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About bigskybuckeye

Born in the Big Sky Country of Montana and now living in the Buckeye State of Ohio, Richard is the creative mind behind Big Sky Buckeye. Retired after 40 years of teaching, I enjoy writing, photography, traveling, and following a healthy lifestyle.

Anne Graham Lotz Quote

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Our ultimate aim in life is not to be healthy, wealthy, prosperous, or problem free.  Our ultimate aim in life is to bring glory to God.

From Psalm 86:12:  “I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Your name forever.”

Encouraging Times (Haiku Series #174)

Daily Workout

Lighten up life’s load

With joy-filled exercises—

One laugh at a time

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Harmony’s Navigation

No ship divided

Can survive life’s story seas—

Seek calmer waters

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Journey’s Maturity

Learning from mistakes

Life’s positive stepping-stones—

Adventures in growth

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Andy Bernard Quotes

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I’m always thinking one step ahead.  Like a carpenter that makes stairs.

I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.

Andy Bernard is a character from the American comedy television series “The Office.”  Actor Ed Helms (born 1974) plays the role of Andy.

Monday’s Memories: A Mother’s Light

[From January, 2020]  This poem is written to honor one of my daughters in Montana.  She celebrates a birthday this week with her husband and three children.  May God continue to fill her home with His blessings.  

girl writing on the paper photograph

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A mother’s heart fills the world with light

Born on a winter day, her life takes flight

 

Her loving and caring mother nurtures each day

Providing a Godly witness, with richness to say

 

God fills this young girl’s life with amazing gifts

Watching her exciting life mature, never adrift

 

God prepares a woman to be an attentive mother

Gathering life’s essentials, she is like none other

 

Christ walks at her side, creating genuine smiles

Feeling His presence, her life goes the extra mile

 

A young man catches her discerning eye with love

Unifying this couple, under blue skies from above

 

Their lives moving forward, with a balanced pace

Witnessing marriage and family, God as its base

 

This mother through it all, feels God waiting nearby

Striding ahead, her Lord’s Word glorifying the “why”

 

With each generation, a mother shares her light

Inspiring her children, to grow under God’s sight

everything is connected neon light signage

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From Isaiah 60:1:  “Arise, shine; for Your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”

Rita Moreno Quotes

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My middle name really is perseverance.  Maybe people need to have that kind of particular core driving them.

I believe staying young at heart is all in one’s personal attitude . . . you can’t instill that in anyone.

Rita Moreno (born 1931) is a Puerto Rican-born American actress, dancer, and singer.  In 1961, she received an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress in “West Side Story.”  During her long and distinguished career, she has received awards for her television, theatrical, and musical works.

Hope in Darkness

From Daniel 12:1-3:  “At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise.  There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence.  But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.  Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

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Darkness invades man’s world

Painful times filled with loss

Perilous tragedies

Yet, hope calls from one Cross

 

Shattering brokenness

Heartache knowing no end

Grieving trauma scalds hearts

Yet, hope shall never bend

 

Prophets carry message

Few bothering to hear

Lasting shame and contempt

Yet, hope’s time coming near

 

God’s promises hold truth

Times of anguish shall fade

Deliverance knocking

Hope in darkness, now paid

 

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From Isaiah 9:6:  “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Charles Swindoll Quote

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God’s voice isn’t all that difficult to hear.  It’s right there, ink on paper.  Count on it–that book will never lead you astray.

From Psalm 38:15:  “But it is for you, O Lord, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.”

Destiny Unknown

Everyday heroes share the spirit of many as Ukrainian citizens deal with the daily burden of war.  Taken from recent news and photos, many images fill the following verses.  

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Flood of refugees

Fleeing their homeland

Agony fills hearts

Life’s movements unplanned

 

Others staying behind

Daily grind consumes

Helping in war’s effort

Trauma always looms

 

Lives turned upside down

Seeing each child’s face

What future beholds?

Hope’s welcoming place

 

Every day breathes

Transforming each life

Anguish in real time

Never-ending strife

 

Air raid sirens blare

Witnessing war’s tides

Overwhelming scene

Stress never subsides

 

Women and children

Facing world alone

Husbands serve in war

Destiny unknown

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Curious Trivial Facts (4/16)

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This informative post will be posted on Saturday along with my usual writing.  We can all appreciate some of the lesser known facts from around the world.

The fork was invented in Italy as a utensil with which to eat pasta.  However, it was unilaterally dismissed by the Church, which frowned upon using anything not created by God to touch God’s bounty.

Prior to earning his master’s degree in experimental animation, “SpongeBob SquarePants” creator Stephen Hillenburg taught marine biology at the Orange County Ocean Institute in Dana Point, California.

These facts have been discovered in I NEVER KNEW THAT by David Hoffman (2009).

Pearl S. Buck Quotes

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The test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless members.

The truth is always exciting.  Speak it, then.  Life is dull without it.

American writer and novelist, Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973), spent much of her early life in China as a missionary.  She was widely heralded for her book, THE GOOD EARTH, which was published in 1931.  She garnered the Pulitzer Prize in 1932 and later the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938.