Picnic at the Park

Background music of shriek-laughter-chatter

Maple umbrellas invite passer-by

The sky is like a giant blue platter

Serving up sunshine and soft, dreamy sigh

Time is a thing to be kindly forgotten

Spread out a quilt, picnic basket and book

Be a small part of this world full of children

‘Tommy, take turns now, and Susie, don’t push’

Bird-song and wind-song and brook-song, ah, beauty

Nature’s best minstrels perform tirelessly

Teasing our minds from time’s incessant duty

Wakening wonder where wishes would be

We are never too old to be young-ish

Let’s, you and I, linger until it is dark

For life is too short to be too old for picnics

Or peanut-butter sandwiches at the park

© Janet Martin

When I read this line ' Several weeks ago some of us met one of our blogging friends Rosella for a picnic in the park' found here, it immediately sparked a mood for a picnic in the park. 

Maybe tomorrow;-)?

Happy Saturday to you all!

Heart-Harbours...

It's been a week of family-friends-flowers-memories...

Who could ask for anything more?

Not in tomorrow

Or yesterday

Today is the day

Where memories are made

Moment by moment

With minuscule ease

Forever gathers

In memories

Who-what-where-when

Each tick of the clock

Slips to a vault

That no key can unlock

…save thought as it reaches

To touch what it sees

In pictures safe-harbored

In memories

© Janet Martin

Thank-you everyone, for a fabulous week whether it was a face-book message/greeting, a face-to-face visit/meeting, an e-mail, a card, phone-call, blog-posts, etc.
God bless you as you have blessed me!

p.s. If you wonder why I have a pic of the little guy I babysit digging, in among the celebrating its the memory attached to it that makes it cutely memorable...

"Janet, come quick" he calls excitedly so I 'come quick' and ask what for and he replies,
"I was digging and I dug up a bunch of golden ants and now they are running around like crazy! COOL!!"

Before We Fly...

 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, 

for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; 

Isa.41:10

She didn’t ask for this:

Conversations that include words like

Tumors and chemo

Hemoglobin, anemia, nausea, pain

So, all she can do

In spite of Unknowns

Is trust in this promise;

God’s love will sustain

Futile the fretting

Of why, why, why

This is but the setting

Before we fly

© Janet Martin

Sending hugs and prayers to my friend Diane who is up for chemo-round two today.

Will you send a hug and prayer for her and Steve too?

Not Gathered Yet...

A new day draws across the place

Of grace and spent faux pas

From love’s replenishing embrace

Mercy extends its cause

The laws of time are such that we

Never repeat one gasp

My, my, how soft the poetry

Of it tickles our clasp

To have and hold; ah, seamless shift

That lifts the dark again

Before its bark is set adrift

On past’s unyielding plain

A new days draws its sacred breath

Where death of eons lies

Beneath the wellspring of new birth

Hope fills unmeasured skies

To have and hold; ah, what a gift

Our God did not forget

But lifts the veil that sets adrift

Moments not gathered yet

© Janet Martin

This week has been filled with moments overflowing with family and friends,

and with a few weddings at the end of it, will continue to be so.
Had a very special evening out with friends.
Thank-you, gals;-)

It also has its un-expectations. 

Our day out for Emily's birthday was shortened a bit because she needed to take her hubby to see a Dr. after an injury at work. 

Pray for quick healing for his strained back-muscles;(

Hopefully it will not require too much time off work!

Trust-lessons are always hard...

 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:8

A Mother to Daughter Birthday Poem

From one birthday celebration to the next! 

Yesterday's memories are precious(a glimpse at a few with the little ones I babysit and family:)

...today's memories are waiting to be made.

Blessed to be a mother for 24 years!

Dear daughter,

Often I pray that God

Would be with you through the day

And you would sense his Presence

In whatever comes your way

I ask Him to protect you

And to keep you in His care

For wisdom to safeguard you

From deception’s subtle snare

I pray He grants you strength

For tasks that love and life begot

For courage to be faithful

Even when others are not

And oh, that He would bless you

And be present in your home

But sometimes I forget to thank Him

For the woman you’ve become

I forget to thank Him for

The loveliness of you

Your friendly face, your giving ways

Your heart, kind, caring and true

And I forget to thank Him for

Memories of happiness

And how you have made motherhood

A joy words can’t express

…your willingness to lend a hand

Your friendship through the years

And all the things you’ve taught me

Through love’s laughter and its tears

Dear daughter, on this special day

I pray a humble prayer

And thank God for the gift of you

And the special daughter you are

Love always,

Mom