Find Rest
His yoke is
easy, His burden is light.
The weary and
burdened find rest.
His ways are just,
true and right.
His yoke is
easy, His burden is light.
In Him fears
and worries take flight.
His intentions
for you are the best.
His yoke is
easy, His burden is light.
The weary and
burdened find rest.
Easy
We often wish things would come easy,
Flowing smoothly, light and breezy.
We become stronger against resistance.
It takes effort to go the distance.
The higher the goal, the harder the trial,
Makes the struggle all worthwhile.
Difficult
D oing things yourself can make things tough.
I ntricate problems may show you’re not enough.
F ace the grim reality, you need a helping hand.
F ighting hard, you try to understand,
I t gets tricky when you’re all alone.
C omplexities of life, can knock you off your
throne.
U ntie your knotty troubles one and all, by reaching
out and making a call.
L ife gets problematic. On whom can you depend?
T horns aren’t so thorny when you have a
friend.
Our World
Tightknit world
Mostly lived inside the house
Looking out the windows
While doing dailies
And day dreaming
Of escapes
Our Conversation
He and I
Explored in deep, dark places
Stalactites, stalagmites
High roof to stone ground
Got all muddy
But unscathed
Our Yard Covered in Snow
It’s the first snow of the year,
A little gloom, a little cheer.
Trees covered in delicate lace,
but shoveling I can hardly face.
How long will this winter be?
Will we be stuck inside indefinitely?
Will I get more done inside the home?
Take more time to write a poem?
Will I learn that new dance routine?
Will I paint a landscape scene?
Will I read or write the books I started.
Lord, help me not grow fainthearted.
But appreciate the snow’s beauty.
To be grateful, my honor and duty.
But Lord, please can this winter be mild?
Sincerely, from Your hopeful child.
Half State
I get into what I call a half-state during
those
times I’m sleeping but I want to be up.
My mind gets stuck where dreams
and reality collide. It’s near hallucinating.
I see, hear and feel things that aren’t there.
Once when I could hear my family in the kitchen
I was in my bedroom dreaming a fish
was in my bed. I yelled for them to get it out
but they
just laughed. I was furious
and hurt that they wouldn’t come help me.
One time I dreamed there was a dwarf in my
cupboard.
One time I dreamed that my friend and I were at
church.
I told her that this wasn’t real I was in a
half state.
She laughed. I asked her what church we were
in.
She couldn’t tell me so I knew it wasn’t real.
Sometimes I feel my cat sleeping on me
years after the cat had died. I had so many
of these dreams that I’m learning to deal with
them.
When I lay down I tell myself that it’s okay
to sleep however long I want to.
Even my mind isn’t something that’s dependable,
I must trust in the Lord to keep my sanity.
The Teddy Bear
A teddy bear sits on my shelf.
It may be thinking to itself,
“I wonder where my mistress went.”
Her health was poor, her days were spent.
And now he’s here reminding me,
I’ll see her in eternity.
The Glass
Some say an optimist sees a glass half full.
And a pessimist sees the glass half empty.
Most think enthusiastic optimists cool.
But challenges, a pessimist may foresee.
Half-full glasses may inspire them to act.
They might come up with solutions more quickly.
Optimists consider more than just the fact.
They may be less obstructed by doom and gloom.
They come through troubles with emotions intact.
Actually it depends, a realist revealed,
whether the glass is being emptied or filled.
Always Pray
Pray this time.
Let’s not wait till things are bad.
Let us pray day by day.
Whether good or bad.
Jesus loves us.
Look to Him.
The Lord of Time and Space
I love the Lord of time and space.
The Lord of time and space loves me.
One day we will be face to face.
I love the Lord of time and space.
And He will help me win this race.
I praise the Holy Trinity.
I love the Lord of time and space.
The Lord of time and space loves me.
This Time
This time, maybe I won’t do something stupid.
I’ll smile graciously and listen intently.
I’ll laugh in all the right places.
I’ll be careful not talk with my mouth full.
I’ll take a seat not designated for someone else.
This time I won’t spill food or drop forks on the floor.
Or tuck the tablecloth into my skirt.
Well, if not this time, maybe next time.
Let’s Pray
Amidst the busy time of day
Let’s stop and pray
He’s number one
His will be done
Creator of the universe
As things get worse
Let us draw near
He’ll surely hear
He lovingly will meet our needs
Our prayers, He heeds
Let Him be praised
With voices raised
Cause and Effect
Shawna breathed heavily
as her legs pumped the pedals.
She turned the corner too fast.
Shawna found herself flung
atop a chain-link fence.
She’d never make it to Amy’s in time.
As she righted herself and her bike,
she thought how little things
can cause a giant downward spiral.
But they can also cause an upward one.
Hopefully this little crash would lead to
Amy’s good, rather than her detriment.
Mesa Verde
Mesa Verde home of Ancestral
Puebloans
Nestled on cliffs
with small rectangular windows
They climbed ladders
to get up to their dwellings
Far above pinyon-juniper,
yucca, cactus, sage
Nestled on the cliffs
with small square windows
Many rooms for storage,
sleeping, and daily living
Low roofs and narrow
passages for small people
Round underground kivas,
social or spiritual uses
They climbed ladders
to get up to the dwellings
Must have had amazing
stamina to live so high up
Mothers ground grains
with stone metate and man0
While minding toddlers,
near 1,000-foot drop-offs
Far above pinyon-juniper,
yucca, cactus, sage
Fathers fought,
hunted, planted gardens
Now tourists from all
over the world gawk
What would the ancients
think about that?
Rain
I used to dread the
rainy days.
They ruined plans in
many ways.
Now, I live southwest.
We think rain’s the
best.
Our refrain,
Send the rain!
By Myself
My nose is pointed at
the sea.
I sit on shore, dig
toes in sand.
The waves are
whooshing steadily,
Like drummer in an
old rock band.
A boat slows down and
comes to land.
It would be great to
sail away!
I’m needed here to lend
a hand.
And so, for now, it’s
here I’ll stay.
Find myself
Amidst the titles
Wife, Mom, Sis
Friend, Writer
Artist, Pray-er, Uke player
Steadfast. Amused. Me.
Encourage Myself
I’ll speak to myself
As I would to a dear
friend.
No more, hey stupid.
But you’re doing
well, keep on!
Success! One step at
a time.
A Dream
Had a weird dream that
my daughter (Lori)
a boy I knew from high
school (Greg)
and I were on a tour.
We got separated from
the group,
so we were trying to
find them.
We planned to attend
a banquet.
While crossing over a
bridge,
we came to a place
with missing boards.
Lori jumped over
successfully.
Then she came back to
help me.
I made it across okay
but she fell into the
river.
I tried to scream for
help
but nothing came out.
I got ready to jump
in.
But I felt that if
she came to
she could get out.
She did and was able
to climb out.
We found a bus going
to the banquet.
But we lost Greg. I
wanted to find him,
but Lori said we had
to go.
So we left poor Greg
wandering around.
We didn’t know what
to do with Lori’s clothes.
They were too wet to
go to a banquet.
That was the end of
the dream.
The Distraught Zombie
Bob dreamed of
a Zombie named Fred
Who didn’t like
being all dead
Fred cried and
he squalled
Fred sighed and
he bawled
And crawled
beside Bob in his bed
Bob’s dream was
so awful that night
He woke up a-scared
and affright
Fran sang him a
song
It didn’t take
long
Till Fred
disappeared in the light
I Dream
I
dream of singing songs I wrote in praise
I
dream of painting pictures of landscapes
I
dream of writing poetry and plays
I
dream of other countries and escapes
I
dream of comfy cottages on capes
I
dream of all the mountains I will climb
I
dream of having grandkids in due time
I
dream of helping children in great need
I
dream of living a new paradigm
I
dream of having plans that will succeed
The Unexpected Happens
The unexpected happens in
startling ways.
You go about your business
dodging boredom.
You make your plans thinking
changes will not come.
Suddenly it appears,
unlike other days.
Just when you thought you
would never ditch that phase.
May make you jump like the
boom of a bass drum.
The unexpected happens.
Even a person full of
faith when he prays
May not know where the
answer is coming from.
To the earnest intercessor,
God is not numb.
A believer learns that persistent
prayer pays.
The unexpected happens.
Unexpected
O, what surprise!
Who would have
thought it?
To happen this way
No one would suspect
It started quiet
Perhaps for effect
And then there it
was
No time to reject
Love grows like a
plant
Starts from a mere
seed
A smile one fine
day
Nothing to enchant
A glance or a
touch
A favor to grant
A bit of respect
At last, they connect!
What If?
What if the unexpected came
Results accepted on each side
When followers would swallow
pride
United under one good name
And harmony would be our fame
What if we’d use the strengths
of each
And confidence we would not
breach
Our streets were filled with
love and peace
And hatred gone in sweet release
Is it so really out of reach?
Enter into His Presence
O, Holy God draw near to
me,
While Satan flees Your presence
now.
I come before You and I
bow.
I wait on You expectantly.
Your peace approaches
quietly.
You are the what, the why,
the how.
O, Holy God draw near to
me,
While Satan flees Your presence
now.
Please, open up my eyes to
see
And ears to hear what You
allow.
I’ll love You all my days,
I vow.
You’re awesome, God, in
You, I’m free.
O, Holy God draw near to
me.
Enter
E nchanting
N ew life
T aking a step
at a time
E nthusiastically
R eaching for
great heights
Sunrise
An aspen stood
tall
Brilliant glow
at its feet
Standing on
Holy ground
