Love Letter No 14 - Encouraging Love

Dear F,
It feels we've turned it up a notch. That feels good to my heart, to my soul. Intensity is something I have longed for, you've brought it out. It was in my heart, but now it's set free. To live in the colors of the 'masterpiece we are made to be' takes encouragement.

I feel encouragement between us. Love and encouragement with depth that reaches to the beauty of the heart. This ability to feel, and to be able to share feelings, is the great gift we are given. To find that and share it draws deeper and closer in friendship and in love.

The heart we share together, the heart of our joined hearts, is a pearl of great price. We have begun a new conversation. I love you: and I long to see you.
L

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twice blessed

Sorting through things in mind,
Usual suspects are there this time,
Love, beauty, friendship, devotion,
Simplicity, laughter, honesty, emotion
Time for fun high on the list
Relationship too can hit or miss
The heart sings a mystery expressed
Feelings touched, feelings twice blessed

Brillante Weblong Awards

I was so excited to receive this award Monday. How in the world did I get this? I got it from, Jack, her blog is dynamite! - She has a superlative eye for the photographic and I love her stuff on FlickR too. Just link off her blog Slightly Off Center. Thank you Jack!

Here are the rules:

1. The award can be displayed on the recipient's blog.
2. Add a link to the person from who you received the award.
3. Nominate up to seven other blogs.
4. Add their links to your blog.
5. Send a message to each of those you awarded to tell them about the award.

And my nominees are...

Petra at "Whose Role is it Anyway" She is always giving creative sparks to her readers!
Melissa at "Ooh Aah Wow" - spectacular positivity!
Anna at "Life Just Keeps Getting Weirder" - original humor is available here.
Meg at "Floundering Writer Meg" - wit, insight, humor, zest, book reviews!
Kori at "Between a Whisper and a Roar" this one you have to see to believe. You will be changed.

Wordless Wednesday - Autumn Swirl

wordle before Wednesday - this blog

The words in this "wordle" came from this blog...
Create your own wordle at this link (requires java enabled)

Rights of Faeries

early i took to the wee folks green,
to hide among the reeds unseen,
watching over first dew of the dawn,
where faeries dance the grassy lawn,
they peeped shyly at sun's first ray,
merrily hopped and capered their way,
sharing joy in the hope of fading night,
celebrating with glee a faerie right

Friday Fill In #96

1. My favorite food seasoning is pepper sauce.
2. An "Irish saying" is music to my ears, such as "It's enough to make your mother hit your father!" or "A good beginning is half the journey".
3. Lucky is the one who is blessed by the wee people.
4. The sayings of the country folk and older folk is something I take very seriously.
5. Many people have lost the old ways.
6. A bottle of grapefruit juice and a couple of cards was the last thing I bought at the store.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Trick or Treat with the kid, tomorrow my plans include attending a good friend's wedding and Sunday, I want to get back in the holy day routine!

Love Letter No 13 - Hurry Love

Dear T,

Hurry Love! I am so ashamed of my priorities. The things I run behind, the situations I throw myself into. The times I proclaim myself busy, it seems all about ego, power, and control. But it does not truly state who I am or allow me to expose the vulnerable side. That side is hidden from the watchful eye of those as busy as I am.

Hurry love, hurry, for I am humbled. Without this love there is dullness, without this love there is deafness, without love longing crawls away into the brambles of meaningless activity, without love belonging sinks into the sea of forgetting.

Hurry love, not for rush or madness, hurry to the solitude of oneness we embrace. Hurry love to rest in this intimacy called love. Hurry love into arms that only hope to hold you in the swelling tide of moonstruck kisses, breezes of passion flowing over our skin, waters rising to crest and splash through the spillways thought dry. The dam is breaking, hurry love, we’ll ride the flood together.

I love you. Hurry, yes, run, for too soon we last parted, too late we meet again.

L

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Wordless Wednesday - Raccoon Mtn

scars with hope

beyond suffering, failure, the rubbish heap of dreams

like scars upon a soldier these tag along with hope it seems

burden of unfairness, hope seems to promise understanding

not only correcting wrongs but hope is even more demanding

hope, ahhh, nature's seed survived all winter’s storms

planted, nurtured and released for suns and rains to warm

yet with each dark cloud that comes to bring water

frail sprouted hope awaits: hail, rage of wind or slaughter

hope is not just out there, it’s with us and needy too

and should hope be under duress what do we think to do?

protect our hope that’s bringing, with it a new day

showing hope in heart and life, encouragement on the way.

wordle before Wednesday

This one is in honor of Lori over at

Reflections and Ramblings of a Not-So-Super Woman
Just double click the "wordle" to enlarge it.
Make your own here.

Not Going Back

an early fall to difficulties
leaves one feeling all alone
reality shakes the outer shell
rattles completely to the bone

Extracting love's idyllic dream
smashing, crushing words leave shards
killing the soul, puts imagination in chains
withdraws all potent winning cards

Long does hope's glimmer shine
fend darkness til light snuffed out
the fight for air, life's fundamental
the greatest struggle ever, break free
or die with muted shout.
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photo "i-appropriated" from Jack

Where, What

Where I Slept
What I Saw
Camping is Fun!

Friday Fill-Ins #95

1. Right now, I'm feeling an angel is near.
2. Warmed and filled is where I want to be.
3. How does one express the love that knows no bounds, though I speak of it all through the day my words can not explain the extent of it?
4. Routine keeps me on track.
5. Please don't forget to smell the roses.
6. Life's simple pleasure fills me with joy.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hot wings, tomorrow my plans include camping with the scout troop and Sunday, I want to come home to a hot shower and relax!

Preteen View

I had an exchange with my son across the table at the bagel shop.
I had just read Psalm 139 and had noticed v17: "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!"

Me: How many thoughts do you think God has son?
Son: Well, what is the world's population?
Me: Maybe six billion.
Son: Then, probably about 20 billion thoughts.
Me: So you think about four, maybe five for each person?
Son: That sounds about right.

That got me thinking - Surely there is one glorious thought for every person. Four or five? that is like, Wow! GOD!

- I so enjoy talking to my kids. Maybe that is how God feels too.

Love Letter No 12 - Real Love

Dear G,

These words are vain if there is no action: if the seed planted does not sprout, or if the fledgling does not take flight, or if the ship stays in the harbor, or if the train doesn't leave the station.

But it is exciting to know that has all happened. Enjoying our time works in every way.
This poem says it very well.

Content we are,
the two of us,
to sit inside
each other's heart.

Glad for the time
to visit our lives
and tell our stories.

We laugh.
We dream.
We sometimes cry.

And always
we listen
with amazement
to the singing
in the other's soul.

This is the song we sing together.
And the harmony of our hearts has beauty that continually unfolds.
And I Love You.
L

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~poem copyright 2003 Sorin Books, joyce rupp from the collection "rest your dreams on a little twig"

Wordless Wednesday - Great Head

Can you find the lipstick in this picture?

wordle before Wednesday

In honor of a great blogger friend!
Check out at Dragonfly's blog.

part human - part divine

We must have the courage

to pray to have the courage to accept.

Because we do not pray enough, we see only the human part.

We don't see the divine.

And we resent it.

I think that much of the misunderstanding

of suffering today

comes from that

from resentment and bitterness.

Bitterness is an infectious disease

a cancer

an anger hidden inside.

Suffering is meant to purify

to sanctify

to make Christlike.

---From Words to Love By by Mother Teresa

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My response:

in humanness the difficult will turn,

and cause inward resentment to burn,

overwhelming blame of great distress,

builds up to multiply sour bitterness,

yes, suffering brings such unique needs,

misunderstanding builds in a heart that bleeds

yet stepping back there our other nature,

a positive view springs from a human creature,

inside the soul there is transformed,

grace hope and joy bring life reborn,

suffering yields marvelous fruit in time,

when a seeking prayer calls forth the divine

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this is my expression of Mother Teresa's thought on suffering and the changes that can take place in the heart

the neighbors

This couple has been living next door for some time.
They are a quiet pair, their parties are private affairs,
They don't spread rumors, or ask to hear the latest smut
They don't even brag on their kits accomplishments
Do you have neighbors like mine?

a concert

(I promised a poem about the Buble concert - well... it's partly about the concert at least :)

we didn’t wait for the moment -

lights went down, lights came up -

it would have happened without us -

but we were there, and it was good, -

and when the lights went down for the main show

a kiss

when the lights came up,we heard,

love songs, love songs, love songs

sung by a self effacing, self proclaimed

"wanna-be" hockey player

it felt, exclusively, as it should,

it was only for her, for me, for we two

those love songs, from everything, to home

to stardust and back, were sung for us

we held hands, leaned into each other

straining to hear it all,

beckoned by name,

draw closer to the song,

draw closer to each other

we applauded, the ovation, the curtain call,

the encore, "singing my song for you"

we walked to the truck

drove home, game over

we had fallen

together

tumbled

struck down

by love

An Idea Whose Time Has Arrived

Some stuff needs to be propagated.
The article at the link is "Worship with Your Life"
I thought - this is an interesting idea!

Friday Fill-Ins #94

1. Follow the urging of your heart.
2. Instinctive curiosity is something I always take with me on vacation.
3. To achieve your goals, you must focus, sacrifice and persist.
4. "I am tenderhearted" is something I'd like you to know about me.
5. I have a plethora of musical instruments and even more songs and tunes that I love to play.
6. (I know the movie title but...) anything with a specific gravity less than "1" floats.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging with my kids, tomorrow my plans include a get together with a whole bunch of friends and Sunday, I want to take a long ride with a special someone, see some colorful autumn displays, and carry the camera, a guitar and some poetry (among other things)!

Love Letter No 11 - Surprising Love

Dear U,

You surprise me every day. How you reach out to me! You touch my heart each time you glance my way.And then I glance back and realize a marvelous, wonderful surprise has happened.

Even if our love should die, we would find it resurrected in the passion of our lives together.

Yes! Love started this whole thing working, a fabulous “love relationship”, and now through our time together the relationship marks us with love.

What was made alive by love is the very thing keeping our love alive. Surprise!

I’ve shared my soul with you, let’s share this love together. Intermingled is the “most beautiful surprise”, Love.

L

Michael Bublé - Lost (Official Video)

I am really enjoying Michael Bublé lastest album.
We are seeing him tonight.
It will be 'brilliant'.

Wordless Wednesday, Day at Park

blog-fast vs blog-fest

(the Paint Rock River valley, viewed from the Princeton churchyard)

What have I been doing lately?
----
Saturday we had a great yard sale and it was date night. (The date was super!)

Sunday was Princeton, you may remember this post.
Scouts and an event close to home.

Monday, holiday = Columbus Day, I had a great time at the park -
pictures will be posted soon.

Today I had an inservice meeting away from the pc.

So I guess I have been on a "Blog-fast" instead of blog-fest :)

What I am really saying is "I missed you"
Yes, all of you!
LarryG

Friday Funny

Author Unknown...

COPPER WIRE

After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, New York scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion, that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed, in California an archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet, and shortly after, headlines in the LA Times newspaper read: 'California archaeologists have found traces of 200 year old Copper wire and have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the New Yorkers.'

One week later, 'The Birmingham News' in Alabama, reported the following:
"After digging as deep as 30 feet in his pasture near Leeds, Alabama, Billy 'Bubba' Mitchell, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Mr. Mitchell has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, Alabama had already gone wireless."

Friday Fill In #93

1. One of the best concerts/plays/movies I ever saw that I really didn't think I'd like was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (a local playhouse production).
2. Gouda Cheese Grits is a recipe I recently made (or meal I recently ordered) that was delicious!
3. It's time for those who wait to soar on eagle wings.
4. Diet Grapico is quite refreshing.
5. If I never hear the word terrorist again, it'll be too soon.
6. To one side of the curving road was a guard rail, and on the other was a granite mountain.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the final prep for the yard sale, tomorrow my plans include Yard Sale and Sunday, I want to hear some good news!

Fill-in

what an embrace can do

The chatty breeze nodded to the starry-eyed moon, awestruck, as the dusk cloaked embrace and kiss sated longing and affirmed belonging.


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Want to know more about your kisses?
Kissing by the signs at this link.

Band Collage

This is the University of North Alabama Marching Band.
I saw them perform an exhibition at a local High School last weekend.
It didn't hurt that my oldest plays piccolo.
It's easier to get close to the band in a HS stadium than at their regular home games.

Love Letter No 10 - Simple Love

Write a love letter and share it...

Okay here's my "Simple Love" letter.

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Dear Z,

The two of us sharing our hearts, minds, bodies, souls.

No recipe or formula can pull it off, it is much easier than that.

We keep things simple.

Talking to one another means so much. There is bedrock in our love because we speak our hearts to one another.

I am thinking of when we last kissed, how precious, sweet, passionate that was. And how those kisses simplify the statement our energy makes together.

Simple sharing, simple giving, simple love.

I love you.

L

Tag I'm It

Lori at Reflections and Ramblings of a Not-So-Super Woman has tagged me! I'm happy I can at least amuse you quickly with this taggy goodness. Or try anyway.

Hmmm...7 random or weird facts...

1. I caught a greased pig at 4H field day when I was in 9th grade.

2. I loved to chew tobacco - but gave it up "completely" in 1995. I would never go back.

3. I like mayonnaise and peanut butter on my banana sandwiches. (So did Elvis.)

4. I sleep in the raw.

5. I do my own laundry. I attempt to keep my wardrobe free of things that have to ironed. I do have a couple of shirts that have to be ironed, sometimes I take them to the cleaners.

6. I feel extremely uncomfortable if I don't have a couple of twenty dollar bills in my wallet.

7. There is a favorite place I like to stop for prayer on my way to work. It is a prayer trail next to a church.

Okay, do I have seven people to tag? Here goes; ---
If you laughed at any of the above....
now be honest...
1. If you have a common weird with me - you are tagged "IT" and
2. You are tagged "IT", if you laughed, or giggled in the least, even if it was silently at any of my seven items :)
3. The Susie rule: If you are excusing yourself simply because you didn't hit on rule 1 or 2, then you are "IT"
If you have done this recently leave a link to yours anyhow...
(call me a rule breaker - you are "IT" for that too)
Thanks for tagging me Lori....

Wordless Wednesday

sleep, the glorious

Sleep, the glorious little death
that refreshes for new life
Deep and satisfying relaxation
of muscle, sinew, bone, nerve,
ego, id, personality, conscious, subconscious
a soul resting, a spirit in peace

forever moments stretch into nil depth
unquestioning of the void eternally gaped
sleep's mouth yawns at our wanting
awaiting the release, the unfurling of every passion

should the depths of subconcious
bubble forth the spirit of a dream
may this too refresh the body
mind spirit soul with excitement
and exuberance for newness of awakening

Wordle before Wednesday - Concert Soon

Link off the Wordle to hear Michael on youtube.
I can't wait to see this concert!

Link here to make your own wordle.

grasping the future

After the scrub, the blister and callous,
Pain and disturbance, physical malice

Numbness and toughness creates isolation,

Ignoring sensitivity, ease into depravation

Burnish thick skin, let new feeling flow,

The blemished rough edge, chances to grow

Refresh sensitivity and inner unconcern

From events of harm, time to re-learn

Don't deny, this is real, pain, loss, fear,

Think what is beyond, break for the clear.

Healing and confidence beckon at last

Hurt is displaced, these long to be grasp.

---------------------------------------------------

And a blessing by John O'Donohue

"To Come Home to Yourself"

May all that is unforgiven in you
Be released.

May your fears yield
Their deepest tranquilities.

May all that is unlived in you
Blossom into a future
Graced with love.

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"simplicity, laughter, honesty, fun"

As the weekend came to a close,
I felt refreshed,
I realized a closeness to God that God takes ownership for,
not what I do, God's work is what counts.

I realized that I can go for the complicated or stay basic -
I felt called into this post's title as a prayer


Will you share a prayer with me.

My prayer is "simplicity, laughter, honesty, fun"

Curious Cat - Week Number 138

http://curiousasacat.blogspot.com/2008/10/week-number-138.html

1) Why do we give people hugs? Support, encouragement, love, friendship, and more.. I think there is entire language of hugs!

2) When have you most shocked yourself? My capacity for sticking my foot in my mouth is exceeded only by my ability to swap feet... (too numerous to mention)...
ex. I once made a joke about "taking the wheels off my rich uncles new home" (implication a mobile home) - two of the three guys I was talking to lived in, you guessed it, mobile homes.

3) Where would you consider constructing a small altar in your house or yard? In a quiet place where solitude is readily accessible.

4) If you could change one thing about your typical day, what would you change? I would say longer more flexible lunch breaks. (up to two hours would be great)

5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.


Outlet, source, power, electricity, - all the stuff that connects - it also enslaves us somewhat too.

Tears forgotten

Small tears, large tears,
Crocodile tears, Inside tears
Tears of joy
Tears of sorrow
Tears of delight
Tears of grief
Tears of leaving
Tears of returning
Tears of life
Tears of death
Tears of remembrance
Tears forgotten
~LarryG (1992)
... Dedicated to Jacob Roscoe,
my mothers father, died at age 89

Gummy Bears

"A long time from now we will speak of these days. Our talk will be of when we were young." ~LarryG (1992)
How do you stay young?

Friday Fill-Ins #92

http://fridayfillins.blogspot.com/2008/10/92.html

1. October to October, it's all about budgets.
2. Personal agendas (vendettas) scare me!
3. Leaves are falling all around, it's time to watch out for nuts :).
4. My favorite horror movie is Monsters Inc because it's for kids.
5. family, good friends, back porch music = good memories.
6. It was a dark and stormy night but we were safe and warm.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxation, tomorrow my plans include a marching band festival and Sunday, I want to spend some time with what could be called "the least of these" !

Thursday Thirteen - The Apostle's Creed

I believe the Apostle's Creed:

1. I believe in God,

2. the Father Almighty,

3. creator of heaven and earth.

4. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

5. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

6. and born of the Virgin Mary.

7. He suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried.

8.He descended to the dead.On the third day He rose again.

9. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

10. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

11. I believe in the Holy Spirit,

12. the holy catholic (universal church of all believers) Church, the communion of Saints,the forgiveness of sins,

13. the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. AMEN.

Love Letter No 9 - Fun Love

The idea is to write a brief love letter ... This weeks theme – Fun Love

Write a love letter and share it...

Okay here's my "Fun Love" letter.

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Dear H,

What a splendid treat this is! I am astounded at the laughter that surrounds us. I know you know what I mean when I say, our love is entertaining. I have never had such fun as we had at the park. From the cotton candy to the silly mime, and how we laughed till we hurt over inane things.

I have always known fun times bring healing, this love is health, healing and life! I pledge to you my love, and that I will keep this joy alive while we share our hearts, laughter and love.

You tickle me! One of many reasons I love you.

L

Very Princess

You are my very princess
that's from this day onward
Living in a fine castle
exciting times, moving upward

Hold my hand, my princess
welcome to your own star
light up this world of mine
dropped in from a far

Never thought I'd kiss a princess
yet our lips just met
everyday is so precious
everyday is better yet

To be in love with a princess
what a lucky man I am
walking together toward the sunset
feeling all the blessing I can