First a poem I worked to perfect this morning, then a journal entry from this afternoon:
Some pictures from our walk:
A sky shot…
A long leaf pine that reminds me of a cactus…
My sweet puppy dog, Hope, sporting her newly groomed coat.
Another shot of my baby girl.
A shot of the sky.
The road to Linda’s house.
Trees…
Penny in her pajamas.
Close up of Ko-Ko in pajamas.
Hope close up.
I hope all of you have some brilliant creative ideas to brighten your day.
Always,
Jo Ann
We were in town at one of Mom’s doctors today and Hope and I were unable to walk. There just was not enough time to get outside. I don’t have a journal entry today, instead I have a rather long prose poem:
My roller skates from my teens.
I also wrote a short poem:
It was a gorgeous day here and I had to wear my sunglasses because my left contact was hurting my eye and the light would have irritated it worse.
I hope you find some beauty in your day and capture it creatively.
Always,
Jo Ann
My journal entry and a poem:
A few pictures:
Sticky bush…
Rainwater on fronds…
Bear Alex gave me for Christmas 2010. I call him Mountz…
Gumby…
Another shot of Mountz…
I hope you will remember although forgiving others is hard it brings great benefits to you. When you forgive you let go of bitterness that eats away at you. Love is what we are designed to share and that does not mean abandoning others, it means living in relationship. People are not perfect, but we can respond to those in our life with generosity and love.
May you find energy to create something of beauty.
Always,
Jo Ann
My journal entry with a poem:
A few pictures:
A gargoyle…
A pair of gargoyles…
An elephant I painted some time ago.
I have no plans to go to town tomorrow. I should have more time to dedicate to doing something creative than I have had the last two days.
I hope you have a wonderful night and a weekend full of inspiration.
Always,
Jo Ann
Today’s entry is a poem on a subject very dear to me:
A few pictures from my mile walk with Hope:
A plant green despite Winter.
These were experimental shots of our shadows.
Mom and I are doing Read The Bible For Life every day, and we are working our way through Genesis. Mom commented today that she did not realize how much violence and immorality went on in biblical times. She has read the Bible through before, but she read the King James Version and the stories did not communicate to her as clearly. We discussed how everything we experience in our society today was present in olden times. Technology has changed, but people are much the same as ever. The same challenges to faith and belief we face today were there for people of the past. We can learn from their examples.
Today, many sites on the internet went black to protest SOPA and PIPA, which are bills under consideration by government here in the United States. These two pieces of legislation have the potential to bring widespread censorship to the internet. I encourage you to let your representatives know that you want the internet to remain a free place for the exchange of information. Tell them you do not agree with SOPA and PIPA.
I talked to Alex, my son, for almost an hour this morning. It was wonderful hearing his voice. He is currently training in Hawaii and will be going to California before returning to his station in Okinawa, Japan. He seemed very upbeat and our conversation was enjoyable.
I hope there is peace and love wherever you are. May you be inspired to create some beauty in the world today.
Always,
Jo Ann
God Knew I Needed Her
When God created my mother
He must have spent some extra time,
Knowing she would grow up without
A mother to guide her in womanly ways.
He must have placed great compassion
Within her tender heart knowing
Her family would need special care,
Especially preparing her for a child like me.
God must have heaped her full
Of patience so she would be able
To cope with the many difficulties
That have beset her later years.
He must have made her particularly
Strong so her heart would not break
With the hardship of losing many of
Those who were dearest to her.
God must have prepared her
With great goodness, kindness, and
Love to be the one person who
I can always depend upon.
He must have known being
My mother would be a trial,
And so blessed her with the
Ability to be the very best.
Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
At Great Cost
He was a decent student, bright,
A well-behaved and happy child,
He made his family very proud.
After graduation he said his goodbyes,
He went away to conquer strict training
And become his dream: A U.S. Marine.
He came home briefly in triumph
With his hard-won money to spend
And fulfilled his early promise.
His duty called him far away,
His family worried and prayed
Hoping always for his safety.
One day without warning, it happened,
Everything went horribly wrong,
He did not make it back from the field.
Every military family’s nightmare
An unexpected knock upon the door,
The news that he had sacrificed it all.
He wanted to serve his country
And he gave his lifeblood
A hero to keep us safe and free.
He stands with the angels now
Forever vigilantly watching over
Loved ones he suddenly left behind.
Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
September 22, 2011
The Surface Isn’t Real
When you see someone smiling,
You may not know they are
Hiding their pain.
When you think someone’s lazy,
Because they don’t work every day,
It may not be by personal choice.
When you laugh at someone,
Because they aren’t as perfect as you,
You may not know how hard they try.
There are hidden afflictions
That you may not understand,
But that are devastatingly real.
Don’t make the mistake of judgment
Without knowing the truth,
Because you could hurt someone deeply.
Try to be gentle, try to be kind,
Because some things are hidden
From the naked eye.
September 26, 2011
Indebted
You know you are loved when someone hugs and holds you tight.
You know someone cares when they give you something nice.
You know you are safe when your doors are locked tight.
Our military personnel get no gentle caresses.
They go without gifts on many special occasions.
The places where they rest may be very unsafe.
They give their lives to show you that you are loved.
Their service is a gift which no one can repay.
They keep you safe each and every day.
God Bless The Marines, The Army, The Navy,
The Air Force, and The National Guard.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Buying Inspiration
School supplies are not strictly
Necessary to my life anymore,
Yet every year I frequent the sales
That herald Back to School.
I visit the overstuffed shelves
Of brightly colored notebooks,
My eyes searching out attractive
Covers to bind my poetic words.
I linger over the place where
The pens and pencils are displayed,
Hoping to find a writing implement
That might spur my muse to activity.
I am the one strolling the aisles
Wishing some simple purchase
Might rekindle the imagination
I so blithely enjoyed as a youth.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Praise to Him
He set the sun, moon, and stars
In motion and brought our world to life.
Yet He hears when I am crying
And cares enough to save my soul.
Some think me insignificant
But He died to set me free.
He knows when I am hurting and comes near
Even though many others have forsaken me.
He loves me without condition
Although some of my words and actions
Surely make Him very sad.
Even when I am bad, He stands by me.
He is my Maker and the Author of Eternity
I owe Him all my love and allegiance
For He has given me constant access
To all the glories He stored up for me.
From the beginning, He knew me
And loved me without reservation.
My friend, my Savior, Jesus Christ
Will never give me up for I am His.
I will rejoice with the saints and angels
For I am bought at great price
The King of Kings sacrificed Himself
That I might one day meet Him in Paradise.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Unleash Poetry
If you wish to write a poem
Gather your favorite notebook and pen,
Or open a document on your computer,
In a comfortable place of relative peace.
Do not over think and confound
Your muse, but try to catch your
Wayward thoughts on the open page.
Simplicity pays dividends in words.
You do not have to be experienced;
Anyone can shape words to the form
Of attractive verse, it only takes
A bit of earnest effort and dedication.
You are by nature creatively gifted,
Able to write with individual depth
And intense personal clarity,
You are a poet by virtue of birth.
Open your inmost heart and harness
The power of your infinite imagination,
Allow your words to flow in a torrent
And make a poem out of your life.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Time Occupied
Make no mistake my day is not
A honeymoon infused with the scent
Of Water Babies suntan lotion
Where lulling in the drowsy warmth
Of the vacation bright sun is acceptable.
This day began with the annoying blare
Of the alarm I so carelessly forgot
To reset yesterday to my great dismay,
But that is fine, I need only have
Scarce hours of sleep anyway.
The gooey sweet taste of warm Moon Pie
Brought me out of my enduring stupor.
The smooth texture of computer keys
Affording me the timely information
I need to choose the path of my day.
I am not alone, but the constant drone
Of my mother’s television is no company.
Soft curling fur under my fingers eases
My weary mind from its preoccupation
With the daunting problems facing me.
Pulling apt words out of nothing
To form into efficient lines on
Crisp blank paper is a worthy task
Requiring difficult effort which
Ultimately brings refreshing satisfaction.
One expects great care
Dealing with professionals,
Sadly mistaken.
Diligence lacking
Most tasks are carelessly done,
Mistakes often made.
Such outrageous costs
For inferior service,
Must still fully pay.
The price quite absurd,
Total incompetence rules
Our society.
© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
After the awful storms were over,
The terrible devastation complete,
Little was left unscathed, intact.
Many were lost to the storms’ treachery,
For those copious tears continually fall
And survivors will always be left to grieve.
Those graciously spared said grateful prayers
Just fervently thankful to still be there
To hold close a loved one so very dear.
Even though their homes were gone,
They stood up proud and strong
Determined to continue, carry on.
They fought to put their lives back
In some semblance of together
And others came to lend them aid.
So many brave, battered souls
Lifted up by millions of prayers,
God be with them, always there.
© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Chronicles 