Author: my13daychallenge

Challenge 14: Gratitude

Annual Thankful Challenge

by my13daychallenge
Nature Friend: Hey, are you okay? It’s November. You haven’t posted any of your thankful messages. Me: (extremely dramatic and serious) I’ve decided to be selfish this year. No gratefulness for me. (diabolical laughter) We both started hysterically laughing at this point. I told my friend that I had been writing them down, but just hadn’t hit submit on the post.   Day 1:  It’s awesome to have a cell phone. I listen to music on it, order stuff of the internet, read books, and track my grocery list. Oh, I also use it to call people. Day 2:  I’m so thankful to have a washing machine and dryer in my house. I’ve had to go the laundromat before so every time I dump my clothes into the washer, I’m thankful for the convenience of being able to do laundry right at home. Day 3: I’m grateful for my wonderful parents. They are good people and have blessed me my entire life.  I love their wedding photos.  This one is my favorite. Parent's wedding photo Day 4: I took a little day trip today to get out of the heat. The sun kept hitting the mountains at various locations bringing out all the beautiful colors. I couldn’t help but sing For the Beauty of the Earth. It was lovely. I’m grateful for the gorgeous diversity of color found in nature. Day 5: I’m thankful for delivery drivers. I got a package today and that made my day. Thank you to all the drivers! Hidden (This picture is a few years old, but it’s still one of my favorites. Yes, I know I’m weird. It’s just too boring to be normal. You’ve got to be silly sometimes.) Day 6: I saw a butterfly today. It was pretty. I’m thankful for butterflies. Day 7: My roommate has a dog, and I love that little dog. I’m thankful I met such a cute dog.  She literally jumps and down every time I come home.  It makes me feel so loved and special. Day 8: I’m thankful I can vote. Day 9:   I have a job. it’s good to be able to pay my bills. Day 10:  I’ve written 107 pages of a novel this year. I’m thankful for the earthly and heavenly angels who are encouraging me to work on my  dream of being a writer. Day 11: I’m thankful for veterans.
joyful moment

Joyful Moments #615

by my13daychallenge

Last month, I fulfilled a childhood dream. I won something from the claw machine. Unfortunately, the claw refused to let my toy go. I guess it didn’t like me winning. I had to get a worker to unlock the machine to get my prize. People standing next to me probably thought I had won a million dollars. I was so excited that I jumped up and down.

Challenge 14: Gratitude, Musings

Palm Sunday

by my13daychallenge

Today is Palm Sunday. The day Jesus entered Jerusalem with the crowd shouting praises and waiving palm leaves. I was thinking about that this morning and imaging what it might have been like. I started to feel a little jealous of the people that saw Christ. I would have liked to have seen Him. As I was feeling jealous, I had a very sweet thought. I can see Jesus every day in my heart. I can see Him when I show love to others. I can see Him when I follow Him. It was a good reminder for this beautiful Holy Week.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Challenge 14: Gratitude, Childhood memories, Musings

Walking

by my13daychallenge

I was a very romantic 17-year-old and regularly indulged in British literature. I also watched romantic comedies which filled my imagination with all kinds of wild ideas. One day while pondering why I didn’t have a date every weekend, I came to a startling conclusion. I wasn’t walking enough. All of the heroines in the novels met interesting people on walks. The characters in the romantic comedies met their future loves while out on walks. I was thrilled with this realization.

I now had an action plan. If I wanted a date to the dance, I just had to go on a walk. I put on my best dress, smeared red lipstick all over my lips and headed out the door. Full confidence. It was going to be just like the movies. I would walk down the street and casually meet the most eligible bachelor in the entire high school. I’d say something witty and then he’d ask me to Prom. It was all perfect until I stepped outside.

Now, let me tell you something about my neighborhood. It was not a pristine countryside. My family lived in a struggling neighborhood. The police helicopter flew over our street every evening at 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. waking me up. It was probably foolish to go on such a walking venture alone, but I was a romantic with a heart full of hope. Walking worked in the movies so it would work for me. I walked past the drug dealer’s house, the homes where the owners mowed the lawns and the ones that didn’t. I walked fast by the couple yelling at each other and a little slower by the couple kissing. I walked past a few kids riding their bikes in a church parking lot. I walked past the elementary school and the grocery store. No one paid any attention to me. The cars swished by and I didn’t have a date. It was nothing like the movies. I kept walking hoping for my romantic encounter but then my feet started hurting from my heels. It was time to go home.

I still enjoy walking around my neighborhood although I’m wiser now. I wear flats and don’t expect to meet Mr. Darcy along the way. I do occasionally find other interesting things on my walk. Today I found a beautiful leaf. It looks like a heart so I took it home with me.

I guess I’m still a little bit romantic.

Challenge 14: Gratitude

Joyful Moments #614

by my13daychallenge

I went for a walk yesterday around the neighborhood. The flowers growing in the sidewalk cracks were so pretty that l took some pictures. Yes, l know Lanta growing in sidewalk cracks are technically weeds. I had two people stop and tell me that. Even weeds can be beautiful! It’s the power of a joyful moment.

Memory Lane, poetry

My “Almost” Romantic Comedy

by my13daychallenge

It was Monday morning. I sat people watching waiting for the professor to start the class. I noticed a handsome young man reading a book by Maya Angelou. He was really cute so I knew what to do. I left class and went immediately to the library. Wednesday morning came. I sat there dressed in my favorite outfit, wearing red lipstick and passionately reading Angelou’s poems. The handsome man smiled and sat down next to me.

“Hey, I was just reading that book yesterday,” he said.

“What a coincidence! Maybe we have more things in common.”

“You’re right. We could. Let’s find out.”

Handsome classmate then invited me to read poetry with him underneath the tree in front of the library. It was enough to make this bookworm’s heart glow with love. The first poem we read was Caged Bird by Maya Angelou.  The whole experience was cute, sweet and just like the movies. I wish I could tell you the story ended like the movies. Sorry, no wedding bells. We did become friends though. He introduced me to poets, authors and musicians that I still love today.

And that dear readers is the power of poetry.

Challenge 14: Gratitude, Current events, faith, Musings

My Easter Message

by my13daychallenge

A few weeks ago, I hurt my left knee. It’s taking longer than I think it should take to get better. It’s been an uncomfortable time of bandages, physical therapy and ups and down as my knee progresses toward full healing. There is light at the end of the knee tunnel, and it hurt really bad yesterday. Work is good and it has also been very difficult this year. Last night, I felt sorry for myself. I have a tradition to pray before I sleep. I didn’t feel like praying though. My knee hurt. I was tired. I felt some anxiety about work. The students are starting their standardized tests this week. Testing always adds additional stress to a teacher’s life. I honestly couldn’t think of anything useful to say to God and I didn’t feel like praying. After a long time of debating the merits of prayer, I decided just to tell Father how I really felt. My short prayer basically consisted of telling the God of the universe that I didn’t want to pray to Him because of how miserable I felt. I wish I could tell you I had some powerful, spiritual experience the moment I said Amen on my little prayer. I wish I could tell you that I instantly fell into a peaceful sleep and jumped out of bed this morning with a completely healed knee. Nope. That didn’t happen. I still felt miserable after my prayer. It took another hour (and some ibuprofen) to finally get comfortable enough to fall asleep. My knee is still injured today. I have to do the patience thing while my body heals. This patience thing is hard.

Today is Easter. You might wonder what my prayer experience has to do with the Easter message of a risen Lord. Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes your knee hurts. Sometimes the only prayer you can muster is the one telling God you don’t really feel like praying. And the message of Easter is that God understands. That’s why he sent his Son to Earth. And Glory be to God forever for that gift.

Happy Easter, Everyone.

“Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations”(Deuteronomy 7: 9).

Uncategorized

the middle (a poem for the inbetween seasons of your life)

by my13daychallenge

The middle, the part where you’re growing, healing, reaching for the sun

as the little plant pushes the scorched Earth to kiss the sky.

The time when you realize something’s wrong, you want to change but you’re not

quite strong enough to break free and start over.

The walk, the long, lonesome path to the finish line so everybody can cheer

and dangle a medal around your deserving neck.

The middle, the desert wasteland of little water and nothingness that lasts

forever until it ends.

The middle, space between blessing and curse, the pockets of joy that

 surround all life and gives you a headache at night.

It’s the middle.

joyful moment, Musings, poetry

Christmas Poem

by my13daychallenge

In my house are many mansions

said the Father of us all.

Wrapped in swaddling, lowly manager

shepherds heard angelic call.

Precious child, dear Redeemer,

prophets told throughout the years.

Son of God, Grace descending

on this earth of pain and fear.

Go before us, dear Jehovah,

guide our feet along the way.

We can find our path

through darkness.

There is hope on Christmas day.

Wrapped in kindness, clothed in mercy,

Saints unite and hear this plea.

We don’t have to wait for heaven

to experience majesty.

Bind the wounded

Help the weary

 Fill the cup that has gone dry.

Transform the Earth to be God’s kingdom

Willing hands reach up to sky.

Musings, poetry

The Christmas Poem that didn’t happen

by my13daychallenge

I write a Christmas poem every year. I’ve been trying for two weeks to write my annual poem. I’ve got pages and pages of really bad poetry. Nothing is coming. The monster called 2020 has eaten all good poetry and I’m left with stale gingerbread cookies. In the middle of being frustrated, I had an idea to make a profile for an online dating website. I may not have a nice Christmas poem, but hopefully at least one person can get a good laugh with my attempt at online dating.

Open the dating website. Get scared. Close the window.

Imagine getting a really good kiss. Open the dating website.

Wonder how many people get murdered every year from folks they met online.

Close the window. Call your friend. The one who met her husband online.

Be brave. Open the dating website. Again.

Read the terms and conditions.

What? There’s a cost.

Close the window. Call your friend. The one who met her husband at church.

Do you know any single men?

Merry Christmas!

2021 will be better. It’s going to be the best year for me and the best year for you.