I live very near to the National Civil War Battlefields in Gettysburg Pa. That is probably one of my favorite things about living here. I have visited many times, getting to know my way around and the vast amount of historical stories. One of the most astounding things for me about the fields and woods is how very haunted they feel. Truly, it is sacred ground and worthy of reflection and respect. One of my favorite places within the several fields of Gettysburg is a covered bridge. There are five existing covered bridges in Adams County alone. This bridge is special because it was a travel point for the civil war soldiers, and stood in testament to pain and suffering when the southern troops retreated back south over its wooden planks. It has been washed away during several floods and stands now rebuilt, and beautiful. Still when you are there you can have powerful visions of men, young and old suffering and dying. I wrote a series of poems about these men. I can only acknowledge my visions and a few historical facts.

Retreat

They marched
soaked in sweat
stomach's rolling
from starvation and stench

Eyes glanced towards Heaven
for reprieve,
turned again towards horizons
undulating in heat and smoke.

Muscles burned and throbbed
minutes ticked by
as cicadas
vibrated life.

Cannons reverberated
confines of memory
solemn souls sought solace
sunshine seeped through despite
cold flesh left upon
blood mud fields.

Arriving, stopping, cleansing
dust from hearts and faces
cooling, quenching, stifling
bile rises from stench and thirst.

Brave,yet futile
the battles replay
in those who dare recall
as an enemy's bridge offers comfort.

You know, Mondays are never a good time for a pep talk. Especially monday morning at 7 am.

Often my son needs just that, a huge pep talk. He hates starting the week. I guess the weekend is so relaxing for him that he cannot stand the thought of having to work at school.

So it took a few M&M's and alot of wheedling to get him to get to the bathroom to wash up and dress this morning. That was only the beginning and I hated pulling out the "big guns" (candy) just to get him out of bed. It is never a good sign for how the rest of the morning is going to go.

I have a bit less patience for the wheedling because I had a session of No Blink Just Think last evening. I haven't had insomnia in a while, ever since I gave up all coffee except in the morning. In my No Blink sessions I often have marathon solving sessions. I solve all my problems and the world's too. Well I at least ruminate long into the night. So I turned on CNN to soothe me to sleep and Anderson Cooper was in the middle of Hurricane Wilma. Usually I find Anderson comforting but I got caught up in the coverage of another brutal storm. Bad mistake, I was awake until 4 am. I might as well have gotten onto the computer.

I just heard that Maine may have snow Weds evening and we here in Pa are to have two more days of rain and cold. Bleck.........winter is coming. Nights here are supposed to get down into the 30's by end of the week. Bleck again.

Good morning readers. Thanks so much for continued readership, I appreciate my new friends!

Diesel good luck today, I just put Mr. Bettis in my top RB position in your honor!

Lots of people have commented on the issue of prayer. Thankyou! I think like many of you, that prayer is personal. The formal prayer can be beautiful but is no less effective than any other kind of prayer. I am not a formal person, my life gets less formal all the time. But I do believe God puts lessons every day at our feet if we are only looking and listening. Deby I like you believe God has a huge sense of humor!

Football day and the sun has come out, although it is chilly. I guess it was bound to happen. All of my kids are gathering for a family dinner so we will be warm and content.

Colleen looked a stitch in her rapper/wangster outfit. Her homemade paper chain was huge and exaggerated, hanging to her feet. The other kids got quite a charge out of it too. I am glad Colleen approaches things like this with a sense of humor. I have to pick her up in a bit, here is hoping she had a blast!

Both Gabe and hubbie are feeling better. I wonder if they ever feel outnumbered with four strong women in the family? I suspect my son loves it because everyone dotes on him. I have often commented to my husband that we should have bought stock in Tampax! LOL poor man.

I hope everyone has a great day, and to those of you who have been under the weather I hope you are feeling better! Blessings! Maria

Just an all around quiet day. The boy is better having had a good day's antibiotics and we both had a full night's sleep.

I really must have the most boring weekends compared to many. Usually I spend my weekend being a taxi, keeping up with the girls social calender. Time to shake it up I'd say.

I did go to walmart to get groceries but after two hours of sheer madness I was ready to come home. The place is downright insane but I save so much on groceries that it is the best option. It is raining and chilly again today so that means everyone wants to run errands.

It is good nap weather though and hubster is doing just that as he has come down with a cold. Men really are wimpy about being sick. I offered tea and chicken soup which he ate, complained about feeling achey then went to sleep. Too bad he wouldn't sleep all night! At least he isn't working all weekend or by Monday he'd be a sniveling mess. LOL...........I think after recent events with the kids I am feeling a bit "nurtured" out.

I wish I had a good book to read, its that kind of day. The colors are getting brighter but with all the rain soon we won't have leaves on the trees.

A few years ago husband and I decided to start attending a small baptist church in Maine. It was in the home of the preacher because they were retired from the church they worked in. At first all was well and it worked for our family . Then one day we were having adult sunday school with the preachers wife and we were discussing prayer. She asked us how we prayed. Of course I had to volunteer an answer.

I told the preachers wife that I rarely prayed in a traditional, formal manner but I did have a running conversation with God every day. She was horrified and scolded me in front of the group. Apparently to her all prayer would go unanswered and unheard unless we knelt, clasped our hands, said "Dear Heavenly Father" and amen at the end.

HUH??????? I was appalled, and momentarily minimized. I thought being a preachers wife she "must" have the answers and a pathway paved in gold to God.

So I offer you the chance dear readers to render an opinion on the matter of prayer.

I still say a daily informal talking to God is heartfelt prayer. I suspect he has listend to me for years.

Dear Diesel you are in my conversations today with God, thanks for the poem.