I AM LOVED

Took a shaking step . . .

suddenly my spirit soars . . .

faith overcomes fear . . .

By Martha L Shaw – © 2018

By Martha L Shaw – © 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW SEASON’S SONG #HAIKU

Cool air of morning

quickly warming – sun rises

blossoming of Spring

By Martha L Shaw © 2017

   We change and grow with the season, on our journey . . .

BY  MARTHA L  SHAW 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Word Fridays – Stretch

Stretch out your hand to Him!

Click the image and join the fun!

Beautiful Music

While at lunch today I was so blessed by the small children at a nearby table who were full and overflowing with joy and laughter. Jesus wants that for us all!

About Waiting

Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.
Isaiah 26:7-9

Weekly Writing Challenge: 1,000 Words

 

I Want To Dance, Too!

 

Dance, little one!  Dance to the music in your soul as though nobody else is looking!  Dance to the tune in your heart!  Rest a minute if you must, but not too long!  Soon the drum beat will sound, the notes will fill the air with a melody so sweet!  Join the circle and shine like the sun! 

When I was small, I knew only possibilities!  Every sound was music, every word was poetry, every creature was my friend!  I awakened each morning eager to begin . . . then I grew a little older and the world around me began to look different.  I felt different.  Different . . . once a word which defined new discoveries, new opportunities, adventures, new friends, suddenly felt like something else.  Like the little green creature with the pointed nose, it seemed everything around me pointed at me and the words I heard were not poetry anymore.  Now, they warned me that I wasn’t like other people.  The music which before had beckoned me to join the rest and dance to a happy tune had become a neon sign which said  “keep out.”  Suddenly, all the world seemed to point me toward a mirror of my faults and instead of approaching the circle to join in and dance to the happy tune, I huddled in a corner and watched.  The hands seemed eager to link together and close the gap in a desire to leave me out, and I allowed them to do so.  It hurt, but I denied this telling myself I didn’t care, but still when the music played, my in secret heart I wanted to dance, too.

Dance, little one!  Dance to the music in your soul as though nobody else is looking!  Dance to the tune in your heart!  Rest a minute if you must, but not too long!  Soon the drum beat will sound, the notes will fill the air with a melody so sweet!  Join the circle and shine like the sun! 

The others seemed to be having so much fun.  It seemed as though everyone belonged and it suddenly seemed everyone “had it all.”  Everyone but me.  The words which used to sound like poetry now seemed to tease and then to taunt me with their labels . . . the image in the mirror seemed to reflect a misfit.  It never used to do that.  When did I change?  What did I do?  How did this happen?  Something was missing, but where did it go and how do I get it back?  Was it my hair? Could it be my clothes?  Oh, perhaps the shape of my nose?  There and then I would hear the music begin again and my toes would begin to ever so gently and discretely tap to its beat until I realized this and stopped.  They might see.  Oh, what would they say?  But still, in my secret heart I wanted to dance, too.

Dance, little one!  Dance to the music in your soul as though nobody else is looking!  Dance to the tune in your heart!  Rest a minute if you must, but not too long!  Soon the drum beat will sound, the notes will fill the air with a melody so sweet!  Join the circle and shine like the sun! 

As the circle floated about in its merry way, suddenly it seemed a pointed effort to escape away from me.  The circle of life had for me begun to be one of coldness where once had been such warmth and opportunity.  Sleep came still, in the night, yet dreams of cotton candy were replaced with something far less sweet and the gentle and inviting melodies sounded more like fingers crashing on the piano keys!  Crash . . . crash . . . crash!   Awakening with a start, I would find another day had begun but would this be a new beginning or a sorrowful reminder of yesterday and the day before.  Surely mirrors don’t lie?  Morning’s melody in those earliest moments of the day still had brief reminders of a happy tune from long ago and I wanted to dance, too.

Dance, little one!  Dance to the music in your soul as though nobody else is looking!  Dance to the tune in your heart!  Rest a minute if you must, but not too long!  Soon the drum beat will sound, the notes will fill the air with a melody so sweet!  Join the circle and shine like the sun! 

What would happen if I left my spot in the corner of the world?  What would happen if I approached the circle?  From my hiding place, I could see the happy smiles.  Would there be one for me?  Let me dance with you!   But inwardly I heard the shush as voices seemed to whisper, “look who’s coming!”  The circle seemed to spin faster and faster and I couldn’t seem to reach it and join in.  But I wanted to dance, too!

Dance, little one!  Dance to the music in your soul as though nobody else is looking!  Dance to the tune in your heart!  Rest a minute if you must, but not too long!  Soon the drum beat will sound, the notes will fill the air with a melody so sweet!  Join the circle and shine like the sun! 

Then, one day I noticed something new.  Clouds in the sky of my soul seemed to dissipate and as the circle danced around and around the faces and brightly colored costumes began to blend together in such a special way.  It seemed that what so clearly stood out before the music played had, once the dancing stated,  blended together in such a pretty way!  Forgetting myself, I rose up and danced just beside the rest.  Something new happened that day . . . the music suddenly paused a moment and one gentle hand reached out to mine and then another!  Different became unique.  Unique became special.  The music started up again and this time, I was part of the circle and I danced, too!

Sweetened Frustration – Along with a Cashew Brittle Recipe!

Ah, change, new seasons, lambs, lions, and general discouragement . . . how they do mount up.  My left foot is still swelling and painful and my 3 day work week begins again tomorrow which means more pain . . . what to do?  Pray a lot, rest a lot, try not to be frustrated, continue as caregiver to elderly parent who lives with me, wonder why she thinks it’s her turn to be grumpy?  Nope, foot still hurt.  What next?

Mom napping . . . try new nut brittle technique!  The result?  Delightful caramel color, slightly browned flavor, cashews instead of peanuts, and here it is waiting for you to drop in for some with a cuppa . . . yes, I designed and made the quilted table-cloth too.

Cashew Brittle:

In a microwave bowl mix:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

Cook in microwave on high for 4 1/2 to 5 minutes depending on your microwave.

Remove from microwave and stir in:

1 Tbsp butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup cashew pieces (or your choice of other nuts)

Cook for approx 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds on high.

Final step, stir in 1 tsp baking soda then spread onto waxed paper and allow to cool completely, then break into pieces and nibble away.  It should keep for a couple of weeks or so depending on climate, but I doubt it will last that long!

 

Quilt?  I had a fat quarter I liked, selected some scraps in suitable colors, chose a simple star block pattern, and the results are what you see here!

Six Word Friday – Rose

I rose hearing a songbird symphony!

Nutella Cookies – 3 Ingredients!

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Nutella
1 Egg

Preheat oven to 350. Makes 24 cookies on ungreased baking sheet.

Combine 3 ingredients to form dough. It will be a dry and dense dough. I recommend using your hand (keep one clean, silly. You know the phone will ring.) This will go quicker with mixing it by hand IMPO.

Place one inch balls on cookie sheet and press/flatten a bit with a glass.

Bake for about 8 minutes.

There are different variations out in cyber space. Some call for adding 1/2 cup of sugar. I prefer them without. If you have a really really “bad” sweet tooth, go on and add the sugar. I do not believe they need it. Yummy!

Quote of the Day – Unity

Galatians 3:26-28

^“26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, ²⁷ for

all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed

yourselves with Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek,

slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all

one in Christ Jesus.”

Do we really believe this? Is it what we reflect to the world? Can it be seen when we think nobody’s looking?