END OF SUMMER

Posted on September 2, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

POETRY & PHOTO BY KATHY BOECHER©

Signs of autumn in the air,

Leaves slowly lose their grip and fall gently to the ground,

Acorns pile up and seeds of all kinds are nestling into the earth,

Regeneration of life to come,

The air is fresher, the colors brilliant, the crops ready for harvest

And the smell of apple pies saturate our nostrils,

No more warm days of summer;

No more lazy days on the beach,

Birds flock up in hoards and escape to warmer climates,

The way we look at things in life can have a great effect on how we live it,

A negative observation often leads to negative behavior and attitude,

Lord, help me to look at things the way you intended them to be,

A gift from you,

With no strings attached,

The bounty of the seasons,

Is to find beauty in all of Your creation.

Posted in aging, Poetry by Kathy Boecher, seasons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

PUTTING WHITE CLOTHES AWAY

Posted on September 2, 2023 by atimetoshare.me
No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover UsageMandatory Credit: Photo by Everett/REX Shutterstock (794899a)Doris Hill, circa late 1920s.Doris Hill, circa late 1920s.

In the early 1900s, women were going through a lot of radical changes. They gained the right to vote. They became aware that they could do more than have babies and run a household. Their independence was leading right up to the sexual revolution of the 1960s. The montage above shows how fashion trends changed from 1900-1990. Somewhere in the latter part of the 20th century, the rule to put away all the white summer duds became obsolete.

There was a certain sleeve length that should be worn for various occasions. Different shoes for different events. Dress length also became a factor as hemlines slowly rose. Gloves and hats were part of every young debutante’s wardrobe. The rule for not wearing white after Labor Day or before Memorial Day, may have been due to the time of the year more than anything. Once Autumn made its appearance, the streets became littered with leaves and dirt which would easily attach themselves to those pretty white shoes. The whites of summer were intended to reflect the sun and keep you from sweating profusely. Usually those whites were made of cotton or linen, to further lighten the weight of the garment.

Fashion trends change and many of the old rules get swallowed up by new, but I still adhere to not wearing white shoes in the winter.  However, if you live in the frozen Tundra of Minnesota, white shoes would act as the perfect camouflage during our snowy months.  Add to that a pair of white pants and jacket and you could become invisible as you shovel the sidewalk and freak out your neighbors.  If you needed a little time to yourself, you could easily hide from the kids.  The advantages to wearing white in winter are countless.

In the cold months of winter we choose to wear darker colors, however, when you’re a young mom you have to be aware of shortcuts.  For example doesn’t it make more sense to have your kids wear dark colors in summer so that all the dirt and grime from their outdoor activities wouldn’t show up quite as much?  Think about it – you’re camping with your children.  Grass stains and water marks from fishing in a creek along with S’mores served at the campfire definitely are not pretty.  It would certainly be to mom’s advantage to dress them in dark clothes all year round.

So, as time changes, so do traditions. In fact, they become more a habit than a tradition. They don’t really accomplish much and besides, what difference does it make?  Today our young women are faced with much more difficult challenges.  Sometimes we just have to break the rules or at least bend them somewhat, especially when it comes to fashion. So, put away those white shoes and other summer clothes and get out the flannel.

HAPPY LABOR DAY WEEKEND, EVERYONE!

Posted in aging, holidays, summer | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

FROWZY FRIDAY

Posted on September 1, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

“Frowzy,” is a word that originated in the seventeenth century, but no one seems to know where it came from. The definition of the word means to be scruffy or unkempt. The picture above is of a frowzy me, taken during the first year of the COVID epidemic. As you can see, I was not at my best at that time and certainly could be labeled “Frowzy.” A lot of us were walking around in a dazed condition in those days. Somehow, many of us haven’t changed our countenance much. For some reason, the pandemic created a lot of zombie-like expressions. The lack of smiling faces might be due to the fact that the lower portion of our faces were covered up and it was unnecessary to smile at people. In fact, there weren’t many people we could smile at, even if we wanted to.

The pandemic changed lives – not only the loss of life or the resulting symptoms of the disease, but the isolation from family and friends and the implementation of working at home online. In a way we forgot how to socialize. You can see the consequences of this everywhere. Even within families, the space around us has widened and we don’t communicate like we do. Hiding behind the mask along with staying at home has caused an adaptation that really has hurt us as a nation. We’ve grown untrusting, suspicious, hermit-like and fearful. The disease seems to have almost disappeared, but every once in a while, there seems to be a temporary uptick and the fear sets in again. Once again, our suspicious minds go down another rabbit hole.

As God’s creatures, we learn to adapt to our circumstances, but often times it’s not for the better. It’s time to come out of the security of living within four walls and beginning to socialize again. It’s beginning to change in the past year, but people are still isolating and staying in the shell created by that horrid event. God created us to depend on Him in all circumstances, but He also saw a need for us not to be alone. So, take off that frowzy mask and replace it with a huge, genuine smile. Show your pearly whites.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.  For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 ESV

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THURSDAY’S CHILD

Posted on August 31, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I was born on June 19, 1942. I looked up the day to see which day of the week it was, and I was born on a Friday. If you’re old enough to remember the old nursery rhymes, the poem “Monday’s Child,” was designed to help children learn the order of each day of the week.  When I was younger and learning these rhymes, I had a tendency and still do, to wonder about such things. Who makes up these words? Not to mention the way words change in meaning over time.

“Thursday’s child has far to go.” I suppose this could be because the week is almost over and it seems like the end is finally near, but it will return again next week.  It might have to do with not being able to accomplish what we set out to do on Monday.  Maybe Mother Goose simply couldn’t think of anything else to write that rhymed. The fact that I wonder about such things, gives one pause.

Some folks like to analyze these old verses. For example, some believe that Thursday’s child might be the child with special needs. Some think that it refers to the obstacles children run into during the week and by Thursday, they’re ready to throw in the towel. David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels wrote the music and lyrics for “Thursday’s Child,” as follows:

All of my life I’ve tried so hard
Doing my best with what I had
Nothing much happened all the same.

Something about me stood apart
A whisper of hope that seemed to fail
Maybe I’m born right out of my time

Sometimes I cried my heart to sleep
Shuffling days and lonesome nights
Sometimes my courage fell to my feet
Lucky old sun is in my sky
Nothing prepared me for your smile
Lighting the darkness of my soul
Innocence in your arm

Thursday was one of the most difficult days for our Lord, Jesus.  On that day of Holy week His Holy Supper was instituted.  He discussed His coming death, behaved like a servant by washing His disciples’ feet – foretold the betrayal of one disciple and the denial of another – prayed to the point of complete surrender as blood came from His eyes, in the garden where He often went to meditate – replaced a man’s ear without surgery – was arrested for preaching the truth – was accused of blasphemy, placed before a kangaroo court and treated brutally by his accuser. The next day He would be tortured, humiliated, spat upon and crucified until He died.

Most of us will never experience such suffering.   Our days may have ups and downs, but they will be nothing like the Thursday of Holy Week.  When we arrive at the end of our week, let’s be reminded of the great cost paid for our redemption.  Because of Jesus’ love, we all have the promise of being full of grace.  Heaven is waiting for those who believe that the price for our ransom has been paid by God Himself.

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments

THE WORLD IS VERY EVIL

Posted on August 30, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I’m quite sure that Lincoln wasn’t the only man in history to make this statement. Through the history of our world, evil has been rearing its ugly head. Each generation seems to become more and more corrupted. We can’t help but notice the devil’s influence. It seems that he’s becoming more blatant each day. Morality, lies, theft, adultery, sexual deviation, lack of integrity, selfishness, self-absorption and upside- down thinking. Maybe I have more time on my hands. Maybe my mind is restless and looks at the negatives rather than the positives. Whatever the case, we’re racing towards the highway to hell with a lack of common sense and basic teaching of the Law of God and His precious Gospel.

The devil has a knack for tempting us to do the wrong thing, use the wrong words, blaming others instead of taking responsibility for our own actions. His actions are usually hidden under a cloak of intrigue and temptation. He lures us into his web with deceptive means and doesn’t give up. God has conquered Satan, when His Son died on a cross as a fully human being. He conquered the sting of death, by providing a life after death for those who put their faith in Him. So why does God allow him to lurk in the darkness or boldly reveal himself in such appealing ways? I believe that when God created the world, the universe and all living things, He gave the human race a mind which can chose between good and evil. Like a loving Father, He guides us through life. There are choices to be faced on a daily basis. We have the freedom of our own will. What we do with that will and our choice, remains up to us. When we place our faith in His will, the walk will be much easier.

We can watch our world collapse around us. We can accept the ugliness of sin. We can become part of it, but if we choose to do nothing to stop it, we are just as guilty as those doing evil. We face temptation every day. It’s so easy to look at our neighbor’s lawn and wish ours looked as good. It’s not hard to lie to cover up bad behavior. It’s much harder to trust God and walk in His path. This journey will be full of ups and downs, life-changing decisions, and obstacles. God has already defeated Satan and his minions. Death no more devours us, because He has promised to be with us through it all. To top it off, He guarantees life after death for those who believe in Him.

While we wait for eternity, we have an obligation to fight evil – to stand up to the devil – to ask God for His protection from the impending doom of our world. Those who say or do nothing about it will pay a price for their silence.

“ Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 ESV.

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TUESDAY TRANSPARENCY

Posted on August 29, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

TRANSPARENCY means to be completely honest – to wear your heart on your sleeve – to show responsibility and respect for others – to create a feeling of trust with another person. These are all definitions which apply to me lately. Most of the time I’ve kept my problems to myself. I don’t often express how I really feel – I hold back tears and try to put on a good front. How about you? Do you bare your soul to your friends? Do you share your fears and problems? Do you trust another person to see what you’re going through – to see right through you? Most folks feel it’s better to keep those feelings to yourself, so they hold them in and suffer for it.

This world of ours is filled with darkness. We don’t know who to trust. The whole political scene has been a source of hidden agendas and secrets for years and years. Even those we trust our lives to aren’t always what we think. Medical institutions have become big business. Churches are not preaching the true Word of God. We form preconceived ideas about people we do business with. We set up boundaries to safeguard our lives and trust becomes a thing of the past.

Today, I am going to be transparent. I have days when tears flow like a river. I don’t know what triggers them, but suddenly – for no apparent reason – there they are. I have times when I doubt my faith. Do I have enough faith to honor God -to trust in His will – to give my sadness to? Are my prayers heard? Does God understand my sadness and fears? Can I face a life alone? Can I continue to share my life with others? Should I? These are just a few of the questions running through my head.

God has promised that I am loved, saved, His child, an heir of heaven – but truthfully there are days when that isn’t enough. Why do we struggle so, when God has kept His word from the beginning? I believe that the trials we experience are designed to draw us closer to Him. Then suddenly my mind turns to the future and what comes next. I start to doubt, to fear, to tremble, to give up, to cry, to get angry for my circumstances. When we try to figure everything out for ourselves, it’s time to turn to our Creator first. He has invited us to call on Him in times of trouble. He has fulfilled His promise to provide us with all the blessings we need. He gives us hope for the future and will fill us with wisdom, strength and hope when we ask Him for it.

So, do you see me now or am I not being transparent enough? OK, here’s some more. Aging has changed the way I look at things. I read things into situations I see going on around me. I see bad behavior, hear filthy language, morality in the sewer and I wonder what will happen to this country of ours. All of the troubles of this world are beyond my control. I will continue to cry without cause. I will worry about the future until I die. I will care about my family and friends and worry when they go through difficulties, but God will still be with me. I am loved, saved and an heir to his heavenly realm. He, alone is my transparency.

Posted in 9/11, aging, truth, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

SUMMER MEMORIES

Posted on August 28, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

Yesterday we took another of our mini-road trips. The painting of Paul’s was done several years ago, but represents the fun-filled days of summer. Check out my Facebook page for actual locations we visited in search of new summer memories.

Each day is a blessing when you’re reaching the end of your journey in life. We have been richly awarded a lifetime of knowing each other, becoming best friends and spending our days together. These little road trips we’ve been taking are like building new memories that we can share. Through them, we’re continuing to live these days to the utmost. What started out as a simple drive, grew into a three hour adventure into Grantsburg, WI and the Crex Meadows Wildlife Refuge. If you ever get a chance to go there, you won’t be disappointed. The wide variety of landscape, forests, swamps, islands, wildflowers and other water features are absolutely stunning. We followed the trails into an enchanted forest that beckoned our attention. Wherever we looked, there was mystery and adventure. The road itself was rugged. Much like our lives have been. We reached a point where we were driving down deeper into the abyss and wondered if we were on a road to nowhere.

I guess life is like that, isn’t it? We weave in and out, wondering if we will ever arrive at the end. When we do, we realize what a wonderful adventure it has been. Cherish your days together with the one you love. Treasure every moment you share. Each second is a gift from God. Praise Him for His faithfulness. His love endures forever.

The chatter and noise of children at play,

Summer breeze of relief from the sun’s burning ray,

Red Umbrellas and blue shade a sweat covered brow,

Things to climb on and hang from, in the sweet here and now,

Days of youth pass so quickly like whispers they fly,

In a breath they are here and soon quickly they die,

But the sounds on a playground give us pause to reflect,

On the sweet days of childhood so pure and direct,

Of the bright hues of summer and the heat of the day,

When we set time aside to just have fun and play.

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

BACK TO SCHOOL FEARS

Posted on August 27, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Many schools are already in session. Some will wait until after Labor Day. For many it will be their first adventure into the unknown as they enter kindergarten. For the seasoned college students, there are still anxious moments concerning class credits, living with another set of roommates. deciding what your major will be. For most parents, there is a period of separation anxiety, but it is soon replaced with freedom of a sort. Wherever you are in this category – parents or students – there will be adjustments to make.

I had an eye-opening experience the summer before entering high school. I acted as a nanny for an adopted child who had made many adjustments already in her short life. She was the center of the household. She was an only child. She was doted on – got her own way most of the time – and quickly realized that she ruled the roost. The lessons I learned in the process helped me enter high school with a whole different perspective. The experience taught me that I was responsible for another human being. I learned that the child wouldn’t always agree with me. I played games with her which challenged both of us. We learned to do things together rather than separately. A bond was created. This opened doors for me as I entered high school. Putting others first, is a good solution to most problems that arise.

When a child goes to his first day of school there are many new things to experience, explore, discover and learn. A teacher has her hands full of all kinds of issues, with assorted backgrounds. There are so many controls on teachers today, along with creating a safe environment for these little ones. Socialization is one of them. Teamwork, solving problems, being creative are crucial in this part of early education, and in my opinion should be taught first at home. There are those children who are shy about mixing in with strangers – those who are unable to understand that the world doesn’t revolve around them – those who don’t know how to share. There are the friendly, approachable kids who are cooperative, and those who want to be the leaders. Quite a mixed bag of challenges.

When a student reaches college, the adjustments are even greater. For many, it’s their first time living in a different environment than their family home. Like in a marriage, the first year seems to be the hardest, because the personal, societal and physical differences are a combination which can create all kinds of chaos. Again, that old lesson that I learned so long ago, continues to hold true. When we can put ourselves in another’s shoes, we will gain a greater understanding of them and their needs. That doesn’t mean one should be a doormat for the other, but there should be compromises and discussions to clear the air for the future. Often college roommates will go on to be lifetime friends. Some will never speak to each other again. Hopefully, they can choose to adapt and accept each other (faults and all) or complain and be miserable. Encourage your college students to be willing to give up when necessary – to look for the good in those they are closest to, without compromising their beliefs – try to understand another person’s point of view and work together to maintain a comfortable situation for everyone. All of those things will help them succeed in whatever path they choose

I’m so glad my school days are over, but learning never really ends. Most of our social skills are learned by trial and error. Many never overcome their fears, their shortcomings or failures, but they are God’s creation and the future of America. Whatever we can do as parents, will not only prepare them, but also equip them with the right stuff.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it,” Proverbs 22;6 ESV

Posted in aging, America, back to school, parenting, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

WHAT GOD ORDAINS IS ALWAYS GOOD . . .

Posted on August 26, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Whether we’re facing life or death situations, climbing the ladder of success, raising and guiding a young family, beginning a new school year, we can be sure that we are not alone in it. We may think that following God’s will is too hard. By doing so. we’re giving in, which makes us feel weak or incapable of making our own decisions or following our own dreams and desires. Instead of being weak, when we submit to God’s will, we’re taking on one of the most courageous tasks we will ever take.

It seems that relinquishing or submitting is a form of defeat, yet it is so different when you submit to your Father in heaven. He has already laid the foundation for your life. He knew you before your mother gave birth to you. He sees, hears and knows what’s going on in your head. With powers like that, why wouldn’t you submit? As I look back on my life, however, I seem to have been in a continual wrestling match with God. He gave me a free will to make my own choices, after all. It has taken me most of my life to realize that He is far beyond my own understanding, but He is my Father and He loves me, just as He loves everyone who trusts in His will over their own.

When we accept the fact that He is the One who created us, He certainly knows our inner workings. He crafted each part of us as we grew in our mother’s womb. He knew the challenges we would face in life. He was aware of our successes before they were achieved. He wants us to use our brains. If we don’t, we may as well give into a world that will soon be overtaken by artificial intelligence. I pray that never happens, but I know that we can put our complete faith in God and know that whatever He ordains will always be for our good.

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DON’T STOP BELIEVING

Posted on August 25, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

When the heat index exceeds the actual temperature, we become slaves to our air conditioning. When our allergies are in full bloom, yet we long to be outdoors, you think about a road trip. You may not make it from the air-conditioned house to the air-conditioned car without collapsing in a heap right in the middle of the journey. This has been a week like that. The State Fair has begun and along with it a lot of sweat, dehydration and heat stroke. Still the outdoors is calling to us. So, after almost a week of isolation in our home prison, we ventured out to the air-conditioned car and hit the road.

For us these little diversional road trips are helping to keep our minds occupied and our search for beauty in God’s creation alive. We saw so many beautiful birds. A group of sandhill cranes made their way gingerly across the road. These lovely specimens are in full color right now – a beautiful rusty amber body, with the familiar red on their heads. They walked on stilted legs and were truly a sight to see. We observed some huge trumpeter swans bathing themselves and enjoying the coolness of the swampy water. Within a short distance of the swans was a flock of gigantic white egrets, sitting like bowling pins along shoreline. A field of giant, toasted marshmallows (which I call the huge, round hay bales,) were set throughout the plane – nourishment for the animals in the eventual colder days. Finally, on the last turn, we saw some peeks of autumn color. It’s just beginning to ebb as the higher branches are gently being kissed by the sun.

When we let the elements get in the way of enjoying our vision – our love of nature – our desire to be outside – we are cheating ourselves from some wonderous adventures. We should never stop believing in what God has in store for us. Our days may be drawing to an end, but our sense of adventure remains alive and well. After another short road trip, we both felt refreshed and alive. We topped the day off with a dinner date at an air-conditioned restaurant.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

Posted in aging, cancer, God's plans | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

PALLIATIVE CARE?

Posted on August 24, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

What exactly is Palliative Care? We’re learning. For us, we are just beginning the journey into Palliative Care. This program is different from hospice, because it provides care for those with chronic disease – those who have untreatable Cancer – those who have multiple health issues. It also provides support for family members. It is not a death sentence – for no one can determine the length of our days except for God Himself. We have decided to proceed with this next step. Paul has Cancer. His other health issues include a faulty heart valve with stenosis, he’s had two minor strokes, he has an aneurysm and an implanted catheter in his bladder. Last year alone he spent time in the hospital almost every month. I could go into more detail with some of the minor issues, but I think you get the point. Generally, you wouldn’t think there’s anything wrong with him. He looks great. His numbers are all close to normal. He continues to have a wonderfully creative mind, that won’t stop producing art or devising ideas for invention. He loves to tell his stories to whomever will listen to them. His almost 82 years have been filled with adventure, innovation, excitement, discouragement, rebuilding, restoration, faith, love, family and all the things that make life worth living.

Death is in the future for all of us. We don’t like to think about it, but it looms over us like a swinging pendulum, just waiting for that final swing. When you know that your days are numbered, but you still don’t know how many you have left, you try to squeeze every last drop of living into the final days. However, you don’t always feel up to par. You’re tired, you have pain in various places, you feel discouraged. You don’t have enough pep to get out of bed. When you have faith that God has another life waiting for you after death, you almost can’t wait to get there. So why do we go through the pain of living? Perhaps our lessons learned can help someone else get through their journey. Maybe someone else’s situation can help us through ours.

Palliative care is not the end of life. It simply makes life a little easier for those who would rather not be hospitalized for each symptom that might occur. There is no limit on the time you can take advantage of this program. There is medical care available 24/7. You can receive counseling, help with simple tasks and many other things to make your life a little easier.

We’re not giving up. We continue to pray for God’s will to be done. If it’s time for Paul to be in heaven, God will determine that. If there is a cure, God can provide that as well. Our prayers have power. We will not discount God’s intervention in life or death. We still believe in miracles, because they continue to happen when we least expect them.

Posted in aging, cancer, God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

THE ANGELS AMONG US

Posted on August 23, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Do you ever feel that God has deserted you? When I start thinking that way, I need to remember all the times when God’s angels interceded in my life. There was the time I worked at a loan company and two masked robbers came in brandishing guns and demanding cash.  I was only 21 years old. My young life flashed before my eyes as I handed over the key to the cash drawer. Then I was told to hit the floor and put my hands over my head. As I sat there, all my years flashed before me. I felt certain I was going to be found dead. I survived.

There was another time. My body laid lifeless on the operating table after a minor surgery. My blood pressure had dropped to dangerous levels. I felt my life slipping away as I witnessed the entire scene from above.  God sent angels of mercy in the form of skilled medical personnel. I survived.

When I thought everything was running smoothly, I realized that it wasn’t. My husband’s successful business failed. We were faced with life changing challenges. It seemed that we might be living in a cardboard box somewhere. Our home went into foreclosure. We left bankruptcy court with a few dollars between us. Those we considered to be true friends, deserted us. We had to start from scratch to rebuild our lives. Those who truly were our friends, helped us find work and rebuild. I believe they were angels too. We survived.

I’m certain that everyone I’ve met in this life has entertained angels without even realizing it. We all face tough times. We face problems every day. We are challenged in our faith life and we turn away from God. He knows all about trouble. He saw His creation fall into sin. He saw the ugliness that once was a paradise. He saw how mankind changed and continues to do so. Still, He loves us so much that He provides a way for us to be with Him forever. Because of that, we all survive.

God doesn’t promise that life will be easy if we follow Him. In fact, it may get worse, but He makes it very easy to hope for eternity in heaven. He is waiting there for us, surrounded by an army of angels. WE WILL SURVIVE!

I THINK WE ALL LEARN FROM EACH OTHER, SO IF YOU HAVE A SURVIVAL STORY, OR ONE THAT INCLUDES AN ENCOUNTER WITH ANGELS, LET’S HEAR FROM YOU!

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FUZZY VISION

Posted on August 21, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Days like today, when the sun is shrouded by a heavy haze, when the air is filled with smoke from other parts of the world, when no amount of washing will eliminate the dirt and grunge that fuzzes up our vision, I am beginning to wrap my mind around the reality of the challenges to face today. This week is another gift from God. Each day is a bonus. Life, as we once lived it, is entering another chapter. I’m confident that God is in control, but there are still moments when I wonder – when my faith is being tested – when I hope that I won’t lose it – when tears fall faster than I can control them – when thoughts about a new future haunt me. I know that God has this, but there are times when I wish He’d let me in on His plan.

As I look out my window today, I see an accumulation of muck from road construction, polluted air, thirsty plants that need tending. I think about my need to take care of those windows, but I know it is a thankless job and will have to be repeated in a week or so. We are living in kind of a shell of our environment. As we grow older the shell shrinks. We can only go so far. Our life goals have been achieved – well maybe not all of them. Our bodies have limitations. Our minds work slower. Everything is in slow motion. Still, beyond those windows, is a beautiful world, created by an amazing God. On the other side of the grime is a place to continue living. We will go on. We will run in fields of emerald grass. Our bodies will be revived and restored and we will inherit the paradise that God originally planned for us. The windows have been thoroughly cleaned. There is no more sin. Jesus washed it all away.

“THROUGH MY WINDOW,” By Kathy Boecher

A journey through a crystal pane of light and glorious sun,

Separated by a wall that’s conceived within my mind,

A longing leads my heart into a place where I can run,

A place to hide, to bear my soul, a place I’ll never find.

I wander through this wilderness, surrounded by my fears,

I close the world outside my door and let no others in,

The days go by and swiftly ebb, though dreams may dry my tears,

I will not capture peace until the Lord comes back again.

In His magnificent glory, He’ll cut right through the clouds,

His angels will encircle Him, the saints are at His side,

They sing their loud alleluias and shout His name out loud,

My fears will melt, my heart will soar, with Him I’ll now abide.

Posted in aging, anxiety, cancer, Poetry by Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on FUZZY VISION

RELINQUISHING CONTROL

Posted on August 19, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Last night, we topped off our Friday with a visit to our favorite pizza place. This has been a mainstay for us and holds many memories of good times, good conversation and good food. Yesterday, was another of those chapters in this new journey we’re on with Cancer. A visit to palliative care, which lasted for 80 minutes, described exactly how this program works in helping us through some of the struggles of this disease. There is a complete staff at our disposal of social workers, nurses, doctors, emergency care, home health care and help for the families of those going through cancer. Paul, with the help of God, family, friends and prayer, has determined not to pursue further treatment for his illness. He has been struggling with his health on many levels for almost three years now, with the last year opening doors to serious issues that could also take his life. We’ve all made peace with this decision and are counting on God’s continuing care for all of us as we take this final step.

Giving things over to God is not an easy task. We try so hard to manage our lives with all our might. We want to be a part of the task. We forget that God has already laid out the plan and knows the outcome. In making this decision, it was like giving complete control to God. That final surrender that takes a lifetime to relinquish. I keep thinking of Jacob as he wrestled with God so many centuries ago. Did he really think he had a chance of winning? God loved him enough to save his life but left him with a disability that he carried with him as a reminder of his confrontation. When we try to manage things completely on our own, our decisions don’t always take us in the right direction. When we allow God to lead the way, we are guaranteed a perfect result.

Now is the time for complete trust. We are not discounting the fact that God can restore Paul’s health and give him many more years of living, but in the meantime, we’re doing what we do best – together. Our little journeys and visits with old friends are creating new memories of hope and faith. There are still tears – a mountain of them – as I try to imagine my life without him, but I know that God has that all figured out too. Trust is based on an intimate relationship. We have that connection when we rely on our God to walk with us all the way.

Posted in aging, cancer, Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

YELLOWSTONE MEMORIES

Posted on August 19, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

THE ROAD TO HELL

When you’ve hit the bottom of that dark and lonely road,

When your mind is troubled and you’re ready to explode,

When the days seem endless and the nights are oh so long,

When you can’t tell the difference between what’s right and wrong.

You struggle through this life and can’t seem to get ahead,

You live in the pit of hell and wish that you were dead,

But God won’t let you fall from grace, He will see you through,

He’ll lift you from the darkness, He has a plan for you.

Don’t ever think there’s no way out, the skies are blue above,

His tears will cover over you and shower you with love.

NEVER GIVE UP

Spineless cowards fill their minds with delusions of grandeur.

They hide behind threats and words instilling fear.

They conjure up the forces of evil to accomplish their deeds.

They will not be silenced. Their voices grow stronger.

Their numbers grow and they seem to be gaining strength.

The God of Abraham will never be silenced. He is the maker of all things.

He sent His only Son to be our champion – To fight our battles –

To snuff out the devil and his minions – to dominate the power of evil.

We need to turn to Him again. Through Him our strength will grow.

To Him the glory and power and honor shall remain.

Posted in aging, Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, cancer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

SIGNS

Posted on August 18, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

There are signs all around us, to lead us, to warn us, to create interest, to sell something to us, and yet the signs that really matter don’t always really matter to us. We read the speed limit signs, for example, but how often do we actually obey them? Advertising lures us with hopes of changing our lives, giving us something we don’t need or making false promises. There are signs for garage sales, which have cost many an accident. Signs are seen everywhere as we go through life. There are even signs telling us to buy their signs.

Many choose to seek signs that will alter their future. They place their faith in things of the world to make plans – to determine their goals – achieve them – or put themselves into a place of power. It’s interesting to me that people will turn their future over to things of the world, but they have a problem putting faith in the Creator of the universe. We continue to try and control things ourselves. We want to have a part in our own destiny, without realizing that our fate is already sealed. That should be a comfort, but to most folks it’s a copout. Instead of turning our lives over to God, we try to manage everything ourselves. This truly gets in the way of our relationship with our heavenly Father. His plans never fail. His promises are never broken. He is at our side through life and death.

Wouldn’t it be nice if God gave us a physical sign when we’re going through some difficulty? If He just wrote a note in the heavens that gave us assurance that life would get better. I think that’s a normal hope, but if we knew the future, we might not like what it holds. There are going to be problems, worries, disasters, disappointments and fears ahead. God is not a genie in a magic lamp, that gives us all that we want. However, he has placed signs all over the place to lead us to Him. Take out your Bible, dust it off and take a look at the pages carefully. The signs are within that book. They are also in the realm of creation. God is everywhere. He loves us to the max. We have a perfect home waiting in heaven. His love is unconditional. His own Son suffered and died so that we could have eternal life. He came back to life to show us that we will never die either.

When Jesus walked the earth, the leaders of the church tried to make Him look bad by asking for signs of the end times. Jesus answered them with these words from Matthew 16:2-3

“He answered them, â€œWhen it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’  And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” 

Signs of the end times are all around us. We only need to watch the evening news. However, Jesus also told us that we will not know the hour or the day. It will come without our knowing as a thief in the night, so we need to be prepared NOW. Trust in His inerrant Word. He will give you peace and comfort through His inspired words.

Posted in aging, America, End times, Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

POTPOURRI THURSDAY

Posted on August 17, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Today is throwback Thursday, but I’ve got nothing to throw back, so I’m going to talk about a mess of different things – a potpourri of useless information, which fills our minds and makes us cranky – produces a chuckle – lifts our spirits – helps us forget about all the icky stuff that permeates our world today.

Did you ever wonder if the Hokey Pokey is what it’s all about? I mean, if all there was to life was turning ourselves around, wouldn’t we all be turning in circles every day? Then there’s the thought of bumping into each other as we turn ourselves around. Utter chaos.

Or how about this? “Follow your heart,” How can we do that? Our heart is inside of us and to follow it, we’d have to get outside of ourselves. I suppose that’s a good place to start.

Here’s another one – “When nothing is going right – go left.” That might be good advice, unless you’re on a roundabout. You’ll be there all day.

“As you get older, three things happen. First you lose your memory and the other two I can’t remember.” This is especially true for people of my age. I often go on a quest for something in another room, and by the time I get there, I forget what I was going for. Or I’ll write something down in my planner and when I check it a few weeks later, I have no idea what I was thinking.

This actually happened to me once. I was in a play where I was supposed to say, “out of the frying pan, into the fire” and reversed the sentence to “out of the fire and into the frying pan.” Thankfully, I realized my mistake and got myself out of the fire and back into the frying pan.

Funny things always happen to me – or I simply find humor in normal things. Either way, I seem to wind up with lots of funny material to use in my playwriting or blog posts. I’ve gone to work with two different shoes or socks on. When I was working, that was a strange thing to do. Today it’s a fashion statement. I’ve left a whole package of frozen bread dough loaves on the counter to thaw. When I returned home, the dough had made a path all around the sink, stove and other areas in the kitchen. I’ve made balloon animals out of surgical gloves while waiting in the ER. I’ve mixed colors in the laundry, and it all turns into tie dye stuff. I actually believe commercials that tell you their product will clean, shine, wax, make like new and remove acne and unsightly warts. I mean none of those things are really going to happen with one product, but if you’re gullible like me, you believe them. I should know better. I was the wife of an advertising director.

This morning I woke up – watched a televised devotion – put my teeth in my mouth and combed my hair. Thankfully I did that in the right order. When I sat down to write my blog, I drew a blank. Most of the time I try to give encouragement or inspire someone or spread God’s love with another. Today I had nothing. I came across the image above and this happened. The muse came to life and there you have it.

It’s Throwback Thursday, so laugh a little. It’s the best medicine around.

Posted in aging, Humor, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

EVERYTHING HAS A PURPOSE

Posted on August 16, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Almost seven years ago, we were holding garage sales to downsize for a move to a smaller house – about half the size of what we were living in. Both my husband and I are artists and have collected many things during our long marriage. I’m quick to get rid of things, while he seems to hang on to them for future use. We sorted through a lifetime together and put stuff in piles for recycling – giving away – throwing away or selling. The task was monumental to say the least.

Here we are, seven years later, up to our ears again in stuff – much of the same stuff we tried to downsize back then. Only we’ve added to the stuff. Why do we collect so many things over time and why is it so hard to let go of them? King Solomon, from the Bible, had everything. He had several wives – imagine trying to manage more than one. He had wealth, servants, a beautiful home with all the comforts to go with it. He was on top of the world, yet he felt that everything was meaningless in life. I suppose when you have it all, you tend to think that way. When we save things that have meaning for us, we’re doing so because those things have a memory connection, or possibly a future purpose.

We’ll be downsizing again, I imagine. Life is full of stuff. Sorting through it all is a greater task than I can imagine. We have tons of art, scripts, poetry, writings, clothes we’ll never wear again, paperwork which should have been shredded years ago. The piles are rising once more, but each of those things had a purpose or may again. Like us, the things we add will serve a purpose for us or for someone else. So, there is nothing new under the sun, but what is above the sun is what God has planned for our final purpose. Heaven is our home.

Posted in aging, purpose, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

EXPERIMENTATION- GENETICS – CONSPIRACY -BRAINWASHING

Posted on August 15, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

When life slows down and you are moving closer to the end of it, you spend a lot of time in front of the tube. For us, it’s old movies – either cowboys and outlaws – soldiers and war – inspirational stuff based on real life – and occasionally something a little different. The other night we watched the second version of “The Manchurian Candidate,” with Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep. This was a 1972 remake of a film starring Laurence Harvey and Frank Sinatra made in 1962. Both films were based on the Richard Condon novel of 1959. It was a political thriller about brainwashing, conspiracy and politics. The movie stirred up quite a controversy and left the term, “Manchurian Candidate,” remain as describing a political candidate who is being used by an enemy nation or controlled by mind bending as a puppet to do their bidding. It is not to be taken lightly when referring to a Manchurian Candidate.

On that same date we had seen the oncologist and were told about possible genetic testing for the Cancer Paul has.

It occurred to me that we can bend our own thinking when it comes to our health, our country, the news media, our politicians, our teachers and leaders. We can be led to believe that a certain treatment “might” help in future treatments and eventual cure. Certainly, I am not claiming that the Manchurian Candidate has anything to do with health care, but it could be a possibility. Especially if you believe in stuff like that.

God created us before we were even born. Each intricate design was manufactured by Him. He knows what we are capable of and how our lives will go. When one of our parts don’t work, we seek medical attention and for the most part we trust what they have to tell us. Yet are they making patients feel guilty if they determine they don’t wish further treatment? God is capable of restoring health. He brings us back to life when there is no breath left in us. He directs our path in life. He gives us talents and gifts for us to share with others. We can count on His promises and truth. He may allow life to continue for many years or decide to end our time of grace on earth so we can enjoy eternity with Him. He alone knows the number of our days.

Well, enough of that. I’m not an expert on any of this, but it sure creates food for thought. Maybe I should think of something else to do besides watching old movies.

Posted in aging, cancer, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

MISTY

Posted on August 14, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL T. & KATHY BOECHER©

Shades of grey, crimson and yellow dot the landscape with a magical mist,

Covering a multitude of sins,

I wonder if this is how we look to God?

Covered with a veil of repentance and grief over past sins,

Shrouded in a haze of uncertainty,

No!  God looks at us and sees only His Son and what He has accomplished,

We no longer carry the undistinguishable, the hidden, the burden,

It has all been washed away in the blood of the lamb,

No longer are we seeped in darkness, no longer in fear,

God has forgiven the world through His own Son, Jesus,

Let His love shine through us and bring that light to others.

Posted in anxiety, Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, cancer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment