Christmas For The Sisters

'Tis the weeks before Christmas, the Advent season
When prayer and contemplation have taken hold of our reason
Advent wreaths are lit by our families with care
In preparation for the Christ child who soon will be there

Our sisters' meetings help us to focus on loving others outside of ourselves
Being Christ like and human just like the apostles, a  holy set of twelve
So far two sisters have had  loved ones that have gone on to Glory
Leaving loved and grieving sisters behind to tell of their stories

Heaven is real, Jesus is real, we all praise Him for His glory
We as sisters have got each other's backs, no need to worry
We have spoken of presents, unexpected and under wraps
Truly we are God's presents, helping each other with life's zippers and snaps

We sisters are children of the most High, awaiting Jesus' birth celebration
With close friends and family and sometimes distant relations
It's a season of remembrance, of gift giving, of distant phone calls
We as sisters are ready to help and lift you in prayer lest anyone should fall

So as our family celebrations get under way
And loved ones are held dear even when far away
Remember the babe who lay in a manger upon the straw
He's the real reason we say Merry Christmas to all!

'Tis the Season

"Tis the season for remembrance
Remembering Thanksgivings past
Of family gatherings and turkey dinners
Of times when we and our children were younger

'Tis the season for embracing the new
For embracing our loved ones
Gone but not forgotten, far away but close at heart
For embracing those still close at hand

'Tis the season to again believe in hope
Hope for a kinder more accepting future
Hope for forgiveness making room for tolerance
Hope for peace that transcends our understanding

'Tis the season for some to lay their loved ones to rest
To say prayers for those souls departed
To take a good hard look at ourselves
To accept love and forgiveness from the God who created us

'Tis the season for endings and beginnings
For nature to lay down and slumber
For knowing that after a long dark night a new day will dawn
For being grateful for a new chance to begin again

Super Moon Over the Court

Brilliant, blinding, spellbinding
As up in the night sky it arose
Not a quarter, not a half, and not just a full
But a super moon, my goodness how bright it glowed!

We were deep in repose
But there are still those who know
How the moon became a true beacon of light
As it turned in its orb through the dark hours of night

It is gone I fear for another 18 years
I won't be living here when next it appears
Seeing it setting this morning gave my spirits a lift
Such beauty, such wonder, what a heavenly gift!

Silver Wedding Anniversary

Matt, going out to dinner with old friends and sharing a bloomin onion with you
Is worth more than all the silver in the world to me
If we were champagne you would be the bubbles
The last 25 years have been some of the happiest, scariest, and challenging of my life
I couldn't have asked for a more loving, patient, and entertaining husband
You are my closest, dearest best friend and lover
We may be a bit older and creakier but we make a good set of matched rockers
There is a lot of life left in us yet my love
And many more adventures yet to have
To reuse and paraphrase an old saying , " Stick with me kid, the best is yet to be!"

For Future Referance

The PA

For future reference:
If you are in pain
You must refrain
From taking meds
That would dull the pain
For 24 Hours, that's no jest
So the doctor can test
All the fluids he judges best
To diagnose the type of pain
For a prescription so it doesn't remain
And you don't have to return again.

Me (thought bubble)

For future reference:
If I am in pain
Then I refuse to remain
For 24 hours on the crazy train
With no sleep, that's insane!
In my 61 years there is knowledge I've gained
About my aches and pains and of their names
If there is an over the counter drug then I'm game
To control the pain
And from these meds I will not refrain
Until the doctor I see again!

House Hunting

Thinking About It

I haven't written in a while, but now I have rhythmically wrote:
All the packing and fussing and cleaning seems like an unbearable yoke
The house must sell so we can move to yet begin again
Energize, economize, downsize, relocate and what then?
Acclamation's challenges, colorful exclamations resound
Simplification, meditation, relaxation, soothing musical sounds
New friends to be found, old friends to be loved and missed
A new church to find and consider joining, just part of the to do list

The Buying Process

Education, dedication, motivation

New locations, information, visitations

Possibilities, complications, frustrations

Additional revelations, Realtor consultations, considerations

Everyone's expectations, inspector's examinations, new revelations

Mediation, confrontations, ruminations

Arbitration, finalization, jubilation

Salutations, congratulations, and finally relaxation

Moving Day

Taped up, boxed up, piled up, the moving van's all packed up
Cars with overflow are filled up
Is everything out of the house, don't get fed up,
Nerves on edge, the move has started then you're there, time to get up
Just so nothing gets messed up, the cat food and litter are set up
Next the bedroom is unpacked and the bed is made up
Now the TVs and computers can be hooked up
We go someplace for dinner and are contentedly fattened up.

Long day, pleasant evening, and now a well deserved good night!

The End! (Or maybe a new beginning) Bye, bye!

The Death Of Our Central Air

We went away for a night and a day
It was my sister's 70th birthday
Our comfy home was left cool and alone
Only the cat sitter came by with a key on loan
Upon our return we noticed the house had turned warm
The central air had died and we became alarmed
With temperatures in the 90's we needed relief from the heat
Every fan was turned on, but oh where to sleep
It was close to midnight before we went to bed
Outside was a bit cooler so to fitful sleep we were led
We had called for a technician and the next morning he came
We needed a new air conditioner and furnace, oh what a costly shame
It would be installed the next day but in the meantime to Wendy's we drove round and about
The air conditioned library was where we finally hung out
By evening a gusty storm with cool breezes blew
The window fans were a Godsend and we slept the night through
The new air conditioner and furnace are now installed
Once more cooler temperatures we can now applaud
So you never know what can happen when you are away
Who knows what can happen to you on your next birthday.

Try Not To Complain

Was that a passing dream or was that rain?
Its time was so short and with a sound so quiet and soft
Well rain is rain and I shouldn't complain
And here's the "but" that accompanies "I shouldn't" so oft
But it wasn't long enough to leave much of a stain
Not on the streets or pavements or the birds flying aloft

While clouds full of rain water still remain
I do wish more would come down ever so soft
So please let it rain, and I won't complain
Long and loud or quiet and soft
Then I wouldn't have to try not to complain
And from this poem I could sign off

So Many Vehicles, So Little Room

So many vehicles, so little room

It's trash collection day neighbors and friends
Yet you insist on parking your cars so they block the bins
Empty spaces in your driveways exist
Yet still your poor choices for parking persist

So many vehicles, so little room

The sanitation trucks pull forward and backward and barely squeeze through
The SUV's, vans, trucks and passenger cars too
Carelessly parked blocking easy access to the trash bins
If you make their jobs harder then nobody wins

So many vehicles, so little room

The sanitation trucks should pick up the barrels only with robotic arms
Ideally not needing the workers help was part of the charm
But here on the court with cars and trucks parked on the street
Workers have to pull the bins out to perform this feat

So many vehicles, so little room

So please I beg you on the next trash day
Don't block the street and park in your driveways
Please don't act like an ignorant mob
Make the bins accessible, let public works do their job

Storms

Dangerous storms may come and go
God's Love stays forever

Life's dangerous downdrafts may slam front doors closed
Hold fast to prayer and unshakable faith no matter how hard the blows

Dangerous storms may come and go
God's Love stays forever

No matter how bruised or beaten you become
Listen to the purity of the birdsong and see God's promise in a rainbow

Dangerous storms may come and go
God's Love stays forever

After horrific destruction nature still prevails
The promise of life out of death continues in spite of the storm

Dangerous storms may come and go
God's Love stays forever

My Yellow Rosebush

From one plant several rosebuds open
Beautiful buttery yellow and fragrant
Some years only two or four lonely buds open
Now many blooms grace my home and bush
Praise God for His beautiful blessings!

Tree House

Did you ever just want to climb up into a tree house so high
Laugh and wave at the people passing by
Or just sit up there, stare at the sky, and wonder why
You could see so much farther then you could on the ground
I would love to climb up and see so far and around
Drinking in the view would just astound

I've always been short so I'd climb up to be tall
I had no fear of heights so no worries about a fall
A series of ramps up the tree I'd walk
Just birds and squirrels stopping by to talk
My husband could visit if he so chose
But with no TV for sports he soon would doze

Then there are days I would climb into a tree house so high
And spew spitballs if anyone dared to pass by
Water balloons too, depending on my mood
Or just climb up and sit and brood
On the other hand a bottle of wine and a box of chocolates would be dandy
 I would keep a supply in the tree house, it could prove quite handy

Early Morning Search

You searched and searched but couldn't find where I had wandered
Fear and frustration became your companions
Your patience turned to anger because you were feeling disrespected
You needed to leave and scolded me for loving nature more
Than your need to leave feeling loved, not ignored
I ran to the car and kissed you goodbye
I couldn't be angry with you just then if I tried

In truth I don't hold you less dear to me
Because I wander and wonder at the sacredness of creation
The reality is I feel insignificant in its vastness, and so
To be needed and esteemed in your eyes simply didn't occur to me
As I wandered, I too wanted to see you off  to work
I do so like to wish you happiness and love as you start your day
I'm sorry if my wandering made your nerves fray
If I said I love you would that be OK?

Did I mention I was a silent witness to a sparrow hawk flying from roof to roof?
I watched until it glided out of sight, poof!
I did all this while I was waiting for you, and I put our bills in the mailbox too
But with the sparrow hawk my attention flew
To the prayerful sunbeam in our side yard
It wasn't so far or so hard
To meander out back and around the gate and through
Back to the spot where I had been waiting earlier for you

And you thought I saw a hummingbird, who knew?

When It's Cold and Wet

When it's cold and wet
I scribble away as if it were dry and sunny
When it's cold and wet
I next grab a book, then a cup of tea
When it's cold and wet
I watch the rain and write poetry
When it's cold and wet
I'm thankful I'm inside warm and dry
When it's cold and wet
I procrastinate and from housework I hide
When it's cold and wet
I think about sandwiches and hot tea
When it's cold and wet
I see wee little birdies darting in and out of the leaves
When it's cold and wet
I see raindrops blowing out of the trees
When it's cold and wet
I see streams of rain bouncing in and out of puddles
When it's cold and wet
I am serenaded by birdsong some loud, some subtle
When it's cold and wet
I wonder about my future. Where am I going? Where will I be?
When it's cold and wet
I sometimes feel that I'm all alone and out to sea
When it's cold and wet
I feel like it's just God,  His creation and me
When it's cold and wet
I sometimes turn on the TV set and watch old movies for free
When it's cold and wet
I never fret because life has so much to ponder and see. Don't you agree?

Spring Contemplation

As I sit looking out the window of the computer room
I'm reminded of so many Springs that have come and gone
Some have swept through and left too soon
Others have started early and lingered long
This one has come early and is powering through
The winds the snow and the rain
Nature is blooming and continues anew
Despite Winter's efforts to remain

There's a lot we could learn from God's nature
Sometime we too must power through the pain
Our paths become slippery and so unsure
The losses seem to out weigh the gains
Remember that ahead lie eternal pastures
And through it all God's love remains
Yes many Springs have come and gone
Yet always God's love is unchanged.

Sunny With a Cool Spring Breeze

Wearing short sleeves and power motors whirring
Scooters, bikes and basket balls playing
Curtains fluttering, wind chimes singing
Heat turned off and music turned up
Cherry trees and magnolia trees swaying
Forsythia, hyacinths, and daffodils smiling
Sun through the clouds and cooling breezes
That's what this Spring Break day is about
Time to stop writing and go out!

Embrace the Inner Frumpy

Happy, comfy, and frumpy am I
Watching blue skies through the trees so high
The clouds are as fluffy as lemon meringue pie
Yes happy, comfy, and frumpy am I

Smooth and gentle the breeze it does blow
Hyacinths are smiling at me from below
Soon the green grass will start to grow
High enough for us to mow

Happy comfy and frumpy am I
Watching blue skies through the trees so high
The clouds are as fluffy as lemon meringue pie
Yes happy, comfy, and frumpy am I

The wind chimes blow melodic and slow
Birds on the wing leaving songs as they go
Where they are going I really don't know
But like Peter Pan I just gotta crow!

Happy, comfy, and frumpy am I
Watching blue skies through the trees so high
The clouds are as fluffy as lemon meringue pie
Yes happy, comfy, and frumpy am I!

The Tweens of the Season

It's winter, no it's spring, make up your mind!
Ah, the tweens of the season are upon us
Warm and beautiful or frigid winds unkind
Windy, scarf, gloves and hat a must
Sunny, tee-shirt and shorts as temperatures climb
Weather changing in the blink of an eye
Harsh cold and slush changing to pleasant and dry

The calendar says winter but the weather's not so sure
In the morning you may rid you windshield of ice
But by noon the heat in the car you can't endure
Or you wear a light sweater to work in the morning
By quitting time it could be snowing without warning
March does roar like the king of the beasts
March also purrs like a kitten snuggled into the sheets

Spring Haikus

Creation awakes
Birds mating, nesting, waiting
Promise of new life

Eggs hatching, cracking
Chirping, helpless and hungry
Babies yearn for food

Nurturing, guiding
Stumbling, hopping, and flying
Metamorphosis

Buds bursting, blooming
Nature is resurrected  
Gracious gifts of life

Clear and Cloudy Night

Mid winter night
Clouds in a circle swirl
The moon from the center glows
Stars billions of light years away sparkle
The sky is a blue black backdrop
Orion the headless hunter appears
Sirius shines brightly in my eyes
I stare at the dizzying light show
After throwing out the trash
Who knew that I would see
Such an awesome wonder
Indeed!

Wintry Haiku

Nature hibernates
Frosted ice crystals glisten
God's recreation

Drifts of powdered snow
Sail over blanketed fields
Humble majesty

Wee Little Birds

There are wee little birds a pecking at my tree
Wee little birds whom I just happened to see
They aren't there now but golly gee
They were happily pecking right in front of me

I guess they finished eating and decided to flee
To forage for food from another tree
I'm certainly glad they stopped by so I could see
The wee little birds a pecking at my tree my tree