Dreams & Heartaches

........................................ [Fall ~ 1981]
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Remember when ... [Hint: I dated this picture Oct. 31, 1981] ...well, maybe YOU don't remember! LOL!
The whole drawing wouldn't scan, this IS the lion's share of it though.
Hope you like it.
Been one of my personal favorites ever since it came through me and onto the page.
Don't have much to say about it.
Feel free to read your own interpretations into it.
I will say that, 'The winged heart" is a special symbol for me and my sister, [The Queen of Panic!].
I don't remember why we started using it.
Young women's fancy, I suppose.
I drew it here, and she "immortalized" it in stained glass.
She even gave me a piece of hers'.
Ah, but then we've been swapping bits and pieces of our creative endeavors, back and forth, for decades now. :) Cheerios2U all! ~ Dorko!

Summer Yum!

Lemon Poke Cake – Grandma’s recipe
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~ Cheap, fast, easy... nothing leftover at the end of the pot lucks. Grandma used to make this a bunch in the summer time and I'm thinking one of these babies is gonna have to happen @ my house TODAY! Some of you might already have this. Those that don't might wanna consider a drag-copy-paste, even if you 're not a great cook, people ~ you'll get compliments from this! ~ .
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Dissolve lemon jello in 1 C hot water
(allow this to cool slightly but not “set�)
Beat 4 eggs & ¾ C salad oil
Add slowly ~ to cool jello
Add yellow or lemon cake mix and Beat well (2-3 minutes).

Pour into a 9x13 pan
Bake 20-25 min @ 350º

Let cake cool in pan, then use a fork to poke holes all over the top of the cake. Pour a mixture of ~

1 ½ C lemon juice mixed with 2 C powdered sugar and pour, evenly over the top of the cake.

Refrigerate. <-(Important) Top with sprinkle of powder sugar before serving.
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P.S. Happy Hump-day Wednesday!
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Rambles...

One of my all time favorite Quotes:
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Yesterday is history,

Tomorrow is a mystery,

Today is a gift ~

That's why they call it the present.

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Got so mesmerized by this ' Catchycolors ' link from Opie's site, [Sometimes I do] that I swiped it over to my side bar there. Go. See. It's got some wholesome eye candy. Great for anyone who'd like to trip to the light fantastic... 'er whatever!

Gone Fishin' ...

~ Caption reads: "C'mon Moses, Knock it off!" ~

I can't help it, people. This cartoon cracks me up! Hope you're enjoying your Saturdays!

Sister of the Moon ~

................................... ~ [Spring 1981]

I thought I'd post another drawing going into this week's end. Looking back over my posts since Monday, this old pencil sketch, just seemed to fit the pace and the "mood". Inspirations? An evening drive from Imperial to McCook, I'd just seen a young man I'd refer to as my 'Bobbie McGee'; One of those prairie moons, rising large and almost full ~ a luminescent orange over scrub trees down in the Frenchman Valley; That old box elder cemetery and the local legends it's always spawned; Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac playing sweetly on the bose system I insisted I needed to have; flying along the highway in my silvery prelude, low-slung and hugging pavement like there was no tomorrow ~ that car served me so long and well... moonroof wide open... gentle breezes flowing... rocking into that orangie sky... feeling youthful and free ~happy week's end to you all!

Midsummer Night's Dreams

I popped open today's date in "Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy" by Sarah Ban Breathnach and fell in love, all over again, with the message there. Here are 'parts' of it for your consideration:

"... a bit of midsummer madness and magic are good for the soul. This probably explains why in Europe, Midsummer's Eve (June 23) has traditionally been set aside as the night for high-spirited merry making and light-hearted [fun]. ~... life's simple pleasures are meant to be savored... ~ "

Think of the very best beliefs of the most peaceful religions... Breathnach explains about "Stillwaters," the mock New England sect imagined by author and illustrator Tasha Tudor, "Stillwater connotes something very peaceful, life without stress. Nowadays, people are so jeezled up. If they took some chamomile tea and spent more time rocking on the porch in the evening... they might enjoy life more."

As for the Dorko: I remember my parents (and grandparents) sitting out on the porch on summer evenings chatting with the occasional neighbor who may happen by. Watching [us!] their children as we stalked painted lady butterflies, where ever we could find them, prize additions to our mayonnaise jars with the 'holes in the lids', courtesy of Mom and her trusty meat fork. The cicadas, we called them locus, always providing the background music, singing loud then low up in the trees. And when that sun went down there was the delightful magic of fireflies to light our way! (more pretties for our jars!) ~ but I digress ~ returning to Simple Abundance...

Breathnach goes on to say that: "On Midsummer's Eve, the Still waters have a Great Party -- plenty of music, dancing in the barn, and a sumptuous summer supper. ... very hedonistic. Life is to be enjoyed, not saddled with, Tasha Tudor insists. The first commandment of the Stillwaters, is to 'Take joy' from each day. This is a catechism we should all embrace to experience Heaven on earth... I love Midsummer's Day (June 24). For me, it's a personal mid-course correction for the year. I wander out into the back yard very early in the morning and pluck a blossom from the garden heavy with dew. With my fingers, I'll pat the dew upon my face, for legend has it that any woman who washes her face in the dew of Mid-summer's Day will grow more lovely with the passing year. Fairy cakes are made for tea, midsummer's syllabub (a delightful concoction of cider, lemon, berries, and whipped cream) is prepared for a moonlit picnic, and personal dreams are renewed. Being Irish, I don't dismiss the belief in love charms, magic herbs, and divination, for I know there's more to this world than we'll ever hope to understand. But these days I'm not so much interested in what the future holds as I am in the present.

"I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string," ...When Midsummer arrives, it's a time to look ahead and dream. Perhaps, if one is lucky, the days ahead will unfold as a "never-to-be-forgotten summer -- one of those summers which come seldom into any life, but leave a rich heritage of beautiful memories of delightful weather, delightful friends and delightful doings, come as near perfection as anything can come in the world."

Now is the high-tide of the year,

And whatever of life hath ebbed away

Comes flooding back with ripply cheer

Now the heart is so full that a drop overfills it,

We are happy now, because God wills it.

-- James Russell Lowell

This is how Breathnach ends 'her post' and I'm following suit: "May this potent Midsummer spell never be broken for you and those you love."

I See A Bad Moon Rising

Summer Moon Illusion
06.20.05

The lowest-hanging full moon in 18 years is going to play tricks on you this week.
Sometimes you can't believe your eyes. This week is one of those times.
Step outside any evening at sunset and look around. You'll see a giant moon rising in the east. It looks like Earth's moon, round and cratered; the Man in the Moon is in his usual place. But something's wrong. This full moon is strangely inflated. It's huge!
You've just experienced the Moon Illusion.
Sky watchers have known this for thousands of years: moons hanging low in the sky look unnaturally big. Cameras don't see it, but our eyes do. It's a real illusion.

Summer time

Summer time, time, time ~ and the livin's easy

The fish are jumping now ow ow ow

You feel it comin' on and the cotton's high

O! So high...

You know...~

OK! Nuff of that. Good old song though.
Always have the 'Janis Joplin' version going off in my head, but dig Billie Holiday's just as well.

June 21 = 1st day of summer. I do believe the frost is out of the ground, now people! [Big smiles, just for you!]

And to think ~ just 3 weekends ago I was cold! Snuggle up cold! Shutting up all the doors and windows, cold. Pulling on fleece ware and sweaters, cold. Digging in and gritting my teeth ~ dead set against turning on the furnace, of all things- cold! At the end of May - Amazing!

NOW it's the grand opposite!
Begged a couple elders from church to help me hoist A/Cs into the windows here. Bless their hearts! Had those little Rosanne Adan-Adanna sweat balls hanging off of their noses in T-minus 10 minutes of getting here, matched the one I was sporting, yesterday. lol!

Thanking God all morning long for the little shower he sent our way at 3:00 am. Not only cooled things down a bit but had that bonus, fresh rain smell, to go with the blessing. Hummm. That reminds me of a quote from one of those links I just pasted...

“Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain� ~ Billie Holiday

2 good things about summer, you know you love 'em when you can get 'em, and thats: Rain and Romance!
Um-hum!
Go on.
Add to the list if you want...!?
Ignore the sweat balls and tell me what your favorite summer things are....?
Double dog days dare you2!

Batman begins

Batman begins

I saw this movie over the weekend. It is the BEST Batman "movie" yet! Bar none!!! If you have a chance DO ~ try to see it on the big screen. This, people, is how it should be. This movie broods, ponders and delves much deeper than it's predecessors... I actually felt the movie makers here, had a bit of my enjoyment in mind; rather than strictly their pocket books and how much they could make at my expense ~as the priority goal.

Country cast offs

Country cast offs ~ A themed still life

"Someone" said they wanted to see some art work. This is from High-school. Thank you Mr. Steinke! ["Stank-ee"] Due to oxidation over time, I think it matches up pretty good on the ol' blog, here. LOL!!! Now that I have a scanner, (one of the best birthday presents ~ EVER! Thank-you, so much ~ mmmaaauuuhhh!) you may be seeing a few more homegrown things, from time to time. Hope everyone of you has a wonderfilled week's end! Cheerios2U!

Mysterious dream

Yesterday I prayed to the god of plagiarism ~ apologizing, and then asking for a few mysteries to be revealed. . . now my sub-conscious is playing with me! [lol~big smile]

Last night I was star-gazing with [One of you], online. We were looking at the Hubble thumb-nails together. You kept pointing out "faces" in the nebulas and novas.
I'd heard some where that the human brain is hard-wired to "see" faces in the natural world and that it effects our modern design sensibilities... Think of a grounded electrical plug or outlet. I mentioned this to you...

Then I got to thinking about those experiences for me.
I saw faces all over the South-west, when I lived there, [rock-gargoyles, looking over canyon walls kinda creeped me out! Hehehee!]... I've deliberately drawn faces into the rock, tree and cloud scenes of my more fanciful art works... and I have greatly enjoyed the works of other artists who've toyed with this notion as well. I remember studying the work of a 'local [Nebraska] artist' (A Photographer) while in the Lincoln Airport. I lined myself up with a photo of a tree, more specifically a tree trunk's bark. I was admiring the rhythm, flow, and rough textures of the tree, as captured by the artistic eye of the photographer, when it became [SURPRISE!] clear to me that I was actually looking at a perfectly camouflaged owl roosting in that tree! Cool Beans! Still makes me smile to this day, remembering how I felt, at that moment of discovery!

And so this mystery dream 'almost' makes sense to me ... it was the last one before waking up this morning. I was looking at an old, ancestral photograph. Sepia toned, glossy, depicting a man and a woman. They were standing outside a low dewelling ~ couldn't tell if it was framed, a sod house, or a dug out. My waking mind doesn't recognize their images as relatives. However, in the dream they were 'grand-parents' from down the pedigree line. I was archiving this photo into a book and as I placed it in the book, the light shifted and another image became clear in the photo. I was intrigued and curious so I picked up the photograph and as I did ~ I shifted it back and forth in the light and the photograph took on a modern hologram quality, with every tilt more images of people came into view within the picture. I got the sense that we were all related and that these individuals and sets of individuals appearing now, were the children and the direct descendants, of the 2 who's image I originally saw on the surface of the film. .... trippy, huh?

Wish I could find THAT photograph! LOL!
Cheerios 2U!
Dorko

What's Worth Knowing

I got this book... recently, "What's Worth Knowing" ~ it's a collection of wisdoms. [If you like quotes, you'll like this book ~ as do I ~ they're quotes from everyday people, some quite elderly ~ which I think is a bonus!] Maybe worth a looksie at your local library? Anywho... the contents sections: On Living Well, On People, On Time, On Spirituality, On Marriage, On Being Blue, On Work, On Illness and Frailty, On Good Conduct, On Regret, On Later Life....

2 came to mind for me today. Here they are for you... but first... I must pray: O. Dear lord of plagiarism, I'd like to apologize... and please note that I AM giving credit to that nice woman, Wendy Lustbader, who actually did the work and wrote the book...! Forgive my trespassing ways and please reveal a mystery or two, you know how much I like that! Amen!

On Time ~
"Knowing you're going to die -- that's what really gets you moving," realized Arsene St. Amand, Age 48, who was prompted to find true love at last, six months before his death... You can go through a whole lot of years wasting time. You can go down lots of wrong roads. you say, 'Hey, I'll take care of that next year." You're too busy showing everyone how much you've got it together. Then - boom - there isn't much time left. Most people find out about love when they're young, but I didn't. I thought I could do without it. But as soon as the doctor said, "You've got nine months," that was it. I was done fooling around. I decided -- before I die, I'm going to learn how to love." [Author's note: Arsene grew up on the streets of New Orleans and went to school only until third grade. He never learned how to write, but in the last year of his life he dictated many letters to those he wanted to thank for having helped him earlier on. Arsene died at the age of 48 of lung cancer, shortly after marrying Rose, the love of his life. Dying young, he felt, had made him old inside and wiser than his years.]

On Regret ~
and then there is this story about regret from 'Matilda Johansen', Age 101 who said, "Here I am, an old woman already. I always thought I had a book inside me. Every year I told myself, 'Next year you'll write your book." The years came and went. It always seemed like next year I'd start in on it, but I never did - and I've had a whole century. If you have a book inside you, sit down and get it written. It's not a matter of having the time. If you want to do something badly enough, you do it. You set other things aside and you make it a priority. You stop giving your life away to obligations. Now my hands are twisted up with arthritis and I can't see beyond the end of my nose. See? I have the time, but now I can't do it. ~[Wendy Lustbader, the author, cited 'Matilda's story' as her inspiration for the book in which it appears. Wendy said, "Matilda's story of her own unwritten book ran through me like an electric current. From then on, she asked me each week what progress I'd made, and I never disappointed her."]

OKAY. I can hardly stand it. I just gotta fish out one more for you... this one is:

On Later Life~
"Growing older makes you more certain about what's meaningful." ~ Carter Catlett Williams, Age 76. "Until my husband was nearing retirement, I did whatever I could to support his work. Everyone liked my food and our hospitality, but I generally kept quiet while the scientists discussed matters important to them. I knew I saw things they didn't see, but I seldom spoke up. I had no confidence that my perceptions were of value to others. Then, when I was in my mid-sixties, I started to venture forth with my observations and raise questions few people were asking. By that time, it didn't matter to me whether others agreed with me, only that I speak the truth as I saw it. At long last, I knew I had something to say -- or rather, I knew there were things that needed to be said and I had to join the few who were saying them. " ~[in the 1980s Carter Catlett Williams became a national leader in the effort to stop the practice of restraining nursing home residents by tying them to chairs or binding their bodies to beds and side rails. She spoke up on behalf of people who were unable to command the attention of lawmakers and regulators, until restraint-free care became the law of the land. Lack of confidence, which had restrained Carter since she had come of age, finally receded as she found her voice in later life.]

Confession?

This is a year of really hard work for me ~ this is a year in which I will follow my heart and unfold some dormant talents... and work on being the best, well balanced, 'Dorko' I can be! And I am not surprised to see many of you feeling the same way....['K, maybe you're not all so keen on the well balanced 'Dorko' part of it! LOL!] ~ so much heart, and passion, and talent out there on the Blogosphere, so many of you taking stock in yourselves and making those leaps of faith! And O, those voices of yours! "I will go..." "I will do..." Honest and brave! Bravo!... You amaze me!
This little light of mine... I'm gonna let it shine... Love & Cheerios 2U all!

Finding inspiration...

Remember the name Lou Dean, I'll get back to it...

Finally back home . . . Ah, sweet, peaceful, tranquil ~ home!
I am a woman in transition, right now people. It's looking like I'll be going back to school in a few weeks ~ (yea! / drat!) <- I've mixed emotions, can you tell??? I had appointments, this morning, to see about school registration. Don't want to leave that to the last minute and chance not being able to get into a class that I will be needing. I mentioned this appointment to Mom and she mentioned a Doctor's appointment for the same morning. Since she no longer has an "operational" vehicle (subject for another post, perhaps? evil, grin....) I told her I could drop her off in tandem with my appointment and then swing by to get her when I was done. Well.....slidding to sleep last night..... I forgot about it...her... the Doctor thing. She had foresight enough, however, to call and remind me early, early this morning... Of course I'm feeling the unsettling pressure of not being settled so I was rushed and just a jiff rankled, getting around this morning... getting started on the wrong side of the bed... dust-bunnies flying in one ear and out the other... you'd think I'd been taking lessons from the Queen of Panic, if you'd have crossed my path. [Shameful behavior!] <- (who knows maybe it goes with creative ferver?) Any who! ~ I did not need to have been so "rushed" this morning!!! I got Mom to the clinic and got over to the college ~ a bit late ~ but in fine shape ~ as there wasn't a huge line up of people to talk to [the admissions advisor]. I will go back and take a 'compass test' to see where they'd rank my reading/english skills. The results will determine class selection with the course out-line, Graphic Design. (Finally gonna pursue my creative genius where 'er it takes me people! Yes! Yes? Yes... ) So! I wanted to get it done immediately, 8:30 am tomorrow, I'll be back in there for that. Waiting, also, for transcripts from Hastings over the work I did there. The visit didn't take that long so I went back over to the clinic to wait for Mom... 2 and 1/2 HOURS after I'd initially dropped her off ~ she sticks her head back into the waiting room and says "Oh! You are out here waiting for me!" *Sheesh!* She was very vague about why the dang appointment took so bloody long. 1st something about them rebooking her time and then not notifying her... but that almost seemed like it would have shortened things up because she said she got in sooner than she'd thought and then something about the Specialist wanting to view the lastest x-rays on her and the other hospital (Kearney) having kept them ~ not forwarding them on to McCook. Hummm. Next time I'll just ask the desk where's she's at and go hang with her. As long as we were both just sitting around looking at magazines, we just as well have been doing that together!

She insisted on taking me out to lunch then to make up for the long wait at the clinic and I let her. Good grief. Save me the time and effort of getting something around here, and it was very nice of her, we had a good lunch together.

So. There you are my fun filled morning. The rest of the day I'm 'free' to o, post this and then get crackin' on the household chores... considerable they are too... I want to have everything I own sorted out before I go back to school. In a major mood to purge and pitch as it will be a year or two of some really hard work and I don't think I can stand any drain from clutter hanging over my busy little head!

OH! The Lou Dean name? I found some sweet inspiration from this person in the form of a magazine article. Lou Dean's latest article: Promises To Keep, Fall 2004, October issue of Family Circle Magazine.... The story, which caught my eye from the title and a picture of a Big Cheif notebook, is a personal profile of the writer's journey as both divorced mother and struggling author and is an inspirational testimony of what courage and faith can do. The author weaves her story around a declairation of "I will..." written in her Father's hand sometime after things had got tough for him and found, as things were getting tough for her ~ years later. The story reminded me of a book I've read titled "Write it Down, Make it Happen" amazing stories of what [Miracles!!!] can happen when you focus your positive energies. Then I found Ms Dean's web page when I, finally!, got home and fell in love with the short bit of story under 'Awards, newsclippings...' [Calling all animal lovers to check that one out!]

OK! Time to focus! Better get out the Big Chief and begin a new, "I will... "
Cheerios 2u all!
Dorko

Native Prayers

Black Elk: Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux

"Grandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice. You lived first, and you are older than all need, older than all prayer. All things belong to you -- the two-legged, the four-legged, the wings of the air, and all green things that live.
"You have set the powers of the four quarters of the earth to cross each other. You have made me cross the good road and road of difficulties, and where they cross, the place is holy. Day in, day out, forevermore, you are the life of things."

(Thank you, Opie for sending me the link. Love the native prayers.)

Click on 'Black Elk' and the 'Native Prayer' title for more prayers.

Comstock & the 2nd Wind...

Comstock NE ~ 2nd Wind Ranch


I was talking about the homegrown fun that happens in small town U.S.A. (then I got side - tracked by that cyber-kiss-quiz! Anywho...) This, 'the magic of comstock" has been building bigger and bigger ~ every year. There are people beginning to travel to attend ~ people other than the entertainment acts which, according to local interviews, are really grooving on the venue. Just thought I'd share it with you. Hope all of you have an excellent week's end!
Cheerios2U!

The KISS OFF ~

I took the 'cyber-test' which (patooey!) sux ~ compared to the real thing... no?

Part Passionate Kisser

For you, kissing is about all about following your urges If someone's hot, you'll go in for the kiss - end of story You can keep any relationship hot with your steamy kisses A total spark plug - your kisses are bound to get you in trouble

Part Expert Kisser

You're a kissing pro, but it's all about quality and not quantity You've perfected your kissing technique and can knock anyone's socks off And you're adaptable, giving each partner what they crave When it comes down to it, your kisses are truly unforgettable

What Kind of Kisser Are You?

"Chautauqua"

The kids all say there's nothing to do here.
We were saying it 30 years ago and I understand that pesky rumor is still being fed.
TRUTH IS there's plenty to do around "here". I've got a lengthy, revolving, to do list ~ just like any other responsible 'adult' out there in this big, beautiful world. So much occupation, and preoccupation that sometimes I miss out on the local entertainments.
This weekend (June 10-11) there will be a festival in town. We'll celebrate the stories of Ordinary People Living Extraordinary Lives with the award winning Buffalo Commons Story Telling Festival. This year’s headliners include a man with this credit: "Awe inspiring cathedrals of flapdoddle and bull." to his story telling. Makes you wanna go just to see if he can really live up to that tall of praise, don't it?
It just seems like I've missed the fun the last 2 seasons running. This time I'm looking forward to the "Chautauqua" downtown at the Historic Fox Theater.
I like the little story I found on the History page of the Buffalo Commons Web Site I wanted to share it with you....
The inhabitants of this part of the Buffalo Commons agree with historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. about the significance of a story told by George Norris--the story of his widowed mother asking him on a warm spring afternoon to plant a seedling.

She dug a hole and she wanted the boy to hold the tree upright while she shoveled the dirt in around its roots and packed it all tightly in. George looked up at her and saw all the sweat running down her face, and he looked and saw how worn she was and how tired she looked, and he asked her finally, "Why do you work so hard, Mother? Why do you care about planting this seedling? We have more fruit already than we can possibly eat. You will be dead long before this tree comes into bearing." As he recalled it many years later, her answer was slow to come as she measured her words. She finally said, "I may never see this tree in bearing but somebody will."

Two of our Festival's brochures make this statement: "We believe that, next to God and family, stories are our greatest treasures." So we're planting our stories, passing on our heritage, teaching our children and grandchildren to be storytellers, strengthening them for the future.

I think of the Master teacher and a favorite Bible story comes to mind ~ the parable of "The Sower" ... planting the seeds ... and I think about those "Four Responses": Pioneer Gumption (Don't underestimate our determination and hard work"); Dollar Potential ("Plains food production can feed the world"); Eastern Ignorance (Self-explanatory): and Prairie Zen ("Our landscape is a powerful source of spiritual renewal")... ah, yes, 'Prairie Zen'.

HAPPY BLOGGING to all you story tellers out there... remember to 'copy' and or 'back up' & for Heaven’s sakes ~ nurture your good work... the Harvest is nigh.

There's power in prayer...

There's power in prayer... and my prayer list seems to be growing, some of you have directly asked for prayer some of you have not.
I return to my patriachal blessing, from time to time, and this part never ceases to bring me up short: ....
"...be faithful. Say your prayers and study carefully that which you should pray for." ...
It gets me to thinking...
BE FAITHFUL.
"How diligent have I been?"
SAY YOUR PRAYERS...
Am I as in-tune as I can possibly be?
Am I prayerful ~ always? ~ all ways?
STUDY CAREFULLY...
I have studied the scriptures, and the best books ~ on the subject of prayer...but did I do it today?
Do I need to go back and do it again...? (and again, and again ~ lol!) <-YES!! LOL, LOL, LOL!!!
THAT WHICH YOU SHOULD PRAY FOR.
More on this later....
Just wanted YOU to know that MY prayer, along with the prayers of many others who care, know it or not, and the love of a purified heart are flowing to you, with you, and if you are willing ~through you today.
I may not know, exactly, what would bring you peace, but I trust, I believe, I know there's one who does...
Amen

Sunday Rambles...

This past Sunday was a fast and testimony Sunday and the gospel doctrine lessons were on the Plan of Salvation. I was sooo looking forward to it, as I always do, this is a special meeting~ generally the 1st Sunday of every month ~ When the people have the opportunity to bare their testimonies, when the spirit dictates to the hearts of the congregation what should be shed at the pulpit. It didn't take me long, after moving here and joining with this branch of the church to realize which ones were going to capture my complete attention everytime they stepped forward... the ones that walk close with the spirit in every turn of their lives... the ones that give me cause to insert that extra hanky into my scripture tote before leaving the house each Sabbath morning... never know when I'll be touched to tears. ... behold ~ the simple servants seeking after truth and the Master's hand...

Well! I missed the entire 1st hour! I simply over slept! Grrr. I had gotten to bed early enough... despite the tempest that was, in fact, raging across the earth and sky, and the diet sodas I'd shot down that day and the twisty phone call I'd just shared with this amazing man, who's not only captured my attention, but my heart of hearts. He and I are 'connected' on every level we've tested thus far and and we're mindful therefore of the potential and possibility, within ourselves and within each other, to share an ultimate love, a love above all other loves (save the Savior's)... Ahem...
And so I'm 'preoccupied' but doing quite well to secure the parameters before midnight ~ as the Ladydogger and Dr. Seuss [Claudia~ da cat] and I all tucked in early, and close, at lights out. I was reviewing the blessings of the day, the steadfast love building in my heart, saying my own little prayer for that and the lessons for the 'morrow and considering the dedication of my fast and offerings as I tottered off to a sure, safe sleep... some where around 3 a.m., for crying out loud ... WOOF! ....wa .... WOOF!

The Lady dog was talking to me. [Translation: ... Outside! .... Um.... OUTSIDE! ]

There is no wisdom in ignoring a geriatric dogger whenever they've given the "outside" prompt especially at 3 o'clock in the morning! Even if it is just a scratch and sniff expedition she has on her addled doggie brain ~ it's just not worth the "risk"! So-oo! Out we go! Grabbing "whatever's closest to the bed" for clothing's sake [some great combinations happen that way, doncha know it!? This time, I believe, it was the charcoal grey cotton shorts - elastic band, easy on, easy off, [LOL!] with the deep purple t-shirt I'd personally embellished with the glow-in -the-dark fabric paints. .. .. found the imitation shearling fuzzy slippers to 'complete me' enroute to the carport door. ] Dog, and Dr. Seuss ~ whom we can refer to at this point as liquid kitty she 'flows' that quiet, quick and clean ~ assigning themselves in the customary entourage fashion: doggie stopping periodically for no- good-reason-whatsoever & getting so in the way and kitty doing her very best to NOT get stepped on but still be the first one out of the door and into the night... hummm.

What a night. The tempest had past. All was silent. All was calm. I could see every star in the firmament up above, even without my glasses! and the milky way arched and stretched forth her glitter path against the dark contrast of deep, deep space. The smells... that the rains had left clean~ dampen and yet crisply clear: of earth, grass, wood, the ionic dews distilling in the canopies of the trees... I drank it all in while watching the lump of black which was darker than the night and which was my dog satisfy whatever urge had brought us out to met this special space in time. I felt that salvation, happiness, redemption, restoration, and mercy, were all there attending me, along with sweet beauty and peace ~ each one standing, just outside of the realm of touch and periphery of sight... and that they were singing to me.

I've been told that the highlight of the testimony meeting was Sister Kohler. [pronounce a long 'oh' sound ~ Co-ler] She's the oldest member of the branch in her late 80s or early 90s now. She told of a time when she was a young farm wife and laid low by encephalitis? <-(spelling?) most likely from a mosquito bite. She had to be in bed for 3 or 4 months. It was very difficult, she could do nothing on her own. She told how a bird, a magpie, had come to perch by the bedroom window and sing it's chattery song every day. She said there never was a magpie before she got sick and this magpie never returned again after she got better. Coincidence?
Sister Kohler is convinced that the magpie was player in the Master's plan, that it had been sent to cheer her long days of recovery.

Scriptures tell us that men are that they might have joy... and .... Ye endeavored to believe that ye should receive... I bare testimony that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and fully restored.

... And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me. And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved. And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?
Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?
Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.
For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.
But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness....
... and again I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?
And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.
Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

Alright... I'm getting carried away... sorry. I didn't think I'd be quoting those scriptures when I sat down to write I was shooting for Job 38: 4-7! *sighs* It is enough... got dishes, mowing and ta-dah! -> laundry to do!
Much love and cheerios! ~ 2 all who pass this way!

The Pilgrim

The Pilgrim by Shaun Davey

I have heard this music on NPR a few times and I've gratefully let it wash through me, thinking someday I'll hunt that down and have it for myself. In particular, I like the cut Deer's Cry. Here's what I found on it this morning:

The Deer's Cry: Rita Connolly, vocal; City of Glasgow Chorus and orchestra. The lyrics are taken from Kuno Meyo's translation of the 8th century poem sometimes, but apparently incorrectly, attributed to St. Patrick and alternatively entitled `St. Patrick's Breastplate'. The opening words in the original Irish, `atom-ruig' translated here as `I arise' have also been translated as 'I gird myself'. This prayer-poem served as a prayer for protection against the perils faced by medieval travellers.
The Deers CryAnon. 8th Century : Translated from old Irish by Kuno Meyer.

I arise today

Through the strength of Heaven
Light of sun
Radiance of moon
Splendour of fire
Speed of lightning
Swiftness of wind
Depth of the sea
Stability of earth
Firmness of rock

I arise today

Through Gods strength to pilot me
Gods eye to look before me
Gods wisdom to guide me
Gods way to lie before me
Gods shield to protect me
From all who shall wish me ill
Afar and anear
Alone and in a multitude
Against every cruel
Merciless power
That may oppose my body and soul

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ in me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise, Christ to shield me

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me
I arise today.

Is This Snotty?

Did you hear the Kleenex factory workers went on strike?

Now everyone will have to picket.


[snicker]