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Romance by Edgar Allan Poe

This picture was in my Timehop memories today and wanted to share!

Romance

BY EDGAR ALLAN POE

Romance, who loves to nod and sing,
With drowsy head and folded wing,
Among the green leaves as they shake
Far down within some shadowy lake,
To me a painted paroquet
Hath been—a most familiar bird—
Taught me my alphabet to say—
To lisp my very earliest word
While in the wild wood I did lie,
A child—with a most knowing eye.
Of late, eternal Condor years
So shake the very Heaven on high
With tumult as they thunder by,
I have no time for idle cares
Through gazing on the unquiet sky.
And when an hour with calmer wings
Its down upon my spirit flings—
That little time with lyre and rhyme
To while away—forbidden things!
My heart would feel to be a crime
Unless it trembled with the strings.

Source: The Complete Poems and Stories of Edgar Allan Poe (1946)

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48626/romance-56d22a04969a1

My 2021 OLW

A couple years ago when I first joined the Happy Planner community I learned about this concept of picking one word to focus on in the upcoming year that would cover multiple areas of your life instead of making a bunch of resolutions that we most likely will never keep.

I had chosen a word for 2019, but did not keep up with it. I don’t remember what it was honestly because I didn’t really put much effort into it. Probably because I had lost my grandmother in 2018 and fell into deep depression and anxiety. So when 2020 was quickly approaching and after seeing a counselor for several months, I thought about revisiting the one little word concept again.

After praying about it and watching videos of people who had chosen their words for the year, I kept feeling a tug towards the word “perseverance.” So this time I decided that I was going to stick with it and see how it played out. I invested in my word by having a custom necklace and bracelet made with my word on it. I ordered a hand lettered printable that I was able to add to the beginning of my planner. I also made a visual reminder of my word to hang on my bulletin board, pictured below.

Little did I know that 2020 would be a crazy year with a pandemic canceling a lot of plans. But, because I am a Christian and had been praying about my word, I believe that God in His infinite wisdom and mercy, knew that I would need that word in 2020.

Which brings us to 2021 and the word I have chosen. I had several words that I wanted to pick and couldn’t decide on until after I took several quizzes that confirmed one of the words I had picked. That word is BELIEVE!

I chose that word because there are several promises that God has given me and even with a pandemic still happening in 2021, I believe that He will still fulfill His promises in my life.

I want to believe His word above all things. I also want to believe in myself and my abilities. I want to believe that there is still goodness left in the world and we just have to be open to look for it.

Do you also do the One Little Word challenge? If so, I would love to hear about it in the comments. And if you’re not familiar with the concept and would like to learn more, you can check out Ali Edwards website here, Ali Edwards

I dwell in Possibility – (466) by Emily Dickinson | Poetry Foundation

I dwell in Possibility – (466)
BY EMILY DICKINSON

I dwell in Possibility –
A fairer House than Prose –
More numerous of Windows –
Superior – for Doors –

Of Chambers as the Cedars –
Impregnable of eye –
And for an everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky –

Of Visitors – the fairest –
For Occupation – This –
The spreading wide my narrow Hands
To gather Paradise –

— Read on www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/52197/i-dwell-in-possibility-466

My Testimony: From addict to free

Seven years ago, I made a post on Instagram and Facebook praising God because He delivered me from smoking and a 20+ addiction to pornography and erotica. Shortly afterwards, a family member sent me a private message rebuking me and made me feel bad. So, after that, I stopped sharing my testimony and sticking with the little everyday miracles that God was doing in my life. 

Well, I’ve since learned that the enemy is a sneaky little devil and will use anyone, especially family, to stop you from being used by God. I also know that men aren’t the only ones who struggle with this issue and that if my testimony can help others then I’m willing to share it. I’m not proud of my past, but I do know that God exists and that He can take what the enemy meant for evil and use it for good. 

I shared my testimony in more detail in this blog post from 2014 if you want to learn more. 😊

https://tabrownwvhome.wordpress.com/2014/05/31/my-testimony-from-addict-to-free/