Good Friday

The morning sky was melancholy today.
Quiet and contemplative.
Lots of layers to the clouds.
White and gray interspersed.
Then, the clouds parted and a l’il blue sky peeked through.
Good Friday is a moody melancholy day.
The Crucifixion.
But the promise of Good Friday is, “Sunday’s a comin’!”
On Sunday we celebrate and shout, HE IS RISEN!
So it’s only fitting, for Heaven to be a bit subdued with extra clouds in shades of gray, for even though we call it Good Friday, it is a melancholy day.

March 29, 2013
Good Friday

a l’il quiet time

I’m sittin’ in a sunbeam
listenin’ to the clock tick tock
my children are Spring Break snoozin’
that big sweet pup went back to bed
bits o’birdsong drift in through the outside walls
breakfast, coffee, things To Do
yet I’m curled into a corner of the love seat
my favorite cozy couch spot
I’m sitting in a sunbeam
so thankful a new day has begun

March 27, 2013

up and at ‘em
feet on the floor
children still sleepin’
dog and I
out the door

it’s half past six
there is a cold snap
in the air
we walk upon
the sidewalk
snow packed
here and there

we turn a corner
toward the park
the dog and I
on our favorite walk
there is pink mist
thick on the horizon
in front of us
on either side
me without my camera

then I look behind us
the dog wonders,
“Why did she stop?”
the sun was rising
fiery red shown
from behind the clouds
blending to pink
golden too somehow
spectacular
amazin’
so movin’
I said aloud,
“Thank you, God
Today is Yours.”

He is the Creator
The Greatest Artist
His palette holds
every color
His canvas is the sky
He created everything
even that dog
and me

March 27, 2013

a l’il bird song

The birds still serenaded the dog and I, even in the snow covered, early morn. I wish I spoke a l’il bird. I can only imagine the lyrics to their song. If I were a bird I’d croon…

What happened to yesterday?
Where did my blue skies go?
Spring was nearly springing
The earth was thawing
I woke up early to get my worm

Today the sky is cloudy
Things are murky overhead
This snow is unexpected
What the hell is coming next?

Here I perch upon the branches
Of the dormant, naked trees
Looking down toward the ground
What’s with this dumb ol’ white stuff?
It’s officially Spring
The robins are back in town!

It’s hard to not look back
I want to cry aloud
What happened to yesterday?
Where did my blue skies go?

Yet I know better than to ask
What the hell is coming next?
‘Cause it might be worse
Than just a l’il snow
There are much worse things
In Mother Nature’s bag o’tricks
People can wreak havoc too
Man made destruction
Is often the very worst
Yet even then
Nature can heal

Today I sit up in the treetops
Gray sky above
Snow covered ground below
I choose to lift my voice up
Toward Heaven
And ask not
What happened to yesterday?
Where did my blue skies go?
Instead I sing out clearly
Today is a new day
Celebrate
Rejoice
Savor the Gift O’Life
Hooray
I am still alive

Best of all
I’m not singing alone
Us birds
We flock together
In good times and bad
We share our bounty
We share our warmth
We share our l’il bird song
With you

May you enjoy today
savor life in this moment
Whatever it may bring
Tomorrow isn’t here yet
Blue skies will return
So will the sun
Though it may not bring warmth
There is still that gusting wind
The seasons are a changin’
Saying aloud
Time marches on

March 24, 2013

springtime sunrise

mornin’ arrived today
right on time
no more sleep for me
uncrated that dog
you know
that big sweet pup
the one I love,
my Blue
clipped on his leash
in a vivid hue
of the color
he is named for
we step outdoors
he sort of catapults
(well, dog-a-pults)
from the front door
chilly March temps
continue to linger
and yet,
the magical beauty
of birdsong
robins are hoppin’
along the thawin’ ground
atop the grass
that may be greener
or else I’m imaginin’
just tryin’
to will Spring along
steadily the sun rises
from behind a bank
of glowin’ clouds
mornin’ arrived today
right on time
I was outdoors
feet on the ground
ready to greet
this new day
me and my dog,
Blue

March 23, 2013

turn it upside down

One of my closest friends and I have been texting, literally since we both woke up today. This is nothing new between she and I…we both have A LOT to say! Best of all, we just say it. No holds barred. No walls.

So, at 8:40am, when she texted me a sad face 😦
I replied…
No sad faces
I have a f’ing rule!!!!
I cannot bear them
My heart is already breaking a zillion different ways
I’m making an egg and toast and coffee for me
Dog needs to stop woofing!
Or I could just go back to bed. Like all day.

That oh, so smart woman, a beyond marvelous friend, responded, “Do what works for u… :)”

A smile! Much better! That just helps me cope.

I wrote again to say:
Food
Art
I’ll be ok
Have a happy Florida day!

She believed me, for she knows me well enough to read my barometric pressure, even while on a l’il bit early Spring Break getaway, from more than a few states away.

It’s nearly 10:00am now. My breakfast has been consumed. First mug o’coffee is in my weary system too. I planned ahead and made an extra mug today. Knew I needed whatever amount o’kick in the arse it’d give me.
~ Janean

March 22, 2013

“looks can be deceiving”
I walked through the park
with my big sweet pup
midday, as we often do
the sky is quite lovely
a gorgeous shade o’blue
the clouds are puffy white
and daydream-like
from the window
things look balmy
but that March wind
blows in great big gusts
hits you hard
and knocks you back
it’s still Lion Time in Illinois
even today
on the first day of Spring
brrrrrr
I’m downright cold
still feelin’ chilled
even back inside
within the warmth
and comfort
of home

March 20, 2013

carefully

I’m trying to be still and know that He is God, from the Psalms.
I am trying to Trust and Fear Not.
It is hard.
Faith is believing in things that cannot be seen.
Love is the biggest of all.
I am a Hope Full woman.
I’m also held together really carefully on the inside right now.
Love,
Janean

written Monday, March 18, 2013

spring o’hope

damp sidewalk
from nighttime rain
brisk chill in the air
gray sky remains
no color
and yet
the birds are singing
trilling from the trees
beautiful
joyful
hopeful
birdsong fills me up
I smile broadly
and I mean it
from deep inside
my gut
I am a hopeful woman
for there is beauty
all around
hope springs eternal
like the songs
of those springtime birds

March 18, 2013