Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
If Old Houses Could Talk
What if old houses could talk? What tales they could tell.
The house gazes upon the clandestine primordial lovers seek their embrace under the spreading willow tree, the draping leaves shielding their illicit love. The child that grew within, now playing under its ancient bough brings laughter and joy. What sorrows lie ahead only time will tell but for now.
Life so precious and pure, what wrenching sorrow drives one to the brink of the lake? He stares into eternity the rippling waves tiding over the rocks. What measure of desolation dwells within? The void within. The rage. Sorrow to fill the depths of madness. One moment of clarity then…
gone.
The stately dress, the crisp blue uniform long gone, coursing slowly across the burnished floor. Walls no impediment to the gently swaying pair, circle the room once, twice, thrice. The strains of a departed ensemble echo across the ages. They gaze longingly and then smile then are gone, lost to the past.
The blank stare of the empty windows, the creaky staircase spiraling to rooms previously occupied with laughter, love and tears. The kitchen no longer smells of roasted meats, crisp apple pies and warm cocoa. The tattered gingham curtains blow restlessly fueled by rain-driven wind through the shattered window. Night stalking creatures now occupy the cellar once stocked with coal to ward off the cold, crisp wintry nights. The foyer invites no more, the hat rack now empty. The spacious library devoid of books, of robust banter, of a languid life, is now a tomb.
The blank ghosts of lives past live on in the shell of the house. Oh, the tales it could tell if only it could tell.
The house gazes upon the clandestine primordial lovers seek their embrace under the spreading willow tree, the draping leaves shielding their illicit love. The child that grew within, now playing under its ancient bough brings laughter and joy. What sorrows lie ahead only time will tell but for now.
Life so precious and pure, what wrenching sorrow drives one to the brink of the lake? He stares into eternity the rippling waves tiding over the rocks. What measure of desolation dwells within? The void within. The rage. Sorrow to fill the depths of madness. One moment of clarity then…
gone.
The stately dress, the crisp blue uniform long gone, coursing slowly across the burnished floor. Walls no impediment to the gently swaying pair, circle the room once, twice, thrice. The strains of a departed ensemble echo across the ages. They gaze longingly and then smile then are gone, lost to the past.
The blank stare of the empty windows, the creaky staircase spiraling to rooms previously occupied with laughter, love and tears. The kitchen no longer smells of roasted meats, crisp apple pies and warm cocoa. The tattered gingham curtains blow restlessly fueled by rain-driven wind through the shattered window. Night stalking creatures now occupy the cellar once stocked with coal to ward off the cold, crisp wintry nights. The foyer invites no more, the hat rack now empty. The spacious library devoid of books, of robust banter, of a languid life, is now a tomb.
The blank ghosts of lives past live on in the shell of the house. Oh, the tales it could tell if only it could tell.
A short story
“Why so sad me beautiful lass?” He asked.
She looked down at her three bristle- haired children. She’d been with him now nigh almost five years. How could she tell him she longed for her own kind?
“Ye’ve done me proud since you came,” he continued. “I dinna think ye had it in you at first.” Juliana looked around at her home.
She sighed, “I never thought I’d be able to call this place home.” “It’s so different,” her words trailed off into her own thoughts. “It’s so alien from what I’d ever known; so unlike my world.” Her last born squealed with laughter at the antics of her first born, snapping her back from her musings. Her husband, “Yes, she could call him that now,” she thought, grunted a low command and their youngest offspring stopped the mayhem and scampered off to hide.
“Is it truly so hard to be away from those of yer own kind, lass?” he asked.
Juliana looked at him in surprise. “How did you know I was thinking that?” she asked. “I’ve known ye for long these five years now.” He continued, “Ye were mightily unhappy when ye first came to be with us after the great fire. At first ye were a slave like all the others. Ye did not openly rebel and therefore lived. I protected ye from Elan. I could see the good inside of ye that ye kept hidden. After a time ye were allowed to become one of us.”
The great fire. That is how she now too thought of that moment in time. Her thoughts drifted back to the day she arrived in this barren place that she now called home. Their ship had crashed. Someone had sabotaged the ship’s navigational computer. She could now still only speculate as to whom. Only a handful of the crew and she had escaped the fireball. Warily they had banded together to avoid the dangers of this foreign world. They traveled by night and slept by day, searching for some suitable shelter – any shelter after a few days. Food rations were low to begin with and then non-existent. No one dared eat the indigenous plant life or animals – if you could call these alien creatures, animals. Juliana lost track of time on this quest. One night, the group instantly awoke to a strange grunting noise. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she noticed odd boarish-shaped beasts. They walked on two legs, and did not have cloven feet or hands! “How strange” she had thought, “for pigs.” She was instantly snapped to awareness with the sharp point of a spear.
“Aye, it was a difficult time.” She answered him. “But it is over now and I am here with you.”
“Would ye change any of it?” he asked. Juliana did not answer him. She kissed him on the snout, turned, and returned to tending her garden. She was content – for now.
She looked down at her three bristle- haired children. She’d been with him now nigh almost five years. How could she tell him she longed for her own kind?
“Ye’ve done me proud since you came,” he continued. “I dinna think ye had it in you at first.” Juliana looked around at her home.
She sighed, “I never thought I’d be able to call this place home.” “It’s so different,” her words trailed off into her own thoughts. “It’s so alien from what I’d ever known; so unlike my world.” Her last born squealed with laughter at the antics of her first born, snapping her back from her musings. Her husband, “Yes, she could call him that now,” she thought, grunted a low command and their youngest offspring stopped the mayhem and scampered off to hide.
“Is it truly so hard to be away from those of yer own kind, lass?” he asked.
Juliana looked at him in surprise. “How did you know I was thinking that?” she asked. “I’ve known ye for long these five years now.” He continued, “Ye were mightily unhappy when ye first came to be with us after the great fire. At first ye were a slave like all the others. Ye did not openly rebel and therefore lived. I protected ye from Elan. I could see the good inside of ye that ye kept hidden. After a time ye were allowed to become one of us.”
The great fire. That is how she now too thought of that moment in time. Her thoughts drifted back to the day she arrived in this barren place that she now called home. Their ship had crashed. Someone had sabotaged the ship’s navigational computer. She could now still only speculate as to whom. Only a handful of the crew and she had escaped the fireball. Warily they had banded together to avoid the dangers of this foreign world. They traveled by night and slept by day, searching for some suitable shelter – any shelter after a few days. Food rations were low to begin with and then non-existent. No one dared eat the indigenous plant life or animals – if you could call these alien creatures, animals. Juliana lost track of time on this quest. One night, the group instantly awoke to a strange grunting noise. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she noticed odd boarish-shaped beasts. They walked on two legs, and did not have cloven feet or hands! “How strange” she had thought, “for pigs.” She was instantly snapped to awareness with the sharp point of a spear.
“Aye, it was a difficult time.” She answered him. “But it is over now and I am here with you.”
“Would ye change any of it?” he asked. Juliana did not answer him. She kissed him on the snout, turned, and returned to tending her garden. She was content – for now.
What I want out of life
What do I want out of life?
PEACE
PURPOSE
SANITY AT WORK
MORE ME TIME
LESS HOUSEWORK IE: MORE ME TIME
MORE INTIMACY
TO BE ABLE TO GIVE MORE TO OTHERS which CONFLICTS WITH MORE ME TIME hence the need for BALANCE
TO SEE MY GRANDKIDS MORE OFTEN
TO SEE MY KIDS MORE OFTEN
TO BE ABLE TO LET GO OF MY KIDS WHEN NECESSARY
TO BE ABLE TO RETIRE
TO SLEEP AT NIGHT
TO LOOSE WEIGHT
TO WALK THE DOG MORE
MORE READING TIME
PEACE
PURPOSE
SANITY AT WORK
MORE ME TIME
LESS HOUSEWORK IE: MORE ME TIME
MORE INTIMACY
TO BE ABLE TO GIVE MORE TO OTHERS which CONFLICTS WITH MORE ME TIME hence the need for BALANCE
TO SEE MY GRANDKIDS MORE OFTEN
TO SEE MY KIDS MORE OFTEN
TO BE ABLE TO LET GO OF MY KIDS WHEN NECESSARY
TO BE ABLE TO RETIRE
TO SLEEP AT NIGHT
TO LOOSE WEIGHT
TO WALK THE DOG MORE
MORE READING TIME
Dr. Mom's Advice
Dr. Mom's advice
....Keeping away the sickies…
We called ourselves the “Sicklies” every winter for ages… There were eight kids in our family – thank goodness there were only four at home at a time. We found these tips to be helpful to reduce the sicknesses.
First, Mom especially needs a good sense of humor along with stock in the Kleenex company. Vitamin C, and Desitin ointment were always in stock in the pantry. Desitin put on an ouchy sore nose at bedtime would help heal the soreness and redness by morning. This was a must for the girls who had to look their best for school.
The other biggies were the “no kissing zone” (forehead only, no lips. My husband was a “carrier”. He never got really ill just shared it with the rest of us.), bleach in the dishwasher or hand washed dishes every time, a “sick zone” (the couch), using bleach water on all door handles, keyboard, and any touchable surface. The kids were banned from the computer while sick but always managed to sneak. After a while I gave up and just wiped the keyboard off before turning on the computer.
We also did a lot more laundry during the winter, using bleach on everything. We finally realized one year that we all had allergies to the live Christmas tree. The next year we bought an artificial tree and we didn’t get sick over Christmas break. We’ve had a fake tree ever since.
Since those days – the baby is now 25, I’ve added three more things to my arsenal – Listerine mouthwash, Zicam and Vitamin D3. The hubby still remains a “carrier” and loves to share his sicklies...I’m now ready for him.
....Keeping away the sickies…
We called ourselves the “Sicklies” every winter for ages… There were eight kids in our family – thank goodness there were only four at home at a time. We found these tips to be helpful to reduce the sicknesses.
First, Mom especially needs a good sense of humor along with stock in the Kleenex company. Vitamin C, and Desitin ointment were always in stock in the pantry. Desitin put on an ouchy sore nose at bedtime would help heal the soreness and redness by morning. This was a must for the girls who had to look their best for school.
The other biggies were the “no kissing zone” (forehead only, no lips. My husband was a “carrier”. He never got really ill just shared it with the rest of us.), bleach in the dishwasher or hand washed dishes every time, a “sick zone” (the couch), using bleach water on all door handles, keyboard, and any touchable surface. The kids were banned from the computer while sick but always managed to sneak. After a while I gave up and just wiped the keyboard off before turning on the computer.
We also did a lot more laundry during the winter, using bleach on everything. We finally realized one year that we all had allergies to the live Christmas tree. The next year we bought an artificial tree and we didn’t get sick over Christmas break. We’ve had a fake tree ever since.
Since those days – the baby is now 25, I’ve added three more things to my arsenal – Listerine mouthwash, Zicam and Vitamin D3. The hubby still remains a “carrier” and loves to share his sicklies...I’m now ready for him.
My Mission Statement
I will actively pursue excellence, challenges, and thought provoking learning in order to better myself, my family, my community, and my relationships.
I will live my life through kindness, love and honesty.
I will rear my children to be honest, loving, kind, and self-sustaining.
I will balance my life through meditation or other relaxation techniques, exercise, and proper medical maintenance.
I will raise my self-esteem through positive self-talk and proper life balance.
Diana Roof
This was a class project many years ago but it still holds true...
I will live my life through kindness, love and honesty.
I will rear my children to be honest, loving, kind, and self-sustaining.
I will balance my life through meditation or other relaxation techniques, exercise, and proper medical maintenance.
I will raise my self-esteem through positive self-talk and proper life balance.
Diana Roof
This was a class project many years ago but it still holds true...
Self-Motivation
Can you imagine working with someone who criticizes everything you do, never gives you a bit of encouragement, or nags you incessantly about the one thing they don't like about you? It's difficult to work effectively with someone who doesn't treat you with respect.
Now think about the messages you give yourself when you're working toward a goal. Whether you're trying to lose weight, perform better at work, or be a more attentive parent, try and focus on the positive. It's self-defeating to beat yourself up. Positive change depends on positive reinforcement.
-The InnerWorkout Team
Now think about the messages you give yourself when you're working toward a goal. Whether you're trying to lose weight, perform better at work, or be a more attentive parent, try and focus on the positive. It's self-defeating to beat yourself up. Positive change depends on positive reinforcement.
-The InnerWorkout Team
FILLING MY NEEDS
One of my favorite ways to start my day is to do a meditation loosely based on Barbara Brennan's teachings. Brennan talks about each pore of our bodies being a vortex through which we can draw energy into ourselves.
Depending on what I need or want most on a given day, I invite and welcome divine energy, divine love, lightness, healing, divine inspiration -- the possibilities are endless and tailor made to suit my needs each day.
I sit down or stand and I focus, say, on divine energy. As I inhale, I draw and welcome divine energy in my body through every single pore of my body. I can actually feel the energy coming in. It takes only a few minutes to literally fill myself up with divine energy.
This is a very simple, short and powerful morning ritual. It never ceases to amaze me how different my days are when I do myself the favour of doing this ritual. How could it be any other way when I go on with my day filled with divine energy and support?
~ MD
“Stressed souls need the reassuring rhythm of self-nurturing rituals.”
-- Sarah Ban Breathnach
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Fall’s here!
The golds of the corn rows and soybean fields are taking on a deeper hue. The purple tinged, indigo, morning clouds rush past through the pale blue sky. The sun’s early attempt to warm the crisp morning air is in vain. The leaves on the trees are still primarily green but here and there tinges of red, yellow, orange are showing their splendid colors.
The golds of the corn rows and soybean fields are taking on a deeper hue. The purple tinged, indigo, morning clouds rush past through the pale blue sky. The sun’s early attempt to warm the crisp morning air is in vain. The leaves on the trees are still primarily green but here and there tinges of red, yellow, orange are showing their splendid colors.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
12/25/06 Christmas Day Musings
12/25/06
Christmas Day Musings
Brannon moved his bedroom today. The room sure looks empty. He’s the last one at home. Where did all the time go?
First there was Joleen, so loving and full of energy. She would run one spot to look at the flower and then dart off again when a butterfly caught her eye. When we lost her I knew she would come back into our lives to bless us again. The years were long but she’s grown into such a beautiful, intelligent, loving, strong, capable person.
Then there was Katrina. She was the blessing we waited on for so long. She taught me so much about how to be a good mom. She is so loving, always giving a hug and her beautiful smile to everyone. Her strength of will, her courage, and her beauty inside and out have made her an intelligent, accomplished person.
Brannon was next. He was always so curious. Nothing was safe from being taken apart to see how it ran. Usually I couldn’t put it back together but that was ok. Brannon tries to be the tough guy but he has such a loving heart that the tough guy doesn’t always win out. That is a good thing. It makes him tough but vulnerable. He’ll always be my baby, time can’t change that, but he’s grown into an intelligent, handsome, capable, loving, strong person.
Ken moved into our live and our hearts. He had so much love to give and no one to give it to. We changed all that for him. He changes all that for us. He gave us love, stability, discipline, memories; he put the joy back into our lives.
Along with Ken came his children. Not all of their lives turned out like his parent’s wish for them. There will always be an empty place in our hearts for Kenny and Kimberly who went astray. Angie broke away from her roots long enough to go find herself and then return with a husband, back to her roots.
Naomi has such a big heart. She taught us all to be more tolerant, to speak clearly from the heart so we could be understood, to work through life’s difficult times to see the beauty on the other side. Naomi works so hard to please everyone. She takes such joy in life. Her beauty shines in her eyes and on her radiant face when she smiles. She has grown leaps and bounds beyond our expectations.
Megan came into our lives so full of hatred for the world. She hurt so badly inside. When she chose to let her light shine she was witty, charming and talented, - although some of those skills were better off left alone. Megan could only shake her ghosts for a little while and went to live briefly with her grandma in Washington. But while she was with us there was never a dull day!
As the times have changed, children grown, they now have families of their own. We are blessed with new young adults now – Juan, Chip, and Samantha. I can’t wait to get to know them all better! I know they will enrich our lives since our children chose them to love, cherish, honor, and last a lifetime with.
So many things have changed in our lives. It’s been 33 years for Ken and 27 years for me that children have been the main focus of our lives. It is going to take a little time to figure out what needs to go in to fill that void. Christmas’s aren’t going to be the same but I know Len and I will find some other way to fill the void of grown children.
We are looking forward to this next phase with hope for the future and love in our hearts – and a few elastic apron strings. The memories are there and I’m looking forward to making many, many more.
I love you all!
Mom
Christmas Day Musings
Brannon moved his bedroom today. The room sure looks empty. He’s the last one at home. Where did all the time go?
First there was Joleen, so loving and full of energy. She would run one spot to look at the flower and then dart off again when a butterfly caught her eye. When we lost her I knew she would come back into our lives to bless us again. The years were long but she’s grown into such a beautiful, intelligent, loving, strong, capable person.
Then there was Katrina. She was the blessing we waited on for so long. She taught me so much about how to be a good mom. She is so loving, always giving a hug and her beautiful smile to everyone. Her strength of will, her courage, and her beauty inside and out have made her an intelligent, accomplished person.
Brannon was next. He was always so curious. Nothing was safe from being taken apart to see how it ran. Usually I couldn’t put it back together but that was ok. Brannon tries to be the tough guy but he has such a loving heart that the tough guy doesn’t always win out. That is a good thing. It makes him tough but vulnerable. He’ll always be my baby, time can’t change that, but he’s grown into an intelligent, handsome, capable, loving, strong person.
Ken moved into our live and our hearts. He had so much love to give and no one to give it to. We changed all that for him. He changes all that for us. He gave us love, stability, discipline, memories; he put the joy back into our lives.
Along with Ken came his children. Not all of their lives turned out like his parent’s wish for them. There will always be an empty place in our hearts for Kenny and Kimberly who went astray. Angie broke away from her roots long enough to go find herself and then return with a husband, back to her roots.
Naomi has such a big heart. She taught us all to be more tolerant, to speak clearly from the heart so we could be understood, to work through life’s difficult times to see the beauty on the other side. Naomi works so hard to please everyone. She takes such joy in life. Her beauty shines in her eyes and on her radiant face when she smiles. She has grown leaps and bounds beyond our expectations.
Megan came into our lives so full of hatred for the world. She hurt so badly inside. When she chose to let her light shine she was witty, charming and talented, - although some of those skills were better off left alone. Megan could only shake her ghosts for a little while and went to live briefly with her grandma in Washington. But while she was with us there was never a dull day!
As the times have changed, children grown, they now have families of their own. We are blessed with new young adults now – Juan, Chip, and Samantha. I can’t wait to get to know them all better! I know they will enrich our lives since our children chose them to love, cherish, honor, and last a lifetime with.
So many things have changed in our lives. It’s been 33 years for Ken and 27 years for me that children have been the main focus of our lives. It is going to take a little time to figure out what needs to go in to fill that void. Christmas’s aren’t going to be the same but I know Len and I will find some other way to fill the void of grown children.
We are looking forward to this next phase with hope for the future and love in our hearts – and a few elastic apron strings. The memories are there and I’m looking forward to making many, many more.
I love you all!
Mom
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