Home-Sweet-Home

Oh, the things we do for house and home,
because a house is the box that holds family and friends
and all the nice winter book and tea memories (if one can stay awake)

Flood update; no concrete evidence as to 'why' but we have the best guys on the job

and they figured out what to do to keep it from ever happening again, hopefully!

and because of this 'event' something to enjoy this winter...
planning a complete over-haul of the west and south-side flower-gardens!

Home;

Its scenes enchant the heart and mind

To cheer our creature care

It fuels Duty’s daily grind

With humble, thankful prayer

It nurtures diligence and dreams

A haven, kind and warm

When life is harsh and cold it beams

Its Beacon through the storm

Far more than a four wall embrace

Enfolds its precious clan

Where progress will never replace

This kind solace for man

A modest box of brick-wood-stone

It frames life’s dearest joys

As we work fingers to the bone

For darling girls and boys

And mother plants a bloom or two

To smile upon the sill

And fills a bowl with supper stew

To ward off hunger’s chill

And finds within its scenes the lines

To living’s sweetest poem

Where family, not house defines

The happiness of home

(…and though its thrills oft come with bills

That keeps the cash-cow thin

Nothing else in the world fulfills

Like Home-sweet-home’s glad grin)

© Janet Martin

When we were traveling this fall I remarked to Jim as we were having the continental breakfast in the motel how everyone in the room has one thing in common; we are all away from home.
Home is always that sweet-solace-goal no matter where we are
and how much we love what we are doing!
The thought that home waits at the other end when we are done is what makes it so worthwhile.
A nice metaphor for Heaven, isn't it, as we travel through life.
Home is waiting when we are done!

This is one of my favourite hymns

To Keepers of Home Sweet Home..

"What, no Thanksgiving Bake-Buffet??? but it's tradition"

said Victoria, after my suggestion of 'maybe not this year'

so I baked,

(if only to preserve a little sameness in life's constant change)

She tends the Flame, preserves a touch of sameness where Time’s tide

Is bent on change and the estrangements of its sultan stride

She keeps the kettle on, stirs supper-soup and hums a hymn

Turns on the lights of home sweet home when gloaming shadows dim

She guards the hearth where innocence of childhood days are doffed

Its laughter, sweet upon the lips spirals to echoes soft

As Time goes by she comes to learn how sacred-swift the role

Of discipline and cultivation of body-clothed soul

How small may seem the menial task that fills her résumé

And oft, when asked ‘what do you do?’ she knows not what to say

Strange how the mop-sweep-fold and keep of homespun commonness

Cannot convince the by-stander 'tis earthly heaven-ness

The plant and gather season is a smooth and subtle sweep

Baskets hold fruit and flowers; most of harvest rests heart-deep

She weeps for the full joy of it, oft caped in noise and mess

And treasures the kind measure of love’s humble happiness

She knows that she cannot afford to overlook her charge

Soon, far too soon young heads are turned by the wide world at large

And thus she bows her head, pleads for a Higher Hand to guide

As she tries to preserve a touch of sameness in time’s tide

© Janet Martin

This morning I am so thankful for what a good night's sleep bestows...
invigoration where weariness the night before felt eternal!

Homage to Home...and Welcome Home, Dave update!

Too, too many 'broken' homes...

 How do we make a happy home?
With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Eph.4:2

Let's do all we can to make home a haven from life's storm, then...

Here the cares of life grow lighter

Here heart-hunger heals its groan

In the joy of the familiar

And the love of home, sweet home

Here the pull of give and taking

Fills a hull of wood-brick-stone

Here the memories we’re making

Turns a house into a home

Here a precious treasure; people

Here the grace by which they come

Makes us humbly, holy thankful

For this place that we call home

Here we gather, father, mother

Sister, brother, grab a seat

Happiness, a simple supper

In the peace of home so sweet

Here the bond of fond, fond laughter

Here the tenderness of tear

Here echoes that linger after

They have gone so far from here

Here the bud becomes a flower

Petals pressed into a poem

For here is life’s kindest hour

In the love of home, sweet home

© Janet Martin

Dave had one goal in mind as soon as the pain began to ease...to go home!

Tonight's first-day-at-home update from Karen Ropp-Martin
Hello everyone,

I would like to thank everyone who is praying and helping as we adjust to a new normal for a while! Yes, Dave came home around 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Last night he slept in one recliner chair in our living room and I slept in the other. We had a good night. He seems able to rest comfortably in the recliner. This morning Janet(Dave’s sister) came by and did a little cleaning. Donna H dropped in with coffees. She hung out, as well as folded some laundry and also picked up a few groceries. Pam W dropped off some stew for us and some homemade cinnamon buns. YUM! It is so amazing to have so many family and friends helping us through this time of trusting. We appreciate it greatly. All these little things add up to SO much and lighten the load so that I can just look after Dave. Luanne from Church is bringing supper tonight for the whole family and Dave’s parents are bringing a different recliner for Dave to try; one that tilts forward to make getting out easier.

I do admit it is so nice to have him home. I’m able to put my feet up and rest when he rests and be here for him when he needs something (especially at night) and it is going more smoothly then I thought it would. Things will probably come up, but with family, friends and God we will make it through.

A lot of people wondered how Feebee (our/Dave’s dog) did with Dave coming home. She was excited but she did really well. Josh had her on her leash so at first she was just so excited because she thought she was going for a walk, then she noticed Dave and just went up to his chair. Joshua made sure she didn't jump on him. Feebee is now eating because everything is back to normal!

Thanks and please continue the prayers as I’ve said many times before. We sure do feel them!

This is Feebee when I left Dave and Karen's house the other night.
I dropped some things off and was expecting the usual

jump-wag-knock-me-over greeting

but that night she just followed me with a question-mark on her face...

Blooms to Tend

Blooms to tend

They wend their way from bud and seed

To gardens, Hearts

Where innocence and wonder leads

Us back to where

Each journey starts

And we are gladder than we were

Before the days

That drew our thought

From innocence and wonder to

A place of

Simple joys forgot

But now with

Reverence and love

We thank the Lord

For days that send

Sweet innocence and wonder of

A little home

With blooms to tend

© Janet Martin

Home-Sweet-Home Winter

Tea kettle humming

And little child laughing

Snowflake-stars strumming

The stark winter tree

Supper-soup simmers

Street-light rhinestones glimmer

And sunset-sea shimmers

Soulful symphony

White winter-whispers

Slow snuggles, soft slippers
Snow-morning pictures

Steeped-tea afternoon

Rock-a-bye baby

Oh my, how I love you

Tick-tock, don’t hurry

What Time steals too soon

Snowman so jolly

Pat-a-cake, Polly

Tidy up dollies

And puzzles and toys

Story-book stages

Rouse princes and sages

And turn-the-page places

Of simple-sweet joys

Blue twilight heaven
Supper-chatter lingering
Beethoven's 7th
On the stereo
 Sock-footed dances
Where wind-moan enhances
Late-day dream-romances
Of Old England, oh

Flower-pot gardens

And fireside-pardons

Rosy-cheeked children

And hot-chocolate mirth

Sky-loft flings splendor

Dusk sings Love Me Tender

Where Home-sweet-home-winter

Is the best place on earth

© Janet Martin