Poem: In the Quiet of a Summer Afternoon

In the Quiet of a Summer Afternoon

In the quiet of a summer afternoon,

you can hear the birds chirping 

their greetings to each other,

you can hear the distant sound of cars 

zooming about the city,

occasionally you can hear 

a far off train blowing its whistle,

you can hear clocks ticking,

computers humming,

branches brushing against the house,

squirrels running on the roof,

the teapot boiling on the stove,

the cat purring on a nearby chair,

the washer rinsing and spinning,

your heart beating -

all of this in the

quiet

of a summer afternoon.

Quotes About Not Giving Up

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of sorrow - 
it empties today of strength."  

Carrie Ten Boom

"Start by doing what's necessary, then do what's possible; 

suddenly you're doing the impossible." 

St. Francis of Assisi

"Courage is not the absence of fear, 
but rather the judgment that something 

else is more important than fear."

Ambrose Redmoon

"If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come."

Chinese Proverb

"Faith is the bird that sings when the dawn is still dark."

Rabindranath Tagore

"Nothing is hopeless, we must hope for everything."

Madeleine L'Engle

"If you look just past the horizon, 
you will see hope rising behind the clouds."
Rita Bourland

"Stay in there in pitch."
Thomas Bourland to his son on many occasions

"Hope is like a road in the country; 
there was never a road, 
but when many people walk on it,
the road comes into existence." 
Lyn Yutang

Poem: For Now I Slumber

For Now I Slumber

In the stillness,
There is peace –
Floating, ethereal, pure.

The quiet night
Allows a calming
Tranquil rest.

All questions, concerns,
Worries and woes
Go to bed.

They lie fractured around the pillow.
How do they come together in the morrow?
Must they rustle from their slumber?

For now, the quiet is real,
For now, the peace is divine,
For now, I know the answer lies in the great unknown.

But it can wait,

For now I slumber.

Poem: My Three Sons

Christmas 1990

My Three Sons

Fun,

Funny,

Messy,

Huggable,

Sincere,

Reflective,

Creative,

Rough & Tumble

Loud & Clever

Quiet & Thoughtful,

Loving & Tender,

A Joy,

A Treasure,

A Gift from God,

A Blessing that Keeps 

on Giving to the World.

I am grateful & honored to be their mom.

Poem: Sisters

Sisters

One look says it all -
I understand,
I’ve been there too,
I’ve known you so long,
There’s no reason
To hold back;
We are sisters.

One phone call
At just the right time
Says it all -
I was thinking of you,
Wondering how you are,
Is life okay just now?
Let's talk about it.

One touch says it all -
I care for you and believe in you,
right now
in this moment,
forever.

We are sisters

Says it all.

Poem: When We Hug

When We Hug

When we hug, 

something profound happens -

 as our arms embrace,  

we create a perfect circle 

of emotion, health and harmony.

 Within that circle, 

our hearts join to the left and right,
  and pump one continuous beating rhythm,

 our lungs share the same oxygen

 from the space surrounding us, 

we breathe in, we breathe out,

we beat once, we beat twice,

we sigh and break free,
knowing the perfect circle
will be there another day
to replenish our sagging spirits.

Poem: I Am Grateful

I Am Grateful

I am grateful for this day,

for each moment of grace within it,

for the people who touch me,

for a smile of understanding,

for a hug of reassurance,

for the light God shines on each of us,

and for the love that circles us all,

and one more thing

I am grateful for the rainbow 

that breaks through the clouds

delighting us with its magic, mystery and magnificence.

Poem: Stress

STRESS

        S is for the stress you feel when life's in disarray            
        T is for the times when you need some time away          
        R is for the reasons that you'd love a calmer day            
        E is for the energy it takes to work it through            
        S is for the secret to a day where peace doth bloom            
        S is for the sureness of a lovely day quite soon

I wish peace to all who read this.  

May a calm hand rest on your heart 

and bring you solace in times of need.