Friday November 4 2016 MISSION ACCOMPLISHED (ALMOST)
Friday November 4 2016 MISSION ACCOMPLISHED (ALMOST)
It is finished!
What we hoped to begin and end in October has now been accomplished. Our tree is trimmed (each branch stuck into a pole) and covered in gold ornaments (made of paper, cloth and tin), and our glittering skirt (a piece of untrimmed yardage) creates a stunning exclamation as it covers the base of our tree (consisting of a board, tree stand, and a towel), but I will tell no one!
The boxes are stashed and I am happy! And, it is only November 4th. A few more gifts to buy and wrap, and that is it. NOW MY CHALLENGE IS THAT ALL SHOPPING AND WRAPPING MUST BE FINISHED BEFORE THANKSGIVING! When the month of December comes around I want to be totally footloose and fancy free. I intend to watch at least one Christmas movie per day, go to any and all events I so choose, spend time with family and friends, and do some entertaining. On Christmas day Dave and I usually attend the local theater and spend the day watching a movie, or several movies if there are any exceptional releases at that time. But who knows, we may just stay at home and play cards all day. I may even consider taking a week off from writing my blog. Now that would really be a vacation. Hmmm…maybe I should take off the entire month!
This year Christmas is on a Sunday and that makes it even more special. Perhaps we can find someone who has no family and invite them over for a Christmas dinner. We celebrate Christmas with our family on Christmas Eve so that our son and his wife have the entire day to spend with their boys on Christmas. We always had the same arrangements when our children were little. We both worked and it was seldom that we ever had days off (weekends were not days off for parents) to absolutely devote to our children. We would dedicate our entire day for their pleasure of being with mom and dad, playing games and discovering how to use their new toys. We snacked and played all day long. It was so awesome to be able to focus our entire day on them. Unfortunately some of those days don’t always happen on Christmas for Courtland and Amy. Courtland often works on Sunday and holidays and must take his shift in rotation, regardless the holiday.
When we first moved to Wisconsin we had no family in driving distance (our closest family was about 800 miles south) so we celebrated with our foursome; mom, dad, daughter and son. On the ride home from our son’s wedding I turned to Dave and said, “Hey, we now have family in the area and someplace else to go for Thanksgiving and Christmas”. That was a happy thought. And over the past several years we have had many joyous occasions of having our “family” over as well as being invited as guests to their home for celebrations. Though not a large extended family, we now have someone with whom we share special events. Now if we just coerce our daughter and son-in-law to move to Wisconsin we’d have two places to go. Florida verses Wisconsin? I don’t think such a move will ever take place!
Perhaps we could make this year’s special Christmas Sunday special for someone else. Over the years we were occasionally invited to join others at their home to celebrate with them. Other times we invited families to share in ours. So perhaps it is time for us to once again pick up the baton and extend an invitation. Life is now opening up to Dave and me in new ways due to being retired. We had to bypass so many events when I was working due to the stress of my work load. I am only now beginning to feel the freedom from being so tethered to a job.
And now I look ahead and dream of the time we may be downsized and rid of years of accumulation. I know we will have more freedom and I am beginning to feel the need for that to happen. I learned a lot while I was “trimming that tree”!
DO FOR OTHERS
Kathleen Martens
November 4, 2016
http://www.visionsofpoetry.com
The tree is trimmed
Ornaments in place,
Holiday time
Begins its race.
Sprinting ahead
To finish shopping,
To buy the gifts
Without stopping.
So all will be done
Before the masses
Crowd the malls
Fervently dashing.
That opportunities
Can be enjoyed,
Especially now
We are no longer employed.
And then take time
To do for others,
Not only family
Sisters or brothers.
But to search
And find those weary
Who need a family
And someone cheery.
So many alone
Forsaken and lost,
To give joy to another
Is not a great cost.
To extend a hand
Or offer assistance
May brighten the day
If we are persistent.
Perhaps our time
Could be our gift,
That would help
Another life to lift.
Or a gift card
For what they need,
Perhaps for food
On which to feed.
Or a few hours
To the kids attend
So parents have time
Crowds to fend.
So many things
We can do
To help others
Their day get through.
So give thought
To helping someone
Not just on Christmas
But everyday that comes.
Thank You Father for being such a good, good Father.
Thank You Father for allowing Your Son to become flesh.
GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.
Thursday November 3 2016 “THE PRIVILEGE OF YOUTH”
THE TRUE PRIVILEGE OF LIFE
Kathleen Martens
November 3, 2016
“The Privilege of Youth”
The title of a book,
It caught my attention
So I took a closer look.
Written by an author
I have previously read,
He is very much alive
Therefore, not dead.
“A Boy Called It”
Was his book first published,
And a far cry
From being rubbish.
It caught my heart,
His words cut deep
About childhood memories
That caused him to weep.
And though I will read
The new volume I possess,
I gave pause to his title
And slowly processed.
“The Privilege of the Youth”
Hit resonant chord
As I looked back over years,
And to the future, toward.
I thought to myself
That the truth I have found
Is that old age is more privileged
Than being a youth unbound.
For I have something greater
And I want you to hear
The youth may never have
So many days and years.
For life holds no promise
Even to the young
That long life will be given;
That all songs will be sung.
Should I die now
I have experienced long living
And some lives are numbered
With shorter years giving.
I so believe the privilege
Belongs to the old
Because it is a time
When we can live bold.
It is the time
When we no longer must scurry,
But can sit in God’s presence
Without hustle or hurry.
And the hours we have
We become better acquainted
With the God of salvation,
And spiritual yearning is sated.
So I think the privilege of youth
Is but a passage of time
Because living the “old life”
Seems mighty fine!
But the true privilege of life,
Regardless short or long
Is when the heart follows God.
Then days numbered never wrong.
GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!
Wednesday November 2 2016 BIRTHDAYS COME TOO FAST
Wednesday November 2, 2016 BIRTHDAYS COME TOO FAST
It seems as if everyone I know has a birthday! And they all come too quickly. I think we should only have a birthday about once every five years. Perhaps that would give me enough time to make a card, write in it, address it, put a stamp on it and eventually get it to the post office. Sending birthday cards are a constant embarrassment to me because I always have good intentions and then never get them mailed. Well, OCCASIONALLY one might make it to the mail box. I could come up with lots of excuses but that would only elaborate on more of my shortcomings, and for heaven’s sakes, why would I want to do that?
So, sister dear, (who I don’t imagine reads my blog) happy birthday to you on the 7th. Wish I had your albums all finished but alas, that it still a ways down the road. Instead of making a card I’ll use that time and accomplish getting one more layout done toward its completion. I do hope you are okay and that your health improves daily!
I still have not had the opportunity to celebrate our five year old grandson’s birthday party at our house. However, we did attend his school class party at his home last month. And now…it is time to attend the next grandson’s class party! So I’ll have two birthday parties to host this month! Oops! Make that three. Our daughter-in-law will also be honored with a party this month. It sure is an honor to be alive to see our children and grandchildren grow older. It’s like watching trees grow strong and tall, producing wonderful fruit as they grow deep roots in the foundation of the Lord.
However, I must congratulate myself this year because I remembered to send my son-in-law an e-card that was earmarked to be opened on his birthday. I felt very smug when my son called to remind me, knowing I had already sent the card. By the time I finally remember everyone’s birthday, have their data logged into my computer with reminders, and possibly even send a card, my memory will start failing and I will forget that birthdays even exist. In the meantime I don’t mind celebrating once every five years, but I just can’t convince my face to stop its aging process. It’s happening, whether I like it or not! But I will say without a doubt I love each birthday I have!
We’ve probably all heard the saying that we may be getting older with each birthday but it is better than the alternative. I recently read a story in the local newspaper about aging which included a picture of the oldest person in the world. She is 117 years old, born in 1899, and is the last person on record to be alive who was born in the 1800’s. There was a comment in the article that said, “… in this case, perhaps the alternative may be better than the birthday”.
Regardless how old I become I hope to celebrate each birthday because I do believe that each day we live is a gift from God. Our days have been numbered before we were born. My goal is to live His will for my life as long as my days are numbered upon this earth.
CELEBRATE EACH DAY OF LIFE
Kathleen Martens
November 2, 2016
How many days
Have we yet to see?
Only God knows
The hours to be.
You know not how
Or when you will die,
So put your trust in God
And on Him rely.
Fear not death,
For it’s the threshold of life.
When we step into heaven
We are free of all strife.
No more sickness,
No fear, no sorrow.
Only the present
Without a tomorrow.
But today is now
And we walk this earth,
And even through trials
There is so much worth.
Though it may be illness
Or the loss of a friend,
And some suffer pain
Until the very end,
But regardless the burden
Scattered on our road
God is always with us
To carry our load.
Though we may get discouraged
And things sometimes get dreary,
God will fill us with joy
That we not become weary.
Give thanks for this day,
Rejoicing with pleasure
The goodness of GOD,
And His SON our treasure!
Thank You God for the days you have numbered for me.
Thank You for these later years of life that I have the opportunity to know You more.
Thank You for today.
GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU
Tuesday November 1 2016 POETRY OF MORNING
Tuesday November 1 2016 POETRY OF MORNING
POETRY OF MORNING
Kathleen Martens
November 1, 2016
Oh but if I could just write a poem
As I experience so many feelings,
Rather than leave thoughts ruminating
And my mind reeling.
So many things that I see
Set my heart to soaring,
And later when I sit to write,
The words come out so boring.
Every morning brings something new
As I travel the back roads of home.
Tunnels of corn yesterday waved
And today all I see is loam.
Fields of green sprout winter wheat
As if magically over night,
And tilled soil, dark and rich
Peppered with seagulls white.
A morning mist hovers low and cool
With sunshine dappling gold.
The leaves of maples seem to glitter
And in awe my attention holds.
Soy bean crops old and withered
Because fields yet soggy and wet,
And the beans must be dry,
Too much rain, the farmers fret.
And leaves of color strewn about
In forests, lawns, and streets,
And regardless of how many you rake
You always face defeat.
The skies filled with forms of V’s
As geese fly in boisterous throng.
Oh to be free and winter south,
To do so could never be wrong.
Yet the beauty of home so worth it
As I travel over hills and plains.
And the days are ever so short
As winter light seems to wane.
Morning appears later each morn,
The night sleeps long and deep.
Extended darkness makes a shorter day,
This season I love to keep!
GOOD NIGHT!
Monday October 31 2016 THE CHALLENGE
Monday October 31 2016 THE CHALLENGE
Remember that I am constantly challenging myself in most areas of life. Do I always accomplish my challenge? No, probably not, but it is fun trying. And my world won’t collapse if I don’t achieve what I set out to do. So my challenge is to again write a blog in one hour. I also hope to include the publishing time during that same one hour time frame. It takes about 30 minutes (at the minimum) to do what I must do to even get it on line after it is written. So here goes.
Let’s talk about Christmas decorations. If you recall, my plan was to get the Christmas decorations out by October 1st and have everything finished by October 31st. It didn’t happen. Actually, when I left on October 21st for my four days away, nothing was out. When I arrived home four days later, the closet had been raided, the boxes opened, the tree was put together, the lights were on, and about half the ornaments hung. Ten days later the boxes are still out, less than half of the bulbs are presently on the tree, and the branches have yet to all be separated. The tree was standing but Dave didn’t realize that the smashed branches he had pulled apart still had more branches behind them that also needed to be pulled apart. It has not been an easy task to accomplish with many of the branches circled with light cords and ornament hooks. Since I have separated the rest of the branches the tree no longer looks skeletal. I have had to remove many of the ornaments to make it possible.
But hey, my husband’s heart was in the right place and he went to a lot of effort to surprise me. Yes, not everything is done and the dining room chairs are still lined up between the kitchen and formal eating areas. On their seats are boxes of Christmas paraphernalia still waiting to be unpacked. But, we are closer than we were before I left on my trip. Now my goal is to have the decorations accomplished BEFORE THANKSGIVING! Don’t you just love a good challenge? It’s so great to be retired! I’ll give you an update to let you know when (or if) I finish.
DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS
Kathleen Martens
October 31, 2016
The boxes are opened with tender care
Knowing the ornaments are tucked in there.
The tree comes out it bits and pieces,
And the branches are full of creases.
One by one the sections assembled,
And when it stands, a tree it resembles.
Lights added next, neatly wound
Up and down and all around.
Ornaments of cloth, metal, and glass
All over the tree congregate in mass.
And then comes mama and says “oh my”,
“Through the branches I see the sky.”
Limbs pried a part and fluffed a bit,
But papa says “it doesn’t matter one wit”.
Lucky for him mama is his right hand man
And the tree is now fat where it stands.
Now the ornaments can be replaced
Exactly how they should be spaced.
And papa is happy to let mama pursue
Everything she wants to do.
And so it is still undone,
And papa is very happy to shun
All the fal-der-al for the mission accomplished,
Because ever too soon it will be demolished.
But that tree will get decorated
And before Thanksgiving it is fated,
And just for the record, it will be the last time
Because then this tree will no longer be mine.
AND I’M THE MAMA!
So I thought I would bring you up to date on our Christmas decorating saga! In bits and pieces of time I get bits and pieces of the decorating accomplished. And I’m happy, Dave’s happy, and I feel very happy that we don’t plan to do it again. We’ll just celebrate at our children’s homes instead! Maybe that sounds like a Scrooge but my heart carries the spirit of Christmas and I want more time to enjoy family and celebrating the birth of my Lord and Savior. I shall keep my beautiful nativity set and bring it our each year to commemorate the month we rejoice.
Don’t know how much more time I have because I didn’t look at the clock before I started the blog. But I did turn on the portable heater to stop after 60 minutes. It is still going so I’m going to see if I can beat the heater!
I failed to buy Halloween candy for tonight so Dave volunteered to go buy some. I gave him only one instruction and that was to come back with something I CAN’T EAT (like chocolate) or DON’T LIKE. I don’t want any temptation.
Thank You God for the celebration of Christmas and all it means to those who truly believe in your Son.
Thank You for family and for loved ones.
Thank You for this hour of my life.
GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU
P.S. Though I don’t usually write a blog on Saturday or Sunday please take a look at the last two days. I guess I just had too many words left in me and had to get them out.
P.S.S. The heater is still blasting! I ACCOMPLISHED MY CHALLENGE
Sunday Sabbath October 30 2016 IT IS NOT THAT THE WORLD LACKS WONDERS
Sunday Sabbath October 30 2016 IT IS NOT THAT THE WORLD LACKS WONDERS
IT IS NOT THAT THE WORLD LACKS WONDERS
Kathleen Martens
October 30, 2016
It’s not that we lack WONDERS
In this great big world of ours.
It is that we lack WONDER
As we look through self made bars.
The WONDERS of a dandelion
Intrinsic in its design,
Though it is a nuisance
Its beauty is quite refined.
And even in a simple cloud
Though many you may have seen,
Today’s will be different
With new lights of delicate sheen.
And the buzzing of a bee
Should heighten your sense of pleasure,
Because the WONDERS of such a creature
Offers such a delectable treasure.
We fail to marvel at a simple leaf
As it floats gently to the ground.
It plays with wind ever unseen
And its frolic seems unbound.
We fail to experience marvel
In the twinkling of a star
That takes millions of light years
To travel to earth so far.
It’s not that the world lacks WONDERS
It is we who refuse to see.
For WONDERS are all about us;
Seeing through God’s eyes, the simple key.
Such amazing and astounding creation,
Surrounds us, though rejected,
All because we are not infused
With WONDER to be reflected.
A day should not pass
Except which we are in awe,
For there are spectacular sights
On each path, put there by God.
So remove the shackles of hurry,
And those of doubt and scorn,
Allow your sense of WONDER
Each dawn to be reborn.
A paraphrased quote from a sermon this morning by Pastor Joel Alberti:
“It is not that the world lacks wonders,
It is we that lack wonder…”
The above quote inspired my Sunday Sabbath poem’s topic. Today, take time to dwell on the amazing wonders that God places before us each day. Never lose your child-like wonder! It is a “WONDERFUL” place to live.
P.S. I scrolled through some pictures I’ve taken this past year on my iPhone and here are a few that I was able to upload in order to share with you some of the wonders I have experienced. BE CERTAIN TO CLICK “OLDER POSTS” WHEN YOU COME TO THE END OF THE PHOTOS. THERE ARE MORE.
Visions of Poetry 