Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Like a Stealth Bomber



like a stealth bomber 
Fall
your arrival is
silent
swift
subtle

wisps of yellows
tease until 
earth gives birth
to intense
yellows
oranges
reds
purples
  
capturing
my heart
holding
my eyes
my focus
my very breath
hostage


humbled
awed
speechless
only my heart
can speak . . .

Praise God!
Thank You Lord!







and then
just as silently
the battle between
fall and winter 
is released
and
frost's icy fingers
pluck
the leaves
one 
by 
one
from majestic
arms






gently laying them
at our feet
waiting for their blanket
of the first snow

Saturday, October 26, 2013

For the Beauty of the Earth . . .


For the beauty of the earth . . .



Sugar Maple
Aspen
Green Ash
Autumn Purple Ash
Autumn Purple Ash

 for the glory of the skies . . . 
      


. . . Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise . . .


 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Memories, Pressed Between the Pages

today
the house and
outside temps
were one and the same
yet
I refused to bow 
to the air conditioner
knowing
the house will cool
as evening falls
it is September 26th
after all!

tonight
we sat
on the patio
in the dark
the breeze
cooling us
cooling the house

in the dark
in the breeze
memory pages
flutter back
to the early 1950's

dog-eared
childhood
memory pages
of
sitting on the porch
of my childhood house
in the dark
waiting for the house to cool
so we could sleep

and as we waited
sweet, sweet memories
of my dad
playing his guitar
singing
humming
and
the cicadas singing
in harmony
both songs
carried by the breeze

into
peaceful
sweet
sleep

memories,
pressed between the pages
of my mind
and
heart

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Happy First Day of Fall!

Fall . . . 
Deep blue skies
Perfect day temps
Picnics
S'mores
Cool nights
Sweatshirts
Football
Hayrack rides
Fire pits
Fireplaces
Mums
Pansies
Pumpkins
Black walnuts
Acorns
V's of geese
Putting flowerbeds to bed
Combines in fields of 
Corn and soybeans
Hay bales
Sunsets
Harvest moon
Sunrise
Umbrellas and color bursts . . .  




 Leaf carpets  . . .

Playtime  . . .

These are a few of my favorite things!

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Labor Day Weekend



Awww . . .
Labor Day weekend
you call forth
from the dark recesses
of my mind
memories from of my youth
of summer’s last heat fling
of going to the State Fair
and of starting school

Yup . . .
back in the olden days . . .
when dinosaur’s roamed the earth . . .
school started the Tuesday after
Labor Day
and
our school buildings were not
air conditioned
and
we did not go half days
and
no early outs
and
the early days of September were
HOT

And, Yes,
the rumor is true
I did walk to school
12 blocks (really)
uphill
to and from school
and
neither rain
nor sleet
nor snow
stopped me
from walking to school

HOT and HUMID
was the every day norm
of my growing-up-summer-days
the same very
HOT and HUMID
which today
force me to retreat
into the
meat locker temps of my
home
and
car

I’m truly thankful
that schools today are
air conditioned
for  
students
and
teachers

Go forth, students . . .
learn well
and prosper!
Fulfill God’s plan and purpose
for your life!

Do good . . .
help others . . .
and keep
my social security checks coming!

Monday, April 15, 2013

A Day of Joy

First Joy Report . . .
Today, my son and daughter-in-law announced
the arrival of their first baby on November 15, 2013!
We are soooo happy for them . . .
and for us :-)
This will be our 3rd grandchild.


Second Joy Report . . .
Kathryn - Age 107 1/2
Photo Taken on February 27, 2013

Peacefully in her sleep
around 1a.m. this morning,
my dear friend, Kathryn,
went home
to be with the Lord.
There is much rejoicing
in heaven!
Kathryn was 4 months shy
of her 108th birthday! 


Sunday, April 14, 2013

God's Perfect Timing

Kathryn - Age 107 . . . February 27, 2013
This is to you, my dear friend,
Kathryn,
as you transition from
your earthly home
to your heavenly home . . .
on-time!

April 14 Devotional 
"Jesus Calling" 
by Sarah Young . . .

"At the end of your life-path 
is an entrance to heaven.  
Only I know when you 
will reach that destination, 
but I am preparing you 
for it each step of the way.  
The absolute certainty 
of your heavenly home gives 
you Peace and Joy 
to help you along your journey.  
You know that 
you will reach your home 
in My perfect timing: 
not one moment 
too soon 
or too late . . . "




Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Bumps, Potholes, With a Forecast of Sanity


Dear God,

It's me, your cracked pot!  “How did your son Jesus minister to all the people and stay sane?”

After spending the day today with a much younger friend going through some issues, I went to visit another friend in a nursing home.  The nursing home requires a code to get in and a code to get out.  No clear instructions on how to get in were in sight but a buzzer was . . . so . . .  I pushed it!  A resident, locked inside, pointed through the glass door to where the entry code was written!  Reminded me of a time when a prison inmate unlocked a meeting room door with a credit card!  Both a little unnerving.

Back to my friend in the nursing home, God . . . I’ve known her for 30 years but you’ve known since before she was even conceived.  She is my age, actually 5 months younger.  I found her room and spoke her name as I peeked around a curtain.  Knowing what I would see did not prepare me for the person I saw.  At 5'6" and 105 lbs, a black turban covered her head and black encircled her eyes.  She told me she will not be able to go back to her apartment but will have to go to an assisted living facility after an upcoming surgery.  Knowing her and her sister’s history and knowing that her parents are relatively healthy at ages 95 and 92, I struggle to understand.  After 40 minutes, I prayed with her . . . for your strength and comfort . . . and headed out of the nursing home.  Praise to you God!  My memory did not fail me . . . I remembered the exit code!

This evening I headed to Barnes & Noble for some respite time with a book and a non-fat caffe latte.  It was quiet in the café . . . only about 3 or 4 of us enjoying a quiet cup of something . . . a great atmosphere for reading.  But, after reading a paragraph or two in my book, I found myself surfing face book because I just could not focus.  About this time, a tall, large man walks through the café.  As he passes my table, I hear him quietly mumbling to himself with an occasional smirk and under-his-breath laugh.  He gets dessert and a drink and then sits about 3 tables behind me . . . still quietly mumbling.  Forgive me God, but my soul’s sanity was hanging by a thread and I decided to leave. 


My heart is heavy tonight, Lord, for my two friends and for the multitudes of hurting people!  

So, Father God, how did Jesus do it?

My child . . . “While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed.”  Mark 1:35 Message Bible

OK . . . I pray . . . but I’m still working on the “way before dawn” part!   I will continue to be there for my two friends, embracing them with your love . . . your grace . . . and your mercy.

It's been a bumpy day with potholes but a forecast of grace and mercy and sanity for tomorrow!  Sounds like a good movie or book!   

Love you back, God,


Your cracked pot . . .
 www.potterandtheclay-hiatt.blogspot.com/
in need of dirt therapy . . .
so please hurry . . . 
send sunshine and warm temps! 
Thank you :-)