I BLINKED AND ANOTHER YEAR FLEW BY!

 “Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day

 with no mistakes in it yet?"

 

(Lucy Maude Montgomery from Anne of Green Gables)

Hopefully, you had a year to celebrate and hold dear to your heart.  

I hope it didn't fly by so fast that you missed the blessings woven into each day. 





My year caused my head to spin at times, but I tried my best to slow down and take notice of the good things around me.  My camera helped me do this.  I now have some memorable moments captured just so I can smile again!


I hope your year was filled with memorable moments.  


If your year wasn't so great I wish you a better year ahead.   


I'm grateful that we have the opportunity to shake of the dust, so to speak, and pick ourselves up and start over again. A new year means hopeful expectation of what can be.


May we be thankful, not only  for a new year and a chance to start over, but for the actual opportunity to start over whenever we choose. If we need to, we can start over every single day!  I'm thankful to God for his gift of never-ending grace (the real reason we get a new beginning is what He did for us, He offers it freely).

I'll choose to grab hold of His outstretched hand and see just where He wants to lead me today!  I'll follow the path He lays out before me...but if I just happen to misstep I'll choose to turn back to Him for the grace which never ends!  
  

Amazing, isn't it?!  Truly Amazing!  

His love is immeasurable!

He loves me!  He loves you!  

I'll wake up each day and say "Thank you God for loving me. Help me to abide in you and keep me Lord, keep me!" 

It's the beginning of a new year 

and a chance to start fresh... 

Yet each new day offers a clean slate  

~

So...HAPPY NEW YEAR...

HAPPY NEW DAY!!!

 "In the morning, O LORD, you will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to you and eagerly watch".                   
Psalm 5:3

          

Psalms 5:3

Verse Concepts

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Morning-Worship#sthash.OvlSvBLT.dpuf

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Morning-Worship#sthash.OvlSvBLT.dpuf

Psalms 5:3

Verse Concepts

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Morning-Worship#sthash.OvlSvBLT.dpuf

Psalms 5:3

Verse Concepts

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Morning-Worship#sthash.OvlSvBLT.dpuf

Psalms 5:3

Verse Concepts

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Morning-Worship#sthash.OvlSvBLT.dpuf

Psalms 5:3

Verse Concepts

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Morning-Worship#sthash.OvlSvBLT.dpuf

Psalms 5:3

Verse Concepts

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Morning-Worship#sthash.OvlSvBLT.dpuf

Splendor and promises

The splendor of his majesty!    
  

I can’t help but to carry my camera everywhere with me these days!  Esp. this fall!  I just want to capture every magnificent moment …every sunset…every color and every bit of nature that is popping so vividly, so vibrantly before me!   

I see beauty in the shadow on the old oak tree outside my window…the way the sun casts a display of wide lines which resemble a music sheet across the massive trunk and in the upper the left, the shadow resembles a half note which says let the music begin!  
  
Songs are in the air…a song of the cardinal; the bluebird; even the red headed woodpecker which calls to his mate in between hammering thumps on the sturdy, solid trunk of wood he so diligently works on.  Just below the hill at the edge of the tree is another shadow.  This one on the ground…more limbs stretched outward, creating a type of map across the lawn.  This map leads my eyes across the pavement and to the other side of the winding road where I notice deer tracks near the hedgerow.  My eyes are now on to a new quest... I search for the deer.  I turn my attention toward the back road which leads to a pond where the geese spend most of their time, and I see him…the very stout and apparently well fed buck…standing still, then moving slowly, stepping out cautiously, as if to say "I’ve been alive much too long to be careless…I must approach this open expanse carefully and continue to blend in  with the tree line".  He blends in so well...so well that I am sure there have been a multitude of times when I've missed him.  I’m sure I’ve walked right past him on many occasions, only to have him stand silently, motionless, watching every move we made!  

And to think, we are the one’s who love to observe nature…. 

      

     

while nature is observing us!

And do we realize just how well nature does observe? 
   
Along my walk, the squirrel stops and watches with a careful eye until it is safe to romp forward…but scurries up the tree to flee to safely if I get too close.  Think about the fly…how keen his eyesight is?!  Flitting to and fro; landing on a light, to a window, across to another, taunting us and as we approach, disappearing before our eyes can discern where he will land next!  The deer watches silently from behind the hedgerow; the chipmunks dive into their caves; the cat stops and watches, knowing he can outrun us if he has to; and the bird flies off as the child approaches with outstretched hand holding a morsel of bread and a look of wonder at its rejection of this great gesture.   

On and on I could go…as I observe nature and nature watches my every move.   And now I see that the painting on the trunk of the old oak has changed in these few moments of  my dialog…along with the road map on the lawn and across the pavement.  The squirrel has moved on; birds flew off in a different direction; buck vanished with the first passing car.   

Now another gift of nature taps me on the leg…makes a small murmur and tips its little head to the left then  right…ears perked...and I realize the promise I made to her just before I sat to write about this beautiful day…I promised her a ride in the car with with windows open; I promised her!  She hasn’t forgotten.  She, this little natural beauty, has been watching me this entire time and wants to hold me accountable!  For this, I also give thanks! 

I could sit and write about the splendor of nature without end.  Its beauty never ceases.  But if I don’t get up out of this chair and keep my promise, it will soon be dark and we might miss out on this gift of a sunny November day!   

Yes, Abby, my sweet little pup…I hear you and I am ready to keep my promise! 

We Gaze At The Same Silver Moon...

And The Same Big Sky Above...

As Our Soldiers In A Land Far Away...

this photo came to me via an e-mail

Long to see the faces

of the one's they Love!

~

Back Home...

Old Oak Trees...

 

Dressed up in yellow ribbons

~

Door Frames...

Adorned with Love!

~

As We Pray and We Wait...

We Fly Our Flag...

And We Celebrate

This Great Land!

H a p p y   I n d e p e n d e n c e   D a y!



HE CRIED

I MISS MY DAD...  

  







When I was a little girl, I would stand by the door 
when it was time for my dad to arrive home from work...

all bubbly with excitement to greet him...


Me and Dad!

He'd pick me up

and give me a big kiss on the cheek

such a wonderful moment...

the best!



He was a hard working man; a wonderful provider for his family and a great example of what hard work really was. Knowing the value of a dollar, never squandering a cent, he always reminded us to save. He was a child during the great depression and knew first hand how difficult times can become.  I don't remember him sitting down much.  He would come home from work, and work some more...in his amazing vegetable garden, in the yard, in and around the house. He could and did repair and build anything... a jack of all trades, he took great care of us! 

He served his country in the navy and fought in WWII.

He had the gift of discernment...to see through a facade and tell it like it is...he was a very truthful man.

He was a Golden Gloves Boxing Champion ~ As a result, he could be intimidating to some...(perhaps the reason I didn't have many dates)???!!! 

My dad had a sense of humor...a silly one! He made us laugh quite often with antics, jokes, made up names, etc. He was most humorous when he wasn't really trying! ;)


Mom and Dad

He was a moral man and loved his family dearly and was "in love" with his wife, my mom with his whole heart and soul all the days of their life!


Mom and Dad

He loved God and had a great deal of wisdom (although I didn't always see it as wisdom until I matured a bit). He was one of my biggest cheerleaders in life; my mom was the other.



Yes, he was tough; he was strong and his "love language" was one of works mostly. I suppose I don't have as many soft and sugary moments to tell about my dad as I do about my mom. She was the soft place to land - he was our protector and defender...a place of security, with a sensitive heart hidden just beneath the surface.  He had layers...depth!

Despite the fact that my dad is now home with his heavenly father, I still miss him! But...someday, I'll arrive home and he will be waiting by the door for me...

Daddy's kiss

He will pick me up and give me a big kiss on the cheek.  I will feel the security of the moment and the joy of being re-united with my dad. 


At his memorial, the pastor said "I believe Jim is tending to the most beautiful garden he's ever laid eyes on right now, and I also believe that if Jim could tell you one thing, he'd say....'you've got to come here'!!!" 


YES...I believe it too!                        



I wrote this poem after he had major heart surgery...his life was saved...


He Cried


He was a strong man,                      
Never shed a tear,                         
Solid as a rock
Carried no fear...

He was a tough guy,
A hard working man,
Showed his love by the work of his hands...

Not a man of flowery words,
Nor of many words at all,
But as far as I was concerned,
He was ten feet tall!


I was sure he could carry the world on his shoulders,
Sometimes I think he even tried,
Never a doubt in my mind,
That because of this strong man,
Life would be just fine...


Every day after work, I’d greet him at the door,
He’d pick me up and kiss me on the cheek,
There was nothing in the world I wanted more,
Than this moment of the day – so sweet.


Years later…
One day after work…
He laid down to rest,
He said he felt a “funny” pain - deep inside his chest...
We knew this was bad when he didn’t fight,
And the ambulance rushed him off that night.

His heart was opened by surgery,
And then it began to melt,
With words of kindness and expressions of love,
He finally told us how he felt!

The feisty fighter had a soft side,
He showed that side to mom and me,
In a three way hug that lasted a long time,
And his tear filled words “I love my family”!

Feelings trapped inside began to flow,
In words now, not just deeds,
The size of his heart began to grow,
His spirit was set free!


I’m grateful for the tears and expressions we shared,
They mean more than one could know,
I always knew how much he cared,
But I’m glad he found the words to show.


He was a strong man
And he made it clear,
That a strong man’s
Not afraid to shed a tear...


He was a strong man
With a gentle side,
The gift he gave me etched precious in my mind...

Was the day my daddy cried.


(written by Lorraine Brown/ copyright 2007)

H A P P Y   F A T H E R' S   DAY!

"Be kind to thy father, for when thou wert young, Who loved thee so fondly as he? He caught the first accents that fell from thy tongue, And joined in thy innocent glee." -- Margaret Courtney ..

DO WHAT YOU LOVE!

DO YOU EVER WISH YOU HAD A CERTAIN TALENT 
SOMEONE ELSE HAS?


I ADMIT I WISH I HAD A BEAUTIFUL SINGING VOICE.  


WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO? 








RATHER THAN WISHING...
 

                                 

 PERHAPS WE MIGHT THINK ABOUT WHAT WE DO WELL 
OR WHAT WE LOVE DOING...



YOU HAVE A TALENT OR TALENTS
UNIQUE TO YOU!  


WE ALL DO!

BACK DURING THE OLYMPICS, I WAS REMINDED OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT TALENTS (or gifts) GIVEN TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.  SOME CAN SKI OR SNOWBOARD OR SKATE OR EVEN CURL ( I was so inspired, for a brief moment, I actually thought this might be one I could handle).  This sport made me want to get up off the couch and grab a broom and start practicing.  Yet, just like all sports, curling takes precision and endurance.  I don't have the "gift of curling"  - nor do I have the desire --- My arms get tired just trying to hold the "curling iron" long enough to get my hair the way I like it!  ~  Na!  I won't  be competing anytime soon  ;) 

Most of us would probably agree that the Olympics are entertaining and inspirational (I can feel their joy when I watch them do what they do best)...and certain competition in the right context can help push us to the next level...improve upon our talents... 

yet...

In the "day to day" world -

Life itself is not a Competition

Life IS a Community!

What we do, who we are,

what gives us joy...

Is all in the sharing...

sharing the love

of something you do

 with others...

spreading the joy...

Encouraging one another
to use our unique gifts...


C E L E B R A T I O N!

When I create, I feel God's pleasure!  When I realize it is from him and give Him the glory for the gift, I feel even more joy! 

My purpose on this earth is not just to create...not just to write...not just to cook...not just to design...but to glorify the one who knitted me together and who made these gifts my own. He is the designer; the artist; the master of all trades!
   

P R A I S E!

As I feel His pleasure, I'm compelled to run more quickly to Him...to quicken my steps toward the heartbeat of God...to be in His presence...abiding in Him. 

C O M M U N I T Y!  

As I follow in His footsteps the crescendo builds until that final, beautiful, powerful symbol hits the final chord!  A symphony of the best compilation of Love, Grace, Life Abundant, Joy Everlasting and Complete Fellowship with The One ...

who knows me through and through.   

G R A T I T U D E!

It is not religion I seek...it is a person...The person of God who created me for a relationship with Him through His only son who took my place on the cross to make this all possible. I desire to give Him the glory for all things and my place is in Him! 

C O N T E N T M E N T!

Let me be like a soft, flexible wineskin

emptied, cleansed and pliable...

ready to be filled with his grace,

swelling

with the truth and the love and the  grace

 to pour forth ...

I N S P I R A T I O N! 

Run towards the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus!

Hear the beating of His heart...

Listen to that still small voice...

Feel His Pleasure as you use your gifts to inspire others ~ 

and see what else...

 He leads you to do ~ to be!

Life is filled with possibilities!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, 

who does not change like shifting shadows."    

(James 1:17)

N   E   V   E   R       F   O   R   G   E   T !



^"Greater love hath no man than this,

that a man lay down his life for his friends." 

(John 15:13)



Stars shine and stripes remind

The stars shine bright...

In the darkness of a foxhole,    

                                                        

Or in the glow of celebratory light…

By the fireworks we ignite.

Some forget just what happened

in the dead of night,

As the stripes remind us of their wounds,

And blood shed for freedom’s sake,

Today, as well as yesterday…

Make no mistake

Of the sacrifice they make,

While children play,

And music serenades,

As the marching band

Leads our parade...

Let us not forget,

Let us not delay,

Our gratitude to those

Whose coffins lay...

Draped in our flag while taps play.

Let's not hesitate to give thanks

And to celebrate...

The freedoms won by our strong and brave

Of every race and every age...

May we never forget the sacrifice they made.

We salute them now...as we bow

Our heads for grace,

And we take our place...

At the bountiful table

Preserved for us by a remembered face...

No greater love for freedom's sake!

(written by Lorraine Brown/copyright 06/28/10)

Giving thanks this Memorial Day

 for all those who have served

and sacrificed! 

G o d   B l e s s   A m e r i c a! 

and because of our freedom, we can enjoy the simple pleasures in life...

something as simple as a slice of

                                                               Patriotic Pie 

                                                                                               (click for recipe)



HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

My mom had a recipe book

she had written (by hand)...









A collection of her favorite recipes which she intended for me to have. Over the years, it disappeared…perhaps during one of our moves. I looked tirelessly for it, hoping it would pop up, but it didn’t.

Recently, I was telling my cousin Diane about it and she mentioned that my mother had sent her a few hand written recipes.  She said she still had them and said that she was going to photocopy them and mail me the originals. A couple of days later, they arrived... I was extremely touched by the thoughtfulness and love of my dear cousin...




Cousin Diane's note to me


As I opened the envelope, I sat with tear-filled eyes, holding my mother’s recipe cards in my hands, and feeling like a part of her was still with me. 

I held the paper she held

I studied the crafting of each letter in her penmanship…in the way she swirled her capital L; the way she blended the letters together in an artistic script, unique to her as she formed each word with pen on paper, in an articulate manner…such that when I read her words, I can hear her voice…the cadence in which she spoke; the tone; the softness; the upbeat and joyful spirit in which she communicated; the humor she interjected. I can see her smile when I read her sassy; witty side notes which bring back the memory of that sparkle in her eyes …that little sense of mischief…playfulness that she never failed to entertain us with.




Mom's comments on the back of one of her recipe cards!

(As you can see below, she "no likie" sage...

and apparently, I was one of the 5 little piggies)  :) ...

There is a little spot of something here at the top of the card...

it looks like a drop of an ingredient or a little bit of gravy…

The smudge just confirms that this recipe was used and enjoyed throughout the years…and passed along now to me and to others.

 Oh, how I wish I could smell the gravy on this note!

My heart is warmed by the thought of times spent in the kitchen together while I measured ingredients and placed them side by side for my mom to incorporate into her wonderful creations. I can see her stirring, whipping, rolling dough, forming meatballs, sautéing onions and garlic for spaghetti sauce, placing roasts in the oven, removing the stew meat from the pressure cooker, frying bacon and eggs and measuring coffee into her percolator.  I recall the comforting mornings of waking up smelling the wonderful aroma of that coffee and oh, yes, the bacon sizzling and wafting throughout house, waking me from my morning slumber…......no alarm clock needed! 

These notes... 

represent even more depth of meaning to me because toward the end of my mother's life, a stroke robbed her of her words…she could no longer speak, but she would smile and clap her hands every time I went to visit…a huge blessing that she always recognized me!  She would light up when I entered the room, wiggling her toes, clapping her hands and smiling and laughing , her entire body filled with excitement!

I’m reminded by her written word of how full of life she was….and I have tangible pieces of conversations here to hold in my hands; to press to my heart; to cherish…

and to taste

as I savor each morsel of her recipes…

for food…and for life!

In her words ...  

;) 

Her hands…

Held me tenderly the moment I arrived,                                                      

Nourished me and nurtured me,

 

As she welcomed me to life…

Her hands…

Bathed; clothed and fed me;

Held my little hand and led me;

Taught me how to write….

Turned the pages of the books she read to me each night,

Folded as she prayed

And clapped for my school plays;                   

Her hands…

Like magic, turned patterns into clothes

And knitted slipper socks;

They softly styled waves into my curly locks,

Felt my forehead for a fever and rubbed Vick's onto my chest,

And wiped my nose and held me close and softly caressed….

When I skinned a knee,

They bandaged me

And carried me back home,

                                     

And never left my side…

I never felt alone;

Her hands

Cooked my favorite foods,                 

And baked my favorite pies,

And when I was hurt or sad

 

They wiped the tears from my eyes;

Her hands drew pretty pictures,

In fact they crafted art,

And they touched me with a mother’s love

As they held this child's heart!

                                                              

Now I look down at my hands

And I'm amazed to see...

Her hands

Seem to have re-appeared,

As they live on....

In me!   

(written by Lorraine Brown, copyright 2011)                                                 

H A P P Y   M O T H E R' S   DAY!

Other Poems of Remembrance

You May Also Like:                 A Tribute To Mom          Looking Back At Me

 The legacy she leaves behind,

Is one of kindness and delight,

She loved the life she lived,

And she lived it right!

So when I see a shadow,

Dancing in the wind,

I remember momma's spirit,

And the joyful life she lived!

(excerpt from "Annie's Shadow"; written by Lorraine Brown)