Writing Wings For You

Marie Lukasik Wallace ~ # I LIVE Poetry – I'm passionate about life and writing and all things creative and poetic!

Tag Archives: blessings


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Marie’s Gold of 2016

Many people can’t wait to be “rid” of 2016, and while I think there was so much of 2016 that broke my heart and brought me to my knees, especially the loss of so many dear ones, I know that much was learned, even with the loss and the trials and tribulations. Without them, I may not have been in gratitude for the greatness in my life, or I may have missed a valuable lesson. For every thing, there is a season and a reason.

I will especially miss my brother Joey and my brother-in-law John..but these lessons taught me to love my family fiercely and keep on making memories!

When I closed the door on teaching, I was excited, and I was devasted at the loss of an identity…but the release of that, allowed me to open many new doors, including travel! I got to witness the beautiful faces of Indian people who look at you deeply to your soul and started my world sisterhood with 20 year old women who invited me to go to Poland…I got to play the drums with the kids and teach them hand games and bring much needed supplies.

and then I got to travel to Africa with Joe and feel my soul burst open wide! And extended my sisterhood to Africa with women who loved me and enfolded me into their community without a word…we connected heart to heart…and then of course, I got to fall in love with the kids around the world too…telling stories and playing games and yes, playing drums and singing! And of course, nothing is complete without a Safari to witness all of God’s wonders.

I’m still teaching, but in ways I never imagined. I get to bring out the gold in people, especially young people. I love that!

I don’t know what 2017 holds for me, but I am ELATED to see all that it holds and reveals to me and me BEING me and giving my contribution. I am truly blessed.

Thanks for your love, your friendship and your support. It’s been wonderful having you cheer me on.
#MariesGold2016

 

 


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My Lovelies Sunflowers and Daisies

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photo by Marie Lukasik Wallace  – all rights reserved 2016daisies

Daisies photo by Marie Lukasik Wallace – All rights reserved 2016

My Lovelies
Sunflowers and Daisies

By Marie Lukasik Wallace

Heart centered lovelies
Lovely arms flung open wide
Open to give to their tippy tips
Open to receive deeply
Being and flinging
Joy

Ahhh…we have so much to learn from these lovelies.


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The Beauty of India – the Soulful Women

One of the most moving portions of my trip was engaging with the people of India.  When they look into your eyes, they see your soul.  They don’t glance away.  They look deeper.  There is a genuine desire to “know” you and honor the divine in you, thus where the word Namaste comes from.

As part of SHEROES United, I got the privilege to go into the Himalayas and bring Humanitarian relief.  But honestly, visiting them, I got humanitarian relief.  Relief that there are still such genuine, kind, loving people in the world.  These are people who are gracious and grateful for the smallest of blessings.

After we spent time with the children (a beautiful earlier post), we received the beautiful blessing of meeting the moms of the kids, plus other women who had heard of our arrival.

Our wonderful Drum Goddess, Katie Jo, pulled out her drums and then we were  off to an adventure of bringing the beauty of sound to the village women.  One woman would strike the drum with a small stroke, and Katie Jo would encourage them to strike it hard.  The sound then filled the room and soon the dancing broke out, and we saw the women’s hearts soar with the beats.  What a wonderful sight to see these women laughing and dancing with so much joy.  We gave the drum to the grandmother who really encouraged  all to dance.  But the most beautiful sight of all  was when I looked to the back of the room to the faces of the sons and grandsons of the woman who had witnessed their moms and grandmothers dancing in spirit.  What a sight to see!

I will forever be changed getting the honor and privilege of being a part of watching spirits soar.

(p.s.  The last picture is one of our drivers…look at the GRIN! The power of the drums is evident on their faces.)

 


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Re-remember on This Day

My Post is in response to the quote below and the fabulous picture and story  by  Leada Gore below.

“137 years later, Memorial Day remains one of America’s most cherished patriotic observances. The spirit of this day has not changed – it remains a day to honor those who died defending our freedom and democracy.” – – Doc Hastings

 

I LOVE my country.  To this day when I hear the Star Spangled Banner or recite the pledge, as I’ve done hundreds of times before,  my heart is filled with reverence and the deepest gratitude.  It is an honor to stand at attention for the sacrifices so many have made, life and limb and mind. I know I have not earned this freedom I have been given; but I will work every day to cherish and respect it’s blessings. It is what I do with this freedom that matters: creating peace, sharing the wealth, holding all people sacred.  If I can lighten the load of another, I will do it.

PEACE and JOY and RESPECT to all.   Thank you.

Marie

American flags were placed out at Mobile National Cemetery in observance of Memorial Day.Michael Langston with Worrell Contracting, cleans the headstones at Mobile National Cemetery Friday, May 25, 2012 in preparation for Memorial Day Monday, May 28. The Memorial Day service at the cemetery is set for 9:00 am. (Press-Register, Bill Starling)Bill Starling | AL.com Contributor

WEBSITE:  http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/memorial_day_2016_quotes_remem.html


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Soul Quest -India

india at the schoolsIndia was a spiritual buffet, a great feast for the soul.  There were so many new tastes and smells and sounds and heart tuggings in one space.  One must venture out of their own back yard often.

Where to begin?  Ahhh, that is a most spicy question with so many answers! There is so much to say and only so much time to write.  I’ll start with my favorite and let the words pour from my soul.  There is enough juicy material for a very long time.  Our group started the adventure as a way to work on our books, to experience and support one another.   We ended up writing new chapters in our own life stories…One of our goals was to meet the children in the Himalayas and bring supplies to the homes of the people.

Upon first sight, I fell in love.  There is so much GOLD in the SOULS of the children. Their hearts are so tender an and full of hope.  Their thoughts are on what they have, not what they lack.  The first thing they did was sing a song of “We Shall Overcome.”  The sweet sounds of innocent voices aware of their situations but not letting it hold them down was uplifting and even enlightening.  Their music sounded like an angels choir.  Nothing is sweeter to my ears than the sounds of children gathering to sing.  My heart was full.  Then they sang their national anthem, while a young man full of passion and vigor beat a drum in accompaniment.  When the children heard the drums, their smiles grew wide and they belted the song even more.  After the song, each of the children got to beat the drum.  Sound is a powerful, soul changing tool.  I watched in amazement as each child first did a light tap on the drum, and then a strong beat that bellowed a big sound.  BOOM! I witnessed the empowerment that the drum sound gave to each child.  A shy, timid, young girl sat taller in her chair that day.

Then I was so blessed to teach them a hand game learning patterns and rhythms.  Kids love these games, and I was reminded of my love for “playing” with the children…sometimes forgotten in a public education back in the states because of rigorous curriculum.  The teachers were gracious to give us their time, and the head master said one of the first things he wanted to do was buy a drum for the children.  They were elated!   There was much gratitude as we passed out the stickers and books we had brought.  For them, it was like Christmas.  I was in deep gratitude knowing that the gently used books I brought would be cherished, and we had not only made a small contribution toward their education, but we brought smiles and built a bridge.

  I LOVE PEOPLE!!!  (especially children…yes, I’ll always be a teacher at heart…and I will be forever changed.)    Namaste.  Mariemarie in sari

 

 

 


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Hello My Daddy

Good morning my daddy.   On the anniversary of your death, I write this to you in honor of the poem we got to write together.  I remember how excited I was about finding a way we could talk and share more intimately through a mode you loved best.  I couldn’t wait to write more poems with you.  Later that week, you had your stroke.

I love this picture.  Carole calls it the goodbye picture…but today, it’s the Hello My Daddy picture.  Heard your EMS sirens today…so I know you’re awake.  I love you.daddy and me      20160301_072054_resized

I REMEMBER

I remember when you were just a vault…no affection…little talking…always about you.

I remember the first time I asked you if you could do the Father’s Legacy project.  You were apprehensive, but you said, “I could probably do that.”

I remember asking the first question and held my breath for the answer.  It was a simple question like “What is your favorite color?”  You answered two questions that day.

I remember when you would peak over my shoulder to make sure the questions I asked were in the book.  We were building trust.

I remember the first time you were vulnerable and told me your angel story.  This time you held your breath, until I said, “I believe in angels too Daddy.”   I felt your sigh of relief as your story, held in for about sixty years, was believed for the first time.

I remember coming to visit you in the summers as you told me about all the junk in your junkyard and learning why they were your treasures and realizing you were an artist like me.

I remember our last summer together savoring every detail….getting lost with you and loving every minute.  Our last Father’s day, making it special with a sheet for a table cloth and wild sunflowers from your backyard. It was so special that I will always remember it, but you couldn’t remember it the next day.

I remember writing this “I remember poem with you”

and then it all went black…and there was no more remembering.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Goodbyes to my Beloveds

image
Why
I passed her bowed head as she started to cry
Trying to console her, I pleaded: but why?
I have nothing to give; I can’t even try
I urged her…open your heart and let it fly
Then companion earth received her lullabies


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Open Letter to Little One

Letter to you little one,

You, who was conceived in the most blessed love of two people

You, who only knew love

You, whose spirit

will forevermore be cuddled

between mom and dad

You who left your kiss marks on mom’s belly 

to remind her that

You are her spirit connection to God

so she may always know love.

You, guardian angel, are tiny

But oh so mighty

My friend suffered a great loss of a baby she waited so long to meet.

Her heart is beginning the journey to heal, and she began to write some. I pieced this poem together

from our written conversations.  Never has a little one been loved so much.

May these words heal another mom’s longing heart.


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REMEMBERING

daddy journal

For Christmas of 2000,  I had given my daddy a journal with the inscription:  “the best gift we can give anyone is intimacy, sharing our thoughts and feelings.  Please jot things down once in awhile for me so I will have them as a gift forever.”

For those of you who know me, I’ve been working to get to know my dad for quite some time. I hadn’t realized it was this long. He passed in March, and as we were cleaning things, I found this journal with only 2 entries (above) that were written, a year or so llater.  I never knew he had even written anything in that journal…  And now, 14 years later, his words mean so much more to me.  Below are two of his journal entries if you’re not able to read the above.

To Marie,

I found this book while digging in my library closet 9-11-2001, the day New York City was bombed by terrorists…Hope to have better news later – Papa

9-17-01 – NYSE opened at 9:30 EST looking good – We’re doing better already…love to all my children and grand children…God Bless All of you and God…Please bless all of the world….America needs you now.”

There’s so much that I notice here!  Without knowing, I use ellipsis all the time and didn’t know why except that I like that kind of pregnant pause.  I must have learned that from him or at least picked it up by watching him. Seeing it in this journal was super cool.  Another thing I noticed was that since his death, I have found little notes like this. He often thought about us and prayed for us, even though we never knew it.  The VAULT speaks on paper….I’ve probably not said this before, but when we were younger, my dad wrote a lot…and I know that my desire to write comes from watching him spend much time doing this.    I do wish he had done it a little more because he was so good at little quips of history and dating everything!   (newspaper articles, cards, letters, etc.)   I don’t date things enough, but know its value.

So the advice I leave with you there is so much we don’t know about a person.  It takes time to “find gold in the soul.”  Sometimes it takes years for the intimacy to appear.  Notice…learn…be patient…and just enjoy…Little things will be revealed in their own time.

God Bless America and its beautiful people on this day and years to come.

I LOVE YOU so much AMERICA!!!