Ann Brubaker Greenleaf Wirtz
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  • Reviews: Our Lives in Verse

Thankful for Sarah Young, Author of "Jesus Calling"

9/5/2023

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Sarah Young, author of the daily devotional Jesus Calling, died on August 31, 2023. Her passing brought tears to my eyes. I have six of her books, and each devotional has lifted my spirit and comforted my heart. Her writings connect us to Jesus and take us to the Throne of Grace, where we find solace, hope, peace, and joy. Her remarkable ministry has touched literally millions of lives. According to an article in "Christianity Today," Jesus Calling alone has sold "more than 45 million copies."

The books by Catherine Marshall, beginning with A Man Called Peter and each of her successive works, including Beyond Ourselves and Something More, combined with the devotional books written by Sarah Young are second only to the Bible in their impact on my life. These two women have been spiritual mentors, guiding and encouraging me in my journey of faith, and I thank the Lord for them! To God be the Glory!
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August Transition

8/26/2023

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In the Northern Hemisphere
Morning light comes later now,
No longer bright at six a.m., but dark,
And an earlier evening descends
As the earth in its spinning orbit of the sun,
With its tilted and unchanging axis, finds
The sun’s rays less direct on the North Pole,
Moving us closer to the autumnal equinox.
 
Within the green woodland
Signs of fall quietly appear,
In the South dogwood trees lighten
With an aura that shades to crimson,
And in the North touches of yellow and red
Flame amongst the hemlock,
As leaves land here and there, 
Signaling both an end and a beginning.
 
Along the traveled byway
The black-eyed Susan wildflower
Winks joyfully in the summer breeze,
And sunflowers stand tall in garden plot
Or farmer’s field, grown for beauty
And for the harvest of their seeds,
A favorite for the ever-hungry birds,
Affecting with their avian song and flashing feathers.
 
To our alert ears   
The rolling buzz and click of the cicada’s tymbals
Is the sound of summer, intensifying in August,
A background anthem accompanying a stroll in the garden
To admire lantana, alive with multi-hued loveliness,
Or impatiens, with colorful wide-open faces, and
Begonias, lavish in shades of serene pink, while
Bright marigolds nestle near queenly red geraniums, exquisite, all.
 
Seasons come and soon enough they go, 
Be it through the world’s natural turn
Or as periods of challenging time,
Even as the gentle passage of our own years,
Rails they are, as seasons frame and steer our lives,
Sometimes along a course we never imagined,
But always in the looking back,
How quickly it all went.
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"June in the Middle"    From Our Lives in Verse, Everyday Poetry

6/25/2023

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Picture
​Memorial Day behind us,
The Fourth of July ahead,
Two days so vastly different …
One somber,
One joyous …
Yet, of each it can be said,
These days celebrate the best of us:
With tears for the fallen,
The brave who have died,
And cheers for the fireworks
That light the night sky.
Two holidays to honor
The joy and the pain,
To win freedom, so precious …
A cost with every gain.
 
And now we pause between the two,
The month of June is here.
Spring turns to summer,
Shimmer to shine …
Surprise,
We’re half-way
Through the year! 

 
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Day upon day upon day … and time goes slowly by until something is over … and then how quickly it passed … the hours, the days, the weeks, the months … the long years … all go by in haste. Nothing makes that clearer than history itself, so soon accomplished both in individual lives and nationally in a country’s historic sweep. We thank you for the founding of our great nation, America, for every sacrifice in lives and hardship to right wrongs and secure freedom … our never-ending story. Thank you for every month and year that passes, may we never take life for granted. Bless and keep us today, ever in your care.
In Your Holy Name.
Amen.
 
Invocation Poem and Prayer   
Henderson County Genealogical and Historical Society
Hendersonville, North Carolina
June 2, 2018

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On St. Patrick’s Day, we …

3/17/2017

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Think of St. Patrick, of course, and Ireland.  Erin is its ancient name, a poetic version made famous in Erin go Bragh, Gaelic for “Ireland forever,” literally “Ireland for eternity.”

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, so deemed for his zeal and success in converting the country to Christianity following his years of training in a monastery in France and his appointment as a bishop to Ireland. This Scottish born lad knew Ireland and its people well from the years he spent as a teen in captivity there, working as a shepherd. He escaped only to come back years later in March, 433, as a missionary. He died on March 17, 461, around 76 years old.

Wear a touch of emerald.  Though any green will do, we think of this rich green in honor of the “Emerald Isle,” as poet William Drennan (1754-1820) first called beautiful lush, green Ireland in his poem When Erin First Rose.

Sing When Irish Eyes are Smiling.  This is one of Ireland’s most beloved songs, written in 1912 by Americans Chauncey Olcott, whose mother emigrated from Ireland, George Graff, and Ernest Ball. Several years later, John McCormack, considered one of the greatest Irish tenors of all time, made the song forever famous.

Buy a Shamrock Plant (Oxalis).  Its three leaves are similar to the shamrock used by St. Patrick to illustrate the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The shamrock is viewed by most as the white clover (Trifolium repens), a common plant. When a mutation occurs and four leaves form, we consider ourselves “lucky” to find one, and since the odds are against us 1:10,000, we are lucky, indeed. The four-leaf clover, however, is never considered a shamrock.

Decorate with touches of Ireland and spring, the start of the season only a few days away.  Gather up those cherished, personal treasures that are tucked away and decorate for each season and holiday. Being able to take in hand, once more, the little gifts and family heirlooms that either represent decades of living or are brand new is an opportunity not to be missed. The value of the old is that it has survived a very long time … the who, what, when, and where of its history fascinating to contemplate.

In my photograph is a delicate Belleek creamer from Ireland that belonged to my mother, its 3rd period registry mark dating it from 1926-1946. It graces an authentic shamrock-embroidered doily from my friend, Karin, a gift from her trip to Ireland several years ago. The book is another treasure. Spring Is A New Beginning by Joan Walsh Anglund was published in 1963 and is one of her many books, her whimsical drawings and sayings extremely popular in the 1960s. I have four of Anglund’s titles. This book is extra special because it was a gift in October 1967 from Ginny, still one of my dearest friends, our friendship dating back to the second grade.

Bless others today with a traditional Gaelic blessing from Ireland.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back. 
May the sun shine warm upon your face; 
the rains fall soft upon your fields 
and until we meet again, 
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!


References:
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89
http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/history-of-st-patrick.html
http://www.sheknows.com/baby-names/name/erin
http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/top-ten-old-irish-phrases-and-their-meanings-eirinn-go-brach-137123193-237785321
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erin_go_bragh
https://www.reference.com/geography/ireland-called-emerald-island-bf45498cae8a7e2f  
http://www.shmoop.com/when-irish-eyes-are-smiling/meaning.html
http://www.finegardening.com/history-shamrock    
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/care-potted-shamrocks-96741.html
https://www.houseplant411.com/plant-care/shamrock-plants-for-st-patricks-day
http://goodlucksymbols.com/four-leaf-clover/
http://www.lords-prayer-words.com/famous_prayers/may_the_road_rise_up_to_meet_you.html
​
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Salada Tea and Me

3/9/2017

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Picture
​William E. Gladstone was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, elected to Parliament four different times from 1868-1894. One of his enduring observations concerns the benefits of tea:
If you are cold, tea will warm you;
If you are too heated, it will cool you;
If you are depressed, it will cheer you;
If you are excited, it will calm you.”
 
There is simply something about a cup of hot tea. While I’m devoted to my coffee first thing in the morning, tea is my choice mid-afternoon when energy begins to lag. Expounding on one of winter’s most delightful joys, I have written:
“And taking time for a respite on a chilly afternoon can be sublime with a luxuriously soft blanket and a fire’s warmth close by, a fine book and a mug of hot, fragrant tea in hand. With a teaspoon of local honey from the hives of friends, if one is fortunate, and a touch of organic cream to turn it milky white, the tea is especially satisfying. Yes, indeed, life can be very good in the wintertime.”
 
One of my favorite tea brands is Salada, the company originally founded by Peter C. Larkin in Montreal, Canada, in 1892 and named for an ancient tea garden in Ceylon. They were the first company to put tea in foil packets to keep it fresh. I’ve had three of their blends and have loved the uniqueness of each one:  Citrus Medley, Peach Mango, and Pomegranate Acai. It’s difficult to name a favorite, and it depends on the moment, but Peach Mango is … amazing.
 
Today, Salada USA is a division of Redco Foods in Little Falls, New York. Redco Foods is owned by Teekanne GmbH of Dusseldorf, Germany, in the tea trade business since 1882. They are the inventors of the flow-through tea bag and were also the first to sell their tea in tins. “Teekanne” means Tea Pot … one of the more perfect names for a tea company!  A final thought:
 
“I wish we could sit down together,
And have a cup of tea.
But since we can’t
When you have this one,
I hope you’ll think of me.”
~ Author Unknown

 
For more information about Salada and Teekanne  go to:
http://www.salada.ca/en/salada_tea/history_of_a_classic.aspx
http://greentea.com/company/
http://www.teekanne.com/about-us/


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Fire Up the Griddle! Tomorrow, February 28, is Pancake Day!

2/27/2017

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​Fire up the griddle, warm up the syrup, mix up the batter, tomorrow, 28 February 2017, is Pancake Day, a.k.a. Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras. In the church liturgical calendar, tomorrow marks the end of the season of Epiphany, which began on Three Kings Day, or the 12th day of Christmas, which was on January 6 this year.Tradition states that after following the star to Bethlehem, the Three Wise Men found the baby Jesus on this day.
 
Shrove Tuesday, 47 days before Easter, is derived from “shrive” meaning confession of sins and absolution. It is the final day of partying, celebration and indulgence before the self-sacrifice of the 40-day Lenten Season (the six Sundays are not counted). Lent begins the following day on Ash Wednesday. The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:27 is credited with this example of personal self-denial, as part of his testimony of faith in Jesus Christ.
 
Originating in Europe during the Middle Ages, Shrove Tuesday was the final opportunity to cook with the eggs, fats, and milk that would be restricted during Lent. Preparing meals with these ingredients would keep them from going to waste. France designated the day "Fat Tuesday," or Mardi Gras, and England, and other countries, began the tradition of serving pancakes as the perfect way to clean out the refrigerator, so to speak, and thus the name … “Pancake Day.” 
 
Make them from scratch, make them from a box mix, but do make them (or have them out).
I plan to.
Enjoy!!


For more information, go to:
http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/Christian-Holidays/origins_of_shrove_tuesday.html
or to:
http://www.myolddutch.com/History/Pancake-Day.aspx 

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The 23rd Psalm

2/23/2017

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Picture
This lovely, silver lamb pendant was a precious Christmas gift from my husband, Patrick. I began acquiring little lambs in 2004, my delightful collection a statement of the deepest and most important relationship in my life ...
Jesus Christ is my Shepherd, and I belong to Him, a lamb in His eternal fold. 

Enjoy the wonder of God's love for us, as expressed so eloquently by David in Psalm 23, the King James Version, which is how I memorized these verses as a child:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.


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Our Amazing First President, George Washington

2/20/2017

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George Washington, who was born on February 22, 1732, was inaugurated as our first president on April 30, 1789 at Federal Hall in New York City. With numerous witnesses assembled for the historic occasion, he stepped onto the outdoor balcony and requested an open Bible, upon which he placed his right hand and took the oath of office. At the conclusion, the church bells pealed, the artillery roared, and the applause thundered.

Our new President went inside and spoke with a gravity and solemnity that befitted the anointing of our nation.
He began, "It would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplication to that Almighty Being, who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States ... No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency ... We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained."    Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Light and the Glory​ (Fleming H. Revell: Grand Rapids, MI, 1977), 349. 
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Christmas Tomorrow

12/24/2016

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Picture
​Christmas Tomorrow
By Ann Brubaker Greenleaf Wirtz
 
Yes, the busy days are drawing down,
The end of many trips to town;
The gifts are chosen and under the tree,
Some for you and some for me.
 
For family far away this year,
Packages sent early draw us near;
Filled with gifts to bring great joy,
Pictures and clothes and delightful toys.
 
Throughout the home Christmas shines holy and bright,
With candles, and holly, and colorful lights
That adorn the tree and cast a glow
Upon the nativity nestled below.
 
Ornaments speak to that moment so clear,
When purchased or received from someone dear;
A twinkling Santa face, hand-made by my mother
Is a treasure to me, one like no other.
 
December has now too quickly passed,
Can we slow down the days and make them last?
My eyes feast upon each tender scene,
Drawing in the beauty of what it means.
 
For soon this month will see its end,
As the New Year’s celebration sends
Us forth into another year,
With memories to cherish and keep so near.
 
My prayer for the family and friends I love,
Grateful, I am, to the Lord above,
Who gives me hope and guides my way,
May He bless each one, every coming, new day.
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Autumn Time:  A Simple Poem About an Enduring Truth

10/5/2016

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Picture
Red bittersweet on the mantle,
​An orange pumpkin by the door,
Yellow mums, so bright and cheery,
From the local store;
Each fills my heart with gladness
This autumnal time of year,
Each calls me to remember
Those I hold especially dear.
 
For autumn brings reflection,
As deep colors paint the trees,
A time to contemplate the past
While raking up the leaves.
 
Mother is gone, and Daddy,
Their presence no longer near,
But I always remember their loving ways
Every fall of the calendar year.
 
For Daddy would rake and burn the leaves
And put an apple on a stick,
And we would roast this juicy treat,
Being careful not to lick.
 
And mother would cut some bittersweet
And trim it for her vase,
This lovely “Ode to Autumn”
Gave our room a touch of grace.
                                                      
Do you, too, have tender memories,        
Ones you hold so dear?                           
Does fall impart the same response,        
As it brings the past so near?

Yes, autumn is filled with treasured scenes
Of life and moments clear.
To me it is unquestionably
My favorite time of year!

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