there and working and I will if I must. I just want him to get well.
Even though I have not accomplished what I thought I would accomplish when I arrived home I have been able to succeed in keeping life and limb together. I have recuperated well from my surgery in July, I am back to exercising, I am doing my best to keep up the living area of the house (somewhat) and I’m working diligently to help Dave with his necessary diabetic nutrition. He has now lost about 42 pounds. I am so proud of his commitment to himself.
Even though I still have much to do I have enjoyed every hour I have been home (perhaps not when I was dizzy) and look forward to the future to see what I can accomplish. I am learning to slow down a bit, thus the reason I am not accomplishing my “to do list”. But that is okay. I will not beat myself up over it. I have decided it is time to really enjoy life. And to enjoy it without rushing! I do not like to rush. (INSERT: Dave’s comment, “Boy, isn’t that the truth.”)
I am so thankful for these later years in my life because it has been the most intimate of times with my God. I think God gives us old age so we can get to know Him better. There is a scripture in Proverbs that says: “White hair is a crowning glory and you’ll find it most among the godly.” I don’t know the reference right now but will look it up later and let you know at some later date. I haven’t made it quite to a full white head of hair yet but someday I hope too.
Enjoy every day because so soon they are past. And remember, only what’s done for Christ will last.
P.S. Dave found the reference: Proverbs 16:31 which reads in the NIV translation: “Grey hair is the crown of splendor, it is attained in the way of righteousness.”
There are several different versions. I can’t remember which version my quote came from.
Good night and God bless you.
Thursday September 17 2015 SHORT AND SWEET
Thursday September 17 2015 SHORT AND SWEET
I have titled today’s blog SHORT AND SWEET for a reason. It is to be a reminder to me that this is what my goal is for this blog today. I am still recuperating from yesterday’s bed rest and a bit low on energy. I am doing some better and accomplished a visit to the doctor with Dave for his surgery consultation for his Inguinal Hernia. His surgery is scheduled next month. I also accomplished a few other stops around the area to prepare for tomorrow’s tasks. We have an all church picnic we would like to attend on Saturday and each family is to bring a dish to share. That will be Saturday’s task. Tomorrow is a task day all its own. If you have read this blog before then you know what Thursday is all about and what must take place afterward. But I cannot mention it here. I am just seeing how long I can go before I slip up and say the “you know what word”.
I had a lovely visit with one of my sisters on the phone today. She is a wonderful talker, full of knowledge and wisdom, loves to share it with me, (which I love to hear) and she was even able to understand a bit of what I said to her. Velma is hearing impaired. She can still use hearing aids that helps her a bit but it is difficult for her to hear in person and even more so on the phone. It is great that I can hear her.
My timer is going off. I must attend to my duty. Back in a bit.
I’m full and that is all I’m going to say!
SO MUCH TO SAY
By Kathleen Martens
September 17, 2015
Why is it I have so much to say,
And never enough time to speak?
It seems the words bubble up from within,
And my thoughts just verbally leak.
Sometimes they come out before I think
And that is not a very good thing.
So instead of talking so much
I just hum and sing.
Or sometimes I just sit down
And let my mind be free to the wind.
I listen closely to what’s inside.
For to myself I’m a very good friend.
It is fun to explore my world,
Where words are waiting to explode.
And when no one else is around,
I write poetry and sometimes prose.
My journal is patient and oh so quiet.
It never minds at all what I tell.
It sits on my lap and patiently awaits
All the words I will spell.
And when I am finished it brings relief
To know that my thoughts are captured in ink.
Because deep in my heart now I know
With my past, I will have a link.
When events are told fresh from the mind
More accurate are the facts.
For time has a way of fading memory
Softening what the present tracks.
I guess it really comes down to this,
I have a voice and it wants to be heard.
But perhaps I should think before I speak,
And allow wisdom to limit words.
I will let my poem today be my words of wisdom. THINK BEFORE I SPEAK and ALLOW WISDOM TO LIMIT WORDS.
I wish you could hear what I am hearing now. A few moments ago as I sat here typing my blog I heard something quite loud happening outside. Our house is all brick and has dual pained windows so we don’t hear many sounds outside if the windows and doors are closed. I opened the window by my rickety table desk and I hear the most beautiful sound of a summer squall. What a great word SQUALL is. Its synonyms are: “storm, windstorm, gust, tempest, shower, gust of wind”. Perfect description of what is going on right outside my window. And the smell is fresh and wet and beautiful. Sort of what I imagine heaven will smell like. I think I shall challenge myself to write a poem using all the synonyms I wrote above.
SQUALL
By Kathleen Martens
September 17, 2015
Storm of night is ever dark
As the windstorm beats against the pane.
As if the tempest rears its head
Without ceasing to wane.
Showers fall in gust of wind
As lightening penetrates the sky.
And then in lingering fragrance of rain
Its anger begins to die.
And it leaves in my heart
A smile, knowing it was God,
Who chose this amazing way
To give nourishment to our sod.
Thank You God for our rain.
A very light and easy to write blog. Sweet dreams.
Good night and God bless all of you.
P.S. I was looking through my external hard drive and googled “rain”. Here is an older poem that came up that I wrote a few years back about another night storm.
Night Rain
By Kathleen Martens
June 15, 2013
How to describe
Falling rain
Sound in the night
On gentle breeze
Soft and fragrant drops
Dance on fluttering leaves.
The sound of patience
As earth drinks
Its offering
Of heaven’s tears.
One more P.S. The following is just a bonus I happened upon in my older external drive. I thought it might fit in to this day’s blog and one I wrote in the last few days. Read it only if you are interested in reading something taken right out of my hand written journal with no intention of anyone ever reading it but me. I just felt compelled to share it here.
Continued from Secret Friend
Journal Excerpt
By Kathleen Martens
May 24, 2013
Lord, I feel so full of poems today. Thank You again for my hearing. Listening to my music is like reading a good book, over and over. Just the beauty of an author’s prose or a composer’s score speaks to my inmost being, comforting my senses, knowing what is to come, yet anticipating the beauty of what is ahead. And I see and imagine the heart that would be filled with such emotions to create such insight and beauty through their art. And I wonder what struggles and lessons they too had to experience to bring to life what speaks to me. What did it take for them to come to this place in their journey to be able to offer this sacred part of themselves to the world.
How does one imagine such melody? I see the music in my heart as a beautiful sculpture being formed. The artist circling the stone, and design forming in thought as the rough edges are chiseled away and the beauty of their dream translated to sound. Gentle, sweet sound that swirls around the creation of that which is being honed through experience and the deep need to express, and share, and create, and write, and compose, and draw, and paint, and define, and dance, and sing, and sculpt, and create poetry. IT MUST COME OUT, for an artist’s heart is always full to overflowing.
And God is the master creator and He created us in His likeness and so we too are made to create. And out of the abundance of our heart we speak. And we all speak in different ways. We speak with words and actions. We speak through giving and we speak through our art. And we even speak with our silence. Out of the heart the soul speaks.
Thank You Lord for those who use their gifts to give peace and joy and beauty to others. Let my art speak Your word from my heart. Let my art praise You and show You my thanksgiving. Let my art be a reflection of You.
POST SCRIPT: I GUESS MY BLOG WASN’T SO SHORT. I HOPE IT WAS SWEET.
Good night again!
Wednesday September 16 2015 AMBULANCE TO EGG
Wednesday September 16, 2015 AMBULANCE TO EGG
Today’s title heading has a meaning. One I know before I begin writing. I spent a bit of time yesterday planning what I was going to do today to make my week, and my month, work for me. Today Dave had blood work done at 8:40 a.m. We planned to go from there to the gym to workout. Then our plan was to make a quick run out to Costco so I could pick up all the ingredients I would need to finish up making all the f_ _d (I don’t want to say the “F” word) I need to make. Well, it didn’t happen. It is amazing how quickly your plans can turn on a dime.
While working yesterday I began to feel light headed. As the day progressed it became a bit more noticeable until I began to feel dizzy. I was able to eat dinner but not do the cleanup. Dave took over the kitchen for me and I hurriedly put myself to bed. By that time my world was spinning and I did not feel well at all. I knew my heart was beating erratically, but I am somewhat used to that. Everything progressively turned worse after that. Dave was sleeping peacefully next to me and I was still unable to go to sleep. It was 11:00 p.m. when I realized my heart was really in trouble. I thought I should at least wake Dave and make him aware of it in case I became even worse.
Dave called the nurse on call and because of my condition, by this time I was losing body heat and shivering and going into shock, the nurse felt we needed to call 911. And so the ambulance came. When my heart is in Atrial Fib it causes my kidneys to over work and I am constantly making trips to the bathroom. This is not a good thing because it is difficult for me not to pass out. The fire department came first and I was still out of whack. I soon began to feel better and by the time the ambulance came I knew I was a bit better. I was all packed up and in the ambulance ready to leave when I asked if it was really necessary to take me in since my heart had converted from A Fib back to my normal ABNORMAL heart rate. What I mean by that is the fact that my heart is rarely in a regular rhythm, but it does have sort of a regular, abnormal rhythm. The paramedics monitored me for a while longer in the ambulance, did a couple of EKG’s, and blood pressure checks. My pressure was elevated but that too was going down. I just did not want to go to the hospital! So, since I felt better, Dave and I decided that I would not go.
Before you get your dander up Sister, know I felt it was a well informed decision since my EKG was on the right path and my blood pressure was dropping back to normal. I would have gone had I felt the way I had before they came. What caused this episode to come on, I cannot say for sure. Perhaps it was from working too hard (that seems like the noble thing to say), eating a gram too much fruit, not eating enough of something, or just that I am old and my heart is wearing out? The worst part of the ordeal was the dizziness. I do not think there is anything I dislike more than being dizzy. I finally fell asleep, and awakened at 8:30 a.m.. I ate breakfast and was back in bed by 10:00 a.m. and did not stir until almost 2:30 p.m.. I then ate lunch and rested on the couch the rest of the day. No exercise, no work in the kitchen, just plain old laziness! I am not quite back to 100% but I am doing much better. Now, I am planning my tomorrow. (Sister, remind me again about slowing down. I think I need to hear it again.)
Now, let’s skip to the egg. Think of the egg as just a product of the chicken (not f_ _d). Remember I am not saying that word anymore. I opened a carton of farm fresh eggs we buy and my eyes popped out. Eleven normal size eggs tucked neatly in the carton and one egg that stuck out like a sore thumb. I imagine there was something else quite sore after laying that egg. Look at the picture below. Dave asked if it was a goose egg. I will say, it was a good egg! Just thought you might like to see how big it really was.
It pains me to admit it, but I think this blog must be short tonight as I am feeling a bit peaked. I do not like admitting that I don’t feel well or am tired because so seldom do I feel that way. I suppose my body might just be trying to tell me to slow down a bit. Perhaps becoming that “recluse” I talked about yesterday is sounding better and better. The one thing I do know is that we all need to learn to listen to our bodies. As we age we can no longer get away with the long nights and hard working days. Slowing down is one of the greatest losses I will feel in the aging department. When I turned 60 my doctor of many years sat me down at my physical and commenced to telling me that I was entering the time of loss in my life. He explained that I would be giving up certain things, like energy and vitality, perhaps my spouse in death, my hearing, my astounding memory, driving, and on and on he went. He was serious and thought it important enough to give his “aging patient’s this pep talk” that he presents to his patients on their 60th year. Well, you know what? He was right. But I didn’t want to let him be right. What he didn’t know was that I already had a host of “giving ups” I had already experienced. In a later year I took a poem to him that I wrote and read it to him. Some of the things he spoke about were included in the poem and I also included several things that he had failed to mention. If I can find it on my hard drive I will include it at the bottom of this blog. It truly is worth reading.
I learned a new word today. It is elegy. Its synonyms are: “poem (sad poetry about one’s life), requiem, dirge, composition, and funeral song”. So I guess my poem is an elegy. I enjoy new words. I have dictionaries placed all over the house so that wherever I am reading I can look up new words I do not know. The more new words a writer gives me to look up, the more I enjoy the book. It seems I remember and understand the word forever after that when I look them up. I wonder what my poem will be tonight. I honestly never know which poem will come to me before I begin. So here goes. I will let my mind wander and see what it comes up with.
JUST GIVE IT A TRY
By Kathleen Martens
September 16 2015
Sometimes I wish that others
Would write a poem or two
So I could look inside their mind
And see how their thoughts brew.
Poetry is nothing more
Than writing what one thinks.
So many think that it is hard,
But it is just an open link.
An opening to who you are
And how you view the world.
You may find it fun
As your thoughts freely unfurl.
If you know not where to begin
Just write whatever comes to heart.
It seems to be the very best place
For your words to start.
Be not afraid to open up
And show who you really are.
You may certainly surprise yourself.
Your words may take you far.
Take you to places yet undiscovered.
To places deep within.
Words that will then make sense.
And words will become your friend.
So much can be said
In little spurts of letters.
A new you may emerge
That you may even like better.
Never underestimate your value
Or gifts that are tucked inside
When you write a poem or two
IT’S IN YOURSELF YOU REALLY CONFIDE!
Hmm…I think I like that one because it seems so true. Sometimes we are too afraid to explore areas yet unexplored. Take a chance and do something different. If poetry doesn’t suit you, write a letter to yourself telling yourself about what you like about yourself and things you wish you could improve. I write letters to God quite often. And He writes them back to me. Of course they come through “MIND MAIL” but that is okay, because I am an excellent transcriptionist. I sometimes just can’t decipher my writing afterwards. Give yourself a chance and just see if you could write a poem. It may be fun. Remember, it doesn’t need to rhyme. Just break up a sentence into short phrases and put the short phrases on separate lines and sometimes it will make an awesome poem. I’ll give you an example. Take the second sentence in this paragraph which I just chose and see how I break it up to create a bit more meaning.
TAKE A CHANCE
By Kathleen Martens
September 16, 2015
Sometimes
We are too afraid
To explore
Areas yet unexplored.
Take a chance
To go
Where your heart
Beckons.
(I just made up the last stanza to go with the above sentence.)
There. You have a poem. A poem makes you concentrate on the phraseology of the line and brings out more meaning in one’s mind. Now that is probably a poor example of what I want to get across to you but I will make up a poem now that does not rhyme. On what subject? Who knows?
WORDS
By Kathleen Martens
September 16, 2015
Words
Are but letters
Arranged by choice
To create thoughts
Which need to be
Spoken.
Give it a try.
Well, so much for a short blog. I guess I started feeling better. At least I am not dizzy.
Well, here is the poem I promised to share that I wrote to my doctor.
I Have Some Words To Say
By Kathleen Martens
I had a visit to my doctor
Just the other day.
Sit down He said to me
I have some words to say.
It’s all about
The experiences of life,
Listen to my wisdom.
Perhaps you’ll have less strife.
Each year progresses
With age appropriate experience
And what I speak to you
Please understand the seriousness.
Time has a way
Of opening its door,
With new developments,
Each year offering more.
While strong and stalwart
No time used for reflection,
Each milestone just happens,
No time for inspection.
Adulthood happens,
Children are born.
Life seems forever,
The future not scorned.
And then one day
We seem to see
And wonder what’s happening
To spouse and me.
The body creaks,
The mind slows down.
What once was important
Now brings a frown.
We often view
Ourselves younger
And for those days
We still hunger.
Social Security by check comes
And we think we’re still forty,
But our movements
We start hoarding.
And unexpectedly we see
In a mirror true
What time has done
To both me and you.
It’s better to accept
Just who we are
On this journey called life
Now we’ve traveled so far.
“You’ll be more content”,
Are the Doctor’s words.
What he doesn’t realize
How much unsaid I’ve heard.
Life has a way
Of teaching each one
That every day
Is not always fun.
Even with age
Joy is alive and well
Though you have more episodes
When you’re sick a spell.
There are aches and pains
You just keep to self
And after tending all
You place them on the self.
To the young
Listen to words of warning:
I must soak my hands
So fingers move each morning.
And when I arise
I am so slow,
Joints must pop in
Before they’ll go.
Warm compresses
On my eyes
To awaken oil ducts
On which my vision relies.
I scrub my scalp
And soak my head
So my skin is healthy
When I’m dead.
I cover my bunions
Put drops on my corns
Insert my orthopedics
For feet that are worn.
Put Vitamin E
On my latest scar
In hopes the old body
Will show less mar.
I must sit just right
So broken tailbone won’t shout
And there is much more I could say
Without a doubt!
I must be so careful
To put things away,
Otherwise I can’t find them
Because they skitter away.
Skin becomes dry
And easy to tear,
But you learn to accept it
Because it’s given much wear.
The hearing diminishes,
Not bothersome at all.
What others say
On deaf ears fall.
The T.V. is louder,
Discourages guests,
But that’s okay
Gives you more time to rest.
So much advice
From one younger than I
But no need for thought
Before I comply.
Such sage wisdom
Experienced through years
With aging patients’
Grumblings and tears.
Doc’s seen the losses
That take their toll
As each year passes
And His patients grow old.
So thanks for your insight
And not saying that I am fat.
As far as the rest?
Been there! Done that!
I know growing older
Is a gradual perishing,
But my spirit renews each day
For it is life I am cherishing.
But if I may ask
A question or two
I wonder who will say
All these words to you?
Thanks for caring Dr. B
Have a great night and a wonderful tomorrow. Just don’t get dizzy.
God bless you and good night.
Tuesday September 15 2015 THE GIFTS GOD GIVES US
Tuesday September 15 2015 THE GIFTS GOD GIVES US
Again, my title does not make a lot of sense to me. Sometimes I just have a “creative” thought and the title comes before my idea for my blog. Thus, it is tonight. I’ve been thinking about creativity lately and wondering what more can I do to be creative. Am I only creative in the area which I “feel” gifted, or is it possible to be creative in other areas, or lots of other areas?
I believe all people are given gifts of creativity from God. The first and foremost reason is because God created us in His image and if we are created in His image we must be gifted with creativity. After all, God created the entire world and universe. If God is creative (which we know He is) and we are created in His likeness, it only proves to me that He has created us as creative beings. It is such a joy to create. It doesn’t need to be some big project or something that the world will see and go ooh and aah over, nor does it have to be expensive or extremely detailed. It could be something as simple as a sweet letter, encouraging a friend.
There are probably as many definitions of creative as there are people. Each person has their own unique and original way to create. I look at some people and am so truly amazed at how they can paint unbelievable art, or sing with the voice of angels, or write books that become multimillion dollar sellers, or graphic artists and all the technological creativeness there is in the world. It is just so astounding to me. I even look at the gift God gave me in writing poetry and sometimes wonder how I can do that which to me, seems like such a simple thing. And all of a sudden the thoughts that are forthcoming are beginning to make sense of my title, THE GIFTS GOD GIVES US.
Over the last few days I am beginning to realize that the gift that I think of as simple, is actually a great gift that God has entrusted to me. He has used several people the last few days to make me realize that my gift is only beneficial in as much as I use it for God’s glory. It doesn’t matter what kind of gift God bestows upon His children. He gives each of us gifts to be used for Him. God purposed the creation of each one of us. God has a plan for each of us and it is good. I believe His plan is for each of us to use the gifts He has showered upon us. Someday we will stand before God and when He asks us, “What did you do with the gift I gave you”, how will we respond? I must take responsibility for the gift my Father has given me. I must steward not only my talent, but I must be a good steward of what I do with my gift, how I present it, who I give it to, and how far to take it. ‘How will it best be used for His glory’ is the question we must ask ourselves.
“THE GIFT GOD GIVES US.” Have you, yes, if you are reading this I am asking YOU, PERSONALLY, have you taken time to discover the gift or gifts that God has bestowed upon you? If you know your gift(s) have you set aside time daily to give these gifts back to God? Are you developing your gifts? Are you sharing them with your world?
I will tell you a short story, part I may have mentioned before. Several years ago I was reading a book and in the book it was talking about the Sabbath and how we need to restore the rhythm and rest to our soul. The writer closed the chapter by asking the readers to take a look at their life and see if there was a possibility to take a part of everyday to have a “Sabbath rest”, by doing something you enjoyed. I mentally cataloged all the things I liked to do and found that I already did everything I liked to do every day. One of my favorite things to do at that time was write and I did that daily in my journal. I left it at that. A few days later I was listening to Joyce Myers on the computer as I worked in my photography office. She said that God had given each of us a talent and we had to take a look at our lives and ask ourselves “what are you doing with that talent?” She went on to say that someday we would have to stand before God and give an account to God as to what we had done with the talent He gave us. WOW! That hit me between the eyes. I knew God had given me a talent for writing poetry from the time I was a very young girl. I would write when someone needed something, or someone would hire me to write an epic poem about a life or a story poem about something. I would usually write a poem for a special occasion and for Christmas, and that was about it. I knew in that moment, listening to Joyce’s words, that God was giving me a gentle nudge to do more with the gift He had bestowed upon me. I prayed and made a commitment to God that I would set aside 15 minutes every day for my “daily Sabbath” and write a poem. I never really gave it a thought as to what I would do with them, how many hundreds, thousands, would accumulate, or how they would bless the people I gave them to. Have I written one every single day since then? No. Does God make me feel guilty? No. My poetry to Him is my gift to Him. And he just keeps blessing me with His blessings of more and more poems to write. I think I will include a poem I wrote several years ago about just this very topic. (Of course I’ll write today’s poetry gift to Him before I include the older one.) I already have it on the blog site but I’ll include it at the end of this date perchance you may want to read it.
Stop and think about the gift(s) God has given you. Step out in faith and cultivate those gifts and give them away. Creativity is fun to do for self but I think it has more meaning when others too can enjoy it.
I said all the above to let you know that I am making a new commitment to God and myself to fulfill what I believe God is directing me to do. I am to finish writing and compiling books that are started and to create new ones. I have had several people tell me recently that I need to get that done. I agree. My sister told me recently that I may have to become a recluse to do the work that needs to be accomplished. I am beginning to understand that becoming a recluse may need to become a possibility in the near future. HOWEVER, A RECLUSE I AM NOT! The synonyms for recluse are: hermit, loner, outsider, solitary, eremite, ascetic, and lone wolf. If you know me, you can tell those words do not describe me in the least. However, I do love my times of solitude. Oh, how I enjoy solitude! (INSERT: MY HUSBAND IS PROOFING THIS WITH ME AND STOPPED HERE TO SAY SOMETHING TO ME. THIS IS THE SOMETHING HE SAID, “HONEY YOU WOULD BE A DYING FLOWER IF YOU CUT YOURSELF OFF FROM PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU LIKE TO TALK..AND TALK.. AND TALK…) End of comment.
My timeline is starting. I don’t know exactly when. (Doesn’t sound too promising, does it)? I have a few obligations that are to be fulfilled and I have a promise to myself to keep my calendar cleared after those are fulfilled without new commitments. I have found that keeping promises to myself are some of the most important promises I must keep. However, keeping my promise first to God is always my priority. When I am obedient unto Him I believe that He will direct my steps. What does it mean in the future for my blog? I do not know at this time. All I know is that I enjoy writing the blog. It sort of feels like therapy to me. You should try it. Even if you do not go online with what you write, it may stretch your thinking, and cause you to give thought to that which you never considered before.
One of the commitments I choose to do is to be a good steward of that which God has given me. I appreciate the feedback I have received from readers. Thank you for your encouragement. Also, as of yesterday, I opened my blog up for online search engines to be able to find me. Perhaps others will find my site like the lady who needed to hear a word from God and googled, “word from God”, and my blog came up to a certain date. This was before I was on the search engine. I believe that was a direct hit from the Lord. Please pray that if there are those out in the public who might benefit from a blog such as mine that they will be directed to my site. As I traveled I did not go heavy on the spiritual aspects when writing the blog. It will now become more spiritual oriented. If I can touch even one life, then it is not in vain. Please share my blog with any who you think might enjoy it. And remember, I am open to topics that you would like me to explore and perhaps write about.
IF I CAN…
By Kathleen Martens
September 15, 2015
If I can touch, just one life
Perhaps this time will be rife.
If my song will touch a soul
That alone would be my goal.
If my word speaks to one
I hope it is about God’s Son.
If what I write is a gift
Another’s heart it will lift.
If my gift is offered back
Then my words will not lack.
If what I say rings so true
Perhaps a heart will be made anew.
Thank you for reading today’s blog. I hope it makes some sense. Following is the poem I wrote on July 23, 2010
God’s Gift to Us Is Our Gift to Him
Kathleen Martens
July 23, 2010
We go about our lives, in such a busy way,
Not stopping to enjoy the present throughout our entire day.
Our stress rises when there is no time for rest.
Our work falters, and no longer do we do our best.
What if just for fifteen minutes we stopped to be alone?
Enjoying thoughts and solitude, restringing our heart’s tone?
Doing something that gives us peace, as we set those minutes aside,
Doing what we love to do, as in our creativity we abide.
We all are given from our God, a unique and wonderful gift.
Not for us to boast about, but rather our spirit to lift.
We can take no credit for what to us God gives,
But rather must answer Him, with my gift how did I live?
Did we use it, to the potential that God desired?
Or instead, in pity did we get mired?
No one else has potential, to do just what you do.
No one can write the song that can only come through you.
No one can dance the dance with your own two feet,
Or write the lyrics of your song, upon your blank sheet.
No one can hold a pen and sketch the faces you see.
No one can unleash your talent setting your spirit free.
Someday we’ll leave this magnificent earth below
And stand before the Almighty King, the one that we know.
And then we must answer, what did we do?
And Oh I hope, we surely do not rue.
But rather I would hope we’ll leave our gift behind,
That which only we could give; something one of a kind.
Created in those moments, of solitude and love,
Created from the wonderful gift, God gave us from above.
So take the time and sing your song—
Write your poem for it’s never wrong.
Dance your dance with merry heart—
Even fifteen minutes is a grand start.
Paint your portrait, sketch that face—
Slow down your spirit, calm your race.
Build your tower, create a new design—
So many different ways, to be oh so fine.
And by using your gift you are fulfilling God’s plan
His unique idea, for each woman, each man.
And not only do you give lasting pleasure
But God receives joy in unending measure.
For He delights in the joy you receive
For when doing what you love,
IN YOURSELF YOU BELIEVE.
Good night.
Visions of Poetry 