%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |
Guided by prompts from WDC blogging challenges... and of course, life |
HI! I'm Jenn - and I'm all over the place (well, at least my mind is). In this blog, I have attempted to gather my thoughts on things prompted/inspired by WDC blogging challenges from "Journalistic Intentions"  , "The Soundtrack of Your Life" , "Blogging Circle of Friends " , "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS" and, well, LIFE.    |
| BCOF Day 3209 27 August, 2021 - "Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time." ― John Lubbock. Most of us as adults forget what it was like to simply lay on the grass and be one with nature. When's the last time you laid on the grass and looked up at the clouds? Did you try to identify different cloud shapes or simply just absorb the beauty? How did you feel? I love laying on my back in the grass. It is a great way to relax and ground yourself. When I lay on the ground, I not only look to the sky and its clouds and/or stars, I also imagine that all the negative energies and feelings inside of me are being pulled out of me into the ground. It leaves me feeling calmer and more refreshed and has, on more than one occasion, helped ease pain. I also love looking toward the heavens. I guess you could say that I am a girl with my head in the clouds. But there is such beauty to be seen there! So much that still instills feelings of awe and wonder in me - even after all these years. Watching the aerial dances of birds and dragonflies, the movement of the clouds as they scuttle through the sky ever changing their shapes as they go, the dance of the stars at night and maybe even getting to see a shooting star or two, and seeing the moon in all her phases and how those phases change with each passing day. Yeah, I guess I do have my head in the clouds. And to lie under the trees and look up through their branches and leaves is an experience in and of itself. How you can see each separate leaf as it rustles in the wind, the sighing sound they make as they shiver amongst one another, the green of the leaves as seen from underneath and how you can almost see light through each one as the sun shines upon them. And watching all the critters that call the trees home as they go about their daily lives, squirrels playfully chittering, woodpeckers busily knocking holes in the sides of the trees, other birds coming and going from branch to branch and tree to tree, and the thousands of insects working tirelessly to take sustenance back to their holes and hives - the cycles of life that would normally pass us by because we tend to focus on humanity rather than widening our senses to include the world around us. Have a peaceful day folks. Go lay in the grass and look up at the sky. LeJenD' - Just Jenn  |
| Day 3208 August 26, 2021 Please use these words in your entry today: Birthday, number, young, elderly, candles, paper, and a clown. They all gathered in the house to celebrate Grandma's ninetieth birthday. The young, middle aged, and elderly all packed into the small house together, as no one wanted to miss this special day. Someone even hired a clown to bring laughter to the monumental event. Grandma wasn't fond of clowns though, and asked Auntie why they couldn't have hired a male stripper instead. Auntie responded that a stripper would not have been appropriate with all the little ones running about. Many of us chuckled at Grandma's continued spunk. She'd always been a strong and blunt woman, way ahead of her time. Momma decided it was time to light the candles on the cake for Grandma to blow out. But the funny thing about having as many candles as the number of years being celebrated, when you are celebrating that many years, the first candles you light tend to be melted down quite a bit by the time you finish lighting the last of them. Grandma just told her to get rid of all the candles but one and she would just blow it out and that would be just fine. Said she didn't need any fire hazards in her house at her age. After the candle was blown out and everyone had their fill of cake, punch, and ice cream, the presents were brought out for Grandma to open. She slowly and carefully opened each present making sure she didn't rip the wrapping paper and replacing those gifts that arrived in bags back into the bag they came out of. This had the children going nuts, as they were ready for Grandma to get to each of their presents faster than she was going. All in all, everyone had a wonderful time and left with tears in their eyes and memories of the best birthday party ever. LeJenD'Poet - Just ME |
| I missed my blog yesterday so I decided I'd do it then write today's. My mind's been a bit wonky of late. Crazy vivid dreams have left my thoughts askew and gathering them has proven to be more than a little difficult. At some point, I might have to journal more of these realistic dreams that stick with me upon awakening. In any case, here we go... 8/24 Prompt: When I was in grade school I would walk to and from school in all kinds of weather. I always enjoyed walking in the rain. Write about walking in the rain. Summer Rain rain falls, dampening sunbaked lands a welcome respite from summer's drought Earth drinks deeply of this gift from the skies above animals emerge to wash weeks of dust from fur and feather a handful of hardy humans throw their arms to the heavens in thanks for this sweet blessing so needed walking in the rainfall's refreshment and inhaling the sneeze-scented petrichor. 8/25 Prompt Day 3207: “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” Khalil Gibran - Let this quote inspire you blog entry. Life It is the way of life to weed out the weak ones Only the strong survive a life with no failure is no life at all our scars our ultimate prize LeJenD'Poet - Just ME ** Image ID #2254180 Unavailable ** |
| Day 3205: August 23, 2021 Prompt: time, peace, might, song, evening, morning, and reverence. Dance of Sun and Moon I hold reverence for the sun and moon and their perpetual dance through time, waltzing to the song of night and day. Sun brings light on his morning crossing as Moon lays down her haloed head to rest and evenings see the sun to slumber while Moon tempers night with her cooling gaze each, allowed mere glimpses of the other. What might be learned from this game of tag? Or perhaps Peace is found in the not knowing. LeJenD'Poet - Just ME ** Image ID #2254180 Unavailable ** |
| DAY 3203 August 21, 2021 “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” ― Henri Nouwen, Your thoughts about friendship: Friendship does not segregate in any manner. Some of my best friends are not even human. But as for those friends of the people-kind... It takes a special person to get through my barriers and win my trust enough for me to actually give them the moniker, "friend". Those are the relationships which withstand the tests of time, distance, and differences. There's a feeling of comfort being around these people that doesn't dissipate over years of being apart. There's an ability to pick up right where you left off, like miles and years never passed you by. Friends won't ostracize you for thinking differently or acting differently; for having opinions, beliefs, and dreams unlike theirs. These are people who are easy to talk to. They embrace and oftentimes celebrate your oddities and absurdities. They listen and are supportive but are not afraid to tell you the truth about matters, not afraid to share their opinion when theirs is different from yours. They've got your back when you need it and don't hide their troubles from you. Friendship is a give and take of love, care, honesty, and time. It should be effortless for the most part. Throughout my life, I have been blessed with at least a handful of these. Some I have had for over forty years, others have come into my life more recently. Many of them do not share my beliefs or my opinions concerning many things but somehow, these differences are not obstacles to our friendships. These gentlemen ad ladies have proven time and again that nothing will stand in the way of our friendship, not time, or differences, or distance, or disease, or trouble, or even new relationships. True friendship is a bond that cannot be broken. And I thank the ones in my life for teaching me these truths. LeJenD'Poet - Just ME |
| DAY 3202 August 20, 20210 “Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life."― Mark Twain Your thoughts, agree or disagree? I agree with two out of three of these. I do not agree about the "sleepy conscience". Our conscience is there to remind us that there are lines we should not cross. If our conscience speaks up, it is sign that perhaps we should take a look at the situation and figure out where the questionable action is so we can either stop it or make amends for what we have done. Our conscience is the little angel on our shoulder that helps us stay on the right path. Good books, I cannot live without. It still surprises me when I come across people who do not like to read, but I remind myself that their opinions are just as valid as mine. But really, who doesn't want to have good books around, right?! As far as "good friends", I'd much rather have good ones than bad ones - or than indifferent ones. But friends are not a necessity in my life. I'm quite the introvert and more than a little anti-social, as being around people causes me to have anxiety attacks. LeJenD'Poet - Just ME  |
| DAY 3201 August 19, 2021 Please. use these words in your blog today: campfire, eerie, branch, stream, marshmallow and ghost story. It was an crisp evening in late September. The cool weather had come and with it, a renewed desire to go camping in the woods. A group of twenty-somethings decided to gather at the campsite on the east branch of Alligator Stream for a night of camping fun. Night sounds surrounded them; frogs croaking, insects chirping, and the occasional lone hoot of an owl in the woods. Since the air was chilly, they built a campfire. After a dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs, and chips, the gang decided to tell ghost stories while making smores. With marshmallows roasting, they began their eerie stories... I'll let you create your own story from there. Happy writing! LeJenD'Poet - Just ME |
| Day 3200: August 18, 2021 Prompt: Write about contentment. For me, if the word "contentment" was a color, it would be green. Not a bright neon green, but a relaxing green like the color of grass, or the leaves on a tree in the middle of summer. Contentment is not something one goes looking for. If they do, they likely will never find it unless they look within themselves. Contentment is personal, unique to each individual based on what will make their soul sing. Happiness is part of contentment but it isn't the sum of it. Personally, contentment is having my loved ones close at heart, prayer, Faith, the little moments in each day, being able to appreciate the sunrise and sunset. The smells that trigger cherished memories. Working for the things I need. My furred and scaled babies. Plants and trees. Sharing a laugh or a journey with someone I love. Singing in the shower. Singing loudly as I drive down the road. A waltz or other slow, coupled dance. A rainbow, a rainstorm, the thunder, the lightning. Experiencing nature up close and personal. Contentment is being able to recognize and appreciate the little things each moment that make life worth living. LeJenD'Poet - Just ME ** Image ID #2254180 Unavailable ** |
| Getting back into the swing of things after a vacation is a bit difficult for me. I have to change my mindset from existing in the moment back to contemplation and making sure I get things done. Now, back to getting things done... "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" Day 3199: August 17, 2021Prompt: I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us. Anne Lamot Write about grace. Let's tackle the first hill. Defining grace and deciding which definition to write about. Merriam-Webster defines Grace as such: Grace as a noun 1a: unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification b: a virtue coming from God c: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance 2a: APPROVAL, FAVOR b (archaic): MERCY, PARDON c: a special favor, PRIVILEGE d: disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency e: a temporary exemption : REPRIEVE 3a: a charming or attractive trait or characteristic b: a pleasing appearance or effect : CHARM c: ease and suppleness 4: used as a title of address or reference for a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop 5: a short prayer at a meal asking a blessing or giving thanks 6(Graces plural): three sister goddesses in Greek mythology who are the givers of charm and beauty 7: a musical trill, turn, or appoggiatura 8a: sense of propriety or right b: the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful grace verb graced; gracing Grace as a verb 1: to confer dignity or honor on 2: ADORN, EMBELLISH WOW! There are a lot of possible definitions there! Judging by the context of the quote in question, I believe "grace" would be a combination defined in the first and second set of the noun section: 1b: a virtue coming from God 2a: APPROVAL, FAVOR b (archaic): MERCY, PARDON c: a special favor, PRIVILEGE d: disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency e: a temporary exemption : REPRIEVE So, how can it "meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us"? If we look at grace as a gift from God, it will never leave us where it found us because grace coming into our lives will better our lives, grace being in our lives betters our lives. Grace meeting us where we are means that no matter how far we fall, God's favor is such that we can always be lifted back up, regardless of whether or not we actually deserve it. This is the grace God has for us and the same that He encourages us to have for one another. Grace and kindness are intertwined. One shows grace to another being by their kindness, love, and care (and even faith someone can be a better person) - even when that other might not deserve it at the time. It is by God's grace alone that I wake up each day. It was by my parents' grace that I didn't get my butt busted daily as a kid (because that's what I deserved, honestly). SO, I guess, grace takes where you are, believes you can do/be better, pardons poor choices, shows lovingkindness, and gives chances for improvement. That's how it meets us where we are but leaves us in a different place than it found us in. But that's just my take on it. What's yours? LeJenD'Poet - Just ME ** Image ID #2254180 Unavailable ** |
| Written for "Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum" 8/13/21 Prompt: Since it's Friday the 13th... what's your favorite Friday the 13th movie? Do you ever binge watch them on Friday the 13th or wait until Halloween rolls around? - Or if you're not a movie buff discuss superstitions. It's Friday the 13th! I never really saw the appeal of the Friday 13th movie franchise. I like scary movies, I just never found them that scary. Or maybe they just weren't my type of scary. However, as this is the case, I will write my blog today based on the second portion of the prompt and discuss superstitions... First, let's take a look at superstition defined. Merriam-Webster defines superstition as: 1. a: a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation b: an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition 2. a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary And The Wikipedia goes into a little more detail with: A superstition is a belief or practice typically resulting from ignorance, a misunderstanding of science or causality, a belief in fate or magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that which is unknown. It is commonly applied to beliefs and practices surrounding luck, prophecy, and certain spiritual beings, particularly the belief that future events can be foretold by specific unrelated prior events. Take whichever one better suits your current mental definition. I'm not sure either one really fits mine, as I by nature am superstitious. Superstitions can take many forms. There are those which purport to cause bad luck: black cats crossing your path, walking under ladders, stepping on cracks, the dreaded Friday 13th (which somehow is always GOOD luck for me). But there are also those which are believed to bring good luck: kissing the Blarney Stone, lucky charms, and that sort of thing. I'm from Texas. In the south, we have an annual superstition that eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day will bring luck to your upcoming year. I do it every year and have since I was little. But there is a basis for this superstition. At one point in history, toward the end of the Civil War, black-eyed peas helped those living in the south to live after the Union soldiers raided the food stores of the southerners. Black-eyed peas grow naturally in many places and the Union soldiers did not think that people could/would eat what they considered not even fit for fodder. But those peas kept the people alive. While that particular superstition has roots to help substantiate it, many others are baffling - but if you believe they still seem hold some merit. When I was little, my mom was adamant that I move spots whenever she had to sweep in the area near me. This is because "sweeping under a person will bring him bad luck" and if that person is a young woman, "sweeping under her feet will cause her to be unable to bear children." Crazy as that sounds, many people believe in such things. I've never personally found black cats, ladders, or Fri 13 to be unlucky. They've always been lucky for me. But, I never step on cracks. I think that's just part of my OCD kicking in though, just like I have to do many things in sets of three. Some people might be of the opinion that the wearing of crosses is superstitious, believing in something that is unseen. But in the end, no matter what we believe, we have to believe in something - even if all you believe in is yourself or what you can use your senses to perceive. Even then, some people have extra-sensory abilities, if you believe in such things - or are those just superstition as well? I'll let you all make those decisions for yourselves. Superstitions have been around forever. They're in every country and every culture around the world. Who's to say if any of them have more merit than just being mere superstition. Perhaps they are backed by real life experiences or perhaps they were all just invented to make humans feel better about the things they didn't know... A way of explaining the strange coincidences they couldn't otherwise explain. I do know that superstitions have their power for those who believe and have been ingrained in us through the generations. And good or bad, they'll be around until we go extinct. LeJenD'Poet - Just ME |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
Glad you're OK.
You're so right, they are definitely perceptive. They know when you need extra attention, and they know when to keep an eye out for you. They are definitely a blessing from God.