robin's journey

I was reading that true Haiku is about nature , with this in mind I thought I would write a poem about today. I enjoy Haiku it is easy and a quick way to write out what is happening in my world. I posted this Haiku on my twitter, but it will not be shown on my blog so...I am posting it. I wrote these poems together after I posted my last post titled, "Spring is Teasing the Prairies." Arise Salubrious sun Arrived on a fine March day Snow is vanishing To be five again Rubber boots on singing free Splashing in spring water Surrounding my soul In sun-kisses from heaven's grace Forever ecstasy I found out after posting my haiku on Twitter that there is a program on Twitter called twihaiku . I posted my poetry. I am getting brave posting all over the web! I pray the salubrious sun is shinning wherever you are! Oh...for the curious, salubrious means to promote health. I am trying to add to my vocabulary...Ha! I even know how to say it! Suh-loo-bree-uhs! Pax Robin P.S

I know I am sharing numerous stories about Hailey, but children have a way of awakening the spiritual parts of my heart that have been dormant for a long time or at least it feels that way. When Hailey arrived home from school, she asked if she could go out and splash in the water that is accumulating on the front street. As I am reading I can hear her singing, "Jesus is with me. Jesus is in my heart. Jesus is all around." With a splash, splash, in the water and chop, chop on the ice with her stick. Oh to be five, splashing in spring water, sun shining down, digging in the snow, and singing about Jesus. I need to get back to my reading...hope I did not bore anyone with my rambling. Love to all...Robin who is enjoying the sunshine and melting snow.

Twitter makes you a better writer according to Copyblogger by: Forcing you to be concise, exercise your vocabulary, and helps improve your editing skills. I have been using Twitter for several month's and I agree with all of the above.

I enjoyed listening to this soft, warm summer song, while it is still blowing winter outside. Spring sure would be nice... I am not sure why, but YouTube would not let this song post on my blog. I placed it as number one on my play list. This song bought a smile to my face after a full day of life. It is just a plain fun song that brought out the romantic within me. My husband makes me smile, Haliey makes me smile, and most of all, thoughts of Christ make me smile! Haliey (5) was cute at kids church tonight. She went up to everyone and shook their hand telling them her name. "Hi, I am Haliey." As she reaches for their hands, looking them straight in the face with her big blue eyes. God has Haliey close to His heart. I am blessed to have her and her family in my life. This Grandma of choice bubbles inside as she watches Haliey grow within Christ's family. I pray she stays awhile, and I can continue to smile as I engage life with her daily. What makes you smile or

I was visiting a small group Bible study this week, the leader shared this list of attitudes to fast from and appropriate characteristics to feast on. I do not have the authors name or title...it will be anonymous, until I find out the author's name. As you read each line take time to ponder each one as we prepare ourselves for Easter. Fast from complaining and feast on appreciation. Fast from bitterness and feast on forgiveness. Fast from idle gossip and feast on purposeful silence. Fast from judging others and feast on the Christ within them. Fast from emphasis on differences and feast on the unity of life. Fast from apparent darkness and feast on the healing power of God. Fast from words that pollute and feast on phrases that uplift. Fast from anger and feast on optimism. Fast from discouragement and feast on hope. Fast from facts that depress and feast on anything that inspires. Fast from lethargy and feast on enthusiasm. Fast from suspicion and feast on truth. Fast from probl

To all my blogger friends who write and minister to others, here is a verse to encourage each of you as you continue to follow the Holy Spirit in your writing and life. Proverbs 11:25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Lately my days have not been going as planned. It seems most days are completely out of control. I believe this is the way it is when you have a house full of people living with you. Last week had been exhausting but fulfilling at the same time, and I would not want it any other way. Having family near is one of the most important things in my life. After having Haliey all to myself yesterday, I was tempted to stay home from church to catch up on my studies. However…my heart convicted me. I needed to attend, community is important. Church is where I can reflect, worship, be with others who are seeking and loving God, and to let the message go deep into my soul. Also, Haliey loves attending kids church. I am thankful I attended. I had an opportunity to speak with a woman who I have never met. She is on my list, must connect with , but I have not been able to connect for various reasons. By being obedient and attending church today, a contact was made that otherwise would not

I have watched the video," The Bridge " on Tangle several times this week...It really hits straight to the point concerning all that God has done for us, it is worth watching.

"At times the strength of spiritual community lies in the love of people who refrain from getting caught in the trap of trying to fix everything for us, who pray for us and allow us the pain of our wilderness, our wants, so that we may be more deeply grounded in God." Quote by Rosemary Dougherty With having three young adults and two young children living in my home it takes great strength and discipline not to fix all of their problems but to hold back, pray, and give suggestions as they stumble along. I pray each one of my young adults will one day find their way closer to our Fathers heart. I really could try to fix all of their problems but they would not learn the great life lessons along the way that they need to live well. I pray I will have the strength and discipline I need, to stand and pray without getting in the way of spiritual growth.

I joined the High Calling Blogs this week, the reason is that over the last few month's I have had a nudge in my heart it was time to connect my blog to other blogs. I believe, God might use this blog to encourage and inspire, and lead others close to His heart. It is encouraging to belong to a group of writers who have the same calling, and love God with all of their hearts. I pray as I post on my blog what I write will bring glory to my Father in heaven, and each word will be Holy Spirit inspired. My desire is to follow Christ each day obeying and trusting He is leading me step by step, at work, in community, and at home. Pax Robin

Thursday afternoons are one of my preferred times during my hectic week to enter into holy ground, while listening to life stories. I truly enjoy volunteering as a spiritual care Chaplin at a local hospital. Each week I come home with a story that touches my heart and makes my Christian journey a fulfilling adventure into God’s world. Today my son borrowed my car, which meant my husband drove me to the hospital, and would pick me up after we were both finished work. His work kept him over-time, which then meant I needed to take a taxi home. I have not taken a taxi in years and was really having a hard time justifying spending $20.00 on the fare. It was not my preference to phone the cab company, but waiting for another hour was not my desire either. What I did not realize moments before I entered the cab was that I was about to enter into another life journey through story. I am not sure how our conversation led to the taxi driver sharing his story, but he d

Picture By Allwyn Set Free I found my soul trapped in a colossal glass jar with her lid securely glued on. Within this optical illusion my souls imagination effervesced with prolific words desperate to escape Uncomplainingly through lonely days my soul waited secretly for a moment when the top would open to provide freedom from captivity Then I saw my soul standing so alone within this solid glass wall nowhere to hide or flee from confusion and shame both were present with an impious plan to destroy all creativity from my souls now weak imagination I tried with all my strength to turn the lid, but it would not budge I cried out for help with hope that perhaps someone would hear my heart cry to release stress and pain setting my soul free from tight conditions that were slowly smothering my deprived and exhausted soul Within a twinkle of time a Master Poet heard my cry His love and grace moved and covered the lid it popped open with immense force setting my soul free to soar above con

Today's journey is leading me even closer to the cross...what a beautiful song.

Tonight I was catching up on reading through my reader RRS blogs and several sites recommended to checkout page cxvi hymns for modern ears. John Piper's blog has a few other points about this project worth reading. I enjoy listening to Misty Edwards who leads through the spirit, but I must say it is nice to have a modern tone that uses the richness of the old hymns. You can preview the music before downloading.

Hopeful Warm weather is near Ice still cracks beneath my feet Soon spring will blossom

For my poet friends and artist and those who simply like to view interesting blogs check out " Postal Poetry ." I found this site intriguing to my artist eye and creatively fascinating to my poetic heart. For the creative among us... You can enter your own post card ... My favorite is titled, " Dead Souls " by Nathan Horowitz.

Gleaning wisdom from the old and young on how to embrace life simply: I sat with an older man this week who is dying, his body is shutting down slowly and pain has been minimal. I listened to his stories, and then he asked me to share how my day had been going. I told him it felt like my life had many loose ends or threads that needed to be tied together or cut off. His reply was how he would love to have loose ends to worry about. I realized at that moment, I really have nothing to complain about. The undone threads of life are what keep us fully alive. Today, as I drove little Haliey to school, she reached over in the car and asked to take my hand so she could pray for me. I was driving the truck, and could not give her my hand. She continue never the less to pray to Jesus that he would keep her mom, Teela, Grandpa, Grandma (me), and herself safe throughout this day. Another, ah ha moment, God is touching this little girls heart with the love of Christ. Later Robin

What a week! Learning patience perhaps, but love is what motivated this grandma of choice, to open her home and heart. My journey with Sasha (mom), and her two daughters, Haliey (5) and Teela (18 month's), has been an interesting adventure. I have written about them in past posts. Sasha came into our life five and a half years ago when Haliey was three months old. Mom was a struggling single eighteen year old who was trying to raise a child on her own. Haliey entered our life and we have never let go. My husband and I intentionally choose to become grandparents of choice. On the ongoing drama-journey with Sasha, Sunday night March 8th, brought forth a new dimension to the plot. Please know as you read this story of life, it is love (Jesus) that guides my husband and I. All glory belongs to God; he is the one who has given us the resources and compassion to open our life to a widow and two orphans. I have decided life (God) likes to throw humor my way. On Saturday night c

Last night when I arrived home from Regina at around 8:30 p.m. my husband was kind and thoughtful, he made a light supper for us. A friend in Regina had made me a snack, but in my hast to catch the bus I forgot the treat. Ugh! After our relaxing meal I went to turn on my computer, it simply would not turn on or connect. I believe, a Trojan virus must have entered unawares to me. With the arise of this new dilemma it has had me thinking that is a good time to slow down and take time off the computer for the next few days. Working on my husbands laptop is just not the same as my good and faithful PC. My class was full of information that I need to still process and work into my life. One thing the professor said as we were leaving the class that had me in agreement was: "At this age, I will not be perfect!" I am trying understand this and slowly I am realizing there simply is no way to be perfect...or at least in this world. The goal is to rest in the fact that I am w

An old friend dropped by and left a comment on old eyes, she has an amazing blog worth checking out (Prairie Prologue.) We both live on the Prairies in Canada. Today the wind was blowing up havoc and the temperature dropped to -27c. Prairie Chicks pictures from summer in Saskatchewan are breath-taking and causing me to long even more for the spring sun to melt all the snow away. Yesterday, the sky was no longer icy blue it was more of a hopeful warm blue that reminded me that spring is near.

My day was full of listening to life stories, all vastly different from one another, yet in a strange way very similar. I wrote a poem to share the thoughts I had on what I experienced. The eyes are a door way into a very hidden and mysterious place within the soul. Old Eyes To look deep within old eyes is to see a reflection of humanity that contains stories from a life lived in past and present. Some have gone deep into caverns hidden by a human shell only to reveal shadows from a backdrop of once a strong soul. To listen closely to tales from memory looking deep into old eyes is a glimpse back into self. By Robin Sloboda

Each morning I receive several devotional emails, today one contained the Puritan Prayer, "Love: Rest in God." As I read through the prayer, this thought stood out: May I love Thee, my benefactor, in all my benefits,not forgetting that my greatest danger arises from my advantages. I enjoy having an easy day/life. I have been given much in this life, however, I have had my share of losses, and disadvantages. As I read this verse I must admit, it is through the struggles of life that I have grown in Christ the most. The deep heart struggles push me right into the heart of God. My prayer today is that I will be thankful for the opportunities and material comforts that have been given, remembering they are gifts. They are not who I am, and they really do not bring true happiness or joy. Comfort and ease in life, yes! My desire in this life is to live each moment growing closer to God and becoming more like Jesus. I pray this will be true throughout my whole life and through

My book arrived from Thomas Nelson Publishers! Title: This Is Your Brain On Joy : How The New Science Of Happiness Can Help You Feel Good And Be Happy, by Dr. Earl Henslin. I have flipped through and it looks like a book I will really enjoy reading. Not a good time for the book to arrive, but that is usually how things go in my world. I have a paper due on Friday, the topic and reading are rather dry. I pray God will shine a light through the dullness. The front page of my new book brings joy with all of the wonderful colours and flowers. Here is the topic if anyone is interested: The Third Quest . Text: Jesus and the Victory of God by N.T. Wright . Embrace the Journey, even if it is dull, is my mantra! Warning: My post on my blog might be light for the next month.