The Most Beautiful Part

It slips away in misty gray

Over the hill so blue

No backward glance, no long last dance

…my happy day with you

In oceans aloft and ever so soft

With nothing but a whispered sigh

It pushes away, my beautiful day

Into the by and by

And now as I gaze to the sunset blaze

Silently, tenderly

I fold to my heart, its most beautiful part

A precious memory

Janet~

Replay from a year ago...Reasons

Moments…clamoring for my attention
Then dissolving before I can give them
Their just due
Duty……in every shape and dimension
Crowding around me, distracting me
From you

Blessing…imperceptible in its grandeur
Of minutest and invisible detail
Surrounds me
Life….. a passage of splendor
For I am slipping and sliding toward Your
Arms around me

Seasons…marked by changing faces
Evolving into a lifetime
Of yesterdays
Reasons…..silent, motionless traces
Outlining thoughts of You
In poignant praise

Janet~

Busy day...time for a re-play:)
It is how I feel...a constant slipping and sliding toward victory!

Rolling Pin Collection

 

Mary, thank-you for reminding me to do this...it is a long ever-due promise I made to Megan, at Lilacs and Lavender. They used to be in baskets...as you'll notice on the last few photos, I have moved some up on top of my cupboards where they don't need to be dusted quite as often:)See comments for further explanations on how this came to be...:)

Dream to the Stars...

 Picture source: http://vi.sualize.us/mohadese/face/

Dream to the stars and beyond, my dear child

Dream to the depths of the sea

Wanting and wishes are what spur you higher

To what God has planned you to be

So dream with the Keeper of stars in your eyes

Dream with your hand in His grip

For He holds the plan for each day of our lives

As moments to memory slip

Equip your dreams with the wisdom and might

That grounds us in eternal truth

Let His wonder fill your wee heart with delight

Remember Him now, in your youth

© Janet Martin

Remember your Creator
   in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
   and the years approach when you will say,
   “I find no pleasure in them”—Eccles. 12:1

Spring Song

He fills the night sky with celestial diamonds

Imbues with enchantment, dirt road and dull field

He embellishes dawn with mercy resplendent

And covers the earth in Hope’s infinite shield

He fills each moment with uncharted mystery

Lavishes meadows with gold diadem

He breathes on the bud, stirring from tight-lipped prisons

Ravishing garments for nature’s bare limb

He nudges the pulse of the seed, deep in slumber

Urges the soil to unclench its cold fist

In translucent whispers He flings without number

Petals of promise to vales heaven-kissed

He brushes the sky-line with wonder, bold, blazing

Quiets the daylight with unfettered grace

From the height of the mountain to the floor of the ocean

To the hearts of mankind, He does not hide His face

Sing to the One who appoints every season

Victory embraces cold-hearted defeat

Praise be to Him who with love beyond reason

Showers His glory to bloom at our feet

© Janet Martin

 “Listen to this, Job;
   stop and consider God’s wonders.Job 37:14

Tagged Again...round 2

Image Source:  http://firstprescamden.wordpress.com/witness-service/circle-of-friends/

I'm accepting the re-tag in part because Victoria, my 11 year old daughter  is out for a second night to a sleep-over and the house seems so quiet without her. This will occupy my mind.:)

So Happy Amateur. I accept the re-tag:) 

The Rules Are:

1. You must post the rules.

2. Post 11 fun facts about yourself.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 11 more to ask the ones you tag.

4. Tag however many bloggers you wish.

5. Let them know they are tagged.

6. Have fun!!

 11 fun facts about me:

1. I have never owned a cell phone

2 I went to a smash derby and had a latte- two firsts- a month ago

3. I am learning to type.

4. I am a home-body

5. therefore I am terrible with directions

6. and a very timid driver on unfamiliar roads

7.  Beth Powning is one of my favorite Canadian authors

8. I am sensitive, love deeply and quietly, and find it hard to let go

9. I collect rolling pins...120 and counting.

10. My comfort food is saltines and sharp cheddar

11. Happy Amateur said her hunches are usually pretty good...mine is almost the same!!! My lunches are usually pretty good...scrambled egg on a wrap with salsa and cheese or mini-wheat with blue-berries!

11 questions for you:  My answers

1.      Do you give yourself enough credit? No, I'm always a harsh critic of myself...

2.      What is your biggest hope? To hear 'well done, my good and faithful servant' when I leave this earth.

3.      Are you an early bird or a night owl when it comes to writing?  a night owl  hoot-hoot;))

4.      What are you most proud of? Of the way my hubby sacrifices for us!

5.      What gives you shivers?  Really great poetry and really awesome music! They are my 'good' shivers' A really black sky in the middle of the day gives me scary shivers.

6.      Do you believe there’s something more to coincidences? YES! I call them God-incidences:)

7.      Would you like to be a space tourist? YES!

8.      Do you fly in your dreams? Never have...but I do a mean fall:)

9.      Are you a “cat person” or a “dog person”?  Neither. But if I owned a pet it would be a dog.

10.  Do you edit your writing before posting it on your blog? Always...and I still find errors that somehow I over-look at posting time!

11. What do you want to be when you grow up? This question makes me smile...if ever I grow up I hope to be wise....and a better poet!

11 My Questions for you:  

      1. If you could change something about yourself what would it be? 

      2. What do you do to 'treat' yourself? 

I     3. What is a favorite memory of yours?

      4. What color are your eyes?

      5. How many times have you moved?

     6. What is your personal goal right now?

     7. What kind of music do you enjoy?

     8. What is your favorite meal...to cook?

     9. What hobbies do you enjoy?

     !0. What do you dread?

     11.  What inspires you?

I tag: with no pressure whatsoever to commit AND there is no time constraint on this either so if you want to play...YOU'RE IT!

  Megan at Lilacs and Lavender

Lucy at Heart and Hearth

Karen at Something Written

Beware the Ides of March

He makes us believe he has fled

Gathered his bluster and dread

Feel how he teases against the south hill

Kindling soft breezes in woodland and rill

And drawing the bud from its bed

When did he stumble away

Over the field dull and gray?

When did he shoulder the brunt of his ire,

Exchanging cold silver for emerald desire

And spring zephyr’s passionate sway?

He makes us believe he is gone

But, be not deceived by his charm

Inside his mouth he holds one final fling

Sweet bird of the south, hide your head ‘neath your wing

I sense in his chuckle a storm

Janet ~

The Ides of March

Just one of a dozen Ides that occur every month of the year

Read more: Ides of March http://www.infoplease.com/spot/ides1.html#ixzz1pEBa7hzb

Blogger Tag!

Carrie has tagged me in blogger tag. I have loved getting to know Carrie through her amazing talent shared at Hope Whispers. So, Here goes!

The Rules Are:

1. You must post the rules.

2. Post 11 fun facts about yourself.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 11 more to ask the ones you tag.

4. Tag however many bloggers you wish.

5. Let them know they are tagged.

6. Have fun!!

11 Fun Facts About Me! 

1. Black Coffee is my all-time favorite  beverage.

2. I went to see a movie in a theater for the first time last year.

3. I went to see a movie in a theater for the second time this year, and walked out part-way through! (lesson: DO RESEARCH!)  Wanderlust starring Jennifer Anniston is a new low for Hollywood!

4. I don't think there are 11 fun facts about me:) okay that's cheating. I like black jelly-beans.

5. I am left-handed to write and right-handed for everything else.

6. I prefer dandelion bouquets from a child to a dozen roses from a florist.

7. I don't care for chocolate

8. I love playing the harmonica

9. I love the sound of rain-fall

10. I've never been on an airplane.

11. I wear my hair up in a clip 99% of the time.

My answers to Carrie's Questions

1.  What is your funniest embarassing moment? A few weeks ago as I was leaving the restaurant I paused at a bowl of ju-jubes and jelly beans  put there for guests to help themselves on the way out. I felt the eyes of someone next to me watching as I fished for the black ones, so I looked up, winked a little and said 'I like the black ones'. He threw back his head and ROARED with laughter!!! (He was a lovely African-American gentleman) I didn't realize what amused him until I was walking out, then it hit me. I know he heard me laughing:) He didn't see me flat out on the step outside trying to get my breath;))

2. What inspires you most to write a story or poem. Many things inspire me, but God's creation in its limitless wonder and glory inspires over and over and over!

3. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you choose to go? There are so many places I want to see!!! How can I choose just one? H-m-m-m, I'm thinking...I'd like to see the ocean!...oh, let's throw in the Alps and Mount Kilimanjaro while we're at it:)

4.  Is there a series on T.V. that you always record so you will not miss it? I've never recorded anything in my life so I can watch it. I don't really watch TV very much.

5. How would you finish this sentence? "the love of my life is..._poetry ( there are too many people I love dearly)_____".

6. What do you imagine heaven to be like? I've tried imagining a crystal sea and golden streets and many mansions, but a real picture evades me, so then I try to imagine what God on His Throne will look like and still I cannot see. All I can see is me, bowing before Him.

7.  What is your first memory as a very small child?  I remember NOT wanting a nap and I remember the quilt! Mom says she thinks I was two years old.

8. How old were you when you wrote your first poem? I think I was eight.

9.  If you could go on a vacation today, who would you take with you and why?

I would take hubby. There is no one else in the world I can be more myself with, in spite of our differences.

10. Is there a food that you just cannot eat? Rare steak.

11.  Have you ever witnessed a miracle?  Yes! Four times, at the birth of each of our children!

11 things I would Like to Know About You...

I liked some of Carrie's questions so I'm going to 'borrow' a few...

1. What is your first memory as a small child?

2. What do you like to 'sneak' when no one is looking?

3.  What is your favorite 'writing snack'?

4. Who is your hero?

5. What is your favorite kind of footwear?

6. When did you realize you NEED to write?

7. Who is your best friend?

8. What is your favorite color to wear?

9. Do you have a favorite TV show?

10. If you were stranded on an island who would you like to be stranded with?

11. What inspires you to write more than anything?

Now here are a few friends I would like to share the fun with: 

(I understand if there is anyone not wanting to jump on the ride....no worries at all!....just want you to know you are considered for the fun.)

Gotcha, You're IT!!!

Mary at In the Corner of my Eye...

Laurie at Conversations with Laurie

Brenda at It's a Beautiful Life

Sherry at STARDREAMING with Sherry Blue Sky

The Happy Amateur at The Happy Amateur