Poetry Sunday ~ My Country Tis of Thee...

Isa.24:5 “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.”

My Country, Tis of Thee…

My country tis of thee

No land of liberty

Of thee I plead.

Land where my father died

Land where all children cried

Where man will always burn inside

For once, let FREEDOM reign.

My country tis of thee

No peace I ever see

Of thee I bleed.

Land never filled with pride

Land with arms open wide

Where man cannot safely hide

Why is FREEDOM pain?

My country tis of thee

No truth will set me free

Of thee is greed.

Land lost to all that chide

Land where no man abide

Where loyalty is put aside

My FREEDOM’s slain!

My country tis of thee

I long to trust in thee

Of thee great seed.

Land where the ground has dried

Land where no fruit complied

Where others all deride

Let FREEDOM not be vain.

Hos. 4:7 “As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.”

July 4th - Independence Day

Fort McHenry - Baltimore, Maryland

Acts 22:28 “And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.”

We live in a world where every word is analyzed and every thought found to be offensive, offending at least one person in a group. I’m not perfect by any means, and I don’t know the terms that are politically correct these days so I’m sure I unintentionally offend someone somewhere at some time or another.

The other day I read a story about a Red Cross poster that offended one woman and she made a viral fit asking them to take down the offensive poster saying it was racist. They quickly apologized and took down the poster so they could continue their good work for people of all races.

Why do people feel entitled to make a statement that THEY are right and YOU are wrong? Why has the world been spinning lately to the sound of racism, sexual orientation, political correctness and almost mass hysteria when the God word is spoken?

I am a very sensitive person and when someone offends me I more than likely turn inward instead of unleashing cruelty on the offending person. I think to myself, they have to live with themselves on a daily basis and it must get awful lonely living a life looking to see what offends you in every second of the day.

People will say it is a freedom that soldiers died for but if these soldiers knew that this is what was going to be made of their country, would they do it again? Would they die so people had the freedom to be ignorant, self-serving, and greedy? Freedom of Speech I don’t feel was intended to be a freedom of being offended by everything someone speaks under the sun. 

Things that were intended to be ‘free’ are not free. Sure I have a roof over my head, but it’s not free, nor is the gas, electric, water and food. Did you know that in some states it is against the law to catch rainwater and use it to water your lawn? Rainwater - it falls freely from the sky, but the greed in the depths of pockets tries to control who and what you can use rainwater for! My brother owns his home and has to pay a ‘rainwater’ tax! 

While the Powers That Be claim they want God in the equation, there are those who are moving to take God OUT of the equation and rewrite the history that we’ve come to celebrate on this Independence Day - July 4th.

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th, 1776.  Can you imagine if these words were the truth of today?

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Endowed by their Creator. My how times have changed and the majority no longer believes in a Creator, or they believe in their own creator. We’ve lost sight of what this nation was built on and have become our own creators with our own rights. 

Freedom of Speech, I do not believe, meant that we could call people raving idiots because we feel like it. Right to Bear Arms – surely did not mean that we can shoot whomever we want and whoever didn’t agree with the world that WE created, we have a right to kill! What does the Declaration of Independence even mean these days? 

We say, God Bless America but what does that truly mean to each individual? We became free but enslaved the Negro. We freed the blacks and now enslave the refugee who seeks freedom for their families. We speak freedom but, in a nutshell, deny many the freedoms we speak of.

While we have cookouts, attend firework shows, and proudly fly our flag, do we remember or do we forget just what it is we’re celebrating? Do we stand behind our country and its leaders or do we flex our right of Freedom of Speech and denounce anyone who doesn’t fit our bill of standards that we’ve set for OURSELVES? Are we the people willing to run the country? Yes, we the people are willing to run the country…right into the ground so other countries can sit and laugh.

“One nation under God” should be “ONE WORLD UNDER GOD!” That would make me much prouder if we all just got along. 

Carrollton, Texas

Meditation

Ezek. 13:3 “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!”

Meditation is not some new aged practice; actually it has been around for thousands of years practiced by many different faiths including Christians around the world. As early as the book of Genesis (for you Christians) you can see that Isaac meditated. (Gen. 24:7)

Pss.1:2 “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

I’ve meditated for quite a few years now because it is one way I use to put my mind to rest. I remember seeing a meme recently that said something like 'for those who go right to bed and fall right to sleep, don’t you have thoughts?' Well my quick response was: yes, but I leave my thoughts outside the door so I CAN sleep. And I sleep peacefully for eight hours, thank you very much.

Meditate:
to engage in thought or contemplation; reflect.
to engage in transcendental meditation, devout religious contemplation, or quiescent spiritual introspection.

What helps me in my meditation is the fact that I carry good thoughts; an optimist if you will. I meditate on the Word and reflect the word in my actions. It is easier for me to love than to hate. When people say they can’t/won’t meditate I have to wonder, is their mind so full of hate that they don’t have good thoughts to think about?

I try my best to steer clear of those who love and hate at the same time. They show love on one side of the fence but on the other side they show so much hate and rage I wonder how they even sleep at night, or do they?

Some people may call me a snob but I am far from it; I am not better than anyone. Because I choose love over hate is a choice of mine and I only wish more people knew the benefits that result from living a life of love. Jesus taught us to love and how to love but people put their own spin on what they deem as love. Kind of makes me wonder what else they misinterpret.

When people say they are seeking a spiritual path I have to ask, what are you doing? Are you placing more love and good in your life that over rides all that hate that fills you on a daily basis? If the answer is no then you are seeking the wrong path. Your actions speak volumes as to the path you are headed down and I only wish a boulder wasn’t blocking your way to finding what you seek.

Pss. 63:6 “When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.”

Meditating in the night watches to me means when I lay my head down to rest at night, my thoughts are all on Him and a peaceful night of sleep follows as I rest in His words. Some people have no other thoughts than thoughts of this material world that keep their mind roaming and unfocused. Thoughts of bills, food and all that is wrong with the world will keep any sane man or woman awake at night. 

Following a spiritual path doesn’t mean that you try meditating once and give up when your weakness allows you to lose focus. Meditating has to become an hourly part of your day where you focus on good, light, love throughout the day so the positive thoughts can carry you through a restful nights sleep.

I’m not saying that when I get older I won’t develop insomnia of some sort but right now, I’m not older and meditation is what has gotten me to this point of peacefulness that washes over me and I carry with me throughout the days of my life. 

What, you don’t think I have problems, bills and things to take my mind in places I dare not let it go? You’re wrong. I have a world of problems that could consume my thoughts but I won’t let ANYTHING take my thoughts away from God. The world is going to hell in a handbag and there is not one thing negative that I can say that will change that. 

Am I supposed to be filled with anger and rage because of the status of the world? The status of religions? The killing and hatemongering that will continue to consume man until he falls into the pit of hellfire?

The only thing that can fight hate is LOVE. This is what Jesus was trying to show us. The world is going and we’re going with it unless we fight with LOVE. Jesus’ message was not to HATE but to LOVE.

You can put your theological spin on the matter just as well as I can. I am not naïve, I am a child of God and will declare love until my very last breath because THAT is what Jesus would do, and that is what Jesus DID!

You can ask any one of the spiritual people that you may know, whether of the Christian faith or any other faith, spirituality is all about LOVE. To be filled with hate is to demean spirituality. Man cannot serve God AND mammon. You must serve one and know the difference in the lines you CHOOSE to cross. (note: God IS Spirit.)

Don’t call yourself a spiritual seeker and seek out what you can hate on any given day. Don’t call yourself a Christian if it is two masters that you serve. Don’t wear a mask that you think people want to see, show them the real you. If you’re not willing to show the world the real you, then take a look in the mirror and see what you don’t like and work to change it for YOU. Then show the world the you that you can be sure of.

Pss. 119:48 “My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.”

Meditation will drive you down the path of spiritual awakening that you seek. If you can’t let go of the hate in your heart, you are not ready to be awakened to the spiritual side we were destined to be a part of.  Do the world a favor and stay asleep, which leaves more room for those who are awake to actually SEEK the righteous path.

1 Tim. 4:15 “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”

Quotation Saturday ~ Fourth of July!

Fort McHenry - Baltimore Maryland

Acts 22:28 “And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.”

FOURTH OF JULY

“The most elusive and ultimately impossible act of liberation is freedom from sin and self, and no document or declaration of man regardless of how exquisitely penned can do that. Such an astonishing act of liberation could only have been penned in one place: the cross.”
― Craig D. Lounsbrough

“Years ago, a group of good, wise, brave, God-fearing men stood up to claim and defend the human right for independence. Those men are now dead. Their work is not. But if good, wise, brave, God-fearing men fail to stand up in their stead, that independence will cease to exist.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich

“Freedom is the atmosphere in which humanity thrives. Breathe it in.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich

“To celebrate the Fourth of July meant something definite in those days.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink

Annapolis Maryland

PATRIOTISM

“They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. But in modern war, there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason.”
― Ernest Hemingway

“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”
― Theodore Roosevelt

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”
― Theodore Roosevelt

“Patriots always talk of dying for their country but never of killing for their country.”
― Bertrand Russell

Texas

FREEDOM

“Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.”
― Virginia Woolf

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.”
― Charlotte Brontë

“When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.”
― Nelson Mandela

“Some birds are not meant to be caged, that's all. Their feathers are too bright, their songs too sweet and wild. So you let them go, or when you open the cage to feed them they somehow fly out past you. And the part of you that knows it was wrong to imprison them in the first place rejoices, but still, the place where you live is that much more drab and empty for their departure.”
― Stephen King, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption: A Story from Different Seasons

Fort McHenry - Looking at the Francis Scott Key Bridge

INDEPENDENCE

“I'd rather die my way than live yours.”
― Lauren Oliver

“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.”
― Jane Austen

“To find yourself, think for yourself.”
― Socrates

“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice."
[Stanford University commencement speech, 2005]”
― Steve Jobs

Texas

CELEBRATION

“People of our time are losing the power of celebration. Instead of celebrating we seek to be amused or entertained. Celebration is an active state, an act of expressing reverence or appreciation. To be entertained is a passive state--it is to receive pleasure afforded by an amusing act or a spectacle.... Celebration is a confrontation, giving attention to the transcendent meaning of one's actions.
Source: The Wisdom of Heschel”
― Abraham Joshua Heschel

“Celebration is an act of impressing sadistic someone residing in you.”
― Santosh Kalwar

“Life is a celebration. Free your mind to find the liberation.”
― Debasish Mridha

“So much of life is in the smallness of moments...but they are harder to mark. So we need the grander celebrations and occasions. People like to feel significant”
― Ally Condie

Annapolis State House

Is Freedom Free?

Matt. 24: 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Is Freedom Free?

What is freedom? Our forefathers fought for our freedom; Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, etc. etc. But today we live in such a culturally diverse land, exactly which religion is free? We are being overrun with immigrants, and do they get to have the same freedom of THEIR religions or is it jut the Christians?

We have the Jewish who have practiced their religion in America freely, the Catholic’s have had a prominent roll in America, now we’re being bombarded with the Muslim religion and I just have to wonder, what religion is going to be stopped if we are to remain a FREE country? Did our forefathers mean ALL religions? Unfortunately they didn’t have a time machine and the ability to see into the future.

Sometimes I have a hard time loving my country. While some will blame ONE president and continue down a hate-filled non-Christian like path, others will blame the real culprit, the screwed up congress. While some, like myself just scratch my head in wonder. How did we become so messed up?

Eighteen members of the Republican Party have served as president for a total of 88 years, while only fifteen of the Democratic party served for a total of 85 years. Now while many many Americans BLAME the Democratic Party for everything from why they don’t own a home, to why they can’t find a better job, to why their mother is a practicing Atheist, are they really blaming ANY party or just their own misgivings and shortcomings?

People die on a regular basis and now days in America, everyone blames Obamacare. I hate to tell you this but back in 1974 my grandmother died of Lung cancer. She HAD insurance and this year my cousin died of cancer at the age of thirty WITH insurance, so why are hundreds suffering with cancer now saying it is because of there lack of being insured under Obamacare that they are losing the battle with cancer?

I’ll tell you why. NOBODY wants to die and EVERYONE wants a fighting chance with healthcare. I’m going to tell you a little secret, as hurtful as it may be, not everyone will live even if they HAVE healthcare. Hundreds of millions have died with healthcare before all this Obamacare came about so who did they blame then?

I just read of a veteran who died three or four minutes away from the emergency room because the hospital had to wait for an ambulance to transport him, which took thirty minutes to arrive! He died before they arrived. Hospital protocol called for him to be transported via ambulance as opposed to nurses or doctor’s wheeling him over to the emergency room not three or four minutes away.

This is America people! This is the country who sends men and women to war to bravely fight for OUR freedoms while we sit tapping out our hate for the president of the year of your choice, for them only to return home and have that very government turn their backs on THEM?

This is the country thousands flock to seeking FREEDOM, get free meal tickets, free homes, free healthcare, while American veterans suffer?

Yes we have more freedom than say Russia, China, Africa, North Korea but at what expense is this FREEDOM? At the expense of our own men and women? We are a Godless nation. I can’t be proud of that. While everyone else is out celebrating the fourth of July with a family picnic, plentiful food, fireworks and celebrating with alcohol I’m sure, do they realize what we even celebrate fourth of July FOR? Freedom? Tell that to the vet who died!

While I can see hundreds maybe thousands of pictures ‘honoring the men and women’, ‘honoring this country’, I don’t get it, I just don’t get it. Posting a pic doesn’t seem to be honoring them, paying their medical bills is honoring them and that is just what our government should do.

While I’m very happy to be IN America, it is at times like these I’m not very proud to BE an American. And it has nothing to do with any ONE president it has to do with a culmination of bad choices of MANY presidents that makes the U.S.A a laughing stock.

Jer. 17: 17 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

Let Freedom Ring

My country tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died!
Land of the Pilgrim's pride!
From every mountain side,
Let freedom ring!

Note: Written by Samuel Francis Smith

Freedom.. a tough swallow.

Today I thank the men and women in every armed service. Today I’m singing ‘let freedom ring’ because my blog, as you can see, has gone through a metamorphosis. It has changed to fit me. It stands as a symbol of MY freedom to write and say what I want on my blog in thoughts or poems.

The blog started off as One Voice ~ Write Right, but ringing in my ears were so many voices pointing out to me over the years that I not only couldn’t write right, my voice was losing it’s steam. An errant apostrophe here and there, a typo or misspelled word, it all got to me in a big way; big enough to scrap the whole idea of Write Right and sing what my heart truly plays and that is the melody of words that a poem lends me.

Poetry has carried me through many hardships, weathered many raging seas in my life and has comforted my spirit on too numerous occasions. I read poetry, write poetry, dissect poetry, learn new things about poetry and will let poetry cradle me on my deathbed.

I have checked all the ‘What Writers need’ links, and they seem to be working fine. I will keep them in place for the writer seeking tools to learn the craft and as soon as my gadget allows me to add sites again, I will. I will be learning right along side you, since my weakness has been pointed out and I seek to remedy the situation.

When I look back over my blog archives, the posts with the most hits are my poetry and life tidbits I throw in. The ‘how-to’ of writing posts seem to be the least posts that people come in here and read. That’s another reason for the change.

This was my very intention when I began this blog, thus the reason for the URL jonismuse, but the name Write Right was a phase that I was going through while mentoring. I am no longer a mentor, I no longer do NaNo because I can write every day without boasting WHAT or HOW MANY WORDS I wrote, and feel the FREEDOM ringing in my ears!

The service men like my father, uncles, and brothers whom all served in an armed service to allow me the freedom to write, speak and say what I want. I thank them all.

While I sit here today knowing that travel to other countries that are not as FREE as our country, might hold a darkened path, I am safe in the comfort of my home. While our government often lets the soldiers down, it is we the people, who lift them up in praise for their selfless service.

I am not at ease with the world and where it is heading but one thing that stands erect and tall is every soldier whether in life or death, they deserve to be honored!

If you served, I thank you! If you’re reading this, I thank you, for allowing me to change and grow. Peace be with you all!

Let freedom ring.

Quotation Saturday

PEACE
 

We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace. 

~William Ewart Gladstone

Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The more we sweat in peace the less we bleed in war. 

~Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit

The real differences around the world today are not between Jews and Arabs; Protestants and Catholics; Muslims, Croats, and Serbs. The real differences are between those who embrace peace and those who would destroy it; between those who look to the future and those who cling to the past; between those who open their arms and those who are determined to clench their fists. 

~William J. Clinton, 1997

WAR

Give me the money that has been spent in war and I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire of which kings and queens will be proud. I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth. I will crown every hillside with a place of worship consecrated to peace.

~Charles Sumner
 

War does not determine who is right - only who is left. 

~Bertrand Russell

The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking... the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker. 

~Albert Einstein

All the arms we need are for hugging. 

~Author Unknown

FREEDOM
 

He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself. 

~Thomas Paine

History does not teach fatalism. There are moments when the will of a handful of free men breaks through determinism and opens up new roads. 

~Charles de Gaulle

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

Here is my advice as we begin the century that will lead to 2081. First, guard the freedom of ideas at all costs. Be alert that dictators have always played on the natural human tendency to blame others and to oversimplify. And don't regard yourself as a guardian of freedom unless you respect and preserve the rights of people you disagree with to free, public, unhampered expression. 

~Gerard K. O'Neill, 2081

LOVE
 

There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved. It is God's finger on man's shoulder. 

~Charles Morgan

Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence. 

~Eric Fromm

Love has no desire but to fulfill itself. To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving. 

~Kahlil Gibran

Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction. 

~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Freedom...

My kind of loyalty was loyalty to one's country, not to its institutions or its office-holders. ~Mark Twain
***

Today is the Fourth of July and as I sought out the reasons we celebrate the day, I found a lot of bitterness and angst.

We are supposed to be celebrating our freedom, with these words ringing in our ears: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights”. 
Is this true? Do we treat all men, or women for that matter, equal? Does our nation even believe in a Creator? Do we still have freedoms?
 

I’m not a political person, never was and never will be. I’m not anti-American either but I don’t place my hand on my heart and pledge allegiance to a flag, where the words go on to say, “One nation under God...” I put both hands together and prayer to that God, and that people will wake up from their years of sleep and honor and respect the ONE creator. A flag did not give us ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’, the last time I checked.
 

A nation is a society united by a delusion about its ancestry and by common hatred of its neighbours. ~William R. Inge

“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”. What?  Does that mean the government rules the nation and leaves us in the unemployment lines, seeking welfare, raising taxes and dragging our feet and hearts and souls to get out of the abyss we have climbed into?
 

My country is in shambles, we have senators upon senators running the show, many who bare their body parts and seek out prostitutes on a regular basis and think that either they are all powerful and can get away with it, or that they don’t give a crap about the institute of marriage that they signed up for, ‘until death do us part’. It was part the Earth gentlemen not your legs!

These men were voted into office, by like minded people. People have all just thrown  morality out the door. You see, people vote them into office because they look good, sound good and make false promises. They know this and vote them in over and over again, only to spew hate and have a tabloid frenzied party when they don’t do what ‘the people’ wanted.

And we’re proud of this?

When I googled ‘Why we celebrate the Fourth of July’, what came up was parades and firework events, neighborhood block parties and whatnot. What? No talk on American Revolution? No reason why we should honor and respect this ‘freedom’?

The flag to me is to honor and respect the men and women who fight on a daily basis for our country. The very country who, when tight on funds, wants to hold back money from the soldiers, because they are expendable?

My final thoughts on the matter? God...Bless America.

He loves his country best who strives to make it best. ~Robert G. Ingersoll

 

To him in whom love dwells, the whole world is but one family. ~Buddha

God Bless America

Annapolis Maryland Statehouse

where our founding fathers worked

Memorial Day - May 31, 2010

When I was a kid, I always thought that Memorial Day was where you woofed down hamburgers and hot dogs, spent the day at a family cookout and enjoyed a three-day weekend.

As I grew, I realized it was a day to remember those who fought in wars, like a memorial for those who loved our country enough to die for it, or at least serve and struggle with the aftermaths of being here surviving and moving on in this society.

I have family that served. One uncle served in Vietnam and had a bad experience; wound up killing himself about thirteen years ago, and the other who is an uncle by fiance relations, he is a protector of animals, working diligently at an Animal Sanctuary. My dad was a Marine, and my brother was in the Air Force. I’m sure if I dug into it further, I’d find uncles and grandparents that all thought that this country was worth serving.

War causes grief on many levels. Families have to let their loved ones go over seas to fight for this country, mothers have to lay their children to rest; wives have to bury their husbands, and then there is this day, a Memorial Day.

When you pass by graveyards, a glance will show that the American flag is waving over the sites of many veterans who have lived, served and died. It is a breathtaking to see all those flags flapping in the wind, a heartbreaking sight to visually put a number on the hundreds of thousands who have literally, died for this country.

Last week, as I threw myself a pity party, I was God-slapped once again into a rude awakening. I was reminded of all that I have as an American citizen. I am free, where some countries are at war, in despair, in dire straits and as I sip my coffee thinking of all I have this day, like a wonderful fiancé, an awesome son, a nifty step-daughter, surrounded by a GREAT All American family, I am thankful that God loves me enough to take me by the shoulders, shake me a bit and then turn me around to look at all that I DO have to be grateful and thankful for.

Today I realize that this is a wonderful country. A country that gives every single human being an opportunity to become an American citizen; every American citizen a chance to be a part of a great nation. Every man and woman an opportunity to serve this country. Sure we have our messes to figure out but each and every one of us need to realize, that our God is a glorious God and this is our life. Love it, embrace it!

On this day... I arise to the beauty surrounding me in the lush fields of the central part of America, Nebraska. This is home, this is my life, this is a wonderful country. I thank all the men and women who see to it that my country is a safe place to live. I pray for all the men and women who have died defending what is now mine. I treasure the opportunity to raise my son in a land where he is free; free to live, express, pray and serve.

May we all have a God-slapped moment and realize just what we have, wherever we are.

God Bless........

Talk-o Tuesday

Because you are in control of your life. Don't ever forget that.
You are what you are because of the conscious and subconscious choices
you have made. ~Barbara Hall

Talk talk talk...that’s all I do is talk. So today’s post will be about Freedom of Speech.

I’m all for Freedom of Speech, but when people abuse this right I begin to wonder if the whole freedom of speech is worth it. Take for example my blog. I am allowed to say and post whatever I want. I choose information for people to learn and grow in the writing world.

I leave the comment option open for a reason. So that the screen readers (the blind and visually impaired) have easy access to making a comment because the word verification doesn’t allow the blind to see. I want them to have access to leaving a comment whether with a name or anonymously.

It seems there are vultures everywhere we turn this day and age and recently I’ve been hit by them swooping down on my informative blog to leave their ads of drugs and porn. Don’t get me started on what I think of these things because my rant will last for pages.

Luckily the stupid people don’t realize I, and I alone, have creative control as to what is posted on my blog and as soon as one of these perverted messages pop on my site, I immediately remove it so no one who is here to learn will have access to such crap!

I just wanted my followers to know that I don’t mind you leaving a comment anonymously but a name helps me to see that you are here to learn, like what you see, and enjoy my blog. You are my friends even though you are not seen, your voice is heard, or at least your words are read.

I look at it this way, maybe my blog is so popular that this scum of the earth sees it as a place to leave their junk because they’ll get hits? Ha ha ha! We laugh at them, right people? Right!

I would report this abuse but the higher ups will just tell me to limit my comments to a certain crowd. God forbid! I want all of you to have access, not a select few. This is what freedom of speech is all about, the freedom to tell me what I’m doing right and what I’m doing wrong!

Recently I’ve learned that there really is no way to contact the people of Blogger because millions inundate them with emails. We’re on our own people. I just wanted to let you know that I’m always keeping tabs on my blog and the content and most importantly the comments.

I appreciate you visiting and I hope you find something from this blog besides a place to place an ad. I HATE ads! I have an ad muncher installed just so I don’t see the disgusting things that people have to offer. There is enough strife in the world, do we need ads too?

Okay, I’m done talking. *smile* Thanks for visiting!

Here are two links to more audio books that I found:

simply audiobooks

LibriVox

Freedom

FREEDOM
The pen is mightier than the sword…

How often have you heard that one? To me it is a mighty mantra and I put it to good use. Whenever I want to lash out at someone, instead of verbally abusing the situation, I sit down and write. Often times its just me babbling, but more times than not my pen becomes a sword while I watch a storm (story) brewing beneath the surface. With the blade sharpened it even becomes a mighty tool in the machinations of my work.

We writer’s have a freedom that every human being should have, but too often they would rather lash out in a verbal attack, not knowing that their pen is mightier. Writer’s can take the red, white and blue to new levels.

The red is the crimson that boils under the skin, painting a woman’s cheeks a soft hue. The blue is the battered bruising that a conflict can cause or the shade of sadness that creeps into your heart. The white is the glorious purity of a whimsical soul that has been allowed to soar amid the fluffy clouds creating the mystical lure to drink in the reader.

The flag stands for something to our country America. But what the symbol exudes is our freedom that was well earned through the bloodshed of men, the bruising of ego and pure love of a land that was/is worth fighting for to keep all of our constitutions words alive.

Words! Did you read that? It was words that brought about our Constitutional Rights. It was then followed by actions to make the rights of a nation stick like gum to asphalt. Sometimes they can appear a little gummy and uncertain, but in the end when all is said and done, the Law becomes a firm adhesive in forming a nation.

Just as writing will bring about an unwavering adhesion and will cling to you no matter where you go in this world. Words will build you a structure, shape and mold a story, bring you to move into action, so you become published while a nation stands in awe of your work. You raise the flag of freedom. You praise the country you live in, then you thank God for giving you the best gift anyone could ever receive, and that is the talent of writing.

So what are you waiting for? Let the Freedom of Writing take hold of your psyche allowing you to move into action as the cause and affect leap onto your keyboard. You will mold, shape, structure a tale then through action cause it to be released into the world on its own wings, watching it fly like the beautiful eagle.

Our fathers’ God, to Thee,

Author of liberty,To Thee we sing;

Long may our land be brightWith freedom’s holy light;

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God, our King.