Stealing a moment,
face arched to the sun,
reflecting upon tasks still left undone,
Whether ten things to do or a hundred and one,
I find golden moments in this garden lesson
My life is on track
and I consistently persist
when I remember I’m not defined by this list
My list of to-do’s
are not only tangible things
such as shopping, cleaning or these poetic writings,
there’s children to nurture,
family to call,
with my disposition mastered and sunny
can be a challenge,
like facing the day,
when for now,
there’s more month than money
When the TV is on,
the story’s not art
the suffering move into my heart,
Without knowing, I begin to question myself
What’s my contribution,
am I doing my full part?
I’ve placed them inside
and increase my soul burden
their faces never dismissed
I watch their journey,
for it’s a lot tougher than mine,
then gracefully add their plight to my list
And so goes my list,
it continues to grow
After-all, we care for those we know and don’t know,
but the garden lesson holds the secret to joy
it’s a simple flower,
a smile,
a mere helping hand,
to remember the love our life kissed
for we define ourself by the garden we plant
not by what’s-to-do on our list.
By Barbara Tremblay Cipak, Copyrighted
I Don’t Live in This List – “A Garden Lesson”:
Our duties, our responsibilities, our obligations end up on our physical and mental “to-do list”, and it can be draining. But there is a secret many already know; finding joy in unexpected places. A joy from within, experienced from the core, coming from things that have nothing to do with money, work, or duties. This is the gift we can give ourselves.
Give Me A Loan Today:: A “loaner moaner” tale with a happy ending, and lessons of responsible borrowing learned.
Give Me A Loan Today!
When he borrowed money yesterday afternoon
his wife cheered, “we’ll get that new car pretty soon!”
They danced in a circle then fell to the floor
“hey maybe they can loan us just a little bit more!”
We need new appliances and a trip to France!
lets ask the bank for another loan in advance
They got all their money fast and on time
and it took only 3 months to spend every dime
When the statement came in, with the money all gone
they thought, “gheesh, that sure didn’t take very long”
NOW how would they pay off that high interest debt?
then remembered they have one big credit card left
“we’ll take from Peter to pay off Paul”
until we can finally pay it off all…
they searched and searched until they found a new lender
who said, “we don’t care that you’re a big spender”
They breathed a sigh of temporary relief,
promised it was time to turn over a new leaf
“Financial Responsibility”, was their latest motto
an example to set for their children to follow
No more cars, toys, games or unnecessary things,
no more computers, tools, or fake diamond rings,
no more trips, furniture, flooring, or nights out,
they stayed home
they were disciplined
they took the honorable route
Four years have passed with their debt fully paid
and now they’ve decided to sell their home and upgrade
They called their bank to qualify for another home loan
and were approved in five minutes, right there on the phone.
What is the moral of this loan moaner tale?
“Our bad habits can change, we aren’t destined to fail,
with our life back on track, we can relax and exhale”.
by Barbara Tremblay Cipak
Poem about the very complicated issue of a Mother’s choice: Dedicated to families who have endured this agonizing journey. An issue not to be judged, an issue strictly personal to each individual. Until we walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, what do we really know? Compassion, not judgement could be our words of choice. On a more personal note, I know two women who faced this choice, the way this ends, is how their story unfolded as well.
FOR EMILY
An afternoon stroll with a friend on a heated day,
Her hair perfectly swaying to her giggle bounce
Holding her tummy, proudly humming
“I have a baby on the way”
Hugs, kisses, dreams and wishes
For this Mrs
The sun shining inside and out
So lucky she felt that day, she has a baby on the way
Daddy holds mommy’s hand
He says, thank you honey, I love you so much
Our baby is lucky to have you
and I am blessed to wear our wedding band
A visit to the doctor turned perfect joy into shock
You are very sick he says
You won’t live with this life in you
Sit soon with your husband and have a talk
Hugs, kisses, dreams and wishes
For this Mrs.
The sun shines brightly on this day
Cause she still has her baby on the way
Her husband crying uncontrollable tears
Loving her so
He could never ever let her go
He can’t choose
he doesn’t want to lose
His wife or his child
She knew for her this baby was a voice
A wish she made so long ago
A wish come true
And there was no one telling her what to do
It was ultimately her decision, her choice
Six years have passed, and Emily asks,
“Daddy, when will I see mommy?”,
Today my sweet angel,
Today
Hugs, kisses, dreams and wishes
For this Mrs
The sun still shining on this day
as Emily kneels to pray
For mommy
Mommy had made her choice
And daddy still hurts so bad, he misses her smile, her touch
But he holds Emily today
with Mommy’s light warming them both
His deep love for Emily sustains him
On her birthdays
Hugs, kisses, dreams and wishes
For Emily
The sun still shining on this day
her hair perfectly swaying to her giggle bounce,
as she plays,
by Barbara Tremblay Cipak