Keeping 'Good Old Days' Alive...

It's another buses-cancelled day so no kiddos for childcare...

Leaving some extra opportunity to practice what I poem 😅💕

Pour a second cup, dark umber

Because I start and finish with the same stanza

 this poem can be read from the top down 

or bottom up!

Put a kettle on to simmer

Watch flame-dancers twist and jive

Let the simple joys of winter

Keep the good, old days alive

Ease the angst of hurried lunch-breaks

Like a sabbath middle-day

Count the stars that fall in snowflakes

Wake the child that lost its way

Watch the birds without vain fretting

About what we cannot know

He who feeds sparrows is setting

Tomorrow’s ducks in a row

Let prudence and leisure mingle

Home-sweet-domesticity

While chores, books and gales rekindle

Good old days waiting to be

Pour a second cup, dark umber

It is winter. Sit and nod

Sweat and toil of summer slumber

Aching feet rest, slipper-shod

Taste a bit ‘o Brit tradition

Have a biscuit with your tea

Sometimes happiness is hidden

In plain-sight-simplicity

Let nature nourish and gladden

Gather barren branch bouquets

Plant a bowl-sized indoor garden

Let winter thrill and amaze

Make music with moment measure

Shake a fist at sparrow-hawk

Practice culinary pleasure

Do not haste the hungry clock

Crosswords, puzzles, scrabble, kittens

Paint a pic with poem-ink

Don a parka, hat and mittens

Let frost kisses turn cheeks pink

Savor winter’s favors slowly

Let its flavors steep each sense

With thanksgiving, meek and holy

Drink in argent ambience

Put a kettle on to simmer

Watch flame-dancers twist and jive

Let the simple joys of winter

Keep the good, old days alive

© Janet Martin

Life's Best Gifts...

Today was bittersweet; the last day for one of the tots in my childcare

because he is going to be a big brother soon!

But oh, what a day it was!

... a medley of messes and music!

Beginning with a most spectacular unveiling...

...and as much as I miss the tots when they leave,

 I miss their moms just as much (if not more)!

because they've become dear friends forever!

Life’s best gifts do not fit inside a box

But often take us by tender surprise

As what appears quite commonplace unlocks

A vault of wealth dressed in darling disguise

Of innocence of little girls and boys

Reminding us of childhood’s purest joys

Of happiness gift-wrapped in mess and noise

And beauty we don’t always recognize

…until the past claims its inherent due

With age old ways that stun us constantly

Exchanging what we are accustomed to

For something new to startle you and me

Reminding us to live-laugh-love-and-pray

To take the time to treasure each today

Because The Present is a gift; its tray

Laden without tomorrow’s guarantee

The gifts that fit in boxes bring us cheer

And let a loved one know that they are prized

But the gifts that we hold forever dear

Are often hug and smile and teacup-sized

As hours like flower gardens unfold

Lavish extravagance of moment-gold

Granting gifts that only the heart can hold

With what is often commonplace-disguised

We often wonder at the way time flies

Like feet wearing holes through new pairs of socks

The thunder of What Was mingles with sighs

Of thankfulness for what today unlocks

In skylines running rife with life to seize

Before morn’s frame is filled with memories

Where sooner or later each heart agrees

Life’s best gifts do not fit inside a box

The gifts we cherish most are works of art

Forged into friendships from life’s highs and lows

The keepsakes that we cradle in the heart

Are love’s most fond and favored mementos

Of what at first glance may seem like not much

Just work and play and hope and pray and such

Until we slow enough to taste and touch

Too many gifts to count, that grace bestows

© Janet Martin

Of what at first glance may seem like not much

Just work and play and hope and pray and such...

below, in the summer, her favorite snack is popsicles!

in the winter I think her favorite snack is icicles😍

Every good and perfect gift is from above...

James 1:17

Establishing Familiarity (in a world of change)

Happy, happy December!

...and below a few photos of inspiration for today's poem!

the joy of small child's curiosity...

(and his delight at his 'baby-in-basket'

just like yesterday's Baby-in-a-basket'💗💝)

Tried and true recipes and the surprise

Of trying something new and loving it...

(I wish I had the ingred. on hand for the mango salsa!

Some other time!

And when we wake, ah bliss, fresh-brewed coffee...

The Word of God, steadfast and absolute...

Things do not stay the way they used to be

Progress presses the old ways to adapt

And change; estranged familiarity

Can wake wishes for seasons, echo-wrapped

Thus, bidding us to seek with meeker awe

The things that are the way they used to be

The unthwartable ilk of nature’s law

The joy of small child’s curiosity

The thrill as winter-heavens spills white stars

The hope that every Christmas is about

The happiness of refilled canning jars

The yard where puppies romp and children shout

The farmer that still whistles as he works

The gardener as happy as can be

Where despite sweat and toil, Eden still lurks

In every petalled plume and bird and tree

The unrivaled wonder in new-born babe

The tiring, tender toll of parenthood

Fond memories that we would never trade

The unshakeable truth that God is good

Tried and true recipes and the surprise

Of trying something new and loving it

The art of learning, (even though time flies)

To slow our hurried steps and sit a bit 

The black and white beauty of snowy nights

The beckoning warm welcome of sweet home

The comfort of tea-book-slipper delights

The courage to bare hearts into a poem

The option to use ink, paper and pen

The sentimental sweetness in farewells

We know will turn into hello again

Either on earth or in yon citadels

The friendliness of flowers, every one

A perfectly profound intricacy

A well-earned rest by zest of labor won

And when we wake, ah bliss, fresh-brewed coffee

The Word of God, steadfast and absolute

Regardless of post-modern heresy

The evidence science cannot refute

I AM, who WAS, IS and ALWAYS WILL BE

Music, a foretaste of eternity

When worship’s melodies will never cease

The heavens declaring God’s majesty

In every wondrous welkin-masterpiece

The momentum of moments meting change

Where so much is not like it used to be

Lavishes us with what none can estrange

Establishing familiarity

© Janet Martin

September Bliss

 

Bliss, sweet bliss

A book and tea

With crickets and zinnias for company...

Bliss, sweet bliss

Nigh fair as June;

September Sunday afternoon

Bliss, sweet bliss

Time cannot touch

Life's simplest pleasures we love so much

Bliss, oh sweetest

Bliss of all

Summer's chair perched on the brink of fall

~Janet Martin~

above page from the book The Shape of a Year by Jean Hersey

Wonder-joy or Joy-wonder...

This poem was sparked by the caption above the first photo from Saturday's post.

Thank God for joy's wonder in life's changeless things

like laughter and love as a child's childhood wings...

(*grandkiddos tucked in with 'great-gramma quilts'

Quilts/comforters made by my mom)

They both graduated to bigger beds and new blankets last week because

we are waiting for new sibling to arrive!!!

This poem is a thankful medley of corralled recent joys...

Thank God for joy's wonder in life's changeless things

Like love’s many splendors as Child's childhood wings

...like bedtime sunshine from radiant smiles spilt

As youngsters are tucked beneath *'great-gramma-quilts'/warm handmade quilts

For four-season favour’s tender metaphors

For sweet satisfaction from completed chores

For spring gardens not pestilence-riddled yet

For doors flung and fettered by sunrise and set

For floors freshly polished with pastures of green

For hello, farewell and love’s points in between

For each ‘what’s for supper’s’ God-granted reply

From panful to plateful to stomach-full sigh

For hugs, hearty handshakes and ‘long-time-no-sees’

That turn, in a twinkle, to fond memories

For mischievous puppies and children to scold

For babies and bouquets and bushels to hold

For tables to gather around, for a chair

High on a hilltop, with wind tousling our hair

For spring birds returning after winter spent

For blue heavens crowning earth’s dust-covenant

Of seedtime and harvest, cold, heat, night and day

For brook-song that sparkles on its merry away

For each friendly flower that brightens life’s path

Through trouble’s dark hour and its aftermath

For gratitude deepened because of a Cross

For thankfulness sweetened not by gain, but loss

For courage refurbished by kind word or smile

For laughter to lighten the weight/wait of The While

For wishes recanted that never came true

Where God’s mercy granted a wiser ‘thank-you’

For holy appointments like ‘right here, right now’

Of ‘nose to the grindstone’ and ‘hand to the plow’

For life’s simple bests that money cannot buy

…cloud-frigates a-float in an ocean of sky

Orchard-wicks rekindled with pink blossom-frill

Final flurries swindled of bluster and chill

For pleasures made possible because of ink

Like poetry-treasures and good books to drink

Like lingering over a page-stunning tableau

Mesmerized by the sheer surprise of the show

Like finding a friend when we least expect it

So, then we just sit and enjoy for a bit

Before paper-thin farewells, page-turned appease

Dictional echoes and deferred fantasies

As we turn to tangible matters of fact

Like laundry-mountains and dirty dishes stacked

Like love-letters penned by those still near and dear

We thank God for joy’s wonders right now, right here

© Janet Martin

For pleasures made possible because of ink

Like poetry-treasures and good books to drink

Like lingering over a page-stunning tableau...

For spring birds returning after winter spent...

For blue heavens crowning earth’s dust-covenant

Of seedtime and harvest, cold, heat, night and day...

Life's Little Luxuries

Matt.11:28-29

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

 and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;

 for I am meek and lowly in heart: 

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

As our heavy-laden hearts pour out to God 

as we think of those suffering sorrows 

of war, sickness and death, 

suddenly our eyes are opened to innumerable luxuries...

This poem could quite easily quadruple in length!

(but due to six 'little luxuries' arriving any moment

this is it for now!)😉

God bless you as you thank Him for your

own version of life's little luxuries

Life’s little luxuries can be easy to overlook

Like fresh-brewed cups of coffee, dream-delights of a cook-book...

The everyday enchantment of God’s poetry run wild

(WOW! did it EVER run wild yesterday!!)

The heaven-ness of Happy, kissed with laughter of a child...

The pitter-pat of little feet becoming big too fast...

Complimentary masterpieces, sun and shadow cast...

Life’s little luxuries can be easy to overlook

Like fresh-brewed cups of coffee, dream-delights of a cook-book

The everyday enchantment of God’s poetry run wild

The heaven-ness of Happy, kissed with laughter of a child

The pitter-pat of little feet becoming big too fast

Complimentary masterpieces, sun-and-shadow cast

An afternoon when overhead March sunbeams melt the sky

Into impressions of a sea with cloud-ships drifting by

Life’s little luxuries abound in every shape and size

To sweeten Struggle’s common ground and take us by surprise

While we weather the ups and downs that it seems, needs must be

To hone the hurts and hopes of love into humility

To make us more aware of what today would like to teach

And wake our wandering wants to wonder-fountains within reach

And to pay earnest heed to what we discount, far too oft

Before the brunt of moments turns to mist where echoes waft

Life’s little luxuries cannot be recognized in haste

Slow down, slow down, the hour groans with so much joy to taste

Where He who helps us carry cares is ever undeterred

He hears our prayers and gives us rest as we lean on His Word

And then our eyes are opened to the beauties of the hour

That spills to Duty’s common cup a smile, a child, a flow’r

His love none can exceed; each morn His renewed mercies brim

He knows exactly what we need before we ask of Him

Life’s little luxuries like sufficient strength for the day

Like bird-song in the garden as the dark is drawn away

Like knowing, no matter what is or was or lies before

Nothing is too hard for the God we worship and adore

Like finding the gold lining, you, in overcoats of gray

Then letting the sheer happiness of Us drive gloom away

Makes what may at first glance appear like commonalities

A wellspring overflowing with life’s little luxuries

© Janet Martin

Below, the verse to which I cling, as

I lift (some years-long) requests to our God.

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh.

 Is there anything too hard for Me?

Jer.32:27

Like finding the gold lining, you, in overcoats of gray

Then letting the sheer happiness of Us drive gloom away...

(used with permission)

Until Open Doors Close...

Still struggling to feel top-notch

but still, so much to delight in!

Thankfulness brings to simple things a wellspring of delight...

A few delights from yesterday and today.

Keepsake kindnesses ...

Bushes a-bloom with birdies

Just chillin' whilst snoozin' in the sunshine

Compromises...

I'm thankful that, in spite of strife this life runs rife with cheer

Love’s font consoles and fills want’s holes with goals beyond this world

It authors hope and helps us cope with words like ‘nope’ and ‘fear’

Love snuffs the noise of bluff's/stuff's decoys with joy’s glad hymns unfurled

Thankfulness brings to simple things a wellspring of delight

The pleasure of the treasure of the measure of God's grace

Always enough, no matter what, Love fits us for the fight

And turns our eyes toward a Prize beyond the whys we face

I’m thankful for the open door that each new morning metes

Where faith is wrought and trust is taught by what we cannot see

But surely know, come high or low, no want or woe defeats

The kindness of the Giver’s/Father’s love, enough eternally

How lovely Is the gift of This, His mercy new each morn

A fount that spills four-season-thrills as hills and hollows brim

With flawless laud to gracious God where awed hearts, weary-worn

Join nature’s throng in joyful song; all praise belongs to Him

This blunder-full, heave-ho, push-pull is wonder-full because

We recognize with each sunrise grace undisguised; it flows

In molten ink across earth’s brink in pink and gold applause

To cheer us on from dawn to dawn until open doors close

© Janet Martin

1 Chronicles 16:34 (ESV)

Oh give thanks to the LORD, 

for He is good;

 for His steadfast love endures forever!