Awakening to 'Living the 'Dream'

Today's poem was inspired by my niece who, yesterday, wrote on her Facebook post...

(after recovering from another round of sickness in their household)

'Walking around our property tonight, I took a moment

and realized in all the busyness & stress of home ownership & motherhood,

this is everything I've dreamed for' 💗

Thank-you J, for the reminder to treasure the moment and find the joy in it

no matter how hectic the 'happiness' spills!

'The dream' isn't only the picture-perfect moments but all of it together;

the lows make us more thankful for the highs.

This is the day the Lord has made;

we will rejoice and be glad in it!

Ps.118:24

Family milestone celebrations

are one of the happiest blessings on earth...

The other evening we celebrated Granddaughter's 6th birthday,

Which means it was her turn to receive her mommy-box/gramma box

'mommy' is the Pennsylvania-Dutch word for gramma.

(a short 'e' sound at the end rather than long)

In a mommy box 'treasures' are buried in popcorn...

Gum-lover's delight below 😂

the inside of the box is lined with little poems, pictures and bible verses

(I forgot to take a photo of the inside)

Awakening to 'Living the Dream'

To recognize that sorrow is the price we pay for joy

Loss is the proof of having had; everything comes, to pass

And grief and love are life’s most tenderly entwined alloy

Moment’s momentous momentum, sand in life’s hourglass

To recognize that highs and lows comprise ‘living the dream’

Without the brutal ‘bitter’ we would not cherish the ‘sweet’

Or taste the lilt of laughter with more reverent esteem

After the tears we shed when life and death solemnly meet

To recognize the priceless prize disguised as here-and-now

Intangible and fleet, the font that fills history’s mold

And then, with fervent thankfulness to make a humble vow

To do our part to make its art a pleasure/treasure to behold

To, recognize today is all we have, no more or less

To ‘live the dream’ by faith, not fate; to be constantly awed

By He whose loving kindness is the key to happiness

To recognize, through lows and highs, the faithfulness of God

© Janet Martin

I have decided to center my posts after all.

It's hard to teach an 'old dog' new tricks, plus

I have discovered some 'centered' poetry volumes 

in my poem book collection.

See HERE for back story on this 😆

A Few of the Reasons Why I Love You

Happy 6th Birthday, Grandson!

Yesterday marked six years since Jim and I became grandparents!

(yes, the hockey game was on during the celebration!)😅

When I was a little girl the high-light of turning six

was the dearly anticipated mommy-box 

(mommy pronounced with a short 'e' at the end:

    the word for 'gramma' in Pennsylvania-Dutch) 

I decided to surprise Grand-sonny and start the tradition too.

Now his sister will have the joy of the anticipation! 

A momme-box consists of a calendar-picture-pasted box

(like a shoe-box)

filled with treasures hidden in popcorn!

The inside also holds nuggets of wisdom and treasures from God's Word!

(bigger version of writing at the bottom of this post)

Sister was DELIGHTED... a treasure with her name on it💝

Baby Brother had no idea what was going on but it sounded fun so he joined in the joy too😘

I love you little lambkin with a sparkle in your eye

Or tell me, did a cherub softly flutter from the sky

To burst our hearts with happiness and remind us once more

As long as there are babies, life is worth the living for

I love you little tot with crinkled, freckle-sprinkled nose

As curious as a puppy and as pretty as a rose

A perfect blend of innocence with mischief woven through

To remind us, where there are tots, there’s lots of laughter (and hair-pulling groans) too

I love you little girl and boy eager to learn to fly

You startle love’s parental joy with discipline’s oh-my

Teaching mommy and daddy to talk to God every day

(Because)

As long as there are children there will be reason to pray

© Janet Martin

Below are a few pictures of my momme-box

(Long time readers of this blog have seen it before but not for a while)

received on June 7th, 1972

With a few treasures that came in it...