Psalm 121.....................

PSALM 121
Verbatim KJV.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.



I have loved this psalm as long as I can remember. Today it means more to me because during my life I have come to lean on my Lord and depend on Him for everything. I mean that during the trials and tribulations that occur in life I have always known that I will get through anything if I only give control to Him. Its not always easy to give up control but sometimes it is the only way.

Toast and Crumpets.........

One of the simple pleasures of childhood was toasting crumpets over the coal fire. Toast was done the same way and made from crusty bread and real butter there was nothing like it.
Dad would make up the fire and clean out the grate. Set the fire just so with rolled newspaper some kindling then topped with coal. In order to draw the fire he would cover the opening of the fire with a newspaper and the fire would roar. We had to be sure to keep the chimney clean else a chimney fire would be a bit of a bother. The chimney sweep would send the kids out to watch for the brush. I now think that it was done to keep us out of the way and not to "help" by yelling that the brush had popped out the chimney.
Anyway, in England we used the fire for more than a few things. We had Toasting forks that were long and one would sit in front of a roaring fire with cheeks blazing and fingers burning for that oh so special piece of toast.
When I was first married in 1971 we lived in a house in Bedford. We had a coal fire in the "front" room. Lucky thing because it was a common thing for the gas company and the electric company to take turns going on strike. We would roast potatoes in the ashes and heat soup on the coals and toast our bread. Sigh......I miss that.

Close the door ............................

we close the door on this old sad year
where loss and death caused many a tear.
A new year waits with promice and hope
we must move on and begin to cope.
While memories linger and we will still glance back
we can set our feet on a brand new track
We can close that door and lean against it
shut out its shadows, a new candle is lit.
we will always love the one who has gone
but we have to move forwards and start to be strong
New dreams and new challenges lay up ahead
We can not always look forward with dread
Yes we miss our loved one for sure
but it is now time to close up that door
Pick up that candle and hold it up high
march onwards and forwards with eyes to the sky
Our Faith will sustain us and hold us upright
as we look up ahead with bright candlelight.
JKS Jan 2012

Stardust.......

Star dust is one of my magical words like fairy dust. I have favourite words that bring peace or joy or pleasure. That inspire imagination and bring pretty pictures to mind. is just one of those words. Now we have the Hubble images that bring the word to life.



While I was never a hippy or a flower child, I think the words of this song have a lot to say. I am a Christian and I believe that "the garden" is Eden and we do need to get back to our basic humanity.

words by......Joni Mitchell


Well I came upon a child of God, he was walking along the road
And I asked him tell where are you going, this he told me:
(He) said, I'm going down to Yasgur's farm, going to join in a rock and roll band.
Got to get back to the land, and set my soul free.
we are star dust, we are golden, we are billion year old carbon,
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.

Well, then can I roam beside you? I have come to lose the smog.
And I feel myself a cog in something turning.
And maybe it's the time of year, yes, said maybe it's the time of man.
And I don't know who I am but life is for learning.
We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion year old carbon,
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.

By the time we got to Woodstock, we were half a million strong,
And everywhere was song and celebration.
And I dreamed I saw the bomber jet planes riding shotgun in the sky,
Turning into butterflies above our nation.

we are stardust, we are golden, we are caught in the devil's bargain,
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.

moonlight..............

There is something about Moonlight, moonbeams and the mystery of La Luna that has enthralled people since time began. It is romantic and flattering like candlelight.



Moonlight Nights
by Bernard Howe

The clear sky seems to glow,
with the moon so big and bright.
Lighting up our hill sides,
with an iridescence light.

The shadows hide amongst the trees,
whilst I listen to the gentle breeze.
A night time opera in front of me,
a magical moment under a grand marquee.

For now I know that no man alive,
could ever produce this kind of splendor.
One in which a heart beats faster,
one which makes my heart surrender.

The beauty within our heavens light,
fills me with a passion a deep delight.
Lakes sparkle from shore to shore,
a beauty no one could ever ignore.

How can darkness have such a glow,
a warmth so bold to comfort our soul?
A beauty from heaven to help us believe,
a knowledge that can, make us all whole.
Bernard Howe
Copyright 2004

Old Lang Syne........

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.


The poem by Burns is the staple for New Years Eve, sung on the stroke of Midnight it tells us to remember our old friends. Its nostalgic and we can all do with that cup of kindness.
So for 2012 I want to remember all the people who have been significant in my life, who I love and will always love even if they have moved on to eternity. Every one we meet impacts our life one way or other. We must remember that its also true for us, so we must be careful how we influence other peoples lives. That cup of kindness needs to be full and given freely without condition.
So I wish everyone in my family, my friends old and new and those who I have yet to meet .....a wonderful 2012.

New Year 2012................

New Year is really just another day isn't it? We always see it as a new beginning though.Maybe that's a good idea. Certainly not a new one.
I would say the best New Years Eve I spent was in London many years ago. I would guess it to be 1965. I was living in London at that time and some friends and myself all went to Trafalgar Square. It was awesome, waiting for the countdown and the striking of Big Ben at midnight. They do it on the river now but at that time Trafalgar was the gathering place. There were people in the fountains, in the trees and sitting on the lions. After the countdown everyone had to rush off to try to get the last trains home. There were so many people racing for the subways that you could literally take your feet off the ground and be swept along. They ran over the car tops to get to the trains in time. I had to get back to Putney Heath and then up to Wimbledon. It was a very exciting evening. No one drank or did dope it was just pure energy and high spirits.



I don't know when they began the fireworks show on the Thames Enbankment, but now that's where the big event occurs.



Some day I would love to be able to walk along the Embankment again. I remember the nights when I could walk along there at night and be perfectly safe. I love the place. I don't know what New Years Eve would be like now but it looks quite wonderful.

Boxing Day..................

Traditionally the Alms boxes were opened to give to the poor. In the days when the royals or the elite would feast on Christmas Day the leftovers were given next day to those in need and to the servants. Cast off , food or anything of any worth was handed down. In later years the day became a time when gifts for trades people or servants were given. In England it is a National Holiday along with Christmas Day. It is one of the things I miss here in the States. It's very convenient to have a two day holiday that can be shared between sets of parents/inlaws. Christmas became two days of feasting and visiting family and friends. The Feast of St Stephan (Boxing Day) .............
St. Stephen was martyred in Jerusalem about the year 35. He is considered both the first Christian martyr and one of the first deacons of the Christian Church.
All that we know of the life, trial, and death of St. Stephen, is found in the Book of Acts, Chapters 6 and 7. In the long chronicle of Christian martyrs, the story of Stephen stands out as one of the most moving and memorable.



Good King Wenceslas............
by John Mason Neale and published in 1853,

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel

"Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather

"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing

Christmas Bells...............

'Christmas Bells' poem by Henry Wadsworth



I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The Carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;
‘For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!’

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
‘God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!’