A Reflection....
I spent many hours looking out over the Atlantic Ocean at Tybee Island. The ocean’s vast waters lay as far as the eye could see, and the rush of waves running to the shore left small shells as it returned to the sea. My thoughts were of God, all powerful and vast. I am only a small shell in his enormous world, but I know He loves me. He created me. As I examined my life, and what God’s plan was for me. I prayed, and the beach was a peaceful place, especially in the desolate winter months, to pray, think, and spend time with God.

Make Each Day a New Beginning, By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what
you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in:
forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day:
begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
cumbered with your old nonsense. This day is all that is
good and fair. It is too dear, with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.
Ralph Waldo Emerson


Words of Wisdom from St. Francis of Assisi
A single sunbeam is enough
To drive away any shadows.
Saint Francis of Assisi

Writing, when did it all start?

Writing, when did it all start? I wanted to write a book but did not realize at such a young age, probably seven or eight that there was a certain format to use. So, I just wrote. My main character was a little girl named Jenny and everything that Jenny did seem to be the same things I myself was doing. Later in life as I look back, I realize that I was really journalizing but didn’t know what to call it.

I’ve always had a fascination with words. I love the way they flow and form together. I love the way the words make me feel, sometimes they warm my soul, and sometimes they frighten me; regardless, I hang on to every word. I’ve always been a slow reader, because I read some sentences over and over again. I love to read, but most of all I want to write words that blend together to arouse feelings of emotions in the reader. In a way it gives one a power to move someone to feel emotions, but I prefer to see it as a good way to touch the hearts of the reader and help them in some small way to feel good.

Writing also puts me in a vulnerable situation because I open myself up to criticism and rejection; but it can also be rewarding. Writing has always been a dream, but taking the time away from responsibilities of life was hard to do. Now, I’ve decided to make it a priority and just do it. We will always have responsibilities of one kind or another.

Writing for me started a long time ago, and I have played around with it through writing classes, journalizing, and writing in my accounting profession, but now is the time to write because I love writing. It is time to enjoy the craft and learn what I can about the art of writing. Lyn

Spring, A Gift of Life

I love Spring, the season when beautiful colors of nature come back to life. The rain has been good to us this month. I don't want to be ungrateful, but I would love to have some warm sunny days for getting out and enjoying all these beautiful flowering trees and shrubs.

Book Review

I recently read A Mountain to Climb written by Keith Allison. This is a true story about a family’s love and devotion to each other as they struggle to survive after losing their home, farm, and business. It was inspiring to read how this family of twelve, helped each other with loving hearts through these difficult time. It is a story about the strong bond of family; their faith in God, and a journey of faith that has changed them forever. A Mountain to Climb, by Keith Allison is available at Amazon.com, Createspace.com, and on the website - www.amountaintoclimb.com.

Check out A Mountain To Climb Website under My Favorite Blogs.

Cut Spending

In today’s economy more and more people are looking for ways to live a simple life. The prospect of finding employment is down, and the folks that are working, their hours have been reduced. One day the market is down and the next day it is up. We are living in fragile times, but I believe the market will come back and jobs will return. In time all of these things will turn around, but while we are anticipating this turn around, we can cut spending on unnecessary items. There are several ways we can cut spending on entertainment, groceries, and utilities.

Entertainment
We can go to the community parks and play softball with our kids or wade in a creek and enjoy a picnic lunch. My kids always liked movie night at home. After dinner and homework, we would gather around the TV and watch a movie and eat popcorn. There are lots of creative ways of having fun without spend a lot of money.

Groceries
My grocery budget also includes our eating out money, so one of the easiest ways for me to cut my grocery expense is to eat out less. We cut coupons out of the ad pages that are enclosed with the Sunday paper. We use the store brands instead of the brand names; we make a menu and shop for the menu, by doing this we can shop for the week without running back to the store several times a week. It is amazing how much we save by making fewer trips to the store, because I always end up with more stuff than I was shopping for.

Utilities
By flipping the light switch off when we leave a room, we can save on our electricity. When we turn the water on for the shower, we place a bucket under the facet to catch the cold water while waiting on the hot water; we use this water to water our plants. We have cut some of the extra channels on our cable TV bill.

There are lots of ways to cut spending and live a simple life. It is fun to gather the family together and let everyone suggest a way that the family can cut spending. Kids have great ideas and enjoy being included in the decision making process.

MY DAD HAS GROWN OLD RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES

My Dad has grown old right before my eyes.
I wonder if he thinks about the days gone by.
The days of his youth when he went off to war or
the loneliness of being in a foreign land away from his
home and family to fight in the war.

My Dad has grown old right before my eyes.
Dad and Mom have grown old together with their
marriage of sixty-three years.
I wonder if Dad and Mom talk about the days of
our births, the four of us, they brought into the world.

My Dad has grown old right before my eyes.
I wonder if he thinks about the young man inside.
The strong young father that lifted me high and
gave me the joy of flying through the air.

My Dad has grown old right before my eyes.
I watched his sadness when his first child passed.
You can still see the heartbreak in his eyes. I guess
Parents never get over the death of their child.

My Dad has grown old right before my eyes.
I watch his sons and grandsons pass him by without
a handshake or a hug, but a word of goodbye.
I wonder what stands between them that keep them
apart or is it just pride that they both feel in their hearts.

My Dad has grown old right before my eyes.
His grandchildren fill his days with joy. Hugging him
and staying close while he peels an apple or orange for
their joy.

My Dad has grown old right before my eyes.
The man that fills a room just by being there, and
a man full of wisdom for those who take the time
to listen.

My Dad has grown old right before my eyes.
I wonder how he’s lived this long with all the
hard work and hardship he has endured in his life;
While supporting his family and trying to raise us right.

My Dad has grown old right before my eyes. He tells
me he loves me often and brings joy to my heart. Being
his only daughter has been the treasure of my life.

My Dad has grown old right before my eyes, and
I thank God for letting him grown old, right before
my eyes.