Don't Hog Your Journey...



My cousins, lil sis and me, circa 1968...
we're each a part of the others journey



"Don't hog your journey, it's not just for you." As I was listening to the Today show while working, Hoda Kotb was sharing a story. While on a plane, she was visiting with the gentleman sitting beside her. Chit-chatting away, she had mentioned she had had breast cancer. She asked him not to think of that if he ever thought of her in the future. He turned to her and said, "Don't hog your journey, it's not just for you." I kept thinking of that statement and have decided that I agree with it. What if no one ever shared their story~their journey...good or bad. My world would certainly not be as rich and full as it is now. I would not know of another's happiness, adventures, struggles. I would not be who I am today without knowing of another's journey.

Hoda's story is great, and deep, and more than just her breast cancer...for sure! We are all more than just one part. We are, shall we say, the sum of all our parts. I am a woman, a mother, a wife, a daughter an entrepreneur...the list goes on and on. But, it's the sum of all of these things that makes me who I am today. I enjoy sharing my journey...it gives me great pleasure and I hope it adds to your journey, too.


The other day, I stopped by the "Music in the Park" event held at the city park in town. In amongst the music...which was very enjoyable, I heard someone get up and give a testimonial. I wonder, did his journey make a difference to someone else in the crowd. It did mine and I'm sure another's. Then I have to think...what if he didn't share his "journey"? What if he kept it to himself...I would not have known the depth of his story...his courage in sharing it. It has stuck with me...and, it removed me from my cares and woes and opened my mind, my heart, to another's struggles and triumphs.


Life is a Journey, isn't it? Sometimes we're on a mountain, sometimes we're in a valley. Most of the time, I'd guess we're just motating along on the plaines. Enjoying life, taking one day at a time, doing what needs to be done and just cruising along. To me, it's the mountains and valleys that we grow the most. We are pushed to our limit, only to find our limit can be pushed. We read something or hear of someone else's journey and we gain strength from it. We realize we're not alone. Somehow, we come out on the other side because of it...but don't necassarily understand where it came from. What if no one shared their journey? Who would be a better, stronger, wiser person because of your journey? Maybe your journey is told by your actions. How you reach out to your community members, volunteering, donating, a struggle overcome. Our journey's are shared in many different ways. The key is that it's shared.


"Don't hog your journey, it's not just for you." I would not be who I am today without knowing of another's journey. And this folks, is the view from my front porch.


Beth Voltmer lives on a farm in rural New Virginia

Learning to peel...Grandma Grace style

I was peeling apple upon apple yesterday, readying them for an apple cake I was making.  As I started, knife poised just under the flesh, I was distinctly reminded of the time (in my early years of homekeeping) when I was peeling potatoes under the careful watch of my Grandma Grace.  Not knowing I wasn't doing it correctly, she quickly pointed out that I was wasting too much of the potato.  She showed me how to do it.  She'd be proud of me today.  I can peel a potato, apple, pear...whatever it may be, with the best of them.

It does take practice...this peeling.  Sliding the knife just under the flesh and peeling away the colorful top layer, leaving behind as much of the meat of the fruit or vegtable as you possibly can.  My other goal is to peel the fruit with one swell swoop.  No starts and stops.  I find that I point this same thing out to others at times, too.  I want them to be as proficient as they can be.  Not to waste anything so precious.

I think, my memories of my Grandma are most vivid and alive while I'm in the kitchen.  I can still see her in her kitchen now...21 years after she's passed.  A strong, sturdy woman.  Seems she was in her kitchen all the time.  That's where I remember her most.  It wasn't a big kitchen.  But, somehow, she managed and fed her brood of seven quite sufficiently from it.  There certainly was not a multitude of cabinets, nor counter space.  A very humble kitchen, to say the least.  A very humble home over all.  I loved it there. 

She was a great cook and a very generous lady.  She always seemed to have plenty for whomever was there.  No guest was "one too many".  Never an invitation only household...somehow, we all gathered there.  And, I do mean "we".  It may not have been the same "we" every Saturday, but there were plenty of us.  Saturday nights were hamburger night.  I can see her mixing the hamburger meat and it never failed, she always took one bite of the raw meat, spiced with salt and pepper, only.  Still  makes me gag.  I don't remember anything else being put in it.  I remember that, every single time I make a hamburger patty.  Funny what sticks with you, isn't it? 

Sundays, too, brought another set of "we's" and some of the same from the night before.  It was "just the place to be."  WE all loved it there.  And, WE all miss it terribly, even to this day. 

Right before my Grandma got really bad with her cancer, she came to spend a week with me.  I will forever treasure that time.  She seemed to have gained strength that week.  I wanted to her to show me how to make her vegatable stew, which she did.  Our cherry trees were heavy laden with fruit.  I wanted to learn how to make pie.  She happily obliged.  She rolled out the dough for the crust with every ounce of energy she could muster.  It just came from somewhere.  Maybe we both knew...if I were to learn this from her, and she to show me how, it was right then, or never.  She passed just a few weeks after I had her at my home.  It was one of my greatest accomplishments...to care for her like she had me for so many years.

She tired, but did not quit.  She sat down at my table and started working those cherries over.  De-pitting and de-stemming.  Before we knew it, we had cherry juice all over...and, I do mean all over.  I think we must have been so busy talking and cherishing that moment, we weren't really engaged in what we were doing.  It took me awhile to get that cherry juice cleaned up.  It was blissful!  I miss her every single day! 

She was a generous lady and no guest was ever "one too many".  Never a "by invitation only" household.  I learned from her.  She was my mentor.  She is my mentor...she's with me every day and I miss her!  And this folks, is the view from my front porch.

Would you like me if you Knew?

I wonder...I really do wonder!  Would you like me if you knew?  Knew what you ask?  Today's news has got me to wondering.  Let's play a game of Suppose if...okay, you ready? 


Suppose you and I, along with our families...I'm speaking of our parents and siblings, were friends.  We, you and I, met in kindergarten and went all through school together.  Had sleep overs at each others homes.  Stayed up all night giggling like the school girls we were.  We were blissful. We loved each other like sisters. 


Suppose you and I, and our families had taken vacations together.  We went to Florida one year and shared the experience of seeing the great ocean for the first time together.  We camped at the local lake; where we swam by day and made smores by night.  We talked under the stars for hours and hours.  We even went to the Grand Canyon one year...our families together. 


Suppose we partook in American Traditions.  We even shared some Fourth of July's together, where the sparklers lit up the night.  We enjoyed the floats, bands and saluted the American Flag, hand over our hearts, at the parade.  We celebrated other times, too, you and I and our families.


Suppose we went our separate ways come college; but knew in our hearts we'd be friends forever and ever.  We visited each other at our respective colleges.  We attended each others games, campus events...and more.  We set each other up with guys we thought would be perfect for the other. 


Suppose we never talked about religion.  We never ever talked politics.  We never ever heard our parents talk about it either.  It was a rather mute subject for both. We knew your family didn't go to church and my family kept quiet about ours.  We knew your beliefs...or that you weren't BIG believers.  We knew our beliefs were not readily accepted, so the less said, the better.  We were not ashamed, there was nothing to hide, really. It was just easier to do our thing and spare ourselves the condemnation or discussions.


Suppose you finally fixed me up with the one and only guy that turned my world upside down.  We hit it off.  We became engaged.  We (you and I) knew you'd be my maid-of-honor...it was agreed on many, many years before.  We, you and I, sat down one day and I shared ideas for the wedding.  We talked about colors, who else would be in the wedding and all the other one million and one things that needed to be talked about.  We then discussed where the wedding would be held~


Suppose I said it would be held at the Mosque downtown.  But, because my husband-to-be was Christian, it'd be a combined ceremony.  We, you and I, looked at each other.  We, you and I, sat in silence.  We, you and I, felt a shift in our relationship...in that second that it took for it to register what I had said, you decided if you WOULD LIKE ME IF YOU KNEW?


Today is September 10, 2010.  The day before the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks in New York.  How many years...nine.  Today, on the news, there is talk of a minister in Florida threatening to burn the Koran.  The holy book of the Muslim faith.  What are my thoughts, my feelings?  To be honest, they are ones of confusion and really, really, disbelief!  I'm saddened.  I'm astonished.  I'm irritated.  I'm bereft!  And, I think I'm kind of mad!


Religion...it's so many things to so many people.  I am a member of the United Methodist Church in New Virginia, Iowa.  I am that because it's mainstream.  It's a church in my community.  It's neither left nor right.  It fits my lifestyle.  It's comfortable.  It's Iowa.  It's in the middle. 

I grew up in a non-denominational church in Des Moines.  I went there because that is where my aunt went and she got me there.  Had my childhood been different and my parents had married, I would have been raised a south side Catholic.  It's a fact.  It's true.  Nothing wrong with that..it's just that I am what I am, because of my circumstances.  And, I bet...if you really considered it all, you are what you are because of your circumstances, too.

Had I been raised in the south, there's a good chance I would have been raised in a Baptist Church.  If I lived in Finland...I may have been Lutheran.  To me...religion is 'where we're at' 'where we're from' more than anything else.  I find I like the simple wisdom of the Buddhists.  I appreciate the rituals and symbolism of Catholicism.  I love the traditions of the Christian faith.  I know no others to compare. 

I'm mystified at the discombobulation that is 'man-made' in my opinion.  I do not know anyone who is Muslim, that I'm aware of.  I have friends who are Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran and Evangelicals.  I don't think I know anyone who is Jewish.  Our exchange student was a Christian, but her grandmother was Buddhist.  She studied the Bible, and went to Temple, too.  I'm sad that I don't know of these other cultures, which seem to be defined by their religion.  Gosh, I'm missing out on so much, I'm just sure of it. 

So, here I am...back where I started...we played a little game of Suppose if...what are your thoughts on this subject?  You don't have to put them here...just take some time to think about this.  Again I ask: Would you like me if you Knew?  And I wonder...

Mornings, Memories and Moments, part one

I love my mornings...especially this one.  After weeks of sweltering, hot, humid weather, I awoke to much cooler, comfortable temps and lower humidity.  Sleep is so much sweeter with the fresh air finding it's way into your being~windows wide open and coverings billowing.  I love it and slept so well.

Refreshed and ready to start my day, I jumped out of bed, started some wash...then, coffee time~me time.

My routine is most likely not much different than others.  Up and out of bed, I turn on the morning news, brew the Joe, check for missed texts and voice mail messages.  Reply as needed. Facebook time follows:  what's new and noteworthy?  New photos, birthdays, personal highs..and, lows; inspirational quotes, event reminders...I really enjoy 'catching up'. 

Today is a bit different for me though.  The past three weeks have been a whirlwind of happiness for me.  Reflecting back on my time spent with my nephew, Camden; vacation with my family at Rathbun; a weekend with my past...hosting my 'girl' cousins for our 'Cousins Weekend' and the finale~my 30 year class reunion.  Wow!  it's been fun, fun, fun!

Camden loves the farm.  He especially loves building a fire and poking at it.  We made sure that activity was part of the mix.  He picked apples for me, went to a buyer's Welcome to the Neighborhood open house I hosted, helped move the cows and just relaxed on the farm. Five days of Camden...it was such a joy.

The part I liked best was making the time for him.  Stopping what I was doing to talk and answer a question.  Two afternoons found us at the pond.  He fished while I read on the first afternoon.  The second afternoon found us floating on the pond...it was refreshing and a 'bonding' experience.  We talked about anything and everything.  He made me giggle.  He asks some pretty good questions...which made me think and ponder.  Camden is a really great kid with an inquiring mind and a zest for adventure.  He laughs easily and it's contagious.  He's always been a giggler...even when he was a little guy.  Kind of arnery in a subtle way.  A teasing manner that sometimes makes you wonder if he's teasing or being serious. Much like his daddy in that.

My sister brought Camden to me at my office in Des Moines.  We left and had showings to do.  He was great!  He got to see a little of what it is I do selling real estate.  We were very late getting home, but Uncle Steve had a fire going for us at the pond.  That is directly where we headed!  Just Camden and I. 

We looked at the stars.  He made himself a 'smore.  We listened to the sounds of summer...sounds of the countryside.  Had he heard them before...most likely.  Were they more intense?  vivid? brighter?  YES, because we were 'in the moment'.  Crickets, grasshoppers, croaking frogs.  Callie barked in the distance...what did she see, smell or hear?  A falling star zipped through the sky.  Flickering lights from an overhead plane.  Big Dipper and Milky Way were overhead. 

In the quiet of the night, with no interuptions, Camden and I shared a special moment in time, memories in the making to be remisced in the morning...at a different place and a different time.  Hoping this time 'finds' Camden, when he has a niece or nephew of his own~he'll take the time, be in the moment and discover for himself, just how special this time was for me.

My inspired life: Mixin' and Matchin'

My inspired life: Mixin' and Matchin'

Mixin' and Matchin'

Last weekend served as the Grand Re-opening for Vintage Home & Garden.  After 8 years being open, I felt it time for a face lift.  So, several cans of paint later, new inventory, and a little rearranging, the doors opened at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 15th.  Many nice compliments unfolded. 

I had a great time doing a little mixin' and matchin' with the vintage jewelry and clothing in the shop.  Brooches, earrings, necklaces and scarves were matched to sweaters, cami's, skirts and more.  A photo shoot is planned...keep a watch out for more on this later.

New garden decor, by way of flowers and birds, will "happy up" your sweet garden spots.  Introducing my "Time Traveler" and "Time in a Bottle" lines.  I've had fun with this.  Stop in and see what I'm talking about.  Great ways to showcase family photos, old letters and ephemera.  A nice gift for a 'graduate-to-be' or start placing mementos for a new baby...maybe yours or a grandchild.  

Stop in sometime.  VHG is open the Third Thursday and following Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a sweet, once-a-month shopping event.  10-3.  OR, by appt. 

Thanks to all the Vintage Home & Garden Fans that made their way to the shop...it was a real pleasure to meet my 'new' friends.  

“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation." ~ Herman Melville
 
I received this today on Facebook. I really liked it and really, what a true statement.  Do we live a life of authenticity or do we imitate?  Imitation is the easy road to travel, isn't it.  And, it does flatter...but who? 
 
Something to think about today in our comings and goings.  Have a wonderfully authentic day inspired by originality! 
 
Beth

Summer in a Tomato

After a wet and soggy start to our summer, here in Iowa, the weather has been picture perfect the past few days.  Hot and sultry...it drains you to just step outside.  But, not these past few days.  Energized and ready to entertain for the upcoming 4th of July Celebration...plans are underway.

I picked my first tomatoes from the garden the other day.  Summer in the form of a ripe red, juicy tomato.  As a little girl, my cousins and I, would pick a tomato from our grandparents garden.  Biting into it, the juice would run down our chins.  We'd giggle~take another bite~giggle again!  I love reminiscing about those times...all the time. 

I think it comes with the aging process.  We have a tendency to reflect back more and more.  Each generation thinking there's was the best, when really, if we each wrote down our favorite memories, studied them side-by-side, we'd realize that the memories are all similar.  They don't look much different...the basics.  The memories are much the same and really, I mean REALLY, have everything and all, to do with family and home. 

All that changes are the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the jobs we have...the home and places we live.  All of those things revolve around us~but, they really don't 'sustain' us. I find, as I move into this thing called 'grandma~hood', I want to share with Makenna...actually, even my nephews, those things that inspired my childhood. 

The songs we sang, camping, fishing, picking a dandelion and placing it under our chin to see if we like butter.  Family reunions, aunts and uncles, cousins around...all the time.  Picnics and holidays, Christmas eve pj's.  These are all generational and family traditions.  And, inspire in us the same need and want to carry them on...for the here and now and the generations to come.  

A ripe red tomato grows in my garden~a new generation will know the thrill of picking it fresh, biting into it~giggles will form, as the juice runs down a chin and I am inspired!

Vintage Home & Garden...where my inspirations come to life

I've been busy...busy, busy, busy.  My mornings are spent with my real estate business.  My afternoons, weekends and any other 'free' time is spent at my shop.  I'm re-re-redoing, refreshing, re-styling.  It's been 8 years and time for a change.  It's been fun, uplifting and energizing. 

Time is closing in on me. I'm a procrastinator...so, the push is on.  Almost every day, I receive a call or email from someone asking if my shop is open yet...and if not, WHEN?  My open date is coming soon. 

The THIRD THURSDAY SALES will start in July.  VINTAGE HOME & GARDEN will be open the THIRD THURSDAY each month and the following Friday, Saturday and Sunday...YES, I'm going to try being open on Sundays.  I'll be open 10:00~3:00 each day.  As always, I will try to accomodate shoppers by appointment. 

You're going to find a new look...walls have been repainted.  New vintage merchandise will be available, as well as NEW, new home and garden decor.  

Please mark your calendars now...and plan to make it a day shopping at Vintage Home & Garden and the other fine shopping venues in south~central Iowa. 

I'm inspired...are you?

Great time with a Great Friend

It was a great time, shared with a great friend. I decided to try my hand at camping alone, my hubby has cows he needs to tend to, and my job allows me to be anywhere and conduct business. So, with a little planning, a date picked out, groceries purchased, clothes packed...I was off and pulling the rig behind me (followed by the hubby...he had to show me how to set up).

While in the midst of making my camping plans, I remembered my friend, Cindy, had purchased her own camper, so, I did what any good friend would do. I invited her to join me. So the adventure unfolds...

Steve left on Sunday morning, so that meant I had two whole days by myself, until Cindy made her way down. What to do, what to do? I had so many ideas and plans of things I wanted to get done. I didn't know where to start.

I finally decided to try my hand at watercolors. Not too bad, not too bad! It was fun and I lost myself in what I was doing. I was surprised at how enjoyable it was. Sitting at my camper table, taking in the views of the lake, I painted a landscape. Set it aside...I'd come back and tweak it later. I used my pencil to outline a rooster...what did I want it to look like? What colors would I use and how would I initiate texture into the painting? How would it all come together? My first attempt at watercolors was successful, enjoyable and something I wanted to accomplish. I'll come back to it again, and again, and again...I liked it just that much!

It was so fun, not a care in the world! No laundry to worry about, didn't have to concern myself with a meal for anyone. I was one relaxed gal. I pondered, I cleaned, I rearranged the camper (it needed to be done). My afternoon was filled with whatever tripped my trigger...which really wasn't much, but, it was nice! It was refreshing! it was liberating!

The adventure began when Cindy rolled in. I giggle now, just thinking about it. WHAT IS IT THAT IS SOOOOO DARN DIFFICULT TO BACK A CAMPER...ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER, INTO A NICE BIG PARKING SPOT? We both new what had to be done, we both new how to do it. But, then we noticed a real nice, older gentleman watching us. We, being the big hearted gals that we are, thought that maybe he had some testosterone induced need to come and help these 'damsels in distress'. So, we just played up to it and sure enough...he came over, beat on his chest and directed Cindy into her spot. We played our cards right on that one!

Of course, I'm just being silly. We were very appreciative of his help. And, as I mentioned, we knew what to do...JUST COULDN'T DO IT!!! This sweet man insisted upon helping us set up the camper. "Verle" was his name. Pretty soon, we waved his sweet wife over to join us at the picnic table. Shirley came right over and we had an extremely nice visit. Verle and Shirl went back to their camper and Cindy and I had supper in mine. Needless to say, it had to be the hottest day of the year so far, and we were hot, sweaty and exhausted.

Our two day adventure took us to Van Buren county one day and into Missouri the next. Yes, I did say Missouri. Jamesport, Missouri to be exact. A little shopping along the way, a stop here and there and lots and lots of talking and laughing.

Once again, I found myself basking in the joy of taking the road less travelled. My cohort in crime likes to do that, too. And so, there we were, driving along the back roads of southern Iowa and Northern Missouri. Gentle curves, rolling blacktop, grassy hillsides dotted with cows and the occasional sheep. A great time, shared with a great friend...taking the road less travelled and enjoying the adventure called life.

So many reasons to be inspired...

I find inspiration in many places.  From many different situations.  A multitude of who, what, where and why's...one never knows when inspiration will come, but if we're open to it, it'll find us! 


A gentleman stopped in my office to chat the other day, and said, "wow, this is bright.  I like it."  I told him that I needed bright, happy colors go give me energy, make me happy...inspiration.  He noticed that I pulled the wall colors from the picture I had hanging behind my desk.  He was correct.  A colorful and pretty picture inspired me...first to purchase it and then to use.  I had this picture in my bedroom for quite awhile.  Now, it's in my office.  It makes me happy to be in my office, surrounded by colors and things I enjoy. 


I subscribe to a couple different 'do good, feel good' blogs/websites.  Daily, I receive a new post on my email with a great story and quotation.  I find, the more I introduce these into my daily life, the more I am in tune and concientious of being better.  I think about the situation and wonder how I could incorporate that into my life.  Who could I share a similar idea with...to make someone else's life better.  It helps to keep me focused, and of course, inspired. 

Take a minute to leave a comment here on my blog...share a story, an idea...your inspiration.  Thanks for stopping by today...

Inspired mornings...

Coffee in hand, I settle into my big, comfy sofa in the sunroom.  From this vantage point, I'm able to see the birds at our feeders, the daily coming-to-life of the trees in spring bloom, black cows dotting the landscape and green...our pastures, too, are coming to life.

I find this spot most mornings; and here I am inspired by my surroundings.  A story comes to mind, an idea for another decorating project, I'm reminded of a note I need to pen...I get inspired!

Yesterday, I spent some time with my drawing pad in hand, pencil at the ready.  I worked on my landscaping plan for our new entry way into the recently added mudroom. What colors will compliment?  Shade loving plants are a must...hostas, bleeding hearts, and coral bells are just a few of the plants that will find a home in that spot.  I want it to be very inviting and soothing.  Just a casual walk-way into my home that is void of lots of 'lotsa'...a delightful 'welcome' to my home.

As I started my plan, I quickly realized that it would become a bigger project, because, just like a home remodeling project...you can't just stop at one redo and call it good.  The one redo makes the other rooms look a bit outdated, tired, lackluster.  So, my landscape design continued around to the south side of my home.  The walnut trees will need to come down;  they'll make great planters or a spot for birdhouses.  I'll have to study the growth of the trees and see how that could work.

The southside of the house, with the walnut trees down, will be a great spot for a butterfly and bird attracting garden.  Do I go with a 'cottage' look?  I love wildflowers, too.  Maybe a little of both.  A definate must...a birdbath or two...or three.

Well, I can't stop there.  If I do, the whole east side of the house will look bare not complete.  I can continue the southside landscaping plan here, too.  Not to stop there, it'll have to continue around to the front of the porch and wrap on around to the north side of the mudroom addition...another shade loving garden here, too.

As I sit here with my inspiring thoughts, I'm reminded that none of it will get done while I'm sitting here...dreaming, drawing and not doing.  So, it's off I go.  First things first...I have to mow. 

What does it mean to be a grandmother?

I love every inch of her!  From her head to her sweet toes; to her teeny, tiny and delicate fingernails.  She's beautiful, she's sweet, she's a very happy little girl.  She makes my heart swell with happiness and so much love!  She inspires me to be BETTER!

Overnight, she went from a 'needing' baby to a toddler...what is that one moment when they take that step and feel confident enough to take another and then another...soon, she'll be running!  Then, before we know it, she'll be walking down the aisle...to graduation from high school, college...marriage.  I know, I know...there's so much life in between, but having been through raising three children of my own, I look back, and it seems like it was just yesterday, they were 'needing' babies, then in school, then graduating...

As I was driving home last evening, listening to Dahlilia, a woman was requesting a song for what it's like to be a grandmother.  To Dahlilia's knowledge, there wasn't one.  It got me to thinking; what would this song say?  What is it about being a grandmother that seems so different from being a mother? How do I feel about being a grandmother?  How do you feel about it...what words would you use to describe it?  Are you inspired to be better?  

One thing that happened upon becoming a grandmother, is it put into perspective how it felt to my mom, my ex-mother-in-law, my mother-in-law, my grandmother and my great.  The 'silly' (my perception) things they did or the things they said, that kind of made me mad, I find I do and I understand completely.  I say to Makenna, "how's grammy's girl?"  A similar sentiment was said to my oldest daughter, Courtney, "How's grandma's dolly" and it would put me in a tail spin...now, I understand the love, the pride, the intense feelings behind those words.  It has more to do with the love for this little being, than it does 'ownership'.  I understand now!  Oh, how I understand!

I'm also reminded of all the things from my childhood that are now special thoughts, special memories; I find I want to replicate that for my little granddaughter.  Tea parties, aunts and uncles and cousins all around...all the time.  I want her to know her Great grandma and have the same close relationship with he,r that I had with my grandma Grace.  I want to plant a garden with her and see her expressions at seeing it come to life. Camping and picnics, fishing at the pond.  Making dolls with flowers and making flowers with tissue.  Letting her concoct in the kitchen.  I want to share it all with her, and with each new day or time spent with her, I'm reminded of something new.  I'm inspired to be better.

To see the world through her eyes,- is a reawakening in me.  To see a bug and watch it crawl along.  Will she be as thrilled with doing that as her daddy was?  I want to teach her to read, and to enjoy the small things in life.  I want to sew little girl outfits again.  I enjoy seeing her little face change.  More hair and another tooth change her whole look each time I see her.  To hear her giggle...I especially love to hear her giggle.  Her eyes light up, she's just plain silly! Makenna does this little thing...she shrugs her shoulders and it's so darn cute.  She also scrunches her face up, seeming to say, "I'm cute" and she is.  She watches our every move...she's quick, she's alert...well, you know, she's just plain brilliant...there it is, I said it and I've written it. 

The toy aisles...I've always hated the toy aisles...not so much anymore.  I look at Barbie dolls and baby dolls.  Will she be a girly-girl...so far,  she kinda is.  But, I find I want to buy her farm animals and barns, too.  Play-doh, and sidewalk chalk...or, just a plain old limestone rock would do.  Then again, I'm reminded of pots and pans to clang around on.  Dandelions under the chin and Mother Goose stories.  I sing her the songs my children's grandmother's sang them.  "You are my sunshine", "Bushel and a Peck".  Finger games:  Fly away Jack, itsy bitsy spider, and more.  I want her to know the songs and stories of Jesus.  She needs to know these things, I think...I know!  I want to make sure she knows these things.  I'm inspired to be better.

To snuggle and cuddle.  To have her reach around my neck and pull me close in a hug...oh~my~gosh!  An overwhelming sense of love can take over my heart...sometimes I want to cry, I love her so much...so much that it hurts my heart.  

Each and every day, many moments in my day, I think of Grammie's Girl and I miss her.  I want to see her.  I want to be all I can be for her and to her.  I want to be a better person, I want to be a better mom,  I want to be more alive and in the moment.  Makenna inspires me to BE all these things.  I love her!

70 years old...what a life!

In February, my mom turned 70 years old.  A life that has seen so much, done so many things, mastered the ups and downs, the ebbs and flows.  A life that has been well-lived.  She is successful.  She is an inspiration!


I'd like to tell you about my mom, a woman who raised two daughters on her own.  That will be her legacy...we are her legacy...her grandchildren and now a great-grandchild, are her legacy.  A life well-lived.  Not without adversity.  Not without hardships.  Not without struggles.  Those are the things life is made of.  But, more importantly, a life well-lived. 


A life with great childhood memories.  A life with loving family.  A life of putting herself through school...at 38.  Raising two daughters alone.  A life filled with fun and laughter.  A life filled with joy. 


When I think about all the things my mom has accomplished, I can't help but be inspired by her.  She is independent, strong, funny, dependable!  She is her grandchildren's greatest ally.  She is her families greatest ally.  To know her...I don't know if I completely do.  But, she is an inspiration. 


She loves whole-heartedly.  She defends to a fault.  "You can say anything about me, but don't say it about those I love"  She's a cheerleader, she's a fighter, she's a good hugger.  A cooker, a gardener, she loves to fish.  She loves her grandchildren!!!  To be loved by her, you're loved unconditionally...really.  She's helped nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters.  She's helped grandchildren and daughters. 


My mom retired a few years ago and it's been a real delight to see her enjoy this time in her life.  I was concerned.  Wondered what she'd do with her time.  But, she's pleasantly surprised me.  She's sat with a neighbor's mother who has alzhiemers.  She's went and helped get her to bed when the husband was at home with her.  She most recently volunteered at the city planting their flowers...who knew?  She helps elderly neighbors...more elderly than her.  She's active and continues to be active...she's my inspiration!


I'm blessed with a mother like her.  A fighter, tenacious, my greatest cheerleader.  I thank God for her.  All of her...the things that drive me crazy (look out kids, I am my mother after all) the things that make me laugh and shake my head, I appreciate her and I am in indebted to her.  She is my greatest cheerleader and I am one of her greatest legacies.  I'm proud of that. 


This is a tribute to my mom, Barbara Ann Cort.  My Inspiration.

Springtime Sights and Sounds

From a distance, I can hear the growl of a caterpillar moving dirt. The farmer, our neighbor, is terracing his field...a little conservation practice going into effect.


Outside my window, birdsong floods the air. It's so light and airy, a pleasant sound for the senses. Baby cows beller, teeny tiny sheep frolic and play.


In the early morning, just before dawn, the birds wake me from my slumber. What a great way to be awakened. Slowly, but surely, the sounds invade my mind. One eye opens, then the other. The birdsong is drowned out by my other senses. Then I concentrate and listen more intently. I crack my window to hear it more clearly. I love it.


Somewhere else, in the distance, I hear the whir of tires on pavement, as people travel to work. I'm sure their radios are up and there minds are on the day at hand. Did they hear the birds when they made their way to their car? Did they take in the sights and sounds of the early morning dawn...springtime sounds?


Springtime sights...an earlier rain greened up the lawn. Lawn mowers are in driveways being prepared for their duty...surely to be used sooner, rather than later.


Soon, tractors with planters, grasshopper-like vehicles will be trolling down the road, one farm field to the other, readying the fields for a crop that will soon be prolific in the countryside.


Fresh mown hay...I love the scent, will be rolled into bundles. Small squares will dot the horizon. A group of young men will be seen throwing the small bales onto a haywagon. Strong, hot and sweaty.


Springtime sights and sounds will give way to tall stalks of corn, stubby bean bushes and then, before we know it...fall harvest. A whole new world will awaken the senses again.


I love the sights and sounds of spring. Faith, hope and new beginnings.  I'm Inspired...oh, to be an inspiration!

Daniel's Gloves...author unknown to me...in honor of 'Larry'.

Daniel's Gloves

I sat, with two friends, in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town-square. The food and the company were both especially good that day. As we talked, my attention was drawn outside, across the street. There, walking into town, was a man who appeared to be carrying all his worldly goods on his back. He was carrying, a well-worn sign that read, 'I will work for food.' My heart sank.

I brought him to the attention of my friends and noticed that others around us had stopped eating to focus on him. Heads moved in a mixture of sadness and disbelief.
We continued with our meal, but his image lingered in my mind. We finished our meal and went our separate ways. I had errands to do and quickly set out to accomplish them. I glanced toward the town square, looking somewhat halfheartedly for the strange visitor. I was fearful, knowing that seeing him again would call some response. I drove through town and saw nothing of him. I made some purchases at a store and got back in my car. Deep within me, the Spirit of God kept speaking to me:
'Don't go back to the office until you've at least driven once more around the square.'

Then with some hesitancy, I headed back into town. As I turned the square's third corner, I saw him. He was standing on the steps of the store front church, going through his sack.

I stopped and looked; feeling both compelled to speak to him, yet wanting to drive on. The empty parking space on the corner seemed to be a sign from God: an invitation to park. I pulled in, got out and approached the town's newest visitor.

'Looking for the pastor?' I asked. 'Not really,' he replied, 'just resting.' 'Have you eaten today?''Oh, I ate something early this morning.' 'Would you like to have lunch with me?' 'Do you have some work I could do for you?' 'No work,' I replied 'I commute here to work from the city, but I would like to take you to lunch.' 'Sure,' he replied with a smile.

As he began to gather his things, I asked some surface questions. Where you headed?' 'St. Louis' 'Where you from?' 'Oh, all over; mostly Florida 'How long you been walking?' 'Fourteen years,' came the reply.

I knew I had met someone unusual. We sat across from each other in the same restaurant I had left earlier. His face was weathered slightly beyond his 38 years. His eyes were dark yet clear, and he spoke with an eloquence and articulation that was startling He removed his jacket to reveal a bright red T-shirt that said, 'Jesus is The Never Ending Story.'

Then Daniel's story began to unfold. He had seen rough times early in life. He'd made some wrong choices and reaped the consequences.. Fourteen years earlier, while backpacking across the country, he had stopped on the beach in Daytona... He tried to hire on with some men who were putting up a large tent and some equipment. A concert, he thought. He was hired, but the tent would not house a concert but revival services, and in those services he saw life more clearly. He gave his life over to God 'Nothing's been the same since,' he said,

'I felt the Lord telling me to keep walking, and so I did, some 14 years now.' 'Ever think of stopping?' I asked. 'Oh, once in a while, when it seems to get the best of me But God has given me this calling. I give out Bibles
That's what's in my sack. I work to buy food and Bibles, and I give them out when His Spirit leads.'

I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not homeless. He was on a mission and lived this way by choice. The question burned inside for a moment and then I asked: 'What's it like?' 'What?' 'To walk into a town carrying all your things on your back and to show your sign?' 'Oh, it was humiliating at first. People would stare and make comments. Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten bread and made a gesture that certainly didn't make me feel welcome. But then it became humbling to realize that God was using me to touch lives and change people's concepts of other folks like me.'

My concept was changing, too. We finished our dessert and gathered his things. Just outside the door, he paused He turned to me and said, 'Come Ye blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom I've prepared for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, a stranger and you took me in.'

I felt as if we were on holy ground. 'Could you use another Bible?' I asked. He said he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well and was not too heavy. It was also his personal favorite.. 'I've read through it 14 times,' he said. 'I'm not sure we've got one of those, but let's stop by our church and see' I was able to find my new friend a Bible that would do well, and he seemed very grateful.

'Where are you headed from here?' I asked. 'Well, I found this little map on the back of this amusement park coupon.' 'Are you hoping to hire on there for a while?' 'No, I just figure I should go there. I figure someone under that star right there needs a Bible, so that's where I'm going next.'

He smiled, and the warmth of his spirit radiated the sincerity of his mission. I drove him back to the town-square where we'd met two hours earlier, and as we drove, it started raining. We parked and unloaded his things. 'Would you sign my autograph book?' he asked... 'I like to keep messages from folks I meet.'

I wrote in his little book that his commitment to his calling had touched my life. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I left him with a verse of scripture from Jeremiah, 'I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you; Plans to give you a future and a hope.' 'Thanks, man,' he said. 'I know we just met and we're really just strangers, but I love you.' 'I know,' I said, 'I love you, too.' 'The Lord is good!' 'Yes, He is. How long has it been since someone hugged you?' I asked. A long time,' he replied

And so on the busy street corner in the drizzling rain, my new friend and I embraced, and I felt deep inside that I had been changed.. He put his things on his back, smiled his winning smile and said, 'See you in the New Jerusalem.' 'I'll be there!' was my reply.

He began his journey again. He headed away with his sign dangling from his bedroll and pack of Bibles. He stopped, turned and said, 'When you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?' 'You bet,' I shouted back, 'God bless.'

'God bless.' And that was the last I saw of him.

Late that evening as I left my office, the wind blew strong. The cold front had settled hard upon the town. I bundled up and hurried to my car. As I sat back and reached for the emergency brake, I saw them... a pair of well-worn brown work gloves neatly laid over the length of the handle. I picked them up and thought of my friend and wondered if his hands would stay warm that night without them.

Then I remembered his words: 'If you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?' Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office.. They help me to see the world and its people in a new way, and they help me remember those two hours with my unique friend and to pray for his ministry. 'See you in the New
Jerusalem,' he said. Yes, Daniel, I know I will...

'I shall pass this way but once. Therefore, any good that I can do or any kindness that I can show, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again.'

Cardinal watch

Today, from our comfy couch in the sunroom, my husband announced, "hey, there's a cardinal". Sure enough, a crimson cardinal was just beyond reach, sitting pretty on the tree limb in front of us. It is my goal to have cardinals and blue birds come pay our feeders a visit on a regular basis. We've seen each kind here and there, but they would not be considered regular diners by any stretch of the imagination.

Blue birds remind me of my Grandma Grace. Cardinals, my Aunt Kay. Both are gone now, but I don't think there's a week that goes by, that they don't meet me in my memories. Something happens or someone says something and I remember.

Today, I'm reminded of my Aunt Kay. She was my mom's younger sister and the first of the 'siblings' to pass away. Kay was committed to her church and the children that went there in her early years. I was blessed to be on of them. She inspired in me my faith.

Aunt Kay loved birds and the feeding of them. From her living room window, she could see the birds flitter and dance around the feeders, enjoying and appreciating the bounty provided them. Of those, there were cardinals.

When Aunt Kay got sick, she asked my husband and I if we'd raise her son, should anything happen to her. She had already lost her husband, so finding someone to care for her son was important to her. We, of course, said 'yes'. And, it came to be.

Knowing that what we took on was going to be a daunting task...for many reasons, but we moved forward, just as she would have done. Saying 'yes' and having it become a reality are two very different things. It was a very difficult time...especially for her son.

A couple of days after her funeral, my husband and I were sitting on the front porch having a cup of coffee. There, amongst the flowers and weeds, came to cardinals. They landed, looked and flew away. I looked at Steve and he looked at me. I could not believe it. Never before had we had cardinals...NEVER! And, we never had them again, at that place, that I witnessed. I found such comfort in that one instance. That one event. It was like she was telling me it was going to be okay. COMFORT in an overwhelming moment. It meant the world to me.

Who inspires you? With their words, their grace, their presence in your life. Is it a touch, a smile, a wink? I have found, it's in the subtle moments, the life lived, the word said unknowingly, that has inspired me...my life more than anything. Be inspired, be an inspiration, be someone's CARDINAL in life.

I need inspiration today!

Last evening, on my way to the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors annual banquet, I thought to myself: ROADTRIP! Thinking on this for a minute, pondering just where I'd like to go, it came to me...Gilbert, Iowa and JB Knacker specifically.

Acting on this energizing thought, I phoned (actually, being hip, like I am, I texted her) my soul~sister, Jill. Want to take a road trip to Gilbert tomorrow? I barely had the text sent and I had a reply~a resounding YES!

If you've not been to JB Knacker's in Gilbert, you're missing something. And, that something is a creative, exuberant shop filled with one-of-a-kind goodies...and by goodies, I mean, home decor...not the edible kind. Food for the soul, eye candy, home decorating inspiration.

Two years ago, I, and Jill, and her friend, Andi, ventured to the Junk Bonanza in Minnesota. Oh My Gosh...talk about creativity, energy, exuberancy...it was here. I vowed, with that visit, that someday I would be a vendor at the Junk Bonanza. I'm happy to say that I took that step and have signed up to be a vendor at this year's show...Sept. 17th, 18th and 19th. Keep it here, as I let you know of my progress...shopping, remaking, restoring, revamping, letting my creative energy do it's thing. I'm sooooo absolutely excited to be doing this...hope I'm accepted to this juried show.

The sun is shining although it's very cold today. The sun just makes all the difference though. I hope you get out and enjoy this beautiful crisp day...and get inspired by all the beauty that surrounds you...and be an inspiration to another.

Frosty, frigid morning...awww the days are getting longer, though

Good day...thanks for stopping by my blog. As you can see, it's been a very, very long time since I've posted anything. I'm going to try and do better with this. A

As I sit here, contemplating the work day, I'm listening to bits and pieces of the news...including the weather forecast. It's a cold one out there and I'm so grateful to have a warm home. How did the early settlers or Native Americans handle this kind of weather? I'm inpsired by their ingenuity, their strength, wisdom and ability to overcome so many obstacles and hardships. Amazing when you really think about it.

We rented the movie, The Proposal, last evening and I just love Sandra Bullock. She's such a great actress. It's nice to be able to sit down with your family and watch a show without getting embarrased or uncomfortable because of language or inappropriate content. I highly recommend it. AND, the setting...Alaska and the home featured in the movie are phenominal. Inspired by the beauty of the landscape, Inspired by the warm and cozy home, Inspired to create my own 'Alaska'.

Today, as the new year quickly makes it's way into the future, I'm excited about what this year will bring. 'Optimistic' is a word that I keep hearing and I find myself using it quite regularly, as well. There is just something in the air. An upbeat, 'can do' attitude. A fresh approach to how people are looking at their life, their world. I'm glad I'm part of that group...

What inspires you? What is it that makes your heart skip a beat, gets you excited about living, dreaming, being? In this new year, I hope you find what it is that makes your heart sing, makes getting up and getting going worth your effort, keeps you going and dreaming and living...what inspires you?

Going GREEN has been HIP all along

The View From My Front Porch
October 2009
Beth Voltmer, New Virginia, Iowa

My husband and I recently purchased a property for a rental and a part of the terms were that we’d take care of clearing out the personal property that the seller’s (two brother’s selling their father’s place) did not want. Since ‘digging for treasures’ is my thing, I thought to myself, I’m up for this. What I discovered was, recycling, reusing, repurposing…it’s been hip and here all along.

When the Tri-corner had an announcement regarding a fall garage sale in town, I decided I should probably participate…it was time to get things sorted and cleaned out. I would just combine the project with items from home and from the little place we purchased.

Having already sorted, thrown away and cleared items from the home on the property, it was time to tackle the garage. I had an absolute ball! Truly, one man’s junk is another’s treasure. What the sellers left behind, ended up being an adventure for me. The two sons told us that their dad loved to go to auctions and if a box of something wouldn’t get a bid, the auctioneer would just sell it to their father for .50 cents.

I started at ‘one’ workbench. I say ‘one’ because there were several. I unearthed can after can of nails, screws, bolts, tacks…you name it, I found it…I just didn’t always know what it was, that I had found. Empty cans, jars, and box after empty box, just waiting and ready for whatever the homeowner needed it for. I thought to myself…he must have spent hours upon hours out in the garage just tinkering. Tinkering…I’ve decided, is a good thing and something I need to do more of.

Tinkering…I like the word and all it entails: mindless sorting, effortless organizing, fixing, dabbling, repairing and best of all…puttering. Puttering…another good word. As I went about puttering around, I pictured the homeowner in his bib overalls or worn denim jacket (they, too, were in the corner of the garage), just picking up and putting down. Fixin’, patching, repairing and replacing. Just tinkering…puttering, with only your thoughts to get in the way.

Coming from an auction, unloading his pickup truck of treasures, must have given him the same pleasure as this was giving me. Wondering what something had been used for, what an item was and ‘why’ someone would even have it, let alone keep it. Maybe thinking of a way to ‘repurpose’ an item or two. A treasure here and a treasure there…but mostly, just stuff…or maybe even ‘junk’. BUT…one man’s junk…”

My son was helping one afternoon, readying the garage and the items in it that I would be selling. He said to me, “Mom, you do realize, this is just junk, don’t you?” I whipped around and said to him,” this is what I do, this is what I like…” he then said to me, “well, I’m the one going to have to go through it all and clean it out when you’re gone.” A little while later, as we were clearing out a corner, I turned to see him checking out some kind of metal thingy. He turned it right, he turned it left…I saw the look in his eye. When he realized that I had seen him put it with the items he was storing in the garage, all he could do was grin, he’d been caught! Again, I say…another man’s junk…” I clearly would have thrown that metal thingy away!

As the garage sale unfolded and I was visiting with shoppers, a young man came by. He and I were talking about all the stuff I’d found. He reminisced about his grandpa having the same kind of stuff…jars and can after can of nails and screws. He mentioned his grandma had saved every plastic butter dish she’d ever purchased. He found them in the basement one time, while searching for something else. He said, it’s not that it’s messy or anything, they are nicely stored and she knew where they were. He just didn’t know why a person would keep them.

This got me to thinking…AGAIN. There is something to be learned from this. This generation LIVED green. They didn’t throw things away, as it would be useful another time for another purpose. Or NOT. They were raised during a much different time. A time of “waste not, want not”. And so it was, and so here we are…becoming mindful of reusing, repurposing, restyling, re…re…re! Re-learning to live in a greener way…being green is hip…and it turns out, it always has been. So, my dear son, I’ve told you all along I’m pretty hip, and this just proves it!

And this folks, is the view from my front porch.
Beth Voltmer lives on a farm in rural New Virginia

Jack Mack has inspired me!

The View from My Front Porch March 15, 2009/Jack Mack

The rain was coming down…lightning lit up the sky. An early spring rain. Coming home from work, Mackenzy ran from the car into the house. Loud and stern, she was telling Callie, our dog, to stay out…she was covered top to bottom with mud and was wet from end to end. Why she wasn’t under the protection of her dog house, I don’t know. Progressively getting louder, Mackenzy’s screams brought us to our feet. We ran from the sunroom upstairs to see what was going on.

As Steve entered the living room, he exclaimed, “it’s a little dog!” Upon entering the kitchen, after flying down the stairs, I saw my daughter, Mackenzy, on top of the kitchen island. Petrified, she didn’t know what had ran into the house as she was making every effort to get Callie back out.

This is how Jack Mack (named by us) came to live with us. Where he came from, one only knows. How he came to our place is anyone’s guess. A most jovial dog, he has made a home right in our hearts. This, alone, is an amazing feat for me.

You see, dogs and cats just really aren’t my thing. This wasn’t always so. When I was little, I had a cat named, Cartoon. We’ve had pets all my life, but, I prefer them outside to inside. I love having Callie around and I’ve even gotten soft with her, letting her in the house on cold winter evenings. She’s old enough now that she’s easy to have in the house. Not exploring all over the place, wanting to be petted and licking your face. She’s mellowed out, so to speak…my kind of dog. She’s mellowed, and I’ve softened. It must be an ‘age’ thing.

So, this little Jack Mack has been chipping away at my heart, much like my nephew, Camden, suggested to me he does. He is endearing, he minds well, although he has had a few accidents, has a really cute face and whines when my husband leaves to go to work or outside. I’ve gone so far as to let him climb up on the furniture and nap with me on the bed. This is really something for me. What is it about this little dog, Jack Mack?

Knowing he’s really not ours, we’ve taken over the role of care-takers until we find out who he belongs to. I’ve asked around town, checked for ‘lost dog’ signs in the local bank, post office and gas station. Who could he possibly belong to? Why isn’t someone looking for him? Our place would not be the easiest one to find and go hang out at. A trip to the store to get a few things for the dog, has provided food, treats, breath and teeth cleaning ‘bones’, a collar and a leash, and a little stuffed pig that squeaks.

We took Jack Mack with us to go visit my sister and her family (another milestone for me). We were talking about all of my efforts to track down the dog’s owner. I said, “I just can’t figure out why no one has put up a lost dog sign?” My nephew, Riley, said, “Maybe they don’t have a computer” Now, if that isn’t a sign of the times, then I don’t know what is. As soon as he said it, we all giggled…and offered this to him, “they could do it the old fashioned way with markers and paper”. Now that I think about this, maybe I need to go online to the ‘lost and found’ and see if anyone has posted anything on the newspaper websites. I guess it’s a bit old fashioned to look in the newspaper, after all!

Jack Mack has a place with us, if that’s the way it turns out. I firmly believe that things happen for a reason. That’s the only reasoning I can give for this…a couple of days after Jack Mack came to our house, I picked up my husband’s copy of the Progressive Farmer magazine (not a regular read of mine) As I always do, I flip to the very last page of a magazine to read the article found there. The page was filled with little antidotes. The first one I read was this, “Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, filling an emptiness we don’t even know we have.” Thom Jones. Now, what kind of an explanation could you give for that? I’ll leave you with that thought. And this folks is the view from my front porch.

Beth Voltmer lives on a farm in rural New Virginia.

November 11, 2008 The ultrasound

The View From My Front Porch
December 2008

It was such a special day for us…so much anticipation. So much excitement! And, it all started back in August. Just passing the day in the usual way, I picked up the ringing phone and heard this on the other line, “Mom, how do you feel about being a grandma?” I replied, “Do I have a choice?” and we both laughed. Then I said, “what are you telling me?” “Alisha’s pregnant!” Tanner exclaimed.

The questions didn’t really come at me too fast. I just sat their taking the news in. How did I really feel about this? No great emotions…that I recall. Maybe a little giddy, as the news sank in. Then, as I came to my senses, so did the questions. When? How far along is she? I handed the phone to Steve…absolute happiness could be seen on his face. I sat there with a smile on my face wondering: Is she far enough along to find out the sex of the baby? Do I really want to know? Yes, No, Yes, No! and, then finally, YES!

We hung up the phone after telling Tanner we wouldn’t tell anyone. We wanted him to be the one to call his sister’s and grandparent’s, with the big news. This was good news…really good news.

The day that was filled with so much anticipation and so much excitement was November 11th, 2008. Courtney, my oldest, and I, were included in the ultrasound appointment…this was the big one. We, along with Tanner, Alisha (of course) and Alisha’s five year old son, Kobe, and her mom, anxiously awaited the nurse’s coming. Let’s get this show on the road, I kept thinking. Patience would not be one of my virtues!

Tha…thump! Tha…thump! Tha…thump! There it was, the heart beat…good and strong! Oh, and there was the hand…an arm, it’s nose, tha…thump, tha…thump, tha…thump. And the heart beat, some more. Instantly, I loved this little thing. Tha…thump, tha…thump, tha…thump, went my heart. In unison…we were bonded together, each of us, by this one little baby in the safe cocoon of its mother’s tummy.

From my vantage point in the corner, I was able to see the face of my first born, as she watched her first niece or nephew on the ultrasound. I got to see Tanner’s face, up close and personal, and I wondered what he was thinking. Tha…thump, tha…thump, tha…thump. I was sure I knew what he was feeling.

On this same day, November 11, 2008, Courtney was celebrating her 30th birthday. Tanner was concerned that his baby was healthy, I enjoyed watching my children witness such a neat event and we all found out that Courtney would be an aunt to a niece, Tanner would be a daddy to a baby girl, and I would become a grandmother of my very first granddaughter.

Tha…thump, tha…thump, tha…thump. My heart beat, is her daddy’s heartbeat, and her daddy’s heartbeat is hers…and the love continues one heart beat at a time... Tha…thump, tha…thump, tha…thump!

And this folks, is the view from my front porch
Beth Voltmer lives on a farm in rural New Virginia

I just finished reading my youngest daughter, Mackenzy's Ethnic Autobiography and am inspired by her last paragraph:

"One other very interesting thing that I have learned just from doing my research for this paper is just how mixed I really am. When I look at all of my ancestors from all sides of my family, I am part German, Italian, Swiss, Swede, English and French. This just supports my thought that for as discriminating and manipulative as Americans can be of other races or ethnicities, we are probably the most mixed group of people in the world. We have no right to shun someone for their color or beliefs because we are the mutts of the world; we have every type of blood running through our system, and I stongly believe that inthe end we are all intertwined with one another at some point in our family's history. I may not be an African American or Latin American on the outside, but I could very possibly be on the inside. Most of the sterotypes and beliefs we have come mainly from two things, one being parents and family, and the other being the media and society. I come from a family that does not discriminate against anyone, whether we believe in the same things or not. I also know that some of my ancestors had beliefs that were probably very racist and demoralizing, but I think as new generations form and society evolves and becomes more accepting of everyone, the younger generations become more tolerant and understanding of the people around them. I think that as a younger generation, we understand who was wronged in the past and are more willing to make peace with the situation because there will be no way to survive ourselves if we cannont unite together." Mackenzy Voltmer

What a wonderful thing, to see your child's viewpoint in print. For me, her openness and ability to see so deeply is inspiring...who could ask for anything more?

From starkness comes light

I'm in the sunroom. It's a cold, blustery day. One would think we're at the beginning of the short days of winter, instead of the longer-each-day ones of the springtime. It'll be here sooner, rather than later.

Inspired by the intermittent rays of sunshine...the room warms, it cools off...and so our days go. Shadows of bent and frozen tree limbs dance across the furniture and floor boards. Soon, these lackluster appendages will give way to green leaves and the shadows will take on a whole new quality. I'll welcome the shade from the trees from the sweltering heat...heat that is longed for now. This, too, will change!

As the ground warms, I'll be in search mode for the first inspiring signs of spring. We've seen a robin or two...surpising us in a most splendid way. Removing old leaves, a piece of paper that has gotten away and rested in this quiet spot, I search for the green tip of the first tulip, daffodil or hyacinth. They too, are inspired by the suns warmth and come to life.

Spring and all it inspires in me is a welcomed friend...what once was old is new again. What left us in death will reemerge with life...and the circle continues, one inspiring ray of sunshine at a time.

Creative Inspiration

Wow! Two friends and I took a road trip to Minnesota this weekend to take in the JunkBonanza event in Medina. WHAT A FUN TIME!!!

Talk about inspiration...around every turn, in each booth, in the car...the motel room...it was all around us.

My friends...well, I've found my 'soul sisters'...magazine junkies, junk junkies, decoration junkies...we are so much alike. We even had to walk away from an item we wanted, because the other wanted to purchase it.

Colors of fall filled the space...orange, rust, yellow, brown...oh, how I love this time of year. The cooler temps and crisp morning air...invigorating! I'm always inspired to redecorate my home, clear the flower beds and garden, trade out the summer wreaths with the fall ones. Out come the heavier throws and window treatments. There was plenty of accessories and decorative decor to inspire...to fill in with what I already have and to freshen what's older and tired...time to refresh and renew.

My getway with my 'soul sisters' was fun-filled. Laughter followed us everywhere. Having someone to run a purchase by, someone to verify a color, talk us out of a 'poor' purchase...that was all part of the weekend.

Happiness found me as I dropped each of them, with their haul, at their homes. Taking each item out of the car brought back fun memories of when and where the purchase was made.

I was anxious to get home...so close, yet so far away. I couldn't wait to share my purchases with my hubby. I picked out a few things for my office. A few things for home.

My inspired life...filled with friends. Soul Sisters...those who share the same interests, the love of the same things, or at least the appreciation and acceptance of the things we love. The same temperment, the same humor, so many things that are alike.

What inspires you at this time of year? Do you have a soul sister?