Word-High July: Tadhana

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"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Genesis 1:1-2 KJV

I have thought about what to write for this post for a long time now. I keep coming back to the same answer: Heavenly Father. But, in reality, He isn't invisible. Maybe we can't see His being like we can see our own bodies, but He is there. Our hearts, our souls can see Him, hear Him, feel Him if we're still enough to let Him in. He's there in the first smile of a newborn baby and in the wrinkled hand waving good-bye. He is over there in the happy wind-dance of the pansy in the winter and the sunflower in the scorching summer. He is in the sunshine in the morning and the moon glow in the night. He is in the drought and in the tide. "… even the winds and the sea obey him!" (Matthew 8:27 KJV)

These things are beyond our control. We can plant a seed, but we can't make it grow. We can harness the power of the wind, the water, and the sunshine, but we cannot make them happen. He created everything and everything bows to His power. The earth knows Who is in control and to Whom we will return when we become as dust once again.

When we welcome Him into our hearts and home, He sends the Holy Spirit to guide us and protect us, to be our Comforter. He protects us from things that we weren't even aware of, the evils that seek to harm us.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12 KJV

We won't make it through this life unscathed, but the battle has already been won. We might not survive this earth, but will live forever in Heaven, in the presence of the One Who created us.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 KJV

May our Heavenly Father bless and keep you all safely in the palm of His hand.


Please be sure to read David's post over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Please also visit our hostess Rosema at Word-High July.


Full verse referenced in the second paragraph: "But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!" Matthew 8:27 King James Version

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled “36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Gigil

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This word is a happy word. It looks so much like "giggle" that it made me giggle when I first saw it.

Each year on March 17, St. Patrick's Day, this issue comes up, this uncontrollable urge to pinch someone that isn't obviously wearing green. It is a tradition that is meant to be fun in our family, although I hear there are some folks that get very aggressive with it.

Chubby little baby cheeks are hard to resist, but those are meant for gentle squeezing, not anything at all painful.

When it has been a long time since I've seen a loved one or I have to leave them knowing it will be a long time before I see them again, I can't resist squeezing them tightly in a hug. But sometimes I don't know my own strength, so I have to be careful so that I don't hurt them.


Please be sure to read David's post over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Please also visit our hostess Rosema over at Word-High July.

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled
“36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Halakhak

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Years ago, when I was pregnant with our first child, I worked at David's daddy's store. It was the Western Auto in Iva, South Carolina. Generally, I am painfully shy and introverted. Sometimes, however, I surprise everybody, including myself.

I was as big around as a barn during this pregnancy. A first baby will stretch you in ways that you didn't know you could be stretched. I was rounder than I was tall. David's daddy, who I called 'Papa Bruce' came to the customer service counter looking for a part that he needed for a customer. I was working the back counter that morning.

Papa said to me, "Su-dee-lou, is there a diaphragm back there?"

The devil must have gotten a hold of me, because I got a huge smile on my face and words that were not my own came out of my mouth.

I said to him, while pointing at my very pregnant belly, "Papa, if I had a diaphragm, I wouldn't be in THIS condition!" Then, I burst into total, uncontrollable laughter as did several of the people around me.

Papa Bruce was red as a beet and, if I remember correctly, speechless.

To this day, this story still makes me laugh, remembering the look on his face when shy Su-dee-lou hopped out of her shell for a moment of fun.

I don't know if he ever found that diaphragm either. Haha

Here is a video of David telling this story.

Please be sure to read David's post over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Please also visit our hostess Rosema at Word-High July.


Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled
“36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Yugto

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Country Roads

As I travel down this lonely country road, I am crying. The trees embrace me like a long lost relative. You are so tall and stately, strong and beautiful. I cannot help but wonder about all that you have seen. So many years you have been standing here. Initials carved on your sturdy trunks, swings hanging from your branches blowing gently with the breeze. The wind whispers softly through the leaves, "Come, let me tell you of the loves I have known."

The beckoning becomes stronger. I can no longer resist. I pull over. I spy a path lined with fragrant honeysuckles. I take a deep breath, overwhelmed by the beauty of this woodland paradise. Off in the distance, I can hear the splashing of a brook. I lay my blanket out under a towering oak. I close my eyes.

A young man helps his sweetheart down from the carriage. She is giggling in that special way of those young and in love. They gaze longingly into each other's eyes as they walk along this same path that I have taken. He drops down to one knee and says something to her that I cannot hear. She cries as he slips a ring upon her finger.

I stir, but fall deeper into my slumber.

The children are giggling and playing in the meadow. Their mom and dad sit together away from the clatter of the horses trotting up the lane. I see in their arms a new little one, sweetly cooing and gurgling. They are all so happy.

Again, I stir and fall deeper still into this almost trance-like state.

I see another person unknown to me. An elderly gentleman, holding a bouquet of beautiful red roses, walks better into view. On his cheek, there is a tear. He kneels down by a small marker that until now had been hidden from my view. He places the bouquet upon the marker and whispers, "I love you." He gets up to leave, and I see his face more clearly. He waves to me and walks away.

I am so surprised by his acknowledgment of my presence that I awaken. I take another deep breath and come back to reality. I walk around to all the places where I saw the people in my dream. But was it a dream?

Over there, where the babe was, I find a silver teething ring. And there, where the young lovers were, a hat pin is tucked neatly in the grass. And here, where the gentleman knelt, is the marker with a dried bouquet of roses, the ribbon faded by sun and time.

I go back to the road and to my car. I hear the winds still whispering, and in my heart I know I have seen the same loves that the trees have known through the years. And my heart is overwhelmed with that love. And I cry, this time for joy.

©17 May 1997 Suzanne G. McClendon



Please be sure to read David's post over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Please also visit our hostess Rosema over at Word-High July.

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled
“36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Pahimakas

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I didn't get to be there for the last farewell. I was over a thousand miles away when I should have been home. I needed to be here. I needed to be there. I couldn't be two places at once and my heart was split in two.

Rest in peace, Daddy.

Please visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Also, please visit our hostess over at Word-High July. 

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled “36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Kinaadman

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I have probably said it a hundred times here already, but my grandparents had to be some of the wisest people that I have ever known. They weren't perfect any more than the rest of us are, but they were wise. They had struggles in their lives and learned from them and tried to pass that knowledge and wisdom onto their grandchildren. I was often a very blessed recipient of their wisdom.

There was a time that I was having a big struggle with a girl. She didn't like me and I didn't like her. We were going to be family, so I had to find a way to civility somehow. My grandparents shared with me the section of the Bible that talks about praying good prayers and doing good for people that have hurt you.

Romans 12:17-21

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

I was angry and hurt because of this person (and with myself) and wanted to just pray directly for the hot coals on this person. I was intending actual hot coals, which is not at all what this verse is saying. Grandma and Grandpa explained to me that this just isn't how it works. I was to pray good, honest prayers for the person that had hurt me and not wish bad things on her. In the good prayers lay changes for the hearts of both the one that hurt me and my own.

So, I set about to make myself pray good prayers for her. At the beginning, it was through gritted teeth, clenched so tightly that I thought every one of them would pop loose from my mouth. They were right, though. It got easier with time. It was working a change in my heart, too. Then, the day happened in which we were tentatively civil to each other. That, too, got easier over time.

It kind of goes along with something that my mama told me years ago, which was, "Kill'em with kindness." If people are being mean to you and you are nice to them in return, it just gets all under their skin and they don't know how to act. It may lead them to repentance and, ultimately, to Heavenly Father.

So, drive your enemies crazy. Be nice to them! Mama said so.  :)


Please be sure to read David's post over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Please also visit our hostess Rosema at Word-High July.

Source for Bible passage: Bible Gateway

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled “36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Dalisay

Please visit here to learn more about this 30-day challenge.

That Boy

My heart was overflowing

With joy, pure and strong

When I looked across the room

and saw that boy.

As he smiled, my heart quivered

Those blue eyes sparkled

When I looked across the room

and saw that boy.

He reached out and took my hand

My heart found its home

When I looked across the room

and saw that boy.

©18 July 2016 Suzanne G. McClendon


Please be sure to read David's post over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Please also visit our hostess Rosema at Word-High July.


Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled
“36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Likha

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©2004-2016 Suzanne G. McClendon

I delivered the babies, took the photograph, and created the artistic rendering. I don't know about intelligence and skill, but I created that. :)

Please be sure to visit David's post at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Please also visit our hostess Rosema at Word-High July.

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled “36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Makisig

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David E. McClendon, 1984

This, to me, describes David on our wedding day. He wore the Ronald Reagan daycoat, which was quite appropriate for an afternoon wedding. It is the one thing that he got to choose in regards to our wedding. For the most part, neither of us really had any control over how things went.

A photograph says it way better than I ever could.






Please read David's post over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Please also visit our hostess Rosema at Word-High July.

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled
“36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Amihan

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Northeasterly winds

Blow across the prairie grass

Bringing you to me.

©12 July 2016 Suzanne G. McClendon

Please be sure to read David's post over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Please also visit our hostess Rosema at Word-High July.

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled
“36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Kundiman

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The day that I turned 16 years old, I had my first official date. My first official date was with David, who is now my husband. We went to see the movie Endless Love. The movie's theme song of the same name became one of "our songs". It is still our song, but there have been many others added to the collection since then.

"Open Arms" was the song that was to be sung at our wedding, but there were rules against secular music in the chosen church. So, instead, one of our minister friends sang "There is Love".

A love song of a different type was my very favorite throughout my childhood. I requested it every Sunday at church. The song was "The Old Rugged Cross". It speaks of the love of our Heavenly Father for us, a love so deep that it brought His Son from Heaven to die on an old rugged cross for our sins, so that we might have life eternally.


Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled “36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Habilin

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Genealogy and family history have been my passion since I was a young teenager. I feel that we are called to remember those that have gone on before us, to make sure that they are never forgotten. I dig until I find their stories and save them for our children. Their lives, the remembrance of them, have been given to me for safekeeping.

To My Forefathers

As I lie here among the tombs of old,
I dream about the lives you led.
Big strong men, prolific women,
A thousand stories here are told.

One of you seeking a new life,
Sailed across the ocean to a new land.
Far away from home and alone,
You set up stakes and took a wife.

One wife goes, you take another,
Babies come and babies go.
So hard was life in this new land,
Babies raised without a mother.

As I lie here at your resting place,
Centuries of family embrace me.
I feel the loss of days gone by.
Acceptance and love bring a smile to my face.

Love overwhelms me as I linger here
Words on the stones engraved on my heart
Your blood burns through me, giving me life
Your strength grows in me with each tear.

I remember your strife and hardship;
I feel your love and joy.
You are so happy in this new land,
And I feel the bond of our kinship.

©1998-2016 Suzanne G. McClendon


Please be sure to read David's post over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Please also visit our hostess Rosema at Word-High July.


Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled
“36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Paraluman

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How much fun it is to amuse

That naughty little spirit muse

Whose wonderful ideas we use.

©1998-2016 Suzanne Gunter McClendon

Please be sure to visit David's blog over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled “36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Kaulayaw

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My heart is yours

As you wrap your arms around me

My heart is yours

Everything else just fades away

You are the future that I see

Always you are a part of me

My heart is yours.

©1998-2016 Suzanne G. McClendon

Please be sure to read David's post over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Please also visit our hostess Rosema over at Word-High July.

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled
“36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Marahuyo

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Captivated by your charm

My heart couldn’t see the harm

In linking up arm in arm.

©1998-2016 Suzanne G. McClendon

Please be sure to read David's post over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Please also visit our hostess Rosema at Word-High July.

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled “36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Siping

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When I first saw the meaning of this word, the following song was the first thing to come to mind. This line especially has even more meaning now since May 26, the day that David had the first of three strokes: "…you never know when life will leave us".

Today is a significant day in our lives. On 15 July 1993, the day started out like any other day. It ended with a stillborn daughter. Her name is Dorian Lee McClendon. She would be 23 years old today.

We don't know when we'll be called to say good-bye. Hold your loved ones close, people. You never know when that hug, or that kiss, or that smile will be the last one. To paraphrase our youngest daughter, "Make that last page a happy one."

When You Lie Next to Me by Kellie Coffey

Please be sure to visit David over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Please also visit our hostess Rosema over at Word-High July.

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled
“36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Balintataw

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https://areadingwritr.wordpress.com/2016/06/17/word-high-july-30-beautiful-filipino-words/

I have been looking forward to this word! I love to work with eyes in my art and I have a rather big collection of eyes. Here are a few of the images that I have created featuring eyes and their pupils.

You will notice that some are signed with the name "Siobhan". It is an Irish name that I chose to be my artist name several years ago. However, I generally just use my legal name now. It was a "finding myself" phase. :)

Theodore P. James, my 2nd Great-Grandpa ©1997-2016 Suzanne G. McClendon

Daisy Eye ©1997-2016 Suzanne G. McClendon

Asian Eye ©1997-2016 Suzanne G. McClendon

Painted Eye ©1997-2016 Suzanne G. McClendon

Twisted ©1997-2016 Suzanne G. McClendon

Shattered ©1997-2016 Suzanne G. McClendon

Please be sure to visit David's post over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Please also visit our hostess Rosema over at Word-High July.

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled
“36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Harana

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David and I started going together during the week leading up to my 16th birthday and had our first official date on my birthday. We had been going together for about a month when there was a misunderstanding. I didn't know how to answer his questions and he didn't know how to take my lack of an answer. Due to poor advisement, he broke up with me. It wasn't the first time since I had met him at the beginning of my 9th grade year that poor judgment had been at play, but that is a long story for another time.

Anyway, we were broken up for I guess about three months. This brings us to December 1981. I'd had enough of this because I had not wanted to be broken up in the first place. I spent the night with one of my cousins and we called him. We started playing 45rpm records (old timey CDs for you young, post-vinyl folks!). We would play a record and David would play a record in return. It was a 70 miles apart serenade. Finally, I played an Elvis song called "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" It must have struck a nerve with him because by Christmas break, we were going together again. We've been together ever since.

So, cheers for the two cousins that played a part in bringing us back together - T.S. and Elvis!

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled “36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Takipsilim

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The kids have spoiled me. Whenever I hear the word "twilight", I immediately think of the library pony on My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.  Her name is Twilight Sparkle.  She lived in a library, folks.  How cool is that?  Unfortunately, her library got blown to smithereens.  Then, she moved to a castle which had a really HUGE library in it.

I think a library would be just about the coolest place to live, especially if it were next door to a yarn shop and had lots of flowers around it!


Please be sure to read David's post over at Random Thoughts and Observations. Thanks!

Please also visit Rosema, our hostess, at Word-High July.

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled
“36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.

Word-High July: Humaling

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Another version of the word "fondness" is "soft spot". Our family has a definite soft spot for animals. Although I like dogs, too, my favorite typical household pet is a cat. I love kitties. They are cute, cuddly, and have a mind of their own. We have had many drag their claws across our hearts over the last 30+ years.

Most of the kitties that have made their home with us have been outside kitties. There have been occasions for us to bring inside this one or that one. We've had to bottle feed rejected babies on several occasions and rescued one from what appeared to be a catnapture. This last one was our beloved Xerxes.

Xerxes was born around 1 June 2014. We don't know the exact date, but he was here already when Davey left for the Marine Corps. We brought Xerxes inside to bottle feed and otherwise take care of. We were newly empty-nesters and he was our new baby, our transition to this new life of home with no live-in kids. We made lots of plans for our old age including our new little baby. Those plans were not meant to be.

On 23 September 2015, our precious Xerxes was diagnosed with feline leukemia. He was given a transfusion (and was not at all happy about anything that vet visit entailed!). We did what we could to make him comfortable and keep him alive. He got better for a time, but then relapsed. We took him back to the vet and were told that they could give him another transfusion, but even with it, he likely wouldn't live beyond two more weeks. We opted out of that transfusion and prayed that Heavenly Father would heal our little Babykins.

We were afraid that he would be alone when his time came, so if we had to go anywhere, we took him with us. We didn't leave the house if we could avoid it.

On 19 October 2015, after a very difficult time and intense pain, in David's arms and me stroking his head, our little Xerxes entered Rainbow Bridge to be with his other brothers and sisters and kitty cousins. It was one of the most difficult days we've had in a very long time.

 It was this kitty especially that brought a fondness for cats to my husband and it was this kitty that took our hearts with him. There will always be a Xerxes-shaped hole in our hearts that belongs to him.









Please be sure to read David's post over at Random Thoughts and Observations.

Also, please be sure to visit our hostess Rosema at Word-High July.

Disclaimer: These Filipino word images are from an article by Isabelle Laureta on BuzzFeed titled “36 Of The Most Beautiful Words In The Philippine Language”. All credit goes to them.