It's May!

 

May—one of the most loved months of the year; When nature bursts out, fresh, beautiful, and colorful, after the cold dry winter. And yet, as much as I itch to get out into my garden, I can’t. I just don’t have the energy after this crazy last year. I’m ready for earth’s rebirth to beauty if I can talk someone else into doing the work! We hired a landscaper to extend a couple of our terraces and make a couple of raised beds. I can’t get flowers till they are finished though.  It is making me crazy with impatience instead of enjoying my impatiens. What do you like to plant?

 

There is a long list of things celebrated in May. I was surprised. Here, are just a few of them.

Which of the following might you be most easily motivated to observe?

Top of Form

• Better Sleep Month
• Correct Posture Month
• Employee Health and Fitness Month
• Get Caught Reading Month
• Personal History Awareness Month
• Revise Your Work Schedule Month
•  
  

I think I must have chosen Get caught reading month. I have read so many books in the last year of semi -idleness during the pandemic. I have discovered a lot of new authors to enjoy. I even became one, collecting my poetry and publishing it on Amazon.

 

Personal history awareness would be a good one too. Have you done anything notable, curious, or memorable in the last year? I’m not sure my descendants would care about the six quilts, or four afghans I made, but they might enjoy reading my words.

 

And I guess I’d better hurry and Revise My Work Schedule Month before the summer hits. Let’s see…..DO SOMETHING! Today I will start painting the cover for my next book of poetry, The Pregnant Elephant.

It is in our idleness, in our dreams, that the submerged truth sometimes comes to the top.-Virginia Woolf

 

Idleness is not doing nothing. Idleness is being free to do anything.-Floyd Dell

 

What do you want to accomplish this year? I would like to hear.

Hallellujah

 

Hallelujah!

After thirteen months, I finally got to go back to church. This doesn’t matter very much to a lot of people, but as I sat waiting for the Sacrament to be passed, I literally wept. The words that filled my mind were, “Free at last! I am free! I am free! I am free! I have been attending church most of this time by Zoom, but, though a miracle, it just isn’t the same. I have been going to church every week, except after various surgeries, babies, funerals, and vacations since I was two years old. My dad had a picture of me trotting down the block behind my older brothers in my nightie determined not to be left out of Sunday School. I suspect that after taking my picture, he scooped me up and took me home again to get me dressed and fed before we joined my brothers for Sacrament meeting.

One of our hymns from my early childhood was--

Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning Robert B Baird

Welcome, welcome, Sabbath morning;

Now we rest from every care.

Welcome, welcome is thy dawning,

Holy Sabbath, day of prayer.

Loving teachers kindly greet us

As we meet in Sunday School,

Where they labor hard to teach us

By the Savior’s golden rule.

I don’t agree with the churches who didn’t shut down during the last year as we fought the pandemic, because I think we need to care about those around us and protect them, but I understand them. Life and its hardships are easier to accept and survive with friends, family, and God by our side to comfort and help.

I had a friend many years ago, who lost a child to an illness. He started growing illegal Marijuana to pay for health care. When the child died, the marriage broke up and church going stopped. We all choose different methods to react and heal from tragedy, but I treasure the love and comfort I received from Heavenly Father and my friends, family and church to help me heal after the death of my own son. I hope that during this next year we will all grow closer and kinder as our world hopefully goes back to a closer rendition of the life we use to know.

Happy Easter

 

Spring Bouncing

 

Spring

Bouncing through

The air

Dancing in

The breeze

Dripping on

The blossoms

April’s here.

 

It, isn’t quite April but, I woke up to a warmer sunnier day than we have had for a while. It was so bright while I was having breakfast, that I almost couldn’t see my oatmeal. The cats were stretched out in a sunbeam on the floor by the door. Birds were walking about outside looking for seeds on the patio. My husband and I have both had our second vaccine shots and our daughter, her first. She says that in six more weeks we can have a hug. Things are looking a little brighter.

 

Did you know that March was National Quilting month? For the first time in many years, I didn’t get a quilt finished in March. I do have five tops made but not finished. And I crocheted five large afghans. That felt so warm and comforting on a cold grey day to be enveloped in yards, and yards of yarn. The cat enjoyed it too!

April, on the other hand is National Poetry month. Write a poem! Let the world know how you’re feeling. It feels good to get in touch with your soul.

 

Saturday is the beginning or the church’s general conference and some people are getting nervous. Is it the end of times? Are we worried? Or prepared? And Sunday is Easter. Rejoice. And get in touch with your soul. 

In Psalm 118:24

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

President Russell M Nelson Said of this scripture,

"We live in the most vibrant era in the history of the world. I wake up every morning eager for the adventures of the day. And I hope you feel that same exuberance for the gift of life. Though our world is filled with serious challenges, I am optimistic about the future and confident about the fundamental goodness of humankind. I marvel at the compassionate outreach we see constantly from the leaders and members of other faiths and from people of goodwill everywhere who seek to reduce human suffering whenever it is found… I give you my assurance that regardless of the world’s condition and your personal circumstances, you can face the future with optimism and joy—if you have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel."

Living With Consequences

 

 

Hello!

How are you all doing? We managed to get our vaccines yesterday. Today we are paying the consequences. After listening to news reports as, different dignitaries around the country are taking the Covid 19 vaccine, I find that the pain in the shoulder is indeed worse than for a flue shot, and taking longer for me to get over. I am counting the days. My husband doesn’t seem to be as susceptible. The technician said I had really thick skin, and my husband’s is quite thin. What are the consequences? I stay warmer than he does. That little layer of fat makes good insulation. And, I survive the cat jumping into my arms better that he does. Those big black claws leave mighty black bruises in thin skin!

Today I got an email from Ancestry.com with an obituary for my Aunt Inez. I never knew her. My father was five years old when Inez was born, right in the middle of the 1919 flu epidemic. It is interesting to see how many things are the same in the flue epidemic and the current one. For example, many people didn’t think the families in 1919 wore masks, but I have and old picture of my mother’s cousins wearing masks as children. As a consequence of that flue epidemic, my grandmother had to give birth to Inez in quarantine with the midwife outside the window.

Another consequence of having the Covid 19 vaccine, is knowing that in another month I will feel more comfortable leaving the house, and maybe seeing my kids again. I feel like I’ve been held hostage by nanobots, creatures so small they are invisible to the naked eye. I hope you are doing well, staying healthy and staying sane. What have you done to stay sane in the last year? I’ve been writing.

One of my friends in Virginia gave me her ten favorite words to write a poem for her. This is the poem. We had been talking about things we should edit from our lives. What would be the consequence of eliminating some of our faults?

 

Brutal Editing

There is too much stuff
Cluttering my life—
Angry Thoughts,
Words I’ve yelled and wish I could
Take back
Deeds I’ve left undone.
I need to do some brutal editing
And leave some room for sunshine.

Feelings

 

This was sitting on my computer this week and I don’t remember where I got it from. I do feel like it was meant for me though. This last couple of months seems to be filled with anger, hurt feelings, and very disagreeable situations all around us. I wish we could all just take one day at a time to focus on things that we can do to brighten our families, our neighborhood, our country, our world.

Every day get up and say, what can I do in the world today?

I went to bed last night with this little phrase running through my mind, “Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure….” I almost recognized it, but not quite. What was my mind trying to tell me? By the time morning came, I had it.

Its nice that my mind will work things out for me while I’m busy sleeping.

 

Have I done Any Good in The World Today?

Lyrics

1. Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone’s burden been lighter today?

Because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they needed my help was I there?

 [Chorus]

Then wake up and do something more

Than dream of your mansion above.

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,

A blessing of duty and love.

 

How can we apply this song by Will L. Thompson, 1847–1909, alt.

Have I done Any Good in The World Today to salve the anger of those around us?

How can we soften their feelings?

FEELINGS

 

A man once found a lot of garbage surrounding his family.  Some of it was caused by himself and some by people who passed by. He picked it up and filled a bag with it.  Now, what was he going to do with it? He tried carrying it around with him everywhere he went, but it was too heavy for his shoulders. he tried passing it around to his friends and neighbors to lessen his burden. But his friends and neighbors didn’t like that. Finally, he dug a large hold in his backyard and buried it. And with the dirt from the hole, he built a castle.

 

Go get out your shovel

10,000 Steps

 

Ten Thousand Steps

 

“A thousand steps a day”, she said,

A thousand steps!

“Today, I thought I’d stay in bed!”

“A thousand steps!”

She smiles at me

Eyes full of glee.

The sunrise waits

The camera’s on

The music plays

Winter birds song

She walks into the quiet hills

The view around me gives me chills

Dead branches screen the mountain  tops

The rain from tree limbs loudly plops

Today I’m glad, I walked, I said,

Ten Thousand steps

Happy Thanksgiving During the Shutdown

 

Thanksgiving day! I don't think I have ever cooked a 3 lb turkey before. Its not the first time it has been just the two of us for Thanksgiving. One year we invited the missionaries but they called that morning to say they got a better offer. One year we got into the car and drove to North Carolina from Washington DC. We didn't think about all the stores being closed for the holiday. We enjoyed Thanksgiving in the motel with a cup each of Ramen chicken noodle soup. One year we drove from Virginia to West Virginia. The restaurants in town took turns being opened on Sundays and holidays. Everyone in town was welcome to join at a community dinner at one large table. Small towns are fun. For a couple of years we picked up a turkey dinner from Boston Market and for a couple of years I got out of the hospital on the day before or Thanksgivimg morning. My daughter cooked one year (her first experience)

and my sister in law the other time. Sharing is more fun. The wild turkeys continue to stop by the door to see if we need them or if we have any spare corn. I am thankful for families , children, husbands, and friends who share our lives and experiences with us. Next year I hope to have company and family over, a piece of mincemeat pie, and leftovers. Today we are having a scoop of chocolate chip chocolate ice cream to go with our tiny turkey, mashed potatoes, and corn. Happy Thanksgiving where ever you are and stay safe! #givethanks