Sunday Sabbath October 11 2015  GOODBYES ARE NOT FOREVER

CALENDAR WISDOM FOR OCTOBER 11, 2015

TAKE THE SAVIOR’S LOVING HAND

AND DO NOT TRY TO UNDERSTAND,

JUST LET HIM LEAD YOU WHERE HE WILL,

THROUGH PASTURES GREEN,

BY WATERS STILL.

Why is it that you plan and dream and prepare and imagine the far off time when you will be together with those you love, and when it finally becomes a reality, the days just fly by and are over?  And that was today. 

We have looked so forward to being with our family as a complete unit and then it goes so quickly and nothing you do can stop the moments from speeding by.  Living in the moment is all that is available to us.  So soon the moments flee and we must say goodbye.  Our son and his family live close by us and so we visit throughout the year.  Our daughter and her family live about 1,244 miles away.  We are fortunate to see each other once a year.  And it is never easy when we say goodbye.  Today was doubly hard.  Our son and his family left very early and took the boys out to the car sleeping and didn’t wake us up before they left as they wanted the boys to not be disturbed.  It worked.  They slept until about 10:00 a.m.  Even though I will see them again soon it was a bit sad to not be able to say goodbye after such an incredible week with them.  I got over it quickly.

Rebecca and Neil on the other hand were a different story.  They came by shortly after 9:00 this morning on their way out.  Our goodbyes were long and drawn out because no one wanted to part.  It will be quite a long time before we are together again.  We enjoy our time together (perhaps because distance makes the heart grow fonder?) but it never seems to be enough time.  I just received a message on the phone from Rebecca that says it so beautifully.  “…This was such a lovely week and still seems like we weren’t able to talk enough.  We have to see you soon.  We love you so much xoxo…”  How could anything sweeter be said?  What she doesn’t realize is that I too feel as if I were not able to talk enough.  But for me that’s an everyday occurrence.  I always have many more words in me than I have someone available to listen.  Oh well, God always hears when I talk to Him.

GOODBYES ARE NOT FOREVER

By Kathleen Martens

October 11, 2015

Our tears are dry, our hearts are full

Memories linger in sweet refrain.

So seldom are we all together,

This a dose of medicine for all bane.

The sweetness of each moment captured

To be remembered in our sated heart.

So full are we of loving each other

Though physically separated, we are not apart.

All the words and sweet affections

Last long after the week is done.

A bit of my children live in my veins

Even when they are grown and gone.

Thank you Rebecca for your kind words.  We too enjoyed the evening with you and hubby.  It was a quiet interlude following such a busily packed, rambunctious week.  Every day was special!

I send my thanks to my blog readers who may be following the daily publications about my family escapades.  I write them down so that I will be able to look back and be reminded of what happened, with whom, and when and where.  I am actually looking forward to having time to go back and read my trip blog.  So much happened so quickly that I purposely placed each day on the shelf when it was over so I could go on to the next adventure.  I want to go back and remember a little bit better.  Time has a way of distorting our memory.  I want to write while everything is fresh in my mind so I can capture the true feelings of each experience.  Thanks for sharing these moments with me.

Good night and God bless you one and all.

Saturday October 10, 2015  MY FAMILY CAME FIRST

When Rebecca became a young teenager she would sometimes come crawl in bed with me, always late at night after a busy day and all I wanted to do was go to sleep.  Instead of sleeping I would listen to her voice in the dark.  Dave usually stayed up a lot later than me so we two “girls” would have a private time for sharing.  She always talked best in the dark.  I would listen intently until I sometimes I fell asleep and she would leave.  I figured that it was more important for me to hear what she needed to say than it was for me to get my much needed sleep.  I found out that some things change, but not everything.

Tonight she had some things to discuss, and of course it would be late into the night!  The difference being, this time I was not in bed and Dave was with me and it was not in the dark.  We were together all day and she waits until about 9:30 or so to start talking about what was on her heart.  So we listened.  We both knew I planned to come home, write my bog and get to bed early as we must be up early in the morning to prepare moving to another cottage and they have a long driving day ahead tomorrow.  Rebecca has always had a lot of insight and wisdom about life since she was a very young child, and tonight she again said something that I agree with.  As the hour grew late and my blossom faded, she looked at me and said, “Mom, what will happen if you don’t write your blog for one day?  Just open it up and write, “MY FAMILY CAME FIRST”, and then say, “Just email me if you don’t like it”.

I’m smiling.  I hope you are.  It is past midnight but I did want to say hello to those that are following me as I travel.  Dave and I are still in one piece and holding our own.  Remember, this week we were up against one daughter, one son, one son-in-law, one daughter-in-law, two grandsons, and two grand-dogs!  AND WE SURVIVED!

MY FAMILY COMES FIRST

By Kathleen Martens

October 10, 2015

Nothing can take the place

Of the time you spend

With those you love

Who are family, yet friend.

So tonight I lingered

Past the midnight hour

To build our relationship

And infuse it with power.

I’ve learned a great lesson

As I’ve walked this earth,

Taking time to listen

Has such valuable worth.

My family comes first,

The motto of  our heart!

And it is NOW we are together,

For tomorrow we part.

So if I am tired

As comes the morn,

I’ll have a smile inside

And not be forlorn.

For I will have listened

To what daughter has spoken,

My body may be tired

But our love won’t be broken.

I have a word of wisdom for you today.  This is something I have counselled parents about for years.  As your children grow, especially into adolescence and teen years (and beyond), keep them talking AND KEEP LISTENING TO WHAT THEY ARE REALLY SAYING.  I could write an entire piece just on this topic and perhaps one day I shall.  Tonight is not the night. 

It is late.  Good night and God bless you!

P.S.  Years ago I gave my sister one of the Amish calendars from which I quote my daily wisdom.  Since I left my calendar home she emailed me and asked if she could send me the sayings on each day.  So Velma, please continue to send them and I will post them.  Thank you for thinking of doing this for me.  Below is Calendar Wisdom for October 10, 2015:

THERE ARE TWO LASTING

BEQUESTS WE CAN GIVE

OUR CHILDREN…ONE IS

ROOTS,

THE OTHER IS WINGS,