Written Thursday July 21 2016  THE WORD OF GOD

Published Friday July 22 2016

 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK?

By Kathleen Martens 

July 21, 2016

 

There’s nothing quite like

My most favorite book.

But when asked the title,

My favorite book I forsook.

 

You see today I was asked

What was my favorite read,

And I was at a loss

As to what one indeed.

 

Only to realize later

That there is only one that matters

And one copy I had

I used unto tatters.

 

And years ago I searched

For another that would do,

And the one I found

Fit like a perfect shoe.

 

So now when I’m asked

On any old day,

I will know exactly

Which title to say.

 

“What is your favorite book?” That question was asked of me today and since I have read so many books I could not come up with an answer.  And then later today as I randomly opened up a journal on my desk from 2010 of which I am currently using as manuscript material for the book I am compiling, it opened up to a poem.  Curious, I couldn’t help but read it and then it dawned on me that I truly do have an all time favorite title. 

I was looking for inspiration as to what to write tonight with so little time.  Even when my time is short I feel compelled to write for the sole purpose of opening the gift that God has waiting for me each evening.  And that gift, is the gift I return to God, as I write a poem dedicated with thanksgiving for His gift to me.  The gift God gave me was to instill in me my love for writing from the time I knew how to print.   One day I asked God why He had given me such a gift.  He impressed upon me that He had placed that gift in me because He knew it would give me comfort.  And it did.  It placed a peace and calm inside the heart of a troubled little girl.  And as an older woman, it still does.  There is just once difference, I am no longer troubled. When God instills peace, it lasts forever.

Below are two poems from the past about the topic of the poem above.  I hope you enjoy them.

 

My Friend

By Kathleen Martens

July 11, 2010

 

I’ve had a friend

For so many years,

We’ve spent hours and hours together

And I’ve shed some tears.

 

This friend of mine

Had lots to say

About life and sorrow

And was with me every day.

 

We travelled together,

Slept in the same bed.

I listened to her wisdom

As I lay down my head.

 

When I had questions

I sought her out,

And with such patience

She spoke without a shout.

 

She had lessons for me,

Instructions for so many things.

All I had to do was search

And the answer she’d always bring.

 

She told me how

To live my life.

How best to behave

To have no strife.

 

We sat together

By the hour

And when I was weak

She gave me power.

 

I learned wisdom

At her knee.

Her lessons unending

And always free.

 

When I sought knowledge,

Understanding she gave.

She taught me how

God’s love will save.

 

I know her well,

Quote from her words.

And I tell others

Who have not heard.

 

But now my friend

Is tattered and worn.

I must be careful

So she will not be torn.

 

I must leave her,

Put her on the shelf.

And though I’ll miss her,

I’ll not be by myself.

 

For a new relationship

Now I will start.

And my new friend

I’ll love from my heart.

 

It will take awhile

To break her in,

But her teaching is true,

She knows about sin.

 

She won’t be marked up

Like my last friend,

Not for awhile

Like she’ll be in the end.

 

I know we’ll share

Joy, tears and sorrow,

And my new friend

 Will be in all my tomorrows.

 

My new Bible,

My new friend.

I hope I can live long enough,

To wear her out again.

 

And now for the final poem.

 

My New Friend

By Kathleen Martens

August 11, 2010

 

Today is the birthday

Of my new friend.

Hand in hand

The world we’ll fend.

 

She’s not my color,

But a warm dark brown.

Smooth and beautiful,

I brought her from town.

 

I dressed her up

In smooth black leather

To cover her over

To withstand the weather.

 

I’ll cherish her

For as long as I live,

And then to my son

My friend I will give.

 

I’m acquainted with her,

She is one of a kind.

I searched very hard

The right friend to find.

 

Though I know,

She has yet to know me,

Soon my presence she’ll feel

And then she will see.

 

When I wake each day

I’ll run to her side

And together we’ll sit

And for a time abide.

 

I’ll listen to her words

As I read along,

Stories and parables

And the beautiful Psalms.

 

I’ll mark her up

So I can remember the verses.

She’ll teach me how to live

And stay away from curses.

 

I’ll take her to church

And hold her on my knee

As I caress her pages

And read of salvation free.

 

Today is her birthday!

Remembered in my heart

That today is the day

Our life journey we start.

 

My new Bible,

God’s Holy Word.

Inspired Words of God

I’ve already heard.

 

But I always find

Understanding and support

In the loving pages

And God’s comfort.

 

We’ll stay together

My friend and I

Until my spirit takes wings

And off I fly.

 

I hope I live long enough

For my friend to wear out!

And that’s a long time,

For she’s made stout!

 

Thank You Lord for memory.

Thank You Lord for Your Living Word.

Thank You Father that You have set before me a path of righteousness.

Thank You for being the lamp unto my feet and a light for my path.

Thank You God for Pastor Andrew and his question that made me realize what book is truly my favorite book!

Thank You for taste buds.

Thank You for peaches.

Thank You for our grandsons who will spend the night with us tonight!

 

HAVE A GREAT DAY!  AND GOD BLESS YOU!

 

P.S.  This blog was primarily written yesterday, July 21, 2016.  Our electricity never did go entirely off but I could not take any chances of using the computer in such a lightning storm.

 

Tuesday July 19 2016  A HEART OF GRATITUDE

I am so full of topics to write about.  They just all came flooding into my heart as I sat down.  My one problem however is that I have absolutely no time.  One reason is because I am extremely hungry and I don’t function well when I get past a certain point.  After I fix and eat dinner I will be down for the count because of the grueling schedule I have maintained the past several days.  And this is after the great sermon I heard on Sunday that supposedly was to influence me to change my life.  I am working on it.   Just to inform you, one of the changes I’m planning on doing is to write less each day so I can accomplish more work on the books I am hoping to publish.  My goal is to at least have one ready for the printer before December.  It will be self published. 

So, since I spoke about being hungry, that will be the topic of my poem.  Let’s see what appears at my fingertips.

 

OPEN OUR HEARTS LORD

By Kathleen Martens

July 19, 2016

 

Lord, let the words not cross my lips,

“I’m so hungry, I’m starving to death.”

I have never experienced such plight

That lack of food would rob me of breath.

 

Remind me Lord of the hungry and dying

Who are indeed suffering hunger’s pain,

That I would reach out with resources

That others receive health and gain.

 

Let me never take for granted

What you provide day by day.

Give me opportunity Father

To help another along their way.

 

Open my heart and pocket book

To do even the small part I can,

For all my bounty comes from You

So I can help another man.

 

Let not a day pass me by

That I not utter my thanks to You,

For every bite that goes in my mouth

Refreshes my life anew.

 

Not once have I ever felt the dilemma

Of a stomach so empty I’m dying.

Nor have I ever listened

To a starving child crying.

 

Thank You for my daily bread

That I would understand the plight of another

So I never miss an opportunity to extend

What You desire me to do for others.

 

Lord, thank You for my sustenance each day.

Thank You for allowing me to be born in a land of opportunity.

Thank You Lord that our country was founded on You and You have blessed the United States of America.

Thank You that I can go outside and pick a sun-warmed, fresh tomato to eat.

Thank You for water.

 

My prayer for today:

Father, thank You for the outpouring of Your bountiful blessing on this country I live in.

Lord, I ask that you will have mercy on our country for turning its back on the very foundation on which it was founded.  I pray that you will turn the heart of our country to continue its support of Israel so that Your blessing will not be removed from the greatest country on earth.  Thank You for all the food that we, as a country produce, and Lord forgive us for being so wasteful.

I thank You Father for Your creation of such an array of amazing food that You created for our enjoyment.  May we never neglect to partake of it without A HEART OF GRATITUDE.

 

“Genesis 12: 1-3

 Now the Lord had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
² I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
³ I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” “

 

GOOD NIGHT AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR COUNTRY.  GOD BLESS YOU TOO!

Monday July 18 2016  WHAT WOULD THE WORLD BE LIKE…

Do you ever have days that do not go as planned?  Or maybe I should rephrase the question, do you ever have days that DO go as planned?  Sunday Sabbath is usually a laid back, semi-unplanned day.  I never lack for things to do so I am usually just as busy on a Sunday as I am any other day except I do not go and work out for two hours. 

Yesterday I had a different plan.  I decided to work on photos so I could get all the post production work accomplished before a family needs them for their infant’s funeral.  I started about 1:30 p.m. and due to the size of the project I did not get to bed until 1:00 a.m.  Yes, I know I could have stopped at any time,  but I so wanted to have them completed before I retired for the night.  I did not want to be facing a Monday with so much work to do.  Well, I did it but I also suffered with great fatigue today.  Though I don’t want to admit it, I do think that my aging is catching up with me.  Maybe I should start running a little faster.  Or, maybe I should just slow down and act my age!

Remember the question I asked, “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?”  Do we ever get to the point when we really think of ourselves as old?  My spirit is eternal, and since my spirit is as young today as it will continuously be throughout eternity, and I view myself from the inside out, I experience myself as eternally young (that is, until I look in the mirror).  The way I think of it, I live in a beautiful place.

And the thing about my beautiful place is that it is only beautiful because God made it that way.  And thankfully, He comes into my secret quiet space and sanctifies it each and every day.  I am not perfect and never will be until I am transformed in His presence.  Until then He loves me, forgives me when I stumble, fills me with joy, purifies my thoughts, instills His peace within me, and refreshes me as His River of Life flows in and through me.  And my heart overflows with gratitude for His grace and mercy. 

Life is not always a piece of cake.  I both see and experience pain and sorrow.  I see the destruction taking place in lives around me and I know the world, so to speak, is going to Hell in a hand basket.  It sorrows me and gives me impetus to share more love to those who are in pain and suffering.  But most of all, it spurs me on to reach the lost who are actually on the road to a real Hell.  How someone CANNOT believe that God is real is totally beyond my understanding.  I have seen and experienced so many miracles, miracles that others might consider nothing more than coincidences.  I have experienced the renewing of my mind and the cleansing of my soul.  I have been filled with His joy.  And my heart grieves with the heart of God for those who hear and turn away in unbelief. 

If you do not have a personal experience with God, the creator of the universe, He stands at the door and knocks for you to let Him in.  God’s Son, Jesus gave His life on the cross, spilled His blood to atone for your sins and all you must do is invite Him to come into your heart by asking for forgiveness and He will receive you into the family of God.  It doesn’t necessarily mean that life will be a bed of roses from that point on, but it will mean that He will be with you continuously and will abide in you and give you a beautiful place that is made beautiful because you have invited God in.  You too can receive a renewing of the mind.  You too will feel the love He pours into you and He will forgive you when you stumble.  He will fill you with joy, purify your thoughts and instill His peace within you, which is above and beyond what you can even imagine.  And that is just the beginning.

 

WHAT WOULD THE WORLD BE LIKE

By Kathleen Martens

July 18, 2016

 

Just think what the world would be like

If Jesus was never born.

There would be no salvation plan

In a world full of scorn.

 

Man would be empty inside.

Our soul would have a deep dark hole

As it chased idols to fill it up,

Yet remaining forever, an empty soul.

 

What would I be like

If Jesus was not in my life?

There would be no eternal hope,

Only great sorrow and strife.

 

So many things would not be present

In the world we live in now,

Without Jesus in my life,

To exist, I wouldn’t know how.

 

A world without Jesus would be different.

He even made our calendar new.

Our centuries are numbered in their sequence

BECAUSE HE SPLIT TIME IN TWO!

 

Time is measured by His birth

Before Christ is B.C.

And calculated after His birth

THE YEAR OF OUR LORD; Ano Domini.

Luke 2:10-11 

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Lord, thank You that You did come into this world 2,016 years ago.

Thank You that You brought hope to sinful world.

Thank You God for being my redeemer.

Thank You too for being the lifter of my head.

Thank You for Your forgiveness.

And Thank You God that though You are the King of kings, you are also my Lord.

Lord, thank You for warm running water.

GOOD NIGHT.  GOD BLESS YOU.

 

 

Sunday Sabbath July 17 2016  WHAT RULES YOUR TIME?

We had an excellent sermon today at church about THE DEMANDS OF TIME.  It was presented by a guest speaker named Brian White.  He began his message by talking about the kinds of idols people allow into their lives.  These “idols” are not statues or carvings that you worship, but rather the things to which we give our time.  He used as an example, the ubiquitous electronics we use, such as the smart phone.  That was just one example but it is the example I would like to expound upon. 

THE SMART PHONE.  I did not want one.  I did not buy one.  My little flip phone was all I needed because I did not use cell phone other than for an emergency.  Last year before I left on my long trip Dave wanted to be able to track my itinerary through our phone.  So Dave bought a new one and I took his old iPhone with me.  And wouldn’t you know it, about a month into the trip it died.  It was plumb dead!  I took it to the Apple store and believe it or not they could not restore it, fix it, or even restore my photos. 

At the time of the untimely death of my iPhone I later realized that God had it all worked out, especially the timing.  I wasn’t upset about losing the use of the phone, but sad to think that the thousand or so photos I had take on it during the first few weeks of my trip were lost forever.  I arrived at my next destination in Denver Colorado and wouldn’t you know it, my friend’s husband is a guru in the electronic world.  During the few days I was there he had somehow finagled his way into the depths of my phone, extracted all files, saved them somewhere in the sky (or wherever I Cloud lives), and I purchased a new phone.  Somehow he retrieved, backed up, stored, and then retrieved all my data and inserted it into my new phone.  It took days.  Way too complicated for me to understand, think about, or repeat.  The bad part was, I had now invested in a phone that cost more than some televisions, bought a two year contract just in case it was damaged, and for the first time, I felt like I should figure out how to use it more than for just a camera.  So I did.

The more I learned, the more I liked it.  The more I liked it, the bigger the mistake it was for me to own it.  I could take photos easily and quickly, email, text, listen to electronic books, listen to sermons, surf the web, ask Siri every question I could think of, and I had a GPS at my fingertips.  And the more I used it, the more I was drawn into reading lots and lots of interesting things that arrived every day without me even asking.  If I as much as googled a site, I was forevermore inundated with websites dealing with the topic I looked up.  And soon my time was being quietly stolen from me a few minutes more each day.  And when I look back, I realize I wasn’t nearly as addicted to the phone as others are.  I didn’t do face book or twits or twitters or whispers, or whatever else is out there in the cyber world.  I just enjoyed reading the news and about health, and about whatever else interested me.

I wondered, could this little contraption that fit into my pocket be an idol?  I felt as if God was opening my eyes to that very reality.  I tucked the phone away, kept it charged to take with me when I was away from the house, and pretty much quit using it.  Dave and I have agreed to not use the phone at our dining table as we eat breakfast lunch and dinner together most days.  By the time my insurance policy comes up for renewal I believe I will buy another little pocket phone, tuck it in my purse for emergency use, and be rid of the universal idol that our society seems to worship.  I will check my emails through my computer a few times a week and see when my books are due.  Who knows, maybe I’ll even have time to read them before their due date expires.

I have so much more to write about the sermon, but must close as it is already past my bedtime on my Sunday Sabbath.  Stop and take notice of that which demands your time and thus, may keep you from having time to set aside for God.  I notice when I am too busy to take time to be with my Savior, I need to stand back and examine what idols I have in my life. 

 

DEMANDS OF TIME

By Kathleen Martens

July 17, 2016

 

Who is in charge

Of my precious time?

Do I worship the clock

To find hours that are mine?

 

Do I make appointments

And race every where?

Am I constantly running

From here to there?

 

It seems the calendar

Dominates my plans

And I have no moments

With God to stand.

 

The calendar seems to chase me

From God’s presence,

And I lose the intimacy

Of His personal essence.

 

When do I pause

And make the shift

To return to God’s presence

To receive His gifts?

 

His gift of love

And internal peace,

Do I have any hours

In which to cease?

 

Only when I surrender

To my Holy King

Do I then receive

All the gifts He brings.

 

I must consecrate my time,

Throw my idols away,

So I am always aware

That it’s with God I stay.

 

With my calendar in God’s hands,

There’s time to seek His face,

And hours no longer demand

That through life I race.

 

Lord, thank You for opening my eyes to the idols I have allowed into my life.

Thank You God for never giving up on me.

And I thank You Jesus that You forgive me over and over again.

Thank You too Lord for helping me let go of so much of the baggage I have accumulated.

Thank You God for Your perfect peace.

Thank You God for Joy.

Thank You again for cherries.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU

 

 

Saturday July 26 2016  A LONG DAY

Awake this morning at 3:45 a.m.  I would rather wake at 4:00 or 4:30 a.m. but, oh well, my body was awake and rested (I retired last night at 8:20 p.m.) and there was no more sleep in me.  So, early gym, early food shopping, and an early start in the kitchen.  Lots of food prep and refrigerator food maintenance to do due to the fact I was gone most of Thursday on “food day”. 

And now I am wiped!  I await a phone call as I am again needed at the hospital for another Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep photography session.  I promise not to mention them on a routine basis, but I just wanted to let you know why I must again write a short blog.

It still amazes me how little I seem to accomplish in one day compared to a few years ago.  This aging thing is a bit difficult on the he or she who hopes to accomplish what they used to accomplish.  I’m still trying.  I feel good so I believe I can still do it all.  It just seems that every day goes by quicker and thus, it seems I accomplish much less.  I’ll chalk it up to working out at the gym 4 days a week and writing a blog 7 days a week.  Both are time consuming.  Both are activities I enjoy doing and both are activities I NEED to do.  Really?  Yes, for me, both are MY REALLYS. I don’t think “reallys” is an authentic word but it says it all!  My other “really” is reading.  I so crave book reading time and yet only get little snatches here and there.  If I didn’t listen to books on CD in the car I would not even accomplish reading a book anymore.  That has got to change because I have a full library of books I so desperately want to read.

There are many topics I would like to pursue but due to my schedule today I again will write a poem and bid my farewell.

 

ONE OF LIFE’S GREATEST GIFTS

By Kathleen Martens

July 16, 2016

 

Search your heart

And see what you find.

Think of the treasures

You have stored in your mind.

 

If this day finds you

Healthy and strong,

Give praise to God

That you have nothing wrong.

 

If your children squabble

And do things kids do,

Jump for joy

That they are alive with you.

 

And if you are employed

And have food to eat,

Thank God again

For necessities He meets.

 

And if your mind is clear,

And you are thinking sound,

Be ever grateful

That sanity abounds.

 

Take nothing for granted

Regarding common things,

For one of life’s greatest gifts

Is the “ORDINARY” it brings.

 

Thank You Father for all the ordinary in my life.

Thank You Lord that my children are alive and healthy.

Thank You Creator that I am created in Your likeness.

Thank You God for a sound mind and a joyful heart.

Thank You most of all that You love me and that Your love is more than ordinary.

Thank You that I can still cook.

And Thank You too Lord for my health that has been restored these past three years.

Thank You for cauliflower and turnip greens.

Thank You Lord for You!

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday July 15 2016  HEAVEN AWAITS

 

HEAVEN AWAITS

By Kathleen Martens

July 15, 2016

 

Again I come to say hello

Because quickly, I must go.

A day too packed, all with work,

Oh how easy it would be to shirk.

 

But there are those who wait for what I do,

And my hours I so quickly go through.

Do not think me a bleeding heart,

But rather a marksman, hitting the mark.

 

I cannot make happen all my plans

Because of unexpected demands.

So I do first the important things,

And fly about with my butterfly wings.

 

Creating memories for future keepsakes

And now to the hospital I must take.

Heaven still awaits a precious baby boy.

Perhaps these treasures will bring them joy.

 

Thank You God for loving each and every one You create.

GOOD NIGHT FRIENDS.  I venture to call you friends even if I do not know you.  Thank you for your kind comments and responses to my blog.  I write because I love it.  And I enjoy doing it each day because of those who read it.    I PRAY FOR GOD TO BLESS ALL OF YOU!

 

Thursday July 14 2016  A DAY OF PURPOSE

 

A QUIET EVENING

By Kathleen Martens

July 14 2016

 

Sorry gang, no blog today,

Even though I have much to say.

Even though I do believe,

You may be quite relieved!

Especially after yesterday’s “book”

That my readers may have forsook.

 

Today has shortened because its end

Does not allow more words to send.

I’m off and running for a treat,

As a guest, I will eat.

When the kiddos are out of town

We adults don’t mess around.

 

So son and wife and hubby and me

We will play because we’re free.

We will dine at the Ritz

With plenty of places in which to sit.

Two chatter boxes are visiting cousins

And decibel level drops by the dozens.

 

So off we go chat and dine

And our dinner will be just fine

Son and wife diligently cook

Because t this week they’re off the hook.

Two love birds left all alone,

So mom and dad will change the tone.

AND…

A Netflix Movie is on the grids

ONE NOT MADE JUST FOR KIDS!

 

So tonight:

I thank You God for our beautiful grandsons who we will miss very much!

Thank You Father that our own son and daughter-in-law love us enough to give up one of their quiet evenings to be with the “old folks”.

Thank You Lord that I had time to write and say hello to my readers.

Thank You for bananas.

 

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND GOD BLESS YOU.

 

 

Wednesday July 13 2016  GOD’S DESIGNS ARE UNIQUE

 

A RARE FIND

By Kathleen Martens

July 13, 2016

 

We each are different

In our own way.

God’s designs are unique

Each and every day.

 

As new lives are born

Each babe is so pure,

And God places within them

A gift that will endure.

 

A lifetime of searching

Discovering who we are

And using our gifts

To take us far.

 

We are not promised

An easy road

But the Lord promises

To help carry our load.

 

We are not assured

That there will be no pain,

But we can rest assured

It will be for our gain.

 

Become the best you

That you can be.

And I will try to become

The very best me.

 

No matter how different

We are from each other,

We can still reach out

And love one another.

 

God’s amazing creativity

Designed an exclusive YOU!

And no one else in the world

Will touch the lives that you do.

 

So brush off your talent

And hone to perfection,

And perhaps you’ll discover

Your perfect direction.

 

Because we’re unique

And one of a kind.

To the world,

WE ARE EACH A RARE FIND!

 

As we look around, read about, and see firsthand the chaos and destruction of the world around us, it is no wonder that so many people seem to lack joy, especially when terror is instigated by our own citizens toward their fellowman.  How sad is it that people cannot lay down their hate and discrimination, and instead, embrace each individual, showing courtesy, kindness, and respect to all, regardless of color, race, country of origin, or language spoken.  If we as a country cannot even get along with each other, how is it that we can hope for world peace?

Let’s take our relationships to an even closer level.  How is it that parents and children cannot live peacefully under one roof, or husband and wife, or sibling with sibling? Where is the breakdown?  Yes, we are all created uniquely and differently, but should that make us antagonists?

What in our society has failed to instigate us, as a nation, to pull together?  As I look back over the last 60 years of my life I see such a change in our society.  Sixty years ago I was a student in grammar school.  My memories are of orderly classrooms and well behaved children.  In one school that I attended there were no more than three or four non-black children in my classroom.  I don’t remember feeling any discrimination against being one, of two, “white” girls in the room.  I had friends.  I had fun.   I was accepted. 

I remember another school where the ratio of black to white students was reversed.  I don’t ever remember there being any discrimination or dislike of those of another color.  The schools I attended were in the San Francisco Bay area.  We were just little people sitting side by side.  I was the little girl who spent the night at a friend’s house who just happened to be a different color.  Race didn’t seem to matter back then.  Or maybe we were too young to know we were supposed to “hate” each other or think one better than the other.  Actually, I quietly envied her for her beautiful deep black skin.  

I do believe that had I been raised in the south, the place my parents came from, perhaps I would have had a different outlook.  Not because of who I was as a little girl, but because I would have been taught by those I lived close to that we (meaning the whites) were not to mingle with the blacks.  I truly believe that being prejudiced is taught, passed on from one generation to the next.  My father was prejudiced.  My mother was not.  I know now that she fought hard that her kids would not be subjected to our father’s verbiage and attitude against the blacks.  I never was. 

Then the 1960’s reared its head.  And life changed.  If you were alive back then you may remember for yourselves.  If you are younger you may want to talk to some older friends and family members and question them about how it was for them where they lived and how they remember it.  My question is, why has our culture changed so radically since then?  There are so very many different answers which could be given.   My opinion is that it began in 1963 when prayer was taken out of the schools.  As I look back now and read the statistics of all that took place after prayer was removed from schools I realize what a tragic and disheartening event was that fateful day.  I remember it well.  It was big news.  It was the beginning of a great cultural change that reverberates to this day.  I found an informative website when I googled “cultural changes caused by prayer removal from schools”.  I have included a portion of the statistical accounts of some of the negative changes.  If you are interested in reading more please click on the website and read what interests you.  I found it quite amazing.

As I look back over the years I realize that removing prayer from our public forum started our country down a slippery slope.  Removing prayer was like kicking the cornerstone out from under a tall and mighty building.  An integral part of our society was grounded on God and prayer was our communal connection to Him.  

I have more to say but because it is written so succinctly in the article I have included below I will refrain from being redundant.  If you have a chance please connect to the site and read for yourself why our country is in such decline.  And the removal of prayer from our public life is only the tip of the iceberg when you realize the down fall we have experienced in so many cultural changes through new laws that have since gone into effect.

We are all different.  We see the world from a unique parallax.  We each have our own preferences, biases, backgrounds and teachings.  But the one thing we have lost as a country is our solid foundation which was built on God.

Excerpt from the web address:  http://www.inplainsite.org/what_happened_when_the_praying.html

“What Really Caused The Downward Spiral?

In the words of Greg Koukl

…The elimination of the fear of God, symbolized by the Supreme courts actions in the matter of school prayer, led to a dramatic increase in crime, venereal disease, premarital sex, illiteracy, suicide, drug use, public corruption, and other social ills. This documented by Specialty Research Associates, under the direction of David Barton, that has released a report entitled America: To Pray or Not to Pray. Below are just a few of the examples featured in Barton’s report.

1. Young People
2. For 15 years before 1963 pregnancies in girls ages 15 through 19 years had been no more than 15 per thousand.  After 1963 pregnancies increased 187% in the next 15 years.
3. For younger girls, ages 10 to 14 years, pregnancies since 1963 are up 553%.
4. Before 1963 sexually transmitted diseases among students were 400 per 100,000. Since 1963, they were up 226% in the next 12 years.
5. The Family
6. Before 1963 divorce rates had been declining for 15 years. After 1963 divorces increased 300% each year for the next 15 years.
7. Since 1963 unmarried people living together is up 353%
8. Since 1963 single parent families are up 140%.
9. Since 1963 single parent families with children are up 160%.
10. Education
11. The educational standard of measure has been the SAT scores. SAT scores had been steady for many years before 1963. From 1963 they rapidly declined for 18 consecutive years, even though the same test has been used since 1941.
12. In 1974-75 the rate of decline of the SAT scores decreased, even though they continued to decline. That was when there was an explosion of private religious schools. There were only 1000 Christian schools in 1965. Between 1974 to 1984 they increased to 32,000.
13. That could have an impact if the private schools had higher SAT scores. In checking with the SAT Board it was found that indeed the SAT scores for private schools were nearly 100 points higher than public schools.
14. In fact the scores were at the point where the public schools had been before their decline started in 1963 when prayer and Bible reading/ instruction was removed from the schools.
15. The scores in the public schools were still declining.
16. Of the nation’s top academic scholars, three times as many come from private religious schools, which operate on one-third the funds as do the public schools.
17. The Nation
18. Since 1963 violent crime has increased 544%.
19. Illegal drugs have become an enormous & uncontrollable problem.
20. The nation has been deprived of an estimated 30 million citizens through legal abortions just since 1973.”

 

God, thank You most of all for a mother that grounded me in who You are and how important You are to my very existence.

Thank You God that You are still God regardless of what the world may believe.

Thank You for the simple and elegant beauty of this day.

Thank You for loving me.

 

HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON.  GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU!

 

 

 

 

Tuesday July 12 2016  REMEMBER TO BE THANKFUL

Imagine this scenario:  What must it feel like to wake up each morning wondering if this is the day your son will die?  By outward appearance your five week old son is beautiful and a picture of health.  But deep inside, many months before birth a cell mutated and caused havoc inside. 

Today I captured the likeness of this little guy on camera.  A small token for the parents to cherish in the future and to remind others of the short life he lived.  Most of my long term readers may remember my mentioning NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP, a non-profit organization that recruits professional photographers to donate photo sessions to parents whose babies die before birth, during birth, or shortly after birth.  For many parents this is the only professional photo session they will have of their child, and with their child.

Today I spent an afternoon doing just that.  I have photographed hundreds of session over the past 10 years, and each one I do, is not any easier than the last one I did.  When these photo session no longer bother me I will stop volunteering.  To be truthful, afterwards I am drained and need an outlet.  I must not divulge personal information about my clients to others so I have just keep everything to myself.

Every time I think about resigning it is because of the emotional pain of experiencing the parent’s grief.  However, it seems as if God just keeps giving me enough strength to do one more.  I have had amazing opportunities to pray with families, work with them afterwards as they go through the healing process, and sometimes just to be a listening ear.  I am one of the few people in the world that “knew” their baby and the parents sometimes feel a bond with me.  I have had opportunity to capture many live births by being in the delivery room and taking photos as the baby is handed to the parents so they can hold it in its few moments between life on earth and its life in eternity.  I believe that someday I will have the opportunity to meet each one of these precious little people in heaven.

Dave will not come into my office when I work on any demise post production.  He never sees the photos or presentations I prepare.  He would rather I not talk about the sessions at all.  There is no one to tell.  So I sit with the Lord, I cry, I pray for the families, and I compose a poem.  Sometimes I give the poems to the family, sometimes I do not.  It just depends on the circumstances.  On the occasions when I donate my time to photograph the funeral I usually will present them with a copy of the poem I wrote in honor of their child. 

Many people ask why I do this.  I do it because I remember the sorrowful hours I wept non-stop because our son was not expected to live at birth.  I cried and I cried.  I remember the times the NICU called Dave at work to tell him he needed to come to the hospital quickly if he wanted to see his son while he was still living.  I remember my pain regarding all the “what ifs”.  But, in due course, I carried our son out of the hospital, all 4 pounds and 10 ounces of him. YOU SHOULD SEE HIM NOW!

There is so much more to our story, but ultimately, that is why I do these photo sessions for the families who are suffering through such a great loss.  I have but a few Polaroid photos a nurse snapped of our son during those crucial days he was on the critical list.  He had been taken to a different hospital and I wasn’t able to be with him because I remained hospitalized for eight days and was in bad shape myself.  Oh how I cherish those few photos I have even though I still have my son.  Had he died, all I would have are those few little prints that are now old, brittle, and fading.  Once released from the hospital I never missed a day of going to the hospital to be with him, talk to him, and stroke his little body.

I have a feeling I’ll be dragging a cart behind me down the hospital corridors with my camera in tow if I become too weak and old to carry my camera to a session.  I keep “trying” to retire from volunteering but somehow it just doesn’t seem to happen.  

To find out more about this organization please take a look at their website to see the kind of work the volunteer photographers do.  You might be surprised at the beautiful gift of imagery so many photographers give to bless grieving families.  Any donations to the NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP organization will help to continue this work. www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org

When you tuck your healthy, growing child into bed tonight, remember to give God extra thanks for your precious gift of life.  And remember, they are only on loan, because one day, they will walk into their own life.  The only way you can keep them forever is to give them the foundation they need so you can meet them in heaven.

NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED

By Kathleen Martens

July 12, 2016

 

Oh God,

Let us not ever take for granted

Our precious girls and boys.

Let us always be thankful

Our children bring such joy.

 

Such a beautiful little child

I caressed with gentle touch,

Knowing he would soon be leaving,

Though his time on earth not much.

 

As I looked into his little face

And captured his smile with a click,

Lord, I knew he’d soon behold Your radiance

And his family, he would miss quite a bit.

 

 And I know his parents grieve

Unbearable pain in losing their son,

But for some reason you call him home,

And his life on earth will be done.

 

Wrap Your arms around his parents

And the siblings who too will grieve.

And make Yourself known to them

As Your love they receive.

 

Comfort and be with them

And restore their peace and joy,

That they would be forever grateful

For having known their precious boy.

 

 

 

 

 

God, thank You for using me to touch other’s lives in this small way.

Thank You Lord for breathing life into our son.

Thank You for people with vision to set up such a wonderful organization as NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP.

Thank You for this day on earth.

Thank You for my children.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU. 

REMEMBER, TO BE THANKFUL…AND NEVER TAKE ANYONE’S LIFE FOR GRANTED.

 

Monday July 11 2016  IT FEELS SO GOOD NOT BE IN A HURRY

My day is way past the over mark.  So today I shall write a poem.  A week that looked quite promising as of yesterday is filling up quickly.  Tomorrow is just as packed as today was.   I will write more when time allows.

 

MY DAY OFFICIALLY CLOSED

By Kathleen Martens

July 11, 2016

 

 

My day is over

All too fast,

It seems my hours

Just won’t last.

 

That’s because,

As you Know,

I love to talk

And I am ever so slow.

 

It feels so good

To not be in a hurry.

When there’s a willing listener

I don’t ever worry.

 

Time  seems to stands still

Regardless what I’m doing,

And watching the clock

I’m never pursuing.

 

And now tis day’s end

And my blog not written,

Because whatever I’m doing

I always seem smitten.

 

Forgive me please

For my lackadaisical life.

But being easy going

Reduces much strife.

 

But there is a time

When the clock ticks in my head,

And it seems always to be

When it’s time to bed.

 

So I’ll bid my good night

To my blogging friends.

My day officially closed.

It has come to the end.

 

Thank You God for the people I was able to share with today.

Thank You Lord for my health this day.

Thank You Lord for providing the right people to help me when I need help.

Thank You God for who You are.

Thank You too that I know without doubt that You are real.

Thank You God for the book I am listening to in the car about THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

And thank You again for watermelon.  It is so good.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.

Signing off at 10:49 P.M. and it takes at least another half hour to finish publishing.  Another action packed day tomorrow so must get up quite early. 

My blog editor has retired for the evening so this blog will not be proofed until Tuesday.  Happy reading.

 

 

Sunday Sabbath July 10 2016  A LAZY DAY

During the summer Dave and I enjoy inviting people from our church to join us for a Sunday afternoon lunch on our patio.  I hand out a pre-printed invitation with instructions to stop at fast food restaurant and bring whatever lunch they would like to eat.  Directions to our location are also included, as well as a little poem describing the event.  The reason we invite them is purely for fellowship and time for them to share a bit of who they are.  We enjoy meeting new people and bringing groups together.  This is a fun way to make it happen.  I did not know three of the people who came today.  It was enjoyable becoming acquainted with them.

And that was a play-day for me.  I do so enjoy the company of others and hearing their stories.  We went around the table and shared bits and pieces of our history with each other.  We each ate what we loved, there was no clean up, and no expense.  And the best part, was that I didn’t need to scrub my house from top to bottom in order to make it “company ready”, nor cook all day. 

This evening we attend a fund raiser in memory of a lady who was instrumental in furthering the music arts in our small town.  Her children and our children went to school together and were very involved in the performing arts.  The fund raiser provides scholarships for music students.  Her son married a singer who now performs on Broadway and she will be the star of tonight’s show.  It will be held at the High School auditorium which is actually quite impressive for our little town. 

 

A LAZY DAY

By Kathleen Martens

July 10, 2016

 

A lazy day

With acquaintances and friends

Lollygags

With seemingly no end.

 

No hurried rush.

No food to cook,

And best of all

No cleaning nooks.

 

Quiet talk

And peaceful calm,

Pastoral surroundings

Like a balm.

 

No fancy finery

To break or spill,

Or hectic fervor

To be stilled.

 

Just stories to hear,

From open hearts

Amidst the greenery

Of God’s art.

 

Sheltered  beneath

The great old oak,

Warm and sunny,

No need for coats.

 

Bright and calm

Beneath the leaves,

A breath of fresh air

Nature deems.

 

Thank You God for the beauty that surrounds us in our backyard.

Thank You for a wonderful afternoon.

Thank You for a day of worship, fun, and rest.

Thank You for watermelon.

 

GOOD AFTERNOON AND GOD BLESS YOU.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday July 9 2016  THE KING IS COMING

Writing a blog is not wasting time, however coming down to my office over an hour ago, and not having even started, is a waste of time.  I have many goals to accomplish today in order that I will be able to do tomorrow what I hope to do!  You see, tomorrow will be a play day!  Do you ever feel like you need one of those days?

We attended a Prime Time dinner (for the old people) last evening and had a great speaker!  John Ruck was a pastor at our church for many years and the interim Senior pastor for our church for several years and has since retired and moved away.  He and his wife came back for the evening so John could be the guest speaker at our dinner.  His speech was serious, funny, informative, eye opening, and spirit building.  He shared a few comments regarding the state of the affairs of our country as well as quips about old age.  Just in case you haven’t noticed, the attitudes of our country have changed considerably over the past 50 years.  The mindset is different, as are the challenges, the dangers, the work ethics, and so much more. 

Hearing John’s speech gave me pause for thought in regards to the one thing that isn’t different.  God is not different.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

“Hebrews 12:8-9 reads:

⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.”

Good advice to follow.  John quoted a passage Helen Keller once spoke,

“FOUR THINGS TO LEARN IN LIFE:

To think clearly without hurry or confusion;

To love everybody sincerely;

To act in everything with the highest motives:

To Trust God unhesitatingly.”

 

Just think how different our world would be if each person did what Helen Keller suggested we do.  Yet, in today’s world it seems that SELF is the motivating factor. If we as a society followed her advice our country might not be in such turmoil as the news churns out each evening.  Instead of the killings, revenge, retaliations, and outright evil, perhaps there would be more compassion, love, and grace to go around.  We cannot change the world, but perhaps if we began with ourselves and follow Helen Keller’s recommendations, we would then influence another, who would influence another, and so on.

What would happen if hate and discrimination was not PURPOSELY TAUGHT from one generation to the next? 

What would happen if we hadn’t taken prayer out of public gatherings such as schools, politics, etc.?

What would happen if we, as a country and society could again build on the ethics of the Ten Commandments?

I’m not talking about a universal “religion” or the right or wrong way to worship God, but rather, just the common sense of having values and truths in place as a yardstick for our country which was built on such principles?

Many things have changed over the past 50 years and the decline of the morals and morays of our society have been eroded as God was eliminated from our culture and family units.  Broken homes, broken hearts, confusion, lack of love, lack of integrity, and lack of trust, have eroded as God has been removed from our public arena.  Lack of God in our schools and the political arena has undermined the very foundation upon which our country was founded.

What we must do as followers of Christ is to daily “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I believe our country is dying and facing its demise (look up the fall of the Roman Empire).  Regardless of what is to come, realize that though God has given man freewill, and He has a plan for the ultimate outcome, and will use it to fulfill His purpose.  I choose not to fear or worry, because you see, I know the ending.  And it can all be found in the Bible between Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 22:21.  If you are not familiar with the prophecies and promises in God’s Word, you may want to check it out.

My sympathy and condolences go out to all the families grieving for the loss of their loved ones who were the targets of the recent retaliation in Texas.  And my sympathy also goes to all those living in this, once-amazing country, who don’t yet know the “ending”.  In many ways our country is still amazing but it is spiraling downhill, fast!

 

OH, THE KING IS COMING

By Kathleen Martens

July 9, 2016

 

Oh, the King is coming

But we don’t know when.

We need to be ready

And free from sin.

 

So much chaos

Churned by hate.

To comprehend why

You must not wait.

 

Live not in confusion,

But love fellow man.

Reach out to another,

And hold his hand.

 

Live in integrity.

Trust God each day.

Study His Word

To know His way.

 

Yes, the King is coming

And we don’t know when.

Again, I say be ready

And live free of sin.

 

For we know not the time

When He comes for His own,

And delivers the righteous

To His Father’s throne.

 

Thank You God that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

God, thank You for Your Holy Word.

Thank You Lord that You have laid out Your plan in Your Holy Word.

Thank You God that You still wait so that others will be able to come to You.

Thank You God that there are still people in the world who reach out and love others.

 

A few moments ago I sat before my computer and prayed that God would give me a topic for my blog.  I happened to see John’s email which included the notes of his message from last evening.  I only read the first page and then my blog poured from my fingertips, sentence by sentence, unknowing where it would take me, or how it would come together, much less end.  I used John’s scripture verse from Proverbs and Helen Keller’s quote as the inspiration for my blog.  And now I’m finished.  Maybe I should read the blog over once to make certain it makes sense.  God doesn’t make mistakes, but I SURE DO!

 Thank You John for sending your notes so timely.  You inspired me greatly as I listened to your presentation last evening.  I’ll close with a quote which John quoted last evening.

“THE BIGGEST LIE I TELL MYSELF IS…”I DON’T NEED TO WRITE THAT DOWN, I’LL REMEMBER IT.”

Maybe that is why I like to write so much, so I can remember it later!

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

 

 

 

 

 

Friday July 8 2016  THE BUTTERFLY

Due to today being cramped for time I have decided to share an “article” that Dave found when sorting through papers from years ago.  I don’t know who wrote the article, when, or how it came into our household.  All I know it speaks loud and clear.  If I knew who wrote it I would certainly give the author credit. 

“BUTTERFLY

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.  One day a small opening appeared.  He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.  Then it seemed to stop making any progress.  It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further.  So the man decided to help the butterfly.  He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.

The butterfly then emerged easily.  But, it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.  The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.  Neither happened!!  It fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.  It never was able to fly.  What the man, in his kindness and haste did not understand, was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.  Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives.  If God allows us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.  We would not be strong as what we could have been.  We could never fly!!

I asked for Strength……..and God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom………and God gave me Problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity……and God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.

I asked for Courage……….and God gave me Danger to overcome.

I asked for Love……………..and God gave me Troubled people to help.

I asked for Favors…………..and God gave me opportunities.

I asked for nothing I wanted………….I received everything I needed.

 

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”   

 

One of the riches I have discovered in life is that the more I am grateful, give thanks and praise to our God Almighty, and have an attitude of thanksgiving, the more abundantly God pours into me all that I need.  Be aware that we may sometimes need to experience struggles in our lives and in the midst of our trials and struggles continually give thanks to the Father for being right there with you.

 

AS YOU WALK THROUGH THE UNKNOWN

By Kathleen Martens

July 8, 2016

 

Day to day as trials assail

Regardless the mindset you’re in,

Give all hardship to God above,

For He is your greatest friend.   

 

We may question

Why we go through the pain

As we fail to comprehend

What there is to gain.

 

Just take one day at a time

And surrender to God’s will.

God’s plan is good for your life

In His presence be silent and still.

 

Allow the Lord to fill you with peace

As you walk through the unknown.

And in hindsight meaning will come

For by God it will be shown.

 

Thank You God for the all the trials through which You have sustained me.

Thank You Lord for teaching me to live in the moment.

Thank You Lord that You are the God in whom I can trust.

Thank You Jesus for the times I felt Your presence right there with me through my darkest nights.

Thank You Lord for loving me.

Thank You for rest.

And thank You Lord for this is the day that You have made and I will rejoice and be glad in it!

 

Have a great day!

GOD BLESS YOU!

Wednesday July 6 2016  A BIT OF NOSTALGIA

Thank you to those who gave me favorable comments on yesterday’s blog.  Maybe I hit a bull’s-eye topic.  And today I have no topic.  Perhaps not enough has happened in my day yet.  My week is a bit discombobulated due to Monday’s holiday so I must work out on my usual WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY DAY OFF.   That will take place later this afternoon after I do some more work.

Each day shows improvements in the garage.  My car is packed to the ceiling again for another Goodwill drop off.  I am truly hoping we can have our house totally back to order in one year.  Sounds like a big job.  And it is.  I’m still letting go. 

For my faithful readers you may remember my comment about my finding one true treasure when I was scavenging through the house for the garage sale.  Here is a synopsis of what I found.  I had books tucked into many shelves, cupboards, bedside tables, and in boxes in closets.  Remember, there were lots of closets, lots of boxes, and lots of books.  I looked at each title and probably kept about 15 out of the entire kit and caboodle.  I found one book that I almost didn’t open.  But it interested me so I opened it up to read some of the questions I knew would be inside.  The book is 5 ½ inches by 4 ½  inches and quite thick.  It has a thick card stock cover with a spiral binding.  The title is, “MOM, Share Your Life With Me…”.  The inside cover page reads, “A Memory-A-Day Series, For Special Folks written by Kathleen Lashier, published in 1993.  I thought it would be empty.  I opened it up.  There on the backside of the cover was taped a picture of me when I was in the second grade.  Knowing the published date tags my mom at being 75 or older when she answered the questions.

The book consist of 366 pages of questions with a small pace left blank below the question for the “MOM” to write down her message, fact, or story.  There on the first page was my mom’s handwriting in answer to the question of her birth date.  Each page had a question.  I held my breath as I thumbed through the book to see if she had actually filled it in.  The questions were written for modern day answers.  Quite a few of the questions were not pertinent to the era when my mother lived.  But all the ones she could answer, she did. 

How my mother answered some of the questions spoke louder than the words written on the paper.  What she said in one sentence evoked so much emotion because I could hear the answer she didn’t (or couldn’t) say.  She seemed to find many of the questions quite “stupid”.  I could tell by the way she answered in such honesty and disbelief that such a question could even be asked.  I discovered a lot of pain in her life of which I had not been aware of at the time I was a child.  I believe I experienced some of the deepest sorrow I have ever felt while reading her words.  And it was seldom because of what she said, but rather, by what she left unsaid.  For the first time I realized how much of life my mother never experienced and yet I always felt that she truly did want me to experience a greater life.

Now I realize that there was a great deep sadness in her of which she could never speak.  I look back now and realize she did not want for her children the life she lived.  My mother was a product of her abusive environment, her lack of education, and the era in which she lived.  She was born in 1918.  Things were extremely tough for her family as she grew up.  Mama worked from the time she was five years old.  She took care of babies that came like clockwork every 18 to 24 months, she made biscuits from the age of five years old.  As she grew older she picked cotton for hours in the hot sun, plowed behind a mule, milked, canned, worked in the garden, and went to school after all the cotton was picked and everything was harvested and preserved.  If one of the children under her charge misbehaved it was my mother that received the beating. 

Her history opened my eyes to the reasons she did what she did as we grew up.  No hugging, no “I love you”, and lots of work for us to do.  It wasn’t quite as harsh for me and my younger sister as it was for my older sisters who were 6 to 9 years older than me.  My younger sister was born 6 years after me and my brother was born about 16 years before me.  

A few things I read made me cry, and even as I write I feel the tears stinging my eyes.  I so loved my mother.  I have never understood her quite as well as I do now after reading her handwriting on those small pages.  I remember giving her that book years ago but I don’t remember when she returned it to me.  I must have tucked it away planning to read it “someday”.  I look back now and realize how busy each phase of my own life has been.  I was too busy to read what she had written.  That alone broke my heart.  I wish I had read the book when I received it because it certainly opened up a lot of questions I now would like answered.  She is gone now.  All the hard toil of her life is over.  And I take comfort in knowing she found solace in her garden during her later years.  Her flowers were colorful and prolific and grew to heights above her head.  People would stop alongside the highway and walk into her gardens to photograph her and her flowers.  No one ever went away empty handed.  Mama’s clippers, always in one of her ubiquitous pockets, would come out and she would snip a bouquet of exquisite beauty.  She was up with the sun tending her garden and when she sat down for breakfast later she always had a beautiful fresh vase of flowers in the middle of her dining table.  When I visited with her I would need to scoot it aside so I could see her across the table.

My mother lived with her sister at that time and people were always stopping by for some reason or another, usually just to say hello, or to drop off something they cooked up the night before and had more than they could eat.  Neighbors were neighbors where she lived.  And whoever came by first always went home with the fresh flower bouquet sitting on her table.  It gave her a reason to go out and pick another spray of flowers.  She told me once that the more flowers you cut your flower, the more they will bloom.  And it was true.

Just a note of interest:  My mom was quite the sight to behold in all her gardening garb.  She never ceased to amaze me with the concoctions of clothing she wore.  First, she put on a headscarf.  Then a wide brimmed hat covered her head.  Her blouse or shirt always covered her neck, was always long sleeved, and adorned with large pockets of some kind.  Her gloves came up over her sleeves.  She wore polyester pants that came down to her ankles covering her high-tops.  And she always carried a hoe in her hand.  This hoe was honed to knife sharpness.  Once, when visiting her when she lived with my grandparents, I walked out behind my grandparent’s home and hanging on the barbed wire fence next to her garden were three, very long, lifeless rattle snakes.  Each had their head chopped off.  That is why she always carried her hoe.

 

A BIT OF NOSTALGIA

By Kathleen Martens

July 6, 2016

 

A bit of nostalgia,

A few tears shed,

As I remember words

My mother once said.

 

She was a doer,

That mother of mine.

And she knew how

To make me tow the line.

 

She had lots of practice

As the eldest of a dozen,

And later that resulted

In lots of cousins.

 

Mama was resourceful,

As well as fierce.

And as she called my name

Her voice would pierce.

 

I didn’t talk back

Because I knew she could paddle.

Even when I walked

She could make me skedaddle!

 

She could sew and bake,

And stretch a dollar.

And like I said before,

She could really holler.

 

And though she couldn’t say

“I love you”,

Deep in my heart,

She loved me, I knew.

 

She taught me to love Jesus,

And made sure I was in school.

And I knew to follow

All of her rules.

 

I miss her still,

These past six years,

But it’s been a while

Since I’ve shed any tears,

 

Because I know her reward

In heaven received.

And her legacy to me?

That in God I believe.

 

And though we are separated,

It is just for awhile.

Because I’m getting closer to heaven

And will again see her smile.

 

Thank you for allowing me to do a bit of reminiscing.  I think it does my heart well.  Though it saddened me to read a few of her entries I am glad I now have a better understanding of what an amazing and remarkable woman she was, despite all the hardships she endured.  It was just so sad to know what deep pain she suffered.  It gives me pause to stop and think about all the thousands of pages I leave behind filled with my own words. 

Thank You God for the treasure I found, I really do cherish it.

Thank You Father that You are my heavenly Father and You provided an amazing person to be my mother.

Thank You Lord for all my sisters for they each contributed in making me who I am.

Thank You for the joy I have in You.

Thank You Lord that I was not overworked when I was a child.

Thank You too for the gift of my children and instilling in me to say the words to them daily, “I love you”.

Thank You for bringing my mother’s book to my attention.

Thank You for sweet potatoes.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.

I do hope I have not been too melancholy.

 

P.S.  I just remembered a poem I wrote several years ago for a family reunion we had.  It was about my mother.  Here it is if you have it in you to read another poem about this little old lady.

 

My Mama

January 2010

 

My precious dear mama.

 

A young person

Never allowed to be a child.

A student

Never allowed to pursue her dreams.

A wife

Doing without and sometimes not loved as she deserved.

A mother

Broken for her children.

A woman

Who survived by her fortitude and resourcefulness.

A grandmother

Who didn’t know how to say I love you.

 

But…she survived.

 

She grew to an adult

Without first being a child.

Life experience

Was her education.

She outlived her husband

And became free.

She gave her children to the Lord

And buried two sons.

She survived

By doing for others.

And she even learned to say

“I love you”.

 

Deep inside her…

 

She had dreams and hopes

And she trusted in the Lord.

Deep inside her she saw beauty

And planted a garden.

Deep inside her she loved others

And took care of their needs.

Deep inside her she had gentleness

That blossomed as she aged.

And deep inside her,

Her spirit was beautiful

For God had made her that way.

And when she left this world,

The world was a little less beautiful.

 

Now…

Her deepest yearning,

Her deepest needs,

Her deepest prayers

Have been met.

 

She has met her Creator.

 

The Great Physician

Counselor

Prince of Peace

 

And she will reign in His presence for ever.

 

She stored up her treasures in heaven.

 

She is now  a child…

A child of God.

Her dreams are fulfilled.

She is loved beyond measure.

She lacks for nothing

And is loved as the bride of Christ.

Her chains have been broken

And her crown is laden with stars

For her tireless giving

And  her administrations.

 

She is at peace

All hope fulfilled.

 

I’ll see you again someday mama

 

Love, Wanda Kathleen

 

Tuesday July 5 2016  TIME AND MONEY

If you’ve read my recent blogs you may recall the one when I wrote about the fact that it takes a lot of time to be old.  And as true as that is, I also want you to be aware that it also cost a lot of money to be old. 

For one thing, your body parts need a lot more care.  And that computes into cost.  A few of the mentionable items are orthotics for the feet, drops for the eyes, treatments for dry skin, expensive sturdy shoes, salve to treat dry corneas, possible dentures, and at the least, repair work on old warn out teeth.  Dr. Scholl’s bunion pads and corn removers are just a couple more items to get used to.  You may also need a cane, then a walker, or even a porta-potty close at hand.  And there may even come a time when you need a hospital bed.  Oh, and I must mention braces for elbows and knee replacements and Medicare Part A, B, and D, not to mention the government dipping into your bank account each month  for their automatic withdraw to pay for Part B.  And don’t forget hearing aids, eyeglasses, and all the doctor appointments for every other mentionable and unmentionable thing you might require.

Walking into the bathroom of the aged is like walking into a mini-pharmacy.  It starts small and each thing you add just shrinks the counter space even more.  And remember, those pills and vitamins cost money too, at minimum the co pay.  Oh yes, don’t forget the pressure stockings.  You must have an open leg wound for Medicare to cover the cost.  The knee highs only cost $59 a pair and the waist high pair will set you back $91.  And don’t forget to have Ben Gay on hand.

And you may ask yourself, why in the world is Kathleen writing about such a topic?  First and foremost is because I had to go to the dentist today and my mouth is still numb.  And because of this visit and the exorbitant cost of dental work I just let my mind drift to all the other maladies I either already have, or can look forward to.  And I thought you just might like to know.  And actually I even left one thing out because I am too embarrassed to admit it.  So, I’ll tell you anyway.  I must put salve in my eyes at night to keep them moistened due to the fact that my eyelids will not stay closed tightly when I sleep.  And what I didn’t want to mention is the fact that I must also wear goggles over my eyes that bulge out like an Amazon bug.  And they are green!  The circumference that touches my face has a foam type texture which seals all room air from coming in contact with my eyes.  Inserted in the pop-eyed, bug-like goggles is more foam-like material soaked in hot water which keep my eyes damp with moisture all night long.  Yes, I do wear this goggle all night.  Since I began using them there is a marked improvement in my corneas as well as in the comfort of my eyes.  But, you guessed it, that little contraption doesn’t come free.  And of course everything you can buy over the counter isn’t covered one iota by any insurance.

So to those of you who are young at present I am sorry that you read this before your advanced years.  I think it is a good thing to be UNAWARE for your first half century.  Enjoy your young body.  Wait until you are older before looking at the reality of your later years.  Besides, some of you may not live so long and you will never experience what I describe and then you will have worried for naught.  Personally, for me, I enjoy living so much (at least right now) that I am just thankful that I have the where-with-all to care for all my needs.  At least I’m healthy!

So, my unasked for advice today is, plan ahead by treating your body with respect in regards to health.  Watch what you eat, exercise, get proper rest, and save lots of money during the first half of your life.  You may need it for the second half.

 

YOUR GREATEST WEALTH

By Kathleen Martens

July 5, 2016

 

Money in, money out,

Just remember not to pout.

You’ve been forewarned

You’ve heard me out.

 

Study hard

Learn the rules

They will become

Your best tools.

 

Eat well and exercise

Then get lots of sleep

And chances are

Your health may keep.

 

Do not squander

Your greatest wealth,

All your life

It is your health.

 

Thank You Father that You created self healing bodies.

Thank You for the beautiful creation of my physical body.

Thank You too for all the knowledge science has made available to me.

Thank You for all the improvements I have experienced these past three years.

Thank You God for the physicians who truly care about helping us to maintain health instead of just treating symptoms.

Thank You for cherries.

 

GOOD EVENING AS I SIGN OFF AND MAY GOD MAKE KNOWN TO YOU HOW BEAUTIFUL, CREATIVE, AND USEFUL IS THE BODY THAT HE DESIGNED FOR YOU.

My prayer today:

Dear God I ask for special care over those who are suffering in body.  I know there are many that are in pain and torment throughout the world, as well as are some who read this blog.  I pray for a miracle of healing.  Even though we can do our best to care for our bodies there are so many health issues beyond our control.  Touch each person and let them know that You care and are concerned for all their pain and suffering.  I ask that You would relieve their pain and restore them to health.  I thank you Lord for Your mercy and Your grace. 

 

Monday July 4 2016  TOO MUCH SUGAR!

Whoa!  I had way too much sugar today.  I didn’t plan to eat the home made peach pie but one finger pinch test and I was hooked.  And, I had one scoop of ice cream to go with it.  Not a good choice for me.  Then, on the way home Dave saw two little girls selling cookies and asked if I wanted a cookie.  I said no, but then thought perhaps he wanted one so I said okay.  Dave even doubled backed around the block so we had a place to pull over.  I dutifully got out of the car, crossed the street and purchased two sugar spice cookies.  I offered Dave a cookie but he declined and said they were for me.  I pinched off a small taste test and it was very good.  And pinch by pinch both were soon gone.  And then I crashed.  Almost as if I was drunk.  My words slurred, and I could not gather my thoughts.

My confession may illicit comments from my sister, so let me say it ahead of time, “I know I shouldn’t have done it”.  But I did and must now live with the consequences.  I had actually forgotten how bad I feel when I eat sugar.  I’m going to let this July 4^th lesson be a reminder to me for a long, long time.  It is not worth it.  All I want to do now is sleep.

Years ago, about 1993, I had to quit drinking any kind of soda (I was addicted to diet coke), coffee (which I had everyday), and tea (which was also my daily routine).  I quit cold turkey.  My kidneys were in bad shape due to a strep infection that caused a sepsis to damage my kidneys.  I don’t remember ever being so sick.  Since all of my above vices were removed at once, I had a headache that lasted over two weeks.  Since that time I have not imbibed in any of the above, EXCEPT a non caffeinated herbal tea I drink on occasion.  Since I do not imbibe anything with caffeine and hardly ever have processed sugar, I rarely  experience any kind of highs or lows in energy, temperament, or brain function throughout my day.  I wake up full of energy, go all day, and only after days of intense labor and not enough sleep does my body fatigue like it did recently due to the garage sale.  The fatigue I feel after working hard is so different than the exciteotoxin fatigue I experience when eating foods with additives or sugar.  Exciteotoxins, the misfiring of the synapses in the brain, happen to me after I have anything processed (like store bought cookies) or excessive sugar.  And today I had both. 

At the end of the blog I have included some information gleaned from the web to allow you to read for yourself what science has discovered.  Read at your discretion.  Today was a good reminder for me as to why I am so diligent in what I eat.  I guess I just like feeling good.

 

SO MANY CHOICES

By Kathleen Martens

July 4, 2016

 

So many choices

To make every day,

From what goes in my mouth,

To the words I say.

 

I must be diligent

And thus decide first,

Do I want to feel good?

Or just feel worse?

 

But sometimes I stumble

And seem to be wooed

By eating too much

Of the wrong kind of food.

 

But it is so good

As it goes down.

It is only afterward

Is causes a frown.

 

And that’s what I did

On this celebration day,

I had so much fun

As I partied and played.

 

What’s happened has happened

And now I must suffer.

And tomorrow morning

I’ll be a bit puffier.

 

But I thoroughly enjoyed

Each and every bite.

And perhaps being tired

Is worth the fight.

 

And so I get up,

Dust off my regret,

And just ask God to help me,

That I no longer fret.

 

It is not healthy

To berate myself,

Or take remorse

Off the shelf.

 

But rather enjoy

A day blessed with new friends,

And cherish this moment,

For time never lends.

 

Thank You God for allowing me to learn from my mistakes.

Thank You God for the enjoyment of this day.

Thank You Lord for the bounty of Your everlasting love.

Thank You God that I arrived home safely on this holiday weekend.

Thank You God for creating dogs.

 

GOD BLESS YOU ON THIS DAY OF CELEBRATING OUR COUNTRY’S 240^TH ANNIVERSARY.

 

The following information was taken in part from the website:  https://experiencelife.com

 

Excitotoxins

“What is an EXCITOTOXIN?

Excitotoxins are a class of chemicals (usually amino acids) that over stimulate neuron receptors. Neuron receptors allow brain cells to communicate with each other, but when they’re exposed to excitotoxins, they fire impulses at such a rapid rate that they become exhausted.

Fair warning: If you are drinking a diet drink, munching on chicken-flavored crackers or enjoying a fast-food lunch while you’re reading this, odds are good that you’ll toss them out by the time you finish the article. Why? Because many low-calorie sodas, highly flavored snacks and processed foods of all kinds contain substances known as excitotoxins – substances that could very well be doing a serious number on your health.

Excitotoxins are a class of chemicals (usually amino acids) that over stimulate neuron receptors. Neuron receptors allow brain cells to communicate with each other, but when they’re exposed to excitotoxins, they fire impulses at such a rapid rate that they become exhausted. Several hours later, these depleted neurons die. Scientists have noted this effect particularly in the hypothalamus and temporal lobes – the parts of the brain that control behavior, emotions, onset of puberty, sleep cycles, and immunity.

But brain cells aren’t the only parts of our bodies that are being revved up. Excitotoxins also do a very good job of exciting our taste buds. And that makes them very attractive to the food industry. The chemicals in excitotoxins stimulate the taste cells in the tongue, causing the flavor of the foods we eat to be greatly enhanced. Soups, snacks, sauces, gravies, many low-fat and vegetarian processed foods – manufacturers often pack them with “flavor enhancers” in an effort to make them taste irresistible.

Although excitotoxin poisoning has gotten much of its recent publicity under the rather misleading title, “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome,” the fact is, American processed foods – from McDonald’s to Weight Watchers to Campbell’s soup – are just as likely to contain excitotoxins like mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) and aspartame (NutraSweet® or Equal®). And according to many experts, these same foods are just as often to blame for the headaches, water retention, skin problems and other health complaints that some consumers experience.

One such consumer is Tom Kleffman. A graphic artist who lives in Navarre, Minn., Kleffman was in college when he ate a piece of cheddarwurst that made him sick. Hoping to make him feel better, his roommate fixed a bowl of ramen noodles. Soon after, Kleffman’s heart rate spiked to 220. He passed out and was rushed to the emergency room, where he was referred to a food allergist who diagnosed him with a reaction to MSG.

At the time, Kleffman didn’t understand how much his sensitivity was going to change the way he lived. In addition to avoiding the offending cheddarwurst and ramen noodles, Kleffman now eats no processed or prepared foods and rarely dines at restaurants because so many of them use MSG. “I had to learn how to cook,” says Kleffman, who now subsists on a much healthier diet of fresh foods.

Most people aren’t nearly as sensitive to excitotoxins as Kleffman, but many people do experience headaches (including migraines), rashes and “hangover” symptoms after consuming foods that contain them.

The problem is that if you regularly eat at restaurants, munch on chips, or toss back diet drinks and other commercial sugar-free treats, it’s quite likely that you regularly consume significant quantities of these substances, so you may not be aware of which specific foods or drinks are causing your reactions. The other problem is, excitotoxins are so prevalent in modern industrial foods they’re almost impossible to avoid.”

I included the above article to simply inform those who may be unaware of what happens in the brain due to what we eat.  In no way do I pass judgment on what other’s eat.  I have noticed the older I become the less tolerant my body is to processed foods and just thought I’d pass the information along.