Visions of Poetry

Saturday March 26 2016  ON THE ROAD

Literally, on the road.  Dave is driving and I am sitting next to him in the front seat, baseball cap shielding the sunshine from my eyes, and happily writing what I hope will be my best blog ever!  (Dream on Kathleen.)  We are headed toward Decatur Illinois on our way to Clarksville Tennessee where we will spend the night.  It is a new experience writing in the front seat of a car as the roadside speeds away in my peripheral vision.  Illinois is flat.  At least the parts I’ve always driven through.  Flat, and beautiful in its own agricultural way.  In my opinion it does not hold a candlestick to the rolling landscape of Wisconsin’s rural farms.  But, wherever I am I can see beauty in the land.  

So, now that I have gone to all the trouble to get my computer situated on my lap, what is there to write about?  Ah ha! I found a topic.  It stems from a comment Dave made about 10 miles back.  We saw a sign on the highway that said “ARCOLA, THE GATEWAY TO THE AMISH COUNTRY”.  Dave turned to me and said, “Wouldn’t it be awesome to go on a trip with no place to go?”  I wholeheartedly agreed!  I told him if that were so, we could just turn off here and go exploring the world of the Amish.  Then I started fantasizing what it would be like, especially if we could email Airbnb in the afternoon of each day and have a bed to sleep in that night.  I imagine it could be done.  That would be awesome.  Perhaps that will be our next trip.  No itinerary, no time schedule, no bookings of where we’ll be staying until the day we need the reservation.  I wonder where an adventure like that would lead us?  Dave has planted a new seed in my heart and I may just take him up on the idea!

The road is lulling me to into a drowsy state (another one of those wonderful places to explore).  Perhaps I am becoming sleepy because it is peaceful and quiet, and the rhythmic click of the highway’s nuances has placed a spell over me.  The sun is warm, as it beats through the window and we actually need the AC on low.  The further south we go, the warmer it becomes.  It is now 61 degrees. When we left Madison area this morning it was about 31 degrees.  Sixty one degrees feels awesome about now!  Monday, when we arrive at Rebecca’s it will be in the mid 80’s.  HERE WE COME FLORIDA!

THE BEST THING BEING…

By Kathleen Martens

March 26, 2016

My eyelids droop,

My breathing slows

The further and further

South we go.

All is well

All is quiet.

Only the road

Creates the riot.

Though peaceful and calm

It lulls the brain

Shutting out the world

From its raucous refrain.

The world flies past

In rhythmic speed,

Taking us south

As splendor leads.

Retirement seems

To have its perks.

The best thing being

WE NO LONGER WORK!

Not my shortest blog.  Not my longest blog.  And hopefully not my best blog.  I just wanted to make certain I had time to say hello and let everyone know that we got off okay.  It’s a good thing we have house sitters because they called us when they got up to let us know that we left the garage door open.  Oops!  My fault.  I had backed the car into the garage last night in order to make packing easier.  We were so excited to finally be leaving that as I drove away I just forgot to look back. 

Hope you have a wonderful day.  Thank you for your prayers as we travel. 

GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU!

P.S.  As I read the blog to Dave he just informed me that it is now a balmy 63 degrees.

Friday March 25 2016 FINAL COUNTDOWN

I see the end in sight.  That is, the end of the interminable tasks that one must do in order to take a car trip.  It is so much easier when packing a suitcase and heading out to the airport.  First priority is making certain the car is safe and maintenance is up to date.  And when you have a car as compact as our Kia Soul is, you must also give great deliberation as to what you plan to take.  When not confined to a suitcase it is easy to allow your imagination, of what you THINK you need, to get out of hand. 

When I travel I would much prefer to take my own food, buy fresh food along the way to eat, and not stop at restaurants (especially fast food restaurants).  Dave prefers stopping, eating in the restaurant, getting back in the car and all is well.  We compromised.  When we leave I take all he food in the fridge and when we eat that up we’ll then we stop at Subway’s.  We like Subway’s because that is where I can choose what I want on my salad (which comes on flat bread) and not get all the grease that most other places sell.  On my four month trip last year I did not stop at one fast food restaurant until the day before I arrived home.  My food was long gone and I needed one more meal before I stopped for the last night.  Good old Subway was right where I needed it to be.  And…since I only eat half of a flat bread sandwich salad, I always have another meal to look forward to.  Now, if I must confess it all, I will say I did stop three or four times across the country for MacDonald’s soft serve cone.  And you know what?  They all tasted differently.  One MacDonald’s soft serve was so delicious I went back through the line and ate two in a row!  One other stop for restaurant food was at Panera Bread in Colorado.

So, tomorrow’s lunch is already made.  I designed one salad for each of us that will last for two meals.  We have chicken for one meal and home grown, grass fed beef for the next meal.  We’ll have plenty of boiled eggs along with sliced zucchini, sliced green peppers, cherry tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, baby carrots, oranges, and sliced apple (Honey Crisp) in case we need to munch on something.  So you see, we are set.  The lunches are already made and as one drives, the other one eats.  We share the trusty dusty bib!  If you know me, you know about my bib.  If you haven’t seen my bib you are probably only an acquaintance.  The bib works wonderfully in the car when it’s lunchtime.  It is made from a large terry cloth bath towel.  There is a hole cut out toward one end, bound with basting ribbon, that slips over your head.  The bib fits neatly down the chest wall and delicately curves at the lap.  And there you go.  All crumbs are trapped!  When I traveled alone, my bib served both at meal time and by being the blanket I needed to cover my knees during the rest of each day.  Two fold purpose!  I will say, I always stopped to eat my meals and did not eat and drive simultaneously.

I would rather eat fresh live food any day than packaged, processed, or cooked foods.  I could probably eat out for less cost.  When Dave travels he especially enjoys not having the mess of food in the car or needing to shop at grocery stores.  He does not say too much about it but I can feel his vibes.  So I made a deal with him.  We’ll eat up what I take during the first two long travel days and after that I will not prepare food to take along for the rest of the trip.  Even if food is fresh it must still be washed,  cut up, packaged, stored (sometimes on ice), and carted around.  He liked the compromise.   I get two more days of healthy eating.  And the way I figure it, we’ll then be at our daughter’s home and she always serves healthy nourishment, sometimes to Dave’s chagrin.  She especially creates healthy green drinks with foods you probably can’t pronounce.  Right up my alley.

Things are culminating nicely.  Now all we must do is get everything into the car.  But, perhaps I should finish packing first.

BUT THE TOILETS WILL BE CLEAN

By Kathleen Martens

March 25, 2016

We can only live in the moment

Yet we plan for days ahead.

Days which may never culminate,

Regardless if living or dead.

We just take one step at a time,

And do what we must do

That take us to the next plateau

Of that which we must ensue.

Wash the clothes, wash the dishes,

That we not leave our mess behind.

I certainly don’t want another

To be surprised by the mess they find.

So now that I am ready to go

I see my house through another’s eyes.

Oh my goodness what will they think

When all the dust they spy?

But the toilets will be clean

And the sinks will be cleared away.

And it will be fun just knowing

We helped others to have a nice stay.

And my time is up.  I’m going to do a little test in the car tomorrow while Dave is driving.  I am going to try to use my laptop in the car to write my blog.  If I don’t get dizzy and the computer does not slide off my lap, maybe I can do it!  I’ll give it my best.  Otherwise you may just receive a hello, a goodbye, and a GOD BLESS YOU! 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.

PLEASE PRAY FOR GOD’S PROTECTION OVER US AS WE TRAVEL.

Thursday March 24 2016  A GOOD MORNING HELLO

A very short hello today.  This day is packed from one event to the next and for the most part involve other people (so I must be conscious of time). 

Scattered remnants of a trifling, insignificant snow fall dots the landscape.  It rained all day yesterday and by the afternoon there was frozen, slippery slush on the parking lot surfaces around town.  I skated carefully across the pavement when I walked to and from my car.  Last night the temperature dipped enough to turn the precipitation into snow.  Ice particles cling to all the bare branches and twigs and the evergreens are heavy with the weight of it.

It is mornings such as this that I would like sit here and write my heart out.  But it is not to be.  Not today.  The countdown is set.  Last minute details to take care of and the day culminates with a “teaching dinner” this evening.  And I’m the teacher.  So, lots to prepare and do.  I wanted to check in with my readers to let them know that all is well on our home front and I will have no other moments today in which to probe my thoughts out through my fingertips.

WORDS GIVE THOUGHTS A VOICE

By Kathleen Martens

March 24, 2016

Even when time is short

And I can’t call the shots.

No time to compose a blog

Or put together all my thoughts.

I can still say hello

And let you know I’m well.

And to thank you for reading

The little stories I tell.

And if no one reads my blog

I would still write my story.

To release all the words

That within me are warring.

Words that want to make a way

To the top of the heap.

Fighting for their meager space

As on the screen they leap.

So many words I have to say

And what I write is by choice.

Perhaps I can’t talk enough

And my writing gives thought a voice.

Though my words today are few

I send my greetings with prayer,

That God will bless you mightily,

And let you know He cares.

7 Daily Steps to Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

After all, the gift of the Holy Spirit to us believers reminds us that we can truly…

7. Rest in God’s Love

When we face a difficult world each day, we can sometimes wonder if God even cares. Why do bad things happen? Where is God when I need Him? Solomon reminds us that God never takes a break or leaves us to fend for ourselves:

“because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” (Proverbs 3:12)

Even in the midst of turmoil, God sticks with us and uses those challenges to shape us. When we understand that, our perspective completely flips. No longer do we see our setbacks as failures; we see them as moments when God, as our loving Father, works on us.

And that’s exactly why we can trust in the Lord with all our hearts. He cares for us each and every day. He gives us what we need to thrive. He pours blessing after blessing upon us.

Of course, following each of these daily steps isn’t easy. That’s why Jesus said we have to deny ourselves and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). Trusting God takes a whole-hearted commitment from dawn till dusk. But we’re never alone in it:

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)

This article first appeared at BibleStudyTools.com.

MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU THIS DAY. 

Wednesday March 23 2016  A BUCKETFUL OF POSITIVE SELF ESTEEM

I randomly opened a page in a book, (which I don’t even know what its title was) and the phrase that caught my eye was “…parents need to give their children a bucketful of positive self-esteem…”  That phrase stuck with me. 

As a child I was never complimented by my parents.  I yearned for recognition and positive affirmation but it was not to be had at home.  As a little girl I would ask, “Do I look pretty mama?”  Her reply: “Pretty is, as pretty does”.  So I looked elsewhere.  I found it at school when I worked hard to be the best student I could be.  However, I must say I failed greatly in one area.  The note on my report card always said, “Kathleen would be an excellent student if she could just learn to control her mouth”.  Unfortunately that still hasn’t happened.  It’s a good thing I no longer receive report cards.  Until I learned how to read cursive I was spared from the teacher’s expose of words on my behalf.  So I went along on my merry way and just enjoyed life.

Also, while growing up with a strict religious mother, there were many things I was not allowed to do because of “religious beliefs”.  I was singled out at school because I was not allowed to participate in the four square dance “because our church didn’t believe in dancing”.  I definitely could not go to a movie theater, again for the same reason.  It always seemed that there were more CANNOTS than there were CAN DO’S.  I wasn’t one to rebel as some of my other sisters did.  Each of mama’s five daughters chose their own path.  A lot of sorrow and heartbreak was left in their wake.

When I look back and think of the paths each of us followed I realize that a lot of decisions may have been based on all the CAN’T DO’S.  To some, it may have felt that freedom would only come when they left home.  They all left home early in life.  I was the oldest to leave home and I was 19.

The history I lived through as a child shaped the way I decided to parent.  I know my mother was up against a lot of obstacles in her life.  She had a less than desirous upbringing with a cruel father, did not finish her high school education, married to get away from home, and ended up in a dreadful marriage herself.  She lived in abject poverty both as a child and as a wife.  She worked hard, was resourceful, and always found some kind of food to put on the table for her six children.  Our brother was the oldest and was out of the house by the time I was five or six years old.  Each sibling’s life is a story all unto its own.  Each story is for them to tell.  I will only tell my story.

I always loved my mother with such intensity as a child, just as I did as an adult.  I never blamed her for doing the best job she knew how to do.  But I knew I desired to do some things differently than how I was parented.  I wanted my children to hear the words “I love you” every single day from my lips.  I wanted to hold them and kiss them and guide them and teach them to do what was right.  Of the two parents, I was the strictest and Dave was the soft place to fall.  Dave and I took parenting classes before we even had children.  We both wanted to know more about how to parent.  We too believed deeply in God, but our God was a more loving and compassionate God than the God my mother and grandfather knew.  My grandfather parented in the same cruel way in which he grew up.  My mama was influenced by the way her parents reared her, but the cruelty she did not pass forward.  But as a legacy of how she was raised, she was unable to express her feelings of love to others.  I wanted something different.  

Years ago when our children were young, our pastor gave an illustration in a sermon about how each generation has influence unto the fifth generation forward, and is the product of up to five generations back.  This gave me great pause for thought.  I definitely knew what I didn’t want to pass down from my heritage.  But I also knew what I wanted to pass forward.  I prayed that God would break the chain of iniquities caused from poverty, lack of education, alcohol, depression, sexual abuse, and sorrow from my past lineage.   I intentionally went forward with this in mind.  I believe God promised me, that inherited past iniquities from the past, would be broken from our children forward.  I still remember that very prayer and that very day God placed that promise in my heart.

Giving our children confidence and hope for a brighter future was one of the gifts I wanted to give them.  I praised them when praise was due.  I encouraged them daily when they became discouraged.  I tried to be available as much as my work and energy allowed.  And rather than have a list of “CAN’T DO’S”, Dave and I chose to couch our words in a positive frame of “think how exciting it will be WHEN YOU CAN…”  One way we did that was to start talking about certain milestones way before they would happen.  We would say such phrases as, “Just think, when you are 16, and can begin dating, we will be able to go shopping for your prom dress…”  We started that kind of forward thinking when they were about 10 or 11 years old.  They always knew that they had CAN DO’S to look forward to.  When they were about twelve years old we would say, “Just think, when  you are 16 years old, and you have enough money to buy your own insurance, you will be able to drive.”  They rarely questioned any of the CAN DO’S.  They had milestones to look forward to.  They worked and started saving their money so they could accomplish those milestones. We did that with bedtimes, with attending certain kinds of functions, and curfews. And we also taught them that new responsibility was added with each privilege.  

And all along the way we purposely tried to build up their positive self-esteem.  The most important thing they walked away with was that they knew they were loved, and they knew how to say “I LOVE YOU”.  That was a phrase I never heard from my mother until she was quite old.  It was only after years of telling her “I love you mama”, over the phone, that one day she said back to me in a very quiet voice “I LOVE YOU TOO”.  Until that day she had always answered, “Oh, okay” or “Me too”.  I also made it my mission to teach her how to hug.  And one day, as an old lady, she hugged me back.  And as she hugged me she whispered in my in my ear “I love you” without any prompting.  I always knew she did, but it was nice to hear. 

If you are a parent of the young, start feeding them hope for their future.  Let them look forward to the milestones instead of always saying “You can’t do this or you can’t do that!”  Teach them early that someday they too will be able to accomplish all the milestones that they see the “older kids” doing.  It goes a long way for making happy children.  Let your eyes light up when they enter your presence and always remember to say, “I LOVE YOU”.

FIVE GENERATIONS FORWARD

By Kathleen Martens

March 23, 2016

Five generations back

I can’t remember.

I can barely recall

Last December.

However I’m told

The influence of past

Still runs in my veins,

And for generations will last.

So give it thought

What you pass forward.

For what you say

Is what you’ve heard.

And what you speak

Others will say

And onward it goes

Through future days.

So do some pondering

To what legacy you live.

Your actions and words

Create the birthright you give.

Choose what you leave

For others to follow.

Don’t pass on

What is hard to swallow.

If you don’t agree

With those from your past,

Live in such a way

THAT YOUR HERITAGE WILL LAST!

7 Daily Steps to Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

6. Listen to the Holy Spirit

When Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to the church, He told His disciples that this Counselor would be their spiritual compass or GPS:

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) 

As we go through our day, this same Holy Spirit guides us, too. That means we don’t have to go it alone or hope we’re getting it right. No, the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth and protects us:

“Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (2 Timothy 1:14)

After all, the gift of the Holy Spirit to us believers reminds us that we can truly…

To be continued…

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

Tuesday March 22 2016  ONE HOUR BLOG

I am on a mission.  My mission is to write this blog in 45 minutes and proof it in 15 minutes.  So you may assume that it will be short and sweet.  Well, we’ll see.  And again, you may assume it will be easier to do. Less time equals fewer words and fewer words equal less time.  That is not necessarily the case.  I have done experiments such as this in the past and I find that the shorter the blog, the longer it takes to write.  First I must write from the heart, which for me, means wordy.  Secondly, I must go back and re-read and cut and cut and cut.  Well, my purpose to day is to write it quickly, efficiently, and with fewer words.  The fewer the words, the less I have to proof.

Again, my favorite husband has encouraged me to do this.  Right now every moment I have is being used to prepare for our trip.  I am not the person who packs one little bag, goes to the door, and announces I am ready.  When I say I am ready to go Dave always knows that regardless where we are going it usually means at least ten more minutes before I get out the door.  I like to be prepared.  And being prepared usually means I take too much stuff!  I should have learned that lesson with last year’s excursion across the states.  But no…I do not think I have come full circle yet.  I am hoping to improve with this jaunt.  Just because it takes me longer to prepare for events does not necessarily make the event have a better outcome.  That I have learned.  And so it is with life.

Sometimes the simplest thing you do, that which takes the least amount of preparation, often has the best results.  When so much planning and focus and consternation is needed to accomplish that which is meant to be relaxing and restorative,  it can cause so much anxiety that it makes what you are doing not worth the effort.  I have found that to be true.  So…my goal, do less, take less, spend less time on the fussing, and just get up and go!  

When I travel alone I make all the decisions.  I set the start and end time, I choose the course, and if I get lost I just go with the flow.  When I travel with my spouse I must SET A TIME of departure and I certainly must have an estimation as to when we will arrive.  When I traveled solo last year I only traveled in the daylight.  I would map my course as to how many hours it would take and then allow myself about twice that amount of time to arrive at my destination.  I also only gave approximations as to what time I would be arriving at a certain destination.  And pretty much, it worked out.  I found that I got along very well with myself, regardless if I wanted to turn down a side road to investigate because it “looked interesting”, drive all the back roads, or just follow a new route when I became lost.  Becoming lost was sometimes fun.  Ultimately, I always knew where I was going and how to get there.  That’s all that mattered.  What mattered least was all the STUFF that I carted along behind me.  All the stuff that took me weeks to get ready. 

This trip, we are taking less, spending less time preparing, have a more direct schedule, and driving straight through to each destination.  I must be precise in when we leave and when we arrive because Dave is very time oriented and does not like to be late.  My philosophy is that if I just don’t set a time, then I am never late.  So you see, this year will be different.  But that’s okay.  I am learning and it will be exceptionally fun to have Dave by my side.    AND WE WON’T HAVE AS MUCH STUFF!  However, Dave did give me encouragement today when I mentioned taking a pan I want to bake in.  I thought he would think it a bad idea and discourage me from taking it.  After all, just one more thing to take.  But, to my surprise, he did not discourage me at all.  He suggested I might want to take it because it works so well for the purpose for which I need it.  And…he even told me how to pack it.  When I told him I thought he wouldn’t want me to add one more thing, he responded, “Well, you can get away with whatever  you can sneak in”.  Hmm…that was a great door opener for me.

We will depart on Saturday.  And who knows what might be hidden in the secret compartment below the trunk.  You never can tell.  I’ll just load it into the car quickly.  You see, what takes the longest to do is not necessarily the most important. And whatever I can get away with might be exactly what we need.

I actually have twelve minutes and 55 seconds left to write before the 45 minutes are up.  My blog is ALMOST finished.  Oops I still must write the poem.

A LITTLE SOMETHING GOES A LONG WAY

By Kathleen Martens

March 22, 2016

That which takes the most of your time

Is not always what makes life sublime.

Figure a way to get things done

That will help you have more fun.

Short and sweet, accomplish your goals

The rest of the time, be a free soul.

Don’t do as much, for pity sakes,

The less stress how short it takes.

You’ll find that less may be better

You may have time to write a letter,

Or call a friend and have a chat,

Or go out, to do this or that.

Just because something takes hours

Doesn’t mean it has much power.

A little something goes a long way

And gives you much more time to play.

7 Daily Steps to Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

To get there, though, make sure you…

PART 5: Check Yourself by God’s Word

Let’s be honest. We aren’t so good at evaluating ourselves. We will go to great lengths to excuse our behavior, our actions, and our sins. Who needs a defense attorney when we can pretty much find a reason for any bad thing we do? The prophet Jeremiah captures this very well:

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

If we’re ever going to truly trust in God and flee evil, we have to know exactly where we stand. We have to find an objective measure that tells us the truth. And that truth comes from God and His Word.

Of course, that doesn’t mean we’ll always like what we see or how we see it:

“My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke” (Proverbs 3:11)

That’s right. Sometimes it takes something bad happening or seeing ourselves in a bad light before we finally admit that we need to change. And the more we’re in the Bible, the more likely this is to happen.

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

When we have Scripture planted firmly in our hearts, God will often use that to deal with us.

My 45 minutes timer hasn’t gone off yet.  So far I am on track. 

GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU THIS DAY

P.S.  Okay, this is the end.  I am ready to publish and I went three minutes and thirty six seconds over my one hour.

Monday March 21 2016  GETTING READY

Does it seem that you are always getting ready for something?  Sometimes it seems that way to me.  I will admit that I am not the most organized person, and that character flaw at times, comes back to haunt.  And another thing I am figuring out, is that as age encroaches, my brain just doesn’t have the instant recall it used to.  That’s when I know it is time for INTENTIONAL THINKING.  As I prepare for our trip I consciously and purposely do each necessary step, making a mental note to remember what I am doing. Otherwise I find it necessary to go back and recheck what I have already done. 

The aging process is not without its challenges.  And when you figure that out, it makes it easier to prepare and plan according to the challenges which greet you.  One of the sad things that most do not realize about aging, is the fact that the older person does not want to admit to the challenges, for fear of seeming “less than” in the eyes of others.  In essence, we of advanced years, NEED TO COME OUT OF THE CLOSET!  It is time to take a closer look at ourselves, rediscover how to do certain tasks, and perhaps even admit that some things are no longer important enough to keep doing. 

I love to do what I call CREATIVE THINKING.  My purposeful creative thinking began 37 years ago after I gave birth to our premature son who required extensive round the clock care for weeks after his birth.  I had to set the alarm every two hours to wake myself up so I could feed him.  I especially enjoyed the night hours because our three year old daughter was asleep and was not vying for attention during the nursing time.  I remember sitting in the rocking chair with a dim light on, looking out into the night, savoring the joy that my son had survived a rocky start and I had the opportunity to be with him.  My days were always so full and busy.  We had so much going on in our lives at that time.  I learned to use those night feedings for what I called creative thinking.  I would plan my course of action for the next day and came up with wonderful ideas of how to manage my days and weeks.  My thoughts were peaceful and calm and much was accomplished during the wee hours of morning feedings.

I again have opportunity for creative thinking.  Each day at the gym I lay on a water massage bed for approximately 25 to 30 minutes.  The bed is noisy so I do not listen to a book or sermon during that time.  My mind is still and thoughtful and relaxed.  I soon found that it was a perfect time to think creatively.  During that time of “quiet” it seems that resourceful and inventive ideas flood my thoughts.  Perhaps it is because I am intentionally preparing myself to receive those ideas, and then expound and develop them to fruition.   As I think about what must be done, visual images of ways to be more efficient flood my mind.  It is like a puzzle being pieced together on a screen though my eyes are closed, and when I come home and look at the reality of the situation, it all comes together just as I had visualized it. 

It is becoming more and more awkward to do certain tasks with my hands and during these quiet moments of contemplation on the massage table I have experienced many inventive ideas of how to compensate for the movements my hands no longer make.  I don’t grieve or complain, I just allow my mind to be open to what God wants to show me and then follow through. 

But back to the main topic.  Realize that aging comes with its own challenges.  Figure out ways to compensate for those challenges rather than complain about them.  Rather than gripe or become irritated with yourself (for something that you cannot help), turn your situation into a THANK YOU TO GOD FOR WHAT YOU CAN DO!  Purposely and intentionally THINK (out loud if necessary) to allow your brain time to catalog and remember what you are doing, where you are putting something, or what must be accomplished next.  Do not be afraid to accept help.  That is something that I had difficulty coming to grips with.  It is now  easier for me to accept my husband’s help than it used to be.  However, he always asks me if I want him to help me, and he waits for my answer.  There is nothing worse for me than having someone else jump in and do what I am working so hard to accomplish on my own.  I challenge myself to do as much I can do on my own.  The longer I can accomplish simple tasks with my lack of fine motor skills, the longer I maintain my independence of being able to accomplish it.  Yes, age has its challenges, but there are also victories.  And one of those victories is to just keep on going, accomplishing what you can, and knowing when to ask for help.

And as for “getting ready”, regardless what you are getting ready for, do it purposely, using INTENTIONAL THINKING as your friend.  You will be surprised how much you remember when you are not flustered and hurried.  Old age may come with its own challenges, but it also comes with its own pleasures.  It is the pleasures I choose to focus on.

WHATEVER THE CHALLENGE

By Kathleen Martens

March 21, 2016

The clock is ticking

Years do not relent.

And your time of life

Now mostly spent.

Challenges come

And challenges go.

And in old age

It seems they grow.

Accept with grace

What time takes away.

Learn new ways

Of pleasurable days.

Allow contentment

To arise from within.

Do not resist,

And you’ll always win.

Whatever the challenge,

Whatever the chore,

God supplies strength

When you need more.

Remember to say thanks

For what you CAN DO.

Don’t grieve your loss,

God will see you through.

It’s not what happens

That really counts.

But how you take it

Is how it amounts.

Be your best friend

That you’ll ever find.

Be compassionate to self

As well as kind.

Thank You Lord for all the blessings you bring into my life each day.

Thank You for wonderful memories of holding my newborn son in my arms.

Thank You for hot water.  Actually, I thank You for all the water you provide in my life.

Thank you Lord for today’s sunshine.

 Below, find part 4 of:

7 Daily Steps to Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

Part 4:  Put God First in Your Life

It’s easiest to put ourselves first. When something good happens, we want to congratulate ourselves with a reward. When something bad happens, we want to console ourselves or find someone to blame. In other words, we often have a “me-centric” starting place.

And when it comes to money, the struggle is even harder. But Solomon, who had quite a bit of wealth himself, knew that his money didn’t belong to him:

“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:9–10)

If we can trust God with the first of our wealth, we’re truly showing how much we depend on Him. Handing over the first part of our paycheck takes a huge amount of faith, after all. But doing so means being God-centric.

To get there, though, make sure you…

GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU THIS DAY.

Sunday Sabbath March 20 2016  SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Depending upon who you talk to, spring is either officially here, or it will be here tomorrow.  There is always a debate as to what date is official.  So I vote for today.  Today it is sunny with a high of 43 degrees.  Usually 43 degrees feels quite nice, but today, unless you are in the sunshine it feels quite biting.  If you live in cold country you’ll know what “biting” means.  As far as I am concerned…SPRING HAS SPRUNG.  

And today, as is every Sunday, is my special SUNDAY SABBATH!  It is also the last Sunday Sabbath before Easter, referred to as Palm Sunday.  This is a sacred Sunday and it is commemorated by those who believe in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.  It always falls on the last Sunday before Easter.  It is a sacred holiday which Christians celebrate so as to remember when Jesus entered into Jerusalem riding on a donkey.  He was welcomed joyfully and the crowd spread out palm branches in His path.  Little did they realize that by week’s end, this same Jesus would lie in a tomb following His crucifixion.

This entire week is considered a Holy Week.  Thursday is Maundy Thursday which is in remembrance of the last supper before Jesus was crucified.

Good Friday commemorates the day that Jesus was crucified upon the cross to die as a sacrifice  for man’s sins.  What evil meant for harm, God meant for good.  Christ’s death had to take place in order to fulfill the plan of God.  God’s plan was to offer eternal life to those who would follow His teachings.

And then we come to Easter Sunday.  Easter is the day that changed the course of the world.  No greater miracle and no greater news could ever be told, than that of the Resurrection of Christ.  There is irrefutable evidence of his resurrection in the annals of history.  He was a fulfillment of the ancient prophecies.  He even told his disciples of His death before it came to pass, promising that He would again arise in three days.  Even the calendar we use today depicts the time when Christ was born.  B.C. is used as the label of time before the birth of Christ and A.D. depicts the time after His birth.  “The term anno Domini is Medieval Latin, which means the year of the Lord but it is often translated as in the year of our Lord.”

Reference to the last sentence above in quotes taken from the webpage below:

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

Easter is the most Holy Day of all days for the Christian believer.  It is the day that marks the surety of living with God in heaven for eternity, through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.  God offered a way of salvation when with faith you believe, confess your sins, accept Jesus as your personal Savior, and “Love your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”  AND THUS WE CELEBRATE EASTER, A DAY ABOVE ALL DAYS.  And oh…there is so much more when you discover the unconditional love that God pours over you.

JESUS CAME WILLINGLY

By Kathleen Martens

March 20, 2016

God in His mercy

Extended His hand

So that by His side

Someday you’ll stand.

Part of Himself,

He sacrificed His Son,

That man’s salvation

Would be won.

Jesus came willingly

To a world strangled by sin,

To open heaven’s gate

So man could come in.

He overcame death

That caused great pain.

Gave His life.

Yours to gain.

And that is what this week is all about. 

Jesus, thank You for a love so great that You gave Your life for mine.

Jesus, thank You that You gave me life that I would know You.

Thank You Lord for this special day, this special week, to commemorate your love sacrifice for me.

7 Daily Steps to Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

www.biblestudytools.com

Part 3:

We handed the keys of our lives to Him, and we know that He’s able to lead us. But in order for that to work, we have to…

3. Run from Evil

So much in this world can clutter up our relationship with God. John, the writer of the fourth gospel, describes them as the desires of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride in our lives (1 John 2:16). In other words, our blessings can easily become our stumbling blocks when we think of them as what we deserve or what we need to be happy.

Instead, life works best when we remember the true source of our blessings—God—and focus on the things that please Him:

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.” (Proverbs 3:7)

Sometimes, the only way to live the life God wants us to live is by separating ourselves from the bad influences that keep dragging us down. That works the best when we start pursuing something else in their place:

“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

Is that easy? Not at all. Fleeing from the evil desires that pull at us means spending a lot of time crying out to God and leaning on Him. But our Creator promises to honor our commitment to Him when we shun evil:

“This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:8)

When we pursue Him, we find life—abundant life. Running from evil and pursuing God doesn’t come naturally to most of us. Instead, it means we have to make a serious change:

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS  YOU!

Saturday March 19 2016  I LEARNED SOMETHING TODAY!

WOW!  I learned some valuable information today.  Dave and I attended a class on editing and publishing for writers.  After listening to some of the readings that were read for critiquing I had my eyes opened to two distinct truths.  If writing is any indication as to how a person thinks then the first truth is the fact that I do not think like the younger generation.  The second, more obvious truth being that that my writing skills need honing.  There were also several other insights I received about my own writing endeavors.

Fiction is not my genre.  Today was primarily about writing fiction, planning the story, characterization, timelines, and that sort of thing.  The kind of writing I do is written from the heart.  It is about true life, past, present, and looking toward the future.  It is about what has happened to me and those I know.  It is simply about how I think and feel and respond to life.  There is more vulnerability involved because I am blatantly exposing my feelings, my thoughts, my hopes and dreams.  I share my shortcomings and my triumphs.  And each day I become one day older, one step farther away from the younger generation, and the gap of the way we think becomes wider and wider.  Actually that should not have caught me by surprise because of the children’s books I read.  I shake my head in astonishment sometimes when I discover what literature (if you can call it that) is being fed to our youth.  So maybe I need to acquire more than just “modern clothes” as my grandson suggested.  Perhaps I need to get a new modern mind.  Oh Lord, I hope not!

Valuable information was taught to me today.  For that I am very appreciative.  I met some wonderful women to network with who also have a love for writing and telling their story.  I met some wonderful young women whose minds are so creative and filled with fantasy that they fill pages with characters who live in an alternate world.  Would I go back again, yes!  The information was extremely helpful.  Would I change the way I write?  I would answer “Yes” and “No”.  There are certainly lessons from today that I will take with me.  I will hopefully be more concise in what I write.  I will be more focused on why I am writing it.  I will write to and for the audience I hope to attract.  But the one aspect I will continue to do? I will continue to write from my heart.

On the way home from the editing class Dave and I stopped at Olbrich Botanical Gardens for their pre-spring flower show.  We almost missed the show as tomorrow is the final day.  Olbrich’s displays are always unique, colorful, and artistically presented.  This year was no exception.  Having left my phone at home, I borrowed Dave’s cell phone and took several pictures (about 45).  Dave, being about a foot taller than me had a totally different perspective from my closer to the ground view.  He pointed out several different arrangements for me to photograph because he thought I might miss some of the things he could see that I could not.  And he was right.  One such perception was a group of white tulips that had bloomed wide open and exposed their centers.  I could not see them without a bit of effort.  But I managed a few peeks when he pointed out their exquisiteness which was revealed due to the fading petals.  They were past their prime.  Their hours were numbered.  Even in this end state there was still so much beauty being exposed from deep within.

I turned to Dave at that moment and shared my thoughts.  It reminded me of the generation that is passing away.  Even as people age, and sometimes due to aging, the most beautiful inner self is finally exposed.  The world sometimes fails to recognize the attractiveness because the packaging is no longer youthful, vibrant or strong.  Or perhaps they can’t see its prettiness because they fail to realize, that in order to do so, their own perspective might need changing.  When one focuses on those who are beyond their blooming season, one might grasp that deep in the core of the aged, is a loveliness and splendor that can only be exposed when someone is willing to stretch a little higher in order to see what they are missing.  When they do so they may recognize the legacy of strength and wisdom which still lives within the older soul.  Out of all the flowers I saw today, somehow the inside of the tulip was the most exquisite memory I walked away with. 

BUT IT MAKES A LOVELY SOUL

By Kathleen Martens

March 19, 2016

To bare one’s heart

Not for the faint.

Our dream façade

Is what we paint.

Who we are

Do we show?

Does anyone else

Really know?

There comes a time

When petals fall,

The heart beckons

Truth to call.

The aged fade,

No longer blooms,

Society’s demands

No longer a tomb.

Now able to be

Who you are.

Finally free

To reach the stars.

Confines are gone,

The heart can smile.

What’s deep inside

No longer guiles.

Deep within

Our heart again flowers,

Energy to bloom

With new power.

A gentle elegance

Softens edges

As life breaks down

All the hedges.

And satisfaction

Found at last,

Never again

To wear a mask.

To be old

Never a goal,

But it makes

A lovely soul.

Lord, thank You for the exquisite beauty of the inside of a flower.

Lord, thank You for the truths you have shown me this day.

Lord, thank You for every year You have granted me.

7 Daily Steps to Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

www.biblestudytools.com

2. Cry out to God

Surrendering to God begins with our lips and our thoughts. We need more than a commitment to depend on Him; we need to cry out to Him to show that dependence.

“in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6)

When we pray, we admit that His ways are higher than ours. We show that we’re leaving our troubles and burdens and dreams in His capable hands. In fact, the Bible promises that when we reach out to Him in prayer, He hears us:

“Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. ” (Psalm 55:17)

We handed the keys of our lives to Him, and we know that He’s able to lead us. But in order for that to work, we have to…

(part three tomorrow)

Good night and God bless you!