Friday, November 9, 2012

I will post daily from my selections taken personally at the 2012 Grand Rapids Michigan Art Prize. This larger than life bird was created with silverware.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Good smells, good colors, Good God

    You can have your summer pinks and delphinium blues. I love the crimson colors of autumn.
I baked Pecan Caramel Brownies today, and four kinds of squash. Wow the house smells good.
    The colors and the aroma's don't bring the usual tingle. Am I becoming discouraged about these days. The family, the community, the country and the world are discombobulated. It almost turns my insides out at the thought of the hannis crimes of humanity. But in the face of the treachery, Judgement comes, God will judge the next life, later life or today. God will not be mocked. Scripture will be fulfilled. God will have His witnesses. God will have His way. And in the meantime we are called to wait, and scripture demonstrates that in the waiting the people pray.
Note to self: Everything God Plans comes true.
                      Everything God Purposes comes true.
                      Everything that is Is according to God's Providence.
God is the Only always in my life.
God will expose the wicked He has every right to judge sin and He may do it right now!
God's work, God's name, God's Glory will not falter.
We are privileged to speak out His way, His mission, His plan: all indestructible...if he can't count on us he says even the stones will speak, God will find "one" to get His word out. Will it be me? Will it be you?
God loves us, and says love will never fail! Peace to you, peace to me and peace over our planet.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Interesting book to read

..1,200 university presidents and 1,000 CEOs were asked to name the book that had most affected their lives. The Bible was by far the most influential book in this survey of leaders. One in four listed the Bible as the most important book in their lives. The second book on the list - Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities- was named as the most infuluential book by one in twenty-five.




Victor Hugo, author of Les Miserables, observed, "England has two books, the Bible and Shakespeare. England made Shakespeare, but the Bible made England."



Immanuel Kant, one of the world's most influential philosopers, said, "The Bible is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever experienced..A single line in the Bible has consoled me more than all the books I ever read besides."

...

John Quincy Adams treated the Bible as the key education resource in the lives of his children; "So great is my veneration for the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it, the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens to their country and respectable members of society."



Understanding the Bible is daunting just because of its size. More than that, it was written in times and cultures very different from our own.

We are all like the Ethiopian treasurere, riding along in his chariot reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip approached him and asked, "Do you understand what you're reading?" He replied, "How can I..unless someone guides me?" (Acts 8:30-31)



This is from the introduction to yet another resourse I am digging into to assist me to understand the bible...

I hope your bible is not dusty, I hope that you find a copy on your bookshelf, I hope you will open it, open your heart...let it speak to you...find your personal peace and consolation! Life is a journey and I have always believed that no organized religious group has the market cornered on the truth, I believe the Bible is a great launch pad to our truth and collective eternal being...consider reading it. Find guides along your way to understanding..

.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

The Spirit can show up anywhere!


 Sometimes you just say the craziest things and then there are times that you say nothing and your kind and thoughtful heart is expressed in an unexpected thoughtfulness. Thank you.

Today I sensed a whispering of the Spirit of God around me, in a loving act of kindness. In the Spirit’s presence I become even more aware of the burdens, hurts and fears of those around me. Life is hard and everyone is fighting a hard battle.

I realize my neediness and God’s love for me when I am in His presence. That Godly affection sometimes appears in unsuspected places, maybe even as my desperate face is pasted against the rear passenger window of a Runabouts car.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Today I am posting this thought: I need some happy thoughts to start dancing in my head!
I know my thoughts move like waves in an ocean. Much depends on the thoughts I allow into my thinking and on those thoughts that I meet at the door of my mind with a hearty, "Get Lost"! Today I am happy for: Encouragement from the teachings of Joyce Meyer
                                       God in my Life
                                       The promise of a rhubarb plant turning into a pie
                                      Lauren Everett Finn and her example of taking complex and keeping it free from complexity! aka: keeping it light and airy simply filled with color. She helps me see things outside of my constraints.
                                       Happy faces and thoughtfulness.
                                       The opportunity to say, Thank You to others.
In a stressful inhale, remember the others that also desire some of that oxygen and relaxation.
Exhale slowly to extinguish the flame and inhale purposefully so you leave some light to refresh others.
                                        .

Sunday, May 13, 2012


......on being a mom..God provides grace and mercy moment by moment, Satan provides feelings that can't be trusted, I am not always my best self and as a result not always the best mom. I do know what it is to be loved and to love and to be without love, but I have tried to never turn my back to God for long. I pray Mercy for me and moms like me today.

            I Can't tell which is more beautiful God's Rose or God's hand in the lives of His children.
Last night I surprised my parents, (both age 82) to a surprise, I showed up at there door with my suitcase in one hand and a pizza in the other. "I've come to spend the night." It was so swell to sleep upstairs in my family home in my brother's old room in a bed that no one had slept in for more than 10 years. God's hand was in the whole time, letting go of all preconceived notions of my life with my family, I just slipped into a beautiful night and day. What a blessing for me!

May 2012 musings

My heart muscle is in uncharted waters

A bit like my girls’ old Stretch Armstrong doll

When they used to pull him apart, stretching in every direction

And by days’ end he pulled himself back together

I am sad for the Harkness family

I am sad for Linda’s daughter

I am sad for all the JNL Family that have faced loss

I miss you all

I miss Statements

I miss wrestling with beneficiary changes

I miss putting on my socks

I miss holding anything in my left hand, like a pen .

I am filled with gratitude

I had a very close call

My days of recuperation have been thought full

Some of you have been where I have been and will understand this

When I saw the “comfort basket” I was overwhelmed with your kindness

Every single item was perfect for what I needed

Thank you, for your gifts and cards have brought me cheer

“Everyone we meet is fighting a hard battle.”

I am blessed to share in our battles together as a Jackson Family, placed in this place at this time for God’s purpose and plan. Thanks so much, Robin in the Spring of 2011 after receiving the most thought instilling gift basket from workmates following an auto accident. Following this accident a workmates daughter passed and an other's sister was paralyzed as the result of actions of a negligent driver.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

 Flowers from my neighbors garden as the season ended in 2010
A view from the kitchen counter

 I will always treasure the great alone time I have had with my granddaughter using the suburban as our house! It looks like she is headed to the basement now!
 These were on the parking lot at the Farmer's Market in Big Rapids Michigan - Summer 0f 2011

Dickens never dreamed of a dream land like this!

 This little garden developed with help from my daughter and Smith Lawnscape!
 What a lovely view on a snow misty day on Springmont in Grand Rapids, fall of 2011
 A special treat from God, "just for me" as I walked to the Kentwood Library on frosty morning.
Lopsided but beautful!

Remember Knapp's in downtown Lansing, these wer there and now they aren't!

this is what the crumbs on the table see!

It would not be Christmas if Dave did not have his angels in place!

Yes, many Gurley candles make a feast!

At home with my thoughts

What do you think would happen in your life if:
1.) Cell Phones were put on the table for a siesta at 1pm everyday until 2pm?
2.) Televisions were not allowed in the family room...or the bedroom...or the house?
3.) You could only access your computer at home for 15 minutes per day?
4.).........

Christmas Letter 2011

Welcome 2012! New Resolutions! I am relying on the philosophy that it is better late than never to send this note. Thank you for your Christmas greeting and the fact that “these times” didn’t keep you from holding the tradition of holiday mail. I read this today, a quote from Paul Harvey, “When you think of times like these remember there have always been times like these!” It sort of helps keep my perspective. This has been the year of moving: Kim and Chloe from Cincinnati to Grand Rapids, which is a mixed blessing of having them close to home, but amidst a pending divorce. Molly moved from apartment living to renting a home for the first time with her boyfriend Matt. Betsy and Ken sold their home in Grand Rapids and moved back to Okemos, Ken is now working at Jackson National Life, and Betsy is starting a new job there in the Legal Dept., Ken hopes to complete graduate studies soon, and his new job has him traveling, around the country and in February to London…the big home lost its’ luster with news that having children may have moved to the “wish” list in their lives. We place that in God’s hands. The plans to retire continue to elude Dave as his plans never include downsizing?*^%$# on the other hand I was let go from my job during my medical disability leave following my rollover accident in February. I had surgery in November on my shoulder and continue to live and receive physical therapy in Grand Rapids. No one else was involved as I hit black ice on the expressway heading to work. The suburban however was laid to rest. This has been a long journey of blessing and character building. The Muppet Christmas Carol song says it well: “Bless us all that as we live we always comfort and forgive…Let us run from anger and catch us when we fall…Bless us all with playful years, with joyful tears…and in our prayers we ask You Bless us all.


Love to you from Dave and Robin