Sunday Smiles

At "Spiritually Unequal Marriage"

Poet Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou's Inaugural Poem

A Rock, A River, A Tree
Hosts to species long since departed, Marked the mastodon.

The dinosaur, who left dry tokens
Of their sojourn here
On our planet floor,
Any broad alarm of their hastening doom Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages.

But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully, Come, you may stand upon my
Back and face your distant destiny,
But seek no haven in my shadow.

I will give you no more hiding place down here.

You, created only a little lower than The angels, have crouched too long in The bruising darkness,
Have lain too long
Face down in ignorance.

Your mouths spilling words
Armed for slaughter.

The Rock cries out today, you may stand on me, But do not hide your face.

Across the wall of the world,
A River sings a beautiful song,
Come rest here by my side.

Each of you a bordered country,
Delicate and strangely made proud,
Yet thrusting perpetually under siege.

Your armed struggles for profit
Have left collars of waste upon
My shore, currents of debris upon my breast.

Yet, today I call you to my riverside, If you will study war no more. Come,

Clad in peace and I will sing the songs The Creator gave to me when I and the Tree and the stone were one.

Before cynicism was a bloody sear across your Brow and when you yet knew you still Knew nothing.

The River sings and sings on.

There is a true yearning to respond to The singing River and the wise Rock.

So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew The African and Native American, the Sioux, The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheikh, The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher, The privileged, the homeless, the Teacher. They hear. They all hear
The speaking of the Tree.

Today, the first and last of every Tree Speaks to humankind. Come to me, here beside the River.

Plant yourself beside me, here beside the River.

Each of you, descendant of some passed On traveller, has been paid for.

You, who gave me my first name, you
Pawnee, Apache and Seneca, you
Cherokee Nation, who rested with me, then Forced on bloody feet, left me to the employment of Other seekers--desperate for gain,
Starving for gold.

You, the Turk, the Swede, the German, the Scot ... You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru, bought Sold, stolen, arriving on a nightmare Praying for a dream.

Here, root yourselves beside me.

I am the Tree planted by the River,
Which will not be moved.

I, the Rock, I the River, I the Tree I am yours--your Passages have been paid.

Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need For this bright morning dawning for you.

History, despite its wrenching pain, Cannot be unlived, and if faced
With courage, need not be lived again.

Lift up your eyes upon
The day breaking for you.

Give birth again
To the dream.

Women, children, men,
Take it into the palms of your hands.

Mold it into the shape of your most
Private need. Sculpt it into
The image of your most public self.
Lift up your hearts
Each new hour holds new chances
For new beginnings.

Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness.

The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change. Here, on the pulse of this fine day
You may have the courage
To look up and out upon me, the
Rock, the River, the Tree, your country.

No less to Midas than the mendicant.

No less to you now than the mastodon then.

Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out And into your sister's eyes, into
Your brother's face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope
Good morning.

The Alligator known as "Capitan Jack"

The care and feeding of the alligator "Capitan Jack" and the
"Capitan Jack" tour... $.25
Click on image to see the videos
Miss Fiction (Dove) and Mr Dash
From an old "Leave it to Beaver" episode.

Revised

Standing in the Gap.

Meet the Intercessor.

I made this figurine for myself many years ago. She is perched high above the entry.
We once had a sweet little shop in town where you could buy green ware. Now they are out of business and a fancy ceramics store is at the mall. Years ago it was so much more simple, presented to the artist and homemaker. Green ware is so fun to work with. You just clean it up (all the mold lines form the casting) and have it fired to bisk. Then, if you like you, glaze it and fire it again. The intercessor is not glazed she is bisk. I love the character of bisk it is closer to the clay, with a living texture.
She too has a story.
It was years ago ( 26 years) when I had just met the Masters Son. At the rocky shore of San Diego's Bay I stood like this over a fallen woman who was on the rocks flat on her (previously broken) back. She was safe un-injured. She had only a few stitches on her arm. Other wonders happened in that hour by the sea, other wonders that taught me a lot about who it was that lived inside of me.

Mother and Daughter Blog Carnival

Russia 1997


Half a world away



The image of a daughter, My daughter...Who I would have to wait months to see.
Real Life is hosting a carnival
"Somewhere out there if Love can see us through... someone is thinking of me and loving me tonight..." popular in 1997 was the children's movie "Fivel goes west"
Another song was within me during those long months "ode to Joy!'

Oh my Dove, Sweet Little Dove how you have grown. Your very name means captivating, God's gift and so you are and always have been.
Now you are 10, 10 how did it happen... 10.
Waiting those 16 years for you in my arms always knowing you would come from the womb of another. Now I see you, your smile, you are my own child.
Tonight reading to your brother surrounding him in all of who you are you shone.
So vividly your glory, your beauty of spirit shines.
Your broken wings whole, your caged life freed. Your flight restored. Peace surrounds you. I believe in you. So many hours sacrificed to save another, your little brother. You shared us as few children ever have to do. Never will you be alone it is our hope you will always have each other.
Developing into a pre-teen I can hardly believe my eyes. All around you is your glory entering into the you of your lifetime. You SHINE.
I need so much wisdom whether to proceed with intervention for your academic success with I.E.P. and all the other players I am missing just you and me. What ever I do now, I do all for your life your future. Putting aside the hours and times you must spend with others. I lay me down child with great humility. I miss you and all those hours lost to others who helped you restore.
For it was given to me this awe inspiring charge to be held: Mother.
I need so to see you and brush away all of the disabilities that hound for interventions. They clutter the view of who you are. I just want to be...Mother.
Your imagination astounds me the artistry of drama and prose. You are doing so well in school. Your ability to function is thrilling me to no end. I am so happy for you. Miss fiction my Dear.
Songs fill you and joy peaks then it explodes. I wish so much loud sound was welcome and painless for me. Your voice song is glorious and beautiful and innocently pure!
You have the most amazing golden eyes, a face so sweetly embraced with the kindness of pleasant appearance, freckles I see so cute honey... I love you . I know your hair is fair and you wish it the same as mine, your skin is pale and against my arm a difference is there, but you are my child who I simply adore. I wanted so much more for you. I never want to remain in regret that I could have done more. Knowing I have done and am doing all I am able to do. I hope that when I am old you will sup at my table.
I am so sorry you lost me for a time when you were three to illness and strangers coming for tea. All those Mothers and Sister the Aunts in the Lord who kept us and kept you while my health was restored.
Oh child, it is a part of God's plan to make you who he created you to be, I wish I could erase all the hours of tortured pain with you away from my lap . Dove I regret it, I missed out on those few years Dear Child. But you are mine. I am hear. You are near and I will draw close to you and you to me. For more than just a few years before the teen times of pulling away. When if I succeed independence you will have gained, a life of your own. Able and strong, free, walking wise and brave into your future.
Dove I have you today.
Today and tomorrow and every moments life breath. My daughter.

Photo Hunt...Happy

The orphanage directer with great respect handed me this birth image of my Son moments before I took him out of the orphanage. My mind could not process what I was seeing. In Russia they put the IV in the head.
This gift... I am forever Happy.
I waited 20 years for Our Son. DOB 3-06-2001

A $50.Give Away from Olive Kids

Go visit Kailana over at Island Review.
Olive Kids is doing a give away

NO BROKEN BONES

Husband narrowly escapes nasty consequence!
However crutches demand usage. Sprained and bruised!
Dog survives :)
Son tells father..."I don't like you kicking my dog, I guess this gave you a good lesson Dad!"

A gift from Denise over at shorty bears place

Denise Writes:
Rodney Olsen of The Journey has come up with a great idea. He's calling it "Thumbs Up!"...and it's all aimed at highlighting positive things in the blogosphere:
"The blogosphere can sometimes be a pretty negative place so I reckon it's great to make a habit of accentuating the positive."I want to link to a number of bloggers who are writing positive posts each week."Do you want to be a part of the positive? You can post a thank you to someone, a list of reasons you're thankful this week, or highlight people doing something worthwhile in your community. You don't have to post every week but it'd be wonderful if you're prepared to make the effort to write a positive post most weeks.
Denise Writes..
So, now I can write about someone in my community, or something I am thankful for ...... but I have chosen to give out an award to someone, who I see as very up lifting!! I would like to give a great big thumbs up to my precious friend Donetta, over at "a life uncommon"she has been a real angel to me during my recovery from surgery. She called several times to check on me, she was such a comfort to both Eddie and me. She gave great advice to Eddie, about things he could do to help ease my nausea and pain. She has been in constant prayer for me, and I truly felt her prayers. I am honored to be able to call her my friend, she is a true heart blessing to me. Thank you Donetta for your kindness to me, I will never forget it. I love you my friend.
What a nice day to get a hug. There are those days when all you can do is keep focus.

Hear ye! Hear ye!

Hear ye! hear ye!
I am thrilled to announced that my Dear friend has accomplished becoming a Published Aurthur!
Michelle at Life in the midst of Writing has accomplished it!

buy it here!

On Humor. Carnival of Family Life.

Dogs are not gleaming quite so brightly today.

Carnival of Family Life Hosted by Sandier Pastures

humor...
I have been enjoying the uplifting, light kindheartedness of laughter this morning. It comes at a very timely phase.
I think one day that we will laugh about this morning. I was thinking why not today. Well for one, I would never want to be unkind over another suffering. My Beloved told me that it is often humor that gets him through the challenges of our "life uncommon".
He is home now sleeping on the couch. This is, in our 25+ years of marriage unheard of!
He is awaiting a doctor appointment later this mid day....
Well that is where humor could come in... It would be at great risk however, being so close to the storm.
Oh My Sweet Hubby!
I had one of those mornings...
You know the ones that you wonder why you need to bother to react to it at first because of the grove in the record. Don't know why you keep setting the needle down when its gonna do the same thing. For those of you youngsters who can't relate we used to play albums, you can look it up in an encyclopedia. In my youth when the music skipped we just bumped the player and it would skip to the next grove and the song would continue. Well that's the norm come morning in our master bedroom. Flanked on the floor of each side of our bed we have a large dog. Willy Wonka bar J. and Rena the queen. We have kept them in our room, even though, the album keeps getting in the rut for several reasons. The effect of their presence has been like having a infant all over again for the last two years of Willy's measured life.
As the album of our mornings slip into the annoyance of dogs scratching , Wills' jowl slurping and Rena biting her paws Hubby will snap his finger, SHISH them, demand no quiet and all manner of efforts to get that morning tune back, so he can return to sleep where he belongs.
Due to the laminate flooring if we try to put a different album on It would be awakening to "heavy metal"(as in what you doing mom?...oh, sleeping...) blaring with the audience (kids) hurling through the sky's (of our bedroom doors) and no end to the concert till 10 pm that night would be achieved!
There is a definition that comes to mind here..." doing the same thing and expecting different results :{ ", but dog gone it by the end of a day who has the forethought to change that old album!

So this morning armed with all the useless tricks, sent well into utter frustration, without forethought, the dog met foot with terrible effects...(dog is fine). Hence Husband sleeping on couch because he was in too much pain to walk back into work after lunch.
Sleeping now he is. So are the Dogs flanking me feet. For I too have to remove the needle off the grove to get some peace and quiet that the wounded man needs.
I'll keep you posted as to whether it is broken.
Mean while they will sleep in the bathroom if they don't just find another (whine) grove to disturb or slumbers song.

POST SCRIPT his foot was not broken ,sprained and bruised. see post

Friday Feist

{Featured Flickr Feast by Oh! It’s Max!}

Hosted by Christine

Appetizer
Say there’s a book written about your life. Who would you want to narrate the audio version?

The Poet Maya Angelou

Soup
Take the letters from your favorite kind of nut and write a sentence. (Example: Perhaps every avenue needs understanding today.)
almond

All Love must overcome novel demands.

Salad
If you could go back in time and spend one week in another decade, which decade would you choose?

I would love to go back in time to a simpler homestead with the work of keeping life for ones self. See my husband work a beloved skill, Parent my children in an age of innocence.

Main Course
Name a song that brings back memories for you.

Black Bird by the BEATLES

Dessert
Do you prefer to wash your hands in cold water or warm water?
I love Hot water the warmth is soothing and feels like it kills all that I don't welcome to live upon my skin.

Passing it on...

Christine from "are we there yet mom"
Wants to take me for a long walk in the woods.
I think that we just got to make that one happen!

Charity Grace This is a very nice place to visit. Come and enjoy the simple pleasures. She keeps a slow paced beauty that I have come to admire.
Gabi's World I have found a lovely place to go for a visit. She is an amazing woman who has a flair for life that is full of zest! I spent a lot of time here just enjoying myself and relaxing into her voice.
MoM of three girls I enjoy the posts of this dear mom. She has a very kind way about her posts. Knowing that kind = nice. I would like to pass on a little kindness her way. How pleasant I find my visits to her world.

8:40 few.... I just got in. Anyone know about "the Secret"

Hi all , Just got home from my 11 am exit to the city with dash.
My my ...my!
Before I left I was able to type the formal IEP request of testing letters. I spoke with a secratary at the special ed department. The guy in charge never called me back from back in May. Summers over into the end of the second week of school . I also left a message for the phycholigist at the local school. I informed both that it was my understanding that they now have 60 days to begin the testing I am requesting.
I got a call shortly before left and my Hubby's Father offered me a mid trip or end of trip respite of hospitality.
As I flew out the door the school psychologist called to tell me that it will not be until the 60th day that a 30 day extended slot will be a common norm until the kids are actually tested!!!!!!I let her know that it was federally obligated to happen in a order that I will be informed about. She proceeded to tell me that that does not gaurentee any intervention she strongly discouraged the speech therapy. I simply said well if there is any problem I'll just appeal for It is my role to get there needs met.
Having said all of this I asked her if she could please call dash to the office to meet me for I was now pushing the clock to get to the city and thanked her. I got to the school with copies of the formal request in hand. delivered them and signed Dash out gleefully to a happy meal and long drive.
We had a good success getting across town. Got a meal and then onto St. Joe's. I took Tuesdays paper work with me. We had a great meeting. The CRS psychologists was great. She was stunned at Dash and my repose. For she said "in all her 20 years she never heard a Mom say ("this is not an option but, a requirement")" . She had drop jaw as Dash respectfully walked out of the room peacefully and sat over at a play table just outside the door. I think I was startled at her. It is just the way it is.
The folks received Dash and I after I had spent several minuets trying to find an address for a place located dead center of the city I gave up and headed to there home to rest. I was running on empty and had all my paper work to get mailed out. I finished the paper work and napped 10 minutes ate and headed back at 6p.m. for the 7 p.m. Teachers conferences! I arrived home 6:45 out the door. Family together.

Now it is 10pm I just debriefed the day with hubby.
What happened at one of the teacher conferences blew my mind and I am miffed! I was told that if I just lived by "The Secret" that all of Doves problems would just work out fine!!!!!!!
Well more on this tomorrow. I am sure there may be truths to be had but talk about dismissals. I did however acquire the papers to get testing requested. The teacher who was on board last spring thinks we don't need an IEP that she can do what my child needs better than those who might be used to pull her out of class to intervene. AND that she knows who will teach her next year was a response when I told her that my kid will not hallways have her. IT IS SO HARD TO HELP MY KIDS!
Ya! Dash's teacher is helpful about the IEP and testing him.
Tired folks my sword is hot from all the wielding through the air today gotta let it cool!

Any one have knowledge about this...?
"THE secret" ?We saw the book on line. We saw some clip of a movie too.
Teacher says I just have to read it, that my child is feeding off of my negativity! She said that I need to just see all the good in her. It is so hard to focus an it when the needs are so glaring. Dash is not glaring the same way( of course I am getting help with his needs). It left me feeling really dung like :) ARG!!!!!!!!!

Good Morning, Up from the grave He arose!

Hi, It is 6 am I think beloved put me into my bed around 6pm last night.
I am doing better, we think the oven cleaner may have set this one off.
That was a bad one. I still have pain around the edged and feel sorta weak.
I have to take Dash to the city around 11:30 so I'll just do minimal, lunches and breakfast for every one. The dogs kept coming to me and pointing me. It is so amazing they can see or sense the migraines energy. I thank you all for your prayers. Sometimes it is a little scary when your misfiring brain takes you for such a ride. I was seeing 2-4 inch shadows of images around things and loss of balance well, any way lets focus on what I want to grow....

Dash's teacher called me last night. I was so touched by what she told me.
Dash is very kind at school so much so that all of the children are wanting turn to be at his table or as his partner. He is emerging a born leader. He is so on top of it that the teacher finds him making sure everyone has what they need. She said it is in no way like a controlling thing. He is just very business. School is a privilege and a responsibility to be taken as so and the teacher to be respected and honored.
She asked me for what she needed to have an eye for. With the Usher Syndrome (possible blindness/deafness at adolescence) we have to keep watch for visual anomaly's, blue lip with asthma, head ache and fine motor.
I must begin these IEP letters.
She said that she will be happy to work with him a little one on one so that I can get his 2x weekly city trip started up again. (it has been nice not do the city trips) . I have to take him to see the phycologist at St Joe's this noon.
I told her about the foundational work I have done with character training and she said the most amazing thing to me.
She said that I need to think about what a wonderful ob I have done and who that all that hard work I had done is now something that she and the others around him are benefiting from.
SHE said to ME..."You should feel so good about all that you have achieved".. I just sat there on my bathroom floor, with my head against the door and cried. It felt so good to see that I did succeed. I have felt so bad about not being able to finish the dream of home schooling. I did succeed. The kids are set well.
Dove is having some affiliation problems. The some kids have called her weird, beaver (she had to have surgery last year there was a maverick tooth in her upper palate that grew against her front teeth and had to be removed , she is due for braces soon. They call my baby beaver on the play ground and I am so hurt to think of that happening to my little girl . She is so sweet and loving. She is also so fanciful that I am concerned about her mental status. She is a 10 yr old and some of that must just be the age. She is so sweet. Her kindness yesterday was poignant. Her teacher really likes working with her. I have to get her visual tracking exercised and her IEP letter done too.
I have to do the lunches now it was nice to have an extra half hour but I gotta go to chores .
My love be around for you.
Be embraced,
Surrounded and encompassed.
The song "up from the grave he arose" is ringing in my thoughts, I can feel this monster coming on. I got to get it tamed. the city drive is at 11:30 my time. I might try to get to the school with letters. If I can get them typed after I drop the kids off at 8.

Migraine bad

bdloved geting me to bed im holding walls toniite
rejoyce i win it hutrs gor dash tooooceit y
thank you i do rjoyce in you intercession
i win iwin iwin iwin i nw
it hurts Good night
shower ved meds sunglassed and ear plugs
enemy firering behind my lines tonight
I win

A gift from Christine

Christine from "are we there yet mom"
Wants to take me for a long walk in the woods.
I think that we just got to make that one happen!

You have just gotta hear this....

So... I am in the door all of 2 minutes heading for my bathroom with some urgency: Dash stops me at the couch... "
Mom, I got something to offer you, (he begins, so serious that I pause to hear him) Mom if you let me work for you this is what I'll offer you... You see Mom I have $5 well a little more I will work for you one hour and you can give me $1, and if you'll let me work for you two hours you can give me $2...(This goes on and at ten he said)... and if I work for you for ten hours...he paused, well no maybe not thats a lot of hours.I don't think I'd be wanting to do all that( I cover my mouth cause the cute factor had a way of pulling up on my cheeks), but what you think Mom will you accept my offer? So what work do you have to offer Me Mom? I'd be willing to start right now if you have a mind too. :) "he smiles like you know you want me...:)

So all you praying friends... we spent the next hour at it. Dash said sorry your head was hurting you today Mom.
Dove gets an ear full of encouragement and he presented his case, and she joins in. They meet me in the master bath and hauled all the laundry out to the couch and Dove lifted it up (wow I wish I'd of thought of that long ago it was so easy to sort. I usually sit on a stool and do it) on the couch it did not hurt my back so bad. Then Dash carried all the trash cans to the kitchen and played with the dog. Dove vacuumed the master bedroom. We separated their two loads and the kids turned them out. Dove separated my kitchen load. We all folded the laundry kids putting theirs away without being asked !!!!!
They each cleaned their bedrooms and the received $1.50 each for a good hours work. When it was time and they thought to go to the store they choose to wait for if they do more tomorrow(!), they gain more money toward the $10 toy Dash has his eye on. HE knew he did not have enough yet. Dove complied and agreed to get more earnings after school toward a better toy! NO BRIBE just fact presented.

Oh my friends Migraine day.. Please pray for me.

Thank you.
Kids are home soon and the sound HURTS really like a stabbing knife. I do not want them to ever think of them selves with a knife for a voice. It is so hard. I am so hoping that "I" can be enjoyed, and enjoy them this afternoon. They are such great little people and they need me.

Wordless Wedensday