June 2014 – Sunshine Lane

Morning Double Haiku

Dark early morning.
So quiet, no one’s awake.
I hear my heartbeat.

I feel God’s presence.
I draw close to Him and pray.
Birds sing in wonder.
6.25.14, Elaine Wood-Lane

Happy Summer Solstice Saturday!

I don’t think Buddy understands me. I tell him, “Buddy, mama’s hot after vacuuming. I’m one big hot flash so I’m sitting in front of the A/C to cool off, alone, ok?” I sit down, take a sip of cold orange juice, and Buddy hops right up in my lap, stretches his hot little body out like Snoopy on his dog house and promptly falls asleep. *Sigh*. I must be super maternal or stupid because…I let him. I guess I needed some help resting after all. I just didn’t know it yet!

Happy Summer Solstice Saturday! Enjoy the longest day of daylight northern hemisphere!

Red Yarn

Red is the soft yarn,
Full of possibilities,
Warm cozy yarn love.

Life is full of possibilities every single day. We see and are given many beautiful gifts every moment, but often miss them because we are so focused on the past or the future or the pain of the present moment. When I look at a pretty, colorful skein of yarn, I see beauty and possibilities for creating and crafting a gift of love.

Embrace every moment in life. Look at the beauty around you that God has blessed you with. See the endless possibilities God has given you to show and give love.

Luk 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Keeping Step

My daddy walked along
so fast and steady in his step,
while I skipped along
like a butterfly
just trying to keep step.

He went on walks for healing,
for you see, he nearly died.
I went on walks to be with him
and to see the clear, blue sky.

We walked along and talked along,
he tried to lead the way,
while I broke out with little dances
and delighted in the day.

Daddy’s feet were fifty five,
while mine were only seven,
but we both enjoyed the walk
each day,
it seemed a lot like heaven.

As our feet have carried us
through thirty years since then,
I have aged and so has he,
but I’m still trying
to keep in step with him.

D. Elaine Wood-Lane
7/30/99

My dad, L.D. Wood, about whom this poem was written, died on November 24, 2006. Although he is gone now, I still try to keep in step with him. He was a good man, a faithful man, and a wonderful father. He taught me about life, both the joys and hardships. He taught me how to maintain a car, do well on job interviews, get a boy to notice me, and how to approach emergencies and crises. He taught me how to stand courageously through tough times and how to laugh through tears. He even taught me how to farm cotton and how to treat animals, our earth and other people with respect and consideration. Most importantly, Dad taught me about Jesus and God, not only with the bible and the talks we had about them, but also by his quiet manner of serving others and his generosity of spirit. His footsteps through life followed Jesus’ steps I finally realized. When I was trying to keep step with Dad, I was also following Jesus’ steps. Even though Daddy isn’t here any longer for walks, he didn’t leave me alone. He left me with someone I can walk with forever…Jesus.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there today. I pray your influence on your children is as great and good as Daddy’s was on me.