Saturday September 5 2015  I LOST THE KEY

 

I LOST THE KEY

By Kathleen Martens

September 5 2015

 

I lost the key to my quiet room

It disappears when grandkids come.

The sound of chatter dispels the hope

That to my place I can run.

 

But somehow, even when it’s lost

I always find it when they leave.

There is no quiet when kids are around,

Nor is there a place of reprieve.

 

But I found the secret today

As grandpa watches them outside.

And my heart is lightened with joy

To see them swing and slide.

 

Because of course I must peep

On all that they do at play.

Just having their presence close

Considerably brightens my day.

 

But soon chaos will return

As showers will be needed,

To rinse off water-park muck,

My directions must be heeded.

 

And when evening comes around,

Time for dinner and a smoothie.

And later is time for popcorn

And a library movie.

 

Time for brushing and flossing too

So the teeth stay sparkling white.

And a couple of nice long stories

Before time to turn off the light.

 

And that is when I finally flop

On a bed that beckons sincerely

Where I will have some peace and quiet

Enjoying each moment dearly.

 

I was expecting company today… (and the phone rings and I must leave to answer my  husband’s call outside)…and like I said in last night’s blog, the wife was sick and unable to come.  I called early this morning and we decided to reschedule.

Now back to the interruption mentioned above.  The neighbors had their slip and slide outside and the boys were having the time of their life.  So I had to join in the fun, take my camera and get some photos and video.  It is one of those end of the season summer nights that has magic in the air.  Humid, high lazy white clouds with soft blue sky, cicadas singing their song and a still hush in the air.  The woods are dark as the sun is obscured by the clouds.  I so love the languid evenings of such summer days.

Court and Amy brought the boys over about 12:30 and we had lunch at 1:00.  And a delicious lunch it was!  Strata, salad, fresh corn on the cob, grapes, and cherry tomatoes with goat cheese flavored with figs.  DELICIOUS!

After lunch we had a fun time at the water park.  The same place we went a couple of weeks ago when a lightning storm chased us away.  The boys had a great time and it was fun to watch as they explored the water features.  It was actually a very interactive design. 

Well, my silence is over.  All three of my men have returned.  Two of them are VERY NOISY.  Dave is herding them into the bathroom for a quick shower. 

My poem relates the plans for our evening.  Let’s just hope all goes as planned.  I should have had my children earlier in life and my kids should have had theirs earlier.  Or maybe I just shouldn’t have had as many birthdays as I have.  I shall go and be a grandma.  Just so you know, when needed, I am a no nonsense grandma and the kids know it!  So I shall go and be extremely nonsensical.

Good night one and all. 

P.S.  I have lots of great pictures but they would not download.  I’ll try again tomorrow.

Friday September 4 2015  A PLACE OF MY OWN

 

Well, today I receive no immediate ideas of which to title my page.  Maybe I’ll need to write the blog first and then something will make sense.  It is late, dinner is done (just finished cleaning up) and it is already past the hour to retire.  I love my 9:00 p.m. bedtime.  As hard as I try, I still cannot get to bed on time or finish up what I have planned to accomplish for the day.  It sometimes is disappointing because then I awaken in the morning with all that’s left to finish, plus all I wanted to do that day.  Am I the only one this happens to?  I never really hear anyone else complaining about this malady I seem to be shadowed with.  Please tell me, is it just me?

The one thing left undone today is I will go to bed with my floors not cleaned.  Dave worked outside most of the day and I worked inside today cooking for company coming tomorrow.  That is until I sat down at my computer and realized the wife of the family is sick and cannot come.  So it is still up in the air as to who might still come from the family.  I’ll know tomorrow.  Dinner is pretty much completely made except for cooking the main dish in the oven. Regardless who comes or who does not come, I will still clean my floors in the morning.  It is a long job because I have a long house.

My sister is keeping me on track.  At least she is making me feel a little guilty for getting off track  (I’m kidding sister).   She is probably a bit more focused than I am by nature.  I can get involved in so many things and always find so many things that are interesting that will side track me.  That was what was so wonderful about my journey across the United States.  I loved getting side tracked.  It’s as if time does not exist for me when I am swept up in a new idea, or new situation, or meeting new people, or driving on roads I’ve never been on.  I don’t really think I have attention deficit, but I’m probably a little close to that.  Life is still too full of wonder and my curiosity is always roused.  I am so thankful that I am filled with the enthusiasm I have for life and new adventure. There are so many people I know who have lost that child-like wonder that once resided in them as children.  It’s such a pity.  I will say this, my life is never boring to me and for that I am thankful.  Even in a place of quiet and solitude (which I also crave and love) I am never bored.  But…I must take stock and realize that what my sister says is true and correct.  I am getting side-tracked with my life and must close down some of the extra activities and perhaps become a bit of a recluse if I am to accomplish my goals, not my bucket list mind you, but my goals, those things that have a timeline on them.  Sister, I am listening.  Thanks for caring enough to once again TRYING to steer me in the right direction.

Sister has always TRIED to steer me in the “right” direction but I must admit, she is probably correct when she said I never listened to her advice before so it isn’t  surprising that I don’t listen now.  I am trying to listen.  I just have to focus on it long enough to remember.  Keep trying Sister, please don’t give up on me!  So I said all that to say this.  I am going to try to become better focused on the important commitments I must finish first.  Then I will go on from there.  Keep your advice coming. 

Thanks to all of you who commented on yesterday’s blog.  And thanks for those of you who are praying for my son and the situation facing all of our policemen in this country.  It’s almost as if a war has been declared.  The kind of war where you don’t know who the enemy is.  It’s a war of cowards killing in cold blood and then running to hide.  I would not want to stand before God in judgement with that kind of blood on my hands

I suppose it is time for a topic change.  I don’t mean to get off on a tangent but my blog is my place to air my thoughts and true feelings.  Well, most of my true feelings.  I must admit, I probably keep more thoughts to myself than I air publically. 

 

A PLACE TO CALL MY OWN

By Kathleen Martens

September 4, 2015

 

Isn’t it wonderful we have a place,

A place to call all our own?

Our very own quiet space

That no one else has ever known?

 

The deepest places of our heart

The thoughts that are deep within,

A dwelling which never departs,

Like a warm and cozy den.

 

A residence no one has seen,

The most intimate part of being,

Where only self, knows what it means,

For no one else, capable of seeing.

 

It is the solitude of your thought

Where life completely belongs to you.

You have control on what is brought

Into your room not meant for two.

 

In silence, a place of escape

From all that assails your senses..

A perfect abode for your own sake

With seamless perfect fences.

 

I love my place to escape.  I go there often and play.  I make up stories and day dream or just let my mind drift like a lazy white cloud caught up by a gentle breeze.  It is my place alone, my place to atone, my place to roam.  It’s a beautiful place of peace and solitude and majesty and wonder and love and joy and peace.  Try it, you mind find your place as refreshing as my own.

Not much else to write tonight as I am trying to keep this short, simple, and light.  And besides, I want to get in bed.

Good night.  God bless and keep you. 

P.S. I have no proof reader tonight so I hope this blog will pass scrutiny in the typo department

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday September 3, 2015  UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

 

I have absolutely no idea what my title means today.  It just kept coming into my mind as I sat down to write my blog so I thought I would go ahead and write it and see where God wants me to take this blog. 

This day could best be described as “a dog day of summer”.  I heard that once in a movie years and years ago and always connoted it to being a long, hot, humid, summer day.  And so it is today.  Last week was fall weather.  This week (the week school starts) is hot and humid and windless.  Thank goodness for air conditioning.  We are a spoiled people.  Remember these blessed days, enough food to buy, electricity, air conditioning, stores stocked with necessities, medicines available (exorbitant, but available), and we can still walk down the street with enough confidence that that you won’t be shot in the back unaware, (at least if you are not a police officer).

Our world as we know it is changing.  I see the changes and can remember a lot of them over the past half century of my life.  The longer I live it seems the changes just come quicker and quicker.  Whirlwind changes.  If we don’t change with the world we live in we will soon find that we are living in a world we do not know.  Take me for example, born before computers were an everyday word.  I have seen technology explode in so many areas.  I have seen how growing and harvesting food has changed and the changes in how we eat our food.  Food was once grown in the garden or slaughtered in the yard.  We ate the real food.  A few things came in a can or a wrapper, but very little came in boxes.   Now, most food is prepared ahead of time and packaged in boxes or sold in fast food lines.  Cars were big and and heavy and made out of real metal and chrome.  Today they are fiberglass and synthetic and collapse like an accordion.  Once upon a time when you went to see the doctor you were called by name and not asked your birth date a dozen times in one visit.  I saw man walk on the moon through the screen of a television.  As a matter of fact I remember when our first TV came into our home when I was about four years old. 

There have been so many firsts for me in my life that I cannot even recall them all.  Now it seems that when a child is born, brought home from the hospital the world is set in motion with all the conveniences, luxuries, and do-dads that you could ever need (or not need) or want.  And then as that child grows they will start seeing their firsts right along with the parent seeing it at the same time.  Home PC’s are a good example.  I remember going to my friend’s house in about 1979 and she had a computer in her home.  It was big and took up one side of a room sitting on a long 8 foot table.  There was a computer and printer.  I was just amazed.  My friend told me that she believed that one day every household in America would have a computer and it would be a normal thing.  I was astounded at her revelation.   I had worked for Cardiovascular Surgeons for many years in California and it was during that time when computers were being introduced into the workplace.  In one room was a word processor.  It stood from the floor to about 5 feet high.  There was an area designed for someone to sit and type on a machine while looking at a monitor and seeing what was being typed.  They could also go back and change things on the monitor without WHITEOUT!  Paper was not used.  What you typed was viewed on a screen.  It was really quite impressive. 

I remember the transition of going from a computer-less world to one that has been overtaken by nano technology.  What once took up an entire room in a doctor’s office can now fit in the palm of your hand and probably even smaller.  Was I excited about this?  Yes, of course I was.  I wanted to learn all I could learn, as quickly as I could learn.  We purchased our first home computer in 1985.  Both of our kids were young and it did not seem like a big deal to them.  Our daughter, 3 years older than our son was not introduced to the computer in grammar school.  She was the last wave of students to bypass the coming of the age of computers.  Our son was in second grade when he first touched a keyboard at school.  Now I think most children are already adept at using computers by the time they are out of diapers.  At least adept at being able to hit the right keys to make a video come on.

How many of you reading this remember pong?  Yes, we had one of those too.  And oh my, what many hours of entertainment we received from that little square screen hitting balls back and forth to each other.  Like I said, it is a changing world.  Not only is our world changing in regards to computers, but in regards to morals and morays.  Changes happening with movies so full of violence and pornography.  We live in an instant society and the generation living now do not remember it any other way.  So much violence is seen on TV shows and real news that it doesn’t even phase many anymore.  Even sadder still is how technology has allowed violence to escalate by sending out messages inviting gangs to come and wreak havoc on unsuspecting business owners.  And now there are those who cry out to kill police officers and so it is happening more and more.  Our world is changing.

I wish I could somehow convey to those who so despise and hate police officers to sit back and take a look at what our world, our society, would be like were there not men and women dedicated to putting themselves into dangerous situations to help others.  I wonder what it would be like if all the police across the United States decided to go on complete strike for one month.  What would it be like during that month.  It seems those who help us the most in time of need are the very ones that others want to kill. 

Lets sit back and calculate some of the situations where police are involved to make our world safer and how it would be if there were no police officers to call in time of need.

1. My child is missing. (Who would search?)
2. Roads and highways with no one to monitor speeders and drunk drivers. (There would be chaos and more road rage and more deaths.)
3. A car accident and traffic with need for traffic control. (There would be no first responders to administer aid or direct traffic.)
4. A wife calls for help because her husband is beating her. (She would be left to her own devices or possibly be beaten to death.)
5. Someone is breaking into my house. (The caller would need some way of defending their residence.)
6. Shootings out on the street. (No one to respond to help the victims or find the shooters.)
7. A dead body is found (No one to come and make it possible to find out what happened and to take the body away.)
8. Violence and drugs selling on street corners. (It would continue in mass because there is no one to stop the drug sellers.)
9. The president is coming to town. (There would be no city security or added protection for the president or any way to block off the streets for hours.)

 

And the list could on and on.  In other words, there would pretty much be rampant crime, chaos in the streets and no protection for the home owners or those in distress.  Police officers are sort of like the garbage collectors of the city they serve.  They go into extreme conditions, pick up the body parts from accidents, hunt for lost and sometimes mutilated children, put their lives on the line every time they stop someone to give a ticket, or answer a domestic call.  I think I would call that a pretty high stress job.  Now they do not even have to answer a call to be a target.  All they must do is put on their uniform and they are like a sitting duck.  It takes a lot of courage for someone to come up from behind a man and shoot him in the back just because he is a police officer and a white police officer to boot.

The world is changing.

And proudly, I am the mother of a police officer.  That police officer is the baby I birthed and prayed that he would survive.  I held him, and loved him, and cared for him, and nurtured him to be kind and loving, and to extend a helping hand toward others.  I raised him with his father who guided him and who became a role model for a little boy to grow up to emulate.  And my police officer son is a husband who has a wife that cares deeply for him.  And he is a father to two little boys who adore him.  And he too is raising his sons with the best intention of being loving and caring human beings toward all.  That means toward all ages, professions, colors, backgrounds.  It matters not from our personal perspective what color someone is or what profession they choose.  My son could no more choose his skin color than I could.  Should I choose not to have a baby because my skin is white and I will have a white baby?  Can we not all just accept who we are, accept those around us, lend a helping hand to our neighbor and brothers of this world and become one nation, not split because of race or  color or country we came from? 

It is time to stop teaching hate.  I really do believe that hate is not inborn, but rather is taught from one generation to the next.  The world is changing but can we not help change it to a society that comes together as one people, rather than divided by race or economics?  We need to look across the aisle and become up close and personal with those who are our neighbors.  Treat others how you would like to be treated.  Extend a helping hand to another, regardless their color or background.  BUT WHERE DOES THAT START?

 

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

By Kathleen Martens

September 3, 2015

 

Up close and personal is not just a term

But a relationship that is firm.

 

The world is changing and dividing,

Choose to be close by confiding.

 

Each has dreams and great desires

That we can help each other transpire.

 

Love your brother as your self.

Take your love off the shelf.

 

Use what you have and to people give,

Respect differences of how others live.

 

Each individual is created unique,

Get up close and take a peek.

 

Up close and personal make new friends

Because then, each one will win.

 

When we see the likeness of what is common

We’d have less need for the lawman.

 

We’d see each other as one of our own

And the differences no longer known.

 

Up close and personal paves the way

To transform what we say

 

When we see others with consideration

There is no more need for obliteration.

 

See each other for who they are,

Their difference is not so far.

 

Each man has need to be accepted,

And desire to be respected.

 

See not the color of the skin,

But rather see each man as kin.

 

Teach not hate to the next generation,

But rather example of love and exoneration.

 

Up close and personal is the key

That will open your eyes to see.

 

I guess God knew that this was the poem I’d take off the shelf today!

And…I had no before hand clue about the words that came through my fingertips on my keyboard.  I wonder if it is a little too controversial or personal for a blog such as I write.

These recent, unprovoked police killings, in cold blood, has pained me greatly.  My son does not wear his police uniform out on the streets unless he is on duty.  He changes at the police department each morning after arriving and each afternoon before leaving.  He is very mum about who knows his profession.  Many of his neighbors have no idea of what he does.  He has been this way for years and now I am seeing why he is so careful.  Please pray for our police officers around the country and include my son as well.  I once told him that I was glad he had flat feet so he would never be called to go to war.  He looked at me and said, “Mom, everyday when I go to work I am fighting a war”.  That’s not what you say to a mom!  So, I pray for him.  Sometimes I awaken in the night and I know the Holy Spirit is prompting me to pray for my son, only to find out the next day that his life was in peril the night before.  Please pray for protection for my son and all the other sons and daughters and husbands and dads and moms and brothers and sisters who are putting their life on the line daily and nightly so we can live in a safer world.  Let your local police officer know that you support them and even tell them that you are praying for their safety.  That might open their eyes a bit.

If you read to the end of this blog I thank you.

Good night.

 

Wednesday September 2 2015  I AM HIS AND HE IS MINE

 

Can anyone ever have enough peace and quiet?  I think not!  This is Dave’s night out to help another person.  I think he really looks forward to it.  I never begrudge my husband time away from me.  Actually, I kind of like the occasional solitude. I think I have mentioned that before. 

Today was another one of those days that just seems to fly by, never accomplishing all I start out to do, comes to a quick end, and then must write my blog before I can get into bed.  I love writing my blog but I am thinking of changing my schedule around for a while.  The only thing is, I am enjoying the correspondence from those reading my blog and look forward to hearing from some every day.  If I stop writing my blog for a while, I plan to resume at a later date.  I will send out email notices at the time I post them.  I may take a hiatus because I have company coming and I am not accomplishing all I need to accomplish.  As soon as the company leaves Dave and I are taking off for a month long trip.  I have decided that I will not blog every day while on the trip.  I may do it sporadically however.

I would love it if people would suggest some topics they might find interesting for me to write about.  I’ll warn you, however, that our points of view may vary.  I’m game, if you are.  I love it when people give me one word or one phrase and challenge me to write a poem.  I have written so many hundreds of poems that at one time I wondered what would happen if I had no more poems to write.  I asked God about it.  I kid you not, this is what happened during my conversation with God.

I felt God tugging at my heart to listen to His voice.  Then all of a sudden in my mind’s eye, like a video playing, God pointed out a room to me.  This room only had three sides to it and I could see in from the side where I was standing.  It was an infinity room.  The walls just went on forever until they became a  point in the distance.  All the walls I could see had book shelves.  Upon the shelves were what I thought were volumes of books, going on forever.  As I approached the shelves I realized they weren’t books, but booklets of poems.  I felt God impress upon me that these were the poems I had already written.  Then He spoke into my heart saying anytime I needed a poem to write I was to just come and take any one off the shelf.  He impressed upon me that I would never run of poems.

I saw that room as if I were actually right in front of it.  After this “vision” was over I wondered if I would ever get to write or read them all.  They are in heaven waiting for me.  Maybe I will get to read them there.

Do you ever delight in the daydream of what heaven will be like for you?  I do.  I imagine my mansion will have rooms and rooms of books on shelves.  And there will be lots of poems, and beautiful lights, and colors dancing wherever I look.  Heaven is real folks.  There are a lot of scriptures that talk about heaven and how it looks.  It will be beyond our wildest imagination. 

Well, today went beyond my wildest imagination because I had to work a lot harder than I imagined I would.  I am working on restoring an old tobacco starter table made out of metal and rust.  I scrubbed off so much rust and then some of the water was left pooled in the bottom and it MADE MORE NEW RUST!  My neighbor Karen saw me working and came over to offer her suggestions.  She went in her house and brought out her CLR (I think those are the correct letters) remover and poured it into the basin and I had to start scrubbing all over again.  I wore protective clothing, eye goggles, and a heavy duty mask with an air filter.  I didn’t realize just how small and my face is because I could barely get the mask to seal around my features.  With a little pressure from my hand while I scrubbed, I made it work.  I fear the table had lead paint on it so I took precautions. I even put a drop cloth down on the driveway to protect the cement.  That drop cloth is already discarded.  The rust is not yet gone. 

This “table” is very old and very rusty and very heavy!  I intend to recondition it so it can be used as the base for a glass top to create a dining room table.  I am considering painting it.  If I choose not to paint it I will put a clear matte finish on,which will seal any lead paint that may still be on it.  It has a beautiful patina to the finish so I really don’t want to paint it if at all possible.  This is the “table” that we purchased in Paoli at an antique store.  But let me tell you, I WORKED PHYSICALLY VERY HARD!  I was so tired in my shoulders by the time I went to exercise that I could not do some of my regular upper body workout!  That’ll teach me to get old!

It seems at times that I spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen just preparing meals.  I’m figuring out ways to make it simpler, and still get in the right amounts of all the food components for Dave’s diabetic needs.  I have discovered that I cannot eat like Dave because it is way too much food for my stomach.  I still have that 5 pounds on that I came home with.  That has to change!

So, here I am, with no earth shattering news (thank God!) and not really that much to write about.  So, I will go and pick one of my poems off that shelf I told you about.  I never peruse, but simply take one.  So your guess is as good as mine right now as to what it will be about.  It is as if I have Christmas ever day.  I look at my poetry as a gift from God that I can give to others.  I thank Him daily for all gifts that come from Him.

THAT I AM HIS AND HE IS MINE

By Kathleen Martens

September 2, 2015

 

One poem upon the shelf

Spoke a whisper to the next,

“Why don’t we switch places

And see if she is vexed.”

 

But what I choose is always best,

God never seems to line them wrong.

And sometimes He delights me,

With a beautiful, simple song.

 

I look forward to each day

When it is time for me to write.

God seems to prepare my way

And I never have to fight.

 

I love to hear the stories

That God delights to give.

By giving me words to speak

To share with others how to live.

 

And sometimes for comfort

He gives words for another to hear

That give them hope and peace

To confirm that he is near.

 

Some poems are long and serious,

And some are short and sweet.

It depends upon what need

He desires my poem to meet.

 

I never know when I choose

What I will find when I look inside

All I need to really know

Is that God with me abides.

 

And He has a plan for me,

And it is always for my good.

I only wish I could do more

I would, if I only could.

 

But He knows my day is limited

For I live in the realm of time.

But someday in the future

I’ll cross eternity’s line.

 

No longer will I be bound

By earth’s time or space,

And as I choose from my shelf

I will look into His face.

 

And He will share His golden smile

And say “You are My Beloved”.

And I will remember the cross

Where His death was so rugged.

 

That I am His and He is mine,

That is the most important thing.

And I will live for eternity

With My King of Kings!

 

So…you can believe what you like.  I know what I saw and I know that God impressed His words into my heart.  Since the day when God allowed me to see the infinity room of poems, I have never worried again about not having something to write.  He gave me this unbelievable gift when I was a very young child.  It took me a long time to realize it was a gift.  I just thought anyone could write if they wanted to.  God has so many gifts He desires to give to his beloved children.  Be certain that your gift is not being hidden.  Mine was for years.  Maybe tomorrow night I’ll tell the story of how God showed me that He wanted me to use my gift of writing for His glory.  All the gifts He gives to us are for His glory.  I believe EVERYONE is given a gift.  Take a deep look, figure out what your gift is, and see if you need to dust it off in order to present to Him what He has gifted you to do.

 

It is fun to write a poem for my readers each evening.  When I don’t do the blog I write them in my journal for myself each morning.  And I love to give them away!

I am going to close with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson written in poetry form.  This is from the book:  “You Can’t Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought” by Peter McWilliams:

“Life is too short to waste

In critical peep

or cynic bark,

Quarrel or reprimand:

‘Twill soon be dark:

Up!  Mind thine own aim,

and God speed the mark!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday September 1 2015  THIS WILL BE A QUICKIE!

 

Time has a way of sneaking up on me.  I have too much day to put in the hours God made.  So I must write quickly this evening.  I need to go to bed earlier and up earlier so I can get more done!

 

FATE WORSE THAN DEATH

By Kathleen Martens

September 1, 2015

 

What to write

When I’m in a hurry?

A silly little poem

Without thought or worry.

 

I will say

A great big hello,

And write my blog

Being quite mellow.

 

I love to live life

But need more hours

To do all I must do

With super powers.

 

My reward today

Is to write to you,

So you can see

Just what I do.

 

Not much it seems

When it takes place,

Just too much running

It’s such a race.

 

First the gym,

Then the store,

Lunch at home,

Cooking more.

 

Then to dentist

And pharmacy too.

Then talk to insurance

Which makes me blue.

 

No one told me

When I retired

That with paperwork

I’d be quite mired!

 

On the phone

Waiting in que,

But each office

Knows ONE THING TO DO.

 

Then to the next

To wait again

It seems to me

This should be a sin.

 

Government bureaucracy

Fate worse than death.

They want not just our money

But our very breath!

 

So what did I do

That gobbled my day?

Your guess as good as mine

Is what I’d say!

 

P.S.  But we did find out that we are covered with some dental insurance, so I guess that was worth the wait.

 

I pretty much said most of my day in my poem.  I did have a chance to lie down for about 45 minutes to get my kidneys kicked in.  AND…I actually finished decluttering the other part of my kitchen counters!  Ahhhhh (that is a silent scream).  I opened my Iphone to find some pictures to send and my camera was on reverse.  I saw myself on the screen (or at least I think it was me).  THERE WAS A VERY OLD LADY LOOKING BACK AT ME!  I’m still not used to her.  She goes around masquerading as me all the time.  I just can’t seem to get away from her.  It’s pretty bad!  The worse scenario however, is when it’s up close and personal on the Iphone.  The Iphone hides absolutely nothing.  Too close for comfort!  Whew, I think I’ve recovered, now let me see if I can find those pictures to post.

Okay, I sent the before and after photos of my kitchen corner.  I also included a couple of photos of my grandson Zachariah on his first day of second grade.  Hope they upload.  We have trouble with Wifi  reaching to this end of the house.  We plan to purchase a booster to see if that will work.

No great revelations today.  Of course I have lots to say but it is getting late and I must get dinner on.  Dave will need to eat soon.  I’ll try to be a bit smarter tomorrow and have more words to take up more of your time.

 

MY GOODNIGHT TO YOU

By Kathleen Martens

Sept 1, 2015

 

May God richly bless you this night

And in your tomorrow.

I pray you have joy,

And no sorrow.

I bid farewell to my faithful few

I write this blog because of you.

Sunday Sabbath August 30 2015  HELP US TO FIGHT!

 

How very sheltered we are here in America.  Do we really know what is going on outside our borders, much less, inside our borders?  Speaking of myself, there is so much more that I don’t know, than what I do know.

Dave and I had an interesting day today.  We volunteered to help out Intervarsity Fellowship, which is a group that has a presence on the University of Wisconsin’s campus.  It is a God based group that helps incoming students become acclimated to college life.  It’s beliefs are Christian oriented and the workers work with new students to lend support for settling in, especially with foreign students, and to witness to them about the love of God when the time is appropriate.  They offer field trips to build relationships and need volunteers to help.  What Dave and I  did today was to be driver and reader for a tour of Madison.  I was the driver and Dave was the reader.  We had a capacity to take two people.  There were several carloads of people who met at a host home after the tour in order to allow the volunteers to become better acquainted with each other and the students.

Dave and I were assigned a mother and and her 11 year old son.  They both have Chinese names which I cannot pronounce.  The mom and son choose to go by “American Names”, Nancy and Stephen.  Nancy is a college professor in China and teaches the Chinese language.  She is here as a professor to teach Chinese to University of Wisconsin Students.  She will be here two years.  Her husband is also a professor and did not have permission to come with her.  The Chinese must pay for their own college education and they have very tough tests to see who is allowed into the best colleges so they acquire the best positions.  The government runs the universities and the professors are all paid by the government.  Nancy said neither she, nor her husband, are paid very much.  She turned to me and smiled and told me they didn’t have much money but they had a loving family and were very happy.  She thought that she was fortunate because they have love together.

I asked Nancy if she had any other children.  She said, no, she was not allowed to have more children.  I asked her what happened if she became pregnant.  Then something will happen to me she told me.  Like what, I asked?  I maybe lose my job, was her reply.  I asked her if she was serious and she affirmed that she was.  If you have a sibling you can only have one child.  If she and her husband had no siblings then they would be allowed to have two children.  Her son will be allowed two children.

When the above conversation transpired we were walking in Olbrich Gardens, in the tranquil beauty of a quiet Sunday afternoon, thousands of miles away from China.  I looked around me and observed several Olbrich Garden  guests laughing, having fun, not an apparent care in the world, and totally taking for granted the freedom in which they live.  Here in America we have become so accepting of our freedom that many don’t even see how it is being chipped away, and if we do know, many don’t seem to care or take time to understand how our country could become if the government takes more and more of our freedoms.  Freedom of speech is being chipped away, the Ten Commandments being erased from public buildings, limiting prayer in certain places, and so many other freedoms receeding.  I turned to look at Nancy and her son and realized again, just how precious our freedom really is.  Nancy confided that she wished she was allowed to have more children because she so very much wanted a larger family.  I guess the threat of losing your income hangs heavy over one’s deciding factors.  Both she and her husband being professors, they would likely both be stripped of their professor status. As we walked she turned to me and quietly said that she could see that I had a very loving relationship with my husband too.  I told her, yes that was true.  I walked away from that conversation realizing how very fortunate I truly am for both, living in one of the last countries to have a semblance of freedom, and for having a loving husband.  It is the loving relationship that makes me the richest, but I am ever so grateful for the freedoms we have left.

Look at the people around you, your children, your extended family, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews and try to imagine life without them.  If you are an only child (which China had mandated for many years past) you have no aunts or uncles or cousins or brothers or sisters or nieces or nephews.  You simply have your parents, and grandparents as long as they are living.  When your parents are gone there is no family left on earth that knew and loved you as a baby and child.  Except for your only child, you will grow old alone without any extended family support system. In China you are allotted one begotten child to love and one spouse to love and that is your entire family.  China only recently allowed more births.  One reason was because sons are the  most sought after.  Eventually there were fewer females that were allowed to survive.  Many of the abandoned girl babies were adopted by foreign families and when the boys grew to be men, there were simply not enough females for them to marry.  So policy changes were made.

Putting our conversations aside, I do want to say we had a wonderful afternoon.  We had a map to follow, words to read describing the sites, and places to stop and take pictures.  At the close of the day there was a reception with snacks and time available to become better acquainted.  I would do it again!  I told Dave last night that I believed we would be assigned students from China.  I just knew in my heart that it would be so because I have such a deep love for the Chinese people.  Our friend Betts instilled that in us by introducing us to some of her friends with whom we became well acquainted.  I do hope Nancy will be receptive to my overtures to become better acquainted.

We made a quick stop at the grocery store because my friend is coming by tomorrow and I invited her to stay for lunch.  Remember, my refrigerator was empty and I didn’t even have what it took to make another salad for us tomorrow.  And while I am thinking about it, I must go get a jar of soup out of the freezer to thaw out.  I’ll be right back…

Okay, that’s done.  I took out a jar of Stone Soup from October 2014.  It will defrost on the counter tonight and I will refrigerate it when I leave the house at 7:30 a.m.  for a Doctor appointment.  I have a busy morning and not much time to prepare for the lunch, so soup and salad it will be.

We had a guest speaker this morning at our church.  His sermon is one of the most important sermons that anyone will ever need to hear (of course that is just my opinion).  It is about the Blood of Jesus and what it means.  If at all possible please google City Church Madison WI and listen to Sunday August 30 a.m. service.  This is a sermon that makes a lot of sense out of many scriptures that we have probably just glossed over in the past as we read our Bibles through in one year.  This will be my wisdom this night!  “Listen to this sermon as it is very powerful and easy to understand”.

 

HELP US TO FIGHT

By Kathleen Martens

August 30, 2015

 

Dear God,

Thank you for the freedom

That comes from you.

It’s because of your blood

That we are made new.

 

Let us never take for granted

That a life was given,

So that we experience

An eternal living.

 

Washed white as snow

By the blood of the lamb,

Who IS THE SON OF GOD!

Which is not a scam.

 

And Lord we give thanks

For the freedoms of life

That we still have in America

Amidst all the strife.

 

Keep our eyes open

To the chipping away,

And help us to fight

For our freedoms to stay.

 

Well, it is after 10:00 and my proof reader is in bed.  So I will close and say good night.

“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

HEBREWS 13:20-21

Saturday August 29 2015  BEST LAID PLANS…

 

Midnight tolls.  No matter how hard I try to get to bed on time (9:00 p.m.) it seems to be getting later and later.  Another midnight tuck-in for Dave and me.  So, in order to balance it out we allowed ourselves to sleep in again.  No kids this morning but I still woke up at 6:30 a.m..  I had a wonderful hour of solitude, listening to the rain outside the window over the head of our bed.  Until it gets below freezing we sleep with the windows open.  I heard the rain all night off and on.  I think it rained all night but I was only awake off and on for potty runs.  It was delightful to lie in bed and watch the light of morning brighten the day as it struggled to make its way through the covering of rain clouds.  Dave was breathing restfully beside me and all was right with the world.  FINALLY at 7:30 he woke up and we had our leisurely time of quiet conversation.  Remember, this is one of my very favorite times of the day.

And so my day was planned.  I planned to spend my morning in the library downstairs, just me and the Lord and my books.  I never made it to the library.  Every so often I plan what I call “a housecoat day”.  That is a day that I do not plan to go out.  I do not answer the phone, except for the hospitals in case of an emergency photo session is needed.  I do not go anywhere and do not have anyone over and I do just what I want to do.  I thought I wanted to go downstairs.  And so I did want to, but like I said, I never made it.

While cleaning up the breakfast dishes I looked around me and became so exasperated at how cluttered and messy my kitchen had become.  I decided to just take a few things off the counter and get rid of them (which I did).  Then I decided to just take a couple of more things off the counters because now they were more obvious because the big thing in front had been removed.  So I did.  Then I thought…it would sure look better if I got that pile organized, so I did.  And then…on and on…So I did.  I have quite a large kitchen and a lot of counter space and all of it is in need of a good cleaning and decluttering.  I have not even mentioned all the cupboards I have, and even more drawers.  So my day proceeded.  I went from one task to the next, slowly and deliberately, no hurry involve, actually enjoying what I was doing.  IMMEDIATE RESULTS!  What could be better than that?  All told, I organized an “L” shaped area left of the sink, cleaned out the lowest shelf of the corner cupboard above it, cleaned out two drawers, and the little area between the refrigerator and the pantry.  I don’t even want to think of the pantry.  Not only do I have one pantry with pull-out drawers, but I have another pantry that opens with bi-fold doors and covers a large wall area.  Both are way over crowded and stacked precariously.

I wish I had taken a before picture, but I probably would not have posted it.  I did post an after picture of the “L” shaped area.  I actually took a picture of the next area I want to clean but will see when and if that happens in the next few days before I post it.  I would like to have it cleaned up before I post the messy one.

To make a long story short, I never did get downstairs.  Not even once today.  Dinner is over, my face is washed, my teeth are brushed and it is only 7:16 p.m.  And here I am already started on my blog.  And, as you can very well figure out, as far as how my day has been, I don’t really have much to tell you.  I climbed no mountains, have no grandkids to discuss, did not accomplish any great feats, but I am completely satisfied with how my day has gone.  I am still in my housecoat, no one came over, I only answered the telephone when our daughter called (I always answer the phone if it is my family calling), my refrigerator is almost empty (which is a good thing), I do not exercise on Saturday so I did not need to go out, and I have the best husband in the world.  What more could I ask for.  Oh yes, and I’m retired.  Oh man, I can’t wait to get used to that!

 

IT WAS WHAT I WANTED TO DO

By Kathleen Martens

August 29 2015

 

A day of rest

So hard to find,

So I made it happen

And claimed it mine.

 

No alarm to ring,

No reason to rise.

It made me happy

And very wise.

 

For I am a Grandma

Recovering from two kids,

Two days in a row

I now put on the skids.

 

Peace and calm,

No reason for guilt.

So this morning

I snuggled under my quilt.

 

What to do?

At leisure ponder

And enjoy the solitude

In quite wonder.

 

It took a long time

For this day to come.

First raised out daughter,

Then our son.

 

Then worked forever,

Long stressful hours.

Now I can sit

And enjoy my flowers.

 

I make no excuses

For a lazy day.

I worked long and hard,

It’s time to play.

 

But what do I do

When I arise?

That I tackle a task

Is no surprise.

 

But it was fun

To work it through

All because

It was what I wanted to do.

 

One of the pleasant benefits about working by myself is that I can let my mind think on whatever I desire to think about.  And I desired to think about the Lord.  Today I was more focused on the task at hand but I felt the Lord’s presence within me.  My heart was at peace, my soul at rest, my body strong and alert, and I was accomplishing a task that would benefit not just me, but also anyone else who comes into the room.  There is something about having uncluttered surroundings that allows your spirit to feel free and untethered.  I believe that God has been dealing with me about the situation of having so much in the house and that it is time for me to start the journey to simplify.  It is time to rid our home from the clutter of 42 years.  And it is happening.  I have several piles of “things” to drop off at St. Vincent’s Store.  I will have many more before I am through.

I don’t know if any of you who are reading this blog have ever heard of the “Fly Lady”.  It is a web address where you can get tips and help on decluttering and cleaning up your area.  At one time I was on the email list but the emails became so many that they cluttered my email in box so I had to get rid of the Fly Lady.  I will say I learned a lot.  I’ll see if she is still on line and refresh myself on some of the tactics I used way back when my kids were still at home.  She was very helpful in having easy ways to keep your house clutter free.  Well, I think I need her information once more. I’ll keep you posted at how I am doing. Maybe I will take before pictures and after pictures.

I read an interesting quote the other day.  I think it is appropriate for all of us, whether our houses are stark or over-loved with too much stuff.  It comes from the book, “You Can’t Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought” by Peter McWilliams:

“WE SHOULD BE TAUGHT NOT TO WAIT FOR INSPIRATION TO START A THING.

ACTION ALWAYS GENERATES INSPIRATION.

INSPIRATION SELDOM GENERATES ACTION.”  Original quote by Frank Tibolt

Okay, here is my first confession.  If you scroll down to below the blog you will see my “neat” little desk where I type my blog (so I won’t need to go into my messy office).  The only thing is, I have been here a few weeks now, and as you can see, to even copy the quote from the book I had to stack it up on top of a foot high stack of other books that thrill me to have by my side.  So, perhaps the first thing I should do is start some action (clean up the pile) and then perhaps I will receive the inspiration to do even more.  Hey, you know what, that was exactly what happened this morning.  I had one plan, but saw a need, and when I started in on the task to clean up an area I was then inspired to keep on going.  I think I accomplished quite a bit for a Saturday when I originally planned to do as little as possible.

Am I rested?  Probably not.  But I feel great about my little in-roads, and that is almost as satisfying as feeling rested.

I thank God for this beautiful day that He has made for me to live in.  I will rejoice and I will be glad in it.  And I hope you will too!

Proverbs 19:23  “The fear of the Lord leads to life.  Then one rests content, untouched by trouble”.

And I found that I could even “work” content, untouched by trouble.  It is so wonderful to just be CONTENT.

Good night,

Kathleen

Friday August 28 2015  MY DAY HAS GONE TO POTS!

Or is it pot?  Anyway, it definitely went to pots!

This was supposed to be my recuperation day from having the boys.  It didn’t work.  Well, perhaps for the first part because I did not awaken until 8:00 a.m.   That was wonderful.  Started the day by cooking my beans that had soaked all night for the soup I would make later.  And it was later when my day went to pots.

At the present I am in my son’s home theater watching Alvin and the Chipmunks “Chipwrecked”.  I have never seen an Alvin and the Chipmunks anything so I am experiencing a new event in my life.  I am in an awesome easy chair, with a place for water, kicked back with my feet up, and snuggled under a warm and cozy blanket.  The theater is in the lower level of his house and therefore pleasantly cool.  Two little boys are on an on an ottoman, lying on their tummies, elbows bent with their chins resting in their hands.  It is quite dark but I can see their silhouettes and hear their delighted laughter.  Dave sits beside me, then Courtland and then Amy.  These are the sum of the seating area.  It is our first time to be here and enjoy their new theater.  Court and Amy have lived in their new home for the past 12 months and slowly they are accomplishing the long list of changes they plan to do.  This was one of them.

I just thought I’d set the stage as to where I am right now because this is the highlight of my day.  Especially following this afternoon.  Dave and I worked out at the gym from about 10:30 to 12:20.  When we came home Dave set up lunch from the food I already had prepared and I started in on the soup I wanted to make.  If you don’t’ want to hear another soup story go down a couple of paragraphs.  Again, my fridge was pressed for space with too much food from the food box that was delivered yesterday.  Now realize, I am not complaining, just stating fact.  Last week I made Vegetable Medly.  It is a made up name for a made up soup.  Last week I used everything fresh and edible that was in the vegetable family and currently presided in the refrigerator.  This week I pretty much did the same thing but had to come up with a different name for it because no two soups ever taste the same.  Well, I named this soup “Stone Soup”.  I named it after the story written in the 1500’s about the traveler who came to a town where no one would sell him any food.  The traveler proceeded to fill a pot with water and placed a stone in the pot and built a fire to cook it on.  When asked what he was doing he told the townsman that he was making stone soup but it needed a little something else to make it taste better.  The townsman gave him a vegetable to put into the pot.  Then another man came by and asked the same thing and was told that the soup needed some spices to make it just perfect.  The spices were sprinkled in by the townsman.  This went on all through the day, people passing by and each contributing another thing to the pot until it was evening and the soup was finished.  It was a delicious pot of stone soup that served the entire town.

I did not have anyone offer me anything extra to put in my pot but I just kept adding to the pot myself.  I first started making the soup in my 6 quart Nesco Cooker.  I quickly realized it was not going to fit so I had this hot steaming mass and had to get a bigger pot to pour it into.  I put the bigger pot into the sink and emptied the partially made soup into it.  I kept adding to the pot and later realized that the second pot was also not going to hold everything from the fridge.  So out came pot number three, my stock pot.  If you know what a stock pot is you will be impressed to know that by the time I was finished it was over  ¾ full.  By the time it was finished it had over 7 quarts of homemade chicken broth, two cups of V-8 juice, 6 tomatoes, and all the liquid that cooks out of the vegetables. These are the vegetables I remember using, 3 large onions, garlic, celery, carrots, beets, beans, 4 ears of fresh corn, half head of purple cabbage, zucchini squash, 4 peppers, kale, and I’m sure there is something I am forgetting.  I topped it off with two pounds of black beans and a pot of cooked Quinoa.  And now you know why my day went to the pots.

I started by 12:30 and did not stop until after 4:30.  We had to leave the house at 4:30 in order to get to Court’s by 5:15 for dinner and a movie.  I turned off the stove, took the lid off pot number three and we left.  Hopefully it will cool enough to bottle up when we arrive home later.

The movie is almost over and it does have a happy ending.  And I guess my day that went to pots also has a happy ending.  My soup is made, my veggies did not give up their lives in vain.  And…there are no stones in my soup but at least I’ll remember what batch it is.

 

MY DAY HAS GONE TO POTS

By Kathleen Martens

August 28, 2015

 

Stone soup, a fable of yore,

A little bit of this, a bit of that.

Mighty tasty and all low calorie,

Guaranteed not to make you fat!

 

A full fridge

And an empty pot

That once was empty

But now it’s not.

 

In deepest winter

With snow on the ground

My delicious soup

In the freezer found.

 

I will read it’s name,

“STONE SOUP” it will say

Bringing back the memories

Of this lovely day.

 

Movie is over.  I have now seen the new version of Alvin and the Chipmunks.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It was nice to share my evening with you, my blog reader.  Joyce, are you out there?  Just wanted you to know, I could get use to this!

I’m home and tried to send pictures of all three pots.  I could only get #2 and #3 to send.  I’m also having difficulty sending my “Calendar Wisdom” picture.  I’ll write it here

August 28:  

“The world is such a busy place

There’s so much hurry in it.

Isn’t it nice sometimes

To pause for just a minute…”

 

After hearing what my husband said to answer our grandson’s question yesterday I think I need to heed this advice.

Zach asked grandpa why we had two chairs in the living room.  Dave replied, “to sit on.  At least I sit in this one but you have a motorized grandma and she never sits”.  I wonder if I was meant to overhear that?  Well, I sat tonight in a plush comfy chair for over 90 minutes to watch the chipmunks (who don’t even exist).  So at least I sit sometimes.  I will try harder to sit down.  Oh yes, I also sit in my library and read, one of the great treasures of my day.

I want to tell you one more little true story that happened yesterday.  I was SITTING at my desk working on my blog last night and received an email from someone who told me she needed a word from God so she googled “word from God” and the first google response was my blog from the day I went to Olbrich Gardens (which was just the day before she googled looking for a “word from God”).  As she read the blog she realized she knew the author, ME.  She was so surprised when she put two and two together.  I don’t think she had ever read my blog before.  The thing that surprised me was that I am not on google for surfing.  My site has always been by personal invitation only.  We will be seeing each other soon…to talk about God!

Update:  I called the young lady back I met yesterday but no one answered.  I left a message with resources for help and told her I would try again tomorrow.  Please say a prayer for her survival and a close walk with God.

Good night!

 

 

 

Thursday  August 27 2015  I WONDER WHAT HER STORY IS?

An unscheduled, unplanned day ahead, and who knows what can happen.  I hadn’t finalized any plans for today so I just went with the flow.  I had my grandsons with me and when I have my grandsons with me you can never know ahead of time which way the wind blows.  I knew I wanted to do some sort of adventure with them but didn’t really have confirmed plans as what to do.  There were some errands I needed to do but I knew it would not make them (especially the older one)  happy campers to know they had to go “SHOPPING”.  I truly believe Zachariah detests  shopping.  First of all he knows I cannot be coerced, begged, or pleaded into purchasing anything other than what I have on my list to buy.  I had a mission.  And they had to go along.  Zach was a bit sullen at first until I told them a little more as to what the day held.  First, we would take care of the necessities, which were errands for grandma.  The first errand being a trip to Target, short, but very boring to the boys.  We then stopped at a Goodwill Store to check out the toys. This was a much more exciting endeavor.  Zach found a “chapter” book he liked.  Xander found nothing on which to spend his two dollars.  The next trip was to the car dealership where I receive FREE car washes as long as I own my car.

The kids were very happy to go to the car wash because there was a T.V. to watch and free popcorn to eat.   After the car wash we stopped in at St. Vincent’s to check out their toy section.  Their toy selection was much more extensive.  The grandsons had so much fun trying out everything and how to spend their two dollars each.  They are savvy shoppers!  Grandma (me) taught them how to barter at garage sales.  You should see the good deals they get.  I encourage them to do all the talking and count out their money themselves to pay for their transactions.  It is amazing to see how much they have learned.  With a limited budget they are very deliberate in deciding what to buy.  They really want their money to work for them.  And Zach is pretty good at trying to get my money to work for him too.  He doesn’t miss an angle.

After the St. Vinney’s stop we drove to MacDonald’s and splurged!  I even had a chicken wrap.  I ate the chicken but not much of the white tortilla wrap.  While we were dining I noticed a young woman who came into MacDonalds and walked in and out a few times.  She caught my eye.  Young, very pretty, simply dressed with a baseball cap and a #1 shaved hair cut (I know that from experience).  As when I see anyone out in public my mind always makes a lot of assessments and judgments, intermingled with curiosity.  But there are only a few people who evoke the thought “I wish I knew their story”.  For this young woman my curiosity was intrigued.  I wondered who she was, what she was doing in MacDonald’s, why was she kept walking in and out of the door.  The look on her face was sad and lonely.  She was very attractive, but oh so sad looking.

The boys and I ate our late lunch, had a good time and then got up to go.  Then I noticed the same lady sitting at the table behind me.  Here was my chance to know the rest of the story of this lonesome figure whom I wondered about earlier. I looked her in the face and could tell there was something grieving her heart.  She looked so lost and hurt and even scared.  I asked the boys to sit back down and wait for me.  I turned around to the table behind me and asked her if she was okay.  She tried to shake her head yes and her head sort of went in a square nod and then shook out a “NO”.  Then the tears spilled over her eyes and I could see her heart was heavy.  I was about to hear her story, or at least a fragment of it.  And oh what a sad story.  Her story is the story of so many others lost in our nation.  I won’t go over our conversation in full because I asked her a lot of questions.  Instead, I’ll just give a synopsis of the answers and who she is.  I don’t fear that she will read this blog and I think her story bears being told.  I would never want to embarrass anyone by writing about them unknowingly.  I’ll call her Tarra.  Tarra is sixteen years old.  She is a heroine addict.  She has been drug free for two months, working a minimum wage job, living with a friend until today, when her friend kicked her out.  Tarra has been through rehab twice.  Her mother lives in Milwaukee and also had kicked her out.  Tarra has no money, no place to live, no transportation to work, and she was very frightened.  We talked awhile and I knew it was not an accident that I had met her.  I did not give her any identifying information of myself, not even my name.  I told her I would not give her money and she was emphatic that she did not want my money, but the fact I had stopped and talked to her, had done more for her than anything else could have.  I did tell her I would like to find some resources for her in the community and she offered me a cell phone number to call.  I told her I would call her tomorrow and meet her someplace public.  I spoke with my son who deals with such situations and he gave me several resources in the area that would be able to reach out and help her.  Tarra is a 16 year old high school dropout since the last two months of her Freshman year.  Were she going to school she would be starting her Junior year of high school.  We talked about that and the possibilities of going back to school.  Like I said, we discussed a lot of things in just a few moments.  I got up, went around the table and opened up my arms to her.  She walked into them, wrapping her thin arms around me so tightly like a lost and frightened toddler might do.  I prayed with her.  She told me that she had given her heart to Jesus two months ago and prays every day for sobriety to get through just that day.  She takes one day at a time regarding her sobriety and that is how she is getting through.

My son told me that the grip heroine takes on the body is an ongoing torment no matter how long you are drug free.  There is never a day that goes by that a heroin addict doesn’t have to fight the overwhelming craving of feeling so low and so dirty when they don’t have the drug in them.  It must be an awful fight.  I prayed for full release of this drug craving she was experiencing and prayed that she would know God so closely that she would feel like she was in His lap with His arms tightly around her.  Please join with me and pray for Tarra.  God knows her name, who she is, and all her pain. The Holy Spirit is fighting for her.  When someone comes on my radar like she did I know that God is pointing them out to me so I can pray over them.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to draw her closer to God during this great upheavel in her life.  Tarra is just one little lost 16 year old girl.  There are thousands of others just like her.  I saw them all over the country on my travels, sleeping in alley ways, on sidewalks of downtowns, and probably places I couldn’t even see.  My heart broke every time I looked into their eyes and read the hopelessness that looked back at me.  I actually cannot get some of the images out of my visual memory.  Perhaps it is God’s way of reminding me to pray for those people.  Such young lives wasted.

I asked Tarra what she thought I could do for her?  That’s when she told me that what I had already done by just showing concern and speaking with her was the greatest thing I could have done.  She said she wished she had a mentor.  I asked her what role would a mentor be in her life?   She responded that a mentor was just someone to talk to.  That’s when I told her I would call her tomorrow.  Please pray for me that if it be God’s will for me to be involved any further than I already am, that God would confirm it in my heart.  Please pray for Tarra’s protection and for my protection as well.  Pray that God will give me wisdom in this matter.  My heart is sad for all the Tarras there are on the streets of our country this very night.

 

I WONDER WHAT HER STORY IS?

By Kathleen Martens

August 27, 2015

 

Oh God, I am so thankful

That at a very young age

My heart was turned to you

And it wasn’t just a phase.

 

Somehow I was protected

From following worldly sin,

Drugs, and alcohol,

And all that could have been.

 

But so many others

Quagmired in worldly death

Even their days are dark

As evil steals their breath.

 

So many young, floundering.

And who is it, hears their cry?

And so many are perishing

And others longing to die.

 

What would you do Lord

If you were in my place?

How do I help another’s pain

When they run such an evil race.

 

For it truly is evil forces

That overshadows their life,

And there seems no way out

Of such a place of strife.

 

What can I do Father

To help the hurting lost?

What can I do dear Lord

When I know you paid the cost?

 

Speak Your wisdom into my heart

Show me each day how to live

For it is Your will I choose to do

And Your love I desire to give.

 

My part may very well be

A very small part indeed.

But whatever it is I am to do

Your direction I desire to  heed.

 

Oh, how I wish I could help Tarra.

I don’t mean to leave you with a melancholy story, but believed Tarra was part of my day today for a reason.  Perhaps if it will allow even one other person to open their heart toward the lost and suffering it will have been worth writing.  Your prayers over me are cherished.

It is late, the boys are gone, the house is quiet (too quiet), my body is tired, my thinking is over.  I’ll close now, though I have ever so much more to say.  I hope you have a good night’s sleep in a safe and comfortable bed and are surrounded by people around you that love you and whom you love.  For that is what truly makes us rich!

Good night!

P.S.  It is now Friday morning.  My husband read my blog above this morning and informed me it needed to be redone.  It was too late last night when I wrote it.  The above blog is the overhauled version.  I hope it makes better sense this morning than it did last night when I went to bed.  I just hope no one has read it yet.

 

Wednesday  August 26, 2015  DESIGNS OF INCREDIBLE WONDER

 

As my regular readers know, my husband and I have been given the gift of two wonderful days with our two grandsons (who find us quite boring at times).  Today was one of those wonderful days.  Our friends, Sherrie and David, brought their identical twin grandsons (mirror twins) to meet us at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison.  Olbrich is truly a beautiful garden, a combination of God’s miraculous creation and man’s artistic eye.  Whoever designs the flower bed of this garden is very talented.  When walking through the gardens it’s as if you are in many different gardens.  I have a few pictures I plan to upload on the site before I publish the blog.  Some are pictures of leaves that I thought were exquisite, others to show off some of the flower bed arrangements and others to show off my grandkids.

Some of the photos I plan to share were taken with my Iphone camera lens up against a kaleidoscope viewer looking down into a bowl of a variety of plants on a turntable.  If the turntable was turning it looked like a moving living kaleidoscope in action.  I took some of the photos through the viewer with the bowl of plants still.  I will put a few of them on the blog.  I also took some photos with my phone video camera and caught some unbelievable moving kaleidoscope designs of incredible wonder.

 

DESIGNS OF INCREDIBLE WONDER

By Kathleen Martens

August 26, 2015

 

No design is greater

Than what God has created.

Beauty of such splendor

Keeps my soul elated.

 

A simple flower fashioned

By God’s spoken command,

Unduplicated by man’s effort,

Through all time withstands.

 

Only God’s magnificence

Can create perfect attire

Such as what grows in a garden,

Year after year untired.

 

One little blossom

Expands itself untold.

The mystery of a tiny seed,

A marvel God unfolds.

 

The earth so full of wonder

Exquisite, delicate, fine.

A plan so meticulous

That man can’t cross the line.

 

So when my eyes behold

A gorgeous little flower,

It’s as if I’ve seen a miracle

And my faith renewed with power.

 

No thing quite as wondrous

As to view God’s amazing art.

Not only pleasing to the eye,

But sustenance to my heart.

 

I love it when my poems just come like the one above.  I hope you enjoy my walk in the garden today through this poem.

My friends grandsons are Ali and Yusuph.  Yusuph looked up at his grandma while we were walking in the garden and said “it takes three things for a flower to live, WATER, SUNSHINE, AND LOVE”.  Only a five year old has such beautiful wisdom.

We had a beautiful wonderful day and a great big meltdown when we arrived home.  Xander fell asleep in the car.  It was dinnertime and we did not want him sleeping through dinner and then staying up until midnight, so we got him out of the car and “helped” him wake up.  He was not a happy camper.  He did finally calm down, ate a reasonable amount of dinner and has been his sweet little self since then.  This is the first time he has ever had a meltdown when he has been here, and we know most of it was our cause due to waking a tired baby (3 year old) up from a perfectly wonderful nap.  This is movie time and is always like the greatest treat that could ever be.  And…to top it off, they have the promise of a fruit smoothie for snack before going to bed!  It will be Banana, coconut water, small amount of yogurt, and strawberries.  They will also eat a big hunk of peanut butter (my Amish kind ground fresh from honey roasted peanuts) to go with the fruit smoothie.  It is Zach’s favorite!  It makes for good kids with a promise like that to look forward to.  OH THE POWER OF WORDS!

Again I will repeat what I wrote in one of my recent blogs, God is so wise in designing young women to be the mothers of young children.  When someone asks me if I have any children, I enjoy answering, “No, I have no children, just two adults”.  I love having adults!  It took a long time to get them there. (Actually I now have “middle aged” adults”.  Eee-gads)!

Dave is gone on his Wednesday night ministry meeting.  The boys are showered and settled in the living room enjoying the video, and I am here in the sun room writing my blog, half listening to what is going on in the adjacent room.  I can see both the T.V. and the boys from where I sit.  I do not want you to think I am being neglectful.  I may be older, but I still know the shenanigans of little kids.  And…the eyes in the back of my head are still in working order!

Tomorrow their mom and dad will pick them up!!!!!  I plan to have soup and salad and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner.  Tomorrow is also food delivery day so I know it will be a busy Thursday.  And Friday…I, no make that we, COLLAPSE!  We’ve already decided not to attend what we thought we might go to tomorrow night.  What’s that old saying, that “when you get old your back goes out more than you do”!

I thank God for a perfectly delightful day.  I hope all of you took time out today  to do something you enjoy doing.  I absolutely love gardens and it made it extra fun to see it through the eyes of little people.  Zach wants to go back tomorrow.  Who knows, maybe we will.

Good night.

Tuesday August 25 2015  IF I THINK I CAN I CAN

My title today comes from Kayla, my new Mary Kay Consultant.  Last week I realized it was time for me to have some new moisturizer for my face because the product I have used for the last 20 years or so is no longer being made.  It was a lotion recommended by a dermatologist for sensitive skin.  My face is looking old and perhaps it is just because I am getting older each year or perhaps because I don’t spend hundreds of dollars cleansing, cleaning chemicals off my skin, defoliating, moisturizing, sun screening, basing with a makeup base and then applying makeup and whatever else ladies paste their faces with.  All I needed was some moisturizer.  My last bottle was down to the nothing zone and I had been praying like the lady in the Bible that used her oil and it just kept being refilled by God.  Last week I asked God to direct me to a good moisturizer and was remembering back when I used to use Mary Kay.  I didn’t have a consultant and did not really know about how to get someone I might enjoy as a consultant.

Later that morning while at the gym I was talking with a young lady and she just happened to say what she did for a living.  You got it.  She was a Mary Kay consultant.  The kind that even has her own Mary Kay Car.  I told her my dilemma and we set an appointment.  She is a good sales lady because she also sold me something else.  I bought two little tubes for the lips.  One defoliates the old lip skin and the other oils the lips.  I like the feeling and the look.  It was clear and very soothing.

I asked Kayla if she had some wisdom that she likes.  She said it was not her original quote but would like to share it anyway.  I have even used this quote in one of my past blogs.  If I remember correctly I first read it in THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING by Norman Vincent Peale.  It is worth hearing again. Here is Kayla’s wisdom:

“If you think you can, you can.  If you think you can’t, you can’t.”

Thank you Kayla for spending time with me today and sharing your knowledge and expertise with me.  I look forward to seeing you again.  And I say to ladies out there who do all the above to just continue to do so as it helps the economy. Besides, you’ll probably end up looking a lot younger when you die.

Today has been one of those days when I was so busy that I could not get anything done.  Let me explain.  My entire day was set aside to work on wedding #2.  I have wedding #1 designed and ready for the client to view and make changes and then I will order!  Yeah!  Wedding #2 I still must start, but it is a simpler project.  I never did get into my office to even open up the computer.  It is so wonderful to have this laptop set up in the sun room so I don’t need to use my office PC.  All my wedding work is done on a MAC.  When I go into my office (such as to write this bog) I become quagmired in there and I don’t remember to come back up to upstairs life.  I try not to do that as Dave needs to eat on a schedule and I don’t do too well if I go much past eating time.  So I was busy, busy, busy, doing all the little things that takes up time to do and you don’t have anything to show for it.  I did talk to a friend who called today and that was worth it because she is coming to stay with me a few days next month and we needed to work on scheduling of some events and places while she is here.  I went to the gym and then remembered my Grandsons are arriving this evening and I needed to get some things from the library to help entertain them.  Then I needed to get home quickly, stir up a sauce that has to be refrigerated before I made a Chicken salad this afternoon, make and eat my lunch quickly because the Mary Kay lady was coming.  She came and went and I went back to the kitchen to continue making up all the food which I need to get out of the fridge before Thursday (Food Day).  I finished as much as I could and asked Dave if he could make the dinner salad for tonight and tomorrow.  The chicken salad is all finished, and turned out delicious!  It has coriander and nutmeg in it.  A great combination!

So here I am, writing about nothing important so I can be finished before my boys arrive about 8:00 p.m.  They had to go to karate tonight since Zach will miss his regular class on Wednesday night.  He has a test coming up next week.  He is very serious about karate and has several belts behind him.  Don’t ask me the colors because I have no clue.  I’ll ask him and can tell you tomorrow.

It is also poem time and I must sit and think to see what I come up with.  I started a study on the book of Isaiah today and there were a lot of comments about the book of Isaiah that gave me an idea for a poem. I think I shall need to do some research first in order to write the poem.  I often use scripture as a starting point and even use the scripture itself at times.  I call them my “Scripture Poems”.  This poem that is brewing is about the Holiness of God.  I think that will be an awesome subject to inspect.  I think that most people don’t really stop to think of the true Holiness of God.  Holy, consecrated, hallowed, sanctified, blessed, divine, sacred, righteous…that is who our God is!  That will be an awesome poem to write when the time is right.  Tonight is not that time, due to the fact that I must actually stop and think first.

 

STOP AND THINK?

By Kathleen Martens

August 25, 2015

 

Stop and think before I write?

What a novel thought that would be.

Sort of like keeping my mouth shut

Before my tongue wags free.

 

Stop and think before I speak?

I’m trying to master that plan.

It doesn’t often seem to work

But my mouth always can.

 

Perhaps I should always listen

To what the words in the Bible tell.

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

So think on that a spell.

 

And the wise men store up knowledge,

The mouth of the fool invites ruin.

So run to the Word of God

And keep your heart attune.

 

When words are many sin is not absent.

Keeping your silence may be best.

The wise man will hold his tongue,

Keeping words close to the vest.

 

So whether you speak or whether you write,

Perhaps it is wise first to think.

Be certain what you say is fitting

So  you won’t dig a hole and sink.

 

The tongue has the power of life and death,

So be careful what you write or say.

Let your words be like apples of gold

To show others the righteous way.

 

Dinner is ready and time is ticking.  Oh, by the way, thanks to all of you who shot  off an email after reading last night’s blog.  It was fun to go through them and read your thoughts.  Writing my blog is something I enjoy so I’ll continue to write until life gets too hectic.   If you know anyone else who you think might like to read it please share my blog address with them.  I am thinking of opening it to the public now that I am not traveling.   www.visionsofpoetry.wordpress.com

Goodnight.

 

Tuesday August 24 2015  WE ONLY HAVE THE MOMENTS WE LIVE AND THEN WE HAVE FOREVER!

 

NO THING IN TIME WILL LAST

By Kathleen Martens

August 24, 2015

 

Night Is falling, a chill in the air,

Eventide in quiet speaks.

Days are shortening,

Stealthily, Autumn sneaks.

 

So soon summer will be past,

Lazy days of traveling fun

Wrap up quite quickly

When languid days are done.

 

Trees adorned in seasonal attire

Too soon will undress,

And piles of leaves will blanket earth

Creating an artistic mess.

 

And marching in next

Is Mr Frost,

When all the gardens

Will then be lost.

 

Unhurried days are exchanged

By hurried hours of light.

So much to do in such short time

For earlier will come the night.

 

Enjoy these last laid-back hours

Before school and schedule resumes

When all of life’s precious moments,

By tasks, will be consumed.

 

Enjoy the now, it passes quickly,

No thing in time will last.

WE ONLY HAVE THE MOMENTS WE LIVE,

And they too will pass too fast.

 

We only have the moments we live.  Here on earth, that is!   My cousin Janey Beth died Saturday night.  She was 60 years old, daughter, wife, mother, grandparent, sister, aunt, friend, and cousin.  One life gone too early from cancer, and left behind are all those who love her.  I say ‘LOVE’, not ‘LOVED’ because I am certain that all who knew her, love her still.  I do.  Janey was a one of a kind person, soft spoken, gentle, kind, and ever giving of herself.  She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and love here on earth.  I know where she is and I know our separation is only temporary.  There are so many people in heaven to greet again when my time comes to go there.  I’ll especially enjoy seeing my mother in her new heavenly body, no more pain, with a sound body and mind, and no sorrow.  I can’t even begin to imagine how beautiful heaven is.  Just make certain you know where you are going!  There are only two places to choose from.  I know where Janey was headed.  It makes me glad to know I will see her again too!

I do extend my heartfelt love and sympathy to Janey’s family for the great loss they feel by no longer having Janey’s presence with them.  May all their beautiful memories bring them comfort.

Never allow even one day to be shortchanged by worry or anger or frustration or even sorrow while you are here on earth.  I was listening to a sermon the other day by Damian Kyle from Calvary Chapel Modesto.  He said the one piece of advice he would impart to others that he wished he had learned earlier in life, is to never waste even one moment on worrying.  Absolutely nothing was ever changed by worry except the wasting of your time.  And I feel the same way.  God is in control.  I truly believe that to be true. I put all the outcomes of my life into His hands, listen for His quiet voice to speak to me in my thoughts,  ask for God’s wisdom, and go forth.  Someday I too will die just as Janey has died.  I do not worry about the “IF”, or when, or how.  First of all, there is not an  “IF’, UNLESS I am still here on earth when Jesus comes back to take the righteous up with Him.  Now that would be awesome!!!  So, as I was saying when I began this paragraph, don’t worry, just live each day with the fullness of joy in your heart, doing good, and staying on the righteous road.  Then there is nothing to worry about.

Dave is still on the intravenous antibiotic treatment.  I choose not to worry, but instead I pray that I will have him with me for many more years.  I thank God that we found the brewing of this infection earlier this time.

Hopefully things will start to settle down around this house.  We have Court’s boys from Tuesday night through Thursday evening.  We’ll get to have another family dinner on Thursday when Court and Amy pick them up.  I love the times they are here for dinner.  Perhaps next week we will be able to start a bit more of “routine” living.  Is there really such a thing as a routine???  Come on sister Velma, you should be able to expound on this.  Teach me how!

Hey to you guys out there in blog-land!  I need to hear from some of you on my contact page.  Shoot me an email.  Shall I close out my blog or continue writing?  Even if I don’t write a blog I will continue to write for myself.  Probably a bit different content since I do know that a lot of things I write in my private world need to be kept to my private diary.  But it would make it easier to just write once a day if no one is interested in reading what I write.  Let me know occasionally who is reading.  Just a quick hello would help!  During the summer I had a lot of short correspondence and I loved it.  I’m feeling a bit lonely right now in blog-land.  Thanks to my sister I still have some response and I can see that I still have numbers reading, or at least clicking on the blog, but haven’t had any questions or responses lately.  Would love to hear from you if you are reading.

This will be another short blog since I am trying to shorten them anyway and I would like to get to bed on time.

God bless all of you!

 

Sunday Sabbath  August 23 2015  DISCOVERING OLD AGE

 

IT MATTERS NOT THAT I AM OLD

By Kathleen Martens

August 23, 2015

 

What a beautiful day it is to be alive!

White clouds and dancing trees,

Sunshine and wind caressing my face,

And my heart enjoying the breeze.

 

For this is the day that the Lord has made

And in it I will rejoice.

I will lift my eyes to the hills,

And sing with my inner voice.

 

I’ll sing love songs to the King of Kings,

And my spirit will be glad

For all the joy that lives within

Leaving no room to be sad.

 

I’ll give thanks for every hour,

Each moment a blessed pleasure.

No negative thought will I invoke

For every day is such a treasure.

 

It matters not that I am old

Or that I have aches and pains.

It matters not if the sun is shining,

Or even if there is rain.

 

What matters most is I’m alive

To share life with those I love.

And someday I will find out

How my life fit like perfect glove.

 

Everything was for a purpose,

For everything God has a reason.

He numbers our days before our birth,

And we each have different seasons.

 

So while I’m alive I’ll live to the fullest

Preparing for my eternity ahead!

My body may someday expire,

But my spirit will never be dead!

 

Just as earth’s sun caressed my face

A Heavenly SON will look me in the eye,

And He will welcome me into His arms,

For just this moment, was why He died.

*********

 

I actually started to write my blog with the first line in the above poem and then at that split second I knew that my poem was exploding from my heart.  I didn’t have a clue what it would be about, but the opening line was all I needed.  Try doing it sometimes and maybe you will find pleasure in composing a poem.  My poetry is usually about whatever I am feeling, or have experienced on this day, or something on my mind I just want to get down on paper.

I’m going to give you a little reading lesson.  Sometimes I ask people to read my poetry to me.  I want to hear how the reader perceives the poem, where they pause, does it make sense hearing it spoken aloud (I always read my poems aloud to myself in order to finalize them), is the cadence correct, does the reader feel the flow, IS there flow, does it make sense, does it have a true beginning and a true ending, and so forth.  I can learn a lot by listening to my poetry being read by another.

Now for the lesson.  Look carefully at the punctuation.  If the end of the line has absolutely no punctuation it is to be read in conjunction to the following line and so forth.  Sometimes there is a period after each line or perhaps only at the last line of the stanza.  If there is no punctuation until the ending then read it as one long run-on sentence to understand the meaning.  If there is a comma, pause very briefly, then go on to the next line.  It signifies that the first line is the precursor to the thought or meaning of the second line.  If there is another comma, it means the same thought is still flowing.  When a period occurs, stop completely and let your mind grab hold of the idea that a new thought is coming.  In other words, simply put in the punctuation as you read the poem and the poem will end up making much more sense (I hope).  My goal and joy in sharing my poetry is that it will give a smile to the heart of another and bless them in some way.

It seems so awesome that God seems to know how to orchestrate our days so much better than we do.  For some reason I felt it important to do my blog in the afternoon because we were going to see THE KIDS FROM WISCONSIN perform later in the evening.  So when I felt prompted to lie down and rest and received the nudging to write my blog instead (which I perceive as the voice of God’s spirit), I reluctantly followed lead and wrote my blog.  That way when I got home I could get to bed earlier.  Well, my day did not quite turn out like I thought it would  Sort of like the scripture in Proverbs 16:9 that says, “A MAN’S HEART PLANS HIS WAY, BUT THE LORD DIRECTS HIS STEPS”.  I certainly had my day planned out, but God sees the beginning and the end.  It was through His direction that my blog was finished and I had all my needed work accomplished.

About 15 minutes before we were supposed to leave for an event, Dave shared with me some new symptoms he was experiencing in his body.  I think I forgot to mention yesterday that on Friday Dave had to again go to the doctor because he had become ill on Wednesday night and got worse on Thursday.  By Friday morning his leg was again red and swollen.  In other words the infection was returning.  He then seemed to rally a bit and we thought he was getting better again.  It was not to be.  He discovered that he had some very swollen lymph nodes that had come up very suddenly.  We decided it was best to call the nurse on call and find out what we should do about it.  On Friday when he went to the doctor he was again put back on antibiotics but of a lesser potency.  The leg was beginning to look worse by the time I looked at it last night and we both knew he needed some kind of intervention.  He talked to the doctor on call and they advised him to again go into emergency.  We asked if 3 hours would make a big difference as we both wanted to see the KIDS FROM WISCONSIN perform.  The doctor said as long as we got to the ER that night it was okay to wait three hours.  So we promised.  We bailed out of the performance at 9:30 just as the last song was finished.  It was their final performance of the season so there would have probably of been an encore and lots of crediting of all the workers, etc.  We knew we needed to get to the hospital.

To make a long story short, rather than tell you all the nitty-gritty, we went to ER.  The infection in the leg is rearing its head, but there is no sepsis in the blood.  That is a good thing.  He was taken off the weak antibiotic and given an infusion of the strongest antibiotic that is available to man, the same thing they used last month.  He had to go to the Infectious Disease Control once again to receive another infusion today.  He goes back again tomorrow and will see another doctor.  This is a very serious infection due to the fact that he is diabetic.  It is fortunate that we discovered it early this time.  The doctor in the ER said in a rather flippant way that if Dave didn’t take the drug or if they didn’t work he could die.  No concern, no worry on his part.  He was just telling the patient the facts.  Well, now we will find out what the new doctor says at tomorrow’s appointment.  I have a lot of opinions I would like to write in this paragraph but I keep erasing them, so perhaps I am to keep them to myself. (Just in case you want to know, I really do, do that SOMETIMES).

To make my account of the story even shorter, I will say we came home and we were in bed by 2:30 a.m.  I slept in this morning until 7:30 and it was too late to go to church.  I drove Dave to the infusion clinic and since it was by Costco I drove over and did our weekly Costco shopping.  We made a couple more quick stops so I could pick up the food supplies for the kiddos  who are coming Tuesday evening through Thursday evening.  We have lots of kid friendly food on hand!  All healthy!   Poor kids!

Just to close tonight’s saga regarding Dave, his leg is quite swollen and angry and red looking.  He is feeling better in body.  I bet you didn’t know that a leg could get angry!  It is only Dave that hears it yelling.

**********

Now, to what I really wanted to write about which IS DISCOVERING OLD AGE!  My beloved sister Velma wrote me an email (which I told her no one else would ever see) (then I changed my mind) that I just had to share with my readers.  I love it.  Velma is hearing impaired and it is difficult for us to communicate except through writing because of the distance between us.  She lives in California.  Since she has been reading my blogs our communication has become more frequent.  I think my blogs to her are like reading letters from me.  I never before sat down and emailed her such a long “letter” every day and now she has a better insight to my life.  I love the correspondence with her.  Velma is almost 10 years older than I am so she is much more aware of what is yet to come for me.  It is funny to realize that it is now MY GENERATION that is in the 60’s and 70’s age bracket.  If my brother were still living he would now be 79 or 80 years old.   How could I have lived so long to see my sisters get old!  When I look out from my eyes I do forget that I too have aged.  I just don’t really think of myself as old.  But like my sister said in the quote I am going to write below, that I am “only on the fringe”.  Here is her quote.  I shall highlight it in red as it a personal wisdom from my sister that stands alone.

Velma’s quote:

“The things you are now discovering about aging are things I have been telling you about but you were never getting old—remember?  You are just beginning the journey and only on the fringe.  OLD AGE IS TOTALLY ABOUT CHANGE; one only has the choice of trying to cope and manage.  Anyway, I can still feel you are not ready for the next phase.”

Well, maybe she is right.  Maybe I will never be ready for the “next phase”.  I am so believing that my spirit will never age, and will live for eternity with God, that I hardly think of myself as my body.  I’m pretty much low maintenance when it comes to trying to defy “old age”.  I use no makeup, shop in my favorite boutiques such as St. Vincent’s or Goodwill (except for shoes, pressure stockings, and underwear), use lipstick about once a week, and shave my head to a razor cut #1 so I won’t have to be concerned about how it looks for four months.  I choose instead to eat healthy, exercise daily, do lots of reading, (I read somewhere a million years ago that reading was good for you), and love and obey God.  Now the obey part I sometimes fail at doing, but God keeps right on loving and forgiving me.

So…I will get old if my season is long enough.  Well, perhaps it has already been long enough and I just don’t’ recognize it yet like my sister prefaced.  But, one thing that I have been doing is learning to cope and manage.  I know, and see, and feel the CHANGES taking place within me.  When I lose something, like the use of my fingers, I adapt to a different way of doing things.  When I realize I don’t remember like I used to, instead of beating myself up over it, I chose to understand that I am going through changes that are natural and normal for someone my age.  When I have a new flavor of pain for the day, I work around it and handle it with a glad heart, rather than bemoan or gripe (too loudly) about it.  Yes, dear sister, I am on the fringe and have been for a long while.  And yes, I know it is about change and I am feeling and recognizing these changes, both in me and in my husband.   And over the past few months I have quietly decided to cope the best I can and manage what I must do and be willing to give up what I cannot do.  Just because I can’t do it one way doesn’t mean I can’t try something new and devise a new way.  So, so many things I could tell you Sister, but will not do so here.  Secretly I am glad that you do not perceive me to be ready for the next phase.  It means I am holding my own.

Velma referred a book to me.  If Velma refers a book it is usually worth getting and reading. I am an avid reader but I cannot hold a candlestick to the amount of books she reads.  It is truly amazing.

The title is: “THE DOCTORS BOOK OF FOOD REMEDIES”, by Selene Yeager and the Editors of Prevention.

I have not received the book as yet from the library but I pass on the title to my readers in case any would like to investigate it further.  I have it on order.

What I have learned in my “OLDER age” is that I need not be afraid, for God is with me.  I remember seeing my mother age.  Her faith was so steadfast that I truly believe she had the ability to already see with her spiritual eyes.  She was so awaiting the time when the Lord would call her home.  I too await for that day, but in the mean time I am going to jam pack every day full of life, and love, and experience, and joy, and peace, and reaching out to others, and sharing God’s love, and reading and writing and creating.  And most of all, I intend to love my family with a love so deep that it will remain even after I am gone from this earth.

What a long blog!  I wonder if any will read one so long.  Remember, I said I would try to make them shorter.  I failed.  That is what happens when I have all Sunday afternoon to write what my heart speaks.  And there is so, so much more inside me.  Sometimes I wonder if there is even just one other person out there in this world who has so many words inside them that are always just bursting to get out!

Good night!

P.S.  Oh dear!  Now I have to proof read this!

P.S. Again.  Proofreading is done at 7:52 p.m.  I had one more thing to tell you and then I forgot and now I remember again.  I am going to send a photo of a stack of books on a table here in my sun room.  This is my favorite author of fiction.  The first book in this series is “JULIA’S HOPE”.   I highly recommend these books!  Her stories and compositions are beautiful to read!  These are the only three books written by Leisha Kelly that I own.  I wish I owned all her works.

Good night for the LAST TIME TONIGHT!

Saturday August 22, 2015  A DAY OF MY OWN

 

Sunday is Sabbath Sunday but Saturday is Sacred Saturday!  Sacred to me because I choose to do whatever I want to on this day.  That is a new and trilling experience!  I awoke with a plan to start sorting my office and cleaning it up but rapidly changed my mind as the course of my day changed.  The first change was realizing just how exhausted I was from working so hard yesterday.  When it was all said and done we did not go to bed until Midnight!  I worked a couple of hours on the blog last evening while Dave cleaned the kitchen.  We were also waiting for the food to cool as I do not put hot jars in the refrigerator, nor warm jars in the freezer.  We ladled everything into the containers I came up with and the liquid was still slow to cool.  Finally the non-glass containers cooled enough to be put into into the freezer and the warm glass jars were put in the fridge.  They were transferred to the freezer this morning.  The inside of my fridge looks so nice and sparse.  My fridge has a very temperamental personality.  In the center back, on each shelf there are vents for circulation and cooling of air.  Absolutely nothing can be placed in the middle third of my fridge without freezing the back half of the fridge’s contents and warming the front half of the fridge.  It is a Maytag, three doors, with the bottom drawer being a pull-out freezer compartment.  I found out about another person who has a refrigerator exactly like mine and has the exact same problem as I do.  That is a bad design as far as I am concerned.  I used to be a Maytag user but I will never buy another Maytag product since they are no longer truly Maytag, but built by a different company.

The other plan that changed my mind was that I wanted to do a more extensive Bible Study today than I usually have time for.  So I did.  I am studying First, Second, and Third John.  I was on First John Chapter 5.  The books of John are so amazing.  If you have a chance to read them you may find that you will enjoy them as much as I do.  I am listening to a study by the Pastor from (where else) Calvary Chapel Modesto.  It was recorded in 2005.  Still very excellent as the books of John have not changed since then.

Tonight we are attending an annual event.  Our daughter Rebecca was once a member in a singing/dancing group, called THE KIDS FROM WISCONSIN which travels throughout Wisconsin.  Rebecca performed for three years during the summers of 1993, 1994, and 1995.  It is a group of young people who audition from all over the state.  Only the best of the best make it to the stage.  You must be under 21 to participate so Rebecca “grew” out of it.  When she travelled with THE KIDS FROM WISCONSIN we attended as many performances as we possibly could.  Remember at that time we both held down busy jobs and were still parenting her younger brother.  However, we did see A WHOLE LOT OF PERFORMANCES that were close to home.  Since the time she toured we have not missed seeing the KIDS FROM WISCON at least once during each summer.  Well, tonight is the night.  It will be two hours of high performance with 20 singer dancers and 13 in the live band.  And boy, are these kids talented.  The choreography is simply amazing and the changes of outfits are beautiful.  It is a very high performance to be entirely made up of  non-professionals.  Rebecca went on to perform for several more years touring with other groups and on cruise lines.

It is only 4:15 and I hope to be finished creating this blog before we leave at 6:15.  We must eat before we go so I mast factor that time in as well.

As well as doing a leisurely Bible Study I was able to read more of the book “YOU CAN’T AFFORD THE LUXURY OF A NEGATIVE THOUGHT” by Peter McWilliams.  I promise not to overly mention this book but since it is new to me there is so much for me to share.  It belongs in a series of “The Life 101 Series”.  There are several books that follow one another if people are interested in different ways for self- improvement and learning about life.  Perhaps at my age I should be past that but I guess I am just a slow learner.  I like being slow.  It is so much better than speeding through life and not really enjoying much of it.  So of course, I have a couple of little tidbits from the first few pages that I would like to share.  Remember, there are a lot of quotes in the book so I am just quoting the quotes by other people from long ago.

First quote:  Norman Cousins (page 2)

“THE WAY A BOOK IS READ—

WHICH IS TO SAY,

THE QUALITIES A READER BRINGS TO A BOOK—

CAN HAVE AS MUCH TO DO

WITH ITS WORTH AS ANYTHING

THE AUTHOR PUTS INTO IT.”

 

Oh my, but did I love that quote.  It is so true.  I read so many books.  I share a title with others, and some read, or start to read it, and say to me, it just didn’t “do” anything for me.  That comment alone gives me great insight into the person saying it.  And of course it probably is about face as well.  There are many books I have tried to read that others refer to me and I just can’t get “into them”.  I prefer non-fiction, most of my friends prefer fiction.  It doesn’t make one kind better than the other kind, but stands primarily on personal preference.  The same would probably relate to movies or T.V. shows as well.

Second quote:  Winston Churchill (page 4)

“THE QUOTATIONS

WHEN ENGRAVED

UPON THE MEMORY

GIVE YOU GOOD THOUGHTS.

THEY ALSO MAKE YOU

ANXIOUS TO READ

THE AUTHORS

AND LOOK FOR MORE.”

 

Another good quote.  It’s because of that quote that I find it interesting that people do not allow me to write quotes from the books they write.  Oh well, their loss.  And yours too.  Because I get to read it and you may never have the opportunity to hear it or discover the book it is in.

Well, my poem is already written today.  Actually I wrote two of them this morning while spending time in my library talking with God.  Here is the first one:

 

GIVE ME PURPOSE

By Kathleen Martens

August 22, 2015

 

I love You Father,

Let not my eyes be on me.

Teach me Lord to do

Everything for You.

 

When I awaken

Give me grace.

Call my name and beckon

That I meet You at our place.

 

Draw me close.

Don’t let me go.

Let Your thoughts

Be what I sow.

 

Give me purpose

To live my best

With enthusiasm and joy,

Full of zest.

 

That I will desire

The desires of Your heart

And do what’s right

And never let it depart.

 

Here is the second poem:

 

ONE OF YOUR OWN

By Kathleen Martens

August 22, 2015

 

Lord, I desire Your song

So my heart will hear

What You sing over me

And that it’s always clear. 

 

I long for Your voice

That I will hear what You speak,

That my heart is receptive

As Your words I seek.

 

That what You say

I will recognize

And that all I hear

You authorize.

 

Let our souls entwine

As we dwell with each other.

Let not a day happen

That You do not usher.

 

Be my confidant

In all that I speak

And give me strength

When I am weak.

 

I put my trust

In You alone.

Thank You Father

That I am one of Your own.

 

I suppose when I do what I want to do, life is not very exciting to write about.  But it sure is exciting living it.  Be sure and take time out for yourself that you can be rested and rejuvenated.  I believe that God is trying to teach me that seemingly easy task.  It is not so easy for one so desiring to always being busy.  If nothing else, I think “old age” will be my greatest teacher in that area!

Have a great Sunday Sabbath tomorrow.  Remember to take time out to honor God.  Remember, Sunday rest day was His idea!  What a good God is our God!  Just a reminder- check out the books of 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd John.

P.S.  Just think what my blog “THE OPINION YOU DID NOT ASK FOR” will be like when I already offer so many suggestions and opinions in a Blog about Visions of Poetry and the Gift of God’s Art.  The difference is, I plan to have an open forum.

Time to get ready!

One more P.S.  REBECCA:  The vegetable strata was delicious!  Just thought you might like to know!

 

 

 

Friday August 21 2015  THINKING

 

Mornings are the best time for thinking.  And I  have lost my mornings.  My really early, quiet, dark, intimate mornings with just myself and God.  No one’s fault but my own.  Yes, I can go down to my library before noon and it is still literally morning…but it isn’t morning to me.  Morning to me is before sunrise when the house still holds the mystery of night and the quiet sounds it speaks in the darkest hours.  Even if others are home sleeping it holds that hollow feeling of a house abandoned by all others but me.  I think it is the quiet tranquility of solitude that comforts me as I linger alone in my library, gazing out the windows at the view of the magnificent trees in silent repose.  There is a restfulness and peacefulness cradled in those quiet moments that disappear as the house seems to awaken from its own time of relaxation.

I have given those moments up since I have been back home because it is such a joy to awaken with Dave, linger together in our own intimacy, sharing our thoughts,  planning the day, discussing heart issues, hopes, and dreams with each other.  These are mornings I have looked forward to all our married life.  The closer we approached retirement, the more I realized how fortunate, that first of all, we are still married after 42 years when that seems to be an oddity, rather than the norm, and secondly, that we are  both still alive to share our retirement together.  There were times when I wondered if that would truly ever happen.  When I left on my trip I had it planned to be back home on the night before Dave’s last day at work.  I felt it was very important for me to say goodbye that morning, knowing when he came home he would never be expected to go back to work again.  I wanted to be there when he came home that very last day!  For those of you who have long ago retired you may have your own thoughts about how silly my thoughts might be, but for me, I so wanted us to live long enough to retire together I could hardly believe it was true when it was finally happened.  From that day on it was quite a bit different than I expected.  On the first official day of retirement he ended up in the hospital (I was glad I was here for that) and since then it has been a roller coaster ride, never quite knowing what to expect.

His sickness yesterday was related to his hospital adventure.  His leg is again inflamed and red and painful.  He is again on an antibiotic treatment.  So he spends half the day today at the doctor’s office and pharmacy and I spend the same half day, and more, cooking in the kitchen.  Remember in yesterday’s blog I mentioned REFRIGERATOR SOUP and today was the day I planned to make it.  I got the bright idea of making two pots of refrigerator soup AND A STRATTA!  Somebody take me out and shoot me!  Remind me not to do that again.  However, I had so much food that needed to be used up that I knew I had to use it or lose it.  I made two huge pots of soup that are cooling down as I write.  I have no idea how many quarts it will fill.  The only problem is that I do not have very many empty quart jars to fill.  So I have scavenged my kitchen finding anything I could freeze in.  I’ll know later if I have enough capacity.  One soup is a tomato base and has many, many different vegetables in it.  The other soup is a chicken broth base with cabbage, carrots, onions, and beans!  It’s got what we call “GO POWER”.  It is delicious.  And my refrigerator has a bit more space.  But, I still have too many vegetables that I can’t use us quickly enough.  We’re working on eating them in salads.  I do want to mention that I worked VERY, VERY HARD all afternoon to accomplish two pots of soup and one huge vegetable strata that will be baked tomorrow.  Our freezers are about full and the veggie season is just a little over half over for us.  I guess I’ll have to invite a lot of company to help eat it up.  I always have plenty of volunteers for that.  Dave saved my life tonight.  Thankfully he was feeling well enough to clean up the kitchen for me.  He is always so good about that and I appreciate it so much.  I am exhausted.  I started work about 1:00 p.m. and finished at 9:00 with just one break for a short dinner time at the table.  And now I am sitting and don’t know if I’ll be able to rise when I am finished.

My food stories may be the most boring to read but just so you know I am very pleased with my accomplishments when I work so hard, and so thankful to God for the bounty that he provides for us each day.  When I work with real live food, it makes me realize the greatness of our Heavenly Father for providing such food, over and over, year after year, that we may eat and be healthy.  I am so sorry when I think of all the people who have the opportunity to eat whole, live, nutritious foods and rather choose to eat from boxes of prepared foods with ingredients that you cannot even pronounce, much less know what exactly it is that you are putting into your body.  I ate like that for years so I cannot point a finger.  All I know is that it feels so good to feel good, and that only happened after I changed my food intake due to extremely poor health and diagnosis.

INTERUPTION…DAVE JUST WALKED INTO THE SUNROOM WHERE I AM AND INTERRUPTED MY TYPING AND ASKED ME “ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOME WISDOM FOR TODAY’S BLOG?”  I ANSWERED “YES”.  DAVE THEN CONTINUED TO TELL ME THAT WHEN HE WAS AT THE BANK TODAY HE SAW A NOTE THAT A BANKER HAD STUCK ON ANOTHER BANKER’S DESK THAT READ:

“WHAT YOU ALLOW, IS WHAT WILL CONTINUE”!  

And I thought to myself, how appropriate to be inserted exactly where he interrupted me.

Remember that it is only you that can change you.  You cannot change another person, no matter how much you love them and want the best for them.  Change must happen from the inside of self.  I now understand that.  I always had excuses and yes but… Just as the book said that I told you about last week.  We must get off our buts, all the “yes, buts” and make no more excuses for not accomplishing what we want to accomplish in our lives.  It is only you, it is only me that can decide if change will happen.  And then again, perhaps there are some who are so perfect that there is no need to change.

I will take the liberty of a quote from “YOU CAN’T AFFORD THE LUXURY OF A NEGATIVE THOUGHT” by Peter McWilliams, page 163:

“Focusing on the positive may not be as strong yet; it may, in fact, be a 97-pound weakling.  The way to make it strong is to exercise it.  Use it often.  Unlike physical exercise, if you do too much positive focusing, you will seldom wake up sore the next morning.

DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO BECOME STRONGER IN.  BECOME STRONG BY DOING IT.”

Okay, so where is my poem coming from today?  The problem is…I must think…and it is getting late.

 

GIVE THANKS TO GOD

By Kathleen Martens

August 21, 2015

 

My day winding down

My body is still.

Night cloaks around me,

And peacefully fills

My heart and my mind

With complete satisfaction

As a result of my day

And all of my action.

 

A good feeling to know

I accomplished my goal

By starting early

And staying on a roll.

It was not easy

And my feet became sore,

But I determined to finish

All the more.

 

So do what you plan,

And plan what you do

Work diligently to accomplish

Until you are through.

Give thanks to God

For His strength He lends,

And when energy gets low,

More He sends.

 

Goodnight and God bless you!

Thursday August 20 2015  AND NOW IT IS TOMORROW…

…And I have been so busy that I haven’t even had a chance to think of anything worthwhile to write in a blog at the end of the day when I am tired!  So how’s that?  Oops!  Is that the real me coming out?  I surely hope not.  It sounded a little like a cross between self-pity and a bit of griping.  And I just won’t hear about that!  So…I go retrieve a book I picked up at the library yesterday, from my little safe place where I keep all my library books when I am not reading them.  Sometimes I have checked out at many as 30 or 40 books so I have to have a system to keep close tabs on them.  I only have a few out right now.  The title of the book I checked out is: “YOU CAN’T AFFORD THE LUXURY OF A NEGATIVE THOUGHT-A Book for People with Any Life-Threatening Illness—Including Life.”  Copyright 1988 by Peter McWilliams.  The best part is, there is no threat of jail or anything else if you quote from it.  So…YOU’VE GOT IT!  I’m going to quote from it.  I actually haven’t even cracked it open until just now and the first thing I read is worth repeating.  It is a quote from Samuel Smiles from 1859.  I don’t think they had any technical machines to transfer data from one place to another back in 1859, so perhaps he would be honored to have his quote quoted 156 years later by a little old lady writing on her new-fangled gadget, sending his words to who knows where.  So here goes:

“The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual; and, exhibited in the lives of many, it constitutes the true source of national vigor and strength.  Help from without is often enfeebling in its effects, but help from within invariably invigorates.” 

Read it over a few times and get the full impact of what he is saying.  I believe it is so true.  I believe in part that my journey this spring had something to do with me finding the “spirit of self-help” so I could experience genuine growth within myself.  However, I did have a lot of people offer me help in so many ways as I traveled, and for that I will be forever grateful.  Even with the help I received I did learn a new self confidence in myself that I could depend on myself for help when I needed it.  And one of the things I practiced while on the road was exactly what the title of this books speaks about. I DID NOT ALLOW MYSELF THE LUXURY OF NEGATIVE THINKING!   Because of adopting that attitude, no job was too big, no road was too long, no night was too dark.  I think I shall enjoy reading this book by the same Author that wrote the book I talked about last week about “get off your buts, and just do it”.  Just my sneak preview tonight while sitting here in front of the computer makes me excited to have found another book filled with such treasures.  Uh oh!  I feel a poem coming!

 

NEW FRIENDS

By Kathleen Martens

August 20, 2015

 

Oh, so many pages

Filled with such treasures

Hours and hours

Of reading pleasure.

 

Just the title

Quickens my mind

Because of all the words

I know I will find.

 

Books become friends

That you spend time with

Whether fact or fiction

Science or myth.

 

Books become alive

When they speak to you

And show you a world

That you never knew.

 

Books filled with wisdom

Or a funny little story,

Or Science fiction

Somewhat gory.

 

What matters most

Does it make a better you?

Does it give you solid ground

To help you get through?

 

Books are all different

So choose wisely what you read,

What you deposit in mind

Plants a little seed.

 

Fill your heart up

With goodness and gold,

All the words in a book

Through your life will be told.

 

Give thought to improve

By words others plant.

So use discretion

Which friends that you grant.

 

Your books are your friends,

Treat them with respect.

The returns are bountiful

More than you ever expect!

 

I LOVE MY FRIENDS!  Even the people ones.

 

My dear sister Velma I so appreciate.  Thank you dear sister for helping my blogs present better.  She is great at proofreading them (the day after) and telling me where they need fixing.  I told her today in an email that it is too bad she isn’t able to proofread them BEFORE I publish them.  She’s always a day late!

Today was food day but I have not had the time to fix anything yet.  All had to be refrigerated with hopes of making “REFRIGERATOR SOUP” tomorrow.  Another busy day tomorrow so I’ll see how it goes!  Dave is still sick from last night but is better in blood levels.  He seems to have a full-fledged virus that is taking a toll on his low immune system.

And I leave you with another piece of wisdom from same book above quoted from Theodore Roosevelt:

Do what you can,

With what you have,

With where you are.

I leave you with these words.

Good night and God bless each one of you!

Tuesday August 18 2015  AND TO LIVE FOREVER…

There is never a dull moment when the grandsons are visiting.  Actually, there is never a spare moment either.  I can’t believe how much I didn’t get done.  But, we accomplished what was most important.  Sleep and food.  And they actually even ate.  I realize I don’t have the “usual fare” of food that is in most cupboards, but I did try to convince the kids that it was okay to eat what was on their plate.  Some food they ate, some food they didn’t.  But that is okay, they didn’t starve!  We had popcorn remember.  I was quite creative for lunch today and they scarfed it down.  I made individual pizzas with a bit of a twist.  Thought I’d share it here in case you might try this at home.  I took two whole wheat tortillas, spread both pieces with pizza sauce.  On one side I spread chicken, cut in small pieces, added very small cut up purple bell pepper,  took one slice of Havarti cheese, broken it up and placed it on the chicken, topped it with the other tortilla and cooked it in my Quesadilla maker.  It turned out delicious.  I even made one for Dave and a half of one for myself.  I think we’ll have it again.  So…enough of my food obsession Paulette.  What can I say, I just like making food!

Today was a low key day (if that is possible with two rambunctious boys present).  We had a leisurely breakfast, I went to the gym, Dave wrestled two to one, time for lunch, and then a nap.  Both boys were exhausted from being boys and we were exhausted for them being boys.  Everyone slept but me!  But, I did lie down for 45 minutes and listened to another great sermon from Modesto Calvary Chapel.  I’m not finished with the one I was listening to this afternoon but I listened to an entire message last night after I climbed into bed.  It was titled: “The Significance of Jesus’ Ascension”.  I think this message was by far the most enlightening and interesting sermon I have yet heard.  I learned a lot through the scriptures that were used.  I will probably listen to it a couple of more times before putting it to bed.  When I come across an excellent teaching such as that one was, I enjoy sitting in my library, taking notes, and writing out the scripture verses.  It seems to make a greater impression on my memory.  I think my memory is a little bit like hardening cement.  I once was able to memorize so much, so easily, but not so anymore.  I have decided not to hide my aging aspects.  What is, is!  But I still try to retain as much as possible for as long as possible.

I read a book over the last week during my afternoon mandatory resting hour.  The title is: “100 Things I’m Not Going to Do Now That I’m Over 50” by Wendy Reid Crisp.  I’m many years over 50 but I could make a list going forward from this point if there were things I’m not Going to Do.  As I read through the list I realized most of what was on her list I have already done and probably have no problem continuing to do so.  A few I thought were sensible.  I realize that the woman was probably about 50 at the time she wrote the book, and had no clue that some of the things she said that she is never going to do, are next to impossible not to do, as your body ages.  I won’t mention them here.  She’ll find out.  I think old age is the second best kept secret of the world.  As we age, we are either too embarrassed to talk about some of the changes that take place, or we don’t dare whisper it to the younger generation for fear of taking away their enjoyment of living in the present age they are.  Sort of like the best kept secret of the world which is a mother-in-law who never speaks of the horror stories of pregnancy, birth, and raising rambunctious kids, for fear of frightening their daughter-in-law from producing their longed for grandchildren.  We older women, who have been there/done that, do not want to spoil it for the younger generation.  They’ll find out soon enough for themselves.  I actually remember my daughter-in-law asking me after the birth of her first son, “why didn’t anyone ever warn me of what it would be like to be pregnant, have a baby, and about the first few months afterwards”.  Like I said, we really do long for those grand-babies.

Rather than things I’m not going to do after a certain age, my mind seems to think more toward the list of the 100 things I am going to do, regardless of how old I am.  I may not accomplish them all and I may have to do them differently than I would have when I was younger, but I want to look forward to all that I have left to experience, places to go, things to see, people to meet, facts to learn, and I could go on and on.  I never realized I would take a trip like I did this year, at the age I am.  I do not want to limit what I can do, rather I want to experiment and see how much I can do!  There is one thing I never want to do regardless how old I become.  I never want to lose sight of who my God is, how much I love Him, and how much I am loved by Him.  I never want to turn my back on Him and say no to whatever He calls me to.  And one other thing.  I never want to quit writing poems to God as my gift back to Him each day.  Someday it might happen and when and if it does, I know God will understand.

God just gave me an explanation point confirmation on that last paragraph!  We are have a very loud thunderstorm going on and when I dotted the last sentence a great clap of thunder went off right over the house and actually shook the whole building.  It made me jump up!  Yes, I think God will understand.

 

AND LIVE FOREVER…

By Kathleen Martens

August 18, 2015

 

As I age I look back at the years

I remember the joys, I remember the tears.

So many memories a lifetime speaks,

The sweetest ones, my heart keeps.

 

I remember those who have been kind

And on my path helped me to find

The way to go, to lead a good life,

Free from woe, and free from strife.

 

I listened to the wisdom of the old,

Heeded their advice that they told.

Learned from others how to read God’s word

And then one day, God’s own voice I heard.

 

I don’t remember what all people said

But rather feelings that to me were fed.

I don’t even remember all their gifts,

But rather their compassion my heart would lift.

 

I think of my babies, when they were young,

And the amazing adults they have become.

Those long ago memories bring such pleasure

Tucked in my heart like a golden treasure.

 

My body has aged in earth years

But my spirit, no death it fears.

My spirit has soared since my birth,

And never will it lose its worth.

 

Inside I am young and ever will be

My spirit eternal and forever free.

I may look older to the very young

But I remember all the songs I’ve sung.

 

And I look forward to what I can do

As I seek out experiences new.

This earth to me is a beautiful place

And someday to be replaced by Jesus’ face.

 

When that happens, I’ll have no regret

For that is when my soul will let

My eternal flame burn so free

And live forever  in eternity!

 

A new day awaits when you rise in the morn.  What will you do with your day?

 

Calendar Wisdom for August 18^TH;

“WHEN GOD MEASURES A MAN HE PUTS THE TAPE AROUND THE HEART—NOT THE HEAD.”

I hope my heart is bigger than my head!

 

Good Night.

Thanks  to Velma for pointing out that yesterday was Monday and not Tuesday.  Reminder: to me every day is Saturday.  I only get it right when I write it in my blog.  And as you can see, I can’t even get that right all the time!

P.S.  We are having a torrential rain downpour!  The trees are circling, the night is dark way too early and the thunder is roaring.  I feel the vibrations!  I’m sitting here in the sun room, the trees are silhouettes, and the lightning is flashing.  It really is a beautiful sight to behold.  I just hope we do not get struck by lightning.  I think I talked about that yesterday.

No More P.S.’s

 

 

 

Monday August 17 2015  IT WAS A BIG SPLASH!

 

All days do not go as planned.  But it was still a big spash!  A day with the boys, what more could I ask?  Up early, hungry quickly, bored quicker, and so I left.  I left when Dave arrived home from his Monday morning men’s breakfast.  That was the planned part.  I had a great workout at the gym then home for THREE hungry men.  Prepared food but was not fast enough, as my three year old grandson simply said, “Grandma you must do it faster”.  No whining or complaining, just a few directives.

When I left the gym it was a humid 81 degrees.  So after lunch we decided to invite Michael next door and meet him and his mom at the Splash Park.  You might remember what it is like to have everyone change, gather towels, be sure I had enough water, the atomizer for Zach, grab the sunscreen and get carseats in the car and everyone buckled in.   Whew!  Makes me tired just writing about it.  As we were driving the three miles to the park I noticed a very large menacing black cloud coming in.  All of a sudden the wind came up, the cloud covered us overhead, and I kept on driving to the Splash Park.  After all, we were meeting someone there and couldn’t very easily stand them up.  We arrived and of course the children were very excited.  It was a fabulous Splash Park.  Of course I haven’t been to any others so I have nothing to compare it with.  But it sure looked fun.  Michael was pretty much wet after a minute or two.  I held my boys back until I could figure out what the weather was up to.  I was cold and I wasn’t even wet.  The boys so badly wanted to go in.  They activated the park, as no one else was there to enjoy the interesting weather and that made it even colder.  I still kept them out and as dry as possible.  Well, after a little while more people came but along with them came rain and thunder and cold wind.  When the guys nestled into me for warmth I decided it was time to leave.  Michael was trembling and his knees were shaking so I think he was only too happy to be corralled into his car.  I was wet, the boys were wet, and the heavens were pouring forth a gullywhomper!  (No such word on my dictionary check but I think it describes best what was happening).  In other words it was raining cats and dogs!

By the time we arrived home the rain had stopped, we were wet, and we were happy to go inside and get warm.  So, we changed our day around.  I suggested we get dried off and go check out St. Vincent’s toy stash but the boys chose instead to have a movie afternoon, instead of a movie night, and we would have our popcorn now instead of after dinner.  I don’t know what it is going to be like to have their grocery bill when they are 12 and 16 instead of 3 and 7 but if how often they hungry now is any indication of the increase, it will be a doozy. When Courtland was a teenager it was as if he had a hollow leg.

So, I watched some of the movie with them.  Since they are in an adjacent room to the sunroom I sort of snuck away in here to write my blog early.  Since no nap or rest time I have a feeling they will need a little extra TLC this evening and an earlier bedtime.  When they go to bed, I GO TO BED!  After all, I have one more day to keep up with them.  Then…I will do my wedding work!

We did have a productive day today however, despite being rained out of the Splash Pool.  Perhaps I should say, thunder and lightninged out.  I didn’t feel it safe to be amongst metal, standing in water with the lightening going off in the heavens.  Lightning struck close to me once and it was not a good feeling.  It caused my heart to skip and miss beats for a while, made my hair stand on end, scattered lightening bubbles to dance on the ground close to me and stopped my watch at exactly the time the tornado struck about 5 miles away.  The watch never did work after that.  I never forgot that split second of time.  Just as I was reaching for a metal handrail to climb the step to our front stoop, something said in my head “DO NOT GRAB THAT HANDRAIL”.  I didn’t and the lightning struck on the sidewalk off to my left and completely missed hitting me directly.  I was in rubber soled shoes standing on cement.  I always wondered if I had grasped that railing if I would have become the target of that strike.  I will never know, but I do thank God that I wasn’t struck that day.  Our house has been hit by lightning a couple of times and one time it damaged our computer/TV equipment.  So, I have a healthy respect for lightening.

I’ve enclosed a few snapshots of our escapades so you can see me in action being a grandma!  Perhaps tomorrow will be a nice hot, rainless day.  However, I am thanking God for the rain too.  It has since rained another squall.  I love the rain, but it sure does havoc to my red geraniums, and to the other colors too, but it is only the red ones I care about.

A great calendar wisdom today.  Read it carefully:  “You have no strength but what God gives AND YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE STRENGTH THAT GOD CAN GIVE”

 

MAN MAKES PLANS BUT GOD DIRECTS HIS STEPS

By Kathleen Martens

August 17, 2015

 

A day begins with all sorts of plans

But you never know how it will end.

Everything can go smooth as pie

Or surprises it can lend.

 

When what you do goes awry,

You can complain because it’s skewed.

Or you can go with God’s direction

And ask God for His view.

 

If the rains come falling down

And aborts the fun of pleasure

Look around and find the jewel

That becomes the unburied treasure.

 

Be thankful for the farmer’s crops

Thirsty in the fields

And know that the falling rain

To another great joy it yields.

 

So always open every hour

For God to use for His best.

Whatever your plan He’ll direct your steps

Into His arms of rest.

 

Just commit to not complain,

And don’t do anything rash.

Regardless how your day turns out,

It can still be a great big Splash!

 

Wish you all a wonderful evening!  Good night!

 

Sunday Sabbath August 16 2015  GOD’S WISDOM IS BEST!

 

I am so thankful that God’s wisdom is always right on.  He was so wise to give young women reproduction rights and to turn off the valve in advancing years.  As a young woman I didn’t give it a second thought as to the energy it took to care for my two young children.  Yes, sometimes the days were long and tiring, and I more than once, wondered if I would ever stop scrubbing up peanut butter and jelly sandwich smears.  It did end and then I looked back at that time with fondness.  Now is a different story.  I am so happy that I do not “own” little children of my own.  I am so happy to have my grandchildren with me, especially for a couple of nights and then be able to send them home.  They are exuberant, exciting, inquisitive and amazing little boys and I love every moment with them, but…(you fill in the ending)!

So, what have we planned for the next two days?  Absolutely nothing.  I am the spontaneous type who can usually come up with something to keep them busy every single moment.  They are not allowed to watch T.V. but they have privileges at grandma and grandpa’s house to watch a DVD movie (I choose several from the library and they each get to pick out one).  I think it is more for us than for them.  I’m in the sunroom writing my blog, Dave is in his easy chair “enraptured” with Xander’s choice of “FROZEN”.  (Oh by the way Xander, who is almost four, has decided he wants to be called TORNADO.  No clue as to why.)  So, Dave is happily resting, I am happily writing my blog, and the boys are extremely happy about having the awesome time of watching a movie.  They think we are “cool” grandparents!  If only they knew!  Zach told me tonight that I forgot something because I was just old.  He didn’t say it in a disrespectful way but just as a matter of fact.  I guess that is better than telling me three years ago as he walked up the stairs behind me “Grandma, your butt is really big”.  And he was right!  Grandchildren keep you humble.

We had a delicious dinner, Court and Amy (as usual) got up and cleaned up the kitchen) and the boys and I prepared to go for a hike in the woods.  And we took the long way around.  We were in there long enough to create a smorgasbord for the mosquitoes.  We ended up walking on different paths that our neighbor keeps mowed for us and ended up in the yard of a home that is a ways off and faces another road.  We trekked up their steep hill and walked home on the road.  Poor Zach was dying with pain in his feet before we got home.  I asked Xander if his feet were hurting.  He replied, “Yes, they are killing me.  My feet are just killing me”, as he is running and jumping and walking like marathon runner warming up.  I wonder where he has heard that phrase.  Zach was simply stating fact.  For indeed he does have feet problems and gets them from me.  I am missing two bones in my feet that have caused me grief all my life.  My arch is also nonexistent.  Zach has the same flat feet but the missing bones have not been confirmed due to the Doctor choosing not to x-ray someone so young.  Zach too must wear inserts in his shoes like I do.

I have an art room (at the present it is a mess) that is filled with fun supplies for lots of crafts.  Both boys can use us an entire morning just working on “projects”.  And I can always think of some kind of project.  I just wish I could train them to clean and convince them that it was a fun project.  That hasn’t happened yet.

 

Two Little Men in the Making

By Kathleen Martens

August 16, 2015

 

I look at my two little men in the making

And my heart swells with such pride.

So full of love and exuberance

And little secrets they confide.

 

I want to wrap them in safety

That no harm would ever befall.

I pray they will be old men

Before heaven their name calls.

 

I wear a little necklace,

A rock tied with string.

It was a gift my grandson made

And it caused my heart to sing.

 

Always busy and moving around

They keep me on my toes.

I will not complain one little bit,

This time will too quickly go.

 

Oh how blessed I am to see

My son’s face look back at me.

One face that is seven,

The other face is three.

 

And I delight in who they are

And I remember the years past

When their father was so little

And that time moved too fast.

 

It makes me slow down and think,

To savor each moment given,

To enjoy these two little men

Who in childhood now are living.

 

And the Father they will be

Is inside those little men.

Now is the time to train them up

To live a life free of sin.

 

I thank God for my husband

Who was the best Father to be had.

And that we now have a son

Who is truly a remarkable dad.

 

And these little boys are in training

To walk in the way of the Lord

How awesome to share a part

Of teaching them God’s word.

 

CALENDAR WISDOM:  “A happy home is not one without problems but one that handles them with love and understanding.”

I’ll keep it short tonight for your sake because I actually do have more time to write.

Good night!

Sandra Keller if you are out there reading this I send you a big hug from one grandma  to another grandma.  I think you can identify with what I wrote.

P.S.  To All:  If you are interested in an excellent sermon regarding God’s Judgement google City Church Madison Wisconsin and look for the sermon for today, August 16, 2015.  It is an excellent teaching.

 

P. S.  Her is a poem I wrote five years ago that I thought you might enjoy.

 

I HAD A LITTLE BOY ONCE

By Kathleen Martens

May 4, 2010

 

I had a little boy once

And my heart remembers so much

From the earliest fluttering in my womb

As well as the kicking and such.

 

Such a tiny baby born too early

With such a hope for life.

He struggled for each breath he took,

His beginning was filled with strife.

 

I had a little boy once

And I stroked his tiny feet,

His unseen eyes covered by gauze

To protect them from light & heat.

 

I had a little boy once

Who one day smiled at me

With sparkling brown eyes

He found my heart’s key.

 

I had a little boy once

Who crawled, walked and played.

And he gave his heart to Jesus

At four years old he simply prayed.

 

I think back to that time in life,

Unending questions and happy smiles.

All those memories of time and space,

They seemed unending miles.

 

I had a little boy once,

Each day sweeter than the day before.

The days did not last for ever

And oh how I long for more.

 

I had a little boy once

Who at my table did sup.

But that little boy is gone now

He had the nerve to grow up!

 

This time the good night is for real!