Showing posts with label Poetry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poetry. Show all posts
I have to smile at everyone
my smile just might be
the only one they see all day
their happiness depends on me
*
It seems the world is too pre-occupied to smile,
or even look you in the eye. In fact, most
act like I'm invisible.
So I just go around smiling at them
or saying hello,
especially little old ladies sitting on the bench
in front of Safeway
waiting for a ride to pick them and the groceries up.
They always smile back
and we both feel better
*
A poem from past days
*
If Jesus came to visit
He could help me clear my mind
and maybe He could look for all
the things I cannot find
because
my room's a mess! but then I guess He sees the INNER ME
and He could help me be the person
that I long to be
~
I think that maybe He would say
"I'll sweep the corners~~~~where's the broom?"
and then together we would push
out all the grey and gloom
and I would
BLOOM!
because today is spring
It's time to sing once more
and I can feel God's love and joy
as never quite before.
~
I suppose I should tell you although it's June 3rd, we have yet to see much warm sunny spring, let alone the summer we've been promised is coming. Rain, rain, rain, and more rain
The wettest May on record in our corner of Oregon. But at least it's only water, not OIL, like down south. They really need our prayers~~~~but I'm sure God already knows.
a bit of Sunday advice
As the sacrament tray was passing by, small son grabbed a whole bunch
and then the mother realized,
she'd forgotten to feed him lunch!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love it when I pick up a book and it opens to a page I've underlined in red on some past day.
Today it was THE STORY OF MY LIFE by Helen Keller. in a note sent to Oliver Wendell
Holmes she wrote this:
April 1891
Your beautiful words about spring have been making music in my heart
these bright April days. I love every word of "Spring has come"
I think you will be glad to hear that these poems have taught me to enjoy and love the beautiful springtime, even though I cannot see the fair, frail
blossoms which proclaim its approach,
or hear the joyous warbling of the home-coming birds.
But when I read "Spring has come"
LO
I AM NOT BLIND ANY LONGER
FOR I SEE WITH YOUR EYES AND
HEAR WITH YOUR EARS.
Sweet Mother Nature can have no secrets from me
when my poet is near.
Now, that kind of praise is music to a poet's ears. Occasionally I'll get a note from someone
who tells me what I have written is what they felt .When we were on our mission, I got the following poem back from Sister Donna Schaefer which made me float for days.
To Sister Fuller (in appreciation)
If I could write a poem like you
I would try
And the reason why
is because the words seem real
They feel quite alive
when you put them together the way you do
The words don't just lie there on the paper.
They fly.
They bounce.
They swirl
And before long they belong to me
I can recall a snatch
and catch anew the sensation,
the elation,
as they dance in my heart.
They aren't just words that rhyme~~
They're thoughts that climb
and prod the mind.
When I first received that poem, I saw only the praise, but now as I type I see a POEM. Her rhyming just cames in different places than mine, and the meter is different. All writers have their own style, and all love the feeling of creativity.
ONE MORE SPRING!
#
One more spring! the daffodils and buttercups to see
One more spring
to head into a lake
Just you and me, we'll take our fishing poles
a peanut butter sandwich and a drink
and
we can spend the day together
just sit back and think
about the snow we trudged in, bundled up
back then in November
Oh!
I'm glad for one more spring!
I need time to remember all my blessings
World, so clean and fresh now in the month of May
I settle back
and feel the sun
it's gentle warming ray falls out across the water
World!
You are too beautiful for me!
Thank you, God
for one more spring
that you've poured out on me
#
CHRISTMAS AGAIN!
Christmas is almost here! whether I'm ready or not! The stores are still open for the things I forgot
But I'm not going! It's snowing!
I'll be walking out side
to soak in the peacefulness, mouth opened wide
I will let the snow melt, Oh! it felt good to me
when I was a kid, that's how I want to be
*
When I open my gifts I hope I find a sled
and that night, after prayers, when I jump into bed
I'll remember who slick that snow felt on the hill
and I went down more times than my Dad
What a thrill to go sledding
I'm dreading that I must stay old
and go to my office and do what I'm told
*
but my mind will be tasting that hot cocoa, steaming
and I will be young!
deep in memories
dreaming
*
When I was a kid my Dad would take us all in the back of his pick-up to a special sledding place near-by, and what fun it was to sled even if you had to wait your turn. Now we live just below a hill, and when the kids come, they get taken up the hill in a truck or with the tractor, and can go right down to our house if the snow is just right.
*
We used to have a big supply of coats, in case some one came without one, mostly down that I had picked up at yard sales or the DI , but last week we gathered up most of them and took them to the PEOPLE TO PEOPLE store, where prices are low and if people don't have money, they are free. Lots of cold people around this year. We also took 2 large boxes of apples to the Salvation Army, they take food to poor people, she said many are out of money and food this year. In fact, I think we'll take the rest that we saved for us to donate also. I'd hate to be out of food. It's a hard time for folks, and we are greatly blessed! Besides, we don't need applesauce and I'm tired of canning anyway.
*
I don't go sledding any more, I'm the photographer and the cocoa maker. Just as fun.
*
Christmas isn't Christmas without people
don't you see?
It wouldn't really be much fun
with only you and me
because we need to have some children
who have Santa on their mind
and we need to see some old folks
who are smiling, feeling kind
who are remembering when they were young
a hundred years ago
Christmas isn't Christmas without people Don't you know
that we need Mary, by the manger
in the warm, sweet smelling hay
holding baby Jesus
on this blessed Christmas day
*
NOTICE
The tabernacle Choir Christmas broadcast will be on
Christmas Eve, Dec. 24th
on PBS
7:30 in Oregon time
so check your own area
This was on one day this past week, and it is without a doubt
THE BEST
SHOW
they have ever done.
I was amazed, and you will be too.
Bell ringing, singing, dancing, readings
DON'T MISS IT
*
MERRY CHRISTMAS
*
Someone cleaned the kitchen!
My best gift of the day
All the dishes have been washed
and dried and put away
I went to bed so tired
now I wake up
WHAT A TREAT!
All the cupboards cleaned and washed
and everything so neat!
A GIFT OF SELF!
I do not know who gave it
while I was in my bed
but thank you
thank you loved one
and blessings on your head
*
.....at Christmas Christ comes to us like a little child, small and helpless,
so much in need of all that love can give. Are we ready to recieve Him?
Before the birth of Jesus His parents asked for a simple dwelling place,
but there was none. If Mary and Joseph were looking for a home
for Jesus, would they choose your house and all it holds?
Mother Teresa
Oh, Saviour, stay this night with me
it seems so easy to say
when you've been married thirty years
and things are going your way
and you've an empty bedroom, all made up
with sheets both clean and white
Your could tell the Lord, come in!
Come in, and spend the night
but wait!
go back with me 2000 years
picture Mary, meek and mild
and Joseph, knocking on the door saying
'We have God's own child within
we need a bed, a little food
and love...have you any to spare?
We're expecting the Son of God
do you have some to share?
If
Mary and Joseph were looking for
a house for their own son
would they coose yours? and all it holds?
Each night as day is done
would they find you, with family gathered round
as you kneel in family prayer
and would they hear the singing?
and the laughter in the air
and
would they hear the scripture study
as you learn of God's great plan
and would they say
'Let's leave our son right here'
I hope they can because
each home should be a place of love
where children love to be
and every child that comes to us was God's
eternally
that He has loaned us for a few short years saying
''This is a child of mine
Be careful how you handle him because
he is divine'
We need a lot of Christmas to carry us through the year
We need to reach a LOT of folks
to share the joy we hear inside
When we say I know God loves me
and he knows who I am
I am called to be a shepherd to help tend all the lambs
*
God watches over all the earth
but he's doing it through YOU!
You must be tender and awake and alive
to make other's dreams come true
*
So the question that's before us is not
what will I get this day?
but since I'm my brother's keeper how much can I give away?
*
The Magi brought the babe a gift
How full your joy will be when you share
TIME
a gift of love that the Christ-child alone will see
HAULIDAYS
It's true, these are the haulidays, when we haul in lots of toys
We haul in all the relatives, who haul in lots of noise
We haul in piles and piles of wood which we burn to keep us warm
and then we haul out ashes, to keep fires from causing harm
*
We haul in bags and bags of food we buy down at the store
and then we cook and eat it, then haul garbage out galore
and when it snows and snows and snows
we haul out mittens and coats for play
and then we have to shovel snow forever and a day
to keep the roads and drive-ways open, so more relatives can come
and haul in all the New Year's paraphanalia
Oh, it's begun
to be a hauliday-long season, lasting clear to Valentine's day
*
What happened to that manger scene, where angels came to say
'This is a holy-day, for Christ is born'
and a few sheperds crossed the land
to honor Him and worship?
I fear Christmas is out of hand
and we go on with hauling trees inside to decorate for a week
and then we have to haul them out
Where's the Saviour wise men seek?
*
Oh! listen for the bells and watch for stars
and the message the angel brings
instead of all this hauling in and out
of worldly things
*
We're brimming over with Christmas
Spirit spreads across the floor
and reaches out to lighted trees
and then it starts to soar
toward the neighbor's house
and down the road
and all the way to town
*
Once the spirit starts to grow
it cannot be held down
but I will need to keep a bit for me
a leavening to share
so others, seeing, will feel the love
of Christmas everywhere
and it will start to grow
inside of them
and spread out far and wide
Look out for the Christmas spirit!
It's impossible to hide
*
1 Corinthians 5:6
....know ye not that a little leaven
leaveneth the whole lump?
PEACE ON EARTH TIME
You know, Jacob tipped over our Christmas tree
It happens at least once a year
If we didn't have little problems like that
we wouldn't know Christmas is near
and when that tree fell, we said, "oh, well"
and set it up straight, 'cause this is the season we all love
We don't ever hate all through December days
We sing God's praise, the feeling's divine
We listen to hear the angels sing
It's peace on earth time
*
You know, when we're out shopping the bell ringers ring
The sound makes our hearts open wide
We reach in our pockets and get out our change
and we feel God's love deep inside
It's a feeling called Christmas, when children just can't wait
to look for the reindeer
'Can we please stay up late
on Christmas eve?'
Our hearts are full of love, the feeling's divine
We listen to hear the angels sing
It's peace on earth time
*
I wrote this poem a lot of years ago when one of my favorite grandsons, Jake tipped over the Christmas tree. I'm sure it wasn't the first time, or the last time, it's happened to most of us one year or the other. He's got a two year old now, little Riley. Maybe she'll be tipping it over this year. Watch out, Jana
This week was decorate the tree time. Right next door they raise trees, half the people in town came out and paid $30.00 for one, but David decided to get a $5.00 permit and cut his own. So he went up with two other friends, tied three trees on top of a small car (where was my camera?) and he put on the lights and left the rest to me. The best part of decorating is the memories, especially if you have reminders of trips you took in past days. 
Going to Seaside is always great. one year with Linn and Keiko
Going to Seaside is always great. one year with Linn and Keiko where they have a time share, another year with Allen and Beth. Now we watch the snow fall outside and remember how warm it was.
Not really, Oregon beach water is seldom warm.
Just beautiful
Picking Brian up after his mission in Ecuador in 1988 was a high point for all of us. So many cute hand made
ornaments . We spent two weeks, also taking in
Peru and Machu Pichu. We came home on Thanksgiving
to a huge snow storm. He had to shovel snow at the
office before we even came home to find Ruth and Elaine and
families and their friends waiting with turkey and trimmings
plus
two new babies that Brian hadn't met, Jason and Nicole
I went to Osaka, Japan in 1985 with Linn and Keiko for 5 weeks where we met her parents and planned
a future wedding. I was a tag-along, but loved
every minute of the trip. I also spent some days
in Tokyo with neice Linda
FUN times
FUN times
The pink fish are Japanese also and the little hula girl of course is
Hawaii. While Dee was practicing medicine, we were
able to go there twice, plus we stopped there
with Mark after we met him at the end of his
New Zealand mission for another really nice
two weeks together before he could take off his suit
and become a 'real' person again
*
Travel would be somehow wasted
if while away
we never tasted change
it would be strange
to travel
far away and then come back
and follow the same beaten track
and never know
we were there to grow
*
(and buy Christmas ornaments)
*
*
Actually, there is nothing quite like going out to pick up a son who has just finished serving a mission. They are so filled with the spirit, and Dee was made their companion until we got back home. He said later, "I've never said so many prayers in my life" Somehow that doesn't always last, and it's easy to slip back into our old habits again, where 6 times a day is just too hard. But we'll never forget meeting all the people in Ecuador who "loved" Elder Fuller, or visiting with Mark's mission president, who helped set patterns that still guide his days as Stake president.
If you have a chance to meet your missionary........DO IT!
COLTON & THE BOOKS 
Colton loves to have books read to him, and this year he is in 1st grade and will be reading himself but book-reading is still fun
Some times even Krista likes to listen, cause every kid likes to be close to their Grandma
Some times even Krista likes to listen, cause every kid likes to be close to their Grandma
Once there was a little boy and Colton was his name
He just loved to read his books
whenever Grandma came
He always said, "I'll be right back" and off he'd run to find a book
The trouble was, he always found about 17 books to look at
Then
his Grandma sat by Colton
or they laid down on a bed and they just had a wonderful time
as they read and read and read.
*
Sometimes the books were funny and it just made Colton laugh
like, if it was about Little Critters or maybe a giraffe
that couldn't sing
Once in a while they would watch TV and then they liked to hide
all wrapped up in blankets with only them inside
*
When Colton reads with Grandma
with their blankets and their books
sometimes there are pictures that they talk about and look at
*
Some books do not have pictures, they are only filled with words
Then Colton only cuddles in and listens
Once he heard
about a prophet who lived long ago, He was a hero too
whose name was called Moroni
Colton loves stories that were true
and Colton loves
stories that are just pretend, in fact he doesn't really care
WHAT the book's about as long as Grandma's also there
No computer, no TV
no cell phones ring
just
Grandma and ME
*
and after Grandma goes home then his Mom or Dad can be
all wrapped up in their blankets
but
they won't watch the TV
and they will not go out to play and they won't even ride their horse
*
Why?
because they'll be inside
just reading Colton's books!
Of course!
*
....as for man his days are as grass; as a flower
of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind
passeth over it, and it is gone, and the place
therof shall know it no more
Psalms 103:15-16
The days of man are as a field, flowering with grass
We forget that we, like time and life
all three will pass and we are gone
A cool wind whispers and the place thereof shall be erased
like all existance
Man is immortality
*
Man walketh on the wings of wind
and vaults up steps of song
back to a pre-existant point in time
where we belong
*
POETRY FOR THE DAY
If this were my last day on earth, how would I spend my hours?
First I'd take myself outside and sit beside some flowers
and I would listen
and they'd tell me of before all time began
We were up in heaven and we all loved every man
Sitting in my garden there I'd soak up all the rays of warm and golden sunshine
to save up for cloudy cays
Then I'd need to find some children, they feel such joy when they sing
I'd put music injmy pocket
that's the best thing I could bring when I go back to
Father
Father
sunshine and some joy and magic music
I could take along a happy little boy
Little boys are special 'cause they feel so good inside that even when they're dirty
their folks still fill with pride
And
I'd like to take my mother, 'cause I'd miss her every day
but if God asks, I'll go alone and here on earth she'd stay
and she can love all other little kids whose parents may be gone
to work, or school, or heaven
She can sing them a song
and then they'll feel like they're in heaven
Between song and joy above
The only thing we need is God
to wrap us in his love
Idea # 2
I was listening to a tape by Melvin Morse, a doctor who interviewed kids who had "near death" experiences. Fascinating things which I've known for a long time, but may be new to others.
He says 25 % of our brain, the front right lobe just above your ear, is what he calls the God spot, where we have a built-in part to communicate with God, once we figure out how to do it. Something which in time we can use or turn off at will.
In my study, I think it is the same body part that is awakened when we go through the process told in Alma of being born of the spirit. Seems like maybe science and religion will get together one of these day, and realize we can be in constant contact with heavenly beings if we just qualify through God's plan.
Another author says a similar thing. You can learn how to "click your amigdala" (which I think is the same spot) and be on a higher plane of knowledge and feeling. No wonder it's called THE MIGHTY CHANGE. What a difference we could make in the world if everyone could control parts of their body they don't even know are there.
The physical therapist yesterday massaged Dee's neck in the area just below the right ear, which he said can affect greatly the lower back, and also memory loss. Even he said it's amazing what we have in the body that we don't even know about. All things in god's creation are there for a reason, we just have to turn off the "logic thinking left brain" and learn to activate the right brain. Being bi-polar, I am all right brained, and it's a good place to be.
IT'S SPRING IN OREGON !
When I last wrote, we were still in cold Idaho Falls and not feeling as good as we had hoped. Well, that has now changed. We are back home in LaGrande, and today it's 72 degrees. Linn and David have the orchard all pruned, with a bit of help from Dee, and now it's just in full blossom, which is the best time of the year for beauty.
We had been back for about a week when Dee was out there pruning, and now the snow on OUR mountain (Mt. Emily) is almost gone, tulips and daffs are in bloom, and our world looks good. Home is so nice after you've been gone. We loved being at Karen's while Dee was recovering, but now it's time to be here, and decide what we want to do next with our lives.
One day last week, we went out on the back porch and sat in the swing for 45 minutes and did nothing but visit. In past days, I could keep Dee there for maybe 5 minutes then he'd be off to some yard work he heard calling him. A change of pace will be most welcome, which is required after heart surgery. We are so grateful to Heavenly Father for giving us another chance at life together.
Mt. Emily doesn't REALLY belong to us, but it's just right out there, so we claim it. Buttercups, it seems to me
grow anywhere they please
They don't ask permission
They do not ask the trees
if they can nestle there beneath them
They know all they have to do
is BLOOM!
and just be beautiful
the same as you and me
ABOUT READING
Once there was a little boy who wanted to learn to read
All the other people did and oh, he had a need
to get a book and really know the words, to somehow recognize
the meaning of the sentences, why
all the other guys had lots of books
the boy just looks at pictures almost every day
The little boy would tell his Mom
"When I get back from play I hope you'll get a book and teach me
how to read, all by myself I want to know and understand
the stories on my shelf"
and so
he worked and worked and taught himself!
with a little help from mother
He was too young to go to school, now one day some of the other
people came to visit little boy . He couldn't believe his eyes
He hoped that he could sit around with all the other guys
and share what he had read
inside his head were stories running o'er and he had never been so full of words
not EVER before
but the boy was quite amazed to find
'though the other guys all could read
they hardly ever bothered 'cause they rarely had a need to know
They liked what they had read about when they were rather small
and now the other people all read nothing new at ALL!
So in the end the little boy discovered we mostly read
for just ourself(and maybe our Mother)
the others don't seem to need to talk and listen
so their minds can grow as ideas they exchange
and although the little boy began
to think the world was strange
he kept on reading, he was needing to learn everything he could
and inside he kept knowing, someday
someone, somewhere! would
be there to talk with, take a walk with
and they'd listen every day
to see what they were thinking
when they got back home from play
CHRISTMAS 
The sheperds were watching on that glorious night
The sheperds were watching on that glorious night They were all looking up and saw that wondrous light
Oh, I fear that today we stay inside too much
where we can't see God's heaven, watching TV
Oh, such a great blessing awaits
like in days past and old
if we just look for angels!
When the wise men were told to go follow the star they did not say,
"Why me?
I need to have proof he will be there!"
I see that they went and they did not ask others
"How far?"
They followed the light of that bright morning star
All wise men still seek him!
I'm sure this is so
and if you but reach out
He will be there
I know
.
DECEMBER 24TH
"tis the day before Christmas and all through the house
the shopping is finished
except for my spouse who refuses to think ahead
(hoping perhaps he will die)
or some other disaster will cause Santa to NOT fly
through the sky
But alas!
no great thing materializes and now he is writing down
everyone's sizes and he stops at the bank
uses his magic card in the slot, where a lot of bills appear
It's so hard
to believe that old Santa, all year, fills his sleigh
when the man in my life waits
'til the VERY last day!
*
I suppose it's the parable, though it's terrible to say
Five virgins were ready while the rest were at play
or at work or too busy
or they just procrastinated
but
life would be more peaceful! if they just hadn't waited!
but I fear
it'll be the same thing next year!
*
I wrote this little poem a lot of years ago, about the husband of one of my daughters (who shall remain nameless) but I think every family has at least one person who puts it off til the last minute. We love them anyway!
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