On your mark, get set, go

Yesterday was the Pinewood Derby for Andrew and Nicholas' scout troop, the last for Andrew as he will be crossing over to Boy Scouts next month. I thought about all the years we've spent in Cub Scouts and how quickly they've flown by. I sat at a table in the front corner while helping collect money for the upcoming Blue and Gold banquet. It was a good spot because I could sit back and take in the atmosphere, watch the activity. My how things have changed. Click here for last year's take and here for the 2010 race. You'll be amazed at how much they've grown.

For example, Katie was involved. For many years she wanted nothing to do with anything scout related, but now it's different. Gee, I wonder why? She and her friends, who also have little brothers, manned the concession stand. Every time I glanced over, there they were taking pictures and cramming their mouths with candy.

Meanwhile, Nicholas had an entourage of girls following him and he was loving it. He tried to take them backstage, but I put an end to that real fast. I know he's only in third grade, but you just never know with him.

Andrew was helping with the actual races. He sat and watched calmly in between. During their basketball game earlier in the day he had been hit in the head with the ball. I'm sure all the chaos drove him nuts. The boys didn't win this year, but they really didn't put much time into it. Pete's in grad school now, remember?

There was a lot of unstructured time. The young kids got rowdy after the first hour. By the third hour, we were ready to go. As I close, let me quote another mother my exact sentiments, "Why can't they just let the little cars roll down the ramp and be done with it?"

Chilling Out

Red Spot II, Wallisy Kandinsky

This frozen field, my mind, plays tricks on me
it goes from chilled to hot in seconds flat
shocks thoughts electrifying to my feet
and on the earth a flame of anguish sparks.

All because of silly things, a misplaced shoe
or perhaps forgotten homework, dirty tracks
across the rug, those crazy dogs
(oh, I love them so).

Then all at once I feel serenity
it startles like an unexpected touch
a cloak of permeable karma flows through me
like magic all the heat is gone
I’m chilled again, born into God’s realm of joy.

@laurie kolp

Prompt inspiration:
*The Sunday Whirl (anguish, field, permeable, shocks, flame, fresh, startles, earth, born, feet, serenity, frozen)
Picture inspiration:
*The Mag

Bubbles and Whistles to Tickle Your Side

Johnny knows how to
blow bubbles from
his nose when
he cries,
but I am the
ONLY one
in the class
who knows how to whistle,
the young boy told his mom
who laughed so hard it hurt.

@laurie kolp

Prompt inspiration: IGWRT- Mary’s Mixed Bag (A conversation poem)

Truth (Raveled Rhyme)

Could I but travel through these rocky

woods, empowered with a drive for inner

peace? A death-defying sanctum down

this road... of weary feet upon the ground.

I close my eyes and trust the sound
of birds singing to a higher

power. Will it lead me through? I need not

cower; one step I take, one leap of

faith and I am closer to the

truth.

@laurie kolp

Prompt inspiration: Poets United Thursday Think Tank (Roads)

The form is one I created called Raveled Rhyme. Here are the guidelines:

first word of line 1 rhymes with first word of line 2
last word of line 4 rhymes with last word of line 5
first word of line 7 rhymes with first word of line 8
last word of line 10 rhymes with first word of line 11
lines 3, 6, 9 do not rhyme; or they can rhyme with each other
last line is one word/ same as title
lines can be of any length
unlimited number of lines

****

Please... tell me what you think.

Subcutaneous Communication

Over, under, out -- Roger
acquired an infection
that with quite some introspection
and a wreck he had resulting
in reactions slow and lumbered
a slothful snail they called him
prompting great consideration
of a viral invasion deadly
in his network crashing body
creating bubble condensation
on his skin, this Trojan foe
a risk of life taken
for hooking up this microchip
to the world-wide web;
over, under, out.

@laurie kolp

Prompt inspirations:
IGWRT Kenia's Wednesday Challenge (future)
 3WW (bubble, lumber, wreck)

A Tongue Twister?

He asked me if I'd ever

felt a tongue

outline my body from head

 to toe, enticing pleasure, warming

sizzle, moisture spreading, heartbeat

threading pulses that

drive you crazy 

and

I

said

no
~~
~~
~~
~
~
~
YES

 

@laurie kolp

Prompt inspiration: Poetry Jam (senses)

Look Out for Cars

Nicholas and I went on a bike ride today. He was upset because he had spilled his Sonic slush drink. I thought the diversion would be good and it was. I love that little guy. He is full of contagious energy and always has so much to say.

First we talked about bike helmets. He wanted to know if when he was bigger he could stop wearing them.

"Cars will be able to see me then," he justified.

"No, honey. We always wear helmets because it keeps our head from getting smashed if we should have an accident."

But I wanted to continue on and tell him that I've seen a young boy die because of a bike accident. If he'd been wearing a helmet, he'd be alive. It was when I lived in The Woodlands. The place is full of walking trails and kids venture out after school. Well, a neighbor's son was on his way home, darted out of the trail across the intersection without looking and... you know the rest. It was horrible.

My children will wear bike helmets.

We also talked about dogs. Nicholas has a friend down the street, and he rides his bike to the boy's house by himself. He said something about a dog barking at him once. So I told him that if a dog ever started chasing him, he should ignore it and keep pedaling. Even if it's growling just keep going, don't look in its eyes.

On the way back from our ride, a dog did just that. It was a large, but precious, dog. He started following us so closely that he almost knocked us over. He barked and tried to get in front of our bikes. I looked over at Nicholas and he was looking straight ahead with a serious expression of determination.

"I sure am glad you told me about dogs like that," he said after the dog turned around and headed back home.

"Just remember, always look ahead and move forward, no matter how vicious things seem; don't pause for a second, keep pedaling. But always look out for cars."

~~

“So He (Jesus) said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”” Matthew 14: 29-30

Inspiration: Scibbling Spiritual Sand at Wolfrosebud's blog- Click the link to join in and/or read more inspirational words.

Warning: A Small Package

Photo: Boris Hoppek

She came in a small package

fleece worn and ribbon tied

innocent and modest, or so she seemed

with silky smooth skin

a fountain of milky pearl

wrapped up like a bow

laid upon for the taking

temptation on a platter

this grackle, waiting to attack.

~~

@laurie kolp

Picture inspiration: Magpie Tales

Snippets of the Truth

The Peabody sisters had a knack for story-telling

a charm in whispering words that crush the human spirit

scatter ashen children with shards of gore and horror

droning on about dark urges roiling from the depths of hell

virgin maidens whose lips scald all who come too near

chasing sanity with magic spells a basic instinct --

for their stories told were but snippets of the truth.

@laurie kolp

Prompt inspiration: The Sunday Whirl (ashen, knack, scald, sisters, crush, instinct, story, scatter, urges, shards, charm, whispering)

Also linked to IGWRT's Open Link Monday... anyone's welcome!

A Day at the Sun

Suzy invited me to the sun one day

We swam through Cool Whip as we played

Leap frog with peaches and mango

Jumping hoops of pear mandiango

Until the heat was too much to bare

So we stripped down to our underwear

And lo and behold I did discover

Fruit salad in secret places uncovered

@laurie kolp

**

My son's edible sun

Please join me at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads where the topic is NONSENSE

SEXercise

The secret to a smaller
waistline only Mama
knows, but Papa wasn't
complaining. I've never
seen them more in love.

@laurie kolp

Picture/prompt inspiration: Poetry Jam

**Click here for my dVerse OpenLinkNight offering.**

Believe It's Possible: Revealed and Unveiled

The mysterious invitation

Last night I had the privilege of being a part of an unveiling. Of what? I'm sure you're wondering. Well, according to Webster's Dictionary, unveil means to 1. remove a veil or covering from; or 2. make public. Both definitions are applicable to what took place; but before I fill you in, let me backtrack a bit.

Nearly a year ago I met this amazing woman, Cathy Taylor, who not only owns her own business, but designs the exquisite jewelry (and other things) sold there. She was struggling with some of the same issues as me, and when we got to talking I found out she had lost a dear friend, too. Rather than cardinals though, her connection with her friend Myra involved butterflies. We visited several times and then I didn't see her for awhile.

One day Cathy called me from out of the blue. There was a lilt in her voice, a sense of peace I hadn't heard before. She wanted to get together for coffee and so we arranged for a meeting time.

When I saw Cathy again there was a sparkle in her eyes and a smile on her face that truly came from the bottom of her heart. She told me she had been on a Walk to Emmaus, that she had had a spiritual awakening there. All of her burdens had been lifted and she was ready to follow God's plan for her. She didn't quite know what it was yet, but she did know it had something to do with Myra and butterflies. Cathy wanted me to help her with the writing aspect of whatever it would be and I gladly said yes.

It soon evolved into a new line that Cathy would call Believe It's Possible because Myra had been such a positive reflection of faith even in the midst of her debilitating cancer. Cathy and Myra had been friends since high school and Myra had clearly recognized the struggles Cathy had been facing. Shortly before her death, Myra had told Cathy that she would be part of a miracle one day. Little did she know she would be the miracle!

Since then, Cathy has been working hard on this new line. She managed to keep last night somewhat of a mystery to all involved, which has grown to include an artist, a bookkeeper, and much more. These people have been placed in Cathy's life, too. The beautiful thing is that none of us cares about the money aspect of it... we simply want to help Cathy fulfill God's plan for her.

A small section of the beautiful stage

Now back to last night. When I arrived at the church where it took place, I had no idea what to expect. The parking lot was full and I thought I wouldn't know anyone there, yet I walked into the room of people and felt right at home. I saw a few familiar faces. I found a spot in the front and soaked in the splendor of the stage, music, ambiance. Then I saw a friend and went to get her so she could sit by me. We waited in suspense until finally, the show began.

A serene Cathy unveiling her past

What can I say about this amazing evening filled with joy other than it moved me to tears? I wasn't the only one either, according to the sniffs I heard behind me and my friend who was downright sobbing. Cathy unveiled everything about her past with complete candidness. She celebrated her friendship with Myra and the significant role she played in Cathy's recovery even after her passing. Before the night was over, she unveiled the first pieces of jewelry and gave them to Myra's mother, husband and three sons. Myra's legacy would live on through this Believe It's Possible line, the ministry she always wanted.

I can't wait to tell you more, but God is writing the story, you know, and His time can be slow. I promise I will unveil more as it comes to fruition. Until then believe in the power of prayer, believe in the power of miracles, believe in the power of God. Believe it's possible. I do.

***
Linked to Scribbling Spiritual Sand: "She (wisdom) is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her." Proverbs 3:18