A Poem about Spring flowers for a Wednesday

"They bloom where they are planted"...or..."The crocus don't care"...

I saw a few of them today - I'm sure you've seen them, too
Bold gold or bright, yet deep purple
Poking tender petals through
The brown and gray of castaway
Leaves, twigs, grass the wind blew-

 

I've seen them in the past-
Green stems, then blooms show
Peeking out at last
Amid the cold, pure white of snow!

So the saying is true-
They bloom where they are planted;
A lesson for both me and you -
The crocus don't care,
they don't seem to care at all -
Their beauty shines forth,
No matter how small.

 Hope you get to go outside and enjoy some of the early Spring flowers that are coming up here in the Midwest!

And remember above all to bloom where ever it is that God has planted you in this world. Just as the crocus brings a smile, and encourages the heart, so can you!

Poems I have written for ordinary people

Today I share with you a couple of poems I have written.  One is also a song, written to encourage us in this life that can often be so difficult and discouraging.  I pray you will leave this site with hope in your heart and the knowledge that you don't go through life alone!

The Restorer

 v 1)  A day can be so full of twists and turns

I start with hope and end it with unsure

The joy is easy, but where do you take the pain?

What do you do with the sorrow?

How can you live if you’re broken?

Chorus:

                

There is a place, there is a Man,

He has the grace, He is the Plan

He’ll take it all; His touch restores  

   

V2) A life can be so full of ups and downs

I make my plans, but end up wandering

Some days are easy, but others doubt remains

Where do you go with the questions?

Will my faith live if it’s broken?

There is a place, there is a Man.

He’ll never leave, He’ll make you stand

He has the grace, He is the Plan

He’ll take it all; His touch restores  

His love is sure- from wounds it pours

There is a place, there is a Man,  The Son of God, the Son of Man

The Cross the place, Jesus, the Man. 

A day can be so full of twists and turns,

I start with hope and end it with my Lord.

  A Mother's Wholeness      written by mary lou  7.31.2010

What can be harder for a mother

Than when her children need her no longer?

She pours out her love and her life for them,

There exists no earthly bond stronger.

But, alas, up they grow, with lives of their own-

It's simply the circle of life - no need for strife,

We accept it because we want them to be whole

But now there is a hole in our own heart's life,

So we ask - what now?

God has a plan - there are others who need us

We listen closely so we can follow where he leads us

He promises to make us whole even as we pour out

His love to a lost, broken, hurting world  that bleeds.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills -

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

The Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip -

He who watches over you will not slumber"

Psalm 121:1-3

Wholeness is found in giving

Life and peace are found in living

For Christ and for others.

As you observe the majesty of creation, may you go forward today with joy and peace directly from your Maker! 

My story...

 There once was a girl born into a family in the Midwest. She had a sister and 4 brothers and parents that were steadfast in both the good times and the bad.
  The parents loved their 6 children very much, but they weren't extremely affectionate or outward in expressing that love.  The children knew they were loved, though.  And the children loved their parents very much as well....but...something was missing....

 Life as a child in the Midwest was very "normal"...the girl was a tom-boy and followed her older brother around and wanted to be able to do everything he could do, but there was a problem...he was 3 years older. She didn't let that stop her - she still tried to climb every tree, play every sport that the older brother played.

They played baseball in the lot after school, played "kill the guy with the ball" in fall, which meant you had to tackle whoever caught the football....played "king on the hill", when they could find a hill to climb....and played "ring the doorbell" or hide & seek on summer nights in the dark. They even played "Indian Ball" in the street when there were just 2 or 3 people available.

 Life was pretty simple, safe and fun.  The six children loved to play together as kids and as adults love nothing more than to tease each other to death...all the time, and over nothing at all....but still, something was missing.....

Then they grew up and went their separate ways.  After a few years the girl met a handsome "hippie" dude who was riding a bicycle and stopped to talk with her brother out in the street.  He had long, wavy hair almost down to his shoulders and wore sunglasses and a black leather jacket....cool, man!

The girl by now was also a type of "hippie" and had long straight hair down to her waist, and bangs on her forehead. They talked about music and found a connection...sparks flew.  And then they began a relationship based on talking & playing baseball with the new guy, her brother, and some friends after work each night.

  This went on for that whole summer of 1972.  They decided to marry in early 1974 and were married at the Catholic church with 200 people in attendance. Life was good....most of the time...love was strong.  But then a few weeks later the girl quit her job & figured she'd find one closer to home....and then 6 days later the handsome hippie husband got laid off at his job...so....here they were, married only a month and no work!...and still....something was missing in the deepest part of their hearts & lives and now they began to realize that.

The girl's parents had recently begun attending what was known then as "Charismatic Masses" where the Holy Spirit would fill people...even the priests and nuns would worship with hands raised and singing "in the Spirit"! They were transformed overnight...even though the parents' own marriage was struggling with all the stresses of having 3 teenage sons still at home. They began reading their bibles and listening to praise & worship music and talking about God all the time...it was so foreign to all the children & relatives, no one knew quite what to think of it!  The girl's mother kept nagging them to come to one of the masses until finally, after the loss of both jobs, the girl realized there was a need in her life that drugs, alcohol, and young love could not fill.
So the girl and her hippie husband went to one of these masses and began to experience a change in their lives as well. They attended prayer meetings in their church's basement...they heard & realized for the very first time that God loved THEM....God wanted a personal relationship with them, and not just a bunch of "religious activity...so they sang praise songs and learned that Jesus Christ was REAL and ALIVE and that he died on the Cross because He loved them so very much and he died for a purpose - to bear the burden of their sin before God and to cleanse them from that sin! It was His grace that was poured out for them and into them, and He even gave the faith to believe it....
They were amazed! They were astounded! They were forever changed! They began living for God and studying His Word to find out more about Him, and as they did they were changed even more and filled with a peace and joy that would never leave. God revealed Himself to them and His purpose for their lives and they knew what real contentment and fulfillment was....and they still do....it's Eternal Life - knowing God and Jesus, His Son, personally. Life can be difficult at times, but God doesn't abandon them. He is always there to bring wisdom and peace and guidance for every step of the road they walk.  He heals and forgives and gives them the ability to love & forgive in return. The story is not over and won't be until they put her in the ground...and then it will only change in that the girl will be living in the REAL world with Her Savior and Master and Lord forever and ever and ever....and ever! Amen!  :)  and, p.s.  ...He will do the same for you, too!

Craft Day!.....Items I make....

Good snowy morning! Just thought I'd add some pics of things I've knitted, crocheted or quilted or sewed....

hats, hats & more hats!

 baby quilts...

Tablerunners and coasters you can wash...

Doll quilts...

Place mats..

purses & bags

American Girl-sized doll quilts and totes for carrying your Kindle or Nook!

Have a warm & wonderful day!

Tuesday Tots

Babies...God's gifts to us...what creatures of delight! What joys they bring us day after day....what a


blessing to watch them as they grow and change and discover new abilities and the world around them.  I love babies...I adore toddlers. I never tire of watching their expressive faces.
I hope you are blessed as you

look at these little faces of heaven's creative genius.

Thank God for the gift of life, for babies and their innocence and pray that He protects them from harm and abuse.

And may each one discover God's pure love and grace for themselves.

Is there anything better than cuddling up with a newborn in your arms?

Not much can make a day brighter than a child's smile or fill the very air around us with pure joy as the laughter of a little child...

May we all enjoy the simple things in life as they do

and have the faith of a child...coming to God easily, unafraid, trusting....