"Never ignore a person who loves you,

cares for you, misses you.

Because one day,

you might wake up from your sleep

and realize

that you lost the moon

while counting the stars."

Being a mom,

1) I never realized how lonely night could be until I had a colicky baby and lived six hours from friends and family

2) Having a child means liking the end pieces of the loaf, not needing as many clothes and shoes as they do, and trying really hard to like eating at McDonald's all the time

3) I never thought I could so happy that my child decide NOT to play softball and we didn't have to go to all those practices and school night games

4) Watching your child play in the yard makes you notice how many tiny flowers there are in the world

5) Just because they grow up and leave your home, doesn't mean you quit worrying about their health, safety, and well-being

6) You see them do good and you want to shout and yell out, "That's my child!"

7) You see them cry and you want to do bodily harm to the one responsible

8) When they introduce you to a date, and you know before you turn around, that you've never heard her sound like that before~and you just know, deep down, that she's given her heart, and he isn't even aware yet

9) To have her say, "Mom, I'm going to have a baby" and you feel elated and scared at the same time. Elated because she'll now know how deeply she's loved, yet scared because childbirth holds risks

10) Becoming a grandmother is to go full circle and necessary to bring comfort to the later years

PS ~This piece came from our first blog and you can click here to read it there, along with others from our earlier days, and below a recent photo of Jenny's family now. There's been a sweet addition.

"When I saw you

I fell in love

and you smiled

because you knew"

~ Arrigo Boito

He Lives!

We serve a risen Saviour.

Praise his Holy Name ~

where did you go

now that you're home

what have you seen

that made you wonder

what did you do

that made you laugh

what have you observed

that touched your heart

and made a difference

in what ways has this journey

made you new

ever wonder who they are

what they did

who they lived

were they loved

did they love

sad, that the photo

is now out of the family

and relegated to someone

that wonders and dreams

might we meet in heaven

and find out the answers?

Whichever one grabbed your fancy,

we all like comments {smile font}.

So if possible, leave one.

It makes us know that you were here

and we're interested in your thoughts.

You'll find my other two writings

listed on the right. Just click!

Blessings ~

I love Winter.

I mean, I really love Winter.

Everything about it.

I'm one of those that hates to see it leave~

Ice Princess

Sensational tresses like locks of snow

Passionate eyes like embers aglow

A pale face with indication of desire

Surrounded by subtle white fire

Delicate limbs carved by ice

Shrouded in thy gown of sleet

Alluring smile; we it shall entice

Still she lies, so quiet and sweet

Enclosed by the winter white

A single loved and precious sight

On the wind her whispers ride

and on the wind the hymn does glide

Upon the horizon the sun ascends

When the wind dies down and the hymn does end

The silence falls and she makes amends

With still and peace her heart does mend

~Danielle

The rain was like a little mouse,

Quiet, small, and gray,

It pattered all around the house

And then it went away.

It did not come, I understand,

Indoors at all, until,

It found an open window and

Left tracks across the sill.

 

~ Elizabeth Coatsworth (1893-1986)

The imagination of our children. Priceless.

Their dreams. Our hopes for the future.

Little boys have their dreams.

And little girls hold on to theirs.

I love this poem, although it speaks of two

that are not brother and sister,

as Noah and Elle are in their caped costumes.

I hope you like the following, as I have.

*  *  *  *  *

A Child's Dream

I loved to look upon him,

The Hunter near the Way.

So strong his arm and long his bow

And so bashful of the Day.

His courage never failed him

For he held his mace so high

And glared at the Bull in the River

And ruled the whole breadth of the sky.

As a girl, young and silly,

I oft dreamed of being the Maid.

And meeting, one nighttime afternoon,

The Hunter, in a starry glade.

And we would love 'pon sight

And marry in a cloud of joy.

What strange and daring dreams

A little girl may employ.

~ Sophia White

A Happy New Year

to you and yours ~

The Children's Hour

Between the dark and the daylight,

When the night is beginning to lower,

Comes a pause in the day's occupations,

That is known as the Children's Hour.

I hear in the chamber above me

The patter of little feet,

The sound of a door that is opened,

And voices soft and sweet.

From my study I see in the lamplight,

Descending the broad hall stair,

Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra,

And Edith with golden hair.

A whisper, and then a silence:

Yet I know by their merry eyes

They are plotting and planning together

To take me by surprise.

A sudden rush from the stairway,

A sudden raid from the hall!

By three doors left unguarded

They enter my castle wall!

They climb up into my turret

O'er the arms and back of my chair;

If I try to escape, they surround me;

They seem to be everywhere.

They almost devour me with kisses,

Their arms about me entwine,

Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen

In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine!

Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti,

Because you have scaled the wall,

Such an old mustache as I am

Is not a match for you all!

I have you fast in my fortress,

And will not let you depart,

But put you down into the dungeon

In the round-tower of my heart.

And there will I keep you forever,

Yes, forever and a day,

Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,

And moulder in dust away!

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Luke 2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. ² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) ³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) ⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. ⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. ⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. ¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. ¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

“Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.”  ~ Exodus 18:2

“He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. ”  ~ 2 Samuel 23:3

“‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” ~ Mark 12:30

O Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, And a great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth; The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it; And His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.  ~ Psalm 95:1-6

A picture on Pinterest caught my eye,

this poem entangled my heart~

1636
Hartwell Homestead

The following was on a panel

behind the door which leads into the house~

" He who loves an old house
will never love in vain;
For how can any old house
Used to sun and rain
To lilac and to Larkspur
And arching trees above,
Fail to give its answer
To the heart that gives it's love."

It has been raining on the coast now for several days. I am loving it, although we are having flooding to occur. Sitting inside and listening to it this afternoon made me wander the web for a rain poem I haven't read. And I found one! By a man known in our state for many good deeds. I hope it touches you as it touched me ~

Souls And Rain-Drops

Light rain-drops fall and wrinkle the sea,

Then vanish, and die utterly.

One would not know that rain-drops fell

If the round sea-wrinkles did not tell.

So souls come down and wrinkle life

And vanish in the flesh-sea strife.

One might not know that souls had place

Weren't not for the wrinkles in life's face.

~ Sidney Lanier