Visions of Poetry

Monday October 12 2015  THEIR DESTINY AWAITS!

CALENDAR WISDOM

OCTOBER 12, 2015

ONCE TO EVERY MAN AND NATION

COMES THE MOMENT TO DECIDE,

IN THE STRIFE OF TRUTH WITH FALSEHOOD

FOR THE GOOD OR EVIL SIDE.

This was a day we needed.  No one here, no appointments, no shows to see, no time schedule to follow.  And I woke up at 5:50 a.m. and that was good.  We were in bed last night by 9:30 p.m.  That was like a little bit of bliss for me.  I enjoy going to bed early so I do not miss morning.  Morning is truly one of my favorite times of the day.  I listened to a sermon from Calvary Chapel Modesto as Dave slept next to me.  Such a peaceful, relaxing time.  These are the moments of retirement that I love.

We prepared for the day, ate breakfast, Dave took off for the gym and I took off on a hike around the grounds where we are residing at the present.  It is very hilly.  I have walked every street, every hill, up and down, and sometimes backward.  Well, today I decided that I would climb “THE HILL”.  As you drive onto the premises of this resort you are at the top of the hill with an astounding view.  It is a long way down and I found out later, an even longer way up.  I walked the hills around the cottages and then the challenge of “THE HILL”, beckoned me.  I took off not knowing if I could really master it in one fell swoop.  I just kept walking and I made it to the top.  It was actually not as difficult as I thought it would be.  My legs had already gone through the conditioning of walking the shorter hills which had toughened up the old thigh muscles a bit.  I walked up, took a picture of the flag on top (sort of like my glory shot) and walked back down.  Then I turned right around and did it again.  I think the second time might have been a bit slower but not much.  I returned to the cottage by going the long way and walking some more of the hilly streets and by the time I arrived back I was pure perspiration.  I think it was actually the best heart healthy workout I have ever done.  At least I didn’t pass out! 

I must admit, it was not quite the same as climbing the rock face that I climbed in Washington State but it was just as exerting if not more so.  It wasn’t quite as dangerous though.  Tomorrow I hope to do it three times in succession.

Watermelon is my favorite melon.  I am always a bit sad when the season is over and there are no more.  When we arrived in Branson over a week ago there were still some available.  I bought one.  It was delicious.  It is almost gone now so Dave and I went to the store in hopes of finding another one.  It was not the Walmart Supercenter where we had purchased the first one.  We went to a closer store which was the Country Market (right in the heart of the city) and they did have a few left.  So I decided to buy a couple.  When I checked out I realized that one was $12 and the other was $13.  So I did not buy them.  I felt that was too much to pay for watermelons.  I went to the manager and asked why they were so costly, as I thought that was an exorbitant price.  It was because they were the last of the season.  We left the store.

I suggested we go back to the Walmart Supercenter which was quite a distance, and since we weren’t concerned about time that is what we did.  There in the same little bin where I picked out my last one were some beautiful, end of the season watermelon for $5.48 each.  We bought two.  One for me to eat and one to take to my aunt Esther in a few days.  They are very healthy looking watermelon and now have seats of honor on our little red stools, in our little red cottage.  

MY LITTLE GREEN WATERMELONS

By Kathleen Martens

October 12, 2015

In the little red house

On the little red stools

Sit my little green watermelons

That soon will be cool.

The end of the season

More priceless than gold.

At least at one store

That’s what I was told.

So I looked elsewhere

Until I heard two cry,

“Take me”, they clamored

“Before I die”.

“I must fulfill my purpose

To give life to the living.

Unto the very last bite

I promise to be giving.”

So I picked up those two

With a glad heart,

And promptly put them

Into my cart.

And now they are here.

Their destiny awaits

To fulfill my pleasure

And my hunger sate.

Thank You God for watermelon!

In a few days we will be going to Arkansas.  My aunt does not have Wi-Fi. I plan to go to the library and use their Wi-Fi to publish.  The library is not open on the weekends so I may not have blogs up over the weekend.  I will if I can.  Just thought my sister might want to know as she is concerned when she doesn’t hear from me as I travel.  Thanks Sister.  It is nice to know that someone is looking out for our well being.

Before I must write a P.S., I’ll just tell you one thing we did accomplish today.  We had the oil changed in my little Silver Fox.  I’m still under warranty and my Kia Dealership in Madison Wisconsin will reimburse me for oil changes away from home.  They reimbursed me for all the oil changes I had when I traveled earlier this year.  We have a great warranty with them.  (This note is actually for my information should I need to remember later).  I am not currently able to both blog and write in my journal as I travel, so must get my IMPORTANT facts in so I can remember them.  Now wasn’t it important that I talk about watermelons?  No comments please!!

Good night and God bless you and keep you safe.

Sunday Sabbath October 11 2015  GOODBYES ARE NOT FOREVER

CALENDAR WISDOM FOR OCTOBER 11, 2015

TAKE THE SAVIOR’S LOVING HAND

AND DO NOT TRY TO UNDERSTAND,

JUST LET HIM LEAD YOU WHERE HE WILL,

THROUGH PASTURES GREEN,

BY WATERS STILL.

Why is it that you plan and dream and prepare and imagine the far off time when you will be together with those you love, and when it finally becomes a reality, the days just fly by and are over?  And that was today. 

We have looked so forward to being with our family as a complete unit and then it goes so quickly and nothing you do can stop the moments from speeding by.  Living in the moment is all that is available to us.  So soon the moments flee and we must say goodbye.  Our son and his family live close by us and so we visit throughout the year.  Our daughter and her family live about 1,244 miles away.  We are fortunate to see each other once a year.  And it is never easy when we say goodbye.  Today was doubly hard.  Our son and his family left very early and took the boys out to the car sleeping and didn’t wake us up before they left as they wanted the boys to not be disturbed.  It worked.  They slept until about 10:00 a.m.  Even though I will see them again soon it was a bit sad to not be able to say goodbye after such an incredible week with them.  I got over it quickly.

Rebecca and Neil on the other hand were a different story.  They came by shortly after 9:00 this morning on their way out.  Our goodbyes were long and drawn out because no one wanted to part.  It will be quite a long time before we are together again.  We enjoy our time together (perhaps because distance makes the heart grow fonder?) but it never seems to be enough time.  I just received a message on the phone from Rebecca that says it so beautifully.  “…This was such a lovely week and still seems like we weren’t able to talk enough.  We have to see you soon.  We love you so much xoxo…”  How could anything sweeter be said?  What she doesn’t realize is that I too feel as if I were not able to talk enough.  But for me that’s an everyday occurrence.  I always have many more words in me than I have someone available to listen.  Oh well, God always hears when I talk to Him.

GOODBYES ARE NOT FOREVER

By Kathleen Martens

October 11, 2015

Our tears are dry, our hearts are full

Memories linger in sweet refrain.

So seldom are we all together,

This a dose of medicine for all bane.

The sweetness of each moment captured

To be remembered in our sated heart.

So full are we of loving each other

Though physically separated, we are not apart.

All the words and sweet affections

Last long after the week is done.

A bit of my children live in my veins

Even when they are grown and gone.

Thank you Rebecca for your kind words.  We too enjoyed the evening with you and hubby.  It was a quiet interlude following such a busily packed, rambunctious week.  Every day was special!

I send my thanks to my blog readers who may be following the daily publications about my family escapades.  I write them down so that I will be able to look back and be reminded of what happened, with whom, and when and where.  I am actually looking forward to having time to go back and read my trip blog.  So much happened so quickly that I purposely placed each day on the shelf when it was over so I could go on to the next adventure.  I want to go back and remember a little bit better.  Time has a way of distorting our memory.  I want to write while everything is fresh in my mind so I can capture the true feelings of each experience.  Thanks for sharing these moments with me.

Good night and God bless you one and all.