tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-331852152024-03-07T00:52:43.088-08:00Connie's HeartstringsThe deepest heartaches can become heartstrings to God's joy, peace, and love.Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.comBlogger341125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-28862930137950061892023-06-28T17:17:00.001-07:002023-06-28T19:02:55.845-07:00Who am I? Part #3: Young AdultI nearly missed going to nursing school as my parents told me during my senior year in high school that there was no money. But God provided and I received a grant via the high school principal. The stipulations included: Must maintain a B+ average. 2. Must meet with the principal every semester. 3.&Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-64806643083220907782023-06-09T00:30:00.000-07:002023-06-09T12:25:19.185-07:00Who Am I? Part 2: Adult Provokes Child
When I was nine, we moved into a 2-story house with a big front porch surrounded by
popcorn bushes. Inside was a huge surprise for me: an old upright piano that had
been left behind in a small sitting room. We had moved out of the first floor of
a rented house right across from the parsonage next to the little white church
on the corner. The minister's 2 daughters taught me how toConstance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-71094380699985715132023-02-18T00:30:00.010-08:002023-02-18T00:46:23.018-08:00Who Am I? Part #1- Childhood Memories
I'm sitting at my computer wondering who I have become and whether that is what the Lord meant me to be.
As a child I became an advid reader. I loved books! I read every book in my elementary (3) and junior high schools' libraries.(Minus the reference books we could not check out.) Librarians loved me.
In 6th grade I sat under the fire escape to read during recess. I knew it was off limitsConstance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-69901207361465632472023-01-14T08:50:00.000-08:002023-01-14T08:50:47.047-08:00Heartstrings
God who hung the stars... has taken a thread of His heart and tied it to yours. Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-39190307683693926972022-12-24T16:02:00.001-08:002022-12-24T16:02:30.165-08:00
The walk to the well is usually a time of catching up on the village news, but I left early this morning so I wouldn’t meet the others. As Mary’s pregnancy is more evident, the barbed remarks have increased. This morning, of all mornings, I just couldn’t face them. My tears won’t stop. I am afraid for Mary. It is too close to her time to be traveling all the way to Bethlehem.
Yes, I know Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-45820765509278627412022-12-13T16:48:00.000-08:002022-12-13T16:48:49.647-08:00Advent - Guest Post HOMEOUR LATESTSUBSCRIBETuesday, December 13, 2022Why Advent Is Wonderful for WomenImagine yourself as a woman born centuries before Jesus came to earth as a baby. You have no cultural or political rights to speak of and Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-70727401039963024822022-12-13T13:40:00.000-08:002022-12-13T13:40:51.431-08:00Joe 's Gift of Life SO MANY GIFTSBy Joe MazzellaI was sitting on a long, black, folding medical table. Beside me was a woman in scrubs talking about the cold change the weather had taken recently. A radio in the corner was playing Christmas music even though it was still weeks away. I took a sip from the bottle of lemonade I had brought with me so I wouldn’t get dizzy. I looked around at all the other people Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-72494682354792123192022-11-21T14:02:00.002-08:002022-11-21T14:02:41.214-08:00Guest Post from my online friend, Joe Joe, you always touch my heart and encourage me with your stories... I wait for them every Monday to appear in my inbox! And I appreciate that you always send me a thoughtful reply the next day; when I've sent you a message. Today I'm sharing this week's "story" on my blog including your email address.Readers: If you'd like Joe's messages on Mondays, send him an email at joemazzella@Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-90129968398474089952022-11-13T03:42:00.003-08:002022-11-13T03:46:49.722-08:00A.A.A.D.D.- KNOW THE SYMPTOMS! Easily distracted, hard to remain focused, not concentrating well this week, and thought about this poem by David Eig. Maybe you can relate to it also.
Thank goodness there's a name for this
disorder: Age-Activated Attention-Deficit Disorder.
This is how it manifests:
I decide to water my garden.
As I turn on the hose in the driveway,
I look over at my car and decide it needs
washingConstance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-18356540566316611652022-10-31T16:24:00.000-07:002022-10-31T16:24:39.613-07:00Halloween Is Not for Me Halloween is not for me, But books! That's my happy place.Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-1216529805363173742022-10-14T19:28:00.001-07:002022-10-14T19:28:26.975-07:00Friendships, Part 2What do sheep, The Frog Prince, and a pig herder have in common? Clue #1: Many of us remember the Grimm's brother's fairytale of good over evil vs. the younger generation's tamer Disney animated version. They tell of a prince turned into a frog by an evil hag as punishment. Removing the curse requires a real princess. Remember? Well, I heard a new version while at a church family camp. The Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-71871547853560432792022-08-27T00:27:00.003-07:002022-09-20T17:01:56.387-07:00My electric company sends a monthly magazine & I actually look forward to reading it. Regional events are highlighted, an article on photography with good tips, the latest electrical news or explanations, and a page for requests. Every few months I send birthday cards requested for 90-100-year-old folks. This month I sent 3 cards plus a brief letter in response to a senior wanting Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-38306205342160343042022-05-09T10:43:00.000-07:002022-05-09T10:43:00.801-07:00 A TOOTHLESS SMILEI was in a local thrift store the other day. I love shopping there. It isn’t just that you can get bargains on used items, but it is the experience of being there that I enjoy. It is calmer and more peaceful than the big box stores. It isn’t as lonely as shopping online. And you also get to meet so many good people and have so many interesting encounters. You can even learnConstance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-7969545655446899762022-04-25T06:44:00.000-07:002022-04-25T06:44:40.217-07:00Guest Post from JoeA WHIFF OF SPRINGThe up and down, back and forth, twisty and turny weather of March had carried over into the first few weeks of April this year. We had clouds and sunshine, rain and snow, below freezing frost in the morning and t-shirt-wearing 70-degree sunshine in the afternoon. Even the heater and AC unit were taking turns in my house. But at last, we seemed to get enough sunshine and warmth Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-22668131008419935822022-03-16T00:39:00.001-07:002022-04-14T22:24:17.508-07:00Singing the Psalms: Part 3 FAST FORWARD...Frances Elliott Clark, A Woman Before Her TimeFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to navigationJump to searchFrances Elliott Clark (1860-1958) was an early music-appreciation advocate. As a teacher in twentieth-century Ottumwa, Iowa, Clark spent ten minutes in each of her chorus rehearsals telling students about composers or helping them recognize the Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-32957258844951201672022-03-08T23:22:00.001-08:002022-03-09T19:49:48.605-08:00Singing of the Psalms: Part 2 Not only did John Eliot participate in the printing and publishing of the Bay Psalm Book, but he also translated the entire Bible into a dialect that had no written language. A 13 year-old Algonquin boy lived with John. It's said that he never left John's side- even sleeping on the floor next to John's bed. As he learned English from John, he taught John his language. The New TestamentConstance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-19268329515941397562022-03-01T23:19:00.002-08:002022-03-01T23:21:42.477-08:00Singing of the Psalms Is Special To MeIt's Personal! Because I am the great, great, great, great, great-granddaughter of John Eliot.David playing his harp (unknown artist, c. 960)Part 1: The Bay Psalm BookThe decision to print a book of psalms metered for singing may seem an odd choice as the first book to be printed by the settlers of Massachusetts Bay, but this modest book served the larger purpose of the colony—to live Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-20097666349895894432022-02-07T16:53:00.000-08:002022-02-07T16:53:00.235-08:00Guest Post ONE ORNERY PUPPYBy Joe MazzellaIt was a cold, Winter’s day. Even with clear skies and the sun shining down the temperature hadn’t gotten above 10 degrees all day long. I listened to the heater kick on and zipped up my sweater. I had finished with all my work and now just wanted to relax and read in my nice, warm bed. I fluffed up a pillow behind my head, turned the television to the music Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-80214155283772732962022-01-30T15:08:00.000-08:002022-01-30T15:08:56.171-08:00 Sharing the upcoming- starting Feb. 4th- online Bible Study of Ephesians by Pastor Dr. Ralph F. Wilson.I love his studies as he speaks my language- you'll find him extremely knowledgeable yet easy to understand.Following each study are footnotes, which you can use to go even deeper into the study. I have emailed him with questions and he always responds within the week.I have completed Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-61095908308143946952022-01-18T17:09:00.001-08:002022-01-18T17:09:46.692-08:00Guest writer: Jean WiseFrederick Buechner wrote, “We have God’s joy in our blood.” And I would add in our DNA.The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love, he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3: 17My practice of joy takes these intentional steps: Seeing. Saying. Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-80822786111807258642022-01-15T17:06:00.000-08:002022-01-15T17:06:26.274-08:00Others say it better...I begin each year with a new calendar, a spiral notebook and journals.
A spiral notebook sits on my desk as a catch-all for things to save: dates, appts., messages, quotes, ideas, prayers, reminders, etc. Once they're filed in an appropriate place they are disposed of. My colorful journals vary, in number, type, size, etc. and I like to start at least one new one each Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-77067956679071451762021-12-25T11:43:00.031-08:002021-12-25T11:43:00.210-08:00 This song from Handle's "Messiah" stirs my heart."For unto us a child was born..." a baby that cried when hungry and wet; a child that learned carpentry from Joseph & the meaning of the Torah from His Heavenly Father; a child Mary knew was unlike any other. A man, who when baptized brought us God's declaration: "This is my Son...in whom I am well pleased." The Son became Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-71894473314012245872021-12-24T04:01:00.000-08:002021-12-24T04:01:45.269-08:00The Family TreeIf you visit me, you'll find one corner and the adjacent wall covered with trees. For me, they have multiple meanings. For my guests, they are conversation starters. Outside my front window is a plum tree that I call mine. I spend hours watching the birds come and go. Trees trigger feelings of calmness and peace even during a storm. As I reflect on the day of Jesus' birth, I sense some Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-19458964305038822602021-12-17T19:54:00.000-08:002021-12-17T19:54:18.501-08:00PhantasmagoricalWhile reading a mystery by Elizabeth George, I noticed near the end she used phantasmagorical to describe the Detective Inspector's trip to find the woman he loved. Writers should not use words like that; they stop the reader and can distract them enough to lose the flow of the story. However, it was near the end and I was focusing on whether it would end "happily ever after." So IConstance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33185215.post-37890196200858072502021-09-15T00:13:00.003-07:002021-09-15T00:17:08.552-07:00published Although I'm unable to do a book signing, I did present Olivia, the Fierce to the residents during the monthly jam session on the 14th of September "release day" 2021.I presented a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Clever, Curious, Caring Cat ~ 101 Tales of Feline Friendship to the library. And everyone present received a cat pen and cat bookmark.Happily,Connie Constance Gilberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05593494261604420179noreply@blogger.com0