The word for the day on 11/29 was "circles" It was Nathaniel's 37th birthday - we had Thanksgiving 3 days ago. Everything clicked - I drew these circles - symbolic of Dave and me with our 3 children and all the people who made us "us."
These are not perfect and not new thoughts - but somehow they hit home as we wind down this year of 2020.
Circles of Life:
This is a prayer.
Many are concerned about tomorrow's election - especially the presidential election. I want to trust in your goodness and the goodness that lives inside of people. Be with us as we listen to news as it comes - it could be there will be no answer tomorrow- but as numbers come in - bless us all with grace and mercy and love of neighbor.
I am reading positive and blessed words tonight.
I just finished playing some of my favorite songs - Hail Mary Gentle Woman, You Are Near, Be Not Afraid. I am happy that chords are coming back into my fingers and I can sit, sing and pray those beautiful peaceful songs.
Thank you for being there.
Thank you for healing.
Thank you for the love you have for all of us.
Bring us peace.
For work this week, I put together small ziplock bags with 1 piece of sidewalk chalk for "Random Acts of Poetry Day"
This poem was on the bag:
The word for the day was "gem" I wrote this:
Let's see, found out my coworker and friend Anna won't becoming back to work - I cried because it was a hit of reality of one more thing that will never be the same. Mobile had Hurricane Sally barreling down on it. People lost homes and lives. My cousins Peter and Renee came through with minor damages - power outages. The smoke in our air was at dangerous levels. It was all hitting plus a feeling of exhaustion. I took today as my Labor Day Holiday. Grateful for holidays.
Most days I drew and wrote at least a little...
Playdough Day 9/16
I could have used the tinker sketch word for the day - crane and maybe written a nice reflection on peace cranes. But I'm too tired! I'll write about going back to work when I've rested from the week.
I drew a picture of a tv dinner and wrote this non-rhyming poem instead.
I hope to keep making time to draw and write - it's good for me!
Today a poem about tea.
Luna was all set to go on a fun doggy daycare outing! But you know the saying, "It's all fun and games til somebody loses an eye"? Well, happily she didn't lose an eye but she did snag her eyelid on a gate and got brought back home! Her outing lasted less than 30 minutes!
So Luna didn't go to the mini-pool party. Instead she spent the day at the emergency vet!
She was poked and prodded and had to wait for hours!!! And when the doctors said she did nothing serious to her eye - she was allowed to go home - wearing the "Cone of shame"
Mama wrote this: (sung to Battle Hymn of the Republic)
The Tinkersketch word for the day is "Plant". This poemI wrote comes from my lack of p;any knowledge.
Years ago, Dave's Mom and Dad came to visit us here in Western Washington. They would ask me about flowers, trees and other green things. I had no idea what they were! Kind of embarrassing!
What’s a plant?
Can you name the tune this one came from?
Nothing could be fancier than dancing with my family 'neath the disco ball!
Wearing fancy bow ties and our fancy prancy dance shoes in a dance hall,
On cruises or in school gyms or in your living room,
A disco ball can brighten up your every tune.
Oh, Nothing could be fancier than dancing with my family 'neath the disco ball!
Monday was my eldest son's 40th birthday. In the time of Covid and with him far away, I wanted to do something special to celebrate.
One day I thought about the way we took photos every year and have him hold up his fingers with how old he was that year. I gave myself a mission to find those pictures. If only we were more organized!!!! I was able to find MOST of his first 17 years of photos. Dave scanned them, got them printed and we put them in a photo album with some other photos we thought he'd like.
We mailed them on his birthday! The best I could do.
I included this poem.
We
were there the day you were born
On
a Sunday afternoon
We
didn’t know if you were girl or boy
But
we knew we would find out soon.
It
took all day for you to come.
We
played games and waited some more.
It
wasn’t much fun to tell the truth
But
we promise it wasn’t a bore.
When
you came, they said “it’s a boy!”
You
cried and we did the same.
Then
it was time for the serious task
of
coming up with your name.
We
needed to hold you and look in your eyes
To
discover who you might be.
Dad
called out the names we had on our list
And
listened to hear “that’s me!”
So
“Jeremiah David Jones”
Became
our first born Son.
Family
names from both Mom and Dad
Living
on in your life just begun.
It’s
hard to believe it’s been 40 years
You’ve
followed the beat of your drum
Know
that we’ve loved you through thick and thin
And
will be there for dreams still to come
Today's holiday on my calendar is Kool-Aid Day. I can see the happy, dancing Kool-Aid pitcher in my mind's eye!
Thinking about it on the day I finally weighed myself and discovered that I'm a victim of "Covid 15" I'm 15 pounds above my goal weight. (Surgery has added to the problem I'm sure)
I knew my middle was getting fluffier but I'd rather it not be confirmed by a scale - which is one of those fancy ones that remembers who you are. It wasn't sure who I was! Isn't that sad?
That plunks me back into the "over weight" category of the BMI. A place I haven't been in a long time.
I need to think about how to approach this. I don't want to get all diety with measuring and using words like "good and bad".
Back to my poem....
A chubby little girl
On a hot summer day,
Longs for icy cold Kool-Aid
In a normal kid’s way.
Instead she gets some water
Which is not a special treat!
So as chubby kids do,
She sneaks something good to eat!
on my block
down the street
or next door.
One neighbor loves the Luna therapy.
is hurting bad today.
when the power went out.
Sometimes there is illness
mental and physical.
Flowers from a neighbor.
I've been thinking a lot about praying and working for peace and justice. There is so much pain and need. It feels overwhelming and sometimes useless.
My conclusion (for now) is that it's like lighting a candle or a lighthouse. You may do it for one person, group or topic but everybody can see it! It lights up everything and everyone. And even if it doesn't bring an actual change you can see, it can bring a feeling of peace or comfort to everyone it shines on.
And this blends with today's word prompt : Trail
Which led to this poem:
The trail is wide there's room for all
We walk in shade and sun
We walk together or on our own
Our journey has begun.
I made a promise in January, not knowing what the year would bring, to send something to some people over the year. Last year I sewed things but that's not working for me this year. Instead, I'm writing! And doing some drawing.
Three of the people who signed onto my project were Manalive workers in Minnesota. So this poem/song parody was created for them. My apologies to John Denver.
Manalive!
I was born in the Summer of my 22nd year
Moving onto a place I’d never been before.
I left Florida behind me -my family and my friends
I joined others who were also called to serve.
We were young and brave and foolish with guitars in our hands
We thought we could help the whole world understand
Our God was one who loved them and wished them to be free
To love themselves, their neighbors and their families.
Manalive! You became our home
Community and Family on our own
With love we faced some hard times
And we came to understand
That in life, there is always room to grow.
Many years have come and gone since then,
We are still those young brave souls down deep within
Our bodies have grown older and our causes may have changed
But the fire of love and service has remained.
So I wish you well my friends from long ago.
God send peace and love to you and all you know
Forever be God’s Glory in all you say and do
I’m so grateful to have shared Manalive with you.
Manalive! You became our home!
Community and family on our own.
Joined in memories of those moments
Shared together long ago
We still understand there’s always room to grow!
