A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

poetry

Close Communion Recovered

By 8 Comments

It’s that day of the week again when Miss Kate gives us the word prompt of the week.  This week we are working with the word Recover.  Recover… to cover to have something placed over or around you, or to blanket an area (such as a ground cover).   To recover is to regain something, or to go back to normal, or even to retrieve a product for another use.  So knowing all this, what will I come up?  And so it mostly wrote itself.  Close Communion Recovered

Close Communion Recovered
Wooden blocks connected together on blue background. Teamwork, network and community concept.

Close Communion Recovered

A bridge broken
A deceiver came
and took a truth
and twisted it.

Just a bit
Just enough to sow
Doubt and confusion,
A turning to look at self.

A heart broke
Close communion lost
Yet still sought
And looking found.

Consequences spelled out
Pain and hardship
In working and childbirth
A head would be crushed.

Over the years
A great heart
Would continue to be
Broken but healing sought.

Always
Over and over again
Consequences laid out
End results promised.

Would people ever listen
Could a bridge to
Close communication
Again be built.

Then one day
A Son.
Born of a young girl
Who trusted God.

Out of a line
of people who
trusted God
Sought close communion.

This girl
and Her hubby
Learned to listen
To ponder God’s actions.

And so a boy
became a man
Growing in wisdom
Knowledge.

At age 12 he
astounded the teachers.
At age 30 he
frightened rulers.

He drew people in
Proclaiming
Son of man
Son of God

A bridge
close communion
with God
could be recovered.

Listen to him
Follow him
Chose the way
Of death.

Of death?
Really, was that the answer?
Death?
A Death chosen.

Death on a tree
burial
but listen
Recovery comes.

When Living
he ROSE!!!
That’s the way.
Death defeated!

This is how
a heel is bruised.
But
A head is crushed.

That head
Pride, selfish,
Green, Deception
Defeated by Life.

This life
One given sacrificially
the only way
To recovery.

A crushed head
leads to
close communion
recovered, with God.

Close Communion Recovered
Bread, Red Wine and book, top view, copy space.

Scripture Speaks

Genesis 3:1-5

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You[a] shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Psalm 2:7

7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.

Mark 16:5-6

 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 

I’m Sorry

By 18 Comments

So dear Miss Kate has given the Five Minute Friday community our word prompt of the week.  Excuse.   So I have to wonder if it’s the excuse me from class definition, or the excuse me, I made a goof definition.   Being as I’m Canadian…. I’m going to look at from the “I’m sorry” perspective.

I'm sorry, girl with canada flag face mask
Happy woman in face mask holding thumb up with national flag Canada background. Flu epidemic and virus protection concept

I’m Sorry

It slips out
No thought needed
I’m sorry.

The plant honestly
Doesn’t mind that
I bumped into it.

The bunny
Doesn’t care that
I’m a tad bit late.

(Well okay…
Some bunnies would mind,
I’m sorry).

It makes us
Laugh at times
When two apologizers meet.

Two people bumping
Bums, an aisle
Narrow meet.

I’m sorry
Mr. Tree that
I hit you hard.

Oh Dear I should
have seen that
the bird windshield hit.

I’m sorry I forgot
the thing I was
to do.

That accident
I’m sorry
Slipping unintended.

The Canadian Law
Has an apology
Exemption.

Because it just
Slips out because
We’re so polite.

Humble and forgiving
and quick to
offer pardon.

It’s the Canadian thing.

I'm sorry, canada flag on pavement

Additional Thoughts

My son apologizes as quick as breathing, my hubby says he gets it from me.  I find myself apologizing for things it seems all the time.  But you know what?   Most people I’m surrounded by, do the same thing.  We say I’m sorry for bumping into plants, aisle ends, each other, carts, cutting folks off, and more.  So, in a way, learning to speak “Canadian” is an important life skill!   🙂 The “I’m sorry” slips out even when no harm was intended, even when no harm happened.  I’ve actually needed to encourage my son to realize that I’m sorry is not the end of his commitment, he needs to follow through with change, not just use words. 

Whenever we travel stateside, hubby reminds me… Don’t say I’m sorry, not everyone is Canadian!  🙂  It’s so hard to remember!  I’m glad that thus far, I haven’t been required to move to a place where I’m sorry is an automatic admission of guilt.  Cause I’d be considered guilty of SO MANY THINGS! 

I am glad that God sees my sorry’s, that he knows when they are automatic statements, and he knows when they are true from the heart.  I’m glad that I don’t have to fret about a negative reception from him, because I already know, I’m guilty on all accounts. BUT this… Jesus, Jesus came, he lived, and taught, and died, and saved and COVERED all my “I’m sorry’s”.  Isn’t that the most fantastic thing? 

Caught in the Middle

By 16 Comments

Okay, so this was actually kind of fun to do, and rolled right off my fingers.  Caught in the middle plays off the word prompt from Miss Kate.  One often hears talk about how birth order affects the way children grow up, and that you can tell where in the pack a person is based on how they act.  So it was neat to look up “birth order” websites and see what they have to say and if any of it was applicable to my life.  🙂  

caught in the middle

Caught in the middle

Caught in the middle
that’s who I am
Fourth in the line
of six kids in all.

Caught in the middle
middle of three
Girls in row
the middle.. that’s me!

Learning early to
Mediate needs
of older against
Younger.

Learning to be
easy-going
reduce the stress
on me!

Independence is
my middle name,
don’t tell me
what to do!

Figuring out
my own path,
it’s not for
you to do.

Middle children
learn and grow
and have things
just their own.

Don’t let your
past define you.
Leave yourself
room to grow!

caught in the middle

Scripture References

Remember this…your life is not defined by what order you were born in, in your family.  Your future might be influence by how you grew up, but it doesn’t have to define you.  See beyond the now. 

Psalm 139:13-16

13 For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a]
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Broken within?

By 26 Comments

There are time that I wish I could simply plan out what I say on these five minute Friday posts.  I wish sometimes that words wouldn’t pour out of me at the simple seeing of a word.  Why should a single word cause and outpouring?   I don’t quite understand it.  But this poem, Broken within? is the result of one such prompt provided by our Dear Miss Kate.   

If you don’t know the rules, let me take the time to refresh your memory.  Take the word prompt… this week it’s the word Broken.  Let the word resonate within.  Set your timer (be a purist or not, your decision) and write for five minutes.  Don’t worry on making it perfect, just write.  That’s the point.  The point is simply to write for five minutes without causing yourself undue stress.  You might want to take a bit of extra time to pretti up and make an image to go with it.  You also might be a person who says “Miss Kate made a good one, I’ll use that.”.  Then you link up your post.   Take a bit time, be a point of encouragement to others who also take those five minutes.  Be honest, be kind, and be encouraging.  It’s good practice you know!  🙂 

Broken Within

Broken Within?

Sometimes I wonder
As I sit back and think
If something is broken
In the way that I think.

Why is it so easy
To turn as I may,
to contemplate evil
And want my own way?

What drives such thoughts
this willingness to consider
The darker thoughts of others
Instead of grace overridden?

Is there something
broken within
A deep crevasse inside?
Hatred and Longing
I’ve no place to reside.

To continually bear
this anger and hurt
This longing with
that continually subverts?

Is there no answer?
Can be there be a way out
The need grows within
until I just want to shout!

Perhaps it explains
the state of the world.
So many emotions
that constantly swirl.

So I shout and plead
until the truth comes to me.
Don’t you remember
that I died for thee?

Don’t you remember
that for you I did come
Think back and see it
No need to be glum.

Yes there is
a crevassee inside
But within no longer
do you have to hide.

I’ve covered and filled it
now just let it be
Don’t work it and fuss it
Just LEAVE IT TO ME.

And thus overtime
my trust seems to grow
Working out my salvation
means leave it, let go.

Broken Within

Scriptural Insight

Honestly, as I wrote Broken Within?, I didn’t have scripture in mind.  So the question is… are my words biblically-based from the outpouring in my spirit?   Let’s think. 

1 Corinthians 6:9-11  ESV

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Matthew 27:45-46

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

High School Poetry Lessons

By 2 Comments

As I pondered this week’s challenge from the Crew, poetry in the homeschool, I wondered how to find an English credit for a lad when I want to fill his world with the light and wonder I find in poetry.   But instead, I have a lad who battles long, poetry is just not his jam.  How then, do other parents provide their teens with high school poetry lessons? 

It’s also, according to audible… national poetry month!  What better month to talk about poetry in!?!?! 

The battle rages
Swift and hot
I will not it
Just not not not.

But the words my lad!
I pleaded long
Can’t you see it?
The story and the song?

I will not do it
Repeated again.
Determined Teen
No Shakespearean!

In today’s post let’s discover some options for teaching poetry with those teens who would really rather not.  🙂  With teens, finding a way to make it interesting, almost always helps.  A teacher’s enthusiasm can ignite fires in their pupils. 

High School Poetry Lessons

How to Teach Poetry to Highschool Students

Make poetry a part of life.  Add it into the events of the day, or the month, or your life.   You could have a daily poetry time, a circle time with the rest of the family, or just read poetry as it suits an occasion.   Be creative.  Choose good poetry if you can, but read silly poetry if you must.  Just show how versatile it can be.  Epic poetry, Sonnets, free verse, blank verse, rhyming, narrative, haiku, limericks and odes.  Vary the style, mood and tempo just fit it to the events of the day or your life. 

Add it to your studies. If you are studying WW2, read poetry that individuals created during the war, after the war, about the war.   Let the imaginary fill their minds and just leave it there.    World War 2 poetry books like Under the broken Sky, and It rained Warm Bread will capture the hearts and minds of your teens, bringing a poignancy of war they won’t get from non-fiction.   If you are studying geological forms, learning chemistry, or even studying calculus.  You’ll find a poem that suits almost any subject you can think of. 

Some instructors say you should always introduce poetry that is age-appropriate or perhaps a bit higher.  I can see the value in that, at the same time, reading poetry that is light and fun is sometimes just the ticket. Urge them higher, but don’t be afraid to introduce the unexpected should the occasion demand it. Mix it up, both topic, style and age appeal. 

Introduce a variety of poets.  Use the poets of different time periods when studying history, or use historical poems to talk through the seasons.  Don’t limit yourself to celebrated poets of the past or just modern day delights.  Good poems will speak to us regardless of when they were written. 

Poetry is one permissible way of saying one thing and meaning another

Use poetry of different lengths to teach drama and presentation skills as you prepare your high school poetry lessons. Help your students to hone the skills they need in presenting information without having to make a speech first. Poetry can teach cadence, tone, and style. 

The value of memorization.   I know, I know, not often something we have our highschool students engage in. But they have to memorize equations, scientific facts and the like, why shouldn’t they memorize some good poetry as well?  Being able to retain facts is a necessary part of working after all isn’t it? Forbes will tell you that memorizing facts helps you to think more critically. 

Just as you can use novels to teach some harder literary devices, you can also use poetry to do the same thing.   Concepts such as irony, paradox, different types of symbolism and more. After all, the great American poet Robert Frost said, “Poetry is one permissible way of saying one thing and meaning another.”, so why shouldn’t we use it to teach our students?   Pen and Pad has some suggestions. 

How about you eh?   What will you use to help your students learn poetry this year or even next?  Have you found some creative ways to add poetry to your high school years?  What sources will you be using for teaching your high school poetry lessons? 

after the week I’ve had… pressure suits

By 16 Comments

It is time for my almost favourite time of the week.  It’s five minute Friday time (and yes, I am writing this on Thursday evening … late).   This week the word is pressure… and after the week I’ve had… pressure suits….  LOL.   Let’s hop to it shall we? 

after the week I've had... pressure suits

after the week I’ve had… pressure suits

after the week I’ve had… pressure suits
let me go on to explain.

Sunday was such
a sad disappointment
we’d planned to go to church,
but with the Ontario ministry shut down…
we were shut out.

monday was full
with laundry and taxes
should have been more
but sore throat so detracting.

day felt such a waste.
so much to do but
energy evaporates
stuff happened it known
but…what? it’s a blur

and tuesday
oh…a skunk… yes a skunk
it happ’d you see
a small little skunk
in a trap just set off.

the lad rode shotgun as
smelly kitty rehomed,
gasping and choking
displeasure sure smelt.

wednesday i dragged
my tail twixt my legs
my hubby insisted…
sleep on my sweet maid.

by thursday the pressure
it mounted full well
two blog posts due
a scarce new what to do!

a doctor’s appointment
in London took time
shopping in a city
hard put in lockdown.

somehow squeezed time
bunny pictures, laundry too,
but i’m certain some pants
will never recover as
skunky smell does linger….

meals made, groceries bought,
taxes still to be done,
friday awaits, perhaps
my work will get done?

tonight tension felt
as the pressure amounts,
what ifs press my mind
after the week I’ve had…
i think… pressure suits??

after the week I've had... pressure suits
Close up, Pink flower growing on crack street sunset background

Continued Thoughts

after the week I’ve had… pressure suits….

This poem combines, and I hope you can see, how frustrating a week it has been.  I hate when I have weeks where exhaustion seems to rule even though I think I’m getting a good amount of sleep. 

BUT I am reminded that…. every day is like a small season right?  One needs to accept what was is given and push to do what one must and let go of what you cannot.   And Ecclesiastes reminds me of this.   Eccl: 3.9 tells us For everything there is a season, A time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die.

Have I died this week?  No.  I have been fed up with exhaustion and pain and lack of accomplishment. 

But on a positive note:

I’m further ahead on the taxes.  I have rehomed two skunks (and was reminded by one WHY covering a skunk in a live trap is vitally important).   Another wild rat was captured.  I did have a nice chat with a struggling neighbour.  A friend donated some meat for the cats.  A buyer for excess rabbits was found. Laundry was done (though I’m positive though pants will be tossed).  Meals were made that the fellows LIKED. Friends were emailed. The pantry was restocked.

On the Flip Side:

But I’m behind on my blog, I’m behind on updating my rabbit business, I’m behind on two books that needed reading.  I still need to chat with my lad about where he is in his schooling.  Taxes MUST be done! I still need to touch base with two friends struggling with family issues. AND I haven’t spent good time in God’s word this week so … all that makes it feel like a rather sucky week.   

Hope Beckons even after the week I’ve had… pressure suits

But you know what….. we just had Easter… and Easter is all about the hope we have in the future… and FRIDAY (maybe Saturday by the time you all read this) awaits! 

Savour the moment

By 12 Comments

So it’s Five minute Friday again and Miss Kate has posted this week’s word.  Savour is one of those words that evokes a variety of memories.  Savouring the beauty of a the world when one goes camping, savouring smells arising from a cookfire or stove in the house, savouring the smells of Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter.  One can savour lessons learned and time with friends.  Currently we are in a change of seasons where out on a walk I can savour the moment as I gaze up spring flowers. 

I can also savour moments in the lives of others, victories with skills learned, total wins, and life skills solidified.  Isn’t it good to relish the successes gained in the lives of family and friends? 

savour the moment

Savour the Moment

Sunday afternoon
A quiet time to rest
Traditionally a day
When Mom is less stressed.

No meals to make
Unless desire to make
Perhaps today is
Time for some cake?

Leftovers await.
Inspiration may arise.
But hold… there’s a teen
Life skills must apprise.

Question arises
What does the lad think?
If on Sundays it’s his turn
For food and drink?

Sure mom he says
I can handle that
If you help abit
Lest the food all be flat!

Savour the moment
Flavours descend
A lad’s willing help
Oh… I might have to amend!

MOM! Help the cry!
I ask what’s betwist
We have no ingredient
Is the meal now a miss?

Teaching I help
The lad learn substitution
Learning a recipe’s a guide
Not always the full solution.

Savour the moment
When confidence is found
No longer hotdogs and soup
Now casseroles abound.

Savouring the moment
When skills learned in life
Mean the lad’s future
Is filled with less strife.

Able to cook,
And learn to adapt.
Part of life-learning
It all seems so apt.

savour the moment

Scriptural Insight

Proverbs 22:6

6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

 Genesis 9:2-3

“The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.”

Matthew 6:11

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

1 Chronicles 9:31

“Mattithiah, a Levite and the oldest son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the bread used in the offerings.”