Friday December 8 2017  OH SO SWEET

 

In the past I have diligently tried to have all the business of the Christmas season completed before December begins.  If I am putting up a tree I want it trimmed before December 1^st (and sometimes as early as October) so that I am free for all the events and festivities that spring up during the last two months of the year.  With all that has taken place during these past few months I decided several weeks ago that this would be a year when all the extra decorating, cooking, parties, and such would be set aside.  Not because I am a party-pooper, but because I needed to have a period of rest and quiet in my life. 

 

My pace is now slower as I am not forging forward at a hundred miles per hour each day.  Instead I am indulging in experiencing retirement (my definition of retirement) for the first time.  I am getting up when I want (which is between 4:00 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.), spending as much time as I desire studying God’s work and having my quiet time with the Lord, going to the gym at whatever time suits me each day, and being more open to connecting with friends.

 

Up to this point retirement meant doing more than twice what I did when I worked.  I actually do not know how I even had time to work when I was running my photography business because after I retired I was still busy every single moment of each day.  When I worked at my job I stayed awake way too late (trying to get more things accomplished), and then always rushing…rushing…rushing.

 

I keep thinking I may actually be able to watch some Hallmark movies this season.  I did watch one and I must admit it was not any easier to sit still for the duration of the pre-recorded movie than it was way back when I was a busy working woman.  There is always something I’d rather do than watch television.  But, I may just try again.

 

So, no Christmas tree or holiday lights around the house.  But in my heart there is a light that shines brighter and brighter each day.  It is the connection I am forging with my Savior whose birthday we celebrate this season.  My time is focused on relationship and knowing God personally through His amazing Word.  It is time well spent.  If I am still living when another Christmas rolls around I may consider decorating once again.  But right now, I am adorning my heart with a deeper understanding of who GOD IS.    It says in the scripture that we are to engrave His Word on the tablets of our heart.  Even though my house is not decorated, my heart is being chiseled and embellished by HIS WORD.

 

And now I have time to watch the sunrise each morning.

 

OH SO SWEET

Kathleen Martens

December 8, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

 

Night is over – rest complete

Darkness of morning

A special treat.

 

Window view – black as night

I stand in reverence

To witness the light.

 

Ever so quiet – in stillness born

The morning dawn

From darkness torn.

 

Hint of change – silhouettes stare

Through pink and orange

Now are there.

 

The hush – as blackness falls

Morning’s glory sweetly returns

Once again answering God’s call.

 

All the wonder – magic of creation

Speaks in secret

Instilling elation.

 

Oh, so sweet – to witness again

The miracle of God…

A new day begins.

 

Thank You God for each miracle You show me each day.

Thank You God that I can see in color.

Thank You God for stilling my heart.

Thank You God that I can be a blessing to others.

Thank You Father for loving me so perfectly.

 

Good night and God bless You!

 

P.S.   For some bonus poetry keep reading:

 

FIRST SNOWFLAKES

Kathleen Martens

December 7, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

 

First snowflakes of the season

Frolic in the breeze

Languidly testing their freedom,

Learning to float with ease.

 

Cold and crisp winter winds blow

Laughing at what’s to come,

Reminding the earth it is time to sleep;

Short days and little sun.

 

TO KNOW MORE OF YOU

Kathleen Martens

December 6, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

 

I love You Lord

Even when days are askew.

I know You are with me

All the day through.  

 

But I long for quiet;

An interlude with the King of kings,

a time of personal intimacy

That sets my heart to sing.

 

And in these quiet moments

Mysteries of You revealed

As I long to know more of You

When in Your presence I kneel.

 

Scroll down to view my final bookshelf that is now in it rightful place.

 

 

 

 

Saturday December 2 2017  AN EMAIL BLOG

Nothing like plagiarizing myself to write a blog.  I sent my sister an email a couple of days ago.  She responded back on the page I emailed so I re-read my email and thought I might use part of it as my blog as a way of letting my readers finally hear what is going on in my life.  Here is sister’s email (in part):

I didn’t know I could still be so busy without writing a blog.  I do intend to start up again but this time of the year is exceptionally challenging.  I do find myself doing more things I have wanted to do.  And as I age I realize I am getting a bit slower and more deliberate as I do tasks.  It is actually a more enjoyable way to live. 

 

I’m spending more time journaling in the morning (it includes my time with the scriptures), trying to do less cooking by eating more from the freezer, staying home all day on Wednesday as my “DAY OFF”, and slowing getting things back to order that have been neglected the last few months.  We are not trimming a tree this year as we had one last year and Christmas comes around way too quickly to do it each year!  However, we do celebrate the birth of Christ with great attention!

 

I have enough to do to keep me busy for the rest of my born days.  And I am thankful for all I have to do.  And I am so thankful that I can do what I do. 

 

I have missed emailing you and hearing from you (written to my sister and now including my blog readers). One thing I do not do is go to my computer but once or twice a week.  I’d just as soon give up all social media, (computer, telephone, iPhone, etc.) and just go back to the slow paced way of life decades past when mail was the highlight of the day.  But I’m sure life was just as busy and complicated then as it is now, just in different ways.

 

(Question to my sister referring to the photo albums I delivered to California) Have you had a chance to look at any additional albums?  I haven’t even opened the boxes packed with photos from your house.  It won’t happen until next year with all that we have on our agenda.  We’ll have the boys the week of Christmas because Court and Amy must work and the boys are out of school.  It will be fun, tiring, and greatly enjoyed.  So I must get things ready for them.  I asked if they could just stay here instead of going back and forth.  Don’t know for certain in that will work out for them (they miss the boys when they don’t see them).

 

We had such a grand time in Branson.  I took a lot of craft supplies down and we (the boys and me) had a grand time creating artwork of various kinds.  They are both creative and made things (3 dimensional) with recyclables from the trash.  Plus I had lots of colored paper, scissors, glues, glitter, buttons, and a myriad of other means with which to create.  We ate too much, went to a lot of places and I had ice cream THREE TIMES!  We went to your (my sister’s) greatest nightmare (an amusement park).  AND…on the day after Thanksgiving!  It was wall to wall people.  AWFUL!!!  I separated from the group and went my own way.  Dave, Court and Zach played together because Zach is tall enough to go on adult rides.  Amy took Xander to the kiddy park.  I went to two show productions, ate my bag lunch sitting on a stone wall watching people, and thoroughly enjoyed my predicament.  I had my eyes full just watching the people and what they ate!  It was truly amazing.  I couldn’t even recognize most of the food.  We did not buy our food at the park and believe me it was a good thing we brought our own food.  What I saw being eaten was atrocious; coated in thick batters glistening and dripping with fats.  It was actually quite an experience to sit back and watch the spectacle taking place around me. 

 

Well…enough of my escapades.  Must go to bed and I am already late (written on the night I sent email).  See what the computer does to me.  I’ve been in bed by 9:00 a.m. most nights and tonight I have blown it all because of trying to get caught up on all the computer things that needed to be done.  As computers become more complicated (with the pretense they are being simplified) it becomes more difficult for us “old folks” to learn new programs as our brains do not quite re-program as easily as they did years ago.  But, I finally accomplished what I needed to do (computer-wise).  And you should see my messy desk; no, on the other hand. You SHOULD NOT SEE MY MESSY DESK.  Oh well, “after all, tomorrow is another day…”  I hope I live to see it!

 

The above is the end of my revised email to sister.  Easiest and quickest blog I’ve ever written.  Today is actually Saturday and it is not yet 10:00 a.m.  I was up at 4:00 a.m. (which has now become my usual wake up time).  Being up so early makes my day awesome.  It is dark and quiet; and I feel like solitude wraps around me like a down comforter.  Perhaps that is so because as I sit down in the darkness of morning I actually do wrap myself in my royal blue velvet down blanket.  It is awesome!  I have had the pleasure to witness some of the most beautiful sunrises recently.  And I usually have the joy of the late afternoon sunsets in spectrum of reds, blues, and whites.  I love the shorter daylight hours!

I have missed blogging tremendously but have enjoyed the hours in the mornings writing in my journal.  I think my poetry is more thoughtful and I so enjoy writing it by hand.  However, I am months behind now of transcribing my journal poetry into paper copies for my binders.  That is yet to come, but I will do it. 

Below is the poem I wrote this morning.  Short, but meaningful to me.

 

IN ALL THAT I DO

Kathleen Martens

December 2, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry .com

 

I awaken each morning

Acknowledging God’s love.

I bask in His presence

That flows from above.

 

I live in God’s glory

But there is more I desire,

That my mission would be…

Others see God in me.

 

I choose to live each day

As I seek to follow His will,

That His outpouring love

My heart will fill.

 

That my purpose for living

And all that I do

Proves to others

That God is true.

 

The above poem was inspired by Jonathan Cahn’s book THE BOOK OF MYSTERIES Day 54.

 

Following is the poem on wrote on November 30, 2017.

 

Random Thank You(s)

Kathleen Martens

November 30 2017

www.visionsofpoetry

 

Thank You God

For the beauty of each hour,

Your magnificence and power,

For Your mysteries yet to come,

Amazing grace through Your son.

 

Thank You God

For Your protection through the night;

The beauty of an eagle’s flight.

The delicate flutter of butterfly wings…

And the joy my heart sings.

 

Thank You God

For raspberries, grapes, and honey,

Your creative beauty, days that are sunny.

And the wind and rain

Giving life; for earths gain.

 

Thank You God

For music dancing in my ears;

For Your voice my heart hears;

For Your song sung deep within;

For redemption from sin.

 

Thank You God

For mercy and grace and peace of mind

And being a God so loving and kind.

With unending compassion you call Your own

That we will gather around Your throne.

 

Thank You God!

 

Have a great day!

GOD BLESS YOU!