Soaking up the Son

    For some reason, this never published; and, because today it was 45* and wayy windy, and I was frozen while watching a parade with my granddaughter, I am going to publish it anyway!

            It was a blustery winter day; the kind that makes you wish you could just   curl up before a

        roaring fire with a good book, a cup of tea and a good dog at your feet. Instead, I was at   

        work, outdoors, freezing.  Now, I love what I do,  but there are times that I have to think I 

        must be mad to be working outdoors on days like this. Nonetheless, here I was, cutting through

        a courtyard to the other side of the nursing home, shoveling the icy snow/sleet that had 

        accumulated on the sidewalks

.            Because I love the outdoors, I enjoy taking in my surroundings all the sights and sounds of 

        nature, and this day was no different, other than the terrible cold wind.
              As I came closer to the building, where the chapel is, the sun came bursting through the dark 

       gray clouds, and shone upon the cross atop the chapel steeple.  There, sitting one on either side of 

       the cross on this wicked winter day, was a pair of doves and then it hit me-they were soaking up     

       the sun!     
              Their sitting there on this cloudy, dreary day reminded me that even in our darkest hour, when     

       we can't seem to see daylight or remember what it feels like, that is when  we need to turn to the                Son,  our light and our salvation, our warmth on cold blustery days, our light unto our path, 
the One who 

       will lead us Home.

  So, when times are dark, remember the doves  in the courtyard-turn to the Father, and soak up the Son!!!

Things I am Thankful For

   Pre script: Something I started doing many years ago was writing down the simple things I was thankful for that day; it was during a rather rough time in my life and I needed that every night reminder of all the things that were good in my life. I kept doing this for years, why I quit I don’t know; I believe I will begin again.  Anyway, I ran across this ‘list’ this week from Oct. of 2002 and thought I would share it.  On this particular night, they came out in a poem; that happens often with me, even when I speak; some weird quirk in my brain loves to rhyme. (reminds me of a bit from Princess Bride-for all of you who know that movie!)  So, without further adieu:

Nice wood pen my ‘honey’ gave me

Electric blankets and flannel sheets

Someone to snuggle with when it’s cold

A love so true it will never grow old

For family and friends, and a roof o’er our head

Food on the table and nice soft beds

Each evening I jot down a list to remind me

Of the blessings I have but don’t always see

I put them on paper; they’re in black and white

So this is my list on this Monday night.

Why this started rhyming I don’t rightly know

But I’ll just keep writing and let the words flow

For “Jack the Wonder Dog’ for herding pigs,

And Max, who’s learning, tho he’s not very big.

For ‘Tommy kisses’ and Tigger at play

And the other cats who have come to stay

For the Rooster crowing before sunrise

And for the hens laying eggs-extra large size!

For our children four and the love they give

For their Grandma who teaches us all how to live

For freedoms we sometimes take for granted

And heeding Mom’s words “bloom where you’re planted”

For Kansas sunsets here at Sunset Acres

And for all the blessings bestowed by our Maker,

………..Thank You, Lord, Amen.

Post Scripts: Tommy was our 23 lb tom cat I rescued in the middle of a snowstorm after he had been hit on I-70. He loved to come up to you and ‘kiss’ your nose. What a great cat he was! Jack was my awesome Austrailian Shepherd, and Max was his ‘understudy’-a beautiful tri colored Corgi.  Sunset Acres is where I grew up N. of Salina. The house flooded and was bulldozed in 2007; broke all of our hearts, especially Moms-she really loved that place!