Shopping in Paris

Antique store in Paris, Kentucky

Entering the store, I smell coffee beans roasting. Then, I hear the smooth sounds of jazz.   What  a perfect place to get a cup of coffee.  The place... CaffeMarco.   Please take a minute and read about this unique place in Paris, Kentucky.   http://www.caffemarco.com/html/about.html

gratitude

gratitude is

the gold/the currency

in the economy of grace

the passkey

to the treasure trove

of the soul’s abundance

the password

to the inheritance

the legacy wisdom bestows

the gift of peace

Love Prevailing

A Song

When the night had ended

She went to the tomb, found no one there.

In tears she looked around her

Saw the gardener near,

Inquired the location of her friend.

Where, O, where is the body of my Jesus?

Who has taken it away?

Where, O, where is the body of my Jesus?

Who has taken him away?

Then he spoke, calling her by name,

Mary, Mary, do you not see?

Here am I beside you as I told you I would be.

Over love the grave has no authority.

Then she heard as if it were the first time

The wonder of the stories he had told.

Like he said in days the temple will arise.

Grace and glory will unfold.

She became the first to tell that love is alive.

Her witness of immortality

Echoes down in song as the ages roll,

In love prevailing we believe.

Over love the grave has no authority.

The tomb is empty, we are free.

Over love the grave has no authority,

In love prevailing we believe.

Over love the grave has no authority.

Love lives eternally.

Amen. Amen.

Christie Smith Stephens, October 25, 2004,

completed, Lent, 2005, copyright.

In loving memory of my mother, Pearl Toon Smith,

who taught me about prevailing love and whose

love prevails. Happy Easter, Friends!

Tuesday Tip for Friends

Treasures

Today's Tuesday Tip for Friends... Cowgirl's Attic in Lexington...cause 

I am cool like that...

April Showers Bring May Flowers!

We have had an abundance of rain recently which provides a sharp contract to this time last year when we were entering a drought season. Although it has been chilly, the flowers continue to show their beauty in spite of the weather. My favorite hikes are at this time of year when the wildflowers pop out in the woods and hills of Kentucky. The bluebells at Jessamine Gorge are some of my favorite. Thankfully, I have hiker friends who know the hiding places of some of nature's best!

Tuesday Tip for friends

A Tuesday Tip... 

Last week, I purchased a dictionary for fifty cents!  Where?  www.hpb.com

Half Price Books will purchase your books, magazines,  and dvds.  Great way to recycle your books.

Grace

Miracles

Come on Fridays

Wearing cute clothes

And big smiles

They come from yesterday

And the events

We cannot forget

But which we now see through

The beautiful dark shining eyes

Of this new day

Miracles

Are young women

Who walked

Through the storm

Holding each other’s hand

Who waited

Through the night

For a sunrise

We feared would

Never appear

Miracles

Are Dreams

Hoped for

But statistics

Tell us

Will not happen

Somewhere beyond

The river

The Graceful One

Dances

Miracles

Come on Fridays

With stories of

Once Upon a Time

And this very moment

Tears and Laughter

The resurrecting beauty

Of love that

Never gives up

Is always here

Love that brings us

Home again

I fall on my knees and

As the old song sings

Cry Holy

Amen.

For Laura and Becky

with an everlasting love.

You are miracles!

I love you!

Christie Smith Stephens

November 20, 2010

Lovely Spring Table

Although it is a bit chilly outside, Ruth Anne has set a lovely spring table.   Ruth Anne has a gift of creating an inviting atmosphere for her friends.  She put it all together for her guests…soothing music, a warm fireplace, and spring flowers,  

Our monthly luncheons provide a safe place to talk about everything.    Each month, a different lady serves as hostess for the lunch.  Each hostess provides a unique way to make her friends feel at home. 

Interesting in finding unique place settings? 

Check this site :  http://www.pomegranateinc.com/

Converging Points

Converging Points

My friend David and I

have known each other

since childhood

we went to the same

elementary school

the same church.

our streets

Cedar and State

intersected

forming a right angle

we have been friends

for a long time

and in many seasons

We have worked together

combining his pictures

and my words

his drawings

my writing

portraits and poems

pen and ink renderings

of the world

as we see it

as we hear it

as we know it

Our creations are

David’s eye

and my ear

He sees details

they say God

or is it the devil

is in the details

I hear details

they say God

or is it the devil

is in the details

He stipples, dots

what his eye sees

the points of his pen

tell stories

through pictures

I script, write

what my ear hears

the points of my pen

create pictures

through story

Our gifts meet

intersect like our streets

at a right angle

our points converge

a converging point

Together

we make a point

dimensionless

Somewhere in

time and space

as we experience it

there is creation

It’s all the same world

It’s all the same human story

told in different languages

of drawing and writing

He sees and his hand speaks

I hear and my hand speaks

both from the heart

In dots, in lines

in pen and ink

pointillism’s poetry

poetry’s point

come from

the All Seeing Artist

the All Hearing Poet

in whose image

we are made

David and I

and every other

human being

Child of God

look out on the deep

and call worlds

into being

creating them

one by one

letter by letter

symbol by symbol

dot by dot

point by point

And it is good.

Amen.

Christie Smith Stephens

for J. David Liverett

my friend

on the occasion of

the exhibit of his art

Camp Meeting, 2007.

To God Be The Glory!

April at last

We have had a long, long winter with cold temps, snow, ice. I was delighted to see my daffodils pop their lovely heads up and reach for the sun. With the threat of frost and snow, my grandaughter and I picked a beautiful bouquet and brough them indoors. I am delighted that she shares my love of flowers and gardening.

Today being the first day of April, also known as April Fool's Day, I thought it would be a good time to remind us we all need to keep our sense of humor handy. My daughter is so famous for getting me with some April Fool's prank every year. I will be on guard, waiting to see what this year's prank will be. With April Fool's Day in mind, I thought I would share this poem.

Someone took my toothpast tube and filled it up with jam.

Someone changed my sandwich into fluffernut-and-ham.

Someone laced my sneakers so they tie down by my toes.

Someone changed the vacuum so it doesn't suck, it blows.

Someone messed up all of the clocks and made it seem my fault.

For me today, I have to say, it's nervousness that rules....

Since all that happened yesterday and now it's April Fools'!

Have a blessed, fun filled day!