Shaded by Grace
Like cloud cover
on an otherwise sunny
day,
may the realization
of who You are
always overshadow
who I perceive myself
to be,
that I may rest in
the shade
of Your love and forgiveness,
so my glaring faults don’t
blind me,
like staring into the
sun.
My Sweet Baby Sister
I was about seven or eight.
My little sister not quite two.
For some reason the other four
in our family were out of the house.
Dad and I were charged to watch the baby.
Dad watched TV; I played in the back room.
I heard a shriek when Mom came home.
“Who’s supposed to be watching the baby!”
My little sister had climbed up on the table,
and opened a big bottle of syrup.
Covered in the sticky goo,
she was happily sucking her fingers.
Dad thought I was watching her
and I insisted it was Dad.
I suppose we were both responsible,
but it was Mom who cleaned up the mess.
Simple Sundays
My Sundays may seem all the same.
We go to church, come home and eat.
I call my two with same last name,
And work on jig-saw as a treat.
I write a poem and read some, too.
I like them all, not just a few.
I call my friend, we chat and pray,
And seek His help for each new day.
So Good
God,
You're so good!
Loving,
creative, beautiful.
Thank
you for the tall pines
As
they sing in the wind.
Thank
you for the little black squirrel
Scurrying
around looking for breakfast.
Thank
you for the rocky path
Leading
to the still pond of cat of nine tails.
Thank
You for the steep path
Leading
to the fire tower.
Thank
You for the deer
Grazing
in the field.
Thank
You for the life-giving rain
Leaving
its fragrance.
Thank
you for this Nature Retreat
Where
we'll learn how to share
Your
creation with children.
Thank
You for being good,
So
good!
Anticipation
Anticipation for
another flight
Though, in Germany a
month ago
I may be crazy, this
I know
But I’ll be happy to
see each sight
In Italy, for the
time is right
From Venice to Lazio
Anticipation
Transatlantic through
the night
I may write poems or
watch a show
And chat with Sis, so
time’s not slow
In Florence with the
morning light
Anticipation
Limits
Are our actions excessive?
“Beyond the normal limit.”
Or are our limits
excessive?
Does the casting off
restraints
become reasonable
and even necessary?
When is enough enough?
Darkness
D arkness descends on a
troubled soul
A voiding ones who could
make them whole
R etreating from life and
left all alone
K eeping their secrets all
to their own
N obody loves them and
nobody cares
E ven they lose interest
in people’s stares
S uffocated in darkness,
lacking the light
S urprised by the hope
that’s ready to fight
Bipolar Disorder
When you’re married
to someone with bipolar
disorder,
sometimes it’s hard to
tell
why they do what they do.
A person with bipolar disorder
may jump from a ten-story building
from depression, wanting
to end it all,
or because they think they
can fly.
Worth Annoyances
We’re crammed in like a
can of peas,
With shows to watch that
aren’t so great.
The air is on, designed to
freeze.
Tell me, what’s this that
I just ate?
It’s been nine hours, now
next day.
Between two folks with nought
to say
So much on planes there to
annoy.
But soon, I’ll go again with
joy.
Busy
My house is like a museum,
a plethora of things displayed.
But not so many will see ‘em.
I’ve been too busy, I’m
afraid.
But I’m not only to be
blamed.
Yes, other busy folks are
named.
We’re all as busy as can
be.
My home’s seen by Hubby
and me.
You are My Rock
You are my rock.
Substantially my strength and
hope.
You are my rock.
I depend on You as I walk.
Because of Your love, I
can cope.
Your love has an infinite
scope.
You are my rock.
The Great Outdoors
As children, growing up in
Pennsylvania,
everybody’s large lawns served
as our playground
filled with trees and
hills with a creek running through.
We lived outdoors in all
weather,
biking in spring, swimming
in summer,
jumping in leaves in fall
and sledding in the winter.
Now, I spend my life, mostly indoors,
but the trees, mountains,
hiking paths call,
incessantly call, “Come
out and play!”
But mostly, I work,
mowing, planting,
weeding, whacking down
unwanted elms
and teaching kids at the
Nature Center.
Most of the kids live in
town
and have never felt the
uneven ground of earth
under their feet while learning,
playing and exploring.
I need to practice what I
preach.
and get out more, hiking, playing,
learning
and exploring God’s beautiful
earth.
Grave Secrets
Sage drifted in his hot-air
balloon
over the beautiful
Colorado valley
where a river ran through.
A woman scrambling down a
hillside
caught his attention,
as she headed straight for
the river.
Then he saw why.
Two curly headed toddlers
perched on the bank.
Since Sage saved the twins,
he was part of the family,
now baby sitter and
guardian
while their parents were
away.
But they didn’t come back.
He felt his friends were still
alive.
He entered the cave.
He heard the click of a
gun.
A rough voice snarled,
“You’re not welcome here.”
Back to the Library
I don’t read much anymore,
Seldom darken a library’s
door.
I read my friends’ and when
I must,
While most books collect
some dust.
I think of those times
among the books,
Reading for hours in library
nooks.
Reading wherever I went,
Reading how my time was
spent.
Now, I tend to read what I
write,
No more reading into the
night.
I think I’ll get back to
reading
I believe that it’s what I’m
needing.
July 23
Getting ready for the
shift
Played Canasta and packed
Traveling’s a gift
Getting ready for the
shift
Going home, I feel adrift
Aiming to arrive intact
Getting ready for the
shift
Played Canasta and packed
July 22
Penultimate day of
visiting here
Played cards, watched TV
and ate
About to leave ones we
hold dear
Penultimate day of
visiting here
We’ll see them later in
the year
Summer’s not the best to
visit this state
Penultimate day of
visiting here
Played cards, watched TV
and ate
July 21
Church, Canasta and NCIS
Time with our daughter and
son
My awake and asleep times
are a mess
Church, Canasta and NCIS
I’ve been eating too much,
I must confess
Except for loud music, today
was fun.
Church, Canasta and NCIS
Time with our daughter and
son
July 20
Watched NCIS, began
Italian today,
And Hubby and I cleaned
out the fan.
While daughter and son
were out of the way.
Watched NCIS, began
Italian today.
When daughter came home,
we began to play
Some days don’t turn out
like I plan
Watched NCIS, began
Italian today
And Hubby and I cleaned
out the fan.
July 19
I’m off kilter with time
Half asleep all day long
Watched a show about crime
I’m off kilter with time
A few minutes for a rhyme
Writing project is coming
along
I’m off kilter with time
Half asleep all day long
July 18
Still in Mesa with
daughter and son
With them both being off
to work
Done with one trip, now for
another one
Still in Mesa with
daughter and son
Italy is coming just for
fun
Doing groceries in cirque
Still in Mesa with
daughter and son
With them both being off
to work
July 17
Recovery day from Germany
trip
Meals, laundry and sleep
Trying to get a grip
Recovery day from Germany
trip
It did go by
in a blip
Time for daily upkeep
Recovery day from Germany
trip
Meals, laundry and sleep
We come to the Father as
little tykes
He kisses our emotional
owies all better
Even when we are people no
one likes
We come to the Father as
little tykes
After our wounds from
mental strikes
To love, we become the
Lord’s debtor
We come to the Father as
little tykes
He kisses our emotional
owies all better
July 16
A thirty-two hour day
Too hungry to sleep, too tired
to eat
It came time to fly away
A thirty-two hour day
Returned to hubby and kids
today
Now, too tired to stand on
two feet
A thirty-two hour day
Too hungry to sleep, too
tired to eat
July 15
A fun day in Frankfurt on
the Rhine
Spending the last day with
the team
Learned some friendships
aren’t fine
A fun day in Frankfurt on
the Rhine
Went to an Italian
restaurant to dine
A cruise and a castle,
like a dream
A fun day in Frankfurt on
the Rhine
Spending the last day with the team
On a narrow road of
bricks, we shop
Through an old German town
But we have little time to
stop
On a narrow road of
bricks, we shop
No chance to shop till we
drop
We go up a hill and down
On a narrow road of
bricks, we shop
Through an old German town
July 14
Attending church in
Kaiserslautern
Singing in German and
English. Cool!
Last day here, what did I
learn?
Attending church in
Kaiserslautern.
God’s people are
everywhere you turn.
Though so are ones who are
cruel.
Attending church in
Kaiserslautern
Singing in German and
English. Cool!
July 13
Busy morning of sorting
things from shed
Afternoon shopping and
evening restaurant
Kitchen makers might not
be getting ahead
Busy morning of sorting
things from shed
Finished sorting, played
games instead
Shopped and ate Schnitzel,
all I could want
Busy morning of sorting
things from shed
Afternoon shopping and
evening restaurant
July 12
Today
we put a Kia kitchen together.
And met Ukrainians at a coffee shop.
We had a bit of rainy
weather.
Today we put a Kia kitchen
together.
The day could have gone
better.
Didn’t get done, we had to
stop.
Today we put a Kia kitchen
together.
And met Ukrainians at a
coffee shop.
Alte Eiche 1676 (Old Tree)
We drove through a thick
German forest,
Took
pics of a three-hundred-year-old tree.
Seeing such beauty and
history, we were blessed.
We drove through a thick
German forest.
That experience was one of
the best.
If only it could talk—What
did it see?
We drove through a thick
German forest,
Took pics of a
three-hundred-year-old tree.
July 11
Wednesday turned into
Thursday. Wursday.
We’ve been up for nineteen
hours
We have come clear Germany
way
Wednesday turned into
Thursday. Wursday.
It’s time to go to bed
now. Hurray!
We’re running on super
powers
Wednesday turned into
Thursday. Wursday.
We’ve been up for nineteen
hours.
July 10
Colorado is a far cry from
the beach.
In Germany, it will be
nearby.
Kaiserslautern, though, is
out of reach.
Colorado is a far cry from
the beach.
By our kindness, we hope
to preach.
We’ll get there in the
morning, after we fly.
Colorado is a far cry from
the beach.
In Germany, it will be
nearby.
July 9
Made it to Denver safe and
sound,
But my phone wouldn’t
work, at first.
For a while I was turned
around.
Made it to Denver safe and
sound.
The shuttle pick-up, at
last, was found.
Yes, it could have been
much worse.
Made it to Denver safe and
sound.
But my phone wouldn’t
work, at first.
July 8
Repacked and ready to go.
I hope I can sleep
tonight.
I’m checked into my
flight.
My big suitcase isn’t
light.
Spent time with family,
although,
I’m checked into my
flight.
Repacked and ready to go.
July 7
Going to church to worship
and pray
Walking in the Arizona sun
A nice place to visit, but
not to stay
Going to church to worship
and pray
At home, we eat lunch and
play
A day of worship, rest and
fun
Going to church to worship
and pray
Walking in the Arizona sun
