Quiet Moments

My Quiet Heart

In the quietness of my heart I listen to every movement I make, I was alone in a dark room. I discover every fear neatly tucked away and then I asked Jesus for the Faith to overcome my fears.

I search my soul and my heart is no longer heavy. It is as if my eyes open into the meadows and woodlands of my mind. It is peaceful; Christ light shines into every dark and hidden space exposing the roots of those majestic trees.

God provides hallowed spaces for the smallest of creatures and shelters me in his love. In His embrace they rejoice and I am moved in the midst of their gentle sway. Those quiet places are in the stillness of my heart when I bow to pray.

I confess Jesus is my Lord. In God’s will I have nothing to fear for I am not alone. The Holy Spirit comforts me and soothes my emotions with His very presence. Such healing in the balm of God’s Grace and Love for me…I bask in His awesome presence.

My life is well seasoned with joy and sorrows. There is truly a difference between being “Alive” and simply living. God shows His desire for me even in my old nature. I love to watch the wildlife of nature and walk along the babbling brooks.

No longer driven by harden desires and wild boasting. I would love to see the face of Jesus as I sing and dance before Him; words of Praise and Worship. I come as a child eager to learn from His Word and walk in the Spirit of Holiness.

In these quiet places God cleanses me from every sin. He has forgiven me and purchased me by His Blood on the Cross. He fills my heart with love where there was once bitterness and hate...with Peace when I struggled with anger and joyful music when I had no song. I was empty lost and alone in the darkness then Jesus came and filled that place.

“Spring’s Wake-up Call”

Early in the morning on the first day of spring my husband and I were awakened by a strange noise.

“Someone is knocking on our door!” I whispered to my husband as I nudged him out of bed with my feet.

Minutes later he returned and crawled back into bed, “There isn’t anyone at the door. Go back to sleep!”

“Ah ha!” We both sat up. “I heard it again.” This time he heard it too. It was sort of a tapping knock. We got up to check if the wind was blowing branches against the house or a gutter had broken. The morning was briskly cold but still and silent. Nothing was moving inside or outside of the house that we could see.

“Knock, Knock!” again there was a pause. “Knock-knock-knock!”

We searched the house. It seemed to be coming from the vent above our stove. Could it be a mouse or cat? We pondered and searched. My husband ran outside to check on the roof, and then quickly fetched me at the discovery of the culprit. A tiny woodpecker was using our stove vent for his mating call.

It has become a ritual every spring. This year he used the street lamp in our cul-de-sac for his post. It was so loud the neighbors came out to check on the love taps and we all had a good laugh.

A

It was a quiet night lit by a full moon. I looked at the clock and it was 3:00am. I always have trouble falling asleep when the moon is full. After a round of tossing and turning I got up for a drink of water.

I heard a dog barking outside and a soft whimpering sound. When I looked through the window blinds I saw a small white dog running from house to house in our cul-de-sac.

“She’s in trouble,” I said to myself as I ran to wake up my husband. “She’s trying to wake someone up.”

“Well she’s doing a good job of it,” my husband said as he turned over with the covers across his head.

“No, really, I think she needs help, get up with me!”

He groaned while I grabbed my robe and ran down the stairs. I’ll admit I wanted to find out what she was up to more than anything.

When I opened the front door a little white puppy looked up at me with big black dreamy eyes, wagging his tail and whimpering. I could see the mother across the street at my neighbor’s house.

She dropped off another puppy at their doorstep while four more siblings followed in the street. She barked as if to tell the puppies to stay put – and they did as their mom commanded.

Then she grabbed another in her jaws, right on the back of their neck, and ran to the next house. What a sight. My husband joined me as we watched to see where her last stop would be.

We followed her home and sure enough a large hole was under the fence, just big enough for her to crawl through. Some of the puppies wandered back into the street.

I knocked on the door of the dog’s owner, “Hey, your puppies are out and running away. I think their mom is trying to find them new homes. We’ll help you round them up!”

My husband and I ran from door to door and collected the puppies. One-by-one we pushed them back under the fence into their yard… eight in all.

We helped them repair the fence as the mother growled at us – we sabotaged her plans.

That’s what puzzles me…

Sandy, our Boxer, didn’t greet me at the door like she usually does. My arms were burdened with groceries but I managed to kick and push my way through the entry, the door was unlocked. I remember locking it before I left to pick up the children. I thought I saw something or someone running through the back entry. The children ran upstairs to change their clothes for the baseball game as we came home from school.

I cautiously walked into the kitchen and called out to see if someone was there. No one answered and there was no evidence of Sandy being in the laundry room or backyard. As I set the groceries on the counter I noticed the TV was on and a box of cereal was spilled over the counter. Fruit loops were scattered all over the floor. As I picked up the mess and pushed the box toward the wall I heard the side gate slam shut. Our dog raced up the stairway to check on the children. I opened the door to the garage but found no one. Surely, I thought, I would have caught someone running from the side gate if I went through the garage. The backyard was fenced off and I saw no one there. I was curious why the dog suddenly ran upstairs, distracting me.

Traces of mud seemed to backtrack to the front door near the stairs. I opened the door but there wasn’t anything curious. Then I noticed the muddy spots up the stairs and my heart was beating so strong I could hardly catch my breath. I ran up the stairs and checked out every room. The children were playing games on the computer—their clothes set out and shoes stung out on their beds. Nothing was really out of the norm except the dog anxiously ran back downstairs as quickly as she had run up the stairs. Something is wrong, I thought, does she see a ghost?

Slowly I walked downstairs when I heard a crashing noise in the kitchen. That’s what puzzled me; the box of cereal was no longer on the counter and the dog had disappeared. Then I heard a thump from the doggie-door. “Sandy?” I called but there was no answer, not a sound. I ran out the back door to try and catch the culprit. “Ah ha!” Sandy our Boxer lay protectively over a freshly dug hole in our beautiful new lawn. “Oh bad dog!” I pointed my finger at her but then I burst out laughing.

She just looked up at me with those big brown puppy eyes and whimpered. I could tell she didn’t have enough time to bury her treasure; she had guilt written all over her face. There it was, one large box of Fruit-loops, half buried in mud with her body and paws trying desperately to cover the evidence.

Oregon Is Beautiful

A sting of little cafes, bakeries and culinary delights invite you to stop, relax and read a book or meet new friends.

Rivers flowing with fish and wildlife and snow capped Mountains full of new adventure.

There is rafting down the rivers and camping under moonlit nights. I We enjoy berry picking along the banks

and rays of Sun shining on wooden paths. I love the Season changing year to year; it is a celebration.

It is warm and cozy during theWinter sitting by my window in front of a warm fireplace. I get giddy over those first seen

snowflakes. The cedars and pines stretch high toward billowed clouds.

Nature Dresses for the winter cold as if going to an enchanted ball where children dance upon the streets with joyful

songs of laughter. Shopping is so festive with every store light glistening. Ice forms crystals in the fog like magic.

by Lennie Jo Barnes

Sally Kicks

Lighting struck and it began to hail. Strong winds blew the icy balls against the barn. Limbs from the trees cracked, falling on the roof. I was working on my computer when the power went off. It became pitch black in the little room I set up a few month’s ago. The scent of hay and the cows became stronger. I could hear Sally pace and mown behind the wall next to me. She was about to give birth.

I had set up a cot in case I needed a nap but I was too keyed up to sleep, so I grabbed the flashlight off my desk and lit the oil lamp. My watch showed 3 am. I threw a blanket in the corner of Sally’s stall in case she needed my help. She was going into labor so I called my sister on the cell phone. Joan, my sister, is a vet and we agreed when the time came for Sally to delivery she would come over to help.

“Hi Joan, it’s time. How soon can you get here?”

“I can’t. A tree blew down on top of my garage and the car is totaled.”

“But Sally is in labor! What should I do? I never helped to deliver a calf before.”

“Just time her contractions and wait for her water to burst. I’ll call Doc Williams but it may take awhile. Hang in their Sis!”

I was beside myself in fear. Just then I heard something outside. I heard pawing and panting at the barn door. Quickly I grabbed my shotgun hanging near the entrance and looked through the crack in the wall. When lighting struck again I could see a pack of dogs running from the woods. One in particular looked at me with evil eyes and drooling. Sally let out a cry but I knew I had to protect her from these savages.

It hailed harder and part of the roof gave way. Slowly I aimed my rifle through the hole in the wall. Just as the mangy mutt made a leap for the door I shot. “BAMM!” The shot echoed into the woods. He howled and whimpered off, the pack followed him. Perhaps the hailstorm was more than the wolves could take.

Joan called to let me know Doc was on his way. Sally’s water broke and I could see the calf’s legs. “Sis, S-Sally’s calf is breach and she is trying to lie down.”

“Keep her standing. Doc should be there soon, that is if he can find the dirt road to your place. You may have to deliver this calf yourself… Sorry I can’t be there for you.”

I walked into Sally’s stall and tripped on a bucket. “Well, Sally if you don’t kick the bucket tonight I think I will.” I began to laugh nervously and sat down in a corner holding a rope around Sally’s neck, encouraging her to keep standing. Waiting for something to happen…someone to help.