Resilient Woman…With Gratitude to Bette

Photo Credit: c. Jane H. Johann, Indian Ocean, 1975.

Photo Credit: c. Jane H. Johann, Indian Ocean, taken from the shore of Mombasa, Kenya, E.A., 1975.

dedicated to my friend,

Bette

~ a young girl on the Eastern seaboard

carried by the ocean waves

a seashell washed upon the shore

and gratefully found itself

resting in the sun soaked floor…

 a young girl was walking near

her tiny toes spinning wisps of powdered sand

she came upon the seashell,

knelt down and gently cupped it in her hand…

and together they sat

beside the ocean dream

opening their thoughts to the world’s room

vibrant waves of blues and greens

~a dedicated teacher of the young

the day arrived when life’s distance

carried her away from the shore and sea

but the wisdom of the seashell 

accompanied her like a comforting breeze

the children sat at her feet

listening with respect

knowingly she taught them

with presence and with no regrets

sensing the promise in their eyes

helped them to see the strength held inside

supportive and caring

urging them on

lovely as the bluebird

singing its song

her colleagues were affirmed …

encouraged as well

lifting others to their call

 as the waves lift the seashell to the swell

~ a friend

the seashell is a friend to the tiny creature

it holds inside

and so by this truth,

the little girl did abide

self-respect and honor 

honesty and truth

virtues held and shared 

to the young and long-in-tooth

listening to the secret quiet of the waves

forward the seashell travels

and so did this woman too

through all the bright moments and turbulent battles

she goes forward with courage

and tells YOU,  you will win!

never a complaint or self-pity you hear

regardless of how life may spin

~A lover of nature

Mother Earth is her friend

and the squirrels and birds she does feed

she tends to the wondrous gardens

of friends and of seed

a long way from the ocean is she

but this truth tale of a seashell and girl

invites us to the  balance gracing us

promising a pearl

Blessings…

English: Mixed Blessings Snow piled high at th...

English: Mixed Blessings Snow piled high at the side of A939, in freezing temperatures with winter sun. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Write your sorrows in sand, and your BLESSINGS in stone”  Rumi

the brightness opens the day

blessing us as we walk on our way

we breathe in the air, so crisp and clean

we breathe in the wonder of all that is seen

affirming each other in our moments of dismay

in the silence we found all that we had to say

the touch of each other moves the moment of time

the touch transcends…blending our inner rhyme

all that brought us to this day

eons of lives built into this clay

life touching life, carrying us into God’s Love

echoing thankfulness in the winged flight of the dove

deep within the heart mesmerized by peace

deep within the blessings never cease

silhouette the good for one’s self and each other

hope and faith shoulder love’s arbor

Blessings

Blessings (Photo credit: earthquakefish)

Dank je wel, Patty van http://petitemagique.wordpress.com voor de “Semper Fidelis Award”!

semper fidelis award

Received from Patty of  http://petitemagique.wordpress.com

May 20, 2013

crystals

         Patty of  http://petitemagique.wordpress.com  created this award, and she wrote: “… because I wanted to do something special for my friends on WordPress.” Thank you, Patty, for this beautiful award and the extra special effort you invoked to create this beautiful, personalized award! You are so sweet!  I am so touched by the uniqueness of your creation! You certainly took an important idea–love crystals–from my poems and crafted an exquisite award. I am so honored and touched by your insight and thoughtfulness!

This description was written by Patty of http://petitemagique.wordpress.com:   Semper Fidelis is Latin and means Always Loyal. Loyalty means the world to me. I am very loyal myself, but I’ve got major trust issues as well. And I think trust is very important if you are sharing so much of yourself with people you meet through the internet. So I am working on that! :)  Why the wolves? Because wolves have very strong ties with their pack. Like a family or a great group of friends. And I just love them! This award stands for the loyalty and love between friends.

The Rules:

  • Add the Semper Fidelis Award logo somewhere on your blog.
  • Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.
  • Nominate 5 bloggers who’s loyalty and friendship you value and you consider being part of your ‘pack of wolves’ on WordPress.
  • Post something special for each one of your nominees  and dedicate it to them. This can be a quote, saying, poem, picture, anything you think that would fit that person.
  • Let the nominees know that you’ve nominated them.

I am very grateful to Patty of http://petitemagique.wordpress.com for her award to me!

My pack of wolves are: :)

* Celestine: http://readingpleasure@wordpress.com         

I have nominated you for the SEMPER FIDELIS AWARD! I think the following should enable you to find the image of the award:

http://petitemagique.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/semper-fidelis-award.jpg

Celestine is the Queen of Haiku from the country of Ghana, on the West coast of Africa. She is now published! Celestine has a gentle heart that is filled with warmth and joy…reflected in her writings and her dear correspondence with me.  I am so happy to know her! When I read the quote below, I thought of Celestine, because she is a courageous woman. She believes in her writing and she always goes forward. She finds a way to succeed!

 Quote

*

 *Gyslaine: http://lgyslaine.wordpress.com

I have nominated you for the SEMPER FIDELIS AWARD! I think the following should enable you to find the image of the award:

http://petitemagique.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/semper-fidelis-award.jpg

Gyslaine is a  beautiful poet from France,  whose gentle words have healed me. This quote makes me think of her because despite challenges in her life, she goes forward and towards life.  She inspires me to do the same:

Anaïs Nin“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”
Anaïs Nin

*

* M Murali  Mohan: http://advocatemmmohan@wordpress.com AND  http://advocatemmmohanaksharaalu.wordpress.com

I have nominated you for the SEMPER FIDELIS AWARD! I think the following should enable you to find the image of the award:

http://petitemagique.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/semper-fidelis-award.jpg

M Murali Mohan, from India, cares about all of us!  He shares his knowledge of the law on his blog. He shares his understanding of human life. He shares the deep wisdom of his beliefs. He is always a faithful reader of my writings–this encourages me so much to keep writing…and gives me purpose to live.

Albert Schweitzer

“Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being.”
Albert Schweitzer

*

* Paul:  http://poesypluspolemics.com   

I have nominated you for the SEMPER FIDELIS AWARD! I think the following should enable you to find the image of the award:

http://petitemagique.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/semper-fidelis-award.jpg

Paul hails from the East Coast of the USA. His poetry delves into many different topics –it is profound! He encourages me by reading my blog. Seeing his icon there makes all the difference to my day of writing.  He has taught me to write because it is important for me to express myself…not to impress my readers.  He has taught me to write for myself through his own example.

Thomas Paine

“Independence is my happiness, and I view things as they are, without regard to place or person; my country is the world, and my religion is to do good.”
Thomas Paine, Rights of Man

*

* Shaun:   http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com

I have nominated you for the SEMPER FIDELIS AWARD! I think the following should enable you to find the image of the award:

http://petitemagique.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/semper-fidelis-award.jpg

Shaun, a writer from Scotland, is a man who faces each day with courage despite the constant pain his body gives him.  He is a brave man, caring husband to his wife and a wise father to his children. He thinks deeply about the world and all of us in it. He goes beyond the walls of his home and is open to all people and encourages us along the way to keep writing, to continue to be our best selves, and to never ever give up.

Hunter S. Thompson

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”
Hunter S. Thompson
*

* Rebecca Budd: http://clanmother.wordpress.com ….   http://chasingart.com/  ….http://takingthekitchen.com/

I have nominated you for the SEMPER FIDELIS AWARD! I think the following should enable you to find the image of the award:

http://petitemagique.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/semper-fidelis-award.jpg

Clanmother, from Vancouver, impresses me because her blog shows that she appreciates the beauty of the world in which she has found herself.  Her blog is filled with the beauty of so many artists –she appreciates the creativity she finds around herself. Her writing moves me to think beyond myself and her presence is often found on my blogs, giving my writing her confirmation…which is so encouraging to me.  She seems to be a person who is constantly engaged with life and goes forward into it with joy.  Recently, she jumped into recycling and is asking us to join in her conversation about sharing food with each other in her blog, “taking the kitchen.” Her openness to transitions in life encourages me to go forward in my own life.  

Christine Feehan

“Life gives us choices. You either grab on with both hands and just go for it, or you sit on the sidelines.”
Christine Feehan, Night Game

*

* Sheri DeGrom   http://sheridegrom.wordpress.com

I have nominated you for the SEMPER FIDELIS AWARD! I think the following should enable you to find the image of the award:

http://petitemagique.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/semper-fidelis-award.jpg

Sheri, from the USA, is a woman who goes the extra mile…hundred miles…thousands of miles! When I read of her support to her husband and how she bravely fights for him and his health…how she willing faces those who would deny him help…I see her inner strength and unconditional love for the man she married. She is a woman of great determination and courage. In between all of that, she still takes time to read others’ blogs and give her comments…all of which takes precious time.  Sheri is a person who genuinely cares about all of us.

Life must be lived and curiosity kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.

Eleanor Roosevelt

*

 Patty:   http://petitemagique.wordpress.com

525389_213081365499650_144147471_n

YES—you have just been nominated for the award you created!  I have nominated you for the SEMPER FIDELIS AWARD! I think the following should enable you to find the image of the award:

http://petitemagique.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/semper-fidelis-award.jpg

Patty, from Holland, impresses me because she is herself in her writing and on her blog.  When she is happy, we know it.  When she is struggling, we know it.  She is fully human and is not afraid to be who she is…she writes who she is.  Patty’s total honesty encourages me to be honest in my writing. On top of all that, as busy as she is, working on her new publication, her triology on dragons…she still has time to visit and encourage me in my writing.  She also is my sister of the universe–Patty encourages me to be strong and to continue to live each day!  Patty lives the quote despite any obstacles in her way–and helps me to do the same!

Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Thank you to all those who have read and enjoyed the posts!

Thank you to all those who have read and enjoyed the posts and told me so!

Thank you!  Your “likes” have encouraged me beyond belief!  


500 Likes!

Congratulations on getting 500 total likes on johannisthinking.

Your current tally is 523.

Thank you   dankie  tak    Merci beaucoup   ありがとう     谢谢   dank u     grazie

danke      σας ευχαριστώ       धन्यवाद  terima kasih   ačiū   nirringrazzjak       شكرا لك.   

спасибо     хвала    ¡gracias    ధన్యవాదాలు    təşəkkür   ขอขอบคุณคุณ    teşekkür ederim  

 спасибо    cảm ơn bạn    hvala    dankon     salamat    paldies    ďakujem