By Ann Marquette

I am not big on the commercialization or hype about Valentine’s day.

I believe we all should show love everyday to everyone.

There are various kinds/levels of love.

Everyone needs to know they are loved. Even little kindnesses, like giving someone a smile can make their day.

I hope your day is very special, and mostly I wish for you something special to make your heart smile.

The Dance Begins

English: Dancing couple illustration (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Ann Marquette

You sit in this quiet place
Playing quiet beautiful music
A peace comes over you

You feel a joy you never knew
You look up to see her
There a short distance away

Her smile comes from deep within
She walks very slowly
She is coming to you

You are still playing
Yet you have stopped breathing
You feel you are in a dream

She is beside you now
She holds out her hand to you
You take her hand and rise

The music goes on in your souls
You hold each other
Softly, slowly you glide around the floor

The dance begins
To the quiet song within your hearts

January 8, 2005   Copyright

Peace in the Garden by ann marquette

From one of my devotionals… “God Calling” edited by A.J. Russell.  This spoke to a very deep place in my heart.

 “Each word or thought of yours can be like a pearl that you drop into the secret place of another heart, and in some hour of need, lo! the recipient finds the treasure and realizes for the first time its value.”

A vase. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thank you God for this first day of 2013, for the rain we need, for all the wonderful people in my life, for being with me as I walk the path of transition and begin working on my goals for this year.

I am grateful for a clean slate to write on, an empty vase to fill.  http://amarquette333.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/a-blank-slate-3/

Believe ~ In New Beginnings by Ann Marquette

It has been a good year.  I am grateful for all the many blessings, including good health, work with a good company (very close to the house, and great people), the rain to nourish the land, sunshine, a nice place to live, the ability to pay my bills, to eat, the times of sharing with family and friends.  The greatest blessings are the wonderful people in my life.

I am looking forward to a fresh new year.  A recent teaching about The One Thing we all have within us that we need to commit to inspired me to set a goal for my “One Thing” (actually two) to accomplish by the end of 2013

A new year…an even better attitude and more gratitude.

May you all be richly blessed in the New Year.

Now remembering that He was born to give the gift of His life for our sins…that we are forgiven…let us give ourselves and others the GREAT GIFT OF FORGIVENESS. It is “Time for Letting Go”   http://amarquette333.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/time-for-letting-go/  and you will be richly blessed.

Tears

I wrote this in 2005. Yes it is sad, yet reminds me to be available to others.

A few moments of magic
A special letter
Exciting news
Something special happens
I am excited
A special joy fills me up
I want to share the moments
….in person

Call to a friend
Can we meet for coffee?
Something wonderful to share…
Sorry, can’t…
Call another friend
Can we meet…?
Something wonderful to share…
Sorry, can’t today…
See another friend
Want to share something wonderful…
They are busy with children
Or other people…
Sorry, can we talk later…………

My heart drops
Pain sets in
My spirit cries
I try not to feel sorry for myself
I can barely breathe
The moments disappear
No one to share with…
Then…
Just more moments…
Alone………

Copyright February 5, 2005

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It is still early morning and the sun has not been up long enough to warm the day.  Since it is still a wee bit cool Little One is wearing the long pants, a little t-shirt and the sweater Martha had given her.  She is not wearing the shoes because she loves the feel of the sand on her feet.

L’Uni walks alongside of Little One while their flying companions go on ahead, yet sometimes circle back as if to check on the others.

Little One is quiet in her own thoughts.  She feels sad having left Martha and Kelly, but knows it is time to move on.  Although she wonders what will happen next she decides she does not want to think about it…only take one day at a time.

She walks on slowly.  Sometimes shuffling her feet in the sand as she goes, occasionally walking backwards to see where she has come from.  Then she stops for a moment.  Although she no longer sees the place where Martha lives, she thinks about her, wondering how she is and what she is doing.  Maybe she is getting ready for her family to arrive for their visit.

As they continue along this stretch of beach, her friends are nearby, but quiet.  They know Little One has much on her mind and heart.  It has been a couple of hours since they left Martha and Kelly.  Little One notices a huge piece of driftwood on the beach near the water and decides to sit for a bit.  L’Uni, Angel Mary and their feathered friends rest nearby.

Little One is thanking God for the blessings in her life ….

After awhile Little One takes a snack from her back pack and eats with a smile in her heart for Martha’s gift.

Angel Mary decides now is a good time to talk to her about life in the world…how it is in this time, this century.  She wants to tell her about the upcoming holidays and what people do in the communities, the cities across America.

“Little One, I want to tell you about two special holidays coming up soon.”

Little One asks “What is a holiday?”

“Holidays are yearly celebrations of special events which happened long ago.  There are some which are only celebrated in some countries” Mary explains.

Little One looks confused, maybe just thoughtful.

“What is it Little One” Mary asks.

“What are countries?” asks Little One.

Mary laughs.  “Oh my dear child, you have much to learn.”

Little One’s face lights up with eyes big and bright, she says “I really like to learn new things and I like meeting new people.”

Mary smiles and continues.  “I have seen that about you.  Your experience with wild animals in your travels, I saw you unafraid when typically many of them can be dangerous to humans.  That will help you be more patient and understanding, and accepting of humans who may not be so nice.  And I’ve seen how you have been with other people.  Your openness and acceptance of others you have met, like L’Uni and her fairy friends will keep you believing in the unexpected.  Even when the time comes that you won’t see them or me anymore there will be quiet memories in the back of your mind.  You may not even remember what it is exactly, but there will be a special feeling inside you.  I know that is a gift from God you will always be thankful for.  That brings me to the special holidays coming up.

The first is Thanksgiving.   This began centuries ago, not only in America, but also in other countries.  It is for giving thanks to God for plentiful harvests.  It is a time to celebrate with family and friends over a meal together.  It has become a time to be grateful for more of God’s blessings, not only the food to nourish our bodies.  Many people give thanks for the wonderful people in their lives, for work they get paid for and the ability to pay the bills to support themselves and others, for their health, and whatever else they are grateful for.”

Little One has been listening with great interest and says “what a wonderful celebration.  I hope I will get to share that time with people some day.”

“Oh you will Little One,” replies Mary.  “You will have wonderful people come into your life, and have family of your own.  You will share your blessings with others, which in turn will give them even more to be thankful for.”

Mary continues the holiday stories.  “The next and most important holiday soon after Thanksgiving, is Christmas which is a celebration of the birth of Jesus.”  She tells Little One about God giving the world his son Jesus, and Jesus giving his life for us, and how Christmas traditions evolved, and now so commercialized.”

Little One replies “Maybe Thanksgiving is the time to thank God first for giving us Jesus, and then preparing for the real purpose of the Christmas celebration.”

“Yes” Mary says.  “I agree with you and wish everyone would feel that way.  Maybe one day that will come to pass.  You are very insightful, and that will do you well in this world.”

While Mary and Little One talk, L’Uni gets up and takes a short walk along the beach.

Little One says “I think L’Uni is ready for us to get going.”

Mary agrees.  “We can continue talking as we go.”

L’Uni sees Little One getting ready to go so she joins them.  Of course, eagle Tom and their Dove friends go with them, but from a distance.

As they go Mary continues telling Little One how people prepare for the upcoming holidays.  During the telling she also explains some details of things which Little One never heard of before.

“Most people in this country, America, traditionally have turkey and maybe ham, with various kinds of potatoes, vegetables, salad, and desserts.  Many people here come from other cultures in other countries, and they may prepare foods traditional to their country.

The meal time is a big part of both these celebrations.  Turkey is used most often on Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Although Thanksgiving has not become commercialized since it is not a gift giving event, usually family and friends who enjoy time on this day at someone else’s home will bring a prepared dish or dessert to share.

Christmas has become overly commercialized because it is promoted by the stores to sell products for decorations and gifts.  Sadly people have gotten so they feel obligated to get gifts for so many others who are not friends or family.  Even within families people tend to spend more than they can afford which then causes them stress throughout the year trying to pay for it all.  Many feel they have to return the gesture when someone they did not plan on gives them a gift.

It would be so much nicer and more meaningful if people would make something as gifts to give.  Or they could create personalized gift cards for a service, something they know the other person would really appreciate.

In time many people have forgotten the true reason for the celebration of Christmas…the birth of Jesus.  They spend much of their time stressed about decorating, shopping for gifts, and if hosting on Christmas Eve or Christmas day, worrying about meal preparations and cleaning the house.

However, as many people have lost jobs, their homes, the ability to pay bills, and feed themselves there has been a shift in what some people now believe is truly important.

There is a trend toward remembering the true purpose of Christmas.  Many people are cutting back, making some of their gifts, simplifying their holiday plans, appreciating what they do have, especially their relationships with family and friends.

It is a lovely time when families and friends attend their church celebration of Jesus’ birthday, then at home sharing a meal and opening their gifts.”

Little One has been listening with much interest.  “It sounds like a lovely holiday; at least when remembering the purpose and keeping the celebrations simple.  I look forward to experiencing it some day.”

“Yes it is a wonderful and very special holiday” says Mary.

While Mary has been telling this story to Little One, Eagle Tom, and the doves Peace and Love have taken off on their own.  L’Uni is a little ahead of Little One and Mary.

It is now late afternoon. They decide to stop for a while.  They realize they seem to be coming to the end of this beach.  There are huge rocks up ahead.    They notice L’Uni walking around them.   So they follow her and find on the other side an opening.  They go in to see what is there.  It is a smallish cave.  The opening is big enough so the current location of the sun in the sky shines its light into the cave.  It is quiet and rather comfortable inside.

In one corner there is a tiny pool of water which comes from a small trickle out of a wee crack in the wall.   It is fresh water.  Little One realizes she is thirsty so she cups her hand to get the water which she drinks.  She steps into the little pool and feels the water is a comfortable temperature.  “Oh, this feels good.  And I can wash myself with the little cloth Martha put in my pack” she says.

Mary smiles and nods a yes as she says “I think this is where L’Uni plans for us to stay tonight.”

“I think so too” says Little One.  “It almost reminds me of the one we stayed in the last night before we started our new journey along the beach where we saw the three people who had been in an accident, and before we met Martha and Kelly.  It was a lovely cave.”

They know their feathered friends will join them again later.  So here they stay.  Little One has food to snack on and the water to drink.  They talk while they rest.

Now that the stars are out and Little One has grown tired it is time to sleep.

As she sleeps she has a magnificent dream about a Thanksgiving celebration and a Christmas with some wonderful people she has yet to meet.

I have always liked this month, partly because it is in the autumn season and also the month when we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. The end of the month is special to me because it’s my birthday

I am grateful to be alive, healthy, and richly blessed with wonderful people in my life…especially my brother.  I love you John.

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Image via Wikipedia

Time to share my annual Halloween Story, which I wrote when I lived in Ireland.

***************************

They come in the night, but only once a year…for Halloween.

In Old Ireland…it all began, a long, long time ago, about a century perhaps. It was almost deserted, the countryside. There was a graveyard very near a small thatched cottage. It was nighttime the end of October, and autumn seemed more like winter. The rain and wind began their song and dance as the pitch black of the night descended. The only light in the surrounding countryside came from the little fire and two candles burning in the tiny cottage.

Father settled in his chair in front of the warm crackling fire, with his corncob pipe. Mother was there too, mending old clothes. The children were playing and whispering together. The six year old boy, had fair hair and deep penetrating blue eyes that never said what was lurking in the mind behind them. He was very intelligent, but didn’t talk much except with his sister. She was five, with brownish hair and dark brown eyes that seemed to look into your very soul. She too was very smart, but more outgoing than her brother was.

Their Father was the keeper of the graveyard, and also the one who dug the graves. The relatives of those buried there lived rather far away and were not able to visit the cemetery very often, or at all. So, it was up to this quiet gentle man to look after the place. The children would go there frequently to play. Sometimes they seemed to be talking to other people, but no one else could be seen. Mother was a quiet, soft-spoken woman. She took care of the family and home. What else was there to do in this lovely, but deserted part of the country.

Just as on other nights, they gathered around the fire after dinner. They would take turns telling stories or just talking about their day. This particular night Father was telling one of his favorite stories…from the old days!

Suddenly, there came a sound, then another, and another. It sounded like voices, but very distant, very hushed…and very, very eerie. They all heard it, but would not let each other know they heard it. Father stopped his storytelling only a moment…almost like a brief pause; until…each time it became a little louder and closer.

They looked at each other, especially mother and father. They began to shiver with the cold increasing beyond normal. With a shrug, Father said “it’s just the rain and wind talking to each other.” But, then it came even closer, louder…more distinct, like voices, talking, then screeching, kind of crying howling sound. The silence in the little cottage was sudden and tense. The sound, noises, voices…whatever they were, were so frightening and kept getting even louder and closer.

Father thought to himself “maybe I should board up the windows and block the door.”  Mother is thinking, “I should blow out the candles and maybe the darkness will make them go away.”  Then they heard voices, saying “Don’t lock us out, and blowing out the candles won’t do any good. What about the fire? We could still find you anyway.” They all heard it and began to shake with fear as a knock, and another knock, and another was heard at the front door. They sat there frozen, looking at each other, when a voice said, “please, let us in!” No answer came so the voice said it again “let us in.”

Well, the Father, thinking this whole thing very silly, finally rose slowly and went to the door. From where the mother and children sat in front of the fireplace they could see just what father saw when he slowly and cautiously, opened the door. The visions were that of human shapes, but very very strange and spooky indeed. The visions all spoke very slowly and distant like “give us something to eat.” “Who are you and where do you come from?” asked Father. In unison again, they said, “we have come a long journey, but not far away.” This didn’t seem to make much sense, but everyone was in such shock. Mother asked, “What do you want?”

“We want something to eat. If we don’t get something nice to eat, we will do things you won’t like. If you give us good things to eat, we will go away and not bother you.” Mother decided to put out all the lovely things she spent the day baking and hoped it would satisfy them so they would go away. After what seemed a very long time, but in fact it was only a few minutes, they had finished every last morsel. The strange beings began to leave. But, as they were going out the door they said “That was very nice, so we will be here again same time next year and every year forever after.”

They left so suddenly, and the silence was so deafening it was like they’d never been there. Mother would have thought she’d been dreaming except all the goodies she had baked all day were gone…not a crumb left. Father also thought he imagined it all.

The children however, knew all along what was happening as it had been planned all day. The Visitors were their friends, the ones they talked to in the cemetery. The brother and sister had told their friends of mother baking all the goodies that day, and decided to play a trick on her and Father. That night was October 31, midnight. And, every year after that, they came. Mother and Father never knew the truth…although, I’m sure they do now.

The children had continued the tradition even after Mother and Father died, and taught their children to do the same. Their children passed it on down through the generations. After the first year the Visitors told others and the group of visitors grew each year, so more and more homes were needed to treat them. Now when you hear strange sounds on Halloween night, and you think it’s the usual neighborhood ghosts and goblins, you may be right…so don’t forget those goodies, or else…

Cool October Morning Along the Reedy River by ann marquette

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