Monday February 8 2016  THE ILLUSIVE DAY

When a Monday as busy as this one comes, it makes me happy to know that Tuesday is getting closer.  That is, until I look at Tuesday’s schedule.  Remember what I told you about appointments in a recent blog?  We had one full week of appointment after appointment that we had to take care, and it seems that this week is trying to get that way.  When we finish with all the work on the interior rebuild, hopefully it will settle down a bit.

Today, an unexpected tooth problem caused an extra appointment which I wasn’t counting on.  Tomorrow’s extra appointment has to do with signing contracts on the work being done on the house.  Wednesday was my only day that was preplanned, and it is an all-day affair.  We fit the new  appointments in-between other appointment that we already had to put on the calendar because of unexpected circumstances that happened last week and must be taken care of this week.  So, now we have the new unexpected, between last weeks unexpected, that had to be put on for this week. Plus, tonight there is another event that is only happening tonight that we penciled on the calendar last week.  So some of the appointments were preplanned, others just popped up.

So I said all that to say this, I don’t have time to write a blog today because we must leave soon and will not arrive home until late.  We must be up by 5:30 or 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning to make tomorrow work for us.   I’ll find out tomorrow what is to be done about my torn rotator cuff.  For the last two weeks we have been hoping for a couple of hours to be available to us that would allow us time to go to the theater.  That possibility keeps getting postponed.  We very rarely go to the movies, but this is a movie Dave and I would like to see.  It is titled “The Finest Hours”.  A true story about a rescue at sea.  I’ll let you know if we get to see it before it leaves the theater.

 

THE ILLUSIVE DAY

By Kathleen Martens

February 8, 2016

 

So simple it is to book a day

When the future is unforeseen.

But much more complicated to maneuver,

With life that happens in-between.

 

Just to see a page that is empty

On my calendar sheet,

Is something I would love to accomplish,

But such an unbelievable feat.

 

So I plan with utmost care

To cross off days in advance,

And protect them with all of my might

By the very seat of my pants!

 

But alas, they are far apart,

For something always wiggles in.

And my expectations once again dissolve

For what, just might have been.

 

Just a day, home all alone.

So I can fritter away my time.

To stay in my housecoat all day long

Would be mighty sublime.

 

When I am frittering all by myself

I accomplish so very much,

Because I do just what I enjoy

Such as sorting, writing, and such.

 

And sometimes I enjoy cooking,

And then lie down for an hour.

Just to have a blank schedule

Imbues me with so much power!

 

But if it is not to be

I will do what must be done.

Because on Sunday I’m having a party

And it will be a lot of fun.

 

There you have it!  The synopsis of my week with most of the details left out.  Too much to go into tonight.  Besides, after our evening out, I may have even more interesting things to talk about tomorrow!  That is…if I have time to write a blog.

 

Good night and God bless all of you.

 

P.S.  RIGHT NOW I AM FULL OF THINGS TO SAY BUT I MUST REFRAIN SO I CAN GET READY TO LEAVE! 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Sabbath February 7 2016  MY DAY OF REST

Writing a blog is not always a piece of cake to do.  Especially when I think I should come up with something enlightening to write about; something that will cause others to pause and think about.  365 days in a year.  365 different topics. Or…with a mind as old as mine, I probably forget about what I’ve written in the past.  Then I just write something on the same topic again.  And if I do, it probably won’t matter, because not everyone reads it every day.   I can just hope that if my blog is a repeat, the reader either hasn’t read it before, or has a mind like mine, and just forgot that it had already been written.

Well, today it won’t be a repeat.  Being Sunday I have new fodder; today’s sermon.  And what a message it was.  We had a guest speaker, Ed Ainsworth, who spoke on the topic, “I MUST”.  He was a passionate and dynamic speaker.  His sermon may be listened to by going to:  citychurchonline.org

The sermon touched on how we, as Christians, sometimes settle living our lives with an “I should” mentality, when God desires and directs us through His Word, that we should live, with an “I MUST” mentality.  There are values in our lives that WE MUST do instead of making excuses by saying I SHOULD do.  Ainsworth is a global speaker with a message to the young.  He actually is a guest speaker in public schools speaking on the values of living a life of sexual purity.  Below is his web address and an excerpt from his web page.  If you have children or grandchildren growing up in today’s environment of “anything goes” perhaps you should listen to some of what he says for ideas on how to teach sexual purity to your adolescents and teens.  He has some very interesting videos and resources you may find helpful.

http://www.whiteheartcommunications.com/

The mission of Whiteheart Communications for the last fifteen years has been to help students make the choices that will make their lives better.  Ed (Sex Ed as he is known) and Connie Ainsworth have devoted the last twenty-six years of their lives to the youth culture.  Traveling over the United States and to other countries, Ed has found that teens are dealing with the same issues everywhere.   Ed and Connie believe that students will make choices that will make their lives better if they are given the right information and the right motivation.

If I had more time today I would outline his sermon here but I think you would receive much more benefit by listening online.

 

MY DAY OF REST

By Kathleen Martens

February 7, 2016

 

Today is my day of rest

To worship my God and King,

Our Father who art in heaven

Are words to Him I sing.

 

So holy is His Name.

Into this world His kingdom will come,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Through His blessed son.

 

He provides daily

For all of our needs,

Both physical and spiritual

From His hand we feed.

 

And He forgives

All of our sins,

As we forgive

Friends and kin.

 

He leads us not into temptation

And delivers us from evil.

For His is the kingdom,

And He overcomes upheaval.

 

And He will reign forever

In His light and His glory!

And on the Sunday Sabbath

Generations will share His story.

 

I now will go and continue my day of rest.  May you all be blessed, on this day of our Lord.

 

Saturday February 6 2016  WHEN THE CAT’S AWAY THE MOUSE WILL PLAY

Today, I was the mouse!  Dave has been gone all day long to a men’s retreat so this little mouse just let the day get away. 

On Saturdays I usually go to the gym without Dave.  What that means is, if I meet someone who wants to talk and visit (while not exercising), I can do so.  On the days we go together I try to stay on task because what I do always takes more time than what Dave does.  He doesn’t stay for the hydro massage when he is done and I ALWAYS DO!  Uh oh, now you found out why I really go work out.  I do it for the massage table time!  Yeah!!!  When Dave is not with me I don’t need to rush.  When we are together I try to finish up so he doesn’t have to wait for me.  But…when he’s away, I can play!

Well, today there just happened to be an even better reason for taking so long.  I met a beautiful young lady and we started talking.  And we talked, and talked.  When we separated I actually had to do another round of warm-up exercises before I could start my work out.  I didn’t ask if I could share her name so I will just share a little bit about the conversation, or at least the reason for the conversation.

I wonder if you have ever heard the phrase, “divine appointment”.  It is when timing coincides just perfectly for two people to meet, exactly when they are supposed to meet.  Sort of like what happened when I met Dave 44 years ago.  Well today was one of those divine appointments.  The young lady I spoke to today felt the same way.  She said the words I spoke to her today were purposed for her to hear this very day.  She was needing encouragement to continue on her goals of training, workouts, and weight loss incentive.  She didn’t say it in those words but I am improvising a long conversation into a few short sentences. 

When I first saw her I knew there was something special about her.  She had such a beautiful smile and her face just glowed.  During our conversation we discovered that we both love the Lord and desire His will for our lives.  What I recognized on her face was God’s countenance.  Somehow when two spirits such as ours meet, we recognize God’s presence in each other.  For some reason I believe our “chance encounter” was more than just chance, and will develop into a relationship on some level.  It may just be seeing each other at the gym, or becoming lifelong friends.  I am open for whatever God wants our relationship to be. 

As I listened to a sermon the other day while working out, the minister was saying how very important it is that WE CHOOSE OUR FRIENDS CAREFULLY.  Those you spend time with, you become like them.  I believe most parents see that also happening as their children become involved with other children.  We as parents try to steer our children away from those we  think may be a bad influence on them.  The same goes for adults as well. 

I remember as a young child zeroing in on certain other kids and deciding who I wanted for a friend.  Several of those friends stand out in my mind.  Arlene in Kindergarten,  Albert from our apartment complex (and we are still friends for over 60 years now), my friend Nancy Gail from Junior High (all the way through High School), and my friend Sue who was new to our church when I was in College (she was my maid of honor and has been a cherished  friend all these years).  And I certainly remember zeroing in on Dave on Saturday, October 28, 1972, before I had even been introduced to him.  And we’ve now been married almost 43 years.  And everyone of those friends that I chose had a profound reason in my life’s journey. 

Later, it seemed that I went through a season where others were choosing me as their friend.  This was discussed in conversations with each of them over the years.  They picked me and did not give up until I was their friend.  Sometimes I resisted at first, but they all became tried and true friends.  The first was Judy in Southern Calfornia (who is now with the Lord), the next was Sandra, and though we live states apart we are still close and email and chat.  And then it was time for me to pick.  But the one I picked could not stand me.  However…she ended up being one of the best friends  for over eighteen years before she went to be with the Lord in 2005.  Her name was Barb.  And then there is my friend Sherry.  If I remember correctly she picked me and won me over into her court.  A better friend would be hard to find.  She is selfless, giving, and speaks her mind (which I sometimes need to hear).  She is still near and dear to my heart and I can hardly wait for her to retire at the end of this school year!  I think we could get into a bit of mischief if given the chance.

 

And sometimes God just picks my friends for me.  One of the first times I believe it was a mutual connection.  I saw her at church standing with her husband by her side in a dimly lit room full of Christmas decorations at a Prime Time event. There was just something that drew me toward them.   Little did I know what would take place in our hearts from that point forward.  Not only did I get one of a best friends for life, but Dave was also blessed with a friend.  My friend Lana and her husband now live many miles away, but forever there is a connection between us.  And then there was another such connection.  Again, I was at prime time when I looked up and saw her across the room.  I believe God whispered in my heart that I was to be her friend.  Her name was Rose Marie.  Oh, what a wonderful gift God gave me that night.  She connected with my heart the first moment I saw her.  She was so full of the Love of the Lord that she just radiated His persona.  She too, is now with the Lord. 

And on another unsuspecting morning when I was hosting a women’s event in our living room I looked outside and a group of women came walking up my sidewalk.  One of the ladies I had never seen before.  Before she got to the door I had that same tug on my spirit that a new friend was walking into my life.  And Judy V. still lives close by. 

The friends I mentioned above from Junior high on are from different areas, different states, different backgrounds, but all having one thing in common.  And that “thing” is actually a “who”.  Every one of them love the Lord.  Yes, I have friends who do not believe spiritually as I do, and they too are special and I love them dearly.  It is just that we don’t socialize as much, or do as much together.  We spend the most time with those whom we have the most in common with.  They are the ones who we influence, and who influence us, to become more like each other.

And today, I think I met a very special lady who I think I would enjoy developing a friendship with.  I am more than twice her age so she may not have the same idea.  But that’s okay.  If God wants us to be friends, we’ll be friends.  It may be for a long time or it may just be for a while.  God has purposely brought many friends into my life for short term relationships.  One older friend I had for many years told me “ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU MAKE SOME FRIENDS WHO ARE YOUNGER THAN YOURSELF”.  An older lady told that to her as she lived to be very old and one by one all the friends in her life died off and she had no one left.  I think that is excellent wisdom. 

There are many more friends that have influenced me as well.  So many have come and gone.  Their mission in my life completed or my mission in theirs fulfilled.  It doesn’t mean they are no longer important, because sometimes the briefest influence can have the most lasting results.  I thank God for all the people he has brought into my life over the years that have helped me through my journey of life.  I just hope I have helped others as well.

 

FRIENDS ARE GOD’S GIFT TO US

By Kathleen Martens

February 6, 2016

 

Friendships come and friendships go,

Time and distance span the years.

And death comes to knock at the door

Leaving those behind with tears.

 

But there is a reason friendships develop

For even a short period of time.

Perhaps there is work in the heart to be done

And for that friend it’s easy to find.

 

And when that friend’s mission is complete,

God may bring someone else to the door.

For God provides just who is needed

That can reach deep into our core.

 

And you may be the secret angel

That God places in another’s world,

To touch a place in their heart

That only you can help unfurl.

 

Thank God daily for those in your life

Who lend their strength with a helping hand.

A friend is one who is willing to give

Assistance to help you stand.

 

Our friends are God’s gift to us,

Be ready and willing to believe

There is always a reason he brings two together,

So be gracious, and with love receive.

 

Good night and God bless you.

 

If you haven’t heard from an old friend for a while, stop and give them a call.  Friends are great treasures!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday February 5 2016  A SHORT MEANDERING

VERY SHORT BLOG TODAY!  I promise you.  Today is a very busy day and my moments of use are actually scheduled on a note paper in the kitchen so I will not fall behind (all time sensitive), including this blog.  I have one hour from start to finish.  After I sign off writing it usually takes about another half hour for proofing and publishing.  Often times I publish before I proof it because it is easier for me to find the mistakes when I read it on my cell phone.  Then, I go back into the computer and correct the mistakes I find.  Dave then reads it and I correct more mistakes, and then I usually receive a helpful email from my sister the next day and she find a few more bloopers.  I am grateful for every mistake brought to my attention so I can correct it.  

So, I have no specific topic today but would like to ramble a bit.  First of all, Dave discovered the fact that my “Fun Facts” may not all be exactly correct.   He discovered that the Happy Birthday Song, “Fun Fact” was incorrect.  I was going to put the Wikipedia explanation here, but decided to just give you the web address so you can check it out if you are interested in the TRUE FACTS!  It is interesting to read.

Perhaps I shall do a little investigation before quoting something I read in an email “Forward”!  Sorry for the misinformation.  Disregard my “FACT”.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Birthday_to_You

 

The one thing I do know, is that anything I quote from the Word of God is certainly a TRUE FACT!

I had a delightful morning reading God’s word, praying, writing, and listening to old hymns.  My music of choice today was a CD produced by David Hollandsworth.  Though the hymns were all favorites of days gone by, every one of them were still as vibrant and meaningful now, as they were when I was growing up, and in some cases, for the last century or two.  David normally composes his own music scores, but I was pleasantly surprised to know he presented the old hymns in the melodies of old.  So many of the old hymns are now being cannibalized with different tunes, beats, and sometimes even changing the words.  Oh how I long to hear the hymns as they were first written.  The copyright has expired on most of them and I suppose anyone can take any part of a song and change it to their liking.  This morning I listened to the tried and true of yesteryear and enjoyed every moment.  I actually pulled out my old hymnal and looked up each song and sang along!  My Dave was not home this morning so I could sing as loud as I wanted, without being self-conscious. 

David Hollandsworth and his daughter voiced the songs.  The name of the album is “PEACE LIKE A RIVER, A Collection of Classic Hymns”.  He has produced some of the finest music I have ever listened to and it is heard in many parts of the world.  Chances are you may have even heard a commercial, U-Tube productions, or some other venue which he composed and produced.  He actually composes customized music for productions.  You can get in touch with his website at:  

www.davidhollandsworth.com

Below is the poem I wrote this morning while listening to his music.  The album I listened to while I composed the poem is called “TIMELESS”.  It is my very favorite album!  While traveling last year I listened to Hollandsworth’s scores over and over.  I still listen them and it seems as if they are new each time I do.

 

LIVING GOD’S PRECEPTS

By Kathleen Martens

February 5, 2016

 

Oh wondrous love

Holy Spirit Provides.

Living His precepts

His Word Abides.

 

His Amazing grace

He showers down.

Mercy overflows

And freedom abounds.

 

Oh that I

Walk His Word

As an open Bible,

In action heard.

 

That His wondrous love

Others will desire,

So they too

For our Lord aspire.

 

This poem was inspired through the music of David Holllandsworth and Psalms 119.

 

I will refrain from additional Fun Facts until I have time to verify what I am printing.  Instead I will tell you about a tip that I read in an amazing book, years ago.  The book title is:

“1,628 COUNTRY SHORTCUTS”

From 1,628 Country People

Edited by Roy Reiman

Published in 1996

 

I have no idea what page it is on so I will just tell you about it.

If you use a dishcloth in your kitchen to wash dishes with or to wipe down counters, be sure you rinse it thoroughly in COLD water and leave out to dry.  Your dishcloth will no longer have an odor.  The premise being, the bacteria cannot grow unless the cloth was rinsed in hot water.

I have done this for years and it absolutely works for me.  I just spread the cloth on the divider between my two sinks and run cold water on it.  I don’t wring it out, but let it air dry.  But just to let you know, I do change my cloth quite frequently. 

So this is not a “Fun Fact” but it is a trick that I know works!

 

My clock is ticking, so I sign off with 13 minutes left to proof and publish.

 

HAVE A GREAT DAY!  GOD BLESS ONE AND ALL!

 

 

 

 

Thursday February 4 2016  GRADUAL DECLINING YEARS

Just a few moments ago I sat down to write an email.  The Sun was shining so brightly in my eyes I had to drop the mini blinds so I could see the screen.   I wrote the email, got up to make a phone call, came back into the sunroom about six or seven minutes later and to my huge surprise the snow was coming down in buckets.  Great big, fat, beautiful snowflakes, gently stirred by the shifting of the wind.  I took a video of the cascading snow but I don’t know how to send videos to my blog site.  It is so beautiful I wish you could see it.  Of course I immediately pulled the blind up so I could sit here and enjoy my panoramic view.  I felt like I was in a snow globe.

What did I say the other day?  If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes!  This is what I was talking about.  Well it might be best for us if it changes back to the way it was.  Five minutes of snowing would be just fine with me.    

I am reading an interesting and enlightening book by Joan Chittister called, “THE GIFT OF YEARS”.  I am thoroughly enjoying it.  Her topic is about the later years of life and the gift they are to us.  It is beautifully written and confirms a lot of the attitudes I have about aging, as well as opening my eyes to even greater possibilities ahead.  Each chapter begins with a famous quote.  One quote I would like to share is a quote from “Seneca”.  I have never read anything Seneca has written but I have heard about him.  I looked him up on the internet to have a better understanding of who he was.  Here is an excerpt from the website:

Seneca

“Born

Cordoba, Spain 

Lucius Annaeus Seneca (often known simply as Seneca) (ca. 4 BC – 65 AD) was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to Emperor Nero.” 

Here are his words:

“As for old age,” Seneca said, “embrace and love it. It abounds with pleasure if you know how to use it.  The gradually declining years are among the sweetest in life…Even when they have reached the extreme limit they have their pleasure.”

The above quote was the opening line for the Chapter on “JOY” in Joan Chittister’s book.

Now I expect (and hope) to have many more years ahead of me, but even during the “youth of my old age” his statement makes so much sense.  For one reason, I have already tasted a bit of what he was referring to.  As I reflectively look back to last year, I must admit, stepping out of my comfort zone to take a journey across part the United States, afforded me some of the sweetest pleasure I have experienced in my entire life.  I did exactly what Seneca stated.  I looked for the pleasure and the sweetness as I began the journey of becoming “older”. I stepped out and embraced my age, loving the days of exploring alone.  It was so much more than just an exploration of cities and mountains, rivers and oceans.  It was an exploration within myself.  It was a time of questions.  Questions I didn’t know if I could answer.  My trip challenged me to go forward into the unknown of self.  Who did I think I was to believe that I could do what I set out to do?  It was a challenge to the self I knew, from the self I did not know.  Just in case you are wondering, I think I passed with flying colors.  I actually remember thinking about the fact that I was embracing who I was, and I was determined to love every moment of every day.  I especially like the way Seneca couched the words “The GRADUALLY declining years…”  I think that makes the years ahead sound ever so much sweeter still.  I like the word “gradual”.

There was a new freedom I experienced that I had never experienced before.  I still had pressures and deadlines, but they were pressures and deadlines of my choices,  of my planning.  I had never before experienced the freedom of becoming something more than what was always expected of me.  I was a mother, a wife, a worker, a business owner, involved in so many different areas, from church to small groups, volunteering, speaking, keeping up with all the intricacies of life such as appointments, upkeep, cooking, cleaning, and who knows what else.   I never before had the total freedom to explore, both the outer world around me and my own inner world that existed somewhere deep inside of me.  There were times when I surprised myself.

I think I discovered just how important a positive attitude is.  We sometimes do not give enough credence to how much is affected by our attitude, our outlook on life.  I do not know a time when I ever felt as invigorated and alive as I did those four months I was gone.  In essence, I was on my own.  I had a new responsibility.  The responsibility to look after myself.  Sounds easy enough, but I found that it also needed to be underlined with all the wisdom I could muster.  From my very first night on the road I began to have my eyes opened in a way I never expected.  I found that everything boiled down to ATTITUDE.  I had quite an experience that happened on my very first night.  I have not yet written about it.  It is quite a story that I may choose to share with my readers at a later date.  However I bring it up here because that very first night set the entire precedence of my attitude for the remaining days that loomed ahead.  I truly believe God gave me the wisdom I needed to make the right decision that first night, and it fortified me with such peace and strength.  I believe it set the precedence of every day following.  And it all had to do with ATTITUDE.   The attitude of telling myself every single day that I COULD DO IT!  My attitude spoke loud and clear to the new SELF that was emerging.  Because of the attitude I chose, my new self just blossomed, affecting every area of my life.  My attitude gave me vitality, and very rarely did I even get fatigued.  I felt extremely healthy, slept soundly on every bed, couch, toddler bed, air mattress, and every other kind of bed you can think of, waking up refreshed, with no aches and no pains.  And I don’t ever remember one sleepless night.

It would take me a long time to share all I have learned while on my journey.  Hopefully, as situations and memories come up, I will be able to capture them in my blog as a reminder to myself and to share with my readers.  It is only you, it is only me, that can make the decision how we are going to enter into the “gradually declining years”.  I choose to embrace them.  I choose to allow them to teach me all that I have yet to learn.  I choose to not regret the past and to carry no unforgiveness with me toward anyone. As I travel these last years of my journey I plan to squeeze every bit of sweetness and joy out of every remaining year.  What do you choose?

I also choose to continue making plans for my future.  I choose to learn how to use the years I have left to better know who I am, to have a closer relationship with my Lord, to love others in ways I have never been able to do in the past, because of time constraints, and to allow each day to change its course if necessary, teaching me the art of adaptation.  Never once have I asked, nor do I intend to ask, “What will I do with my time”?  Rather I will ask, “How will I ever accomplish all I desire to do in the time I have?”  I don’t see the years looming ahead as a fearful place to go, like walking into the unknown.  I will embrace the unknown, I will follow the path that I believe God has set before me, and I will challenge myself daily to do whatever must be done. 

At the present, my life is on a journey to rid myself of the baggage of the past, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.  I am enjoying every moment of it.  It is causing me to reflect on thoughts that I have had to put on the back shelf for many years.  As I touch and re-examine each item in my house, I must make a decision to either discard, donate, or keep.  As I consider the fate of all the “things”, memories come flooding back.  And when that happens, I embrace those memories.  I am on a journey.  A journey of release, a journey of going forward.  It is something I choose to do.  It is something I NEED to do.  Along with my de-cluttering  I am rejoicing in the past, just as I am anticipating, that which is yet to come.

 

MY GREATEST TREASURE IS YET TO COME

By Kathleen Martens

February 4, 2016

 

Time has a way of sneaking past,

The hours wriggling away.

The hands of the clock keep ticking by,

With no amount of cajoling will stay.

 

Peanut butter sandwiches and jelly globs,

I thought would last forever.

Always something to do for toddlers,

I thought I was eternally tethered.

 

Babyhood days are now long past

As are Scouts and marching band.

No more fingers reaching up,

To hold a stronger hand.

 

And the frazzle of teen years,

Somehow passed without regrets.

So many things to teach the young,

So their values were righteously set.

 

Then young adults, college and marriage,

And the house became empty and quiet.

The hustle and bustle was all gone,

Peace and calm replaced the riot.

 

More years of work, slaving away

For the almighty dollar.

Always planning for what was to come,

Sometimes wanting to holler.

 

Those days too, finally ended,

Opening a new world of wonder.

There were no bells or whistles,

Or a band resounding thunder.

 

Because of a simple date on a calendar,

No longer part of the working throng.

With the future looming ahead,

Where did we now belong?

 

The alarm no longer set to ring

To signal the hour at hand.

For the first time in adult life,

Our work was no longer in demand.

 

The past was over, no more commute.

Each day packaged as a gift.

Ours to plan, and ours to dream,

And through memories now to sift.

 

And the future holds a promise

Like a late flower waiting to bloom.

And for the first time in our hearts

Our dreams have lots of room.

 

We rejoice in our past, as we look forward

To all that awaits our pleasure.

Our gradually declining years, 

Are yet, are greatest treasure.

Proverbs 16:31  Living Bible

^“ White hair is a crown of glory and is seen most among the godly.”

 

 FUN FACTS:

Warner Communications paid $28 million for the copyright to the song Happy Birthday.

My comment:  I wish I had been the one to write that song!

 

Good night and God bless you!

Wednesday February 3 2016  OUT OF TOUCH

It is always so difficult to publicly confess my shortcomings.  But today I have a confession to make.  I am out of touch with reality.  Not every aspect of reality!  The discovery of being out of touch happened this morning when I read the food ads in the newspaper.  You see, we only take the Wednesday and Sunday paper because it usually takes me all week to just get through those.  Usually I throw away most food adds because I know where I like to shop that consistently has the best pricing.  My favorite place for small items, fresh items, in season items, and often organic items, is a little hole in the wall store, called Aldi’s.  I don’t believe it is a national chain, however I did come across a few Aldi’s in other states.  Perhaps some of my readers may be aware of Aldi’s, or even shop there in their own hometown.

Today I read several ads from other stores.  The price differences amazed me.  Especially when I opened Hy-Vee’s “sale” paper.  I just couldn’t imagine spending so much money on some of the exact same products that I can buy so much more affordable at Aldi’s.  I don’t mean to talk negatively about any store, especially Hy-Vee.  Hy-Vee is one of the most beautiful stores you will ever walk into.  It is clean, spacious, well laid out, displays beautiful produce, and even has an occasional low cost product of some sort.  I go there for one reason.  To buy my frozen Brussels sprouts.  I get the best prices in town there.  So I go to Hy-vee’s, buy about 10 bags of Brussels sprouts, and don’t need to go back for another two or three months.  It’s sure pretty to walk through, but I would not want to pay for a full cart of groceries. 

Even their ads are extremely beautiful and mouthwatering.  I say:  Be cautious of beautiful ads.  First page:  packaged pizza, canned soda, assortment of beer, potato chips, crackers, and the token live food choice, an avocado.

Second page, more chips and more chips, and Velveeta, BBQ sauce, Wing Sauce, Little Smokies, more crackers, M&M’s, salty peanuts, and fried and battered chicken products; Parmesan garlic Wings, Value pack Hy-Vee chicken wings, Big Bad Buffalo Wings, and Serrano and Jam wings.  Most in thick syrupy red sauces.  And so on the ad goes.  More beer, more crackers, more chips and cheese dips.  Oh, don’t forget, more sodas.  By this time I am not even looking at the pricing any longer.  I’m just wondering where the real food is.  These are newspaper size sheets for each page of the ad.  It has 8 sides.  Finally, on the last full page spread I come across a little portion at the top left that actually advertises REAL FOOD. 

Perhaps I should give you my definition of “REAL FOOD”.  My definition includes that which is fresh, or sometimes frozen, in its natural state.  Food that still has live enzymes that connect with the live enzymes of my body.  Real food is that which has not had the nutrition entirely cooked away which is then substituted with “fortified vitamins and minerals”.  It is food that has not been baked, dipped, smothered in sauces, pasteurized, homogenized, cooked to death, covered with MSG or artificial flavorings, food coloring, or salted.  Do I buy things that aren’t alive?  Yes, I do.  I buy dehydrated spices and seasonings.  I buy whole grain bread products, and I even buy fresh roasted COOKED CHICKENS!  But, when I look at a newspaper ad, the first place I turn to (which is usually the front cover of the ad paper) is to see what produce is available at the best price.  Hey, I actually became excited this morning when I read that cauliflower has come down from $2.89 a head to $.99 a head!  And of course that price was at Aldi’s.  Even Aldi’s has been high priced on cauliflower this year.

I shop for produce more frequently in the winter.  During the spring, summer, and fall, I plan our meals in accordance as to what comes in our Farm Box each week.  After accessing what I have to work with, I create my menu, make a list of what I need to pick up at the store to fill in for my recipes, and that’s about all I need to buy.  I buy certain things in bulk at Costco, such as roasted chicken, prunes, walnuts, organic grains, coconut oil, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil.  I come home, make pots of soup, freeze most of it, and then we feast from our freezer all winter.  So pretty much what I need in the winter is just salad greens, veggies, fresh fruits, nut, grains, and dried beans.  

The back page of  theHy-Vee’s ad was more of the same.  Everything already cooked and prepared, lots of sauces, lots of carbs, Blue Bunny ice cream (which I love but don’t buy), diet Coke, and a free Propel drink with purchase of 2 Gatorade 8 packs.  I can see now why food costs so much.  It must take a lot of workers to run the computers to prepare so much pre-made products.  I think I’ll stick to blueberries, cauliflower, and Brussels Sprouts.

After being assailed by the beautiful ad pages in the newspaper, I can see why people would want to buy it.  It looks beautiful, probably tastes good to those who are used to eating highly seasoned and salty foods, easy to prepare, and easy to buy.  But, I will admit, I was totally blindsided by what I saw.  I guess I am out of touch with reality, or just plain getting too old to realize all the nuances of the young generation who are too busy with children, careers, homes, and jobs, to cook.  

Quite a few people have shared the fact that they eat out most nights.  I know young families that go to fast food places several times a week due to time constraints.  And some younger friends have simply confessed the fact that they weren’t taught how to cook, have no interest in learning to cook, and would just rather stop and pick something up.  And unfortunately, these are sometimes the very families that are in the throws of financial crisis.  How sad is it that our society seems to no longer deem the value of the family dinner table.  In my opinion, the kitchen is the heart of the home.  I knew one mom (this is the absolute truth) who proudly told me that her stove top had never even been turned on since she and her husband married.  At this time she had one daughter about 2 or 3 years old.  Actually, she said, she had never used any of her kitchen except the coffee machine and microwave.  It was very clean and very sparse.  Their home was in an exclusive, high-end development.  When I was there I could feel the sadness of that kitchen.  It was a completely decked out, state of the art kitchen which was extremely beautiful, but had no purpose.

Food, REAL FOOD that is, brings me joy.  We are all different.  We all have different interest which bring us joy.  I am really glad that one of mine is creating wonderful meals in the kitchen.  And what makes it even greater now, is the fact that Dave is home, and has taken over cleaning up after I cook.  It is not usually too bad because I keep cooking pots washed up as I go, but it is still a great help and benefit to my time.  His motto to me is, you cook, I clean.  NICE!

Hey, I have gone on and on about something, that more than likely, everyone else was already aware of.  I must admit, my eyes were never opened quite so wide as they were this morning.  Seriously.  I also enjoy looking into other carts to see what others purchase.  I’ve always thought, that what is in the cart, tells a lot about what is going on in a person’s life.  I thought I could guess when someone was having a party by all the chips and hot-dogs, and boxed pizzas, and beverages, and desserts piled high.  One day I said to the lady behind me, “Looks like a fun party coming up.”  She looked at me, then looked at her cart (loaded with all the above mentioned foods), and said casually, “Actually no, I have three teenagers at home and this is what they like to eat.”  Unless something was hidden on the bottom of the cart I did not see one bag of salad greens, no other vegetables, and no fresh fruit.  That was an eye opener. I have learned that I may not be able to guess the intent of anyone’s purchase, but I still like to peek.

If you have an Aldi’s close by, go in and check it out if you haven’t already.  It can save you a lot of money, and they have good sales each week. The sale goes from Wednesday through the following Tuesday.

 

EACH DECISION IS IMPORTANT

By Kathleen Martens

February 3, 2016

 

Though money is a factor

When you shop for food.

It is more what you buy

That concocts your mood.

 

Be careful of the colorful ads

Designed to entice desires.

What you put in your mouth

Can really make you tired.

 

Be careful little mouth

About everything you eat.

Regardless how much you cram in

Your needs it may not meet.

 

Look for that which will die

If unattended in your fridge,

And it will build a strong body

And will be your healthy bridge.

 

Fruits, vegetables, and salads greens

May not be on everyone’s plate.

But if they are on yours,

It determines a better fate.

 

For God is the creator

Our body designed with perfection,

He also created live food

Positioned for our detection.

 

That which grows on trees,

On bushes, and in the ground,

Is the table that God prepared

To make us healthy and sound.

 

So stop and give pause

To all you ingest each day.

Each decision is important.

Consequences you will pay.

 

Every day a building block

For tomorrow, next week, next year.

And it really makes a difference

When older age is looming near.

 

As I sat at the breakfast table and looked at the ads, I knew I had to write about what I was looking at.  Do not let your eyes deceive you.  The beautiful food ads are just a small part of what is happening to our society.  Family values are rapidly dissolving, there is pressure to buy what we cannot afford, instant gratification seems to be the norm, and we as a society are drifting toward socialism.  Oh how sad it will be, when the younger generation wakes up when they are older, and realizes how their decisions of today have spun a tight web of deception around them.  I won’t go into the political aspects of what I could say, but I am grieved when I remember the values our country was founded on, and now realize where we are progressively headed, and how quickly we are getting there.  But I know that God is in control and I believe His clock is ticking, preparing for the return of our Lord and Savior.

Just as Judas was the one to betray Christ, there are also Judas’s in place to betray our country.  It has already started happening,   I believe that what is happening in the world, is on God’s timeline.  It says in the Bible that God is the one that allows which rulers to rule.  His plan is in action.  My prayer is not for just one person to rise to the top, but that God would put the one person in place that is to be used to better further His plan.  I pray for His perfect will.  And actually, it may possibly be the one, I would least likely choose.  But, I know whoever is elected, it will be for the purpose of God’s timeline.  Regardless what happens,  I need not fret or worry.  My hope is in God.

Blog became too long.  I must close.

FUN FACT:

The tooth is the only part of the human body that cannot heal itself.

My comment:  And that is too bad, because they are sure expensive to repair. 

 

It is only 10:32 a.m.  My blog is written! 

 

So, if you read this tonight: GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

If you read it today:  Have a great day and God bless  you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday February 2 2016  A DAY TOO BEAUTIFUL TO MISS

Have you ever talked to someone and they say to you, “oh, what an awful day”?  And when you ask why, you find out it is because the sun is not shining, or it is raining, or overcast, or cold, or snowing, or…or…and the list can go on.  I NEVER consider whether the day is a good day or not because of the weather.  Actually, I have learned to never allow the conditions around me, the circumstances, the weather, or what someone has said to me, determine what my day is like.  I discovered this secret early in life.  If my day was circumvented by all the situations, people, words, weather, news, pain, or work I had to do, I would never have any WONDERFUL DAYS to look back on.

I have discovered that even the news anchors couch words to make “the weather” sound like the deciding factor as to whether or not the day will be good or bad.  Isn’t it wonderful when you have the joy of the Lord in your heart and you can wake up every day with hope and anticipation of an awesome day?  Yes, sometimes plans must change because of weather conditions, especially in Wisconsin, but does that make it an “awful day”?  There is a saying here that is used quite frequently, “IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE WEATHER JUST WAIT FIVE MINUTES”, because that is how quickly it can change.  I remember many outdoor weddings thwarted by thunder and lightning storms that quickly developed and just as quickly passed over.  Did things need to be done differently, yes of course, but by the end of the day the couple were just as married regardless where they had to speak their vows.  There was one occasion that I actually photographed a wedding on a ski mountain, hiking in the snow to get where I had to be.  Days like that to me were never “bad days”.  To me every single day is an adventure and is always amazing to live through.  Even if I am just cleaning or cooking.

Speaking of amazing…I have started sorting through my office closet, which is a large clothes closet outfitted with shelving for all the office supplies and disk files.  Oh my goodness.  I can’t believe how much I threw away on just the first day.  There was a bit of nostalgia felt as I chucked the photos of clients that I used for display, but in the same vein, there was a cleansing in my spirit at the same time.  Faces I will never see again, events I no longer need to be concerned about, files that must be culled that are just taking up space, must go!  I am saving samplings of my work which will fit on one little part of my bookshelf.  Some of the work is more like art, though the faces are not my loved ones, but I still like to look at them every once in a while.  Sometimes I look at some of the portraits and find it almost unbelievable that I was the artist.  I have always had a difficult time thinking of myself as an “artist”.  But, I guess I was; maybe still am.  I think what lives in my heart as a passion will always be part of me.

It is interesting to me to see how I opened this blog talking about the weather, transitioning to wedding memories, and then, end up being an artist.  Well, this is one artist that now wants to become an organized and decluttered creative being (if that is possible).  I was proud of myself yesterday.  I actually did a great job filling up a good portion of the recycle bin.  Lots of old notebooks, reference material that is now outdated, catalogues, supply books, telephone books, and old photos.  And that was all from just one half, of one shelf.  If I tried to explain to you all that I must go through I would be here all day.  So rather than tell about it, I shall go do it.

 

A DAY TOO BEAUTIFUL TO MISS

By Kathleen Martens

February 2, 2016

 

So much clutter, from where does it come?

Years of accumulation, work and fun!

No longer needed, it seems quite bereft

Some is disposed, but there is lots more left.

 

Hours ahead of deciding and sorting,

What to keep and what to discard.

If my daughter would come and do it

It wouldn’t be quite so hard.

 

She is so good of decluttering my space.

She never questions what she throws out!

But when I come home and find it all gone

I retrieve from the trash and refuse to shout!

 

Been there done that with my girl,

So I’m better off doing it alone.

Deciding exactly what I need to keep

Rather than being forlorn.

 

It just takes time and a little adjustment

To realize what’s happening is real.

I need to experience the hours it takes,

And time to feel, what I need to feel.

 

It is a journey as I travel this road,

For part of my past I am throwing away.

Like an amputation I fear will hurt,

But not quite so bad, just a little each day.

 

As I sort, my load seems to lighten,

As beautiful memories flood my hours.

It is not with sadness I throw things out,

Rather a resurging freshness that gives me power.

 

It is my journey that no one else can do,

And my heart sings as I look ahead,

Because someday it will all be done,

And my footing will be in good stead.

 

I will be stronger for all that I’ve learned,

And there will be joy tucked in my heart.

All I need do is focus on my goal

Because every day is a fresh new start.

 

And when that clutter is out of my life

I just wonder, what will I do?

I’ve decided to treasure the memories I find,

And be glad that my work is through.

 

Every day is a day too beautiful to miss.

Whether rain or sunshine, work or play.

I will enjoy what I do as a pleasure.

For I never know, if this is my final day.

 

Psalm 118:24 NKJ

“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

 

FUN FACTS

The banana cannot reproduce itself. It can be propagated only by the hand of man.

Monday February 1 2016  A SHORT HELLO

Does anyone believe me when I use the word “short”?  Well, I always have good intentions, but what else can I say.

As I mentioned last week I had an extra appointment go on my Thursday appointment book that I wasn’t expecting.  I think I told you that I found out on Wednesday that I needed to schedule an MRI on my right shoulder.  I received the results back  Sunday morning on “MY CHART” online.  The results stated that I have two tears in my rotator cuff, swelling and fluid in my bursa, and arthritic changes that also exacerbate the injury I had to my shoulder when I hurt my elbow about three months ago.  When I have pain it seems like time doesn’t pass very quickly.  I find pain to be very draining in so many aspects.  I have kept it under wraps the past few weeks trying to take it a bit easier, but never seeming to find time to rest it.  Well, it finally caught up with me.  Pain not only affects the area that is injured, but seems to find ways to radiate into other body parts that are trying to  take up the slack of the injured area.  That is what I am experiencing now.

I do have an appointment with a surgeon next week to discuss what might or might not be done about the tears.  I dread the nights due to the fact it is so painful to lie down.  Please send your prayers my way for healing.

So, enough of that.  On to higher and better topics. At this moment I have no clue what topic, but give me a minute, I’ll come up with something! (I hope.)

Oh, I just thought of something.  Yesterday, my husband received a photo of our 4 year old grandson.  Dave sent the photo on to me with the stream of messages that went along with it.  Xander’s mom instructed him to change clothes so they could leave for a shopping trip.  He came back a few minutes later, decked out to the hilt.  He had outdone himself.  I’m telling you, if he didn’t have style, then I’ve never seen a kid who has it.  He had not forgotten one accessory, jacket, high socks, short pants, shoes, and GLOVES.  Oh, but the clincher was, he was in total concentration mode.  You know how I know?  Because he takes after his grandfather.  When my husband Dave is concentrating he does this “tongue thing”.  The tongue pushes through the lips, goes off to the side and protrudes a bit.  Xander had it down pat!  When I saw the whole package I could hardly stop laughing.  He looked so cute, so innocent, and SO VERY STYLISH!  I asked my husband, “What did Amy do when he came out dressed to the NINES?”  Dave replied, “Took him shopping”.  I am going to include a visual reference to this event, in photo format, so you will not need to leave this to your imagination.  I do hope you enjoy the style.  Perhaps he takes after his grandpa with the tongue thingy, but I think he takes more after his grandma in style.  I love the UNIQUE!

This episode reminded Dave and I of an incident with Xander’s father about 30 years ago when he was about 7 years old.  When Courtland, our son, was 4 years old, he had a little blue suit with pants, vest, and dressy jacket.  He had a little white shirt to wear with it.  Well, I couldn’t bear to get rid of the suit so I kept it in the back of his closet hanging on a hanger.  One evening we were going to dinner at someone’s home.  I asked Courtland to go upstairs and dress in something very nice so he would look handsome.  After quite a lengthy time he came back downstairs, walking rather stiffly.  Somehow he had crammed his 7 year old body into the size 4 white shirt, pants, vest, and jacket.  The pants were quite high-water, barely able to be snapped.  The vest rode up over the little round belly that kids have at that age.  His hands and arms dangled profusely out of the tight, extremely short sleeves.  The jacket was buttoned with one button that made the bottom flare out.  As I type this I am laughing as I look back at that visual memory.  Oh my, what to say when he looked up and in all sincerity, with a somewhat worried smile on his face, “How do I look mom?”  My response was that he looked absolutely amazing and handsome!  I could not burst his bubble.  It took everything I had to not burst out in laughter.  He was definitely proud of himself.  He also looked wide eyes, and acutely uncomfortable.  I went on to say that I wasn’t quite expecting him to wear a suit and asked him if he thought he might be more comfortable in something else.  Oh my, he heaved out a big sigh of relief and told me that yes, he would probably be more comfortable in something else.  I told him to go on upstairs and put something a bit more comfortable on.  He was changed in record time.  He came back downstairs and thanked me for having him change.  He then told me “Oh, that feels better.”  I wonder if he remembers that incident.  I certainly do.  The only reason I didn’t let him wear the suit was because I could tell he was miserable.  Had those pants stayed buttoned much longer he might have passed out from lack of oxygen. 

Since I am on a roll, I have one more little incident tucked in my “mother memory”.  We moved to Northern California from Southern California when Courtland was close to turning 4 years old.  My sister then lived close by.  We both lived in the east bay area near San Francisco.  Courtland was 5 years old.  We planned to go to my sister’s for dinner.  On that particular day I had been shopping and purchased Courtland some new underwear.  The “UNDEROOS” were little briefs that came in a package of eight, each one was a different color.  I gave them to him and he was so excited.  I actually didn’t know someone could get that excited about underwear.  When it was close to time to leave I asked him to go and change clothes so he would look nice for Aunt Velma.  He came back a few moments later.  He had little dark brown cord pants on.  I glanced at him, he looked decent, but I thought, oh my, I’m going to need to buy him some new slacks too because the ones he put on were now so tight on him. 

We arrived at my sister’s place and the kids always got a hug and a love pat on their bottom when Velma hugged them.  Velma patted Courtland’s behind a second time after hugging him.  Then she asked Courtland what he had on under his brown cords.  He excitedly unsnapped his britches, pulled his cords down to his knees, and commenced to showing Velma his new, colorful, UNDEROOS.  I stood there watching as Velma started peeling back layer after lay of elastic waistbands, counting each colorful pair.  All total he had on nine pair of briefs, the ones next to his skin were the boring white ones.  He looked up at her in all innocence and said, he wanted to wear them and couldn’t decide which one to wear, so he put them all on.  When Velma reads this blog I hope she gets a great big chuckle in remembering that evening.  I had Courtland take off eight pair and choose just one pair to keep on.  He came back out at said, “Oh, that feels better”.  And to this day Courtland only enjoys wearing clothes that are comfortable on him.  I wonder why?  And to my knowledge, I think he only wears one pair of underwear at a time.  I’ll have to ask him.

 

SOMETIMES I WONDER HOW

By Kathleen Martens

February 1, 2016

 

God made little children

To bring a smile to a mother’s face.

Everyday full of surprises,

At night is when you pace.

 

No child can be trusted

For a moment out of sight,

To keep them alive and healthy,

Or at least out of a fight.

 

Especially when they have a brother,

It matters not the age.

The only way to keep them apart

Is to place them in a cage.

 

Which of course would be illegal,

So referee you must become.

But most times it is easier,

And you actually have some fun.

 

But of course my kids were perfect.

Because our son had no brother.

He only had an annoying sister

Who was bossy like no other.

 

But our daughter had a brother

The perfect age to boss around.

And even through the occasional squabbles,

Lots of smiles were found.

 

So many memories tucked away

From babyhood till now.

I’m just glad I survived them all,

Sometimes, I wonder how.

 

Footnote to this poem:  I REALLY DID ENJOY BEING A MOTHER TO MY YOUNG CHILDREN AND THROUGHOUT EACH AGE.  AS A MATTER OF FACT, I STILL ENJOY IT, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THEY HAVE HOMES OF THEIR OWN! 

As far as Dave and I are concerned we believe we have been so blessed by both our son and our daughter.  One of my greatest desires in life was to be a mother, and then to be granted the time on earth to be the one to raise them.  God granted me both desires!  On our son’s 18^th birthday I turned to my husband and said, “Do you know what today means?”  He answered me immediately with, “Yes, it now means you are living on borrowed time.”  Dave knew of my prayer request to God, that I would be allowed to live until both children were grown.  I am ever so grateful that God granted my prayer. I knew there could never be another person in the world that would love my children like I do.  I always wanted to make certain that they were raised to stand straight and tall in the eyes of the Lord.  There is even a bigger story behind that prayer but it will be shared at a later date.

Proverbs 22:6  New King James Version

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

FUN FACT:

The roar that we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear.

I’m glad I did not know that.  My sister had a conch shell and she would let me hold it up to my ear.  I truly believed I could hear the ocean.  It was like magic to me.  Sometimes it hurts to grow up!

P.S.  Be sure and scroll down far enough to see the photo of our stylish grandson!

 

 

 

 

Sunday Sabbath January 31 2016  CONTEND FOR MORE OF GOD’S PRESENCE

Today was the fourth and final sermon in a series about what is written on our weekly bulletin that is handed out to the parishioners each week.  The four message titles are: COME AS YOU ARE, CONNECT WITH GOD, CONNECT WITH PEOPLE, and today’s title, CONTEND FOR MORE OF GOD’S PRESENCE.

Here is what is printed on our weekly handout:

CONTEND FOR MORE OF GOD’S PRESENCE

“We desire God to have a tangible Presence in our church and lives.  We have a conviction that He will pour out more of Himself on Madison, its surrounding areas, and its churches if we persistently ask for more of His Spirit and pursue pure and inspired unity with the people who share His passions, His purposes, and His heart.”

Today the sermon was delivered by our Pastor for our children’s ministry, David Bechtold.  He did an amazing presentation.  Pastor Bechtold is a young man and I have only known of him for the past five years or so.  It is amazing to watch and listen to the young ministers through the years and see how very much they grow and mature in the Lord as time adds years of experience.  Pastor David has amazed me over the years as I have listened to him.  Each pastor has their own personality they bring to their sermons, their own stories, their own vulnerabilities.  In today’s discourse, all four of those areas excelled in Pastor David as he stood up to deliver God’s truth to the congregation.  Thank you Pastor Dave for sharing with the congregation the tender and personal attributes of your heart.

Again, I recommend going to http://www.citychurchonline.org if you would like to listen to this sermon.

I pray that God will give me the right words to use from Pastor David’s sermon so that you may hear his message through the poem God places in my heart.  I pray that you will have a better understanding of what the true meaning of having a closer relationship with God really is.

 

CONTEND FOR MORE OF GOD’S PRESENCE

By Kathleen Martens

January 31 2016

 

Dear God teach me to not strive

For that which is given to me.

Instead show me how to contend,

For that which is offered free.

 

For it is You who invites me to contend

For more of Your holy essence.

That I not strive for striving’s sake,

But instead desire more of Your presence.

 

All I must do is wait upon the Lord

That he remove what is unimportant to me,

So it will be flushed out of my life,

So my eyes will be opened to see

 

That God is the one who is important,

And on Him alone I should rely.

That I not contend for myself,

But allow the Holy Spirit to comply.

 

I must cease striving so I hear God say,

“KNOW THAT I AM GOD”.

And with preparation of the gospel of peace

My feet will be firmly shod.

 

And my desire will turn to longing,

So I then discipline my time,

To make room for my God,

And to allow for presence Divine.

 

For when I am too busy,

My hours are eaten up.

So I must purposely set aside,

Time with my Father to sup.

 

So I can taste and see

That what he has for me is good.

And I will delight in who He is,

As He desires that I should.

 

And with delight comes satisfaction

For He accepts me with all of my sins.

And though my sins be as scarlet,

He makes them white when I let Him in.

 

And God so delights in His children,

And He has so much more to give.

Even more than for what I ask,

So on His righteous road I will live.

 

He gives me the power and glory

Of His Holy Spirit in my life to dwell.

For God wants me more than I can fathom,

And my doubt he desires to quell.

 

All I must do is ask, and I will receive.

And when I seek, I will find.

When I knock, the door is opened,

And my spiritual eyes are no longer blind.

 

God has created me for a purpose,

He gives me freedom in how to praise.

I am uniquely fashioned by God

To seek Him through all my days.

 

When I DESIRE, I then have longing,

To DISCIPLINE the hours I need,

To DELIGHT in His presence,

And the right DECISION then to heed.

 

That there would be less of me,

And more of Jesus would be shown.

That through my life, and what I say,

More of Jesus would be known.

 

For it seems the more I rely

On what this world has to offer,

The more the world will demand of me

Reaching deep into my coffers.

 

But when desire and delight

Surround the discipline I choose,

The time I need is no longer difficult,

Because with Jesus I can never lose.

 

For Jesus I am constantly hungering,

Yet at the same time, deeply satisfied.

And always desiring more of Him,

For He is my Friend in whom I confide.

 

Hebrews 11:6 King James Version

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

 

John 3:16 King James Version

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Well, I went a bit over my one hour time max, but it was well worth it.  The above poem is inspired by today’s sermon, “CONTENDING FOR MORE OF GOD’S PRESENCE” presented by David Bechtold.  Thank you Pastor David for listening to the Lord so He could use you to touch my heart, as I am certain there were many other lives touched as well.  What you said today rings true in my heart.  That which matters truly does take time and energy.  Thank you for your time and energy that went into preparing today’s message.  Again I say, we are blessed as a Church Body to have you as our minister to our younger generation.  And you do a great job ministering to us “old ones” too!

Good night and God bless you. 

 

P.S.

FUN FACT:

Peanut oil is used for cooking in submarines because it doesn’t smoke unless it’s heated above 450F.

My comment: It is also good for salad dressings!

 

 

Saturday January 30 2016  A LAZY SATURDAY

It is a lazy Saturday because I am being lazy.  When I indulge in a day such as this I still live with the anticipation that I might receive a call to report to the hospital for an emergency photo session for a baby that has not survived birth.  I pray that it will not happen, but if it does, I am ready with charged batteries.  So far, so good on this warm overcast day of 43 degrees! 

Slept in until 5:00 a.m.  Enjoyed a long conversation with my “sick” husband (bad cold), got up and went to the gym after I ate breakfast.  I never leave the house without breakfast.  I am always so famished when I awaken in the morning.  It is a good feeling. 

Home again, prepared lunch and then Dave and I watched an hour television show, during which time we both dozed off for two or three moments, and then backed up to hear what we missed.  Up and at it after that.  When I say “lazy” I use it loosely.  It is not that we aren’t task oriented, it is just that there is nothing extremely pressing (like company coming) and we can go about our tasks in a leisurely, unhurried mode.  I like unhurried.  When I’m 80 and have only accomplished the decluttering of one room, I might have a different opinion.  But right now…oh well…we are still getting used to this retirement lifestyle.  I have been run ragged this past week, but I made it through, though a little rough around the edges. .  Next week has some highlights of BUSY but I have purposely kept a few days opened to explicitly work on finishing up some problem areas in my business office.  It will be so awesome to cull all the files I haven’t had time to keep cleaned out over the past several years.  (It pains me to admit that).  However, all legal files were kept up orderly and timely!  When you are a photographer, you would be amazed of all the files that accumulate.  

I have only one hour from start to finish for writing this afternoon.  I still have hopeful expectations for this day to be extremely fruitful even though I slept for a full five minutes on the couch.

 

ONCE AGAIN YOU HAVE BEEN FOUND

By Kathleen Martens

January 30, 2015

 

A lazy day, a day worth living

Wrapped up warm…

Content.

 

So much of life is hustle and bustle,

A day like today…

Heaven-sent.

 

Just to be, alone with self.

A cocoon of quiet

Peace.

 

And it is my dream

That these hours will not

Cease.

 

But alas, reality comes.

Sweetly and gently sits

Down.

 

Softly speaking to my heart.

“Once again, you have been

Found.”

 

FUN FACTS

“Kites were used in the American Civil War to deliver letters and newspapers.”

I was unaware of this fun fact so I did a little research on the internet.  Below is an excerpt of what I found.

 http://kitehistory.com/Miscellaneous/Warkites.htm

“United States 1863 ~ It is with great enthusiasm that I am able to report that in January of 2002, definitive proof of regular kite use in the American Civil War was located. It had been rumored, there were stories, but there was never any concrete evidence before. This research has just begun; but there is much to do and there are more questions than answers. What we do know for sure is that there were kites made near Vicksburg in 1863, and in 1865 they were used for sending orders over enemy lines trying to entice deserters by offering money for horses and arms. Official communiques’ from the Civil War has been located in the War Records Office, some requesting kite making materials and one that requested,  “…10,000 feet of strong kite string be sent at once…”!

Good night (it is getting dark) and God Bless You!

 Friday January 29 2016  THE UNPLANS OF THE PLANS

A comment I once heard or read comes to mind.  It read, “If you want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans”.  Well, I really believe that.  And now I am adopting the attitude that when I make plans and they dissolve into thin air, I should just laugh too. 

When I fell into bed last night after being on the go for 19 hours, I had my plans laid out nicely and precisely for my tomorrow.  My plans were to work all morning in my office going through more files, not getting dressed, eating lunch, showering, leaving midafternoon with Dave, and then heading to the town where Court and Amy live.  We planned to have dinner and a movie night at their house. They live about 40 miles away from us.  There is a Costco and an Aldi’s in their town.  We planned to leave early so we could do our weekly Costco shopping and pick up our bi-weekly supplies from Aldi’s on the way.  However, everything changed when Dave woke up with an extremely bad cold.  Stuffy head, runny nose and eyes, and overall malaise.  He does not want to infect the boys or Court and Amy.  Even I am staying away from him!  He has one phone to use and is not allowed to touch any food stuff or clean dishes.  Oh, by the way, he contacted the cold through the receptionist at the doctor’s office when we were there on Wednesday.  She had such a bad cold that she told me not to use her pen.  Well, she forgot to tell Dave she had a cold and handed him all kinds of things she had touched and folded.

So plans have changed.  And now they have changed even again.  After I wrote them out here in this paragraph (which has now been deleted), I realized I could still salvage my work day by NOT doing Costco shopping today.  There is nothing that we absolutely need and my time will be more useful here at home to accomplish some of my plans for decluttering.  That’s what I call readjusting my priorities.  But, since I already started writing my blog I will finish it.

For once, I actually had a preconceived idea for my blog.  I wanted to tell everyone about the absolutely, most wonderful gift that Dave has ever given me.  If you are a long time reader you may remember how ill Dave became right after I arrived home from my long trip in July.  He was hospitalized with a serious sepsis that developed due to his diabetes.  He had a crack in his foot and a terrible cellulitis infection in his legs.  He has type two diabetes.  He was on medication, but not on insulin.  Type two diabetes can be caused from life style choices.  Through reading books I discovered that a healthy life style could reverse diabetes.  Our doctor wanted to “manage” Dave’s diabetes with medicine because that is the route most patients choose to follow.  I told our Doctor about the book I read “The End of Diabetes” by Joel Fuhrman M.D.  Dr. Furhman lays out a plan to eliminate diabetes with diet and exercise.  Our doctor agreed that diabetes could be eliminated as Dr. Furhman’s book described.  He turned to Dave and asked him if he was on board with this?  Dave said yes, he wanted to reverse it.  Our doctor (who knows me long and well) pointed his finger at me and said, well if anyone can do it, I know it is you.  So we took the challenge. 

Before Dave was admitted to the hospital he brought the topic up that he had decided he wanted to change the way he ate and work on becoming healthier.  He had just retired two or three days prior to that and with the removal of time restraints and stress he could now focus on what was important to him.  There were several things that we discussed.  Within a couple of days Dave was admitted to the hospital very sick.  While he was still in the hospital, we had one more serious conversation.  We both knew that his illness was serious and would take some serious measures of lifestyle change.  We discussed diet and he agreed that he would eat what I prepared for him, in the quantities I prepared.  He did hold out for one concession however.  He said he would eat everything , except Brussel sprouts.  I thought that was only fair.  After all, then I can eat them all.  Since then Dave has eaten the foods prepared for him, in the amounts prepared, without complaint.  He has actually confessed to me that he has even learned to like some of the things he never thought he could like.  Other things he just eats because of the nutritional value.  He does it all without complaint.  On Wednesday we went in for the results of his average blood sugars over the past four months hoping to have one dose of his medication deleted.  Well, his Hemoglobin A1C on Wednesday came back ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!  NO SIGNS OF DIABETES IN HIS TEST RESULTS!  The doctor was ecstatic, somewhat amazed at how quickly we were able to turn his blood sugars around.  He just kept saying over and over, “IT IS PERFECT!  IT IS PERFECT”.  And furthermore, the doctor felt that he should take Dave OFF BOTH DOSES OF HIS DIABETIC MEDICATION!!!  So we are on trial.  In order to continue Dave’s weight loss it was decided to reduce his carb count per meal from a high of 60 to a high of 45.  That has required a bit of readjusting in our meal planning.  He has had two days without meds and his blood sugars are maintaining in the appropriate range.  He will need to have perfect averages every six months on his A1C test for two years straight in order to have the diagnosis of being diabetic taken off his medical records.  My heart was jumping for joy.  Dave’s smile was from ear to ear.

I walked out of that office feeling as if Dave had given me the most absolutely, wonderful gift he had ever given me.  My heart was so heavy for him over the past few years because I knew there was nothing I could do to change the way he wanted to eat, or the fact that he did not exercise.  I kept my worry and fear to myself.  I prayed.  I knew Dave was under heavy stress at work, planning for his retirement, getting finances in order, taking care of long term plans and goals, always with me at the forefront of his planning, especially the financial part.  I often wondered if he would be with me to enjoy “our retirement”.  All I wanted was for him to be healthy.  He just had to survive the last two or so years to get where he wanted to be.  I am grateful for his planning, but I still suffered inside because of how hard his life was due to the diabetes being out of control, and the weight he carried around taking a toll on his body, and the excessive stress from his job, which left no time for even thinking about exercising. 

There is one thing that you can never do for someone else.  No matter how much you love them, are concerned for them, and want the best for them, you cannot cause them to change.  It is only their decision that can allow the changes to happen in their own life.  Each person must choose for themselves.  I know that from personal experience.  I believe there is something that must happen in the heart.  I was obese for so many years.  It was not fun.  Believe me, I never look down on someone because of extra pounds.  Rather, my heart goes out to them, for I walked in their shoes.  For me it was a feeling of helplessness, frustration, and inner disgust and pain, not to mention the physical discomfort.   I could write a book on the toll obesity takes on the body.  I know from experience.  I remember standing by his bed in the hospital telling him that I would do everything possible to help him live, but I couldn’t do it, he had  to make the choice to “to do it”!   He had to make the choice to live.   He looked me in the eye and said, “I choose life”.  He then promised, “I will do it”.  Tears spill out of me this moment as I recall his words.  That was his promise to me.  That was his gift to me.

My gift from him was received with such joy, though I held it in at the doctor’s office.  Dave doesn’t like a lot of hoopla from me when I am sitting with him in the examining room.  You see, I can become a bit exuberant.  I restrained myself.  And boy that was hard.  But my heart rejoices now. 

His gift was wrapped with so many other things than just a perfect blood sugar reading or the loss of 67 pounds.  Yes, I am so proud of his perseverance and stamina to make wise choices, day by day, of what to eat, and to faithfully go to the gym to work out.  Those are decisions I cannot make for him.  Those are his choices.  THOSE CHOICES ARE HIS GIFT TO ME.  Also packaged with his gift, was hope.  Hope for a brighter and longer future TOGETHER.  Hope for better health, and the hope for trips we can take together.  And I realized there was even more tucked into the gift he gave to me.  It is the gift of joy.  It gave joy to my heart knowing he feels better.  I am full of joy knowing that so much stress has been taken off his body from losing all those pounds.  Pure joy for knowing Dave cares enough about me, to care enough about himself, that he treats himself with the love and respect due him.  I have seen him grow into a strong tree, no longer being buffeted and blown by the wind of circumstances.  I see his roots taking a deeper hold on what he desires for his retirement, what he wants to accomplish.  He is a younger version of himself. 

Regardless of what Dave went through, never once did my love wain for him.  I believe that every day of these past 43 years my love has grown for him on a daily basis.  The more stress he was under, the more I loved him through it.  You may think it is easy for me to write these things.  No, it is not.  Especially because I know Dave will read it.  I have journaled for years without reading my journals to him.  Now that I am writing publically, I guess I am ready to open up publically, both to my readers and to my husband.  Age has a way of making life different.  In the time I have remaining in this world I plan to declare my love for others.  We, as a population of people, don’t tell others enough just how much we love them, and some I observe don’t even act like it enough.  If I love someone they are going to know it!  TELL SOMEONE TODAY HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THEM!  Tell them just because you want to tell them.  No accomplishment should be required to elicit words of love.  It just so happens that I am telling the world about my husband’s accomplishment over the past six months AND I’M SHOUTING IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS HOW MUCH HE IS LOVED!  MUSHY, MUSHY!  Too bad, it is just how I feel today and this is my avenue of expression!  Mostly, I just wanted to tell you about the beautiful gift he gave me and how very much I appreciate and cherish it.

(EDITOR’S NOTE aka Dave)  “If I wrote the above it would have required only two paragraphs”. 

(WRITER’S RESPONSE aka Kathleen) “Oh well, you are the editor, I am the author”.

 

SOME GIFTS…

By Kathleen Martens

January 29, 2016

 

Some gifts come with ribbons and bows,

Picked out with such great pleasure

To give to the one they love,

As a token for them to treasure.

 

Some gifts are acts of kindness

Bestowed on others unknown.

Just opening a heavy door,

Can be a way your gift is shown.

 

Some gifts go unnoticed

When others fail not to receive,

Perhaps it was a beautiful smile

That someone did not perceive.

 

Some gifts are given with intent

And may have great purpose.

And some may be a simple gesture,

Such as taking a child to the circus.

 

Some gifts come from the wallet,

And are meant to impress.

And some may be for apology,

To say sorry for giving you stress.

 

Some gifts may be given

Without even knowing it’s done

When it’s given from the heart

To a special one.

 

Some gifts may be received

When the giver is unaware.

For there is nothing tangible,

When to the heart it’s shared.

 

Some gifts may just be words,

Or behavior that shows love pure.

And what better gift can there be,

Than a gift that forever endures?

 

THANK YOU DAVE FOR THE HEART GIFT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME! 

IT WILL ENDURE FOREVER.

JUST AS MY LOVE FOR YOU WILL ENDURE FOREVER.

 

 

FUN FACT

If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water. When a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off.

My comment:  Just thought you might need to be aware of this fact.  This is something that happens more frequently as we age.  Dehydration has serious effects on your physical body.  A word of wisdom:  Find out what your body size requires regarding daily fluid intake and set your water out in a premeasured container that must be drank in one day; AND THEN DRINK IT!  I actually do that so as to stay hydrated and healthy.  You just may have to get up more in the night to eliminate.  But it is worth feeling good.

 

Oops!  This blog took longer to write than I thought it would.  The day is getting away from me!  Signing off at 12:03 p.m. but it will not be published until Dave reads it to make certain he will be okay with all I have written.  Remember, I have to live with him after it is published!

P.S.  It is now 1:57 p.m.  Lunch is over.  The edit has taken place and this is now good to go!  (Says Dave)!

P.S.S.  He did edit some of the really mushy stuff out!   I am really just surprised that he agreed to let me publish ANYTHING about him.  He would rather not be in the limelight!  I better click the PUBLISH BUTTON quickly!

Thursday January 28 2016  PERPETUALLY NEW

 

4:00 a.m. wake-up call this morning.  For no reason we are aware of, both Dave and I awakened a little after 4:00 a.m.  When I wake up like that I sometimes feel as if it is a time for prayer.  So that’s what we did.  We then crawled out from under our warm blankets into the cold bedroom and made a dash to see how quickly we could get dressed, eat and get to the gym.  It was a good plan.  It felt like we had an entire day left when we arrived home and it was still early in the day.  I think that would be a good plan for every day, but I might have a bit of convincing to do to get Dave to agree.  Nonetheless, it was awesome to have an entire morning to work. 

Collected all the tax information, called for some that was still missing, handed everything over to Dave, and it felt like a load was lifted off me.  AND THEN…I started culling my business files.  Oh man!  Was it ever good to see some of those things that I no longer needed fly into the recycle trash, others filed away due to time constraints imposed on keeping them, and lots and lots more still to go through.  I actually want to get downstairs and continue so I can see more progress.  It makes me excited to realize that I am FINALLY RETIRED and can actually shut down my business files and my studio and reclaim the lower level.  No more dressing room needed, or prop room, or framing room, or extra equipment, or backdrops hanging all over the place, etc.  It is truly the first day that I have felt motivated and excited about getting started on purging.  I think what I wrote yesterday sort of spurred me forward to see just how much I can still accomplish before the year ends.

Today was the only day this week that was not booked with appointments.  That is, until last night.  Yesterday when I went to the Doctor he wanted me to have an MRI on my shoulder.  My shoulder was also injured the day I tore my triceps almost three months ago.  Before going to physical therapy he scheduled me for an MRI.  The MRI is this evening.  Fortunately I can drive myself there and back so Dave will not need to take me.  We had plans to watch the Republican debate this evening.  Things are heating up out there in the game of politics.  Perhaps I’ll be back in time to watch most of it.  There is also another Democratic debate coming up soon that we want to watch.

Both of my shoulders have had surgical repair so I know the ins and outs of the post-surgical therapy and healing process. NOT FUN.  I am just hoping the MRI results will show there is nothing permanently damaged and time will help heal whatever is causing the pain.  I am also praying for healing.  We have a trip planned for the future and I want to be in good working order!

I just thought I would check in on everybody and let you know I am alive and well.  Every once in a while I think perhaps I won’t write a blog today, but then I have people concerned that something might be wrong.  It’s more fun to write the blog than it is knowing I may have caused people to worry.  But thanks for worrying. 

 

PERPETUALLY NEW

By Kathleen Martens

January 28, 2016

 

Time to write a line or two

To announce to the world.

I am here, alive and well

And best wishes I unfurl.

 

It is so good to say hello

To those who faithfully read.

Thank you for caring enough

And to you I say God-speed!

 

It makes me realize how fortunate I am

That I have a busy life,

And so much that fills my days

With happiness, not strife.

 

I know I may be an old geezer

To those who are so young,

But I really love my age

No longer need to climb the rungs.

 

Been there, done that,

All the “busy” and long hours.

No longer is my time limited.

I now have time to smell the flowers.

 

It is my joy to stay at home

And enjoy my cozy bed.

Regardless how late it is

I can just cover up my head.

 

The day is mine, and belongs to me,

To measure how to spend.

And I don’t need to drive in traffic

When my day does end.

 

It makes me feel so opulent

To have time at my discretion.

I thought this day would never come,

Is my greatest confession.

 

But now it’s here and oh so awesome,

As if life has a new beginning.

And it seems for the very first time,

I believe that I am winningI

 

Yes, my days are numbered

But closer to God I’m becoming.

Life has its seasons and it cycles

And death I’m no longer shunning.

 

Life has never lost its sparkle

Because my spirit has never aged.

It is only my body’s shell

With time a war has waged.

 

But inside I’m perpetually new

And my spirit never grows old.

It was created to live forever

For I am created like God, I’m told.

 

He created me in His own image

To live with Him forevermore,

Though my body will be left behind

My spirit beckoned through heaven’s door.

 

FUN FACT

“Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end.”

Hmm…maybe that is why mine flaps so much! 

 

Have a great afternoon.  It is only 3:10 p.m.  Now I can get back to work!

God bless all of you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday January 27 2016  AND TIME KEEPS TRAIPSING ON

It’s almost the end of January and soon our first month of twelve will be over.  One twelfth of our year is coming to a close, too quickly, too soon.  When I sit at this computer day after day and write each date, it just seems as if the days fly by.  The one thing I realize about this month is, if it is an indicator of what I will be able to accomplish through the remaining eleven months of 2016, I certainly will be far behind the goals I have set for this year!  So…as I look forward I must decide if I want to allow that knowledge to  defeat me, or roll up my sleeves and start persevering all the more!  Or, I could just revise my plans.  I just know my sister will say “I TOLD YOU SO” when I admit that I actually realize my year’s goals are a bigger bite than I can chew.  SMILE SISTER, I know you are right!

So, one hour blogs, less talking everywhere I go, more concentration of transcribing and editing the book I want finished by December, deleting all the Christmas movies I didn’t get a chance to watch, and last, but not least, working quicker and more efficiently on downsizing the contents of this house.  Oh, yes, one thing I forgot.  I also want to finish an album(s) of family photos for my younger sister.  So whoever said retirement meant taking it easy???

Speaking of my “wise, older” sister, I am using an email I received from her as a “guest blog” for today.  She had some interesting comments about glass that I thought might be interesting as a follow-up for yesterday’s blog about glass.  The quote was:

“Glass takes one million years to decompose, which means it never wears out and can be recycled an infinite amount of times.”

Below is her response (personal knowledge) about glass.

“What I understand about glass:  Glass can last forever if unbroken.  It all depends on how glass it tempered, (degree of firing).  If glass is to be used as a cooking vessel and how that glass will be used; such as casserole for cooking at 400 degrees, or as a canning jar under lots of pressure.  Example, you can use an old glass mayonnaise jar to freeze something but not for pressure canning.  Since I know not to can with mayonnaise glass jars (they are plastic now) I never used them in water bath processing.  My, long time understanding is that glass originally was made from beach sand.  Beach sand has a high percentage of highly polished, smooth glass in it as well as rocks, each little grain of glass and rock is so smooth it is not dangerous.  I think it could cause problems if consumed by mouth.  I have been to glass blowing places in Benicia – but strictly artistic glass object and expensive wine glasses.  Everything (chemical wise) does better processed and stored in glass, i.e. vinegar, pickles (of any kind), sauerkraut and the list goes on and on  Good wine is always stored in dark color glass bottles to protect the wine from light.  The world would be much better off if plastic was OUTLAWED WORLD WIDE.

This is what I have learned from experience and reading:  Glass is best to cook in, better heat distribution; Corning Ware is as good as glass for cooking.  Never, use metal when cooking with vinegar or lemons, i.e. lemon pie or brines with vinegar – don’t even use a metal spoon for those – the acid content is too high and causes the metal to leech into the food and discolor the pot and you can taste the metal in the food.

There, you have my quick knowledge of glass without me going to the internet.”

Thank you sister.  I thought your replay quite insightful and interesting.

 

MANY MANY THANKS

By Kathleen Martens

January 27, 2016

 

So many things I do not know

And so informative when others show,

What is deep, in their mind’s bank,

And for those who share, I give my thanks.

 

Just think how fortunate we are

That there are those who have traveled far.

And what they know, are willing to share,

Tidbits of knowledge that is rare.

 

I am so thankful for other’s words

That because of my blog I have heard.

It warms my heart when others tell

Of their experiences they know so well.

 

I especially enjoy the wisdom of age

From those who no longer work for wage.

So much life comes from the wizened

If the younger are willing to listen.

 

My hope for self as I grow old

Is that my story will be told.

Though I’ve nothing to brag about

I have lots to say without a doubt!

 

Thank you for reading what I write,

I enjoy doing it night after night.

Thank you for listening to my banter,

As some evenings I quickly canter.

 

If just one word a difference makes,

That was written for your sake,

My heart will be glad for all the time

It took for me to write, each and every line.

 

I will end with another FUN FACT that Dave’s sister sent to me:

“Gold is the only metal that doesn’t rust, even if it’s buried in the ground for thousands of years.”

Hmmm.  I must admit, I never had reason to give that much thought.  I’m just glad I don’t have to go around with a rusty finger.

 

Good night and God bless all of you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday January 26 2016  ONE HOUR AND COUNTING

My disciplines must become a bit stricter.  My hours are so limited that anything out of the ordinary puts me behind schedule.  You may say, what schedule, after all, aren’t you retired?  Well yes, we are retired, but believe me, we do have schedules.  The only thing different, is that our schedule is different each day, so must be attended rigorously to accomplish all that needs accomplishing on each given day. 

Today, for example I received a phone call.  And we talked and talked and talked.  The friend that called me from Virginia is actually more like family than “just” a friend.  She is our daughter’s, birth mother.  Our family connected with her family 10 years ago this coming October.  It was an amazing reunion and God was in it all the way.  There is such a story to be told about those first few weeks and all the years since then, but I must leave that for another time.  Besides, I would want to have our daughter’s birth mother’s permission, before I shared her story publicly.  But I will say, it has been awesome!  We don’t talk frequently, but when we do it is sometimes for hours.  Hopefully we will be seeing her and her husband sometime later this year.

When I sat down to write my blog, before she called, I had set my timer for one hour.  That was the window of time I was allowing to write my blog.  Sometimes I spend way too much time writing and must curb it somewhat.  I’m not yet so good at curbing time.  Time just has a way of getting away from me.  Attention Deficit?  I doubt it.  Probably more like Attention Concentration Overload!  I guess that could be called ACO.  Once I start concentrating on one task I am quickly and totally absorbed and time no longer matters.  That is the part I must learn to reign in.

 

ATTENTION CONCENTRATION OVERLOAD

By Kathleen Martens

January 26, 2016

 

There may be a lot on my mind

But it is all in concise little places.

And when I become ensconced completely

My mind just continually races.

 

Then I go from one moment to the next,

Totally oblivious to all else around.

Perfect satisfaction and fulfillment

In my heart is always found.

 

I need not much to be happy,

Just a good thought to think about,

And I can take a few little words

And weave a story stout.

 

Or I just pick my brain a bit

And think of things I know,

And come up with a story or poem

About my life from long, long ago.

 

Whatever suits the occasion

Seems to race from my fingertips.

And if I can’t write it,

I speak it through my lips.

 

And all the while time is passing,

And totally unaware am I

So that is why I am reigning in

So I can say a quicker goodbye.

 

So that tells my story today!  I am concentrating on ALL that must be done for the entire day.  So you will be happy to know that I intend to write shorter blogs, more concise, and more to the point, if I actually have a point.  I love writing my blogs and sometimes just forget that it may seem like a daunting task for another to read. 

Perhaps tomorrow I’ll come up with something great.  I actually have 15 minutes left over but I will sign off for tonight.  Just wanted to check in with my faithful readers. 

Good night and God bless you!

P.S.  I have some good ideas brewing for some future blogs.  I also take suggestions about what my readers like to hear more of.  Please contact me if you have any ideas.

P.S.S.  My sister-in-law sent me an email that promises that I will learn something that I did not already know and also make me say to myself, how do “they” know that?  So, if I remember to do so, I will include one of those tidbits of fact (assuming it is fact) at the end of the next few blogs.  I have not verified any of these statements to be true or false.  If you know and have verification, please let me know.

“Glass takes one million years to decompose, which means it never wears out and can be recycled an infinite amount of times.”

Now actually, I would like to know how they “THINK” they know that!

 

 

Monday January 25 2016  A LONG DAY

I love long days.  It makes it seem like I had the opportunity to live a long time.  Sometimes by nightfall, the morning actually seems like yesterday.  If a day can be packed, we know how to do it extremely well.  Usually without intent.   It just seems everything takes longer than it used to.  Perhaps it does, due to the fact that it may take us longer to get it done.  I notice it is a lot more fun when we don’t rush, like I said yesterday, and I just enjoy stopping to “smell the roses” so to speak (in January in WISCONSIN).  In other words, I enjoy talking and shooting the breeze with anyone who wants company.  I just find people so fascinating and interesting.  The older I become, more and more things become more and more interesting.  I guess I am either curious or nosy.  But, it makes for an interesting life.

Today started out sunny and clear and cold.  It ended with snow, icy roads and A MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURE!  It was so icy that Dave slid right past the road we were supposed to turn on to take us into the area where we live.  Our area is quite hilly in some places and we were coming down a steep hill.  He put the right turn blinker on quite early to signal his intent.  The car following behind us kept a considerable distance, which was a good thing.  As we slipped by the turn Dave said, “Well I guess I won’t be turning here”.  We went down to the next stop sign and had better luck since it was on flat ground.  We were very close to home and very thankful for that.  Icy, slick roads are not fun to drive on.  We cancelled our evening out.

Now it is almost bedtime and I again have an early departure scheduled for morning.  However, it will depend upon the roads if I go out.  After a snow storm the plows are usually out most of the night and the roads are passable in the morning after being plowed and salted.  Unless it is an emergency I will cancel appointments if the roads are dangerous.  My first appointment tomorrow is at the gym at 7:45 a.m. and then I plan to leave from there for a 10:30 a.m. haircut.  I have an appointment every four weeks to keep my hair short enough for my liking.  I have no desire, and no time to spend on primping in front of a mirror to “make” a hairstyle.  Wash and wear is my motto. 

When appointments are necessary it seems they come in waves.  This is appointment week! 

 

ANOTHER APPOINTMENT

By Kathleen Martens

January 25, 2016

 

Appointments come, appointments go,

And it seems they are so slow.

Things to do that must be done,

And most of them are not fun.

 

I would much rather stay at home,

And I never mind being alone.

But my hair becomes quite shaggy

Without the gym my arms are saggy.

 

My physical comes but once a year

But my hubby who is so dear

Must go twice as many times as me

So of course I must oversee!

 

And then there is the worst of all

When I must on the dentist call.

So twice a year I trudge on down

And must go all the way to town.

 

And then the mammogram’s a must,

So my chest I can thrust

And be squeezed almost to death,

That I can barely catch my breath.

 

And oh I mustn’t forget my feet!

My trusty friends who pavement meet.

And then I am referred to another

For custom orthopedics like no other. 

 

And then my eyes I must tend

Because they are my very best friends.

And I have my cataracts checked,

And complain about all my specks.

 

But those floaters keep floating by

Though the doctor cannot spy.

Another appointment to buy new glasses

Which will hide my “beautiful” lashes.

 

Then the pharmacy sends emails.

Pick up my prescriptions I must not fail!

And into town again I drive

Where 6,000 persons now there thrive.

 

So the traffic isn’t too bad!

But going so many places makes me sad.

I would rather not leave my house,

Where it’s just me and my spouse!

 

But to the grocer’s I must attend,

And with crowds I must fend.

I stock my larder twice a week,

Because some things just won’t keep.

 

Another day a Costco trip,

Just another calendar blip.

Where I stock up on sundry things,

And into the house I must bring

 

And then there’s taxes to comply,

And that date is coming nigh.

Once a year is enough of that!

To make the government nice and fat!!!

 

And then I must remember my range,

Every 5,000 miles an oil change.

My little Soul needs loving care,

So to the dealer, I take her there.

 

And these appointments are but of few

Of all the rest left to do.

The unexpected that rear their head,

And probably will until I am dead.

 

And the appointments written about in my poem don’t even include those caused by our water-loss.  And what makes it worse is that they are here at the house and we must live our lives around those appointments!

Before I think of another appointment I think I’ll go to bed.

Good night and God bless you!

 

Part 8:

8 Keys to Finding God’s Will for Your Life

8) Take a look at your circumstances.

God often clearly demonstrates His plan for our lives by lining up circumstances in obvious ways. And He also shows us what His will is NOT for us to do in that same way. It is not His will for you to take the job that is not offered to you. If you are 5’ 6” tall and weigh 125 lbs., it is not likely that God has created you to play professional football.

Over the years, I have discovered that God is pretty good at opening and closing doors. He even did that for the Apostle Paul and his entourage in Acts. Take a look at this passage:

Acts 16:6-10

6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

So, even Paul had to face closed doors in his ministry. God often uses closed doors to show us clearly what He does NOT want us to do. And He also uses open doors at times to show us what He DOES want us to do. Of course, this does not mean that every open door is definitely God’s plan, but it does help to give you some basic direction.

A Closing Thought:

The next time you begin to ponder God’s plan for your life, I would encourage you to mull over the above eight keys. Use these principles to help you to hone in on His plan. And when you seek His will earnestly, you will find it!

http://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/chris-russell/8-keys-to-knowing-god-s-will-for-your-life.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Sabbath January 24 2016  CONNECT WITH PEOPLE

“We desire to be a church where it is easy to make friends and establish relationships that enrich our lives and nurture our faith.  It is in sharing the life we have in Christ with other people by serving them with our unique talents and abilities, and by receiving from them in return, that we find true joy.”

Week three of quoting a part of our Sunday morning bulletin.  Next Sunday is the last sermon in the series.  The first sermon was “Come as You Are”, last week’s message was “Connect with God, today’s topic was Connect with People, and next week’s will be “Contend for more of God’s Presence”.  All messages are or will be available at:  http://www.citychurchonline.org

There was so much in the message that I could not begin to discuss the points without leaving too many pertinent details out.  I will, however, write a poem about some of the key topics.

 

CONNECT WITH PEOPLE

By Kathleen Martens

January 24, 2016

 

God has placed His children

In the church body with a plan.

He has purpose for each talent,

For each woman, for and each man.

 

To create a healthy body

He designed a job for each soul,

So the Church has what’s needed,

Each purposed to make it whole.

 

And because we work together

There is a reason WHY we need each other.

Before offering God your praise

Go and forgive your brother.

 

Confess your sins to the body

So your spirit can be healed.

That you will have the strength to stand

Knowing it is God who is your shield.

 

So that when before God you come

And words of love employ,

The God of all the universe

Will then receive the purest joy.

 

WHY we need each other

Is if our spiritual fire wanes,

Our brothers can step in,

Lest our burning is doused by rain.

 

And encourage you to thirst

For a deep, spiritual connection. 

So your heart will remember

The deep longing of your affection.

 

WHEN we need each other

Are the times when we sin

Confess your sins to your brothers

And your fire they’ll help tend.

 

And WHEN you are afraid

Your fire can go out.

The brethren will walk with you,

Encouraging you not to doubt.

 

So whatever it is God calls you to do

You will not stop and fall asleep,

The body of believers surround you

So on the righteous road you’ll keep.

 

Because when you are lulled to sleep

Your spiritual life will fall,

Being too busy is one reason

You fail to give God a call.

 

And the longer you ignore God

The farther from Him you become,

So the Church body rallies around

Lest you forget God’s Son.

 

So even if your fire dies down

And your connection seems so remote,

Sometimes the word of a caring brother

Is all it takes to rekindle your smoke.

 

And your fire once again will burn,

For it is God who fans the flames.

When Jesus breathes into your life

You are able to refocus your aims.

 

Though we sometimes are overwhelmed

And our life seems to fall down,

When you are part of a healthy body

Your spiritual life once again is found.

 

What we must remember to do

Is function in the part God has designed,

So the body will be healthy and whole

As it daily is refined.

 

And know that God has great things

For each of his beloveds to do.

His plan for each one is perfect

And each day He gives us is new.

 

And know God desires for us to connect

To the worshipers who around us pray.

So at times we may be the one

Who helps another get through their day.

 

I had a lot of remembering to do to write the above poem.  I hope it makes some sense without you having heard the message.

Had a wonderful afternoon, CONNECTING with a family in our church body.  It was such a joy to have them as guests in our home.  The food was delicious (even if I do say so myself),  the conversation delightful, and their children were absolutely wonderful.  The best part however, was sharing from what God has given us through His Word.  David S. (guest) read scriptures from his journal which he has penned from THE MESSAGE BIBLE (I had never heard of that translation), his wife read beautiful entries from David S’s journal and I shared several poems from my blog.  The scriptures David S. read were written with such eloquence.  I loved the translation.  I could still tell what the scripture was, but it was spoken in a very simple elegance.  Easy to listen to.  Easy to read.  I’ll have to see if I can find that translation online and read some from it.  I didn’t want the afternoon to end, but it did.  I loved the sound of life in the house while they were here.  And when the sound of silence comes over the house, I love that sound also.  And so it is now.

Dave is downstairs in his den watching football.  The sound does not travel to where I am.  I hear no noise from traffic and the snow seems to muffle all other sounds.  Earlier, when I began writing I could hear the owls hooting across the woods to one another, but they too are silent now.  Perhaps they captured their dinner and have gone home to eat.

Well, I will capture some extra sleep if I turn in now.  Tomorrow is a very early day again.  I think the alarm will ring at 5:00 a.m.  I like waking up naturally so I will go and get my beauty sleep.  I keep hoping it will help (to make me beautiful, that is).  Just in case you want to know, it hasn’t worked yet!

Good night and may God’s blessings be with each of you tonight and for the entire week!

 

Part 7:

8 Keys to Finding God’s Will for Your Life

 7) Listen to your heart.

In addition to listening to the Spirit, I also recommend listening to your heart. To understand my point here, consider the following passage:

Psalms 37:4-5

4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. (NKJV)

I love this passage, because it shows me that, when I am walking with the Lord, He will actually let me do many really cool things that I actually love to do! When you are close to Him, He actually begins to shape your desires so that you desire the things that He has already called you to do.

So then, His plan actually becomes a super-exciting adventure. I always have the most fun in life when I am doing God’s will. And that is because He shapes my “wanter” to want to do the things for which He has actually created me.

 

http://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/chris-russell/8-keys-to-knowing-god-s-will-for-your-life.html

 

 

 

Saturday January 23 2016  REMEMBER TO GIVE THANKS

 

Oh my!  What a list of things to do.  I am going from one task to the next slowly and gently.  I have long ago decided that when I retired I was going to quit rushing.  I lived like that for so long that it is a difficult habit to break, but I’m making progress.  I love not rushing.  I do everything, evenly, methodically, with concentration and much enjoyment.  Everything from cleaning vegetables, cutting up huge heads of Broccoli and Cauliflower into clean, bite size pieces.  There is actually an art to it. 

I see food as art.  The beauty of it just amazes me.  I find the creative detail that God designed in food to be absolutely, amazingly beautiful!  Yes, even fresh broccoli and cauliflower.  My broccoli is air drying before I mix it with the cauliflower to create a wonderful salad.  The broccoli and cauliflower salad is probably something most everyone in our society, who attends pot lucks, have made or at least tasted.  It is one of my favorites.  I have the red onion chopped fine and the raw sunflower seeds and craisins in their jars standing at attention waiting to be added to the vegetables in a few moments.  I use Veganaise which is a vegetarian substitute for mayonnaise.  It has healthy oils in it and is delicious.  It is made with grapeseed oil.

Next on my agenda is to prepare my pomegranate by deseeding it so I can make it into a salad tomorrow.  My pomegranate salad recipe was given to me by my friends Lana and Tim.  Tim is one of the most excellent creators of delicious foods. Over the years his recipes (most of them originally his) have become tried and true staples on our table.  Back to the pomegranate.  Just in case you don’t know it, not only are pomegranates a work of art unto themselves, but it is a work of art to deseed them without causing damage to each little seed.  I just went into my kitchen and dug out the instruction pamphlet on how to “do it properly”.  I took a picture that you can enlarge so that you can see how to deseed a pomegranate. Over the years I have revised the instructions on how to deseed a pomegranate to better suit me. For starters I don’t cut into the seeds themselves, but just barely cut off the top.  I also cut a small portion of the bottom off.  I do score it on the ridges of seeds and in the valley of the seeds on the outside of the peel.  I cut a little niche out of the center top that is open so my thumb can grab hold and pull it apart as it breaks into several sections.  I deseed section by section.  Use your thumb to gently push against the direction the seed grows.  It takes 12 to 15 minutes for me to do an entire large pomegranate. 

Okay, here is the recipie for POMEGRANATE SALAD

1 large pomegranate deseeded

1 very large or two normal sized honey crisp apples (my favorite).  It is best to use a firm, tart apple.

Cut the apple into little cubes. Green apples like pippin or granny smith can be peeled or left unpeeled.

4 large stalks of celery diced very small

Gently mix the above three ingredients together in a bowl and douse liberally with a favorite balsamic vinegar.  I use Raspberry Balsimic or Fig Balsamic. 

Refrigerate

It lasts several days in a refrigerated closed container. 

WHEN SERVING, GARNISH WITH WALNUTS.  THE FLAVOR IS WONDERFUL WITH THE NUTS.

I love to eat the salad plain or served on top of a green salad.  It is also a favorite on my morning yogurt.

So, if you’ve ever wondered what people do with those hard, red, beautiful fruits, now you know at least one delicious recipe.  Pomegranates come into season in November and you may be able to buy them through January, if you are lucky.  I buy them by the flat. I wrap them in newspaper and put them in the bottom crisper of the fridge.  They last for weeks that way.  But check the wrapped pomegranates often.  Sometimes a part of them will soften and is not good, but usually there is a portion of it that is still fresh and beautiful.

Well, enough of food.  That is where my mind is today.  As I write Dave is dusting the living room.  He didn’t get it done yesterday, nor the vacuuming.  But, we will have it done by bedtime.  Slowly and deliberately, from one task to the next, in peaceful quiet, we will finish.  What a great place to work!

 

REMEMBER TO GIVE THANKS

By Kathleen Martens

January 23, 2016

 

Never take for granted

God’s beautiful food.

Just its beauty and its touch

Puts me in a great mood.

 

Pause to take a look

Of the intricacy of its plan,

It is so amazing

It could never be designed by man.

 

Take for instance a raspberry’s

Tiny liquid cells.

Each one full of juice,

Our hunger pains to quell.

 

We can thank God

For bananas, apples and grapes.

The original fast foods,

For both man and apes.

 

And the list is endless

Of foods God has designed.

He gave such bounty to the world,

Because He’s loving and so kind.

 

So never forget to say thank you,

With a prayer of grace.

When you sit down to partake

At your home place.

 

There are many who do not have

What we expect each day.

So if you are one of the blessed

Remember to give thanks today.

 

My kitchen beckons me!

Have a great day today.  God bless you!

 

Part 6:

8 Keys to Finding God’s Will For Your Life

6) Listen to God’s Spirit.  I experienced a major turning point in my own prayer life when I learned simply to shut up while I was praying. That may sound odd to you, and it seemed odd to me at first.

You see, I used to do all the talking when I prayed to God. But then, several years ago, I read Bill Hybel’s book, Too Busy Not to Pray. That book completely changed the way I approached God through prayer. Since reading that book, I have added a significant component to my prayer life: listening. I take time to listen to what God might have to say to me.

Practically, the way I go about this is to bring a notepad with me when I sit down to pray. Then I write at the top of several pages things like the following:

• “What is the next step in my career?”
• “What is the next step in my ministry?”
• “What is the next step for my family?”
• “What is the next step for my marriage?”
• “What is the next step in my education?”
• “What is the next step in my finances?”

During my prayer time, I meditate on questions such as the above. Often, God will start flooding my heart with ideas and information regarding one or more of those questions. I write as fast as I can as He speaks to my heart. What a glorious experience that is to sense His Spirit on me, guiding my thoughts and words.

Through experiences like this, He has shown me many times with great clarity what His will is for my life. I long for those experiences when He speaks to me like that. Those times are truly life changing.

John 10:27

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

http://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/chris-russell/8-keys-to-knowing-god-s-will-for-your-life.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday January 21 2016  WHO NEEDS A PARTY?

Good evening one and all.  This will be just a quick check in time for those of you who read daily.  All is well.  It’s been a long, extremely busy day, and I’m about out of gas.  So a brief rundown of a few things from today.  There was much accomplished today in my Geek Squad session.  I could not have had a better person to help me.  She was efficient and quite an expert at what she did.  She worked on four computers, hooked my laptop to enable it to print on one of my printers, correlated my email addresses to work together between computers so I didn’t have to delete everything four times over, set up my blog administration page to be accessible from another computer, tuned up, cleaned out, fixed, added to and took away from, and made everything work as it should.  She was also patient enough to explain things to me, show me how to work certain steps, and just gave me a boost of self-confidence when working with all these computers.  Each computer has a work of its own to do.  Two computers are used for photography only.  My desk top computer was used for the business office work.  My lap top is for traveling and working on my blog. 

When you deal with computer equipment and camera equipment, technology changes so rapidly that when you buy new cameras you must be certain that the computer will support the new technology of the camera.  Sometimes it will not, thus the reason I bought my first MAC.  Over the years I had several digital cameras and then it happened again, thus another Mac, this time bigger, better and way more costly (not to mention the cost of the cameras).  And now again it has happened.  However, not with my professional equipment.  The personal use camera I purchased last year for my trip is technically beyond my last MAC’s technological capacity.  I still have it.  It still works but only with my professional cameras purchased at the time the computer was purchased.  I love those cameras but they are too big and too heavy for me to handle any more.  So I purchase a small red camera, only to find out I then had to buy a new computer.  I chose an HP.  BAD CHOICE ON MY PART.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the HP for writing and surfing, and emailing.  But because it is a laptop with a movable screen it cannot be used to work on photos because of the variance of distorting the light on the photo.  So now I will need a stationary screen with MAC innards.  There is nothing like a MAC for photo processing.  Everything only works with its own generation.  And unfortunately, the computer lives in dog years.  Each generation is not very long to aid in the sale of more equipment to the gullible public.

I am keeping the 2^nd generation MAC I purchased because all the photos that have done the last few years for my own family were done on the cameras that work with it.  I still need to process my own photos.  Remember the cliché “the cobbler’s children have no shoes”?  Well, the photographer’s children have no photos.  Oh they were taken but have not yet processed.  I always had to put my personal work on the back burner due to the deadlines I had for professional work.  Oh, I am so glad that is now over!

Just in case I haven’t told you, I AM TRULY RETIRED NOW!  I finished the final wedding work.  It is packaged ready to be delivered.  NOW I AM READY FOR A PARTY!  When you work from your home no one really believes you worked at all.  You never had to go to work and you already “stayed at home”.  There is a saying I heard once that pertained to me quite nicely: “If you own your own business you only have to work half a day.  And you even get to decide which half.  You can choose to work from 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight, or from 12:00  midnight to 12:00 noon.”  It wasn’t quite true for me.  I often worked 16 hours a day during wedding season.  But I am FINISHED, DONE, CAPOOT!  AND I AM GLAD!  SO BRING ON THE PARTY!!!  But alas, no one really knows that I am now truly retired.  I take that back.  One dear friend sent me a retirement card a while back.  It made my heart smile.  I didn’t yet feel retired then, but I do now.

 

WHO NEEDS A PARTY?

By Kathleen Martens

January 21, 2016

 

To work so hard and never go to work

Perhaps because my job I shirked?

Not so. Not so at all

Because I was really always on call.

 

I worked from morning until evening dark.

Only then did I come in from the park.

Photos taken in the earliest of light,

And in the studio when it was night.

 

And then consultations for weddings next year

With unending couples that constantly appeared.

Finally when others were tucked in bed,

Post production accomplished after I was fed.

 

Until 2:00 a.m. I labored for hours,

Correcting faces and bouquets of flowers.

Designing albums with precision care,

So with family they could be shared.

 

Senior portraits and babies, done all in one day

What mattered was, who wanted to pay.

I pulled and pushed props all around

And even drove clients all over town.

 

Exciting and interesting rolled all into one,

Because to me, it was exceedingly fun.

To capture moments of ecstasy, full of joy

For future generations of girls and boys.

 

The stress was high, the hours were long,

But I knew, I was where I belonged.

Behind the camera I always hid

Simply because I loved what I did!

 

Now it is over, and put on the shelf

And I have discovered a very new self.

What once was my heart’s desire

Has now kindled an even greater fire.

 

The clock no longer ticks demanding of me

The ticking now says “HEY, YOU ARE FREE”.

And that’s how I feel deep in my heart

That each and every morning a new life I start!

 

And besides, who needs a party?

 

Guess what?  I’m going to be able to get to bed on time.  Since I woke up at 5:00 a.m. this morning I think I am ready.

 

Good night and God bless you!

 

 

 

Wednesday January 20 2016  A QUIET DAY

Well, if you read yesterday’s blog you will know I wrote about talking too much.  I have been accused of that.  Well, today I was quiet all day…well mostly that is.  Probably because I was alone.  It was a wonderful day.  No gym time, and that is my favorite day of the week.  Spent time with the Lord this morning and wrote my poem for today, made lunch for Dave when he returned home from his work out, and then he left again, and the house was full of quiet.  Mostly because I wasn’t talking.

While Dave was absent I worked hard and long all afternoon and finished just in time to make dinner.  I will tell you briefly about my project.  I am trying to be quick with this blog because I must be in bed in 45 minutes in order to get up very early in the morning and be out of here to exercise so I can be back before 9:00 a.m.  The gym time takes about two and a half hours round trip.  I want to try to get there a little after 6:00 a.m.  But back to my project.  I have a craft room dedicated to the artistic side of me.  That artistic side is also very cluttery, especially when I am too busy to do art projects.  That’s when the room becomes piled with things that shouldn’t be piled there as well as all the scraps and tools left out because of doing everything in a hurry and not putting everything back.  So, today was organize and clean day.  Piece by piece I touched everything on my three tables which I have laid out into a “U” shape.  My walls are covered with supplies and I even have things on the windowsills.   I took some pictures AFTER I organized.  I wish I had taken some before shots but I didn’t think about it.  Maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t.  It certainly looks a lot better in there.  I didn’t go through the shelves or closet.  That will be in a future project.  Right now it is usable.

Sunday we have a family coming over for the afternoon and they have two children who will probably want to do some art projects.  I couldn’t let them walk into my mess.  This family is a very artistic family and I think they will enjoy the space.

The reason I must be back by 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning is that I have the Geek squad lady coming.  Originally it was for 8:00 a.m. but it changed to 9:00 a.m.  I also must correct a statement I wrote yesterday that the person on the phone told me in regards to time.  He told me the $50.00 covered up to 4 hours.  Well I was informed on the phone by the lady that it only covers 90 minutes.  I think I did a bit more than talk after I found that out.  She rearranged her schedule so she could give me more time and it will be for the $50.00 amount.  If that was what I was quoted then she said she would honor it. 

After she leaves, Dave and I must leave to do the shopping for Sunday’s food.  I plan to make my food on Friday and clean on Saturday.  Cleaning is something that must be done.  Especially dusting and putting a few things away. 

So, as you can see, I have been busy, I will be busy, and I’m looking forward to every moment of it.  After all, I get to cook.  I haven’t been doing much of that because we are trying to eat up all our soup.  That will take us a long time.  We just finished the soup from 2013 and 2014.  Now we have started on 2015 and we still have two freezers full.  And guess what I am making for Sunday?  SOUP OF COURSE!  That is why I am making it on Friday so it can steep in the fridge and meld its flavors.  I am making Barley Chili with sour dough bread (and maybe some cornbread) and a couple of kinds of salads.  Salads are my favorite.  I haven’t thought about dessert yet.  We don’t usually eat dessert.  I may just serve a pomegranate salad over yogurt.  It is delicious!  Especially with walnuts.

I will transcribe my poem from my journal and then sign off.  Wish I had more time to talk about God but my time is ticking.  I think it actually takes more time for me to transcribe a poem to the blog than it does to write it on the computer as I type my blog.  Today’s poem is relevant to what happened during my time with the Lord.

 

TO THE QUIET PRESENCE

By Kathleen Martens

January 20, 2016

 

To be ensconced in the sound of silence

Creates an interlude of peace,

Comforting the tired heart

So new vitality will be released.

 

Such a sweet and gentle place to go,

But so often it’s impossible to wait.

There is always so much we must do

As we hurry, so as not to be late.

 

But we must learn to stop and listen

To the needs of our soul.

To be replenished in God’s presence

Should be our greatest goal.

 

Beside still water our shepherd leads

As we lie down in green pastures to rest.

He leads us in paths of righteousness,

For He is the one who loves us best.

 

Listen, and take time to hear His voice

That your Spirit will be restored.

He calls your name, and beckons “Come,

To the quiet presence of your Lord.”

 

And that is what I did this morning and we had a grand time. 

Good night and God bless you.

 

BELOW PLEASE READ PART FOUR OF:

8 Keys to Finding God’s Will For Your Life

4) Seek godly input.

One key component to finding God’s will is to seek the input of godly advisors in your life. If you don’t currently have 3-4 godly mentors, then I would highly recommend that you seek them out right away.

Think of it this way: you should understand that you are basically a composite of the five people you spend the most time with. So, then, it is vital that you choose those five people well. If you choose to surround yourself with godly advisors, they will be instrumental in helping you discern God’s plan for your life. But if you surround yourself with people who are far from God, your hope of finding His best for your life will be greatly diminished.

Proverbs 11:14

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

The church is designed to help you greatly with this. I would encourage you to be in church every single time the doors are opened. The more you involve yourself with a community of believers, the greater your chances will be of finding godly men and women who can help you discern God’s will.

http://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/chris-russell/8-keys-to-knowing-god-s-will-for-your-life.html