Childlike Memories

(Illustration to the Russian fairy-tale

'Go There You do not Know Where, Bring That You do not Know What')

I am sitting on my bed, listening to the sound of night creatures singing and the neighbors' far off whispers as they sit around a bonfire. The country air sways my curtain back and forth in tune to a secret song. The gentle breeze brings fond memories of "Cousin Nahum" and commando games in the dark. The memories stealthy gather from the corners of my mind and promptly assembly in a warm cheery circle, just waiting to be told.

Ah, yes, memories are social creatures, story tellers who imagine themselves sages. Who knows, perhaps they are? Like us all, there are bad memories and good memories. Tonight, mine are good, warm, and fond.

In their bright circle, they sit warming up, smiling. Ah, memories what funny creatures you are! But they don't see me watching, and good thing too, they would scatter. No, you have to catch a memory unawares if you want to see a story. I am waiting.

'Cousin Nahum' rises to his invisible feet. Well, come to mention it, Cousin Nahum is completely invisible. The Russian folk tales say that a Czar sent Ivan to "I don't know where" to bring back an "I do not know what", if Ivan was successful, he could marry the beautiful Vanessa. Ivan brought back Cousin Nahum, who was an invisible-wish-granting "I do not know what".

We loved that story. Cousin Nahum could grant any wish. In the story, when Ivan said, "Cousin Nahum, open the door!" the door would open of its own accord. We lamented that Russians had all the fun with their Cousin Nahum's and their adventures. If only we had a Cousin Nahum!

One day, I realized the cross-breeze made my bedroom door swing back and forth. The wind was so timely, that the door would open on the count of four everytime. Elated, I counted to 2 and said "Cousin Nahum, open the door!" The door opened -- opened by the cross breeze blowing it open.

Now, we had a "I do not know what" from "I do not know where" just like in the story. We had great fun playing jokes on our friends in the future. So, today, the cross breeze was gently swinging the door. "Cousin Nahum--" the door opened. I smiled, "Its good to have you back." What grand adventures can be found in childlike memories.

Ps 27 - When

Oh, I love Psalm 27! My Sunday School teacher made me memorize it when I was about 12. I no longer know all of it in sequence, but the verses do pop into my head at random intervals. I really should be more diligent about having my s.s. class memorize verses. I could write out the whole chapter... but I think I'll just post the verses in my head at the moment...

The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

the LORD is the strength of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

... in this will I be confident...

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me...

he shall set me up upon a rock...

Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice:

have mercy also upon me, and answer me....

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face;

my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

When my father and my mother forsake me,

then the LORD will take me up.

Teach me thy way, O LORD,

and lead me in a plain path...

Perhaps, we have not been shown a plain path, because we have not asked for one?

If you get a chance, count the number of "whens" in this chapter and the occasions for them.

It's rather interesting.

God's Time

I know not everything in this song is doctrinally sound... ie. growing angel wings? ....

but it came on the radio on the way home from work and I thought it was kind of neat.

I had never heard it before, but it reminded me that waiting for God's timing is always inmportant.

***

Lyrics

In God's time
A million years might only be a single day
And everything He does gets done His own way
In God's time

And in God's time
You'll find that certain someone you've been praying for
And they'll be everything you dreamed of and a little more
In God's time

Oh, but no one knows
Not you or me
It might be tomorrow or it might never be
Oh, but don't lose faith
Put it in His hands
'Cause it might be that He might have a bigger plan
Than you had in mind
[ Find more Lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.org/GTKp ]
Miracles happen
In God's time

And in God's time
You'll finally get the chance to hold your baby girl
And all the sudden everything'll make sense in this crazy world
In God's time

Oh, but no one knows
Not you or me
It might be tomorrow or it might never be
Oh, but don't lose faith
Put it in His hands
'Cause it might be that He might have a bigger plan
Than you had in mind
Miracles happen
In God's time

And In God's time
You go to sleep and wake up with wings and learn to fly
And you finally meet your loved ones on the other side
In God's time

If you can Keep your Head...

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

~ RK

For this past week, I have had an awful headache. Thankfully, I am not given to many headaches, but after this week, I'll empathize with those who are! Mostly, I staved it off with advil while at work and slept when home. Well, today the head cold finally caught up with me (explains the week of headache). agh.

So, anyway, as happens when I am sick -- I dream. Yiyiyi. Most of you were probably in my dreams this week! Some of you were. Haha, and don't ask, because you were probably all doing really-random-ridiculous things. Last night, I dreampt that I had a purple-pink hippo, yep a stuffed teddy-bear kind. It turned into a balloon and drifted away....... You get the picture. Pure nonsense.

All this nonsense caused me to think of this poem by Rudyard Kipling. IF. I've posted before on this poem -- I'll likely post again on it. It sort of applied to my week, the first two verses particularly. However, due to being sick and dreaming, my random silly thoughts got mixed in with it.

Thought I'd post my silly thoughts. Might be good for a laugh. (Just so you know, this peom is most likely my favorite poem-- just for the record this is not in mockery of the poem, but of me.)

R. Kipling's IF

Answered by Modern Remedy

If you can keep your head when all about you --(Advil, works great!)

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; -- (I'll just give them advil.)

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

-- (I just wouldn't trust myself after pink hippos...)

But make allowance for their doubting too;

-- (Doubtfully, my dear Thompson & Thomson, no doubt about it.)

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; --(The Horror, The horror)

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

--(Now, if I could just gather my thoughts together...)

If you can meet with triumph and disaster --(My relationship with my alarm clock.)

And treat those two imposters just the same; --(I wonder if success also fits into this category?)

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

--(I wonder what politicians think of this poem.)

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, --(Thud. A little cartoon fool trips on a rope.)

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, (Sigh.)

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

(I wonder what Noah's hammer looked like, if he had one?)

...

An Age Old Promise

~Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields;

for they are white already to harvest.~

~The Promise~

While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Gen 8:22

1st Photo Credit goes to Willow :) Thank you!