Friday May 13 2015  A LOOK BACK AT MY DREAMS

As I look back over the last few years it is apparent to me that a lot of things in my life have changed.  I’ve experienced health issues, surgeries, retirement, traveling around the country solo, toured many gardens, done a lot of cooking, scheduled in a few free days, read many books, written several songs, cleaned out my drawers, purged some of my house-clutter, done a lot of writing, done a lot of praying, and walked many miles on the treadmill.  But one thing hasn’t changed.  I have never yet been bored!

Today was another decluttering day.  While going through piles of old papers I came across a few things I wanted to save and file in certain places.  One place I wanted to stick something was in a journal written in October 2010.  As the journal opened up to one of the last pages I noticed a poem I had written.   I read it through and it made me smile.  Like I’ve said before, after I write a poem and then type it up to stick in my journal I very rarely ever read them again.  I think I was meant to see this one today.  It spoke to my heart and as I thought about it I realized that many of the different things I wrote about have actually come true.  I will include the poem here.  After I read it once more I hopefully will be inspired to write a poem about today.  I hope you enjoy it.

 

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS I’D RATHER DO

By Kathleen Martens

October 16, 2010

 

There are so many things I’d rather do

Than that which must be done.

So many tasks, some old some new,

But I’d rather have some fun.

 

Fun for me might not be

What others might delight.

Just to have a day that’s free

To go and fly a kite.

 

To wander in the woods below

And pick a wild flower.

To stop and sit when I feel slow

And dawdle by the hour.

 

Read a book, write a song,

Think hard and reach the sky.

Pray on my knees where I belong

And let my soul soar high.

 

Or go and visit a dear friend

And help her with her task.

Reach out to others and help them mend

And do what they may ask.

 

I’d write a poem and type it up,

Finish the book I daily write.

Drink some tea from my special cup

And only do what’s right.

 

I’d cook a meal to give away

And then take it to someone,

And give no thought to the time of day,

And lift my face to the sun.

 

All my drawers I’d like to clean

And walk down memory lane.

Polish my windows to a sheen

And hang my portraits in lovely frames.

 

Maybe even watch Glenn Beck,

Get caught up on all his shows.

Were days no longer a scattered wreck,

I’d have time to take a doze.

 

I would sit and sing a song of praise

And dance before my God.

Then quietly in his presence laze

And he would not even think it odd.

 

I’d take a drive on a country road

And revel in the beauty I see.

And soon I’d be free of my heavy load,

If all my days were free.

 

I don’t think I could ever be bored,

There are so many things undone.

All day long it would be me and my Lord

And together we’ve have some fun.

 

Just to have time to play with trains

On the floor with my little Zach.

My little grandson with such brains

Who loves to lay the tracks.

 

To lie next to the man of my life

Who is the extension of my very being.

And just talk and talk throughout the night

Feeling His love so freeing.

 

I’d go visit my children, for I’d have the time,

And make a nuisance of myself.

And find a word for this line to rhyme

And perhaps even clean a shelf.

 

I’d take my camera and see the world

From the view of my lens.

Beautiful images I’d unfurl

And capture my every whim.

 

I’d do my scrapbook late into the night

And have fun until time for bed.

Creating pages of beautiful sights

For my kids to enjoy when I’d dead.

 

I’d never ever run out of things

That I would like to do.

Not enough hours a day brings,

My hours are always too few.

 

Today my fun is but a dream

That someday will come true.

So I’ll settle for a bowl of ice cream

Then on the treadmill I’ll pay my due.

 

When I wrote the above poem I was in the throes of photography and had absolutely no life.  The only time I had to myself was when I shut myself in my quiet place to be with the Lord and wrote in my journal and created a poem.  My time with the Lord was how I kept my sanity.  At that time in my life I could not do one thing except work.  But now it is different.

 

AND I LOVE IT!

 

AND I LOVE IT

By Kathleen Martens

May 13, 2016

 

Six years later life is different

From what it was back then.

And oh am I ever so glad.

I’m happier than I’ve ever been.

 

No babies to raise, no diapers to do,

And no school bells to ring.

All the graduation parties are over

And now my heart can sing.

 

I loved my life all the way through,

Each phase was as it should be.

But when the last kid moved away,

It was the first time I ever felt free.

 

That is, until my passion rose

And the camera lens became my eye.

It seemed to open new horizons

As if I had grown wings to fly.

 

But it too was finally long enough

And once again I wanted to land.

It seemed to take my life away,

My time not mine to command.

 

Now I am just where I should be,

Older, and hopefully wiser too.

And my goal is to enjoy each year,

Whether many years or few.

 

I still have many tasks ahead

In order to get things done.

I plan to do them all

As well as have some fun.

 

My desires are no longer a dream

Because many have already come true.

And I’m still never, ever bored

Because hours are still too few.

 

Just not enough time in one day

When I can squeeze everything in.

And I know tomorrow never comes

For it has no hours to lend.

 

Thank You God for all the dreams You have helped me fulfill.

Thank You for bringing that poem to my attention today. 

Thank You for opening my eyes to all the possibilities that lie before me.

Thank You too Lord for the energy and stamina to get so much done today.

Thank You Lord for all the wonderful memories I am uncovering as I declutter.

Thank You for the joy you put in my heart.

Thank You for shredders.

Thank You for entire days at home.

Thank You Lord for my journals.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

 

P.S.  Thank You God that I am never bored!