Sunday Sabbath April 30 2017  GOODBYE APRIL

THE HEART HAS HEARD

Kathleen Martens

April 30, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

Significant time

Ticking away,

Not only the close

Of another day,

But a month

Comes to an end,

And before we know it

The year will end.

Once it is gone

It never again exists

Except in photos

We carry in fist.

Memories we cherish

Yet some not made

And if we are careless

Photos disappear or fade.

Pictures may vanish

For a plethora of reasons,

And our past events

May fade through the seasons.

But the greatest loss

Are the memories we don’t make

Because of the effort

It may take.

The now is the present,

We mustn’t squander it away.

When we tuck children in

We have one less day.

We should make moments count

As we live each hour.

Don’t allow “life”

To steal our power.

Be not too busy

To make moments count

Because the ones squandered

Seem to mount.

And children grow up

And we are alone.

An occasional visit,

Or moments on phone.

But nothing counts

Like living “real-time”.

We must enjoy the NOW

Before age confines.

Speak love in action

If we can’t say it in word;

However love is expressed

The heart has heard.

Thank You God for the rain we had today.

Thank You for Your peace in my heart.

Thank You that I have lived and enjoyed this beautiful month of April.

GOD BLESS YOU ON THIS BEAUTIFUL RAINY SABBATH!

Saturday April 29 2017  PERHAPS WE SHOULD ASK THIS QUESTION

PERHAPS WE SHOULD ASK THIS QUESTION?

Kathleen Martens

April 29, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

This day holds the hour

In which we are living.

In this precious moment

What makes life worth living?

Have we spoken one kind word

Another can tuck away?

Have we caused a smile

On someone’s face today?

Have we lifted another’s name

In prayer to our Father?

Or are we so busy

That with others we do not bother?

What is the purpose

For the existence of each man?

Is it to give or take,

Or do for others when you can?

Perhaps we should ask this question

Of ourselves each and every day;

What today can we do

So this world’s a better place to stay?

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

I HOPE YOU HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY!

I HAD AN AWESOME DAY!!!  I learned something new!  More about that later!

Thursday April 27 2017  AND THEN I AM DONE!!!

“We can do anything we want to if we stick to it long enough.” Quote by Helen Keller

I was wondering what to write when I came across the above quote.  I’m in a quandary as I need to leave for an appointment soon, write my poem before I go, and then ultimately return and focus on the project I have been working on this the last year: THE ALBUM.

In my craft room awaits the last six pages that are laid out and waiting for their design.  AND THEN I AM DONE!  WRONG! 

Then I begin writing on all the pages as to who is who in each photo.  AND THEN I AM DONE? WRONG AGAIN! 

Then I plan to take a digital photo of each page which in itself will take quite awhile.  AND THEN I AM DONE?  NOPE, NOT YET! 

Then I must slip each page into a clear sleeve so they are protected in the album.  WHEW! THEN I MUST SURLY BE DONE!  WRONG AGAIN!

When all the pages are ready to be put in the three-ring-binders I must then update 5 biographies of my mother’s siblings and mount all 13 biographies and insert them in strategic order.  AND FINALLY I’M DONE???  NOPE! 

One last details remains after that.  Well…actually two: one small, one big.  The last detail is to design a title page.  AND THEN…the most time consuming of all…DELIVERING IT IN PERSON TO MY SISTER FAITH IN CALIFORNIA!!!!

AND THEN I AM DONE!!!

And the clock is ticking.  Helen Keller was right!  “We Can do anything we want if we stick to it long enough!”  We do it one step at a time; one hour, one day, one year.  We just need to stick to it!

AND SAY GOODBYE

Kathleen Martens

April 27, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

A dream is but a dream

But a timetable sets the goal in place.

And the end for me will be in sight

When I see the smile on my sister’s face.

What a journey it has been,

Yet I still have a mountain to climb

Because it is not done, until it is delivered!

And that will be so sublime.

I can’t say it wasn’t tedious,

Though it was long hours of fun for me

Because I realize I will have left behind

A beautiful treasure for others to see.

I will never regret the hours

As the weeks seemed to fly.

I was able to cherish these old photos,

Enjoy their memories and say good bye.

And I just realized I’m still not done

Until I’ve created one last page,

Adding the story of why this album was built

That it go forth in future age.

Thank You God for the opportunity to be able to do this keepsake for my sister.

Thank You God for my strength each day.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

GOD BLESS YOU

Wednesday April 26 2017  INFORMATION DAY

Yesterday was a day of accomplishment.  I finally actually carried through with something I have wanted to do for the past two years.  When I left on my trip two years ago my husband suggested I take his I Phone with me.  So I did.  Well, a month or so into the trip it gave up its ghost and died as I was driving into Denver Colorado.  A month-long bevy of trip photos were lost, or so I thought.  Even the Apple store told me they could not be captured.  Fortunately for me, I was heading to see a friend and her husband is a program designer and an unbelievable IT guy.  He used his account to somehow recover my photos.  It took several days for this to transpire but he did it.  I bought a new I Phone while in Denver and he was able to download everything he removed from my card onto the new phone.  I suppose if I had made a big enough stink that the I Phone store may have been able to do it for a fee. I thank God that I was able to recover the photos from the phone because I find that those are the photos that capture life between the poses.

When I arrived home from my trip in July of 2015 I purchased a new IMac, as my older Macs could not support the new technology of my new camera.  I’ve had the “new” IMac for two years now and have just recently had the opportunity to take time to use it.  And boy howdy, was I ever lost in the maze of all that I did not know.  I decided to take time to attend classes and workshops in order to become more literate with the new technology.  The classes are available through the Apple Store.  I became so comfortable working on my old equipment because it was easier to do what I knew how to do than it was to take time to learn something new.  Hmmm….I wonder if that has anything to do with the aging process? 

I have decided I WILL NOT GIVE UP that which I want to learn just because it takes me a bit longer to learn it and retain it.  As long as I can I will gratefully learn what I am able.

Now, the information I refer to in the title of this blog:

Here is the scoop about the Apple Store and the classes they offer.  Are you aware that as an I Phone owner you can sign up at the Apple Store and take all kinds of classes to learn how to use your I Phone?  Your little I Phone is like a small computer at your fingertips but it has a bit different personality than the big MACS.  I am tired of not being able to use what is available to me when I need its services.  That which I choose to use; I do so purposefully, and carefully.  By that I mean: I do not allow the phone to overtake my living my life in reality.  I do not search face book or post to it though I have a presence on face book per chance I may need it someday for a special purpose.  I give out my cell number to very few people because it does not have clear reception where I live.  When I am traveling, unless I use my I Phone for an emergency, or as my GPS, my phone is tucked in my purse.  When it rings I only answer known friends and family to see if it is urgent.  If I am in situations when I cannot be disturbed I simply turn my phone off.  Remember, you and I are the ones that control the phone.  It only controls us and gobbles up our time if we allow it to do so.  I long ago quit allowing my pocket genius to control my life.

A second bit of information for you is that if you own another MAC computer of any kind you are also eligible to sign up for classes at the Apple Store.  I have taken several courses this week (two yesterday) and I am amazed at how trained the Apple personnel are.  I have learned so much useful information.  What a shame to buy something so expensive, that has so much potential, and not take the opportunityto learn all you can.  Remember, knowing how to use your I Phone and Mac computer with expertise can save you much time and exasperation.

And the best part; all of these classes and work sessions are free!  However, you must sign up online in order to schedule the appointment.  When I first began using Macs about 15 years ago I had to pay for the sessions.  As technology changes, so the classes change, as does the need to learn more.  It is great that I no longer need to pay for the sessions.  Somehow taking advantage of what the Apple Store offers causes me to feel a little bit better about spending so much for something so small.

AS TECHNOLOGY PROGRESSES

Kathleen Martens

April 26, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

Technology today can be such a beast,

It changes so rapidly and does not cease.

It’s like a worm that silently sneaks in

Becoming a giant you must conquer and win.

And oh those changes seem to never stop.

And then when it seems I’ve finally reached the top

Something new comes along, frustrating me more.

The faster I peddle, the less I score.

So to stay on task I fervently seek

That knowledge and wisdom my mind will keep.

In order to battle this old-age brain

I refuse to be lazy, and do my best to retain.

As technology progresses, if we refuse to grow

We wake up in a world that we no longer know.

And though that may happen all too soon

Until it does, I’ll set my sight on the moon.

Thank You God that You encourage me to strive with perseverance.

Thank You God for the desire to learn.

Thank You too Lord for the lovely rain You pour upon our land.

Thank You for the delicious soup I had for breakfast.

I am on an adventure today with two long-time friends; lunch and St. Vincent de Paul!  Our favorite place to shop!

Have a wonderful day!

GOD BLESS YOU!

Tuesday April 25 2017  SPRINGS’S BOUQUET

SPRING’S BOUQUET

Kathleen Martens

April 25, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

Evening light dapples new growth

In silence of coming night.

Bringing alive purple and pink

Peering through foliage tight.

In somber reverence

My heart stood still

Filling up new memories

To remember at will.

A magical touch of early Spring,

As if stardust brushed the leaves.

Fronds of ferns of delicate lace,

Their beauty my eyes see.

A cobbled path winds its way

Meandering through bows and ferns.

In quiet stillness a settled presence

For which my heart doth yearn.

In bridal white trilliums blossom,

Fragile… pure…divine…

Bowed as if in silent humbleness

In thanks for being created so fine.

Their dazzling brilliance causes my smile

At the delight they offer so free.

Their glory is, that they bloom

For the two or three days we see.

And bluebells ring in silent song

That only the heart can hear.

In royal majesty decorate the earth

Like bits of God scattered near.

And bleeding hearts oversee all

As with an ever watchful eye,

Robed in pink with drops of lace

Catching light from the evening sky.

And bright red tulips join the dance

Of Spring’s awesome debut.

A presentation of heartfelt love

From God, to me and you.

Thank You God for seasons!

Thank You God that my favorite season is always the one I’m experiencing.

Thank You God that You are such an awesome Creator.

Thank You God for the beauty of today.

HAVE A GREAT SPRING WHEREVER YOU MAY LIVE!

GOD BLESS YOU.

P.S.  Remember to open your eyes to what is around you!

Monday April 24 2017  WHERE YOUR STORY BEGINS

WE EACH HAVE A STORY

Kathleen Martens

April 24, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

We each have a story; the story of our life.

It begins before birth, and blooms through birth’s strife.

So much unremembered before our memory takes hold,

Later memory repositioned when they make your heart grow cold.

Just exactly what is your account of that which others see?

Is it truth or is it jest; are you truly living your best “ME”?

Who are you deep down inside, and what are your dreams?

Is your story true to others, or have you latent screams?

It is so easy to bury deeply the pains along your road

Until a trigger surfaces, exposing memories left untold.

In order to tell the complete story, thought must be given,

Are you truly surrendered to the life you were born to be living?

The story of each one unique, future decided by decisions,

Choose to live in purity so that later there is no derision.

Choose to live in truth while speaking kindly toward all others.

And in the end of your years, you’ll discover you’ve lived your druthers.

Speak the legacy of your past, teaching others by your mistakes,

Help others peel off their baggage so their life is not lived fake.

Share wisdom with those who want to see, and love to those who hate

That you might be the very one who opens their love-gate.

Stories come and stories go, some forever buried unknown.

Share with others your very own, and allow your love be shown.

The journey of life is short, but seems forever before it will end.

In case you live to be very old, be sure to make younger friends.

And in no matter, judge another, their view is not your own.

“Judge not or likewise you will be judged” is the edict from God’s throne.

Show compassion when it is needed and be the helping hands.

Most importantly in your story, choose Jesus with whom to stand!

The above poem was inspired by the following “THOUGHT FOR THE DAY” sent to me by my friend Marilyn:

“HOME IS WHERE YOUR STORY BEGINS.”  Author unknown.

The thought above caused a myriad of memories to scuttle through my brain.  I did some digging in two old briefcases that contain stacks of pages written in the past which related to the thought that my story began at home.  A plethora of memories, images, letters, experiences, and even pain, surfaced.  I read through several pages of what I wrote in the past when I was in a different place and time of my life’s journey.  It was a time of deep emotional suffering caused by past memories that surfaced with which still needed to be dealt. 

This one little “THOUGHT FOR THE DAY” gave me reason to read and remember so many healings I have had in my past.  I find that statement so true.  Though there is much I could share with you today in this blog I choose not to do so.  My past has long since been healed but there are those I love who have not gone through this same healing and I choose not to open old pains.  We each deal with pain in our own way.  

What I can share however is that I know without a doubt that God heals even the emotional sorrows of our past.  He heals by taking all the lies that the devil feeds into our memory bank and speaks His truth into our lives.  When we feel we are unworthy Jesus speaks truth to our hearts and lets us know that in His eyes we are worthy.  When we feel as if we are unforgivable, again Jesus speaks truth to our hearts and forgives us completely.  When we carry fear with us Jesus speaks to us from His Word “Perfect love casts out all fear” and instills His everlasting truth in us.  And all we must do in order to be healed is first desire to be healed, open our hearts to hear His truths and then to accept and believe His truths. 

Many years ago I went through this healing process and the truth that I learned was that when Jesus speaks truth to us our healing is permanent.  I no longer carry the baggage of my past with me.  Yes, I can still remember the situations that caused my pain, but I no longer feel pain when I remember them.   I no longer have hatred toward those who hurt me, anger toward situations I had no control over, or even sorrow or regret for what happened in my past.  I am who I am today because God was with me as I lived my story.  He took the pain and ashes of my past and breathed forgiveness and beauty into my life.  He instilled a desire within me to help others be healed of the same sorrows.  God has taken my regrets and buried them in His love and salvation. 

And what God has done for me He can do for you. 

Thank You God that You have been with me all my life, even through my pain and suffering.

Thank You God for complete healing of my past.

Thank You Lord that I have the promise of the mansion You are building for me in heaven.

Thank You Jesus that someday I will see Your face for You are the gift of heaven.

GOD BLESS YOU!

Sunday Sabbath April 23 2017  AN INTERESTING DAY

AN INTERESTING DAY

Kathleen Martens

August 23, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

Today was such an interesting day

Not really work, but not quite play.

Door to door I peddled my ware,

And at first I had a few stares.

Some did not answer my knock at their door

So I always knocked a little bit more.

Heard dogs bark in frenzied pitch.

As if I was the big bad witch.

All persons receptive when I began to speak

I gave them flyers they could keep

About ordering vegetables left in my garage,

Explaining really and truly they were not a mirage.

Boxes of produce will be delivered to me

As the subscribers soon will see.

Met a husband whose name was Gary,

And his lovely wife; her name was Sherrie.

And I also met a nice young Ben

Whose beautiful wife’s name was Jen.

And oh the sights I did behold

And not one person’s shoulder was cold.

For so many it was an outdoor day

With lots of work and not much play.

Families with children, some retired.

And all their dogs were inspired.

I offered to those who like to eat

A weekly box, filled with vegetable treats.

All they had to do was pay to receive

Farm fresh produce with dirt on their leaves.

I had a wonderful Sunday Sabbath today passing out information for the farm produce that will be delivered to our home one day a week throughout the growing season.  The people I spoke with were all so friendly and I so enjoyed talking to each one.  Each conversation was fresh and invigorating; especially when they shared bits of their life story.  I do so enjoying hearing new stories and meeting new people.  I could write a three or four page blog after this day.  But, since Sunday is only a poem day I will settle for this teaser poem and write more about this day on a later date.

Thank You God for all the wonderful people I met today.

Thank You God for this absolutely stupendously beautiful awesome day!

Good night and God bless you.

Saturday April 22 2017  THE JOURNEY

I PLAN TO EMBARK ON SUCH A JOURNEY

Kathleen Martens

April 22, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

I wonder why I write

When there are so many books to read.

If I were not on the computer

Upon others books I would feed.

Food for my brain

Languidly awaits my greedy hands.

And oh the stories I long to devour,

But other tasks my time demands.

Shelves and shelves sit burdened

Two rows deep once again.

I could only part with but a few

Because they are my waiting friends.

Some I know personally,

Some I just know by touch.

Others are still strangers

Singled out upon my hutch.

If I could live my heart’s desire

As far as my books are concerned,

I would sit and read each one,

Every story to be learned.

They would take me many places

And my imagination would soar.

And one thing for certain

I would never, ever be bored.

I would go across the ocean

And travel the eons of time.

And so many emotions I would experience

And my thoughts never confined.

Oh to read until my heart is content

Would be the gift that God would give.

Because reading His Word is my favorite

And it would teach me how to live.

So in my dreams and imagination

I plan to embark on such a journey,

And hopefully read to my heart’s content

Until I’m carried out on a gurney.

All the boxes and bags of books that I moved to the new library space are now unpacked.  There are boxes of books to donate and a couple of boxes set aside that I want to give to specific people.  I have two other boxes of books set aside and their destiny is yet undetermined. Unfortunately I still have about 10 boxes of sundry items I need to go through and sort.  I do not particularly look forward to that.  I will just tackle one box a day.  I will take little bites and make big inroads.  Much of it will probably be shredded and the rest filed.  I have stacks of typed poems that need to be put in three ring binders.  Someday I hope to have a collection of all of my handwritten poems typed in date order as well.  I already have stacks of printed poetry in three ringed binders.  Plus I have boxes of hand written poetry from my younger years that are yet to be sorted and hopefully edited and typed.  I wonder if anyone will want such a burden of words I will be leaving behind.

When I leave this world I suppose the gift of my poetry has served its purpose for me.  My poems tell my story.  And when my story ends perhaps my words will lend comfort, joy, and smiles as other continue living their stories.  I hope you enjoy reading the poems I publish because I certainly enjoy writing them.

Thank You God for all the poetry You place in my heart.

Thank You for all the wonderful words which others have written that sit upon my shelves waiting to be read.

Thank You for the abundance of gifted authors who study to know You better and then share their insights with others through their books.

And thank You Lord that I am so fortunate to have so many books.

GOD BLESS YOU!

Friday April 21 2017  CAN YOU PASS THIS TEST?

The following test is copied from a forward that was sent to me recently. 

Currently we have a plethora of information at our fingertips.  But, do we have it in our personal knowledge bank?   Is it necessary to have it relegated to memory since we can look it up any time we may need it?  Is the information even necessary to teach anymore?  In my opinion it seems perhaps the young people of today are not taught some of the basic fundamentals that we were taught years ago.  I know I wasn’t taught a lot of what was in this test.  And I remember when my kids were growing up there were gaps in what they were being taught from that which I was taught.  I read some of their curriculum in late middle school and high school and so much of the American history I was taught was no longer in our children’s school books.  I wonder what is being left out in today’s classrooms.  For one, I know that some schools are no longer teaching cursive penmanship.

I found this test to be quite interesting due to the versatility of questions asked and wondered how 8^th graders could pass such a test.  I don’t think an 8^th grader in today’s school system could do it.  Come to think of it I don’t think many college age students could pass it today.  I know I couldn’t.  I even had to look up some of the terminology used in the questions.  Many of the words were not available in Microsoft Word’s synonym finder so I resorted to a PAPER DICTIONARY!

One hundred years ago it was not unusual to stop attending school after the 8^th grade.  Lifestyles were different, farming was different, and many of the children were needed to work in order to help provide for their families or work on the farm.  If this was the 8^th grade test then I would be interested in reading the test that was given when one graduated from High School!

I cheated and looked up some of the questions online.  Read through the following questions and see how many you can answer.  Don’t cheat like I did!  I’d just like to know if it is actually possible for the average adult to know all the answers.

Go ahead, give it a try!

Following is the copied text:

“This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina, Kansas, USA. These questions were taken from the original examination on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, Kansas. Take the test and see if you would have graduated with the eighth grade class in 1895.

GRAMMAR (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph.
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of ‘lie,’ ‘play,’ and ‘run’
5. Define case; illustrate each case.
6 What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.
7 – 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

ARITHMETIC (Time, one hour 15 minutes)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. Deep, 10 feet Long, and 3 ft. Wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3,942 lbs, what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1,050 lbs for tare?
4. District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find the cost of 6,720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent per annum.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft long at $20 per metre?
8… Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.

U.S. HISTORY (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus .
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States …
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.

ORTHOGRAPHY (Time, one hour) * Do you even know what this is?
1. What is meant by the following: alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, and syllabication?
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: digraph, sub vocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals?
4. Give four substitutes for caret ‘u’.
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final ‘e.’ Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7 Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

GEOGRAPHY (Time, one hour)
1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America.
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St., Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco .
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.

How did you do? This test is an eye opening example of how education has evolved over the years.  Sounds to me like it could be going backwards.  I’m sure glad I didn’t have to take that test.

I’M VERY CONTENT

Kathleen Martens

April 21, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

If I could but hold

All I have learned.

Surely many diplomas

I would have earned.

My brain has acquired

Such a great deal

Over the course of my life

With such great zeal.

I have my thoughts

But I truly think

That now my brain

Possibly leaks.

And when I search

Thoughts play hide and seek,

And when I least expect it

Memory suddenly peaks.

Though thoughts may roam

Free in my head.

I’m very content!

Because I am not dead!

Thank You God that I can still recover information in my brain when I need it!

Thank You God that I can think.

Thank You God that I still have enough sense to be thankful for all You do for me and for all You provide for me.

GOOD NIGHT!

GOD BLESS YOU!

Thursday April 20 2017  SAYING GOODBYE TO FRIENDS

SAYING GOODBYE TO FRIENDS

Kathleen Martens

April 20, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

I can hardly pull myself away

From the fray

Of my books of yesterday.

Boxes and boxes of beloved friends,

Sorting never ends

Until my back no longer bends.

Memories flooding in such galore

Permeate from the floor,

And it seems there’s always more.

Just one more book I must peek

A whole box then I seek

And my back begins to freak.

Simple pleasure of such worth

A new story always birthed

Happy knowing there is no dearth.

Happy thoughts amidst the pain

I know it’s time to refrain

But my space I must regain.

Every book I cannot keep

But somehow, to me speaks

And together we silently weep.

I have spent the morning sorting which books to keep and which to give away.  I feel as if I am saying goodbye to long-time friends.  Realistically, my shelves are already full and I have only gone through less than a third of my books.  I still have about as many books left in my library as I have already shelved.  Not to mention that I have about 25 more boxes I’ve yet to go though in the main room.  My library closet is still full and behind my library door the books are stacked up to my mid-chest area (several rows of them).  Those should be easier for me to get rid of because they are mostly novels which I purchased at library book sales, garage sales, and second hand shops. 

The books I am keeping are my reference and spiritual study books, collections of Bibles, angel stories, short stories, poetry, Christmas stories, writer’s guides, and non-fiction books by Christian authors.  Oh yes, I mustn’t forget my collection of word books such as several different kinds of dictionaries, thesaurus’, and word finders.  I have a biographical dictionary, geographical dictionary, medical dictionary, rhyming dictionary, synonym dictionary, and several other kinds I can’t remember at present.  Some of them are over one hundred years old and have words in them that you can no longer find in modern dictionaries.  And of course, a lot of the definitions of the way words were used long ago no longer pertain to the meanings of today.  I love the old dictionaries and sometimes use them as a reference for the definition of a long lost word I want to use in my writings.

I have found out quite a lot about myself as I have sorted through these books.  I realize I have books that I have forgotten about and books that I wished I owned, I actually do own.  I think when one peruses another’s library much can be deciphered about the individual.  A personal library tells the inside scoop of what another feeds their heart.  I would definitely not be considered a scholar.  I think my library speaks of a softer, gentler world than of that which we live in today.  I also believe it shows I am a tender hearted woman who lives a bit in the past.  I love old books, old stories, and the way people wrote a hundred years ago.  I own no crime or horror novels.  I like to read non-fiction more than fiction.  If my books tell my story then it says I love spiritual growth books, history, biographies, cooking, poetry, Bibles, quotes, health books, and anything to do with angels and Christmas.  I own many true life books filled with short stories that show the miracles of God.  And my library also speaks in capital letters: this is a person who loves words, the study of words, and dictionaries. 

My books are well used, well marked, and some are falling apart from age or excessive use. Some I use over and over again year after year, other’s I refer to periodically and want them available at a moment’s notice.  I am starting out with all the books on shelves.  Give me one year and there will be spill-over around my study chair with books available within arm’s reach.  Messes to someone else; to me a little bit of heaven in arms reach.

For this to be a NO-BLOG day I guess I became a bit wordy. 

Thank You God for the bounty of all the books I own.

Thank You God that I am literate.

Thank You God that my eyes can still read with the help of glasses.

Thank You God for the book shelves I don’t own yet but need desperately.

Thank You God that words still make sense to me even if my words don’t necessarily make sense to others!

GOD BLESS YOU!

I am including Proverbs, chapter 4 from the New International Version. It is about a father speaking  to his son about wisdom. If you do not read the entire chapter PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF VERSE 23.  This is the verse I think of when I pick up something to read.

Proverbs 4 New International Version (NIV)

“Get Wisdom at Any Cost

Wednesday April 19 2017  TO LIVE AND SACRIFICE FOR THE GOOD OF ALL

Sorting books from my vast collection can become quite tedious.  However, to be truthful, I am enjoying it immensely.   Though I should probably be rushing through everything I am doing I have chosen to take my time and give consideration to each item I touch.  I sort for short periods of time and seem to tolerate the physical labor of bending and stooping by doing it this way.  I read every title, put like subjects together, and just keep building my stacks as I shelve and continue to sort. 

I have run across so many books that I hope to read some day (you know, when I get finished with all my work and have nothing else to do).  Today I came across the book “Elson-Gray Basic Readers, Book Six”, by William H. Elson and William S. Gray and Christine M. Keck, published in 1931.  It was obviously a curriculum book for the sixth grade class with 465 pages of small print and an occasional small hand-drawn illustration.  It had a book mark in it and I couldn’t help but turn to the page and read where the marker was. 

I thought it excellent reading and doubted if such a page could be found in a 6^th grade (or any other grade for that matter) reader in today’s current curriculum.  I decided to share it with you verbatim.

“Part Four

Young American Citizens

TRUE CITIZENS

(by) MARY E. MCDOWELL

God hath made all the nations of men, and we are His children, brothers and sisters all.  We are citizens of these United States and we believe our flag stands for self-sacrifice for the good of all the people.  We wish, therefore, to be true citizens of our great country, and will show our love for her by our works.

Our country asks us to live for her good; so to live and so to act that her government may be pure, her officers honest, and that every home within her boundaries shall be a place fit to grow the best kind of men and women to rule over her.”

My first impression was WOW! 

Now fast forward to present day.  Just recently the students of a certain college voted to no longer fly the American flag over their events.  Their reason, the flag offends them.  I suppose they no longer believe that our flag stands for “self-sacrifice for the good of all the people”.  The faculty left it up to the students to decide what they wanted to do.

God’s name is not to be mentioned in school settings, much less to declare that we are “His children…”  I don’t think there are any text books of today that would declare that statement.  After all, you never know who you might offend.

Other than private religious schools, who now teaches us to “be true citizens of our great country…”?  This statement gave me pause to wonder how many parents even discuss with their children the need to be “true citizens”?  I think it would be safe to say that I doubt if students are taught today “ to act that her government may be pure, her officers honest, and every home within her boundaries shall be a place fit to grow the best kind of men and women…”  So many children in our society today do not live in a “place fit to  grow the best kind of men and women…” so how would they even understand that concept?

I think we are lacking in each area discussed  regarding “TRUE CITIZENS”.  So many homes no longer fulfill the “traditional” ideology of a two parent home, self supporting, god fearing, and with each accepting responsibility for their own actions.  I will venture to go so far as to say not all parents guide their children to show “our love for her (our country) by our works”.  

The way I perceive it, somewhere along the way we have become a lost nation and it appears we are losing our children in the process.  And “lost children” will raise more lost children.

TO LIVE AND SACRIFICE FOR THE GOOD OF ALL

Kathleen Martens

April 19, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

It is so true that God is our Father

But so many don’t even bother

To know the Creator who made all,

And therefore never think on His name to call.

We are his children, Sisters and Brothers,

Fathers and Sons, Daughters and Mothers.

Regardless our color, background, or place

We should love one another, with a smile on our face.

And as such citizens of such a great nation

We should bond tightly together with elation.

We should stand in support, under one flag

Through turmoil and peace, both the good and the bad.

To live and sacrifice for the good of all,

To uphold our government so it will not fall.

To live pure and honest in a fallen world

Instead of insults constantly being hurled.

But in its place the world is full of hate and sin

Our doors must be locked so others can’t get in.

What should we expect when we don’t open our heart’s door

To accept God’s love, and so much more?

Thank You God that my life has not always been lived in a time of such political turmoil.

Thank You God that I am confident in Your love.

Thank You God that you have taken all anger and hatred from my heart.

Thank You God for blessing our country for so many years.

GOD BLESS YOU!