Lady Cady

Faith * Family * Life

Life

Take Heart

Ever have one of Those Days? Or maybe a whole week or month or year – it’s one thing after another? It’s so easy to get discouraged, isn’t it! (Please tell me it’s not just me!) Sometimes when we are deep in the struggle, we just need a little reminder to hold on tight, to keep fighting and not give up. Because in the end, it will all be worth it.

When life doesn’t go your way
How do you smile, what do you say?
Is there sun to dry the rain?
Is there hope to heal the pain?
Where do you turn to heal your burns?
Will life always seem so stern?
What will you do if “today”
Will always be a “different way”?
Through the fog, do you see the light?
Do you need to borrow, to use His Sight?
This life is trying to build your soul,
Enhance your beauty, your self control.
So don’t let despair fill your heart
For God’s just given you a big head start.
He wants you back within arms reach
And Hard Times are the best way to teach.
Take a breath and get back in the fight.
Hold your head up, shine your light.
For today will soon be a moment past.
So cling to the important things that last.
And though today didn’t go your way,
Take heart – you’re the Master Potter’s clay.

The Power of a Book

I have confession to make: I love books. I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t love books actually, so I guess I’m a bit biased! This humble confession sums up quite nicely my own attitude. 🙂 With that being said, I do think that knowledge and study of the best books out there really does bless our lives.

When I open up a book –
Turn the page and have a look –
I soon forget about my cares,
The laundry sitting on the stairs,
The dishes in the kitchen sink,
What my nosy neighbors think.
And I’m whisked to some new place
And learning how to act with grace.
Or fight with the courage of
Heroes and the Lord above.
Learning how to be more kind.
Help others who are in a bind.
All about the deep blue sea
And creatures on the earth with me.
How to make a lovely meal
Or how to teach a dog to heel.
And when it’s time to close that book –
Lift my eyes and take a look –
Before I go back to my day
I take a moment just to pray,
And thank the Lord for knowledge more
Then I had just before.
That blesses me in many ways
And helps me out on all my days.
That helps me be much more like Him
Who lived his life without a sin.
Have you learned the value of
Knowledge from the Lord above?
Or how much exactly you are blessed
When you take the time to learn the best
From a simple book each day –
Take the time to study and pray.
Before you know it, Life’s complete
And then in Heaven you take your seat.
Won’t you be surprised to see
How much like God you’ve come to be,
In your knowledge and in your heart
And so much of it in part
Because you opened up a book –
Turned the page and had a look.

Perspective

It’s another Fall day around these parts. How do you feel about this time of year? It can be wonderful. It can be hard! (Like when you live in the Pacific Northwest like we do and it is day after day of dark and grey…) Thankfully it’s not forever! On the rough days, sometimes it’s hard to not let the Hard get you down though, right? I’ve learned that pausing and taking a few moments of gratitude for what I do have definitely helps. And sometimes taking it a little further and having a change in perspective goes a long way too. Like thinking “Where would I be if my life was different?”
Then maybe sneaking to the pantry for a quick bite of chocolate. 😉

Where would I be right now
If all my blessings disappeared somehow?
Would my heart be soft as stone?
Would my body be old cold bones?
Would this child upon my knee
Disappear and cease to be?
Would my pantry be filled with dust?
While suddenly I ceased to trust?
Would friends I’ve made along the way
Disappear just like the day?
Would the sky be always grey?
Or would all the rain just go away?
Would sweet music that fills my ears
Become unbearable or hard to hear?
Would that car parked in the drive
Turn to rust – no longer drive?
Would this peace and safety that I feel
Turn to turmoil and missed meals?
Would the warmth of this soft bed
Turn to ice and cold instead?
Would the peace and safety all around
Turn to something that can’t be found?
Would all the knowledge that I’ve gained
Disappear without a stain?
Would the clothes that warm my back
Turn to rough and worn out sacks?
Would all the beauty on this Earth
Disappear, replaced by dearth?
Would the smiles on children’s faces
Only be found in a few rare cases?
Oh, when I think upon these things
I see God’s love and my heart sings!
Then I humbly bow my head
And offer thanks for the aforesaid.
For no matter how hard the day,
When I choose to follow in his way,
The only place to find relief –
I am blessed beyond belief.
I also know without a doubt
If I walk away there may come drought.
For all these blessings come from God
And not some fancy, fake façade.
So next time that you’re feeling down
Halt those thoughts and turn around.
For God’s love is all year round
And our blessings so profound
That if we only choose to see
We’ll know exactly How to Be.
And if in the Light, we walk His way
We’ll be more than merely blessed each day.

Today I Made a Friend

I have been lucky to have met some incredibly wonderful/nice people in my life. Some, sadly I’ve lost touch with. Several live far away now but I still talk to them when I get a chance. Others live close enough I get to see them when time allows but not nearly often enough because, well, life, right? No matter where friends I’ve had along the way are now, I forever cherish their kindness to me and look fondly back on memories we’ve shared. (Like this beautiful cake from Sweet Sarah. She’s amazing y’all!) Good friends are harder to find as life gets busier and busier because we just don’t always have the time to get to know people like we wish we could but when you do find them, they are priceless in this crazy world. Wherever your friends may be right now, reach out and say hi and let them know you appreciate them. You can even send them a link to this poem and say “Hey! I was thinking of you! Thanks for being awesome.” if that makes it easier. 😉

Today I found a priceless gem
While going through my day.
This priceless gem I would have missed
If I’d been hurrying on my way.

But instead I took the time
To look for good in everyone I met
And soon I found a priceless gift
I won’t ever soon forget.

This priceless gem I found today
Was nice and kind to me.
This priceless gem is always good
And helps others just for free.

This priceless gem does listen
To what others have to say.
And does their best to serve the Lord
And love whatever – come what may.

This priceless gem is always willing
To do service with a smile.
This priceless gem is always willing
To serve that extra mile.

This priceless gem may not be shiny
Like the rubies that you hold.
This priceless gem does not cost money
Like your silver and your gold.

This priceless gift I hope to have
Until my life does end.
This priceless gift made my day –
For today I made a friend.

A Homecooked Meal

My mom passed away when I was a teenager. I will forever and always be a big mama’s girl, so as you can imagine it was one of the hardest experiences I’ve ever had to endure. In addition to so many other wondaful things she was good at, she was a fabulous cook. In the first few days, and weeks after she died I was in shock and survival mode. When I started coming out of it, I remember watching my dad heat up a can of beans in the microwave, then serve it to us in it’s can/cylinder shape in a bowl – something my mom never would have done! (My parents were divorced and we didn’t even have a microwave). I still vividly remember the sadness I felt in that moment realizing that I would never again eat my mom’s homecooked food. I’ve had many delicious meals since then but none quite like how she made things. Now as a mom myself, I can attest to how hard meals can be and how much I’d love to just never cook again some nights! But I also will be the first to testify how special that time as a family can be. So keep it up! That special family time will always be worth it.

Oh, the blessing of a homecooked meal!
How good that food can make you feel.
Bring comfort to the anguished soul
With just a single, simple bowl.
Bring courage to the travel worn
And healing to a heart that’s torn.
A smile to so many faces.
Happiness in so many places.
Bring back the soul that once was lost –
No matter how humble or grand the cost.
So don’t worry about how long it took
Or worry about how perfect it looks.
Serve it up with your smile and love.
It’s something that you can be proud of.
You never know the memories you’ll make
When you all sit down and all partake.
You never know how good you’ll feel
When enjoying the blessings of a homecooked meal.

The Terrific Two’s

Do you have any little kids in your home? We have a couple of little people who live in our house right now. One is on the count down to his third birthday, which makes me sad. I love them all so much!! With that I’d love to tell you all it’s been sunshine and daisies all year, but… That little two year old boy has definitely kept us on our toes! Somedays it’s hard to not pull all my hair out when I find, you know, paint all over the place hypothetically speaking, but I also have learned to find the humor in those moments, (Eat some chocolate…), love him even more, and move on because really, it is a wonderful time in life.

Some call these years the Terrible Two’s
But I know that’s simply just not true.
For what other time can you
Paint so many things all blue.
Or simply throw food on the floor
Because you just don’t want anymore.
Or take a blissful afternoon nap,
Wake up and unroll Mom’s plastic wrap.
Get treats for successfully going potty!
And simply smile when you are naughty.
Put each shoe on the wrong foot
Then kick them off and go barefoot.
Give the cats and dog a ride
Then carry the chickens and put them inside.
Draw a picture on you face
And on the wall – just in case…
Be pushed and pushed, on a swing so high
Then slide on your tummy down a big tall slide.
Be caught up in the wonder of
Bugs and slugs and planes above.
Then there’s reading your favorite book –
And making everyone take a look.
Eating cookies behind Dad’s chair
And getting food stuck in your hair.
Getting rides on Dad’s tall shoulders
And climbing up on big tall boulders.
Snuggling up with Mom and Dad
Because of a bad dream you had.
Watching a movie when you feel sick
Then from the popsicles – getting your pick.
Happily playing in the dirt
Getting kisses when you get hurt.
Carrying your blanket all around
Or playing the game “Don’t make a sound!”
Playing with toys in a big bubble bath.
Making your family laugh and laugh.
There’s so many fun things to do
When you are little, when you are two.
If you’re blessed with someone this age
Remember the hard things – they’re just a stage.
This little person won’t always be two
So cheer them on for all they can do
And never forget how much they love you.