PLANS

No one likes it when plans have shifted. After coming home from a mini-vacation at Lake Placid, we found our fence and the pool deck ripped out by strong winds. The deck lay folded inside the pool. Thankfully, a friend came by with a tractor and pulled it out. What would we do without dear friends. I wrote two poems this morning and hope they inspire you. Now that 2009 is upon us, let's look forward to fresh new ideas to inspire our writing.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned
And life goes a different way.
For just as a tree, strong winds strike
And cause our plans to sway.
Sometimes we can swing along
And find a new direction.
Other times we've gained great insight,
And time for deep reflection.

On the last day of December, a huge flock of robins sat in a tree next to my house with two feet of snow all around. What were they thinking!

The Robins Song-

I heard the robins sing,
On the last day of December.
It was the strangest thing
That I can remember.
I wondered what to do.
Had they changed their diet-
Was their map askew-
Still, I thought them brave to try it.

Here's to Christmas

My oldest daughter just informed me that she doesn't believe that prayer works. That makes me feel sad. Still, that probably makes God, sadder. He longs to be connected with her. It's his way of making things happen and deepening faith. But, I understand how she feels. She's had a rough year. I won't get into details, but everyone is allowed to doubt sometimes. This Christmas pray for your friends and family that need a miracle. Then, prepare to be amazed.

Here’s to Christmas,
Here’s to Christmas,
For the snow
And the Christmas tree.
For gifts to give to friends afar
And friends that live near.
For the twinkling star
That shines so bright
In the long and dark wintry night
And singing songs of cheer
For feasting our eyes
On lights that glow
That will lead us back
To the little child
That came to earth
So long ago.
I’m so glad he came.

The Sparrows Plight

You feel so helpless when sad things happen to a friend. You want to help, but there's not much you can do. Recently, a friend's father died from Lou Gerrigs disease, so I prayed for her. What she needed was strength to get through. The circumstances didn't change, but prayer (and hugs and cards) helped.

Outside my bedroom window
Suspended in full view,
My grey capped friends clung to a tree,
While icy winds blew.

As I gazed at the heap of whiteness
That grew as a misty veil,
My feathered friends hung on tight.
They didn’t dare to fail.

How I longed to open wide my door
And usher the company in.
How I longed to still the frantic wind
And be their champion.

But they had no need to follow me
I could not ease their plight.
So, I asked the one far greater than I
To, give them strength that night.

The Dancing Queen

My daughter and I went to see "Mama Mia" not long ago. She was quite surprised that I knew all the words to the songs. Isn't that cute. Anyways, I wrote a poem for her seventeenth birthday, which was on Sept. 11. I write poems for all my kids. I thought I'd share this one with you. She loved it.

She's a dazzling graceful bird
sailing through the sky.
She's a gentle breath of wind
soaring on clouds on high.

She's smooth and clean as snow
on a high mountain slope.
She's a fresh rose in winter
and soft as creamy soap.

She's a ship afloat in a sea
of sparkling diamonds and jade.
She's a treasured book to read
with just one copy made.

She's unique and irreplaceable
and now that she's seventeen.
The world awaits the spectacular
the charming dancing queen!

Outdoor Fire

What do you get when you mix friends, a roaring campfire and food. The answer is; fuzzy,warm memories. Whenever you feel the cold winds sneaking up on you, think about something warm and wonderful. It's amazing what a difference that will make.

Sitting around a roaring campfire
With friends warm and sweet,
Reminiscing about days gone by
Toasting a marshmallow treat.

I think there is nothing to compare
To the warmth of an outdoor fire.
And the smell of burning pitch pine wood,
Of this I’ll never tire.

NOVEMBER DAYS

What I like most about November is focusing on projects and buttoning down the hatches. Sure, it's not as nice as October with its inbetween kind of weather, but we all need a time to look back and be thankful and a time to look forward in expectancy. November is perfect for doing just that.

In November the skies turn gray and cold
And tree trunks become bare and bold.
For brown is left when leaves fall away
And autumn colors no longer stay.

Yet, though brown is a dull color scheme
It gives all time to reflect and dream,
As the earth prepares for its long winter sleep,
Beneath, a snow blanket soft and deep.

War of Courage

Though I'm not a war advocate, I still want to remember the sacrifice that affect family and people in war. Lest we forget. Here's a few lines to consider.

Bravely they fought, not for themselves alone
but for those that would follow.
For the good of all mankind,
whether they saw eye to eye or not.
And only their acts of bravery resembled anything
that touched on humanity.