Saturday September 3 2016  MEMORIES IN THE MAKING

What an interesting journey I am on.  It all began when I volunteered to create photo albums for my sister Faith from the all the pictures my mother had collected throughout the years.  After I took all the photos out of the albums that were causing the photos to deteriorate, organized them into family groups, and purchased all the supplies needed to archaically protect them, I set them aside due to life circumstances.  It is only when I realized the time it would take to do the photo albums would not just mysteriously appear as a gift, that I decided I would need to set blocks of time aside purposely to complete my promise.  Once I began the design phase my whole being became invested in the outcome of creating a beautiful presentation of these old photos.  And then I decided I needed to update the biographies of my mom and her siblings, and then…so on…and so forth, I became more involved emotionally with the project.

It took a long time for me to actually be able to agree with what other people have told me for a long time, that I am an artist.  I never thought of myself in those terms.  Perhaps they are referring to the clutter I work in.  Aren’t all artists a bit scatterbrained?  I have come to terms with the fact that I am an artist, I love design work, I love color, I love to create, and I get emotionally involved with whatever I am creating.  I love to create beauty for others to enjoy; beautiful photographs, beautiful words, beautiful albums, and all just for the joy of creating it.  The scripture says we are created in the image of God.  Was not God the ultimate creator of all beauty?  Then why should it surprise us that we too are meant to create.

Once I began to design the pages in earnest I became ensconced in what I was doing.  It has been a long time since I have been able to work with paper and cutters, pen and ink, and blank white pages.  My design work the past 10-12 years has been digital.  I enjoyed that aspect of designing but not nearly so much as I love working with my hands.  My hands are slower, a bit clumsier, and I probably work a bit longer to do what I used to do so quickly, but my heart is still in it.  For me to do this job is actually a gift given to me.  It may take awhile to complete it, but I know I can still do it. 

As my hours shift over to working on the design layouts I must cut hours from other things I also love to do.  One is writing my blog.  I will continue to write my blog as writing is food to my soul.  However, I do plan to curb the hours I dedicate to it daily.  Starting in October I plan to write three blogs a week.  That will free the other days up for me create the albums.  I am still far behind in having my house and studio de-cluttered and that must also take priority.  I will continue indefinitely with fewer blogs so I can work on all the personal writing relating to books I am trying to finish.  I have a lot on my plate and my years are slipping by so quickly.  There are some things I want to complete before I leave this earth; the main one is to maintain as close a relationship with God as possible.  When I am so busy I am unable to spend the time I need with the Lord in order to fulfill my calling in life.  My calling is to help as many people as I can along the way.  And that takes time to do.

Retirement to me is not just a lot of fun and games and lazy days.  Oh, I have a few of those too.  But I have found that retirement for me is to fulfill all I can do to give myself to others so that they will be able to make a connection to the one who loves them most.  And that connection is with the God of the Bible.

Thank you faithful readers; I hope you continue to read when I am publishing less frequently.  I enjoy your comments, negative or positive, and only hope that my words touch places in your life that will cause you to seek God more.  There is actually a sadness in my heart as I type these words, knowing that the greatest discipline for me will be TO NOT WRITE EACH DAY.  Just between you and me, I will still be writing some, but it will be long hand in my journal and written to the Lord as well as the thoughts the Holy Spirit imprints upon my heart.  Maybe someday you will get to read those parts in the book I hope to publish someday.  A dream is just the thought of doing something; it becomes a goal when you have a timeline.  I am setting that timeline in motion and must persevere.

I will continue to keep you updated on the saga of the albums.  Today I will let you have a glimpse into the messy “artist’s” room where I create.  It may look cluttered but I know where everything is.  And…it is all accessible because of my swivel stool.  Everything I need is within reach.  It is a great convenience for me.  I must get up occasionally to get fresh paper but even that is usually within reach.

Oh, by the way, perhaps I will discipline myself enough so that I can post my daily poem on the blog.  That will keep me current in logging the poety I write daily into my computer.

IN SMALL LITTLE DOSES

By Kathleen Martens

September 3, 2016

Life is so busy

So many choices to make.

If I could just go without sleep,

I’d have more hours awake.

But that is not to be,

For I need my rest.

So with the hours I have

I must do my best.

And though I do all I can

Life is such an unknown,

I cannot take for granted

That tomorrow I own.

So I use this day

By making good choices,

And quiet world’s clamor

And all of its noises.

Every hour is important

Because what I do today,

When tomorrow arrives

The work is not in the way.

And so I find

As each day closes

I accomplish great feats

In small little doses.

So I keep on, keeping on

With hope in my heart

That never a day comes

That I have no work to start.

Because to be busy

Doing the Lord’s work

There are never lost hours

In which to shirk.

Because everything done

Is as unto the Lord

And my hours are His

So no time I hoard.

I relinquish to God

Every hour I live,

And accept as a gift

Every day He gives.

Thank You God for helping me make difficult decisions.

Thank You for this day of life.

Thank You that I have the opportunity to see my grandchildren this afternoon.

Thank You for Your love Lord.

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND GOD BLESS YOU!