Wedding anniversary - 41 years!

,

Today, Don and I celebrate being married for 41 years!  

Living retired this last year has been like getting to know and accept each other in ways that we never did before.  

Every day is different and I want every day together to be wonderful and filled, happy and healthy!

Here is a poem I wrote for our 30 year anniversary.

What do you think?

You never did that before!

By Bea Skeens, March 30, 2000

Our love is ever new.

Even after years with you,

There is always more to discover

And so much more joy

To give one another.

What can I do

To make our love grow?

It’s in the giving

That love really shows.

To feel so uncertain

And yet take the risk…

To be understood and needed

Is my only wish.

The comings and goings

In every direction

Hugging and kissing…

More I can’t mention.

We listen and wait

To share with each other

We put aside our busy-ness… 

You’re never a bother.

Accepting the moods

Of silence and caring,

We try to make better

Each frustration together.

When you tell me your problem,

You allow me to be

Your healing and soothing,          

 A mystery to me.

When we feel all stressed out

And just want to scream

We take off together

Refreshing our dreams.

I want you to be happy

In each daily chore

And to feel so fulfilled

That you’ll want to do more.

When I wake up happy,

You don’t give me a frown.

When I share my schemes,

You don’t put me down.

When something upsets me,

You give me that look

That calms and refills me

With the peace that it took.

You open my Spirit;

You stir up the Power;

God’s Love we can be…

Everywhere, every hour.

Thank You, God,

Thank You

That we have each other.

Thank You for making us

To love one another.

  

New Year Resolution I - LISTS ON THE BEACH - poem

LISTS!  I've always had a list.  Here is a poem that I wrote in the 90's after a walk on the beach:

                The Beach and I   

by Bea Skeens (in the 1990’s)

I found that I could steal away

An hour from my busy day

And so I called some friends to see

If they could go walk on the beach with me

But they all had other plans or were not home,

I set off alone.

My mind was full of things I have been doing…

Planning and preparing others, even brooding.

Then startled from my thoughts I was

When a wave hit the sand with a foamy splash.

I looked around me at the serene sea,

The seagulls free

The children laughing gaily,

The grownups sunning

Some others running,

Many walking.

As I resumed my steady stride

Scattered thoughts invade my mind.

And with a wave that hit the sand came

Peaceful thoughts of God’s glorious plan.

The sun was shining brightly,

The breeze blowing so slightly,

And I became absorbed by the Might and Glory

Of my God revealed so rightly.

And I began to praise and thank Him

For the abundant love and constancy

With which He fills and guides me.

The beach and You are what I need

    To feel refreshed and be fulfilled.

The ocean’s calming waves… A prayer that saves

The sheltering dunes… A praising tune;

The endless sky… My spirit revived;

The birds that soar… I long for more!

No room for fear, You’re always near.

Your purpose in all things is clear.

I want to meditate on you and seek Your Rest

As soon as I get home I’ll make a list.

 

 Lists have always been a big part of my life.  So when I retired, I thought, now my list won't be a burden!  I'll be able to relax and do those things that I need to do.  Well, that has not been the case in the 7 months since my retirement.  Few of the big things on my list have been completed.  Oh, I have written lots of small lists and have enjoyed scratching off lots of things.  I do feel a sense of accomplishment and peace at being retired.  I have had fun with the kids, tried new recipes, and made lots of crafty things.  But I continue to say "later" to some of the big things and transferring them to the new list.  No big deal.  There is no hurry to clean out file drawers or closets or to transfer my VHS videos to DVD.  Maybe they'll get done in 2012. (Resolutions are coming...)

How can I be: Like the Christmas Tree? - a poem

 

    LIKE THE CHRISTMAS TREE

 

The Christmas Season has me all worn out

I pause to dream, what’s it all about?

I light the tree and look around…

The glistening of the silver tinsel

The sparkle of the lights so bright

The stories in each ornament

The fragrance the pine gives at night.

Then the angel on the top starts blinking,

And with a start, I get to thinking…

My lights and colors come alive

Every time I say a kind word

And give His Love away.

Jesus, grow strong and brave in me.

Become my words, my force, my will,

For in my life I want to shine

The one and only Jesus Christ.

Then the Spirit in others may

Abide and shine in the same way.

Friends, let Him grow in you to be

Your light and Lord for all to see.

               By Bea Skeens. 2003