Tuesday October 20 2015  FIRST LIGHT * LAST LIGHT

We are home.  And there is no place like home.  It’s as if when I walked through the back door into the kitchen, it just gave me a big hug.  I felt as if I was being caressed by a long lost friend.  Everything was so neat and tidy and empty feeling.  At least it was that way until we unpacked the car.  Needless to say it felt good to be home again.  When I am away from home I don’t seem to miss it because I am so wrapped up in all the excitement of what I am doing.  However, the moment I walk in the door I realize how much I love being home again.  I know I’ve said this before but I think I feel that way because wherever I am is where I love being.  I just love being alive!

We left this morning at 7:00 a.m. at first light.  We watched the sunrise come up over the Ozark Mountains, showing off the most beautiful and miraculous colors I have ever had chance to see in a sunrise.  I was driving so I could not take any photos.  Dave summed it all up when he looked at it in awe and said, “THAT, is a cathedral”.   First light is always like a gift to me.  I love sunrise and the first kiss of light.  So soon it was over but not before it gave us a spectacular show of colors that only God can paint.  We arrived home at 6:00 p.m. eleven hours later at last light.  Wisconsin was covered in low hanging clouds and the sun was barely visible.  There was a beautiful aura of soft white light that shrouded the city in mystery.  So different than this morning, but unique with a beauty all its own.

I give God thanks for our safe travels.  It was very sobering to read the overhead highway signs broadcasting the number of how many have been killed so far on the state’s highways in 2015.  Illinois’ death toll was 850.  Wisconsin’s death toll was 403.  Illinois has 12,881,000 population.  Wisconsin’s population is 5,760,000.  I think about all the shattered families of those who were killed.  It gives me more reason to drive safely, be courteous on the road, and to not be in such a hurry.  And more reason to pray for continued protection every time I get behind the wheel.  I am just so happy to be home safely.

Dave has strict orders from me not to do one thing until he has his surgery on Friday.  His hernia keeps getting larger and I am concerned about the outcome of the repair if it keeps on growing.  This will be a little bit of a different winter for us with him a bit under the weather.  I guess this is one of those things that comes with aging.  We hope to get him up and running over the next couple of months so we can plan to go on another trip.  We would love to go down to Florida and visit our daughter for a while.  She and her husband have invited us to come for the Holidays or any time after the first of the year.  We’ll see how things go with Dave, think about whether we would want to fly or drive, and figure if it will work out with all else we have on our agenda.  I can see how easy it would be to just get carried away and go and go and go and then not accomplish all that must be done here.   But we sure do want to go.  It will take serious consideration, especially if we plan to go east next fall for a few weeks.  A year to us goes in the twinkling of an eye.  I have many things on my private agenda that don’t meet the public eye.  I may need to block off part of the year to accomplish what I need to finish.  More about that later.

FIRST LIGHT

By Kathleen Martens

October 20, 2015

First light of early dawn

Reaches earth with a tender kiss.

Unbeknownst to many,

Because morning they always miss.

Morning light creates cathedrals,

That very few seem to share.

Rarely early do they rise,

Because they don’t seem to care.

What you miss that you do not know

Holds no special place in heart.

But if you rise and once you see

A new ritual you will start.

Morning sunrise is God’s gift.

His light for the day ahead.

But if you miss the spectacular display

On His beauty you are not fed.

So make an effort to come and see

The FIRST LIGHT of the day.

It will nurture your heart,

Lasting throughout your day.

Thank you for spending the time to read my heart.  My hope each day is that each one who reads any part of my blog will be blessed by at least one thing I have said.  I especially love writing my poems to share with you.  For me, it is as if I am given a gift each day to unwrap and share with someone else.

Good night and God bless you!

P.S.  I am including a photo of my CALENDAR WISDOM.  Please note in the background that one of my watermelons made it home safe and sound.