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Tuesday May 26 2015 DAY 79 MOVIE OVERLOAD!
Dear Family and Friends:
Today I write a letter to everyone. First, I want to thank those of you who have been following my blog and for all the notes and messages received. Thanks for your encouragement. I haven’t been able to return messages for each one but I love receiving them. I am getting caught up now that I am finished with the class last week. That was such an amazing week.
The entire week last week was dedicated to learning about healing in the Biblical since. We had opportunity to be prayed for and to pray for others. I shared in a blog last week some of the truths I learned from scripture. I am not going to repeat it here because I want to listen to the download I bought last week of the sessions and do some deeper study before I share it and possibly share it incorrectly. I was so busy every moment of the day that by the time I came home in the evening to my Cousin’s home I could barely write my blog. I actually fell asleep a few times doing it and almost fell off my chair. Not a good feeling!
I want to share from my heart what this trip has meant to me. I have not clue as to what I am going to say so let me dig a little and stir up some memories. First I want to say thanks again to my husband for standing behind me in this endeavor, holding the fort at home (actually washing each toilet at least once a week) while I am gone, and giving me loving and encouraging words each day on the phone. I realize what I miss so much is his touch. That has never been one of my love languages but I realize now how much I miss it when it is not experienced everyday. Just a hug, a squeeze on the shoulder, the touch of a hand, all say so much. Touch those close to you. Give a hug to your spouse and children and GRANDCHILDREN. They may not think they need it but they probably really do. I love to give hugs and one day while at church I hugged a woman that I felt God was directing me to give a hug to each week. After several months I realized she always came up to me anticipating that hug. One Sunday she whispered in my ear, “I love your hugs. This is the only hug I receive all week and the only touch from another person.” She was widowed the previous year and lived alone. You never know how much a hug might mean to someone else.
One important thing I have practiced more, is listening. I always have so much to say that listening has sometimes been put on the back shelf. I want to say to any that I may have every offended in the past that I am truly sorry. I now realize that everyone has lots to say if they just have someone interested enough to listen. It is becoming more apparent to me that people need to be heard. People are starving to be heard. Do I have to agree with them? No. Do I need to tell them I disagree with them? No. All I need to do is listen. I am getting better at it and very educated at the same time (quite interesting educations). Do I still talk too much? PROBABLY! No… the answer is yes, but I have come along ways.
Another thing I have learned by listening to people and observing their relationships with one another is, that I need to step back and listen to my own voice as well. How do I sound when answering another person? What are my voice inflections saying to the other person? Are some of the things I speak even necessary? Do I sound defensive? If I disagree with something said do I need to argue until the other person agrees with my perspective? I ask myself these questions and wonder if some of the situations I see could be diffused if answered or spoken in a different tone of voice. I can remember times when it was pointed out to me that I came across differently than I thought I was coming across. It is up to us to be certain we say what we say in a voice and tone that depicts what we purpose to get across. I’ll have to practice when I get home to see if I am learning what I’m telling you about. I want to stop and listen to the words in my head before they become sounds in another’s ears. Words are so powerful. How they are spoken, what words are used, and how they are presented. Maybe we should STOP, LOOK, AND LISTEN…and then speak. I ask God that He will help me do that.
Even though my every day on the road has been full, rewarding, and wonderful in its own way I realize more and more each day how important are the friends that await me at home. Friends are precious and priceless. I think of individual friends and wish I could just call or connect with them. While at the homes of those I am visiting I believe it is important for me to give them my attention without a phone in hand or at ear. So I have chosen to leave the phone in my room and check messages occasionally to see if I have any pressing information that needs addressing. I have tried to return all calls within a few days. Honestly, I very rarely have a few moments to myself. I have been able to connect with my family on occasion by calling before I get out of bed in the mornings. Even when I awaken early or as late at 7:00 I can still call Wisconsin and find everyone up and at their day. Nights are a little more difficult because it is so late in Wisconsin before my day ends here. So I say to you in this letter a great big H E L L O! I do miss all of you and look forward to seeing you again but I don’t want to rush it. Even though I am in my 11th week of being on the road I am looking forward to every day that lies ahead, enjoying each one to the fullest when it comes.
This journey has given me an even greater appreciation for living in the moment. It is truly in the moment that I live. However, this week I have had a few planning sessions that have come up and must be attended to. Until I get the next segment planned I will have no place to go. This week is a gift from God to me. I have a home that has offered me shelter until I am ready to leave. Shelter AND delicious food! Hmm…maybe I should just stay the summer…they have great air conditioning too! But, I guess not. God still has assignments for me so I must get on the road again. I never know what my assignments are, when they will come, or what they are. When it is time, then I know. So I guess I’ll keep on keeping on.
Today I spent 4 hours at Triple A in Redding, California with a travel agent planning my next segment after I leave Daneece and Joyce. After hours of work, the travel agent’s computer would not accept all that she had input and she had to do it all over. I left and will pick up the plans tomorrow. My best recollection tells me that I will be staying at another 13 or 14 locations, some up to one week long, others as short as one nighters. I have four more homes to stay in and the rest will be Airbnb.com while I am on the road. If I remember correctly I think I wrote about Airbnb early in my blogging. For those of you who joined the blog later I’ll explain a little here. Airbnb stands for “online (through the air) bed and bath” accommodations in private homes. People are vetted (background checked) and join a network to advertise their home for rent. Usually it is just a bedroom and bath. And sometimes the bath is shared with the family. I stayed at two in Texas and had a feeling of safety as a lone woman coming into a neighborhood instead of going to a hotel parking lot and having to carry my belongings in by myself. As an Airbnb customer each traveler must also be vetted with a background check. One complaint about the home or the customer and the persons are not longer allowed to be in the system. So…everyone is on their best behavior. The prices go from $10 to hundreds of dollars per night. They are not in every town but I have been able to choose enough that I think I will be able to make it all across Canada by using only Airbnb. I do have a few places I will be with friends and family but other than that I will use Airbnb. I’ll tell you more about them as I journey toward home.
Speaking of “toward home” I have felt since the first day I left that my journey was always headed toward home, not away from home. I have always been progressing, not going away from, but going toward. And I am still progressing toward…and home is my ultimate destination. Home and a husband retiring on July 4th, and friends, and a cluttered house, two weddings to finish, one newborn session to finish and one senior portrait session to finish. Going toward my church body, and what is left of summer, and my husband, my son, my daughter-in-law and my two loves of my life, Zach and Xander, and my gardens, and my CSA box, and making more soups, filling my freezer, cleaning out 42 years of collections, redoing the kitchen, having surgery AND…QUIET!!! Oh yes, and retirement! As my friend Bill says: “NOT RETIRE–BUT REFIRE!”
Yes, I said QUIET! Pure unadulterated, soundless quiet. Just me and the Lord. NO TELEVISION!!! Hours and hours of quiet. And then I will go outside, sit in my chair and listen to the birds. I can hear the birds now you know. Before my ears were healed in October 2012 I had not heard birds for many years. The first time I heard the bird song I stood under the trees and cried. And I have been hearing them all across the country. Some of their sounds I have never heard before. Somehow, bird songs are not noise. To me they are like jewels tinkling in the air. And sometimes, I still stand under the trees and cry.
Love to all of you,
Kathleen
(Wanda to some)
Thursday May 21 2015 DAY 74 BONUS HOURS!
How awesome that the class schedule was not what I thought it was. Actually we were dismissed at 3:00 p.m. today and I do not have to report back until 6:55. The prayer room will be set up and every attendee will be prayed for individually. I am praying that my hands will be healed and my breast lumps will disappear.
Jessica, who I pick up and drop off each day came to the conference this morning. After she arrived in the packed room looking for me so she could sit next to me she realized how blurry everything was. She forgot to put her contacts in and did not have her glasses with her. She asked herself how could she do that. She felt the Lord impress upon her heart that it was because He was going to heal her vision today. Five years ago someone came to her church and prophesied over her (my paraphrase) saying that the Lord would one day heal her vision and she would see signs, wonders and miracles. That memory was brought to her recall and she again felt God impressing His word into her heart telling her that this was not only a physical restoration of her sight but would be restoration of her spiritual sight as to who He was and how He perceives her. There was more but I do not remember and do not want to misquote. During the first half hour worship session (remember, they are out of this world) her vision cleared and she can now see both near and far without needing glasses. Her eyes even looked different. Perhaps because I am used to seeing her with contacts or glasses. Needless to say, that was amazing to her and those around her. There have been many testimonies of healing taking place. I am ready to have a testimony. I could even go for my eyes being healed, especially the dryness! I’ll add that to my list. God is the God of miracles and what He starts, He completes.
The speakers today were awesome. All the speakers have been awesome but today clinched it for me, confirming that I need to hear it all again and so I decided I will buy the download of this week’s speakers. I just hope I will know how to upload (or download?) it onto my computer. I would much rather have CD’s so I could listen in the car.
So much is spoken by the speakers at each session that it makes it difficult to take accurate and thorough notes. Though I try I am certain a lot gets left out or incorrectly written. I’ll share a couple of highlights of today. A beautiful statement that stood out is “Miracles are an extension of worship. The proper response to miracles is PRAISE. When someone gets healed it is a song from the Lord. It draws people into praise”. I love “it is a song from the Lord”. The song I heard from the Lord when my ears were healed was the song that went into my heart when I first heard birds again. I hadn’t heard birds for many years except an occasional crow. I have a poem I wrote about that. When I find it I will print it in the blog. I think it is in the trunk of my car in a place that is difficult to get to. If I have time I’ll do it today. Our praise opens the heavens to increase more healing power. This class teaches us that our assignment is to release worship across the nations. “Our role is not to try to do God’s job for Him. Our job is simply to come to Him, recognize who He is, and to get out of the way. We are to take our eyes off the problem and put our eyes on the One who IS THE SOLUTION. Our worship is in intimate fellowship, not on the problem or illness at hand. Healing is not what God has to do, but healing is what He IS. WHEN HE IS PRESENT, SO IS HIS HEALING PRESENT.”
There is so much more but these sentences were interesting to me and thought you might enjoy seeing what we are learning. It is a very hands-on intense teaching. Some of the classes are so packed with information that it would not be possible to share just bits and snippits because it all builds on each sentence and explanation. That is why I will buy the download. So many wonderful scriptures to back up what is being taught. One of my favorite sentences that was in this last session today was: “FAITH IS NOT IGNORANT OF REALITY. IT JUST DEFIES IT!” (My exclamation point!) I have lots to study when I arrive home. I took careful notes and when I have the access to the messages again I should be able to comprehend and understand even more. I feel so honored to be able to attend these sessions. I would love to come back again with Dave. I highly recommend a trip to Bethel Redding for the Healing Classes.
Well, I think this will be my blog today. Tomorrow is an earlier day and a long one. Perhaps I’ll get to bed before 1:30 a.m. like last night.
I must get ready to leave for my healing time.
This week has passed all too quickly!!!
May 8, 2015 DAY 62 SAN FRANCISCO FOR A PURPOSE
I imagine there are hundreds of people who flock into San Francisco daily just for the delight of visiting and exploring all the city has to offer. Well, today Jeanette and I took BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) under the bay to visit with a different purpose. As a child I was fortunate enough to live in the San Francisco Bay area (Rodeo) an my mother made certain that we, as children, were exposed to as much opportunity and variety as possible on her limited budget. Her best friend Merle lived in the apartment below us (mother of my best and closest friend Albert) and owned a station wagon! What a luxury. In 1954 we had the grand experience of becoming a car owner of a new 1954 Chevrolet. But it wasn’t a STATION WAGON! Merel’s three kids and mama’s two youngest (which included me, as my older sisters wouldn’t be caught dead doing things with their younger siblings) would go on an adventure to San Francisco. We all sat in the back of the expansive wagon and played imaginary piano keyboards on the wheel hubs that stuck up through the floor. We waved at all the truck drivers and felt triumphant when they would honk their loud truck horns at us. We would be mesmerized as we traveled close to the edge of the bay bridge and peered out across the bay at Alcatraz. Many of the museums, exploratoreums and aquariums were free at that time. We always packed a picnic because I don’t even know if fast food places existed back then. If they did we didn’t have the money to go. We would also go to the Palace of Fine Arts which was like a fairy tail wonderland to me. High columns of magical doors and lakes that reflected the clouds skuttling by on a clear day. We often lived at the zoo for an entire and never tired of our adventures to San Francisco.
And now, back to San Francisco. I think over the years I have been to every garden, museum, tourist attraction, the different “towns” like China towns and eaten some delicious meals. Most of the meals were after I was grown, not as a kid. But today, San Francisco was for a different purpose. Jeanette and I were visiting a very special friend. Her name Kay and I have know her since we were teenagers. I saw her parents one evening in the basement of the J.C. Penney’s department store in San Leandro California and was bold enough (imagine that) to go up and and introduce myself (now remember I was a teenager) and to tell them how much I loved going to hear their daughter sing. They were always with her at concerts when she performed with two other teens. Their singing was so beautiful and had the unique harmonizing capability that caused the voices to sound like velvet. Kay’s voice still sounds like velvet. Her mom and dad were so impressed that I would come up to them and speak with them that they asked where I attended church. They showed up the next week and attended there after because they wanted their daughter to know me. Well, Kay and I hit is off from the beginning. She was a couple years younger but it seems I always attracted the younger crowds because I willing to talk to everyone. Sounds like I am patting myself on the back but I don’t mean for it to sound that way. It’s just the facts and I never thought anything about it.
This entire family had a great influence on my life in future years. They gave me a glimpse of what it was like to live in a beautiful home. At one time I actually ended up living with them before I married so I could save for the wedding.
Well, today Jeanette and I were privileged to once again meet up with Kay. We took the BART over and walked to a local cafe where Kay had taken a taxi to arrive. We sat in the middle of a very old San Francisco building, in a quaint cafe that served the most fattening, greasy, butter soaked San Francisco Sour Dough French bread, grilled to perfection! It was heavenly. It is a good thing I couldn’t find any to buy and bring back with me. That grilled sandwich was such a delicious fancy. I just watched (almost in horror) as I saw the renditions of foods that came from that kitchen and covertly watch as those around me actually ate the entire plateful of food. It was an amazing and interesting experience.
We three talked and talked and remembered and laughed and cried and just enjoyed the presence of friendship that only the old can really enjoy. I am smiling just sitting here writing and thinking of those precious moments. I so lived in the moment of those moments and soaked up everything I could. I told Kay I wished she would would sing me a song. Never in a million years did I think she would sing to me at the center table of a public restaurant, but she surprised me by singing the famous song about “San Francisco”. I think the title is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”. She sang the entire song in her beautiful alto/tenor voice. Her voice was a bit older and not as practiced as it was years ago when she sang on stage but it was so beautiful and throaty and heart searing, especially with the words she sang. Then we sang together (quite low) but it sounded so good together. All three of sang. I think I was the only one that knew all the words to the song that started out with these words…”Oh what a wonderful, wonderful day. Day I will never forget”… When Kay sang her solo tears were streaming down my face.
So soon it was time to leave. Kay said she needed to use the Lady’s room and asked if I would take her. The aisles were very narrow and we had to maneuver through a narrow galley kitchen. I asked her to put her hands on the back of my waste as I walked slowly and guided her to the Lady’s room. Kay has been blind since birth but never once has it caused a blindness in our friendship. I truly believe our friendship was a divine appointment of God. It is not just everyone who was privileged to have a friendship such as ours. That night I met her parents in the basement of J.C. Penney’s fabric department was meant to be. I am a better person for having Kay as my friend. As we left the restaurant a man came us to us and told us how beautiful our singing was. He said he kept looking around to find the source of the radio or player but couldn’t find it and then realized it was coming from our table. He gave Kay high honor when saying he especially loved the way she sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”. And when I walked away from the cab that would carry Kay back to her apartment I felt like I was leaving a bit of my heart in San Francisco too.
I asked Kay what her wisdom would be. Here it is: “Make every minute count and cherish the friends and family that you have because you never know when your circumstances might change or when you might lose your friends and family.”
The Bart ride back under the bay to the east bay side was such an amazing ride. I have ridden BART many times when living in this area but it has been about 30 years. In the past 30 years the traffic and freeways have increased exponentially and it makes riding Bart that much more enjoyable. About halfway home I had the opportunity to speak with a young man traveling from San Francisco International Airport to a city close by where Jeanette lives. He was here on business from India. We had an enlightening conversation and I asked him for his wisdom. His name is Vikas. Here is his wisdom: “Give back to the word in some way. Help preserve the environment, help by giving food to those who need it and look around and see the many different ways you can help.” Thank you Vikas. If you read this blog please let me know by going to “contacts” and send me an email! I wish you the best on your travels here in the States. Thank you too for your conversation.
Well, I am hitting the road again tomorrow. The end of my respite is over. It has been a tremendous help to have a place where I could feel so comfortable and stay for a bit of an extended time. I need to regroup myself every few weeks. I thank Jeanette and Denny for this opportunity.
Lots more to say but I will use my wisdom and go to bed as early as possible as I must drive tomorrow. I have a feeling it is going to be a jam packed day! Seeing more family! My special nieces!
Good night 10:14 p.m.
April 28 2015 Day 52 Monterey and Big Sur “WOW!”
How can one day be the greatest and then the next day is the greatest too?. I must sound like a broken record. God is so good. I think each day is the greatest because “this is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it”! Everyday I live is a day of rejoicing. I wish everyone could feel life with the joy and intensity that I experience life. It is especially intense now that I am constantly seeing new sights and each one I see is so awesome and inspiring that they take my breath away. Today was not exception. I had planned to go to Santa Cruz but My cousin Bill’s wife Vicki spoke so highly of Seaside, Monterey, Big Sur and the ocean views that I had to do some investigating for myself. What made it easy to do was that cousin Bill took the day off of work to escort me to all these breathtaking views. I was so glad he was driving so I could gawk.
Not only did I have a chance to actually sight see instead of doing the driving, there were many pullouts that allowed us to stop and explore. We walked down trails, and up trails, and down hillsides of stairs and back up hillsides of stairs. We walked across bridges and out onto catwalks to take a better look at the sights below us. And having Bill with me meant that I had a built in photographer with me. So you may get to see more photos of me than usual on this day. All I have to do now is stay away so I can get the blog done.
I will make this blog short as I must get up early for another busy day tomorrow.
Bill drove me all around the ocean view points, we ate our lunch in the car and kept driving some more. We went across lots of mountains and through several state parks. Then we headed home and met Bill’s wife so we could go to the farmer’s market. An interesting farmers market. A lot of singers and entertainers performing for tip money. There were many things that were non food items but somehow fit into the theme of farmer’s market. There was hand made jewelry, jams, breads, lots of strawberries, kettle corn, purses, scarves and lots of personal items for sale.
After the farmer’s market we walked on the wharf overlooking where the cannery used to be in years long gone. It was a beautiful wharf but the time of day did not bode well for photos. I was shooting into the sun. I did come across a pelican that allowed me to get within two feet of him/her (want to be politically correct) without ruffling a feather. Up close and personal I don’t think I would want the pelican to nip me with its beak. There was a long curved nail-like claw protruding from the upper beak point. It looked wicked. The pelican was so stunning up close.
AND THE SONG IT SINGS
By Kathleen Martens
April 28 2015
The grandeur of the mountain is such a small thing
When compared to the ocean and the song it sings.
Waves crashing one by one on the sandy shore,
From whence they come there is always more.
Relentless and pounding; the heartbeat of the earth.
And only God knows the Ocean’s priceless worth.
It’s beauty alone unable to express in words
So the reason it’s voice must be heard.
Listen carefully so that you will hear,
The heartbeat of the earth while it is still near.
The above poem is my poem for the day. I wish you could have been with me and experienced the sounds of the “heartbeat”.
After walking the wharf we came back to the house and had a wonderful dinner of salad and chicken. Delicious! Tomorrow is another day and it is packed full again. I suppose I won’t get to slow down until I arrive at my long time friends, Jeanette and Denny’s on Thursday evening. Tomorrow is aquarium day and a Tour. We changed our days around.
Note to Lana: Be sure and refresh your screen on my blog when you want to see new post. I had several posts of my time with you. Let me know if you can access it.
Must close my tired eyes. I’ll proofread tomorrow. Smile!
P.S. I am going to post a photo of me looking out over the ocean. Bill is standing in a tunnel looking toward me with the ocean in the background. I asked Bill to take it just like that because I liked the view so much.
Prayer From a Friend
Early Thursday morning I was in my prayer room writing in my journal. I had just finished writing a poem when the phone rang. It was a new friend calling to give me encouragement for my recent news. He said he had a prayer for me and would like to pray for me. I never turn prayer down. He began to say a simple beautiful prayer to our Lord. My heart welled up with joy and laughter. I actually laughed out loud as he prayed for it just bubbled up from within. When he was finished I asked if I could read what I had just received from the Lord (for I believe all my poems are a gift received from God). Of course, how could he say no? I told my friend that the prayer he just prayed was the same as the poem I had just written. I read it to him. Afterwards he exuberantly expressed “Oh how wonderful to know that the Lord is just confirming how He has you wrapped in His arms”. And I agreed. Following is the poem:
Everlasting Treasure
Kathleen Martens
February 26, 2015
You, O Lord, are my song
That sings within my being.
Oh so sweet is Your voice
As a beauty that I’m seeing.
For your song is dance
And in Your presence alive.
Harmony flows from Your glory
And my spirit feels Your vibes.
A melody that fills my heart
And lasts all day long,
It fills me with beautiful words
Saying, to You I belong!
And I respond to Your rhythm
And gentleness of Your touch.
Though I deserve not Your grace,
To me You give so much.
Thank You Lord for filling me
With joy and peace without measure.
To carry Your song in my heart,
Is my everlasting treasure!
Visions of Poetry 