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
This has been a productive day. I have drawn and painted a picture, created a song, taken some photographs, and written a journal entry. I have also finished up the week’s Bible study with my Mom.
First, the picture I finished early this morning before going to bed:
The song I created while walking with Hope and my handwritten journal entry for today:
The photographs I took today:
A different angle on the Radio Flyer. This image haunts me.
Hope sniffing…
Hope hurrying toward me with her tongue licking her nose.
Wood and rocks with Radio Flyer in the background.
Hope in profile.
Hope relaxing after our walk.
As I work toward doing something creative every day it seems to get easier and feel more rewarding. I encourage anyone who is contemplating doing one of these projects to go for it. It stretches your abilities and gives you practice to help you move forward with your artistic pursuits. My only regret is that I did not begin earlier.
I hope you are following along and will continue with me on this adventure. Your input is priceless to me. If something touches you, or amuses you, please let me know. Even if you have a negative comment I am interested in hearing what you have to say. This is a journey on which I hope to improve my skills, so all opinions are welcome.
I hope you are having a wonderful day and that you are inspired to do something creative.
Always,
Jo Ann
I am very excited about this project and so far that is providing motivation to continue. I only hope that I can sustain the willingness to do the work over time. I want to share a picture of my work area with you all. That way you will know where at least a portion of the work I do is accomplished.
Not the most organized space, but it works for me. The computer you see to left has now primarily become for my Mom to use to play games and enjoy. We share the space very well and she likes having me near her.
I wrote the following poem in the wee hours of this morning. It is an unedited first draft:
I have to share a picture of my puppy dog, Hope. She is my sweet companion and loving friend.
Here is a little whimsy I came up with today in response to one of my friend’s works:
Life is just the story we tell ourselves. Truth is the perception we retain of what goes on around and within us. The observer, so they have proven in science, has an effect on the outcome of any situation by virtue of simple presence. So we are creative actors in all we witness.
I thought that quite clever, like some of my 140 character postings to Twitter. What astonishes me is how one person’s creative work can provoke creativity in another person. My contact with others through the internet helps inspire me. It is so wonderful that those of us who would otherwise live quietly isolated lives can communicate with people worldwide by simply using connected devices. I am so glad that I have this ability.
I usually do my creative work during the late hours of the night into the early morning, but am hoping to accomplish some of this project during daytime.
That is all I have currently. I wish all of you a fantastic day filled with productivity.
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
Regret to Victory
She called misfortune by writing
Her rancor out in a card for one
Who constant mistreated her love.
When he learned of her forbidden act
He turned cold, distant, and promptly
Cast her out from her home beside him.
She felt betrayed by life and chose
A bottle of lethally strong medication
To end the pain of living again alone.
Her child intervened and called
Unwanted help to save her from
The certain clutches of devouring death.
They took her away to the locked ward
Where bewildered people wander
Lost in thought separate from the world.
She recovered a modicum of herself,
But found her belongings scattered
Outdoors for scavengers to plunder.
She lost much that was irreplaceable
But she survived to raise her child
To the very pinnacle of manhood.
That brave boy became exemplary
Cheating death over and again
A United States Marine.
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
My psychiatrist says I must now
See him every three months
So he can vigilantly observe me
Because I came nearly apart again.
The stress to which I am currently subjected
Is somewhat beyond my ordinary safety limit.
I worry about Mom obsessively and constantly,
I cannot distance myself from her plight.
I have full responsibility for care of Mom
And everything else, which is maintained here.
There is no one stepping in to render aid,
It is do-it-myself or leave it completely undone.
I am capable, and can perform most tasks
As long as no one looks too closely or asks,
“How are you doing?” I answer, “Very well.”
I will not let down my habitual trusted mask.
Underneath the well-worn façade I realize
There are cracks in my courage, my resolve,
I barely hold on to my placid existence:
I live in total abject horror of Mom’s passing.
My friends who pay close attention may
Have some awareness of my fragility,
But my family does not recognize
How very desperate I sometimes am.
I must toughen up and stand firm
For the situation will not get better
Mom’s deterioration is hastening along,
I promised to care for her, and I will.
© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Many days I have spent in deep despair
Because the love I wanted was not there
Within the heart of him I desired, so dear.
Many days I have tried to please
Someone or other who only teased
With words and actions at their ease.
Many days I have gone to great length
To show my character possesses strength
With little success, or so others might think.
Many days I have spent wandering inside
The creations of writer’s minds outside
The reality where I must truly reside.
Many days I have tried to inspire
Myself or someone else to enquire
Into the depths of creativity’s empire.
Many days I have gone beyond myself
Trying to help another achieve for themselves
What I could not seem to do by myself.
Many days and countless hours, I have spent
Hoping that I might somehow repent
For wasted time that others may resent.
Many days I have tried to finally accomplish
Some worthy work to fulfill my lifelong wish
To do something perfectly and actually finish.
Many days I have gone alone to bed
With silly dreams of victory in my head
For deeds undone and words left unsaid.
© Jo Ann J.A. Jordan
Monday, May 23, 2011
Chronicles 