Wednesday April 20 2016  THE FRAGRANCE OF SPRING

I smelled it today, the pungent fragrance of early spring.  It is the smell of warming earth after a rain that releases the spores in the damp earth.  It is what some people refer to as the smell of rain.  I decided to look it up after writing the above sentence, so I could better explain what it is that is happening to cause that fresh smell.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/

“Most people notice a distinctive smell in the air after it rains. It’s frequently linked with spring, as the smell of fresh cut grass is associated with summer. You’ll find it in a lot of poetry and also on many inspirational lists of things to be happy about. But what causes it?

As it turns out, the smells people associate with rainstorms can be caused by a number of things. One of the more pleasant rain smells, the one we often notice in the woods, is actually caused by bacteria!  Actinomycetes, a type of filamentous bacteria, grow in soil when conditions are damp and warm. When the soil dries out, the bacteria produces spores in the soil. The wetness and force of rainfall kick these tiny spores up into the air where the moisture after a rain acts as an aerosol (just like an aerosol air freshener).  The moist air easily carries the spores to us so we breathe them in.  These spores have a distinctive, earthy smell we often associate with rainfall. The bacteria is extremely common and can be found in areas all over the world, which accounts for the universality of this sweet “after-the-rain” smell. Since the bacteria thrives in moist soil but releases the spores once the soil dries out, the smell is most acute after a rain that follows a dry spell, although you’ll notice it to some degree after most rainstorms.”

I figured if I tried to explain it some might think I was making it up.  All I know is that after a rainfall I always open the bathroom window and inhale the pleasant smell that permeates our wooded area that surrounds us.  When I walked outside yesterday morning I noticed how dry and hard the soil was.  I could see little tips trying to break the hard crust of soil but without much luck.  Shortly after I came inside the house it began to rain and it rained constantly all day and part of the night.  It was the soft, slow, gentle rain that the earth laps up greedily.  There was virtually no run-off.  By morning the shoots had pushed up and with the warmth of the sun and the soaked moist earth they are now quite impressive after just one day.  So maybe I spoke too soon when I said we are still experiencing winter.  Yeah!!!!  I had my window rolled down this afternoon when I was driving home from the library and that is when I had my first whiff of spring.  And…then I saw my first robin.  We always look for the return of the robin to signify that spring is around the corner.  I get excited about this time thinking about what to plant in my circle planter.  Last year Dave planted nasturtiums and we had an abundance of blooms until the first freeze.  If they come up by seed this year we may let them have another round at proving themselves.  My all-time favorite flower to plant there is the zinnia.  They always have prolific, vivid, colorful blooms all summer.  Last year I put in some perennials and it appears that some of them have survived over the winter.  The problem is, I can’t remember all that I planted there.  I know a couple of the plants were white daisy bushes but I cannot remember the others.  Oh well, I guess I’ll just wait and see and be surprised all over again.

This is one of my favorite times of the year (mainly because each season is my favorite when it comes) and regardless how many springs I have lived here, each one is new and fresh and anticipated with joy.  I think I must have taken my attitude after my mom because I always remember her looking forward to whatever season was impending.  It makes for a very enjoyable life.

WAKING SLOWLY

By Kathleen Martens

April 20, 2016.

Pungent fragrance of dancing spores,

Set free with heaven’s bounty,

As warmth of sun teases the earth

Tickling and becoming flouncy.

Offering beauty in quiet repose,

Delighting senses to come alive.

Experiencing the miracle of new growth

As nature begins to thrive.

And tiny buds mysteriously appear

Amidst the branches of the oak.

Waking slowly from slumbering rest

Spring has now awoke.

In this area of Wisconsin we usually wait until Mother’s Day weekend to plant our flowers and to begin setting out vegetables.  This year it may need to go one week past Mother’s day since the second Sunday is on May 8^th.  That may be a bit early yet.  Plants such as geraniums and tomatoes need to have nights above 55 degrees before setting out.  After today I am getting the “bug” to hurry up and have spring get here.  Maybe because I have already enjoyed three weeks of spring in several different states.

Thank You Lord for the beautiful seasons that You have designed.

Thank You God for the Robin I saw today!

Thank You too for the poem I wrote today.  I like it!

Thank You God that you have given me eyes to see all the wonder you place on my path every single day.

Thank You God that I too FEEL THE BEAUTY THAT SURROUNDS ME.

Thank You Lord for my refrigerator.

Thank You for sweet potatoes.

Thank You for warm water to shower in.

Thank You for my washing machine and my dryer.

Thank You for the aroma of the earth after a spring rain.  It reminds me of You.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.  I HOPE YOU TOO TAKE TIME TO ENJOY ALL THE BEAUTY THAT GOD PLACES IN YOUR PART OF THE WORLD.  STOP AND TAKE TIME TO REALLY SEE WHAT IS AROUND YOU.

Tuesday April 19 2016  HOME AGAIN!  

There is nothing quite like walking into my house after having been gone for several weeks.  It is always a relief to know that our house is still intact.  There is just so much that can happen when someone is gone.  It was quiet and empty when we arrived home and looked just like it did when we left except for the big box of mail and newspapers that had been carefully stacked by our caretakers.  Not a dirty dish in the sink and the bathrooms were clean.  What more could I ask for?

After arriving home we emptied the car of absolutely everything, dispersed it to the correct rooms, I finished my blog, published it without having proofed it, and was in bed by midnight.  I slept until 9:00 a.m. this morning.  I left strict instructions on my blog to not call me today as I had some major plans! 

Sunday at church when the minister spoke about money there was a guest video speaker that told how she was able to get out of debt.  She had thousands of dollars of college debt that was hanging over her head.  It weighed her down and she prayed.  She felt God was calling her to get rid of her debt as soon as possible.  Once she found a job she lived on one paycheck a month and the other paycheck she received was paid toward the principle of her loan.  In eight months she paid off her entire school loan.  She told about how concentrated and frugal she had to be.  She decided to do it that way so she would have much suffering for a short period of time, rather than have the cloud of debt affecting her for the next twenty years or so.  She decided she would rather have much pain for a short period of time instead of protracted pain over a longer period of time.

So…that is what I decided to do with the debt of too much stuff hanging around.  I decided to tackle my clutter debt all in one day instead of walking around it for the next two weeks.  I decided to tackle it head on and have everything back to order before I went to bed tonight.  Stuff undone just seems to rob me of time later as I hunt for what I can’t find because it wasn’t put away.  I determined to work nonstop until everything (and I mean everything) was done.  Clutter robs me of time and mental comfort later on.  I did not want to be hunting for clothes, only to have them still waiting to be laundered.  I wanted every single item in its rightful place.  Even the suitcase and bags are already put away.

I started with the laundry.  We decided to wash absolutely everything we took with us.  Dave has very sensitive skin and somewhere along the way something caused him to break out in a very horrible skin rash where his shirts touched him on his upper arms.  They are the same clothes he always wears but we used different detergents at each house we visited.  Because it wasn’t over his entire body we did not think it was a food allergy.  Many foods affect him with allergic reactions as well.  So, to be on the safe side we used our “normal” detergent, did a double rinse on each load and we hope that will help him heal.  I can’t even tell you how many loads of wash I have done today.  That is the one thing that I am still working on as I type this due to the time it takes each load.  I have had the washer and dryer going all day long. 

I still have one other task to finish before going to bed.  I decided to blog first and then do my final so I can settle down in a comfortable place and take my time doing it.  Dave went through the mail and took out all the time sensitive materials, bills, bank statements, that sort of thing.  He relegated the rest of the mail to me.  A lot will be political propaganda (of which I will probably make bookmarks out of), advertisements, junk mail (of which we shred anything with our name on it), and newspapers.  I can probably go through it in one hour or so.  And then I will have paid off my time debt by getting everything back to order in one day instead of walking around it for several days.  Life gets busy for me and sometimes it is all I can do to get everything done that needs to be done on each given day.

What was really wonderful last night was to be able to set out a couple of jars of soup from the freezer so we would have food to eat today.  Dave picked it out after I went to bed and set it in the sink to defrost for today.  Earlier today I picked out frozen grains made earlier in the year and meatloaf I froze before we left town.  We felt as if we had a feast for a king!  I love eating our summer bounty in the winter.  Yes, it is still winter here.  Dave and I have been three weeks acclimated to a warmer clime and now to return to this cold rainy weather, we must again acclimate to the lower temperatures.  Sort of cruel if you ask me.

These past three weeks have been a wonderful experience for Dave and me.  It has been a long time since we have had a chance to take a trip such as this.  I guess this trip was actually a vacation.  Everyone we visited treated us so special.  We had beautiful rooms to stay in, our own bathrooms, delicious healthy food to eat, and we had opportunity of new places to explore.  We had great conversations, wonderful church experiences, and felt safe and secure in the comfort of our friends’ homes.  And all the places we stayed had wonderful dogs to enjoy.  What more could we ask for?  I only wish we could see these friends more often.  And that includes Rebecca and Neil.  We see them as two of our very favorite and special friends.  Yes, we will always be Rebecca’s parents, but our relationship is now more on the “friend” level.  One thing that is so special to us in our later years is having two wonderful children and their spouses as our friends.  I just wish we had more opportunities to spend time together.  What makes it even more exceptional is having two more little people added in our lives that we consider to be very special friends in the making!  And when I say they are “special”, I truly mean they are SPECIAL in a big way!

The dryer is calling.  Time to put in another load of laundry and hang the clothes that are now dry.   

TRUE FREEDOM

By Kathleen Martens

April 19, 2016

Debt comes in all kinds of forms

Money is what one thinks the norm.

Too much to do can also be debt,

When our obligations are not met.

Or our obligation can be to health,

That one commodity our greatest wealth.

To abuse the physical costs a great price

When it is food or alcohol that is our vice.

We must always pay back that which we borrow

Because unintended consequences show up tomorrow.

Be it too much that we may eat

All the costs we will someday meet

If it is money the interest will accrue

If it is time we’ll have too much to do.

If it is bad choices that take our health,

We will be robbed of our most precious wealth.

So chose today and tackle what you owe,

Do that which is right so you will know

That you owe not one penny to another,

So in unending debt you will not smother.

Use your time wisely to do what must be done.

Get today’s work finished before the set of sun.

Do not borrow tomorrow’s wealth for today’s pleasure,

For it is your health that is your greatest treasure.

So search your life and get rid of all debt.

Live all aspects without the fret.

Give it a try to experience liberty

TRUE FREEDOM, IS LIVING DEBT FREE.

Lord, thank You for the food You provide for me every day.

Thank You God for granite.

Thank You for giving talent to men to create beautiful buildings.

Thank You for all the materials of this earth that You have provided for man to create beautiful things.

Thank You Lord for Your Living Word.

Thank You for my peeling knife.

Thank You God that I can still peel an apple.

Thank You God for apples.

Thank You God for prunes!  You just thought of everything!

GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE!  I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HOME!  As much as I enjoy traveling, my favorite place to be in the world is at home with the man of my dreams.  Do you realize how fortunate I am to have lived with the man of my dreams for the past 43 years?  When I think of him I still tingle inside! 

P.S.

Thank You God for my home. 

P.S.S.

AND GOD BLESS YOU!

Monday April 18,2016  OUR JOURNEY HOME

The last day on the road and we are literally traveling on the highway as I write.  It has been quite difficult to have time to write the last few days as each day was jam-packed with activities.  In my mind I wrote much more than I accomplished on my blogs.  I wrote when I was so tired that I actually fell asleep sitting up at the computer with my fingers still poised over the keyboard.  So today I am writing in the car while Dave is driving.  I am awake!

My alarm went off at 5:45 a.m.  We left the Airbnb a bit after 7:30 a.m. and arrived at the Kentucky capitol building in Frankfort by 8:38 a.m.  The drive was spectacular.  The road was two lanes, very narrow from side to side and had a stone wall along each side.  The kind of stones that are stacked without mortar.  And to top it off, the road was extremely curvy and tree lined.  Very early spring growth, vivid green, and the purple and white blooms of the dogwood trees decorated the picturesque drive.  I was at the wheel so I did not have any chance of taking photos.  The surrounding land was horse country.  There were beautiful mansions surrounded by lush lawns and long, tree line driveways.  Beautiful stables dotted the area.  They looked like buildings I wouldn’t mind living in.  Large, spacious and aesthetically designed.  As I was driving around a sharp bend I was so surprised to suddenly see the most spectacular view of the Kentucky capitol building.  I had no idea is was around the curve, nestled among a thicket of trees.  The capitol was tucked neatly on a rise with huge circles of yellow and red tulips leading up to the magnificent structure.

If you read my blog a few days ago about the simple elegance of the West Virginia’s capitol in Charleston then you will understand when I tell you that this capitol holds a tie in its design and grandeur.  The Charleston building was by no means modest in its architecture but it held a quiet reverence of such magnitude that I felt as if I was on holy ground when I walked into it.  The capitol building in Frankfort was every bit as well designed and elegant but with a grand extravagance of not just space, but of color and detail and boldness.  Beauty such as these two buildings feed my soul.  It causes me to wonder what it will be like in heaven surrounded by the glory and beauty of who God is, and all He has designed in His heaven, for His children to enjoy.  I truly do not know how people cannot crave to have their eyes filled with such awesome works of art.  And I don’t mean paintings.  The buildings themselves are the art of which I speak.  It’s sort of like a wonderful feast, but it is through your eyes that your soul is fed.

Being that I am in the car I do not have access to any of my reference material of places I’ve been the past few days so I must tell you about some places we have been without remembering their correct names.  On Saturday after we left Carole’s home we drove to the Charleston West Virginia Capital.  It did not take a lot of time to view the rest of the capitol as it is mostly a working building housing hundreds of state workers.  The main attraction there was the architecture and the rotunda.  The building is huge and has 535,000 square feet under its roof.   We spent most of our time there in a building across from the capitol which houses THE CULTURE CENTER.  There was a museum in the basement that led one on a journey through time in West Virginia history.  We had so little time and there was so much to see that I had to hurry through it.  I would love to go back and spend a couple of days there.  The displays were amazing and creatively displayed each decade going back to when the land was first occupied by the native inhabitants and then by the white man.  The path through the museum was one way, very winding, and was made up of many small rooms displaying a timeline with a certain theme. 

It is mind boggling to realize how much there is to see in this vast country.  It could easily become a lifetime pursuit and there would still be more to see.  Everywhere I go there are so many interesting exhibits that have been prepared for public display.  I have found that a bit of internet research will open up doors of opportunity.  There is always way more to see than for which I have time.  No matter how long the trip, time runs out before the exhibits do.  The more I experience and see, the more I desire to explore and learn. 

Dave and I are seriously thinking of planning a “TRIP WITHOUT PLANS”.  We will need a time frame so we will remember to come home, but other than that we will drive back roads, stop when we want, drive deeper into the unknown, and figure out where we plan to stay the night as we need the lodging.  Many Airbnb facilities have same day reservations available.  We have even discussed choosing three states and renting a place to stay for one month in each space and using it as our home base to come and go and so see all the sights within driving distance of the cabin, apartment, or Airbnb, or whatever it is we rent.  We’d love to go to Maine, Vermont and perhaps New Hampshire in late a late summer going into early fall.  Does anyone have any suggestions of a state with recommendations of what would be fun to explore.

Lord willing, we will be home tonight.  We are thankful for beautiful clear weather, sunshine, and beautiful sights to view along the way.  And it is fun eating up all the food we have left.  Our snacks consisted of sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes, cauliflower, cheese, crackers, prunes and apple slices.  It was all the courtesy of Carole fixing us a care-bag to eat along the way.  Later in the day we ate the yogurt she sent, more cheese, and I ate a bran muffin.  We still have oranges, more yogurt, and grapes.  I think we will probably need to stop for a protein meal for Dave, as an extremely balanced diet is a must for him, as it should be for all of us. The foods I described above are the kinds of foods I ate all across the country as I traveled last year.  On that trip I stopped at only one fast food place during the entire four months and that was on the next to the last day before I came home.  I stopped for a subway chicken sandwich.  And it was good!  We stopped several times along the way on this trip.

I JUST CLICK “SEND”

By Kathleen Martens

April 18m 2016

Such a peace to be heading home

With my computer and little IPhone.

Writing my blog and getting it done

And posting my photos is quite fun.

But alas, there is much yet to do

As it must be proofed to be able to view.

And sometime, I must confess,

My proofing I sometimes rue.

Please have compassion on what I write

Often I’m tired and my day is spent.

But I am never satisfied until it is done,

I wish for perfection when it is sent.

Just so you know I am never perfect,

So I just click “SEND” and off it goes,

Misspellings and grammar, punctuation and all

And I just hope, no one knows.

Lord, thank You opening the opportunity for me to see the Frankfort Capitol building today.

Lord, thank You for licorice.

Jesus, thank You for loving me today.

Thank You for the Airbnb we stayed in.

Thank You God for the opportunity to meet Sarah and Nicholas.

Thank You for trip ticks.

Thank You God for the color green.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.

P.S.   We arrived home about 8:45 p.m. central time.  Actually for us it felt like 9:45 p.m.  Must go as I would like to publish this now that I have WiFi.

NOT YET PROOF READ

Sunday Sabbath April 17 2016  LAY UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN

Matthew 6:19-21:

¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

This morning’s sermon was a good reminder of what this verse really means.  Through a roundabout way we ended up at the church I had picked out on the internet to attend.  Our google maps was taking us to satellite campus miles away from where we were staying when we happened to go by the very church we wanted to attend and was able to circle around and get in the parking lot.  Last night I listened to several bits of sermons online from local churches.  One pulled me end because of the few words the pastor spoke, as if there was a reason we were to be there.  And…we ended up there.  I had no idea of the size of church it was.

It was quite an eye opener when we realized the church we wanted to attend was the reason the highway had police officers blocking off traffic so parishioners could come and go from the parking lot during transition time of services.  We were attending the 11:15 a.m. service and the early service was exiting as we were caught in the traffic jam.  The side of the building complex had the word “SOUTHERLAND” on it.  I thought it was a business.  I was wrong. 

The main auditorium seats 3,000 and the auxiliary auditorium seats 1,000.  There is a 9:00 a.m. service with the smaller auditorium running ten minute delay behind the large auditorium time frame.  There are also three other satellite buildings out in the community that seat about 1,000 each and the service is also relayed to that area.  Each auditorium has its own live worship team.  There is also an 11:15 service.  We attended the later service and the 3,000 seat auditorium was about 2/3 occupied.  The worship team was awesome and the songs were beautiful songs of praise and adoration to the Lord. 

We wondered a bit if the service was to be focused on the prosperity principles that so many large churches seems to focus on.  I personally would not choose to attend a prosperity focused church.  The announcer told the church that today’s message would be about MONEY.  Uh oh I thought, what did we get ourselves into.

The pastor began his sermon with the verse above, capsulized that he would be talking about money and our stewardship of what the Lord has given us.  This sermon was the final sermon in a series about dealing with the number “7” in the Biblical sense.  He message was to remind his congregation that God does not want us in debt but rather to live in freedom.  He actually gave several different scenarios of how to break the habit of debt, and how to get free from the bondage of debt so we can live in a place of freedom where God can use us for His purpose.  He gave so many excellent scriptures and challenged his church family to seriously attack the debt they have. 

I could go into depth about his sermon but I think it would be a better experience if you heard it from his sermon that will be online at:  www.southlandchristian.org   It will be on today’s date, April 17, 2016.

One more comment about the sermon.  I do know that Dave and I were supposed to be at Southland Christian Church today.  I was blessed by the worship, learned things to share through the sermon, and we have already put into play one of directives Pastor Jon Weece spoke of this morning.  I will not go into details except to say, that there is great satisfaction when we allow God to direct our steps.

After today, yesterday seems so far past.  This was to be our day of rest and we have been busy every single moment.  Lexington is a beautiful place and we had lots of plans.  God had other plans.  Like Proverbs says:  “Man makes his plans, but God directs his steps”.  What we had planned didn’t seem to materialize but in the course of this day, we have placed our treasures in heaven rather than in the memories we thought we would carry home.

And now back to yesterday, that long ago time.  What a great day it was.  We left Carole and David’s place early and arrived in Charleston, West Virginia by 1:00 p.m.  We viewed the capitol, met six beautiful ballerinas while we were touring and I had a chance to take some pictures for them with their camera equipment.  They were so young, vibrant and full of life.  It always blesses me to be around young people who are excited about living and who look forward to their dreams and plans coming to fruition.  I asked if any one of them had some wisdom for the world and if so, what would it be?  No one would speak up.  Finally one of the moms with the group chose one to speak.  Her name was Riana, from the Augusta Youth Ballet Company, and here are her words:

“Don’t let the state you’re from define you or if you think it’s bad, it’s great, because it could be small, it could be big. West Virginia is just as good as California.” 

Riana had returned recently from Washington DC where the kids from smaller states were made to fell “less than” those who lived in a larger state.  Riana had some good insight about her situation while there.  She realized that the group she was in appeared to be the nicest of them all and did not look down on others because of where they came from.  Kudos to you Riana!  It is the “big man” who does not belittle others to make himself look better.  As the saying goes, “Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you”.  You’ve learned that lesson well.  I admire you and all your friends.  You were all a great bunch of young women.  By the way, you are always welcome in my state of Wisconsin!  Even more so, in my home should you ever come to Madison’s state capitol building.  Get in touch with me through my blog and we’ll make contact.  Who knows, if you have a place to go, perhaps you’ll have a reason to go there.  Look forward to hearing from you or any in your group!

I will include some photos of the ballet group as well as the capitol.  I also put a few others in.  One is from the Black Dog Salvage Market.  Supposedly a famous place.  I only just heard of it.  It was spectacular when it comes to antiques and collectables.  Only wish I had had more time to spend there.

There are so many things to tell about the last three days but no time and I must get to bed.

PLEASE DON’T CALL…

UNTIL WEDNESDAY

By Kathleen Martens

April 17, 2016

Too much to tell

In just a short blog.

Even if it’s concise

It is still too long.

The night is late,

Morning comes soon.

Must get to sleep

So tomorrow I’ll not swoon.

The last long day

Of our wonderful trip.

All done by car,

Not plane or ship.

Just PRETEND I’m not home

For the first full day.

We’ve so much to do

Instead of talk or play.

Do not drop in or even call,

Till Wednesday comes ‘round.

Because if you do

I will no where be found!

It is really a year

Which I will need

But after Tuesday

Your phone calls I’ll heed.

Lord, thank you for coconut yogurt.

Thank You Lord for plenty of food to eat.

Thank You Lord for gasoline for my car.

Thank You Lord for sisters.

Thank You Lord for my husband.

Thank You Lord for knives.

Thank You Lord that You speak to me.

Thank You Lord for perseverance.

Thank You Lord for ball point pens.

Are any of you out there in blog land remembering to tell the Lord thank you for the things you have and can do?

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.