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Love come softly, brush against my heart
Yearning for its closeness, not ever to depart
In God’s Infinite Wisdom, I place my life,
And trust for tomorrow, what be, what might
Whatever path this love may go
It carries with it the willingness,
to let it go
And hope that one day, it will again, brush against my heart ....
To stay forever.
Karen A. 05/30/06 
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YOU ARE GOOD PEOPLE
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Jul 7, 2006 7:37 pm
542 Views
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I just want to say how much I appreciate all of you who come to visit my blogs and leave your comments.
You are such a great bunch of people. Your kind and caring spirits are humbling at times. You have great wit, and sensitive hearts.
I did want to let you know that my last blog was written not because I was sad, or upset, but it was kind of a "light bulb" moment of creativity.  I have felt very much what I expressed in the poem ~ but I am okay
I had a friend of mine point out to me recently that I can tend to be too analytical for my own good. So sometimes I do get a little too serious.  However, that is who I am ~ there is a light hearted side of me, and then there is one that likes to delve into the "meaning" of things. Sometimes there was no "meaning" to delve into, and that is when I get in trouble. 
God Bless you all as you have blessed me,
~Karen
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Looking through the window
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Jul 6, 2006 11:42 pm
572 Views
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I look through the window
into the room of laughing faces
and I see you there
I hesitate to go in
I'm not sure you would
be happy to see me
I think I'd prefer to just
stand out here and watch you laugh,
rather than enter and have you
politly acknowledge me as you
make your exit
~Karen
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17
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THE GAMES WE USE TO PLAY
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Jul 6, 2006 11:55 am
543 Views
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There have been quite a few blogs lately about childhood memories. I received an email today that brought to my mind some of the games we use to play.
There was: Red Rover ~ tag ~ hide and seek ~ London Bridges ~ I Spy ~ Statue ~ Simon Says ~ Hide the Thimble ~ Hopscotch ~ Teather Ball ~
There was a game which I can't remember what it was called ~ I'm thinking maybe "4Square"? This is where you have four squares drawn on the black top and one person in each square and you bounce a ball back and forth between you, trying to get the others to miss the ball and therefore be eliminated until only one player left? Anyone know what I'm talking about?
Then there were games like, tiddlywinks, jacks, marbles (never could understand the game of marbles, but I guess it was more a "boy" thing)
My favorite time for play was after dinner, during the summer months, and we'd be outdoors playing hide and seek or tag, trying to get in as much fun as we could before the sun set and we got called in for bed.
Course, as I got a little older there were games like "spin the bottle" and "truth or dare"
Got anymore to add?
~Karen
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A Funny (Weird) Story
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Jul 5, 2006 5:58 pm
454 Views
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Last night when my cousin and I were reminiscing, I remembered an incident that happened to someone I knew and I thought I'd share the story here.
Way back in the summer of 1970 I moved from home to Portland, and shared an apartment with two other friends. We had an upstairs apartment and across from us lived a bachelor named Jerry. I was only 20 at the time and he seemed so much older than me, but in all actuality he was probably no more than 10 years older. This guy kept pretty much to himself. During the six months that we lived next door to him, I don't believe I ever saw any company, male or female, come to visit him. He was a nice enough guy, and we invited him to many of our weekend parties.
We also made friends with a couple of other single girls that also lived on the second floor and when Sue, Vic and I moved out, we continued to keep in touch with them. A few months after moving out, we were visiting the girls and one of them (Carol) had a story to tell about our shy, quiet neighbor Jerry.
Carol had taken the garbage out and was on her way back to her apartment. Jerry's bedroom windows faced the walkway where Carol had to pass, and as she did, he had his head out the window and started talking to her. Being that they both played the piano, he invited her in to play some music.
Now, Carol was a very sweet, very innocent, and very kind person. She really wanted to get back to her place, but didn't want to seem rude, so she accepted his invitation.
His head was the only thing she saw as he peered around the door when he let her in. As soon as she walked in, he closed the door behind her and that is when she discovered he was stark nekkid!!
He was between her and the door so she decided to be calm and act as if everything was just as normal as could be. So, she walked over to the piano and sat down at the bench. Neither said anything about his appearance. Carol is frantically trying to figure out how she is suppose to get herself out of this predicament. When she began to play, Jerry decided to sit down beside her. That did it ~ she was up and out the door in a matter of seconds, making polite excuses and still not saying anything about his attire, or lack of. He just stood there with a silly grin on his face.
It was soon after that they moved.
Years later I recognized him sitting in a Burger King as I was getting into my car. All I could think of was his naked body!  So, I didn't go in to say hi.
Cheers,
~Karen
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End of the Day
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Jul 5, 2006 12:41 am
436 Views
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My family got together on Monday for the traditional 4th of July meal, so today I spent my time doing housework, and some reading. It was quiet.
This evening my Mom and "Uncle" Dad, my Aunt and Uncle, and my cousin Anita all came over to my place and at 9:30 we gathered the lawn chairs and went outside to find a spot to watch the fireworks.
It was such a pleasant evening. The day had been very hot, but there was a slight breeze this evening which made it quite comfortable.
While we waited for the fireworks to begin, my cousin and I sat and reminisced and I don't think I have laughed as hard for such a long time. People were walking by loaded down with their chairs, kids racing along to keep up. Every one happy and greetings were passed between us.
Once the fireworks began, we sat and made oooey and ahhey sounds each time the sky lit up with bright sparkly colors of red white and blues, greens and yellows and pinks. It was a beautiful display and celebration, and such a great way to end the day.
Now, I'm tired and I'm going to go to bed.
God Bless,
~Karen
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One Good Purring A Day Just May Keep the Gloom Away
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Jul 4, 2006 12:13 pm
427 Views
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I read the following in a little book called "Chicken Soup for the Soul"
The Gentlest Need
As least once a day our old black cat comes to one of us in a way that we've all come to see as a special request. It does not mean he wants to be fed, or to be let out. His need is for something very different.
If you have a lap handy, he'll jump into it. Once in it, he begins to vibrate almost before you stroke his back, scratch his chin, and tell him over and over what a good kitty he is.
Our daughter puts it simply: "Blackie needs to be purred."
He isn't the only one who has that need. I share it, and so does my wife. Still, I associate it especially with youngsters, with their quick, impulsive need for a hug, a warm lap, and a hand held out.
If I could do just one thing, it would be this: To guarantee every child, everywhere, one good purring every day. Kids, like cats, need time to purr. Fred T. Wilhelms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would just like to add my thoughts to this. Call it the "little kid" in all of us ~ I don't think it matters what age we are, we all need a good purring every day.
Not just for those family and friends you love so dearly, but the stranger you pass on the street, or in the grocery line, or the tired clerk behind the DMV counter.
The other day I was in the drive through at a local Starbucks. As the guy ahead of me began to pull away from the window he looked in his side window at me and gave me the biggest smile. Little did he know that I needed his smile more than ever at that time. It did make me purr
I've been really feeling sorry for myself lately. New Love is springing up everywhere, and I'm feeling left out. Hap2Day wrote a very heartwarming blog about love and all I could do was cry through it. Hap ~ if you are reading this, I am doing better ~ I'm sorry I used your blog to whine  .
Sitting here feeling sorry for myself is not going solve any of my current feelings of loneliness. It's time to take action. I need to get out there and get "my world" purring. I use to be very active in volunteer work, but in the last 5-10 years I've done very little. That is why I admire Pam (Lexxie) so much. She has been going through such a life changing challenge, and yet she never fails to bring light and cheerfulness to her blogs, and encouraging comments to others. She unselfishly gives of her time to the people in the nursing home, when I am sure there must be days her body is tired and her spirit is low.
It's time for me to get back out there and give of myself and take my mind off of my own trivial "problems."
Love,
~Karen
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I am proud to be an American
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Jul 3, 2006 10:10 am
498 Views
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I Am Old Glory
I Am Old Glory: For more than ten score years I have been the
banner of hope and freedom for generation after generation of Americans.
Born amid the first flames of America's fight for freedom,
I am the symbol of a country that has grown from a little group
of thirteen colonies to a united nation of fifty sovereign states.
Planted firmly on the high pinnacle of American Faith
my gently fluttering folds have proved an inspiration to untold millions.
Men have followed me into battle with unwavering courage.
They have looked upon me as a symbol of national unity.
They have prayed that they and their fellow citizens might continue to enjoy the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, which have been granted to every American as the heritage of free men.
So long as men love liberty more than life itself;
so long as they treasure the priceless privileges bought with the
blood of our forefathers; so long as the principles of truth, justice
and charity for all remain deeply rooted in human hearts, I shall
continue to be the enduring banner of the United States of America.
Originally written by Master Sergeant Percy Webb, USMC.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy Independence Day America!
~Karen
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Does Marriage Mean Death?
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Jul 2, 2006 11:00 pm
581 Views
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I just read the caption to one guys profile ~ "Married, but not dead"  hmmmmm
Now I'm really confused. Do you usually die when you get married? 
I'm pro-marriage all the way, and the last thing I would ever do is encourage someone to divorce until they have explored every option and every means to make the marriage work. If a person is living in a dead marriage, shouldn't they work to bring it back to life? At least that, or bury the marriage first, and then go looking for new life with another partner.
Just my thoughts.
~Karen
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HOPE
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Jul 1, 2006 11:48 am
502 Views
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It is wonderful to have Hope. Your days are brighter and you feel energized and ready to face any obstacles that may come your way with determination and confidence. Losing hope brings just the opposite. Your days feel dark and dreary, you feel tired, and you feel like you’ll never get through the turmoil and discouragement. You feel like you have lost the battle, when you didn’t even know you were facing one.
What is Hope?
Expectation: optimism, prospect, expectancy, longing, and desire.
Confidence: faith, reliance, trust, belief, assurance
Trust: Rely, expect
Antonyms for Trust are: hopelessness, pessimism, despair, and abandonment.
I have had a lot of disappointments in my life, but in the whole scheme of things, I’ve been quite fortunate. Most of my disappointments have been with relationships. They seem to be the hardest to deal with because there was so much hope put into it. Hope of a lasting love, hope of a future together, hope of a family of my own, hope of being with someone who loved me in spite of all my idiosyncrasies, and would love me to the ends of the earth and back. Hope of trusting someone so much that I can give completely of myself, emotionally and physically, with the freedom that an Eagle must feel when it is soaring through the skies.
As seniors, we hope for a good, financially stable retirement. We hope for a companion to spend our retirement years with. We hope for good health, or at least good health insurance. We hope for our children and grandchildren, that life will be good for them, and they won’t suffer harm, or broken hearts. We hope that our lives would not be in vain, that somehow we could make some sort of mark on this earth before we leave it.
I’ve gone through bouts of hopelessness. If there were anything that can destroy my spirit, it would be to allow that hopelessness to control my life.
One of my very favorite scripture versus is Isaiah 40:31:
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
So, I wait, with hope for all that I desire my life to be. I live as best I know how. I have faith which is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11.1). My heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. (Psalm 16.9). I will be of good courage, and He shall strengthen my heart, because I hope in the Lord. (Psalm 31:24)
I end this blog with my hope for you:
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Love
~Karen
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7
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THE SWIMMING HOLE
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Jun 29, 2006 10:07 pm
544 Views
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I guess this hot weather is what is making me think of my childhood and the swimming hole in the creek which bordered the backside of our property. We spent many of our summer days there. It wasn’t a big hole, but just deep enough for diving off from a small rocky cliff, or from a big bolder sticking up from the creek bottom floor. The water was icy cold. Most of us knew that the best way to get in was to just dive in and get it over with and then whoop and holler about how cold it was until our bodies adjusted. The less brave would move inch by inch waiting for their body to numb up, usually not until they were waist deep before taking the plunge. There was a little sandy beach area on either side of the creek where we would spread out our blankets and lay in the sun, shivering as our bodies began to warm up, only to again dive back into the icy waters whooping and hollering again.
The deepest part of this swimming hole was probably a few inches over five feet, and only in a very small area. Every summer we would reinforce the rock dam already in place, to get the water level up just a little higher.
We were never to go swimming alone, however there were times I would stay behind after everyone else had left. I loved to sit out on the bolder enjoying the sun on my face. I’d close my eyes and listen to the orchestration of music made by the wind in the trees, and the rippling water as it flowed swiftly past me. Other times I would stand in the water as still as possible, with my hands cupped around my face, close to the water, and watch the fish swim in and out around my legs.
Those were wonderful carefree days.
Cheers
~Karen
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