EASTER!

Easter, resurrection, , ,

To my followers, I apologize for being so absent. My schedule got very hectic and kept me from doing a lot of things! It is good to be back.

Easter is soon here. What a glorious holiday. Here is a poem to honor Resurrection Sunday!

HE IS ALIVE!

It seems like just an Easter thing
when Jesus Christ defeated death.
But it’s for every day beyond;
it calls us to believe.
He died but death could not contain
the one that lay in garden tomb;
he broke the bonds that held him there
and many saw him in that time
before he went to glory.
And so he is alive today
to share his life with all of those
who will confess, believe in him.
He is a Savior who left death’s hold.
that we might also defeat death.
 

Darlene Estlow©2015

 

A TRIBUTE TO TREES

Praise, trees, , ,

SILENT PRAISE

They stand straight and tall,

arms outstretched and reaching

into the heavens, to God,

their silent voices praising their Creator.

They never more except when the wind

blows and they respond to the rhythm

of the wind. No matter how life has bent

them, they stretch toward heaven,

their praises shouting in silent voices,

heard only by those who listen.

They fulfill their mission, assigned

by their Creator: refuge for the birds,

shade from the heat, life of oxygen

from their leaves. In winter and spring,

they show that life comes from death, and

even when their lives have been cut short

and they exist only as a stump,

new life forces its way from the soil

into life. Death proceeds life, for a seed has to fall into the ground

and die before it will truly live.

Season after season, through death to life,

they serve their creator, drawing life from

the water in the ground and returning their silent praise.

DEMENTIA

Dementia, Uncategorized, , , ,

In honor of my mom who passed away in 2014.

DEMENTIA

From adult mind to child,
from doing to only receiving.
Into the valley of need
rather than sufficiency.
Not understanding,
not remembering
what she had done for years.
I held my children,
I taught my children,
but dimension took that ability from her.
But she is who she is,
even in spite of her regression.

Darlene Estlow©2013

THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS

light, Uncategorized, , ,

 

bright sun
sunshine beams

THE SON ROSE
The darkness was pierced,
the shadows pushed aside
and light filled the world
for the Son had risen.

Darkness gave way to light,
the sky glowed in color
for morning had come.
The Son had risen.

Darlene Estlow 2013

 

 

As I looked at the picture, the sun’s rays touching the ground and the neighbor’s pond glowing in the distance, I thought of the light Christ brought into the world when He came as a baby. But He didn’t stay a baby. He died for our sins, and He rose that we might have light in this dark world. May God bless you this season with His light from above.

WINTER TREE

barren, beauty, God, , , , ,

winter tree
The bare, winter tree stands like a sentinel outside my window. I see it every morning as it glows in the beams of the rising sun. During the summer, it was covered with leaves, and I loved seeing it  whenever I was in my room.  However, fall came and it yielded its green covering to the wind and weather.

But I still love it! Yesterday, it  a lone bird, I think a cardinal, perched in its top branch for a few minutes. Then he flew off and suddenly several other birds flew into the bare branches and sat for awhile. What a treat to watch them descend into its branches and perch there. in the summer, I can’t see them sitting there.

As I watch the sun turn the horizon and my tree into gold every morning, I think of how God often compares His people to trees. I am meant to bear fruit, but there are times I feel like that tree, barren of anything that looks worth anything. However, like that tree, golden red in the dawn, I may not feel beautiful, but when God’s light in Jesus shines on me, I reflect His beauty. And that is far superior to anything I may show forth.

Christmas present

Christmas, presents, , ,

Christmas is not far away.  Sometimes, perhaps most of the time, I try hard to find gifts that people will value. It isn’t an easy task.  Eleven years ago, one of my daughters put to use her creative talents and blessed my husband and me with a very unique gift. It was the best Christmas present she could have given us!

Her boys were 4, 18 months, and 2 weeks. I still have that present on my bed.

pillows
Christmas present

 

BROTHERS

alone, brothers, Uncategorized, , , ,
brothers
Marmelade and Sylvester

 

We have two house kittens. They have never been outside. They are brothers and they love people. Recently we bought a new screen door so when the day was pleasant, I opened the door so the day could shine into the house. I couldn’t catch the picture of them both looking out the door, watching the chickens, Reginald G.P. Cuddles and Henrietta, they hadn’t seen before. I did however catch the picture of Sylvester looking out the door, while Marmelade kept grabbing his tail.

GOOD DAYS, BAD DAYS, ADJUSTMENTS

adjustments, God's love, Uncategorized, , , ,

Hello at last! It feels like forever since I have been on my blog. For those who have left comments that have not been responded to, please forgive me. I think adjustments to homeschooling and life with four active grandchildren (as well as healing from a bacterial infection which caused lots of coughing and restless nights) are working to give me more time for my personal pursuits, like blogging.

On weekday mornings, I take my homeschooled boy to band with his french horn to the middle school. It is a gift from the Lord to drive down the tree -lined country roads. When the trees on the main road give way to farm lands (the trees still line the horizon), it is still lovely. It is a refreshing time to drive to and from and to spend the fifty waiting minutes to read or go to the nearby Kroger market to pick up items I or the family might need. Twice a week, we have PE, swimming at the YMCA.

As I take stock of my life with my family, I see I am blessed in all things, even in the needed work on my little car. God is good; all things go through His sovereign hand out of His love for me. I can trust Him in all things.

May God give you a good day and strengthen you in the bad.

Reginald G P Cuddles

chickens, rooster, social, , , ,
Our rooster
Our rooster

Mr. Reginald Gray Peeps Cuddles is quite a character with his feathery legs and his regal appearance. Until a few weeks ago, there were several hens and one more rooster. However, my family sold all of them except Mr. Cuddles and his friend, Henrietta. Chickens are social creatures and since all their friends have gone away, they have just each other and we always see them together.

Mr. Cuddles with Henrietta
Mr. Cuddles with Henrietta

How did Mr. Cuddles get his name? When he was a “Gray Peep,” he was the favorite of my 5-year-old grandson. Nathanael would catch him and hold him (which led to the name Mr. Cuddles); he loved his gray peep dearly. Mr. Cuddles doesn’t often get cuddled now, but Nathanael loves him dearly still. When the other chickens were finding new homes, we couldn’t bear to part with this family “pet.” Mr. Cuddles got to stay and since Henrietta didn’t find a new home, she got to stay, too.
Mr. Cuddles’ first name, Reginald? It just fit his regal (or is it pompous?) bearing.