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I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2"  : "The Graduation" A niece graduates from high school, tonight. This poem was created to honor the day. Blessings, All! Jay O’Toole |
| Congratulations to your niece. A lovely poem. |
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| Lazy Writer est 4/24/2008 - Thank you, Dianne. Great encouragement. |
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| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Keeping the Maine Thing the Maine Thing" Thank you for the prayers, Everyone. Jade Amber Jewel landed safely in Maine, during the four o’clock, East Coast time, today. The new job starts. The daddy finds a new goal of his own. Life is good. The Lord Jesus reigns on His Throne. New Normal has arrived. Blessings, All! Jay O’Toole |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "The First Big Trip" Tomorrow is the Big Day, AmyJo-Mother Nature needs MEDS . We leave early in the morning to take Jade Amber Jewel to the airport for her first career assignment. I hope the poem is not too personal, but I'm making this as a gift to give to her before she leaves. It says many of the things I want to say. Writing helps me to say things clearly, especially in poetry form. Thanks for reading and praying for safe travels for us this weekend, Everyone. Blessings, All!     |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "The Time Will Come" It has always been the case that talk of Heaven in the Presence of the Lord is joyous to some, while being terribly distressing to others. The Rapture is accused of being escapism, running from difficulties. The Rapture is the escape, but not from the difficulties of life on Earth, primarily. The Rapture is the escape from The Wrath of God on Earth. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (I Corinthians 1:18, KJV) (Ephesians 2:8-10, KJV) Time is short. May the Lord grant us the faith to trust Jesus Christ today! Blessings, All! |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Priorities" Priorities consistently show us that what is done, even with the right attitude, is often not as valued in this life as things that are showy, making viewers "feel good." Celebrity preachers often make as much money as celebrity movie stars and celebrity athletes. However, if the messages that they preach will burn up in the fires of HELL, then they really aren't worth any more than the celebrities, who act and play. Sum1  's post had a political cartoon that struck a chord in my heart. My Dad preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ in John 3:16; John 14:6; and The Romans Road, throughout my youthful years to congregations of consistently less than 150 people, and had to take a second job through my high school years, just to pay the bills, while Mom was an elementary school teacher throughout the time I was in the primary grades, including high school. She didn't make what she was worth, either. Even back then, I wondered why professional athletes made so much money, and my parents made so little. The paycheck was not commensurate with the value of the job. Celebrity preachers, who tell you what you want to hear, "tickling your ears," (2 Timothy 4:3, KJV) are worth about as much as the athletes and actors. However, both of my parents did Work, which will last throughout Eternity. Dad led me to the Lord when I was six. Who cares what he made in his paycheck? Eternity with Jesus Christ, the Only LORD (John 14:6, KJV) will be worth it all! "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:16, KJV) Blessings, All! |
I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Rainy Day Slow" Rainy days seem to have a mindset all their own. Poeming a little, sleepy a lot. Betcha can't tell from this poem. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz... Blessings, All! |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "The Old Dead Tree" Hurricane Helene, last September 29th, as I recall, left some lasting marks on my property. One of the more notable ones is a limb that impaled the ground so deeply and snugly that I still can't get it out. I've decided to turn it into a piece of lawn art, either functional or decorative. First, I'll need to level the top part of the limb to have a place for a round piece of wood for a bistro table, or I could create a half-dome on top to paint, making it look like a mushroom from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Whatever piece of yard art it finally becomes should remain as a lasting life lesson. Events come into each of our lives over which we have no control, but by leaning into the Savior, Jesus, for Time and Eternity (Psalm 91:1-4), we can watch Him transform these events into a thing of beauty for His Glory, forever. Do I do this as well as I would like? Hardly. The Lord Jesus is still teaching and transforming me. Blessings, All! |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Review the Test" Some days nothing is really wrong, and nothing really has been out of place, but the heart feels heavy because it is being tested by The One, Who knows what He made us best to be. Stopping to examine what is going on can lead to greater wisdom. May the Lord guide us in this. Blessings, All! |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "A Spot of Tea" Drinking a cup of tea has become a time of reflection for me. This and the hopeful thought that switching over to drink more tea will improve my heart health gives me more to think about and reflect upon. Honestly, the past three years have been a blur of activity in which I have consumed what I could grab along the way, while exercising less outside of work, and resting more to be ready to do whatever work was necessary to be done. Recent blood pressure readings have stopped me up short. If I don't make some changes, I might not be here for the long haul. A dose of reality is always a good teacher. I love coffee, Ms. Lilli ☕  , but it is time to increase my friendship with tea for those obvious reasons, like higher blood pressure. Today, I signed up for Medicare. That starts in August. In September, I'm scheduled to join the ranks of the retired, like Sum1 . At that point, I hope to reorder my exercise schedule to restore whatever fitness I can and prepare for a new book, now that I see Brandiwyn🎶  and Jeff  forging ahead for this October and November. Thanks for keeping the counter, The StoryMaster  . It's been a scary thing to see my blood pressure go higher, but if the Lord grants me repentance in this matter, then with His Help I will change my behavior in short order. I'm told it's not too high to be dangerous, but as a runner in my younger years, 20 to 30 points higher in the upper number is unacceptable. I know what I can be, and I want to head back in that direction post-haste. Blessings, All! |
| I don't know if you'll start Social Security or not, or when. I started receving those benefits in June, but THEY called and said that since I was stating at 67 years of age, they could back date it to January. Needless to say I took them up on their, and that initial check was awesome! If you haven't started yet, or will start soon and are over the minimum age, ask about getting it backdated.... |
| Sum1 - I appreciate that, Jim. The broker, who helped me on Friday, told me it probably wouldn’t be good to sign up for both on the same day. So, I plan to give it a month. It seems, that looking into the payments early in July should be good. Half a year’s payments would be a sweet way to start. I’m glad that’s a possibility. Thanks again. |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Solage: "Random Thoughts"" Today's poem has been created in response to the weekly challenge of
According to Dave  "The Solage is a simple three-line verse introduced by poet/teacher Cameron Semmens. Lines 1 and 2 rhyme, and line 3 is a single word which does not rhyme." I hope you enjoy my attempt to put five of these together in one blog post. Blessings, All! |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Remembered, Always." Today's poem revisits and adds to the poem I wrote Monday on Memorial Day. I didn't feel as though I got it all said for my entry into the
The first five verses are virtually the same with a few edits to aid rhythm. Family and friends of loved ones lost in the service (all branches) live with Memorial Day every day. Those of us who have buried loved ones in old age, who also served, feel grief so real on Memorial Day, too, because of what those days took out of them. I hope I'm saying this well because the words seem to escape me. Military service is a large sacrifice, whether the giver died on the battlefield or in old age. I don't want to diminish the day for the former, but neither do I want the latter to be forgotten. I want all to be remembered in the greatest honor. Thank you for your patience and understanding as I tried to write this. Blessings, All! |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Mimosas Blush the Sky" Mimosa trees grow widely here in The South. I don't know how ubiquitous they are in the rest of the world, but they seem ubiquitous here. When my daughter was small, my wife showed her how she used to take mimosa tassels and brush them against her face, like she was putting on rouge. It became a wonderful pasttime when we played out in the back yard. Maybe it was something many families did. I'm glad we have that memory to reflect upon as Jade Amber Jewel gets ready to take her next step into Life. Blessings, All! |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "Blessed Memorial Day!" Today's poem was created from a heart for the day as well as with the intent to enter it in the contest,
When I wrote the last line, it sounded in my head like a quote from an ancient poem around the times of the two world wars, maybe earlier. However, though I could not find a direct quote, I put the line in quotation marks anyway. If there is a quote I can cite, please tell me what it is, so I can "give honor where honor is due" to paraphrase The Bible in Romans 13:7, KJV. Let this poem be a teary-eyed, hand-over-the-heart SALUTE to those who gave their all. Blessings, All! |
| I've added a new entry to my book, "These Are My JOTtings, Part #2" : "The Weeks Are Running Together" Isn't it amazing? As children, we get used to the Monday through Friday grind of school, followed by a weekend of play. This time of year was the favorite for us school children as we shouted on the last day of school something like, "School's Out! SUMMER!!!" However, as an adult, my work has gotten "flipped on its head," and I am aware that I am not alone. Now, Friday means "The workweek has begun." Our weekend is somewhere around midweek. I hope this poem provides a salute to all first responders, healthcare professionals, and retail employees, who are just now starting a week of work. Blessings, All! |
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