"TALES ROUND THE CAMPFIRE."

"TALES ROUND THE CAMPFIRE."

The sun peeps behind the clouds leaving the day with a big smile. It sets later in the hour at this time of year. The stillness of days are longer, beautiful and clear in the Spring time in South America. I know all seasons pave the way to the wondrous beauty of mother nature, although I prefer Spring and Fall, not the extreme temperatures or harshness of Summer and Winter.
I usually take a long break during the Summer unbearable heat, and go on vacation to enjoy camping out in nature with my fellowman. Anyway, the campsite by the bonfire is an unforgettable experience. Have you ever had a similar experience?...
My inner dream is to go back home with my dear family in the States. I wish to live in the perfect place with a steady Spring climate all year round, and be embraced by wonderful nature. I've got a special heart for animals, and especially for ponies and horses. So, it'll be just ideal for me to adopt some of them one day, if that is God's will. I just love Camping out in nature with my fellow, family and/or friends with our tent and RV. The air that I can breathe outside in mother nature is so pure that I should say bye to my health issues, and become healthy at a single touch like magic...
CAMPFIRE STORIES have always been fun!! Can you remember one sitting round the campfire listening to a great tale? Whether it is the long, embarrassing story that your dad told about your childhood, your first bicycle accident, or the ghost story your aunt told that kept you awake and up all night, stories have been indeed, an important form of communication.
For generations and thousands of years, stories have been told to impart information orally, teach valuable life lessons, and enhance one's understanding of people's culture and traditions.
Hey!!... You may relax, either sit on the grass, or you can bring your own blanket, or lawn chair to sit on.
Yes!! We'll tell tales, grab a cup of tea or coffee, and roast marshmallows round the campfire. Does it sound good to you?
I wonder...
Now, my story goes on... I recall old memories of my childhood when my dear grandfather, (the father of my father), used to tell me all kind of stories round the campfire. Grandpa's daddy told tales to him as well, and he told more tales to my daddy. You see, the story goes on in each individual. And time keeps running out for some...
They all grew up in small farms in rural areas. Poverty was their daily company, yet family love warmed up their childish hearts. My grandpa lived in rural country lands with grandmom. They had 4 children, one son and three daughters, who would be my dad and my three aunts later on.
They all rode ponies and horses on saddle, or pulled in wagons by means of transportation, for they did not have modern cars back in the 1800's. My grandfather was born around 1880 in a small farm surrounded by natural sounds of the Great Rainforest. His father was originally French. Many Immigrants left Europe in the 19th Century to different places in American lands, either North or South, just escaping from a dreadful poverty, war and famine.
The father of my grandfather made a living by measuring land and acreage as a Surveyor, in order to provide for his family and 6 children. My grandpa was their youngest and only son, and he would work in the land as a little child to help his 5 older sisters. In the past, cheap child labour was not uncommon.
Now, child work is forbidden by law.
Thank you for visiting My Monthly Newsletters!!
I shall return with more "Tales Round the Campfire."
Until we write again.
STARRY.

"WRITING IS A LOVELY THERAPY. WHY DO YOU WRITE?..."

"WRITING IS A LOVELY THERAPY.
WHY DO YOU WRITE?..."

Dear Online friends, May God bless your day and every day!! Thank you so much for your kind Online support, lovely comments and Emails!! I'll visit your wonderful blog and reply to you as soon as I find the right time. I am so busy lately with my personal matters and health issues, which I should fix before going to New York with my dear family next year in 2012, if that is God's will. It seems as if my prayers will be answered by our dear Lord, Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord!! I should get ready for my new promising venture...
Well, today's post is about "Writing is a lovely therapy.
Why do you write?..."
I tell you from my own personal experience and point of view...
I have created this blog to remain in touch with my Online friends, personal friends, family, acquaintances and people in general worldwide. It is indeed, a rewarding experience for me. I believe in Christians in Action.
What kind of Christian are you?... Are you one who talks behind one's back, or the one who goes face to face and frontline?... I do not like gossiping. If you have something to say, please, tell me about it in my face...
Am I welcomed to you??... I wonder... If I am not, then I'll walk away with my music elsewhere.
You see, I write for many reasons. Writing is a lovely therapy for me, a meaningful communication worlwide. Love is also the essential nutrient that nourishes the world to spin, to go round. Love is the fuel that ignites the motivation for doing things for others. Show them that you care, say you love them, and you'll find a whole world of friends in no time. Love fuels and activates our most inner substances, which make us creative and worthwhile. Love is a very valuable asset, the basement, the foundation of great buildings, especially the building of our lives. You see, Jesus loved the world so much that He gave His own life, as a living sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins, as the ultimate act of unselfish love.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is waiting for you at the door of your heart. Would you invite Him to come in and take control of your life?... God has an amazing plan for you.
I think, He's got a plan for me before I was born. Writing is my therapy. Writing is basically communication with others. Some folks may not understand what writing means to me...
Writing is an outlet, a personal retreat in my lonesome world, an instrument, a tool for my peace of mind at this moment. I am not sure if a non-writer or a non-creative person may understand how writing can do as a person's wonderful personal therapy.
At times, I ignored the phone, tuned out other noises in the house, even my own fellowman who came in and tried to have a conversation with me. You see, I was in the emotional train of thoughts. I was seeing and feeling in my own mind the images of my poem, story or musical song-lyrics. I would be moving ahead in my thought process as to what should happen next. This creative writing process is finally helping to feel like a real me again. Writing is who I am. It's what I do in the good times and in the bad ones. The good times are what inspires my writing, along with God and my dear family and friends. The bad times are eased by my writing, and it does become my therapy. Let your writing be!! If you are a writer, allow yourself to be the writer God has created you to be, and pray for your family's understanding, if they do not understand you so well.
"The Lord raised me up to the top of the mountains, to places that I thought I would never reach."
Welcome to a brand new day to one and all!! Why do I write??...
I write to communicate with others in different ways of written platforms. Yes!! My soul, an expression of virtue, the soothing music of the field, a balm in a raging deep blue sea, and the joy brought by the morning herald, would like to share with you, the wondrous news of this day.
Recalling old memories...
I am Starry Dawn, a concerned American Christian mature woman, a loving mother and a proud grandmother. I love my dear family so much. Long ago, I used to have wonderful jobs in my life. Now, I am an aging baby-boomer, and a freelance writer. I write poems, stories, tales, thoughts, reflections, song-lyrics and other deep expressions of my heart, so that I would let my inner poetical muse go, elevate one's spirit to another dimension, and reach out to people's hearts worldwide, if that is God's will, and His plan for my life.
In the morning, I walk out of the house to my garden of plants, and pray in the open air gazing at the sky... Absorbing the sunlight, inhaling God's presence and the beauty of the new day, I claim the blessing of the incoming hours. I give thanks to God in all circumstances. Then, I come back home and start writing. When I do this, I feel God's presence in a very palpable way. God created me in this way with high goals and moral values. Writing is my prayer language, my way of communication with the world, and the language of my heart. Writing is therapeutic for me. Writing is my therapy. Why do you write??... I wonder...
One of the worst things that could happen to a person is to have an amputated spirit, which may lead to an amputated or stolen future. Freedom of will is the key of a successful life.
I began to write in the Internet in Christian American Forums in early 2005. I learned so much from my dear Online friends. I have been so lucky to meet these wonderful Christian friends who still remain in touch with me, not only at the Forums but also in private interactions of our daily lives. I have volunteered my work for all these years in the Internet. However, there would be a time for me to reach to a halt, for I'd have to get a paid job to pay for our incoming bills back home in the States, where we should be heading for soon. I'll certainly keep posting my personal comments in this post about writing issues as chit-chats replies with Online friends. Many folks get paid for writing their Blogs or into the Forums, but I don't do that. I've seen people selling many things in the Internet. I don't do that either. You see, I'm getting tired.
Why do you write? Do you write for free?...
In my case, my writing is completely FREE. Yet, I won't stay forever sharing my artistic creativity. Soon, it'll be my last post.
I'll definetely be looking for a real job in the near future.
Then, I began to write My Own Blogs in 2009, a few months after my surgery, which set off for the removal of my lower mesenterium and other things, due to an ovarian cyst that grew larger, and also after my first attempt to go back home to New York.
My Therapist, who was a Physician Psychiatrist and a colleague of my fellowman Physician Surgeon at the E.R. Hospital, passed away due to Cancer in his Lungs first, then Cancer in his Brain. I still miss him so dearly!!
His wise theory was to keep one's mind active. He said, "Prevent yourself from falling into idleness, because it is not healthy for your mind." We used to talk about many things, about my life, my feelings, and so on...
My Therapist gave me special medications to treat my emotional disorders. I still take my meds on daily basis as he prescribed. I put all my trust in his wise advice. His wise theory was to put your goals, your dreams into practice, and to keep your mind active as much as you can. He said, "Do whatever makes you happy!! If you like to write, sing, travel, find new friends, go ahead and please yourself!! Life is certainly too short. Make the best of it."
Now, I leave today's post with a few lines from my poetical muse of inspiration.

God has given me this newborn day

Filled with hope and many flowers.

I turn around and find my home

Filled with blessing showers.

Many folks may wonder

Where my flowers have gone...

I've planted good seeds in good soil,

And my story goes on...

The big tree of my children have grown.

My flowers seeds are planted in American soil.

Thank you in advance for visiting My Monthly Newsletters and sharing with me this day, dear Online friends!!

God may bless you all!!

Poet Starry Dawn.

"Melodies of My Soul." (Poem)

Melodies of My Soul. (Poem)

Looking out the window,

I see butterflies all around.

In my garden of plants,

Mother nature is much abound.

I'm wondering where my flowers have gone.

Then, my spirit rises to the sky.

I find the seasons changing,

As I see the birds passing by.

Hear the music of the wind

Singing softly in my ear,

I know, my soul is flying afar

With pure melodies of no fear.

Feeling the scent of the sea breeze among seagulls...

I enjoy walking by the beach in love.

Collecting stones and plunging in the sea foam,

I still gaze at the sky up above.

Looking back, crawling down the creek,

I felt my wounds were set to part.

Mending souls in despair to drowning,

I was keeping afloat with a singing heart.

Shedding tears and missing dawns,

I captured seashells at the beach.

Teardrops -then- were like waterfalls

Digging their way to the ditch.

The music of mother nature was in the air.

Flutes were still playing in the raging sea.

I sailed away in my mighty vessel

To an island of chestnuts and honeybees.

Imagining that you were waiting there

Under the waterfall and dew,

I approached your early sunset

To find the mountain that it was you.

Drifting from place to place,

I found nothing but falling rain.

In my search for happiness,

My traveling was not in vain.

 If only I could dream of living with horses...

How happy I would be!!...

I love horses and animals!!

I know, their love will heal me and set me free.

Author: Starry Dawn.

"NEW RAINBOWS." (POEM)

"NEW RAINBOWS." (Poem)

Rainbows have wings flying with the wind.

Butterflies flirt in mother nature,

Swinging new colors that symbolize

A sign of new life beyond measure

With so much pleasure.

New rainbows are painting glowing colors

In new days, taking away your deepest sorrows.

Gifts of red, yellow, green and white

Are shining bright in the crowned sight.

At first glance, we see all the glorious beauty.

It brings joy and a glimpse of hope.

Filling our hearts with joy, God is watching

The view of His creation,

With a sign of life for the celebration.

New rainbows, life begins, flowers blossom

And all come alive in perfect motion.

Author: Starry Dawn.

"OCTOBER FOOD for POSITIVE THOUGHTS."

"OCTOBER FOOD for POSITIVE THOUGHTS."

This Blog will include inspirational tales, stories, poems, food for thoughts, and some personal messages in My Monthly Newsletters, which I'll send out under normal circumstances, if that is God's will.
I love to write my meaningful message out to the world. However, this blog can't go on without your encouragement. Without your moral support, my self-confidence will crush.
My Monthly Newsletters will keep on going as long as you are still interested in reading and will remain in touch.
Thank you in advance for your kind visits and Emails!!
"THE TRACES OF YESTERDAY ARE YET STILL ALIVE IN MY MEMORY."
Stumbled and fallen in a dusty road,
I kept falling in a strip of land.
My Lord was the one who lifted me up,
He was the one who gave me His hand.
You see, I am a baby-boomer. I was born a little before the mid 50's decade. Science was not much advanced back then, the way it is nowadays. Poliomyelitis was a severe ailment which left many children with paralyzed limbs. A few years after I was born, the polio vaccine was discovered. Thanks God!! So children were more on the safe side after that. My mom did for her child whatever she thought it would be good. My dear mother protected me in isolation from the general environment. In one hand, I did not catch that ailment, but on the other hand, my Immune System wasn't strong enough because it was not well developed for protection in my early childhood. I became afraid of the world and emotionally unstable since the early stage of my life. I was a sick child. My mom helped me to survive. I was at the verge of dying many times in my childhood. But, why didn't I help my mom when she needed me the most?? I was busy working in New York to support my own child. I regret from yesterday the fact of not helping my mom, and I am still paying a high price, the weight of my sins.
You see, yesterday is gone, tomorrow is uncertain, not promised, and all we've got is today.
I tell myself and others that we should make the best of today as if it would be our last day. There are more today's than there will be tomorrow's. Yesterday isn't now, it's gone, only there is for the memory. We can remember the good times of yesterday. We can also be haunted by the bad times or many regrets of yesterday.
Tomorrow is a myriad bundle of dreams. Can we really be sure about tomorrow?... We make plans for tomorrow, don't we??... We even anticipate tomorrow, the upcoming birthday, wedding, anniversary, Christmas, other holidays, jobs, making plans, a party or reunion with relatives and friends, and so on...
But in reality, tomorrow is basically nothing. All we can do is to prepare for its coming. And that is something that Jesus talks about in the Gospel reading for today. The preparing that we do for tomorrow, we do today. Oh!! So that is where the action takes place, my friends: TODAY!!
TODAY'S GOSPEL READING. LUKE 21: 5-19.
"While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and offerings, Jesus said, "All that you see here the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."
Then they asked Him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be, when all these things are about to happen?"
He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in My Name saying, I am He, and the time has come.
Do not follow them!! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end."
Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place, and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky. Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of My Name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of My Name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance, you will secure your lives." That is the word of the Lord in the Gospel of Luke. AMEN.
Let us pray together...
Dear Lord Jesus,
You are the hiding place of Your people, our refuge, our strength, our fortress. You go before us always, and You are with us forever.We praise and thank You for your wonderful love and care. Please, Heavenly Father, help us not to be fearful, and when we are afraid, help us to trust in You. We thank You so much for You are completely trustworthy and faithful. Precious Lord, You always know what You are doing as You weave the tapestry of our lives. We can always depend on You. In Jesus' most Holy Name, I pray.
AMEN.
I have been an active member of Christian American Forums since early 2005. Soon, it will be 7 years of Online interactions with Christians Worldwide. I am so glad to have known so many wonderful Online friends. I have an English friend, Doug, who lives in Yorkshire, England. Doug used to write his International Internet Ministry, and he said, "Thoughts are living things with wings. You are never alone, when you think of others, and they think of you.  No matter where you are, God is with you all the time."
Thank you in advance for taking your precious time in coming over for a visit in my place!!
God bless!!
STARRY.

THE ART GALLERY OF MY GRANDFATHER.

THE ART GALLERY OF MY GRANDFATHER.

I know the Art Gallery of my grandfather could be priceless these days. However, there is a story behind these gorgeous oil paintings.
My grandfather, the father of my mother, was Swiss. He was European and passed away in 1927. My dear mom was only a 2-year-old baby.
My grandfather always painted his oil paintings without a mask. The smell of oil paintings poisoned my grandfather killing him within a short time. My grandmother, the mother of my mother, was Northern Italian. She sold all her husband's oil paintings to just barely survive for a little while. Then, my grandmom  turned into poverty. Back then, my grandmother would give up her youngest baby,  my dear mom, to her own mother (my great-grandmother) and sisters (my great aunts) for my mom's upbringing as a child. My mom told me later on that she would miss her mom so much, and she would grow up with emotional disorders without her dear mom. Now, I can understand how my mom must have felt back then... It is indeed, heartbreaking when one does not grow up with her/his own mother for one reason or another. It could just kill one's heart and leave everlasting emotional wounds for a lifetime. My mom always talked about her daddy, the one she would never get to know. When my mom turned 18, she moved with her dear mom, my grandmother. Shortly afterwards, my mom met my father and got married. My parents had only one child, me. My mom took her mom in her new apartment with my daddy. So, my mom, grandmom, dad and me all lived happily together for a while. All went well, and joy abound for about 9 years of my life, until a woman stole my daddy's heart away from my dear mom. Depression, sadness and inner wounds slowly sucked my mom's life away. As a little child, I saw my mother cried an ocean in the pit of her despair, which shook me right from within. She had not got enough energy left for me. Our lives had been shattered, because of the other woman's fault in my dad's life. That evil woman is still living somewhere, and both of my parents have been dead for a long while. I have already shared some family pics for you to get the picture. You see, I was growing up as a child back then, and I still needed my mom so badly. My mom was slowly falling apart. She discharged all her anger, sadness, lonelyness, frustrations, depression over me as a child and teenager. When I grew up as an adult, I took a final decision, I left her home and went to New York. My mother's heart was broken one more time and forever...
Dear Readers, Love is the fuel that makes the world go round. We are nothing without love. Think about that, my Online readers and friends. Please, let me know what you think about love...
Show kindness to others, for you'll never know when one is undergoing some kind of hurdle or hurting inside.....
I created this blog to remain in contact with my Online friends.
There will be no point for me to keep on going with an empty page.
Now, the story goes on and on...  God bless!!

Poet Starry Dawn.

THE HOMELESS AND HIS DOG. (PART 2)

THE HOMELESS & HIS DOG. (PART 2)

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 you blessed of my Father and inherit the Kingdom I have prepared for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me a drink, I was 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 that traveled well and was not too heavy. It was also his personal favourite. "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 a Bible for my new friend that would do well. He seemed very grateful.
He smiled, and the warmth of his spirit radiated the genuine sincerity of his mission. I drove him back to the town-square where we had 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 so deeply. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I let him go with a verse of The Scriptures 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 promising future and hope."
"Thanks man," he said. "I know we just met, and we are really just strangers, but I love you anyway."
"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. "But with my beloved dog, we hug each other every day."
"If you truly love living beings, you won't ever hurt them..."
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!!" It was my reply.
He began his journey with his beloved dog 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, please?"
"You bet," I shouted back, "God bless."
"God bless." And that was the last time I saw 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 a pair of well-worn gloves neatly laid over the length of the handle. I picked them up, 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 see the world and its people in a brand new way, and they help me remember those two hours with my unique friend and his beloved dog, and to pray for his Ministry. "See you in the New Jerusalem," he said. Yes, John, I know I will...
"I am a temporary passanger... I shall pass this way but only 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."
The homeless uttered his wisdom. Awesome!!
Prayer is a powerful energy. Prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost, but lots of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another. Do not pelt with harsh words!! Show kindness to others, for you'll never know when someone is undergoing hurdles and hurting somehow. Live today to the fullest, for tomorrow is not promised to anyone. If I (Starry) am not here in the future, just remember my inspirational poetry, my words of wisdom with joy, with a smile in your pretty faces. You must know for sure that I won't be here forever. We are temporary passangers in this world. Let us pray together now...
Dear Lord,
Heavenly Almighty Father, I ask You to bless my dear friends, relatives, family members,  Email and Blogger buddies right now, and embrace them into Your loving arms. Show them the way, a new revelation of Your unconditional love and mighty power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirits at this very moment of reading this message. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt or no self-esteem, release a renewed assurance and confidence through Your grace.
In the Holy and Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, I pray. AMEN.
God bless, and have a nice day!!
Thank you for reading My Monthly Newsletters!
I let you know that I have especially created this blog only for those folks who are interested in remaining in touch with me, folks who truly welcome my comments in their blogs. Otherwise, there is no point for me to fuel something that is not there, to be left alone, neither to keep on going with this blog any longer...
I really need much encouragement and moral support to see my own self-worth towards others, in order to not have a blank page, or an empty book. You see, I retired my poetry corner and inspirational site due to my health issues and personal matters.
I am still undergoing unpleasant health issues, such as asthma, allergy, overweight, fatigue, tachycardia, emotional issues, and so on... I do not think I'll last for long. I am so tired, so worned out...
I shall see what I'll do with my life...
Bye for now,
STARRY.