Poetry & Prose ~~ "Spring Sonnets, Sports, & Symposiums"

Now that spring is in full swing, it's a great time to head outdoors to do some reading and writing.  I suppose you could even do some 'rithmetic if that's on your schedule.

                                                                         Sonnets

For my April issue of Writers' T. & T. (Writers' Tips & Techniques), I invite you to try your hand at writing a sonnet of which there are basically six different styles and types.  The word sonnet is derived from the Italian word "sonnetto," which means a "little song" or small lyric.  For more details, please scoop this:  https://literarydevices.net/sonnet/

                         

Of Farms & Frames

Down through the family trees they descended,
Some with brown eyes, others with blue, one with green.
All were created so lovingly by God,
Implementing His masterful right hand.
A lively clan as one could easily hear.
The patriarch was quite a character,
To which the neighbors would gladly attest.
The little farm provided years of quick learning,
Lessons required to be remembered.
Time flees so quickly; capture it right now,
Chances abound for precious memories.
Print them to place inside a pretty frame,
To continue your family legacy,
For the generations which will follow you.


GRANDKIDDOS' SPRING SPORTS 

                                      

Granddaughter, Ali ,with a fabulous serve during her first spring volleyball game.

                                         

Grandson, T. J., executing the perfect hike during his Friday Night Flag Football game.

                                     

Since brother's team was winning by a wide margin, sister reads on.  She's never without a book. Speaking of readers and writers, one doesn't need to look very far back in the family trees to find many of the same bent.

 Spring Writers' Symposium 

Those of you who attended the Spring Writers' Symposium on St. Patrick's Day in Parma, Idaho were treated to a little humor when I commenced my workshop on Creative Writing. I wanted to celebrate my new found ancestry with a stylish pair of glasses. What do you think?

                                                                   
Speaking of creative writing, enter to win your choice of one of my books featured on my blog page ~~ www.sheilassagaciousstirrings.blogspot.com or the creative writing exercise and instructions I presented during the recent symposium.  This creative writing packet will include three creative writing prompts.

How to enter:

1.  Follow me on Facebook or Twitter@SheilaEismann (if you are not already doing so) and mention the title of this newsletter, "Spring Sonnets, Sports and Symposiums."

2.  Visit my blog post, "Spring Sonnets, Sports and Symposiums." and leave a comment.

3.  Share the blog post on Facebook or Twitter.  (Don't forget to tag me and comment "Spring Sonnets, Sports and Symposiums" when you share, so I will know you entered.)

4.  For those of you who are not social media subscribers, please send an email to:  sheila@desertsagepress.com and indicate that you'd like to have your name entered in the giveaway.

The giveaway will run from now until April 30th.  The winner will be announced Monday, April 30th at noon MDT via Facebook, Twitter, and email.  Must be 18 years old to enter.  Winner's choice of one of my books or creative writing materials ships only to mainland United States.

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see."  [John Burrough]

In the interim, Happy Reading & Write On!

Sheila Fabulous

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Answers in Faith ~~ "A Grandmother's Double Delight"

To my delight and unspeakable joy, I became a grandmother several years ago.  When the first was born, the miracle of birth, of two people becoming three, amazed me even more than when it happened to me.  As I held that tiny boy, my heart swelled with so much love that tears leaked out of my eyes.  It happened again when the second boy was born.

We live in another state from our grandsons, so our trips to see them are far between. I send cards, but preschool kids don’t appreciate them like they will when they learn to read. When we visit, I always take gifts for both boys so now they expect it. I usually take them books, but from the looks of their two full bookcases, it may be time to expand my selection of gifts.

Watching these boys grow up and learn new things is rejuvenating for me. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child makes me feel young, although it’s exhausting to keep up with them. They can play and run for hours, but I cannot. I do the best I can before resting and telling them to continue their play.

We spent two weeks helping our son with our two grandsons while our daughter-in-law was on an overseas business trip. During those two weeks, we played on the floor, read books, drew pictures, ran races, played outside, went to the park, went to stores, went to McDonalds, and in general, did everything they wanted to do. We even did a few things they didn’t want to do, like picking up toys and being quiet while their dad worked in his office. We ate together, watched TV together, played games together, and lived together for two weeks.

At the end of our time there, I was packing my bag when the oldest grandson came in to watch. “I’m going home tomorrow,” I told him.

He gave me a very puzzled look and said, “But I was just beginning to like you.”

I hope someday my grandsons will appreciate the time I spent with them. I hope they never forget me. I hope they pass on my songs and lessons I’ve tried to teach them. I hope they grow up into responsible, caring, Christian men. It’s my prayer.

II Timothy 1:5 “…when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is also in you.” I hope I’m like the grandmother Lois, and I will establish the faith of Christ in my grandsons so that they know it from childhood (II Tim. 3:15).

“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them” (Psalms 103:17-18 NKJV).

I want to thank my guest blogger and fellow author, Carol Kjar, for this uplifting and instructive writing.  My favorite line from the blog is when her grandson looked at her and said, "But I was just beginning to like you."  I'm confident that's a precious memory that will stay in the Kjar family for quite some time. 

As Carol mentioned in her blog, long-distance grandparenting can be a challenge. The Lord will give us wisdom how to accomplish this in a memorable way as our legacies continue.

Carol C.S. Kjar, (pronounced "care") lives with her long-time first husband in their empty nest in Boise. She spent her life doing many different things. She’s been a stay-at-home mom, a teacher, a secretary, a statistician, a literacy tutor, a newsletter editor, a timber sale accountant, an archeological technician, and best and longest of all, a technical writer/editor.  

After retiring, Carol focused on writing fiction. Her novels are sweet and wholesome, suspenseful with a touch of romance. She has also written children's, middle age books, and one non-fiction book about quilting. When not writing or traveling with her husband, she loves to quilt, sew, read, draw, paint, and read to her grandsons.

Here's Carol's contact information where you can read her blogs, take a look at the books she's published, etc.

My blog is found at www.cskjar.com/blog

I’m on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cskjar/

I’m on Twitter at @cskjar

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For those of you who are already grandparents or about to become ones, celebrate and enjoy your gifts from God as your legacies live on!  

Happy grandparenting!

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Sweet & Savory ~~ "Poppy's Pancakes"

Truth be known, I've never been much of a pancake fan no matter where they were prepared or served until my husband fired up the recipe below.  Then I became a believer!  The reason that I disliked pancakes prior to this time is because most of them were too heavy or tasteless.  There is a key ingredient that makes these as light and fluffy as can be in addition to being heart healthy. Perhaps I should qualify that last statement.  The "heart healthy" would probably depend upon how much butter and syrup you applied to each one.  So, please accept my challenge and plan to prepare this recipe for anyone you know who does not order pancakes from the restaurant menu or declines your weekend breakfast invitation.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 extra large egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2/3 cup old fashioned oats (not the quick cooking variety)
• 1 1/3 cups buttermilk
• 3/4 cup white whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 cup blueberries, optional - to be served on top of cooked pancakes
• 1/4 cup walnuts, optional - to be served on top of cooked pancakes

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat griddle to 400 degrees.
• Combine oats with buttermilk and let stand in small bowl for 12 minutes.
• Spoon flour into a measuring cup and level with a butter knife.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon, stirring well.
• Lightly beat extra large egg in small bowl.
• Add the maple syrup and vanilla.
• Stir this into the oat mixture.
• Combine the oat mixture and the flour mixture, stirring until just blended.
• Using 1/4 cup measuring cup, pour batter onto preheated griddle.
• Cook about 3 minutes until bubbles appear on top of the pancakes and the edges look somewhat dried out.  Using pancake turner, flip the pancakes to the other side and cook for about 2 minutes.
• This recipe yields about 6 medium sized pancakes.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

• Serve with other fruits such as bananas, cranberries, peaches, etc.
• I like to butter the pancakes, apply a small amount of pure maple syrup, and then add the blueberries and heart healthy walnuts on top.
• These make great snacks or leftovers.

SECRET INGREDIENT:

• The key to this entire exercise/project is the white, whole-wheat flour.  It is sold as pastry flour in some stores, but please check the label to make sure it reads, "white, whole-wheat flour."  What's in a name? Well, it depends on the name.  And in this case, that's the exact name.

Happy Dining!

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Answers in Faith ~~ Implementing Your Love Language

Amidst the season of gift giving, is receiving gifts your love language?  Do you happen to know your love language?  It took me awhile to discover mine, and believe it or not, it was through adverse circumstances that I fully recognized it!

Here's a great website link for more information on this vital subject: 

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/communication-and-conflict/learn-to-speak-your-spouses-love-language/understanding-the-five-love-languages

The following quote from the Focus on the Family article best describes my love language, i.e., Words of affirmation:

"One way to express love emotionally is to use words that build up.  Solomon, author of ancient Hebrew Wisdom Literature, wrote, 'The tongue has the power of life and death' (Proverbs 18:21, NIV).  Many couples have never learned the tremendous power of verbally affirming one another.

"Verbal compliments, or words of appreciation, are powerful communicators of love.  They are best expressed in simple, straightforward statements of affirmation, such as:

'You look sharp in that suit.'
'Do you every look incredible in that dress!  Wow!'
'I really like how you're always on time to pick me up at work.'
'You can always make me laugh.' "

As I previously mentioned, when someone hurled a cutting word my way, it bothered me greatly and diminished my creativity.  Conversely, as an example, when I would bake something special for my family, my husband would say, "Wow, that looks like it belongs in Sunset magazine!"  The compliments made me flourish and have remained as jewels in my heart.  

Now you might comment, "Well, no one likes to be ridiculed or verbally attacked." Agreed, but when God has created us with our specific love language, assaults thereon deplete our reservoirs of creativity and the ability to function in our given language.

The five love languages are not solely for couples.  Since they are resident within each one of us, they are to be exercised and lavished upon our children, grandchildren, co-workers, neighbors, or whomever.  

If you're unsure of your language, there are online quizzes that you can take to discover yours!

I decided to exercise my love language toward my youngest grand kiddos this year when specifically selecting the above words of affirmation for them.  I typed their first and middle names and using the first letter of each name, I blessed them with words that will still be inside their spirits as well as their picture frames for many years to come.

For those of you who have read my book titled Stirrings of The Spirit, you are very familiar with why these grandchildren are such special treasures since God miraculously spared their mother's life twenty-five years ago.

I hope you don't mind the extra-large picture in this post as I wanted to convey the full context of my message.

Plan to bless someone by discovering and implementing your love language. You're sure to make this world a better place if you do!

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Science With The Grandkiddos

During one of the grandkiddos' recent visits, they made two ice cube trays of citrus slices.  These have been such a nice relief during our recent one hundred degree temperatures.

Depending upon the ages of your grandchildren, you may have to slice the lemon or lime into small wedges for them.

If your grandchildren are old enough, they can read the instructions for themselves:

1. Rinse a lemon or lime, dry with paper towel, and cut into small slices or wedges.

2.  Place one wedge into each compartment of the ice tray.

3.  Place the ice tray in the freezer overnight.  Invert the tray to remove the cubes.  If you only desire to use one or two at a time, they can be removed from the tray by grasping the citrus wedge.

4.  This is a fun way to explain to young children how water can be a liquid and a solid.

5.  Other suggestions for the citrus wedges ~~ place them inside a glass of iced or hot tea or a citrus drink!

Happy Reading & Learning.  Stay cool!

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Real Women - Real Answers ~~ Be A Memory Builder

Something a bit ironic happened to me this morning.   I was thinking of a topic that I could write for this blog post.  As I was getting a grandbaby ready for church, I thought of the other children in my life. Most of my own children are grown, with only two teenagers left at home.   However, I have had lots of interaction with the kids of our church.   We have had various youth groups through the ten years that we have been here including Vacation Bible Schools, Awana, and Sunday Schools. 

I realized the importance of this interaction one night at our Awana youth club when one of the 4 year olds in the class was examining a picture on the wall.   Softly, she asked me, “Who is that man on the cross?” I told her it was a picture of Jesus. She had such a somber look on her face.   “Why is he bleeding?”   We put aside any plans I had for that night’s class as I gathered the children around this picture that I was now holding in my lap, and we talked about the “man on the cross”.  I had always taught older children in a church setting. I realized now that I was with the younger children I was introducing Christ to some of them for the very first time!

The kids at the church run to me, hug me, and tell me about their weeks. “Miss Jo! I lost a tooth this week!”  “Miss Jo, I have been good for Mommy this week!” The kids in my Kindergarten to sixth grade class  visit with me about their personal interests which allow us to relate that to the gifts God has knit into them and how they can use it for His glory. I love observing as they discover the things they are good at and wonder how those passions will fit into their future.  

Let’s not forget the teenagers. Many of them are in our Civil War re-enacting group.  We can get into some deep conversations ranging from  the Word of God to real-life struggles.  We spend so much time with these kids, introducing them to their Creator, teaching them how to pray, and how to trust God.

Last week, I drove to the airport with one of the young moms in our congregation. Her five year old is in one of my classes.   He said, “Miss Jo, are we going to your house now because I sure would like to spend some time at your house?” His mom told him that we had better wait for the next week when his brother was out of school because it would not go over well if one got to come but not the other.   So I was able to share my day with these special kids in my life. 

I wonder sometimes if we are really making a difference.   I mentioned that something ironic happened this morning.   It wasn’t so much ironic as it was a confirmation. I heard a knock on my door. This is highly unusual at our country home and on a Sunday morning. I opened the door and I heard, “Are you not having services on Easter Sunday morning?” It was a boy (now almost a man) who was in one of our first youth groups when we came to the church. I am still in contact with his mom, but had not seen him for six or seven years! We visited for a few minutes while catching up on the happenings in our lives and walked down to church together.  After the service, this young man came up to me, hugged me, and said, “Thank you, Mama Jo. It was good to see you again.” My heart melted.

It made me realize that we have been handed such an awesome opportunity to impact the children around us. We are in a position that we can minister to these kids on a personal and spiritual level.  We are building memories for them that they will never forget.

Be a memory builder!

Follow JoEllen Claypool on her blog at http://joellen-love2write.blogspot.com/

Happy Memory Building & Reading!

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Real Women ~ Real Answers: Celebrating the BIG SIX-ZERO!

           This year will be a really big one for me.  I turn 60.  The big six-zero.  The decade of Social Security and Medicare.  The age of new aches and pains.  I’m not depressed or upset about turning 60. I’ve accepted the fact that I’m now an older woman.  I feel blessed to have lived so long and so well. 

At 60, I can see life’s cycle more clearly.  I was once a girl who watched my mother and grandmother.  Then I was a mother who watched my daughter and my mother.  Now I’m a grandmother who watches my daughter and my grandchildren.  It’s a beautiful system that been going on since the beginning of time.

        

          Although the calendar says I’m 60, it’s not how I feel.  In my mind’s eye, I’m the age my mother should be and my daughter is the age I should be.  Somewhere across the last decade or so, I’ve become an older woman—on the outside at least.  I still feel young on the inside, like I always have.

           In Titus 2, Paul says the “aged women” should teach the younger women to be good wives and mothers.  I know I’m an older woman, but am I already an aged one?  My how time flies!  So I’ll do as I’m expected and pass on wisdom to young women. 

 Since the wisdom of the Preacher is greater than mine, I encourage all young women to read Proverbs 31:10-31 and consider those words. Be a virtuous woman.  Be a woman who puts in the work and effort to make a good life for yourself and your family.  Be a woman who values inward beauty. Let your works and love for your family reveal your inward beauty.  Outward beauty is passing, but inward beauty lasts a lifetime, and I’m glad of that.  My “pretty days” are behind me, but I continue to try to grow more beautiful on the inside.  The real me is living inside this aging shell, unseen by eyes, but seen in my works. The next time you see an elderly woman, remember she’s only old on the outside.  Inside is a beautiful young girl wondering where time went.

          Contributed by Author C.S. Kjar who lives with her long-time first husband in their empty nest. Since retiring from her technical writer/editor job, she and her husband travel quite a bit which gives her time to dream and imagine new stories and worlds.  Her novels fall somewhere between the women's fiction and Christian fiction genres.  Written without obscenities or detailed sex scenes, her stories weave romance, mystery, and suspense in different places and times.  She also writes an occasional children's book. When not writing or daydreaming, she loves to quilt, sew, and read to her grandsons.

          Check out her books The Treasure of Adonis and The Five Grannies Go To The Ball which are available on Amazon.com, and drop in and read her blog at http://cskjar.com/blog.

Happy Reading, and Happy Birthday, Carol!

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Faith Filled Friday: Filling A Prayer Box

How is your faith level these days?  I wanted to share how a little 3.5 x 2.5 inch metal box sent my faith soaring this past Saturday.

Ali Faith’s Faith

What a blessing to be living during the days of the technological boon of Ipads, Iphones, Iclouds, and on ad infinitum.  All of the aforementioned certainly help us to stay connected when our loved ones are far away. 

At 8:55 a.m. on Saturday, January 16th, I received the following text from one of my daughters,

“Good morning momma!   How ru guys?  We are great!  We have about 8 inches of new snow here and snowing now.  There’s a huge praise re pastor saaed!  Check out my FB post!”

I immediately dialed up her Facebook post which read,

“God DOES answer prayer!! So thankful that the 4 imprisoned Americans are free.”

Those of you who know me would agree that I am not always the calmest person on the planet, so when this news registered with my already caffeinated brain and nervous system, I was praising the Lord as loudly as I could. 

Suddenly, I remembered my birthday and Mother's Day gift from my precious granddaughter, Ali Faith.  It felt as though I was walking on air as I entered our bedroom, opened the top drawer to my dresser, and retrieved the little prayer box. 

After opening the lid (or as Ali Faith used to pronounce it, 'lib'), and reading the top prayer request, my eyes welled up with tears which freely flowed down my weathered cheeks.
                               

                                        

Implementing my trusty Iphone, I propped the little prayer box next to my ceramic coffee cone, snapped a few pictures to achieve the full effect, and texted them back to my daughter who shared them with her family.  Ali Faith and her younger brother were in awe of how God had answered a specific prayer that she had uttered so many times.  She attended the Prayer Rally for Pastor Saeed on the steps of our great state capitol building along with many other people.  In addition, during the summer months, Ali would round up some of the younger children in her neighborhood and invite them to her little tree house.  After making a lunch of sorts, she would read to them from the Bible, after which they would pray for Pastor Saeed. Yes, these would appear to be very early signs of an evangelistic anointing arising which is music to this grandmother’s ears.

On Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem, He came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan River.

“Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.  Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’  And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.”  [Mark 10:13-16.]

Children portray a profound sincerity of heart, trust, exuberance, child like faith, and total dependence on their parents.  The kingdom of God is comprised of those who respond to Him with that same type of trust that a young child renders to a parent.

While there have been a multitude of sermons preached on the subject of faith and libraries full of books regarding the same, there’s just nothing like first-hand experience that increases our faith and compels us to testify.

I would encourage you to read this blog post to your children and grandchildren and comment below with their responses.  Who knows?  Perhaps they might like to start a little prayer box of their own as they grow in their child like faith.  And I can only imagine how happy Pastor Saeed’s children and family members are to have him back home after 1,000 days!

Here's a freebie regarding the number 1,000: in a Biblical sense it is symbolic of divine completeness and the glory of God.

Are we giving glory to God for the release of Pastor Saeed along with the other three Americans?  You better know we are!

Happy Reading and Keep the Faith!


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