THE STORY CONTINUES

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During the season of Advent, I attempted to fulfill a 24 day study of the book of Luke. There are 24 chapters in this telling of the greatest story ever told.  Unfortunately on the 22nd day, I became ill and by the 24th day I was in the hospital with a serious UTI.  I didn’t finish my study.  However, chapters 22 through 24 deal with the betrayal, denial, trial, suffering, death and resurrection of Christ – the perfect study for this season of Lent.  In an attempt to finish what was started, I will continue my walk through these last chapters.

A few years ago,  wrote a series on Mary’s journey through the life of her son, Jesus.  I plan to include that in this Lenten study.  Those articles were written from Mary’s point of view as a mother, disciple and saved Christian.  I cannot begin to imagine what was going on in her heart and mind at the time, but as a mom, a follower of Jesus and one of His saved co-inheritors of God’s everlasting kingdom, I think I might have an inkling of the emotional roller coaster ride she was on.

On this Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, there will be feasting and overindulgence as a worldly exhibition of overdoing it before we make small sacrifices tomorrow.  The idea of giving up what we left behind has little significance unless we do so with a repentant heart – and the promise of forgiveness by an unconditional loving God.

We should look at this 40 day season as a walk in the wilderness – a time of contemplation and self-examination. When we finally approach the cross of Christ on Good Friday, will we be ready for the price He had to pay for our redemption? He took every one of our sins to that bloody cross so we could have eternal life – so that we would appear sinless in the sight of our Holy God.  The glory of His resurrection on Easter Sunday fulfills our confidence that we shall also be risen from death and share eternity with Him.

The colorful beads, the demonic masks, the parades and celebrations will go on today.  What once was a casting off of worldly desires and opulence has gone to the extreme, but maybe that is what we’re talking about here.  The things of this world are insignificant. Jesus gave up His throne in heaven to live among us, become our brother and to die in our place.  Greater love has no man than that he lay down his life for his fellow man.

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CONSOLATION

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ART & INSPIRATION BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Psalm 95:4-5 “In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.”

Isn’t it comforting to know that the Creator of the Universe also made you and me?. He formed us before we were even born. He breathed life into us. He knew the color of our eyes and what our name would be. He knew what our weaknesses would be and how He would help us overcome them. God is also in control of all that happens throughout our lives and into eternity.

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GOOD NIGHT, CRUCIBLE

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This is the second time I’ve been involved in the production of Arthur Miller’s spell binding show, “The Crucible.”  Some thirty years ago I was an assistant to the director.  At that time I was on my second stint in college, had pretty much raised three children and was then pursuing my love of the theatre.  I returned to hone my skills so I could be a better teacher of drama.

The past couple months have been an amazing revisiting of this classic tale of mass hysteria, destruction of reputations, temptation, sin, and standing up for your beliefs.  This time, however, the cast consisted of a much younger crowd.  Teens from grades 6-12 played these difficult, heavy, intense characters.  The director educated them on the time period and the people involved in the Salem Witch Trials of the late 1600s.  They would be portraying real historical characters of the time.  It was a much different time than today.  These early settlers of a new land had come here to worship the way they deemed right. They were enveloped in property disputes and naturally there were other arguments among them as well.  The depth of the story was a challenge for each of them.

Not only were they required to learn vast amounts of lines, but develop complex characters which would leave a lasting impression on the audience.  The beauty of being involved in theatre at such a young age, is that the process makes them great problem solvers.  It allows them to be part of a team effort and grow life long friendships.  It gives them self confidence as they try new things and succeed.  The things we learn in our early years will often shape the future for us.

And so we say goodbye to “The Crucible.”   It’s always leaves a sadness when you put a show to bed, but these young people can take pride in what they accomplished with this challenging performance. They deserve the applause, because they fulfilled their commitment and dedication to the project.  So now, the stage manager will catch up on her sleep and look forward to working with many of these same amazing people again soon.

GREAT JOB TO THE CAST AND TECH CREW FOR THEIR AMAZING WORK!871756761-quote-Hugh-Jackman-i-find-that-kid-actors-are-great-188209

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DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

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There are a ton of little problems we face every day. They may become mind boggling if we let them.  For example:

  • A fitted bed sheet that doesn’t fit.
  • Having to pee as soon as you’re snuggled into bed.
  • Trying to decide whether to have the last piece of pie in the pan or save it for someone you love.
  • Deciding to wear two different socks because you can’t find a match.
  • Having a head of hair infused with static, so you wear a hat, which only creates more static.
  • Making a phone call instead of texting, just because you want to hear a voice.
  • Wishing you could sleep in an extra hour or two.
  • Wanting to be more organized.
  • Trying to reason with a teenager.
  • Giving something up that is no longer necessary.

These are only ten possible obstacles we might face.  They aren’t earth shattering, but they can become frustrating – get in the way of completing a job – cause undo stress – lead to more serious issues.  Every day problems might seem insignificant and unworthy of loading them onto God’s shoulders, but He invites us to do so every day.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”  Matthew 7:7

You might think that God doesn’t have time to bother with silly little things, but He makes it so easy for us to just ask.  Our prayer life doesn’t have to wait for some tragic event to happen.  We don’t have to forget to call on Him with the small stuff.  We often don’t want to bother Him with the every day problems of life, but He tells us to do so.

Life is full of obstacles – road blocks – detours – change, but God is consistent.  He never changes and will lead you through any difficulty you may encounter in this life if you let Him.  He is omniscient so he can solve any problem. He is omnipotent so He has the power to reroute our path.  He is omnipresent so He is available 24/7 to answer our prayers.

Don’t wait to call on Him.  He wants you to.  Trust in His unfailing, unconditional love to make your journey easier.  There will still be those tough times when you need His intervention – when you suffer a life altering situation – when you’re unsure about your future, relationships or how you will pay your bills – when you fall into the pit of depression or mental illness.  Just remember that He’s available for the little things too and in all things, give thanks for His love, because it will last for an eternity.

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SHINING BEACON

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

“One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.” Isaiah30:17 

A lighthouse standing alone in the midst of day,
Quietly waiting, without purpose,
For the light of day illuminates the waters beyond,
But as night returns,
And the darkness with it,
Its brilliance soars,
It becomes a refuge for ships at sea,
It is a light to guide the way home,
God is our refuge too,
And we are a reflection of His light,
As we stand alone,
Against all odds,
Against the evil of this world,
Even when we stand alone,
He is there,
His light bounces off of us,
We stand firm in his Word,
As we live according to it,
As we share that light with others,
Be a beacon to light another’s path.

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JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

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MAJESTY

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Within the mountain’s early dawn, His majesty is seen,
The skies fill up with brilliance, and glorious golden sheen,
His breath is seen in morning mist, His voice through eagles’ song,
His power displays in sunlit rays, He shines the whole day long.

His love for us unspoken, but seen in every rock,
He leads us like a shepherd protects his wandering flock,
I am so weak and fragile, like many a stubborn sheep,
My trust oft wanes, my fears o’er take, I toss through dream filled sleep.

My tears won’t stop, may faith grows weak, I stumble all the way,
But He’s right there, surrounding me, protecting me each day,
I’ll never grow to understand His unconditional love,
But thank Him that He grants it from His throne high up above.

My God, you are my fortress, my strength when I am weak,
You carry me through deserts, you lead me when you speak,
Through pastures green and waters clean, fulfilling every need,
You fill my heart with gratitude, my soul your Word does feed.

 

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GOD’S WORD THEY STILL SHALL LET REMAIN

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I wonder what the early Christian church was like, before the corruption of its tenets – before reason got involved – before faith took a back seat – before factions of the original church broke away and became more to man’s liking.

We read all about the early Christians by visiting the book of the Acts of the Apostles.  We can also learn through the four Gospels and their words of Christ Himself. We can observe the growth of the church throughout the Middle east and Africa.  The epistles to established churches also indicate early missteps by them.  Still the purity of God’s Word was spreading like wildfire.

I think about the early church in America – the Protestants who broke away from the Catholic church and the Church of England.  They came to find religious freedom.  Their beliefs insisted on prayer and daily reading of scripture, not to mention hours of worship in the church building.

So many of those beliefs stemmed from the basic core of God’s Word, but consisted mainly on the condemnation of the law and the consequences of sin.  The Gospel almost became an after thought.

The purity of Christ’s church began with His countless sermons on things that affected the lives of His listeners.  The parables were stories they could relate to, which had lessons pertaining to them.  The Beatitudes set forth innovative ideas about how to treat each other as we travel through life.

He related to those starving minds that this world was only temporary. He taught us how to pray – not as those who made hypocrites of themselves, but in the quiet moments of silent supplication and humility before God. He told us not to worry about things – not to store up treasures on earth – to look forward to our time in eternity – to ask God to fill our needs and then be confident that He would. He told us how to love each other – even those who persecute or hate us.  All these teachings seem completely opposed to how the world really is.

Dear, Holy, God, You inspired your truth into the minds and hands of the early Christians.  Help us to search the Scriptures for all the amazing truth within its pages.  Corruption is a natural thing for us human beings, because of the effect of our original sin.  Remind us that you have washed away every blemish through your dear Son, Jesus.  As we near the season of Lent, put us in touch with you again through your Word.  It is your voice of promise, hope and forgiveness.  It is my prayer that we use it as our manual for living.  May we keep its content ever pure.  Amen!

 

 

 

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WHAT’S HOLDING YOU BACK?

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I don’t like confrontation.  I’m adverse to rejection.  I fear heights and drowning in the ocean.  I would rather be alone than in a crowd.  I’ve learned over the years that my fears often get in the way of my moving on.

Those feelings were nothing more than obstacles which were blocking the way to my future.  Because of those roadblocks, I was hindered for a long time.  I didn’t feel smart enough to become a scholar. I didn’t have enough wealth to pursue my education so I didn’t.  I thought I was unattractive and would never find true love.  All of those seemed like insurmountable hurdles to overcome, but they weren’t.

When we trust in our own judgment regarding the detours we face, we often fail.  When we trust in God’s Providence, we can’t fail.  Often our brains become deluded with the fact that we carve our own path in this life.  Actually it’s already been mapped out for us.  God has a plan for each individual that comes into this world.  He even knew before we were born what we would become.

The simplicity of that fact is unacceptable to most folks.  They feel they are in charge of their own destiny.  They alone can create the success necessary to survive in this world.  We’re exposed daily to that truth.  The world is your oyster.  You can overcome all odds.  Success lies in the palm of your hand.  You can do this.  I’m not completely knocking the power of positive thinking, but without the force and power of God behind that thinking, we are setting ourselves up for failure.  He is the driving force, but that doesn’t mean we should sit back and wait for success to come to us.  We are implementing the plan He’s already drawn for us.

Our society has taken positive thinking to the next level.  Instead of focusing on our plan for the future, many think it doesn’t matter who we hurt along the way, as long as we get what we want.  In a world that puts the focus on the individual, we lose sight of the importance of team work, brainstorming, creative thinking, etc.

Jesus gave us a perfect example of how to live.  Do not worry or be anxious.  Serve others.  Put others first.  Don’t look for earthly gain – focus on heaven.  Be charitable.  Love one another.  The list goes on, but these thoughts are almost obliterated by the mantra of today which tells us we deserve the best.  We should live like there’s no tomorrow.  We should put ourselves first before looking out for others.

Maybe it’s time we look to the One who made the blueprint for our life.  He knows what you are capable of.  He knows where your talents lie.  He wants you to succeed.  He loves you unconditionally.  He walks with us and guides us through the obstacles.  He carries us when we think we can’t make it.  What better backing could we have?

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WINTER LOVE

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

Another blanket of fresh, white snow covers the winter wood,

Diamonds glitter across the meadow, the moon shines bright for good,

Icicles cling to skeletal limbs, days begin their ascent,

Still the cold days will hang on tight, temperatures make their descent.

 

Persistent winter will not let go, we long for warmer days,

Yet in those chilled, white barren forests, two lovers heads will raise,

Singing a haunting, love melody, their voices fill the air,

Their passion will warm and comfort them, as love will linger there.

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GOD’S VOICE

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
Where is the quiet place that you are longing for?
Is it in those empty times when waiting to do more?
Can you find contentment in the solitude of living?
Or does is come in simpler ways, like doing and forgiving.
God comes to us in many ways and most times when it’s silent,
But listen hard and you will hear His voice in every moment.
He whispers when we’re troubled, he soothes when we’re in pain,
You’ll see Him in creation, his voice is clear and plain.
He’s in the heat of summer and when the leaves do fall,
And in the cold of winter, you’ll hear His personal call.
When spring’s refreshing waters wash most everything in sight,
You’ll hear is voice assure you of His overpowering might.
Within the busy moments of life’s demanding pressures
He opens up His altar and He shares His greatest treasures.
Each moment He’s available to answer every prayer,
Just open up your heart to Him and He will be right there.

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HISTORY CHANNEL MINI-SERIES

Last night was the first in a trilogy about our first president, George Washington.  We knew nothing about it until our son-in-law, a real history buff, brought it to our attention.  I love the way the history channel gives us a different look at things from the past.

When I was a child, George Washington was revered as the father of our country.  He could not tell a lie, even when he was confronted about cutting down a cherry tree.  He was a great leader, an ethical man and a wealthy land owner.

In this retelling of his life, I learned that his father passed away when George was just a young boy.  He had to become the man of the house so wasn’t able to follow the educational venues of the day.  Instead he would manage the tobacco farm left to his mother.

George wanted to become an officer in the British army, serving in the colonies.  He was inexperienced in leading and in the art of war.  Both of those qualities led to some serious encounters and defeats.  In an attempt to cover up those embarrassments, he stretched the truth in letters he would later come to regret. So much for a flawless hero.

The pressures launched against the early colonials had to do with Britain not paying good prices for those items exported and taxation without representation.  Britain was ruling from afar and could do whatever they pleased with these new settlers.  At least that was the opinion of King George.

The series is well done.  It creates amazing pictures for us to lay our eyes on.  The glory of colonial America at its very beginning shines through.  The agricultural fields, the fancy ball gowns and superior manners – the mud filled battlefields, covered with dead and ravaged bodies.  We hear about the part the French played in this saga, along with the native people who aligned themselves with them.

Washington was a tall man for his time, standing at 6’4″ he was an impressive looking fellow.  He was also deemed quite handsome.  He fell in love with Martha and they were married, but George’s service to his country took him away from Mt. Vernon for much of their early years together.

We often place our founding fathers on pedestals.  It’s sometimes good for us to see that these heroes were mere men with flaws like everyone of us.  I look forward to the rest of the series and highly recommend it.

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I TRULY LOVE STAGE MANAGING

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Here we go again.  It’s opening week for “The Crucible,” with a group of very talented young people.  The real magic started this past Saturday as new light effects and sound were added along with costumes.  It seems each time something new is added, the brain atrophies.  Words which were firmly implanted there a few days ago have flown right out the window hopefully to be rescued before opening night.

The beauty of the teenaged mind is that it’s still not completely full.  It acts as a sponge at this time of life.  When you get to be my age, memorizing lines is like thirty five hours of brutal exercise.  It’s still funny that no matter what the age of the actor, we all wait until the last minute to memorize those bloody lines and if you’re a great improviser, that can help you to glide through, but it throws a monkey wrench at those waiting for the proper cue line.

I’ve gotten back into performing on stage again and can relate to the necessity of learning lines early.  However I often find myself re-writing the script from time to time.  Not only is this a disservice to fellow cast members, but to the playwright who struggled to find just the right mix of words to create his masterpiece.

I should’ve kept track of every theatre production I’ve ever been involved in, but that was just another piece of information taking up space in my ever overloading brain.  Instead, I keep on going.  Live theatre is so exciting because you never know what’s going to happen until it does.  Those are the moments you remember most when recalling your experience.

This has been a difficult script, because of its subject matter, along with a different kind of language style.  The use of early American dialect in the 1600s has been challenging, but the cast has been working hard to carry on.

Opening night is just a few days away.    We still have three days to tighten everything up.  We have a terrific director, who has also used this piece to teach the cast many interesting facts about the historical event of the Salem witch trials – mass hysteria – religious influence – superstition and the real life characters who were a part of this entire event.  I know I’ve learned a ton by being part of it.

I have also found a new niche in my continuing theatre career.  This is the fifth show I’ve stage managed.  It’s so exciting to watch someone else’s vision come to fruition.  Having sat in a director’s chair for so many years, I know all the elements involved in putting on a good show along with educating the cast in some way.  My age has taken its physical toll on me, but my brain still works (most of the time) so stage managing is the perfect job for me.

Now let’s go on with the show . . . .

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OLD DOG, NEW TRICKS

We are never too old to learn. Our journey on earth is usually a brief number of years, filled with discovery. Think of what it would be like to live for hundreds or thousands of them. Our brains would be filled to overflowing. Our accomplishments would surpass understanding.

Some might say there isn’t enough time in a person’s life to absorb it all. Fortunately, there is an eternity to loo k forward to. I know that when death does come, I will only be at the beginning of a perfect existence. My eyes will be opened. The patchwork of my life on earth will be filled with tiny stitches of gold and silver – patterns created by God Himself. The eternal tree of knowledge will have no bounds in heaven.

Psalm 111:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!”

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LOVING YOUR CHILDREN

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As most parents will tell you, it’s hard to let go of our children. When God brings them into our lives, He also lays on us the responsibility of caring for them, teaching them the right things and giving them things that will help them prepare for their future. \

When they take their first steps, we are right behind them to catch them if they fall. When they learn to ride a bike, we add additional wheels to make it safe and walk behind to make sure they don’t crash to the ground. We provide helmets, safety gear, booster seats, hand sanitizer and a variety of other things to protect them. We basically don’t want them to experience some of the pain we did in growing up, so we do as much as we can to shelter them.

There does come a time when we have to let go of that protection and let them learn through experience. God does that with us every day. He allows challenges to come into our lives so that we learn how to deal with them. He knows the pain we feel. He has experienced the suffering of losing of a child. He knows what it’s like to be betrayed, rejected and scorned for no reason, but He is our loving Father and He let’s go of us so that we will return like prodigal sons and daughters to His loving arms for protection. Letting go isn’t easy, but letting God is.

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GOD LOVES YOU & ME

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ART  & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER
You beckon me before your throne. I have no plea to give.
My sins are far too many. I don’t deserve to live,
But still you call out to me, you tell me it’s all right,
You promise that you’ll carry me from darkness into light,
You gave your only Son to wash away my sin,
I don’t deserve this love that you have placed so deep within,
My soul is cleansed and free. You’ve done that with your love.
I now can look into your eyes when we meet up above.
How can I thank you, Lord, for all you’ve done for me,
I once was lost, but now am found. You set my spirit free.
I praise your Holy name, my brother and my friend,
For giving me perfection and life without an end.

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HOW ABOUT THE KID WHO GETS NO VALENTINES?

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Poor old Charlie Brown. Every year it’s the same thing. He addresses enough Valentines for everyone in his class and doesn’t receive one in return. It has to be hard for a kid not to get even one Valentine.

Think of the many folks that don’t have a special someone in their life – those who are single by choice, those who have lost one they love, those who are facing years of caring for a disabled loved one. It has to be hard for them too.

Millions are spent each year on cards, flowers, chocolates and other special gifts, but why does it simply have to be one day only? Like Charlie Brown says, it’s almost like you’re singleness is being exploited at your expense.

It’s OK, Charlie. You have millions of fans in the world. You are loved by countless children and your words have touched adults as well. Of course that doesn’t mean much to a comic strip character. It doesn’t mean much to real live people either. We all long for someone to love and someone who will love us in return – someone we can share our lives with and build a life together.

Jesus gave us the best Valentine ever when He shed His blood to pay for our iniquities. This is called undeserved, unconditional love, but even that message doesn’t hold a lot of water for those who are looking for a relationship with another person.

Dear, God, I know that you have given us the best possible gift – eternal life, but I pray for those who have lost love in their lives – for those who have been separated by death from those they cherish – for those who have never experienced true love. Heal their hearts and let them know that they are loved in the best way possible, by You! Amen

 

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JULIES FRIDAY FUNNY

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OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

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His love is like none we have ever experienced here on earth.
His love is beauty beyond our wildest dreams.
His love is precious, merciful, compassionate.
His love is given freely without question.
His love doesn’t look at our past mistakes.
He is blind to our transgressions.
He loves in times of anger, hatred, self-pity, depression.
He loves it when we love each other.
His love is a gift – more precious than diamonds or gold.
His love is the greatest love ever known or experienced by man.
No kiss or caress can compare with the touch of our Savior, God.
He cuddles us in His strong protective arms. He shields us with His strong wings.
He lifts us up when we fail.
He encourages us when we think we can’t go on.
He inspires us to go the extra mile.
He walks with us through all the joy, bliss and excitement of life.
He carries us through all the trials, burdens, hassles, fears and frustrations.
His love is like no other – it endures forever and ever!

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WARM DAYS OF SUMMER

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
Days of endless winter capture the hearts and minds of many in my part of the country. All that remains are memories of a warm summer day as the sun beats relentlessly upon cool water and people go sleeveless and shoeless on the banks of the river. Dipping your toes into the refreshing water is now just a memory, but soon it will return again.

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