But what is to be done...?

Thump Thump Thump

Tap Tap Tap

Drip Drip Drip

Clank Clank Clank

Whoosh Swoosh Gush

Mysterious sounds

Thoughts in a Flurry

Feet in a Hurry

Everyone at every turn, 

appointing themselves Judge and Jury.

All the Chaos each and every demand

taking its toll. 
Boy, you think..." It's a little much,

I could really use a hand."

But what is to be done?

To kick?

To scream?

To shout out a command?

Stand tall and adamantly demand?

Best case scenario, best possible outcome

is to take a deep breath,
 grab hold of God's promises

and allow Him to hold securely your hand.

He knows how to get you through the troubled waters, beyond any obstacle blocking your way.

No time limit or expiration on the offer.

God is totally great that way....He is here to stay! 

Your Are A Champion

Doodles and dawdles

Ducks with endearing waddles

Webbed feet and fluffy feathers

Rounded beak, so sweet I can hardly speak

Bunny zippy, darting, hopping, jumping

Nose all a twitch, so much fun.

My side is in a stitch. 

Laughter and smiles

tumble over one another like 

the current in a stream trips over rocks.

Flowers everywhere; my eyes full of color

and my nose tickles with the scent of spring.

Blue skies prevail over the grey of winter.

White puffy clouds take the stage in its direct center.

Breezes blow cool and sun warms my cheeks.

The heavy load of this life lifts a might

in the face of such beauty and laughter and delight.

It is an ever present truth, those trials of life...

Some tiny in scope, others loom large,

But through it all, keep your smile at hand

and a spare laugh in your pocket

To determine to rise above the fray...

To decide to do it with fresh strength every day.

New beginnings in this season of renewal.

It's a great time to remind yourself that you are a precious gem,

a completely one of a kind jewel.

Your worth is priceless.

Your reason for being... unique.

You are like no other!

Remind yourself each day

and every hour...

on the minute, if need be.

You are extraordinary...truly,

with an adjustment to your heart

and a tweak to your thoughts...

You will realize you are a treasure to your 

heavenly Father

and the friends and family that surround you.

There is no reason to feel so abjectly low and pervasively blue.

Swing open the window wide and let the light pour in.

Switch out the mirror you've been looking in.

Shed light on the truth, let it out of that box.

It is the one marked with the label...

PRICELESS TREASURE

It indicates that at this thing called life, though the 

path has been rough and the climb rocky and steep,

you are a Champion!

Tuck yourself safely into your heavenly Father's

lap and allow His protective arms to encircle you in safety and in peace.

That thing you have been longing for, waiting for, craving with all your being....

Peace, Rest, Relief from the Grief

Lift up your head and open your eyes...

It's there in your reach.

It won't move away from your grasp on the particularly hard days 
or on the ones spent at the beach!

Dust Yourself Off

Dust, Rust, Crust

Shake it off....It's a must!

When you look through a perspective

 rarely viewed by others, if ever,

 you see what they do not.

It translates that you understand 

what others do not.

Do not begrudge

the solitary nature of your position; 

allow it to ring out clearly and loudly 

of what you see and what you know.

Be the looking glass

 for those that 

cannot see clearly. 

Be the instrument

 that brings truth

 and peace into focus.

Shine bright as you were created to shine.

Shaking off the dirt, soot, and dust that blows over you.

Begin with, maybe uncertain steps....

A sprinkling of doubt, a temptation to hide, to pout.

But begin. Start out, move forward. 

Gain strength and a sure footed stance.

Stick with it onward and upward. Go ahead

and do what you were made to do...born to be.

Let it shine for all to see.

Dare to believe you can step out of that 

place of longing to take your position

and establish a sense of belonging.

Sing, dance, write, cook, build, create;

Take care of business, do whatever it is;

paint, draw, play, run, talk....

do that which only you can do....

There are lots of people in the world, 

but there is only one

You!!!

I Have A Proposal

Flower buds and ribbiting frogs

Newborn calves and foals and lambs

Canning fresh fruit and making delectable jams

Gentle breezes and pollen induced sneezes

Crawling bugs and flying bugs and slow moving slugs

Longer light filled days, it all comes alive in Spring

Romance is assisted by clear starry nights

Sunkissed cheeks and windswept hair that

send thoughts of hugging and kissing into flight

Birds build nests and dogs chase butterflies

Children look out the window from their classroom

wishing, waiting and wanting the bell to ring freedom

Spring is full of fun, and romance and allergies

Daydreaming and vacation scheming

When spring comes and the blooms and birds

provide color and songs for eyes and ears

We should feel like kids again carefree and joyful

WHAT IF:

You just feel cranky

You wake up discouraged

Your hope feels flimsy

Your dreams appear colorless

Your  energy  is low and you are plain old listless

Cheer up and let yourself off the critical list

Take a time out and give it all a rest

It's impossible to be continually grade A and at your best

Fill your tank that is clearly low

Step back, let it wait, give it time

You should realize that taking care of yourself

is paramount, a healthy outlook and happy heart

Sometimes the best way to take part in life is to

say "It's about me today."

Giving out requires taking in.

Running the race and getting to the end

by remembering it is a marathon and not a sprint.

Take a nap, go for a walk, read a book,

sit down with a good friend

and have a long chit chatty kind of talk.

Then you will smile when the birds sing and the 

scent of the flowers tickle your nose.

You don't have to do any of it but, it is what I propose.

Green Isn't Just For Frogs

Green Eyes

Green Eggs

Green Clothes

Green Beer

The Land of the Leprechaun

Land green and lush

producing people of stamina

 and untold strength.

Through history they have 

endured and survived 

to have better, be better, live as Irishmen.

They have taken up this task at great length.

Flung like stars in the heavens, Irish people make their mark around the world, but in every heart they call Ireland home.

Its not just a fairyland for the gnome.

Land of legend, a story telling people

of conviction and rich history.

The story is of a country and story quite personal comprised of struggle 

and victory, 

of triumph knit together by individual contribution, sacrifice, and a collective goal.

Fighting others and each other....

 for beliefs held dear and it came at a dear price indeed.

Reaching back to the past and stretching towards the future, tying these two together in the present.

On this day we think of clover, four leaves in number.

We think of pots of gold 

and little men 

that guard them. 

We drink beer tinted green

 and

 luck........ Irish in nature.

Let us enjoy the day, have

 a laugh and a giggle or two.

Along the way let us honor the Irish today 

for their strength, determination, and can do attitude to carve out something better and stand tall in the process.

This blood some of us possess a drop or two...

it may be true of you

or not.

Bear this in mind, whether you are Irish or your blood is of a different kind,

observe the strength of the Irish

and make a note.

Tip your hat to St. Patrick and the people he loved so deeply.

On this fun day of remembrance, let us

honor the Irish with fun yes, but let us

give it some thought and also do it a little reverently and sweetly.

Wait Eagerly

Neatly trimmed 
Candle Wicks

Puppy Tongues 

Warm Licks

Winter Days 

slowly giving way

 to spring afternoons

 and

 memory filled picnics.

In the winter days, the trees let it all go. 
Allow their bare selves to be seen true.

The landscape can be viewed straight through.

Do we ever do this?

To let it all be seen uncloaked, uncensored, unashamed.

Our thoughts honest

Our words direct

Our actions clear

In the cold barrenness of winter....

when circumstances

 come in flurries and pile up like snow. 

Which way to turn?

Which way to go?

All winter, the trees stand as grand sculptures

unadorned, colorless.

We see every turn, every twist of each branch.

The scars and imperfections visible......
plainly seen by the naked eye.

No pretense.

What you see is what there is....in that moment....
for that season.

However, there is more to come. 

More to be seen.

More to be enjoyed.

To tantalize the taste buds to give pleasure to the eye.

The days turn softer and the sun caresses and coaxes....

the branches release, in perfect timing 
new born leaves....
Fresh budding flowers soon follow 

to announce a new season has begun.
Smartly dressed in shining,
 new greenery and trimmed in vivid color
 we benefit from 
the renewed shade of the tree
 in addition to all its beauty.

Are you feeling like a tree in winter.... 
exposed,
completely stripped?

Your next season is in place and the proof of it....
the truth of it.... 
will surprisingly
 soon announce its arrival 
in equal splendor. 

Don't let the chill of a long winter keep you
 from believing in a spring that will surely come.

Believe for the new thing inside of you.
 Trust the timing that it is not too late, 
that it is choosing 
its arrival with perfection, 
that it will be the moment for positive connection. 
In reflection you will see the pieces fit
 and the order in which they came.

You can securely depend on the fact that 
He is steady
yesterday, today, tomorrow... 
always the same.

Tending to each detail for your ultimate best.

You can stop trying so 
terribly hard
 and take a breath,
 have a rest.
Wait eagerly
for your spring.
Spring forward and into all that awaits you.
Your winter season is finished, it is through!

Dream A Little Dream....All Your Own

Dream Catchers, Dream Snatchers

Dream Holders, Dream Moulders

Dream Squashers, Dream Wishers

Who are you? Who of these comes 

closest to describing you true?

Who do you hang with, do life with,

go about your business doing your thing with?

When a dream is a seed, it needs nurtured so it can grow.

At the right time when you have grown 

right along with your dream,

it will come together, all together true.

A dream now a reality is still a delicate thing, 

Don't ignore its fragility.

Be bold and protect what belongs to you!

It doesn't transfer or expire.

It isn't something that you can hire.

The stamp on it reads...."Y.O.U."

So what are you going to do?

Pick it up or lay it down?

Be a dream catcher

Develop into a dream holder

Waste not one second more

Face it, we are all getting older

Attach yourself to someone

that fills the description of a dream moulder!

And the dream snatchers and squashers

of this world

Sad pitiful creatures; often appearing 

beautiful, successful and clever.

Look closer....they are heart empty, imagination lacking

tongue wagging bullies

with twisted motives and twisted features.

They are common thieves.

My suggestion is to stay away from people like these!

Dream once, Dream twice.

Dream three times.

Take my advice.

Snatchers are always lurking.

Try confidently looking them

straight in the eye 

and smirking.

Be bold.....grip tightly

to that dream you hold!!