That Little Boy
That little boy who used
to run
Through the house
Like a human tornado
Removing couch cushions,
Pitching glasses off the
table
And scattering his toys
hither to yon
That little boy that knew his
letters
And numbers before he was
two.
Could read in kindergarten
Wore a patchwork cloth
like Superman’s cape
Imagined all kinds of
stories
And could make us all laugh.
That little boy turned forty
today.
Monet’s Garden
When I visited Monet’s Garden
it was like being in one
of his paintings,
but I don’t think even he
could imagine
the beauty of a bouquet of
colorful umbrellas
amidst bright flowers in a
spring rain.
Love
Let love flow unfettered
Over all the earth in
Various ways conquering
Endless attacks of the
enemy.
Habits
I have been crocheting
since childhood,
but I have a strange way
of holding my yarn
to create the right
tension.
It’s kind of looped around
my index and middle
finger.
The yarn doesn’t flow
as smoothly as it should,
and I often have to
readjust.
But it works.
Recently I tried to learn
to knit.
But unlearning bad habits?
Forget it.
Tense Tension
We’re to teach about
nature
among Ponderosa pines,
scrub oaks and critters,
such as elk, chipmunks,
and horny toad frogs.
At the day’s end, we write
about our adventures.
One girl writes in past,
present, and future tense
all at once and
incorrectly.
To a writer,
it’s like fingernails
on a chalkboard.
But deep breaths,
I’m not there to teach
grammar.
Tension
T ightening of muscles
E nergy drained
N erves frayed
S tress
I ntense strain
O ne last
N erve. Will it snap?
Our Pastor
I’m always amazed
at our young pastor.
Only 24, but he tells us
what the Bible says,
not what he thinks
or what another says,
but what God says.
His insights are
beyond his years.
I believe Someone
helps him.
What a Friend we have in
Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to
God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All
because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
by Joseph M Scriven
What a Friend We Have in
Jesus
W hen I’m feeling down, I
H ave a Friend I can
A lways
T urn to.
A nd He’s a great
dependable Friend.
F aithfully, He listens
and
R eacts to whatever I tell
Him
I n love, acceptance and
forgiveness. I have
E ndured many hard times
which have only proved how much I
N eed Him to guide and
D irect me and offer His
help.
W hen I’m out of sorts and
not
E nthusiastic about life,
He reminds me that
H umpty Dumpty can be put
back together again. He’s
A ttentive to my prayers.
He is
Vigilant in His love. His
E yes are on me.
I know His smile.
N ow and always.
J esus, my friend.
E manual: God with us.
S avior of our souls.
U ltimate companion
S ensational
Undecided
I see it often,
an ad for a Plein Air Convention.
It’s expensive.
I have the money.
It’s a long drive.
I like to drive.
And I always wanted to see
Lake Tahoe.
The teachers are well-known
professionals.
I’m a beginner.
I’ve actually never
painted outdoors.
Hubby will stay home.
He can handle it.
Can he?
Sis doesn’t want to go.
I can go alone.
Will I?
I don’t know.
Stay tuned.
After It Gets Warmer
Tulips
Long walks, no coats
Breathing in fragrant air
The patter of rain on the roof
New life
After Two Strokes
After my husband’s two strokes
things changed, yet stayed the same.
We’re still married, live in the same house,
have the same kids who live away.
We don’t have the same people living with us,
two adults with developmental disabilities.
Where once we were limited by what they could do,
now we’re limited by what my husband can do.
But yet I find some freedom as well.
I travel more, while he can stay with the kids.
He’s more relatable with his increased laughter and tears.
We can communicate on a deeper level,
though he doesn’t speak as clearly
and I don’t hear as well as I used to.
We eat three meals together like clockwork,
praying with thanksgiving beforehand.
We’ve been married 45 years, almost 46.
I tell him, “Let’s go for the gold.”
We’re aiming to love God and others,
like always, while we’re here on earth.
After-supper Tea
What is it about after-supper tea.
I sit down in my recliner, read,
scroll on social media or watch a show.
I drink tea with cream and sugar,
letting its warmth and sweetness
relax and comfort me.
I’m not sure why it feels so good.
I get a similar feeling when I pray,
thinking about who He is.
How great and loving He is.
Maybe He gave us tea
to remind us of Him.
Mess Over Time
I have an office, but I don’t work in there,
except to put together jigsaw puzzles.
I actually write in the living room, where
a sign over my chair reads, “Connie’s corner.”
Things add up in my corner.
Books, magazines, paper and markers.
Often, I clear the two end tables off
and take the extras into my office.
And then, one day I go in my office,
take a good look around and wonder
what happened here?
It looks like a bomb went off.
Kitchen Mess
I didn’t expect when I started the day
What my kitchen would look like in the end.
I made muffins and baked chicken
And did care giving for a friend.
I crocked a spaghetti squash for supper.
In the blender, I made a mint shake.
In the processor, I shredded zucchini.
To make all this in one day was a mistake.
Crockpot, skillet and baking dishes,
Blender, food processor, and muffin pans,
Measuring spoons, cups and mixing bowls,
Egg shells, boxes and empty cans.
Not to mention, the regular dishes.
I had to run the dishwasher twice.
It took a while and lots of scrubbing.
With that all done, it sure looks nice.
We Make Messes
We make messes every
Tuesday,
Some mistakes and some successes.
At the Nature Center, we work and play.
We make messes.
We paint. (First cover shirts and dresses).
We use sawdust to make paper and clay.
We carve soap-to make what anyone’s guess is.
We tangle yarn, but knit away.
We gather leaves and use leaf presses.
Outside, with the mud, we like to stay.
We make messes.
Laughter
Medicine
Laughter can be that
A good laugh
A chuckle
Giggles make you feel better
Can cure what ails you
It’s Time
Spring snow, go back where you came from!
I’m ready for some warm sunshine.
You’re making me feel rather glum.
Spring snow, go back where you came from!
I am so cold I’m feeling numb.
It’s April and way past your time.
Spring snow, go back where you came from!
I’m ready for some warm sunshine.
Gail (1928-2025)
A Hispanic woman, well known
In our community has died
And we each claim her as our own
Her compassion went far and wide
She taught my son in Sunday school
He loved her and thought her so cool
Her kindnesses can fill a tome
I’m sure she’s happy in New Home
Snow covers the ground
After barely making an
appearance all winter
I can almost hear winter’s
naughty laugh
The scales told me
I’m back to the weight of
pre-vacation
Surprised and relieved
Good Morning
The smell of last night’s
fajitas
The chill the whirr of the
heater
promises to take off
The soft glow of the
microwave
from the door left open
when I made my morning
tea.
The taste of honey, lemon
and ginger
The light at my window
blinds
asking to be let in.
The tapping of my keys
inviting me to make my
to-do list
and start my day.
Best Times
B eing on vacation
E ating good food
S inging along with the
music
T aking time to relax
T raveling to new places
I nvited to fun activities
M eeting the locals
E xercise by hiking
S hopping for souvenirs
Through the Pain
Sis and I love to travel.
We love the ocean,
eating out, touring,
shopping,
meeting new people.
But this trip she did it
through grieving the loss
of her husband,
dealing with a torn meniscus,
and, of all things, breaking
her toe
on an old-fashioned bed in
our rental.
She toughed it out and
enjoyed the good parts
like picking tasty morsels
out of a bitter salad.
Transition
Basking in the sun.
Watching the waves come in.
Wading along the water’s
edge,
not meaning to get my
shorts wet,
but did anyway.
Listening to the squawk of
sea gulls.
Watching the pelicans dive
bomb fish.
and the dolphins make graceful
arches
in the distance.
Boat rides and visits to
the aquarium.
Watching ships come in at
the docks.
Eating out every day.
Shopping for souvenirs.
Playing Quiddler and
Splendor with Sis.
The best of times,
but they go so fast.
And getting back to the
ordinary
is like swimming upstream
against the rapids,
especially enclosed in a
small space
with fourteen children
during a snowstorm.
Day 18 Galveston/Mesa Trip
We drove eight hours
Slight wind, no showers
Made it to Cortez at five
Ate meal and unpacked
We’re tired, that’s a
fact.
Good to be home and alive.
Day 17 Galveston/Mesa Trip
With both kids at work
I dared to
embark
On cleaning my
daughter’s fridge
Through
thick dust and grime
I spent all my time
Now I’m
tired, yes, just a smidge.
Day 16 Galveston/Mesa Trip
Penultimate
day
With daughter
to play
We Canasted many
times
We ate and
rested
Our time
invested
Into our
family’s lives
Day 15 Galveston/Mesa trip
Here in Mesa
still
Needs cut,
so I will
I trimmed hubby’s
Santa beard
With snips
here and there
He has lots
less hair
I hope it
doesn’t look weird
Keep Grinning
Day 14
Galveston/Mesa Trip
We keep playing
cards,
Score sheets
by the yards,
And my
daughter keeps winning.
Canasta—great
game.
Only few I
claim.
Even so, I
keep grinning.
Day 13 Galveston/Mesa trip
Like a plucked
chicken
Will his
hair thicken?
My smart son
cut his own hair
With holes
in his shirt
He dared go
to work
I wish that
he’d show more care
