Unicorns and Butterflies (in haiku)

Try some unicorn!

Increase your daily levels

Of hearts and sparkles.

A caterpillar-

Fantastic, but butterflies,

Metamorpahstic!

The Boss Loves You!

I went to dinner tonight at my best friends' sushi bar and when the bill came it was nearly a full comp. 

The description for the goodwill read, "The Boss Loves You." 

It made me think:

If the "Boss" loves you, then everyone loves you. 

There's no greater love than that of the boss.

He gives purpose, knows how well you're doing your job and is the judge at the end of it all. 

 Point: Do a good job.

Make the boss happy. 

Amen.

Courageous

Just FINALLY watched the movie, " Courageous ,"  and am still drying the tears from my cheeks.

Without telling the whole story, I want to post a copy of the "Resolution" that the fathers in this movie pledged to their families in a ceremony setting.  

The words are moving, inspirational, reassuring, and tremendously positive! 

I hope that if you are a father and you are reading this, you will consider this resolution for yourself and your family. 

Imagine the blessings it will bring to your home life.  

Think about it.

In love,

Ms. Panda

California vibe - in Haiku

Energy is smooth :) 

Flowing like the ocean breeze

Through swaying palm trees.

Amazing to breathe

The cool, crisp, fresh mountain air

Coming from the east

Driving down the coast

The road humming underneath

Beaches passing by.


The vibes in Cali

Come from many different things

Most from within me ;)

Prayer Works!

"To be disappointed in someone is to have belief in someone. People are human. They are not perfect. Sinners sin. Pray for them," Pastor Miles from the Rock Church in San Diego. Don't waste time worrying about situations and people. Worry is a pack of ravenous wolves - scary and negative. Belief is freedom and liberation from worry. God has a plan and everything is part of that plan. He loves us so much and just wants a relationship with us - one where we are completely humble and servant. He wants our trust to be in Him, not in man. Whatever problem we are facing, talk to Him. PRAY. He will answer. And you will feel better with all that negative energy and weight lifted from your life. Trust God. Judging and preaching to someone isn't the answer. Just love them and treat them equally. Don't judge. That's for Him to do. If you love someone who is hurting themselves or you, pray for God to fill their heart and heal their pain. Pray that God will answer your call and show His love and He will.

Blogathon Haiku Day 2012

Today is Day 21 of the Word Count Blogathon and the theme is HAIKU!

This style of poem, which you can learn about here, is composed of 17 sound units

divided into three parts - one with 5 units, one with 7 units and another with 5 units.

Here is one I wrote in Calligraphy for my pen pal:

Here are some I wrote today while I waited an hour at the DMV:

I love my haikus

They roll off my mind like wheels

Spinning in control

Poetry is life

A writer's means to speak it

A reader's glimpse in

Visual headlines

Written thoughtfully to see

What I am feeling

Haiku anywhere

Sitting in the DMV

Waiting to be called

It's 5-7-5

All it takes to come alive

In the haiku world

Spinning, twirling free

The sun shining down on me

Day after eclipse

The moon blocked her face

We poked holes through paper plates

The same as sixth grade

What a day it was!

I wrote a meaningful blog

And changed perceptions!

Today is a new day!

Full of opportunity

And love in my heart

Thanks for being here,

For reading the poems I write -

An eclipse of mind.

xOx,

Ms. Panda

Some of my favorite haiku posts from the past:

Numbers and weekdays

Mix so nicely in my mind

Imagine, Twosday.

Spiritual toys...
Play with them every day
and watch your light grow.

I see the word "love"

On the phone pole in the street

Just as you call me

She finds prince charming
Only exists in her books
But keeps believing

A moment to think
Of a thing called love, in ink
How shall I write it?

Karma maniacs

Cashin' in and styled out

On universe gifts

Aren't you curious
To know and live God's purpose?
It's why you are here.

Relax and enjoy
Trust that he has brought you here
To show you the way

My Favorite ALL-TIME Haiku:

Honest to a fault
I wear my heart on my sleeve
Like a truth tattoo

Homeless and Heartbroken

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Psalm 147:3

Before I even knew her name, my heart broke for the homeless girl holding the sign that read:

"Sober, Homeless, Hungry, Down on Luck."

I only had a butterscotch flavored Dum Dum lollipop to give her, but Amanda was very greatful.

She stood by my back window of my car as my dogs barked, but then licked her face. 

She remarked, "This is true therapy."

She mentioned she had a dog, who was back at her tent.

I asked, "Where are you staying?"

She told me, "The foothills of Presidio," which is ironically close to the Spanish Mission that was built as a safe haven for weary travelers during the early settlement of California.  Each mission stood approximately a day's hike away from the next.

She added, "I just left the river 'cause I got a black eye from someone who wanted the $10 I made out here one day."

I asked, "What do you need?"

She said, "A sleeping bag.  I just left my husband two days ago at the river.  He was smoking crystal meth."

I told her that I was on the way to my church's thrift store, just around the corner and would see if I could find one for her.

She thanked me and the light turned green signaling my departure.

When I entered the warehouse for the Rock Thrift Store, I knew exactly where to go, as I volunteered there last Monday.  There's a bin in the back that is full of items intended just for homeless and I bet you can guess what was sitting right on top. 

I not only found a sleeping bag, but also a soft comforter, a cozy jacket and even an air mattress. 

I would definitely say, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Or better yet, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." -Matthew 7:7

The thrift store employees knew that God had put this on my heart and didn't charge me for the items, when normally you would need a voucher. 

So I bagged them up and took them to her.  As we stood there on the corner, she told me her story, which you can read some of it here.  She used to have a cat named Angel that would sit on her shoulder, but he got hit by a car and she couldn't get afford to get him out of the shelter, for they wouldn't release him unless he went straight to a surgeon and Amanda didn't have the $2,000 to pay the specialist.  Tears welled up in her eyes as she talked about it. 

She now keeps the company of a dog named, Hades, and says that people often ask her, "How can you be homeless and have a pet?"

Her answer is simple.

"Imagine you lose everything and are living in the middle of the woods in a tent.  Could you stand to be alone?"

I also used to wonder how people could be homeless and care for themselves and an animal also.  I used to think that they were just using the pet to invoke sympathy from passers by.

Now I get it.  This is the reason they are alive. 

Without the love of the pet, they would be all alone, and worse, feeling loveless.

Amanda describes pan handling, “It’s like being an animal in a zoo, standing out here with people pointing and staring,” she says. “It’s the most humbling thing a person can experience.”

I gave Amanda my phone number and told her to call me if she ever needed to just talk.

I really hope she reaches out, because as the writer mentioned in the article, Amanda has an "air of decency about her" and I know that God has a plan for her.  She already has a very powerful testimony to share. I just hope that my role in it isn't done yet.

Here is the type of life Amanda is living.

If you see one of these "tent cities" pop up by you,

chances are there is an "Amanda" out there who needs you, too.

And I pray that it breaks your heart, just as it did mine, so that you won't just feel bad,

you will actually DO SOMETHING!

xOx,

Ms. Panda