Monday, October 20, 2014

a poem for fall

i stick my head out the window
and close my eyes
and take a deep breath
the wind blows through the trees
blowing through the autumn leaves
and whipping my hair
off my face
the leaves rustle high above
coloring the sky
red and orange and yellow
against the brilliant blue
like a sea high above
covered in boats of leaves
there’s a pumpkin pie on the windowsill
below, the scent wafting out
i run down the stairs
and grab my hat
and wrap on my scarf
and snatch my coat
and hurry outside
the door banging behind me
my leather boots bang on the ground
 the leaves scuttle beneath my feet
i rush down the road
my eyes searching ahead
and then i see it
and i smile
i rush forward
and push the swing
the old tire flying high
i laugh and jump on
as it swings down
and fly towards the sky
i feel like if i let go
and pushed off
my hands spread out far
that i could fly
up into the sky
towards a distant star
the tire swings down again
and i remember that i won’t fly
but i don’t care
i’m happy just as i am
i jump off the swing
and hurry down the road
just a little farther down
i glance at the sun
and i realize it’s almost time
maybe i shouldn’t
have dallied so long
but surely - i’ll make it on time
i rush back down the lane
and through the gate
and throw open the door with a smile
my family’s before me -
my father, mother, brothers,
sisters, cousins, aunts, and uncles
grandfathers and grandmothers
and everyone else in between
my mother winks and beckons
and we head into the dining room
 the long table
it’s there, spread out before me
only coming out -
only on one day
 a special
one of my favorite days
we all gather around
the food’s on the table
i glance around -
so many happy, loved faces
i love today -
and every other day
thank you God,
for all of these happy days
i’m thankful for this day
and every day
it’s Thanksgiving.

\\

i love Thanksgiving - i can’t wait until it comes around again this year. fall is here upon us, and it brings me joy. drink your warm coffee and tea, wrap on your scarves, run through the forests on an adventure, and have a lovely, God-blessed fall. - Anna

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

look to God

i stood there
a cold wind on my face
a tear on my cheek
gone from that place
it was a long time ago
like a land far away
when i left this place
i remember that day

there are so many memories
a laugh, a smile
they cloud my vision
but in awhile
i see that that’s all gone now
the house is dark
the house is cold
against the white sky stark

i remember running and playing
laughing through the leaves
i remember running over the hills
and climbing the trees
i remember climbing to the roof
sliding down on the snow
i remember the dandelions
the ones i used to blow

there were so many happy memories
that i wish i could go back
sitting on the grass all day
eating apples out of a sack
i wish that this place was like it was
the way i remember
the way that i’d left it
that long ago December

but i can’t go back
though memories stay
so instead, i’ll look ahead
to a better, brighter day
because staying in the past?
that’s something that doesn’t work
we don’t appreciate what we have
this present life we shirk

we can’t ever go back
but we have something up ahead
there’s Someone bigger then us
down this life i’ve led
someone guiding us, the Bright Ones,
as we journey through this life
Someone who’s carried us
through darkness and strife

don’t stay in the past
but look to tomorrow
find the joy in Christ
give Him your sorrow
trust in Him for His Great Plan,
let Him be your Rock,
though you be tripped and trampled
and shamed and mocked

this house is just a house
this land is just a piece of earth
that smile and that laughter
were that moment’s mirth
things can’t ever be the same
but that doesn’t mean they won’t ever be great
we can’t change things in the past
but we can change now, before it’s too late

this will all rot away
but God will stand forever
doing His will is the only thing
that is the Worthy Endeavor
so take your eyes off the past
and put them on God
the Maker of the World
this round sphere of sod

look to God in trial
look to God in pain
God is here for you
His peace you will gain
so don’t look to the past
where you can’t change things and can’t go
but look to the One who makes the stars shine
to the One who makes the dandelions blow.

//
look to God, the Maker of the World.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

brave

mine + please don’t pin
i get afraid. a lot. i’m afraid of new things. afraid of changes. afraid of things i don’t understand and don’t know. things that i’ve heard of. things. and then i was given something that is really quite amazing.
“To be brave, you must first be afraid.” - Anonymous
let’s just let this sink in for a moment. “to be brave, you must first be afraid.” wow. this is like... life-changing for me. mostly, i always feel afraid. and it’s through that, that i can be brave? that practically blows my mind. brave people seem so... confident. unafraid. fearing nothing. could they actually have a fear, too? could they just push it away, and take a step out into the darkness?

when i heard this, i realized just how true this is. we can be the most afraid we have ever been in our life, but if we take that first trusting step, reach out and grab God’s hand, even though we’re afraid, we’re showing bravery. brave people don’t always feel brave. most likely, they never feel brave. but they trusted God, and took a step of faith out into the darkness where they couldn’t see. God be might be asking us to go somewhere that looks like, to us, like stepping off a cliff. the other side is shrouded in mist, and we feel fear - what’s on the other side? what if we fall? what if we die? it takes bravery to step out.

we might be scared beyond belief, but sometimes you just have to push that side and take the plunge. we don’t know what’s on the other side, but God does. some of you may be familiar with this verse, but i’d really love to share it with you:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10-11
we don’t have to fear, because God is with us. He is our solid rock on Whom we stand. though everything else falls away, He will still be there.
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” - Psalm 91:4
sometimes it feels like if you’re afraid and you step out, you’re going to fall. but God will always be there to pick you up again. don’t be afraid to be brave. don’t be afraid to be bold.
“When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.” - Psalm 138:3
when you feel like you’re going to fall, step out, call out to God to catch you, to make you bold, to make you brave. so today i urge you - be brave.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

when the weight drops off

my photo + please don’t pin
have you ever
just felt
overwhelmed
and then stepped
outside
and felt the wind
and suddenly
the weight
it’s flying
flying away
and you just
feel
free?
God lets us soar on wings like eagles.
feeling free,
anna 

Thursday, February 13, 2014

loud minds + saying opposites

made by moi + please don’t pin
“how are you?”
“good.”
i feel like i’m falling apart.
“what’s been going on?”
“nothing much.”
everything.
“everything ok?”
“everything’s great.”
everything’s horrible.

sometimes people
have the loudest minds
say one thing
and mean the opposite
they just don’t feel safe
telling what’s really
going on

you’re safe with God. talk to Him.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

travel

via
travel:(v.) make a journey, typically of some length or abroad.
take a globe
close your eyes
reach out
and pick a place
“let’s go
you ready?”

Saturday, February 1, 2014

hope

via
[story]

i stared out the window, a smile on my face, excitement in my mind, and hope in my heart. my mom leaned over the edge of the car’s seat, her face slightly perplexed.

“you know, we might not be able to get it today.”

i smiled. “that’s okay.”

“alright, but i just don’t want you to get your hopes too high.”

“i know we might not get it today,” i told her, “i know it might not be there, or something might happen, or we might not have room in the car. but i can always hope.”

she smiled at me. “yes - you can always hope.”

hope.

Monday, January 27, 2014

fly

have you ever felt
the wind
tugging and pulling
and felt
that if you jumped
up towards the sky
you could just
fly?

Friday, January 17, 2014

“stop that plane”

via
“stop that plane!” i rushed towards the gate. “stop that plane!”

“excuse me,” glared the stewardess, who was about to go on, “what on earth are you talking about?”

i gripped her hands. “you must stop that plane. don’t let it take off!”

“whatever’s the matter?” her brow was furrowed.

“just stop it!” i urged, taking off at a run in the opposite direction. “just stop it,” i whispered.

maya’s words came floating back to me - you have the power to do anything. i shook my head, running faster. she was wrong - i didn’t have any powers, not like her or any of the others. all that i was? a normal human girl. i couldn’t do anything to stop this. i couldn’t, as much as i wanted to. i ached with all my heart to be able to do something. but i just couldn’t.

yes, you can.

i ran faster, trying to outrun the voice, but i couldn’t.

you might not have any so-called “powers”, but you have your own power that no one else has. a power that could save the world. use it.

i had no idea what they were talking about, but i knew the voice well. i shook my head, trying to get her out, but i couldn’t. instead, i found myself speaking back to the mind-reader. you don’t understand, you just can’t! i’m nothing special like you guys! i’m just a normal human! i felt like crying even as i thought the words.

no. you are so much more.

“i am nothing more,” i whispered, thinking it at the same time.

you are tane leyman. as long as there is evil in the world, the good will combat it. tane, you are that good. you might think you can’t do anything, but there is always something that good can do.

my running steps halted. suddenly, i wished that the mind-reader, layla, would say more. layla? layla, are you there? there wasn’t a reply. but her words echoed in my mind, and i realized she was right - i could do something. i couldn’t just stand here and let evil triumph. i didn’t know what i could do, but i would try to do whatever it took to make sure that plane didn’t take off the ground.

i took off back towards the gate. the stewardess woman was heading towards the door. i pushed past her - “hey! get back here!” - and through the door. i ran across the tarmac towards the stairs that looked like they were just about to be taken away from the door of the plane. i raced towards them, yelling and waving my hands - “stop! stop!”

the men taking it away stopped, giving me a strange look.

“are you on this flight?”

“i need to be,” i told them truthfully.

they nodded and let me go up. i sprinted to the top, glancing around the seats holding the passengers. that’s when i spotted them, towards the back of the plane. quickly, before they could see me, i ducked up front into the front where the pilots were.

“young lady, you can’t - ” somebody started to say.

“just a moment!” i cried, jumping away from the co-pilot’s reaching hands. “you can’t let this plane leave the ground! there’s a major threat on board!”

“and why should we believe you, a girl?” the pilot raised a suspicious eyebrow at me.

“look, if anybody else was saying this, would you believe me?” i pleaded.

“what kind of a threat?” the pilot finally asked.

“it’s... um... a dangerous person,” i managed. “basically worse then a terrorist. i’d suggest that you evacuate the plane immediately and get them into the custody of the law.”

“young lady, if you’re...” the pilot started to say.

at just that moment, there was the sound of somebody getting punched behind us. one of the stewardesses came through the door, face pale.

“sir, somebody just went and attacked one of the passengers, and...!”

“quickly, get everybody off the plane!” he cried. “hurry!”

before they could say anymore to me, i hurried out of the cabin and saw the scene unfolding. maya, cameron, and a few of the others were there, finally putting Y-band handcuffs on zeen, his apprentice, zyn, and his Partner, sasha, and starting to escort them out of the plane.

“what is the meaning of this - ?!” the pilot came out of the cabin, staring at all of us.

“it’s nothing,” maya told him. “you may continue on with your flight.”

“yeah,” cameron agreed. he held up what looked like a government badge, having come from the pocket of his suit coat. “we’re part of the government.” as though it would help, he also pulled a pair of aviators out and put them on.

everybody was staring at us, and i could only imagine what they had to be thinking. i only smiled and maya. she leaned forward and whispered, “thanks for stalling the plane. we couldn’t have done it without you.”

“thank you,” i told her. “your words were part of the reason that i kept going.”

maya just smiled. before anybody else could say anything, we escorted zeen & co off the plane and behind the airport. jack then teleported us back to the base.

i realized, as everyone celebrated everything that had gone right, that i really didn’t have to have any powers or be anything amazing to do something amazing. i just had to have courage. and sometimes that meant a lot more then any kind of power. i smiled.

* * *

as kind of a little note, this is kind of partly a story idea i had that would go along with the unusuals, as kind of like a second series. thoughts?

Saturday, January 11, 2014

you can't runaway

you can't
runaway
from your problems
you have to turn
and face them
but don't
worry
you won't be
alone
because there is
always
One
who holds your hand
and leads
the way

Thursday, January 9, 2014

life comes pouring out

via
i remember when i used to post every day - sometimes more then once a day. blogging was new and exciting and something that i was just so happy about. and then sometimes life comes in, and you can’t do that as much. and i couldn’t. and i got busy, and then when i did get on the computer i was doing other things, like designing and answering emails and everything. and then, suddenly, i haven’t posted for several days. maybe a week. and then i finally get the time to just sit down and write something. and my whole life comes pouring out as i write what’s been going on, what i’ve been thinking about, things like that. it just comes like a tidal wave, and suddenly the post’s a lot longer then intended. and i suddenly realize something.

i’ve missed blogging. i’ve missed writing down things. things that just normally get stored in my brain and unshared. and suddenly i can write them out, and they’re staring back at me. and suddenly i almost feel like a weight’s lifted off my chest, because i finally got all of those thoughts out.

that’s one of the beauties and joys of blogging. we can write everything and anything we want to, and the thoughts are uniquely ares. they aren’t that person’s who has a million followers. they aren’t the person’s down the road. they aren’t anything by your thoughts, and that’s what makes them unique. because God has created each and every one of us differently, so beautiful and complexly. your thoughts are worthwhile and amazing, and sometimes that seems to get forgotten.

sometimes you just have the urge to write it, just to say it. and then suddenly, you look up, and there’s a blog post written.

the sun’s rising,
anna