Lady Cady

Faith * Family * Life

Life

When the Light Breaks Free

Growing up in the deserts of Southern Utah/Southern Arizona like I did, I have come to appreciate the rain as only you can when everyone is always “prayin’ for rain”. Living in the PNW like I do now, I’ve come to appreciate the sunny days as well. There’s nothing quite like a sunny day after a long stretch of Grey. ❤

I turn my face up to the sun.
Soak in each droplet one by one.
Let the warmth wash over me –
Grateful that the light broke free
From its clouded prison gates
To shine on us – appreciate.
To warm not just our simple faces
But our souls in deeper places.
That beg for light to set us free.
That hope for dark to hide and flee.
To give us strength to face the day
Because tomorrow may again be grey.
But from the simple drops of light
We’ll again have strength to face the fight.
And so, I turn my face again
Up to the sun – let it soak in.
Let the warmth wash over me
Grateful that the light broke free.

God Was Still There Listening

I once heard someone criticize how others prayed. I was a bit taken aback and didn’t quite know how to respond. It got me thinking – does Heavenly Father only listen to our prayers if we pray in some specific way? Is he angry with us if we don’t do it that way? I certainly hope not! Confession: Some days my arms are folded. Somedays I’m peaking at my kids. (Mom Life.) Somedays it’s a quick thing in my head. (Mom Life.) And somedays I end up asleep before I say amen. (Again, Mom Life.) I finally decided that what I knew all along was still the right answer: the most important factor isn’t some outward sign we are faithful but rather where our Heart is and so I will keep praying with faith for I know that no matter, God is still there listening.

I said a little prayer last night,
I said it in my head.
A prayer I said so quietly
Only God heard what I said.
But that didn’t make it any less
Then if I’d prayed out loud,
Or standing at a microphone
In front of a large crowd.
For God was still there listening
As we talked – the two of us –
Even though it wasn’t grand
Or said with lots of fuss.
God listened to me patiently
And heard each word I said.
Even though I said them quietly
And only in my head.
For God’s love is always perfect
And He cares more ’bout our heart –
That it’s always kind and humble,
And with Him from the start.
So, every time I have a need
Or just want to tell a friend.
I know that God’s there listening
Until my prayer does end.
And so, I always take the time
No matter where the place,
To tell Him all the things I need
Or ask for love and grace.
It just may be a prayer so quiet
That it’ll only be in my head
But one I know will still be heard
For God will always care about what I said.

Time with Quiet

As an adult I have come to greatly value a little quiet time. I take it as often as I can get it – especially as an introvert and a mom! So many wonderful insights. So many wonderful calming thoughts. And yes, so many wonderful poems come my way when I embrace a little quiet time. 🙂

I like to let the quiet in –
To wrap its arms ’round me.
Then sit with just the two of us
So, my thoughts come easily.
To let it whisper to me now,
The things I need to hear.
To let it whisper to me how
Those things I need not fear.
And tiny thought by tiny thought
I gain new insight too.
As tiny thought by tiny thought
Leads me then to what to do.
Problems that seemed big before –
Now I see the way.
Outdated thoughts I used to have –
Replaced with a better way.
And when distractions come along
To fight the quiet here,
I send them back to where they were,
Back with noise and fear.
For we are good – just quiet and me –
As we spend some time alone.
For there’s many things that we must get
Together on our own.

Big Holes

Have you ever missed anyone you care about? It can be rough! Sometimes we miss people that have only gone away for a short time and other times we miss people we won’t see again until we too pass through to the other side. No matter how long or short the absence, know you’re not alone with the holes in your heart.

Sometimes it’s for the day.
Sometimes it’s for a night.
Sometimes it’s for a lifetime
Until they’re back into our sight.

Sometimes it’s one who’s been a friend
For years out of our life.
Other times it’s family –
Like a husband or a wife.

Sometimes it is a parent
Who taught us how to love.
Or sometimes just a sibling
(Who on occasion, we have shoved.)

Perhaps it is a child who
Has gone and moved away.
Perhaps a child we just met
But we miss them anyway.

Sometimes there are some phone calls.
Sometimes a note or two.
But sometimes we are simply left
Alone and feeling blue.

To someone on the outside
It’s hard to share oh just how much
We miss them and we long for
Their love and tender touch.

That just beneath the surface,
Where tenderness tends to be,
Is the place where our Big Holes are
That others just can’t see.

Big Holes that are created
When we have to say Goodbye.
For maybe just a short time
Or until the Other Side.

Big Holes because they left us –
They took some Heart and left.
They probably didn’t know it –
They were committing a Grand Theft.

You sometimes might not know it
But we often think of them
And that our time together
Was such a priceless gem.

Often, we may wonder
If they ever think of us.
Or if they are too busy
As we learn to readjust.

Often it is our hope that
When we again see one another,
The joy that we do then feel
Will be unlike any other.

Those Big Holes will all be filled in,
And our hearts again complete,
Whether at our favorite Lunch Spot
Or with them in a Heaven’s Seat.

So, if you have Big Holes now
That are lingering in your heart,
Know that you are not alone
Even though you are apart.

Others have Big Holes too.
And your loves ones think of you.
Someday those Holes will all fill in
Because your loved ones still miss you.

Playtime Adventures

Isn’t playing outside so much fun? I have fond memories of playing at the park or my own backyard when I was a kid. My kids all sure love it too. I love the wonder and excitement on their faces when they are pushed on the swings, ride their bikes or even just play in the dirt. And while I’m sure they are happy to play whether I’m there or not, I’m glad they let me tag along on the adventure sometimes. 🙂

Higher and higher I like to swing –
Higher and higher still,
Till my little nose touches the sun
And my feet, the clouds do feel.

Then when I’m done swinging so high,
Up in the air so high,
I climb to the top of the big plastic slide
Where the way down feels like I can fly.

Then off to the dirt I like to race,
Where I drive my trucks on the ground,
In the dirt around and around
Till I find treasure that’s never been found.

The treasure then goes to my beautiful mother,
Who guards it with all of her love,
I eat a quick snack then race off again
To swing with the clouds above.

Before too long, it’s time to go in
But I had so much fun while I played.
In all the time I spent outside
Never, not once would I trade.

Book Recommendation – McBroom

I am a fan of funny books. I am really a fan of funny books that are appealing to the whole family. I came across these little books a few years ago and I read them to my kids. I had never heard of them before but once I started reading them, I was glad we had added them to our little home library! We laughed and laughed the whole time we read them. We would quote lines from them to each other at random times and laugh some more. The best part is they still pop up everywhere around our house because my kids still think they are funny and read them. I found one the other day that my daughter had been reading (again), so I thought I’d share here since we think they are that good around our house. 🙂

The books are called McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre Farm and Here Comes McBroom by Sid Fleishman. These are short, tiny little books (63 and 79 pages) so they aren’t going to be a big time commitment if you decided to read them in your family as well. If you would like your kids to read them on their own, the back of the book says the age level is 7 or 8 and up. (Just know you are missing out on the fun if you do that.) The back of the book also says they are a 2nd grade reading level. Who decided that? I don’t’ know. Is it true? I don’t know. I finished 2nd grade a few years ago and I still read and enjoyed them. Also, I think my daughter was 6 when I read them to her, and she loved them. Which is why she still pulls them out and reads them at 10.

Both books have three short Tall Tales about Josh McBroom and his family. What I do know is be sure and start with McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre Farm. This book tells the tale of how Josh McBroom and his family end up with a farm of eighty acres stacked on top of each other. Ah, you’re curious now aren’t you! Here Comes McBroom is equally as funny as McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre Farm. You probably could read it first if you really wanted to, but it might make more sense if you read it second. Here is the description on the back of the book and bookstores near you (such as Amazon) if you want to find out more.

When Josh McBroom learns that the eighty acres of Iowa farmland he’s purchased are all stacked up on top of each other at the bottom of a muddy little pond, he thinks he’s been bamboozled. But McBroom knows he’s got the better of the bargain when the pond dries up to reveal an acre of soil so rich that seeds spring up into full-grown plants in no time and even nickels grow into quarters.

Nickles grow into quarters? Uh Huh. But you have to read the books yourself to find out more. Bonus, your kids will enjoy the books even more the more animated you are as you read them. (Lingering habit of mine from my professional teaching days…)

If you are looking for some funny books that your whole family just might enjoy, check these out!

Happy reading!