Upswing

upswing
getting married as the clock hand
passes the six heads for the twelve
somehow blessing the union
old wives tale of
good luck

upswing
dow and nasdaq on the rise
black not red
not minus not unch
bull not bear
plus side economy
good fortune

upswing
winter solstice
shortest day giving way to
lengthening hours of light
end of year providing
a few more minutes of sun
lifting spirits
more in the mind than sky
good day

upswings
pendulums
glasses half full toasting
positive thoughts
resilience
persistence
patience
new day
longer day
new year
new chances to prevail
hope stubborn hope
like Ole Sol
peaks over the mountain
lingers over the pacific
good news

upswings
catch the wind
catch the spirit
good cheer. . .

Happy New Year!

christie smith stephens
december 31, 2010

My Christmas Story

This is a story with a happy ending. We have embraced Jinx the neighborhood cat as our cat during the recent days/weeks of very cold weather. Jinx had been coming around for 2 - 3 years and everyone assumed he belonged to someone nearby. He would have a nibble or two, then be on his way. But in November, he came to the door one day, came inside, and made himself at home like our home had been his all along! As the nights got colder, he was more and reluctant to leave, so we allowed him to stay with us.
We began to worry about what we would do with him when we left town after Christmas. In other words, we were falling in love with this very large, very lovable, solid black cat. I had been told which house he belonged to, so I decided to take their street address and do a reverse phone lookup online. And there it was, they still had a land line. I called and left a long message, feeling rather foolish if these people were not Jinx's owners. But alas, they were, and so glad I called. The owner is an animal lover and on the board of the Humane Society. She has 3 cats and 2 dogs, all adopted. Jinx has always been a traveller and the owner has family and friends who live in the neighborhood and call her when Jinx shows up at their home. She was getting worried because no one had called and was going to start looking for him. She wanted to come and get him that night, but I asked her to let us keep him one more night. So we had the pleasure of his company one last night with him sleeping at my feet.
We lost our beloved cat last spring after having her for 18 years, so Jinx definitely provided something missing in our lives. We are not able to own a pet at this time with our travels, but we were happy to participate for a short time in the neighborhood Rent-A-Cat program! And most of all, we were happy to know that Jinx would not be left out in the cold.

Visiting

As I was driving to Indiana this morning, I was feeling anxious. Family visits are often a tangle of emotions.   I am visiting my aunt who has been been struggling with health issues for the past six months.  Last month, she was not feeling well and a little confused.  

Today, she was alert and feeling well.  A miniature Christmas tree is sitting on a small table near bed.  Her television is providing background noise to our conversation.  Although she was not able to be home for Christmas, she is positive and hopeful about returning home soon.  

As we prepare to leave, I tell her I hope to be back tomorrow.  Visiting a  loved one can provide a small expression of love.

Outside my comfort zone

I like the comfort of routines.  For me, schedules and routines provide a sense of structure and predictability.  Even on vacations, I like schedules. I am uneasy when I have to go out of my comfort zone.

I sometimes value routines over people.  Recently, I saw  Dama text someone, " Do you need a ride to church?" A simple action motivated me to think about how I am reaching out to others.  When was the last time I asked someone if they needed a ride to church or to a medical appointment?  When was the last time I visited someone in a nursing home or the hospital?  When did I make an effort to meet the new neighbors? Now, I need to put action to my words.
Faith and Deeds... James 2:14 ~26

Every Child is the Christ Child

Every child is the Christ Child

If we choose to receive

The sweet word sent from Heaven

To our waiting lives in need.

Every child is the Christ Child

For all those who believe

When we open wide our hearts

The miracle reveals.

Are we singing with the angels

Alleluias in the night?

Are we standing with the shepherds

At the cradle’s side?

Are we traveling with the wise ones

Following the star?

Do we understand the message,

The meaning of the child?

Are our arms filled with wonder?

Are our eyes filled with sight?

Do we see the child we’re holding

In Heaven’s golden light?

Are our minds filled with wonder?

Are our spirits filled with light?

Do we know each baby given

Is Heaven’s Golden Child?

Have we really heard the story?

Do we know who we are?

Every child is the Christ Child

If we choose to receive

The children sent from Heaven

To our waiting arms in need.

Every child is the Christ Child

Who will save us today

If we open wide our hearts

Let the child lead the way.

Amen. Amen.

Christie Smith Stephens

copyright, 12/7/04

Memories of My Summer Adventure

As winter descends upon us with increasing intensity, I am remembering those warm summer days during my adventure on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. My hiking friend and I had dreamed and schemed about this trip for several years and finally committed to making it happen. Landing on a dirt airstrip in a propeller plane, sleeping in a conestoga wagon, flying on a helicopter into the canyon, rafting for three days on the Colorado River, sleeping on a cot in the canyon in the wide open spaces, gazing at the endless night sky before drifting off to sleep then being awakened by the intense light from the moon as it appeared over the canyon rim, the list goes on as new experiences for me, things I never dreamed I would ever do. And there I was, as a new grandmother who had just spent four months with my granddaughter in the Pacific Northwest, ending a wonderful summer with this trip. Yet experiences like these are never complete without the interaction that occurs with others and relationships that are developed with those who are part of the adventure. We connect with some immediately and perhaps even intensely, and sometimes develop lifetime relationships from these shared experiences. Because we are in this special place at this time, our adventure is unique only to us. And because of that, we must pay attention to our place in the universe and continue to search for meaning in these special opportunities that are presented to us.

Carson

gifts

snow powders
the tired face
of winter earth
giving the lift
needed
dressing mother
in a pretty party dress
adorning her
for this season
of proud trees
sparkling icicles
delighted joy filled
children
whose anticipation of
closed schools
sledding hills
fun with friends
hot chocolate
makes their grandparents
young again

christie smith stephens
12/13/2010

Jinx

The weather has been "frightful" lately. And Jinx is a cat who lives in the neighborhood but doesn't seem to want to stay in his home. He ingratiates himself to those in the neighborhood who will take him in, feed him, and keep him out of the cold. Jinx has been showing up at our back door for several years. We would give him a treat, then he would be on his way. But over time, he has managed to come inside, eat heartily, and stay well beyond his welcome. Since we lost our beloved 18 year old cat Sunny earlier this year, we are suckers to "feel the fur" to soothe the soul.

So, with the extremely cold temperatures causing Jinx to resist a return to the outdoors, we have allowed him to stay with us for the past three nights. The first night he was given the freedom to stay inside the house. But after a rather sleepness night from his restlessness, he was banished to the garage with a blanket. I feel guilty about that, so at first dawn I'm up and letting him come inside, although when I pick him up, he is quite warm and not endangered in the least.

He is here again tonight, so we shall continue to protect him from the elements. He is a 15 pound solid black furball, but a lovable furball for cat lovers like us. So, we will indulge him until he decides to return home or settle in with another neighbor!

A friendship interrupted

Where do you begin the conversation when you have not seen a friend in over thirty years?   Cindy and I decided to begin the conversation in the present and move back in time.  Classmates from first grade to high school graduation, we had a lot of history to discuss. 

Talking for nearly three hours, it was impossible for use to sufficiently uncover all of what has happened in our lives.  Lord knows, we tried …

Cindy’s launch of her new business, “Full Circle Charleston”… life in Charleston, South Carolina, Lexington, KY, marriage, children…our sisters… my brothers…her brother…

Giggles at recess…Mr. Rumble’s threats to send me to the “Big House”…Our bus driver, Mr. Jones...driving slow to check the progress of the year’s corn crops… high school teachers… what ever happened to this friend?

As the new waitress came to our table, we decided get together soon, maybe  coordinate an Eden Elementary Reunion.  We cannot wait for another thirty years. 

Lunch @ Frankie Bones in Hilton Head

Christmas Ornament 

blessed are the women

blessed are the women

who though no longer young

refuse to be old

blessed are the women

who pull themselves out of bed

each morning

even when every bone aches

blessed are the women

who keep moving

keep involved

who care how the world turns out

even when they will no longer be here

blessed are the women

who dye their hair if they think it needs it

those who more than their hairdressers know

the truth of their roots

blessed are the women

who go gray and don’t see

what the problem is

blessed are the women

who put on their make up

more than gloss their lips

those painted ladies

for whom it is maybelline

no maybe it’s not about it

blessed are the women

whose wrinkles are the lines

in the amazing love stories

of their lives

blessed are the women

who show up when needed

who fix food send flowers

who sit with friends in the hospital

who pick them up when they

can no longer drive

who remind them when

they can no longer remember

blessed are the women

who have to bury husbands

who grieve and grieve

and would never dream

of finding someone good enough

to take their places

blessed are the women

who get married again

who think the last one

is the best one

blessed are the women

who pour praise upon their friends

who suffer with them in their losses

who celebrate their new found life

who are friends in every season

no matter what

no matter what

for of such is the

household of earth

as it is in heaven

blessed are the women. . .

christie 2006 and 2010

on growing older with friends

who also grow older

especially thinking of

the Jo March Club in

Anderson