There once was a girl in Kansas,

Who taught younger humans their classes.

She hoped she would be

Pedagogically

Adept, not unlearned and disastrous.

•••

School hasn't actually started, but soon! And I do hope I am not disastrous with my teaching abilities!

I woke up today with remembrance,

That now it was finally the day

I’d go to a church unfamiliar,

The place where I’ve come now to stay.

   I knew that this moment would happen,

My nerves felt all shaky and weird;

There is nothing to do but full send it,

I thought as we rolled up to church.

   I tried to look calm and collected,

Courageous and full of good cheer,

I scarcely had stepped to the sidewalk,

When someone met me then and there.

   And soon after that, in the foyer,

I shook hands like never before;

The people were all very friendly,

And always here came someone more.

   Before the ordeal was all over,

From pulpit and family and friends,

My head had run out of new thank yous,

My mouth seemed to stick in a grin.

   I’ve felt like I’m very much welcome,

It’s been like that right from the start;

This place will be home for a while,

And never will fade from my heart.

-C.B. 2026

••••

Nothing to say really except that I met a lot of folks today. It was a good day.

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin…” (Matthew 6:28).

God will take care of you. I decided to do an acrostic tonight on how God nurtures me. It has been a subject dear to me lately.

Never lets me go

Understands how human I am

Right here, no matter where I go

Teaches me to trust His timing

Unites my efforts with His plan

Reassures my scared heart

Ever the same, absolutely forever.

Nurture.

   Instead of a run, I sat every hour

Every hour of this fine summer day;

My bones begged to walk, but yet I could not,

I sat there and right there I stayed.

   My energy lessened, my muscles grew slack,

And even my courage was weak;

My skin seemed to pale and my hair seemed to frizz,

By day’s end I looked like a freak.

   Oh, the torpor of road trips makes me want to cringe;

It’s fun til the last 5-ish hours;

But after that, no, at the mention of it,

My courage and hope simply cowers.

-C.B. 2026

••••

I’ll just say this- my brain was not really working for this word🤨 I’m sorry. It is true, I just drove 10 hours today, but it wasn't as bad as this sounds.😅

This morning, I was gonna wake

Right at the crack of dawn,

But cuz I hit the hay so late,

I slept ‘til almost one.

   I kinda had a brunch of sorts

That was a little ish;

Fried eggs at twelve don't hit the spot

At least not how I wish.

   I woulda got the rigs all washed,

And shoulda got them done,

But when I stuck my head outside,

The heat was next to none.

   So I stayed in and got a rag

And started in to dust;

But then got sidetracked by a book-

The gig was soon a bust.

   I usually ain't the type of guy

That reads a lot for fun,

But this book sorta took the cake

For being number one.

   By then, the time was almost three,

A snooze called out my name;

And lemme tell you, it was nice

I slept til almost eight.

   For supper I fixed up a meal

Of ‘ole canned beans and pork,

Then went outside, while it was cool

And sat with my dog, Tork.

   I dunno, but today, I’d say,

Has been sorta low-key;

Tomorrow, I’ll work with a will,

I mean, at least we’ll see.

•••

Sometimes my days go like this as well, sadly. But there’s always tomorrow to work with a will…

Oh, I can feel the winds of fall,

My mind, in joy, responds;

Inside, my spirit reaches out,

My heart leaps in élan.

   The night winds turn from warm to cold,

And too, the summer sun,

Is softened to a mellow light

That says the heat is done.

   The geese call out their sad goodbyes

And head for southern soil;

The chipmunks gather winter’s food,

And seek to hide their spoil.

   The trees that clad themselves in green,

And now are cloaked in gold,

And orange, and red, in every shade,

Look bright and beautiful.

   And even pumpkins, dressed in orange,

Have tired of the green,

The season, yes, it’s changing now

And summer is a dream.

   So is my life transitioning,

Each year it circles ‘round;

But this time feels much different for

New purpose I have found.

   I’ve passed the spring and summer’s work

I wait for winter’s rest,

God asks me now to take my place,

And this one is the best:

   It is the fall’s alluring call

To take God’s timely gifts,

And live with purpose, every day,

As life so gently shifts.

   Oh, I can feel the winds of change,

My mind, in joy responds,

Inside, my spirit reaches out,

My heart leaps in élan.

-C.B. 2026

•••

This poem has been somewhat of a puzzle to me; but as my year of teaching is about to begin, I feel every word. I tried to write it in the context for anyone starting something new, in any season, but it was tough and I don't know that I accomplished it. When you are limited in syllables and want to rhyme, it can be tricky. But I like the idea of fall being a time of finding purpose, just like the animals find food, head south, and prepare; while also the excitement of summer fades a bit, like the trees changing to softer colors and such. Also, fall is a gentle season to me, a season to live intentionally and embrace the gift and the purpose God has given. That's what I intend to do as I teach. And may each of you find your purpose as life shifts once again and seasons change.

We can lessen most confusion,

And unease alleviate,

But the heartache of goodbyes, oh

We will never mitigate.

   Just the act of hugging someone

You love to the moon and back,

For the last time you can forknow,

Makes your joy and courage lack.

   And the actual words of farewell,

And “I love you” and “stay safe,”

Are the words that make your voice catch

And your saddened heart to ache.

   I know love is just a token

Of the goodness we’ve been giv’n;

That we live so closely bonded,

Is a blessing sent from heav’n.

   But we lessen most confusion,

And unease alleviate-

But the heartache of goodbyes, oh,

We will never mitigate.

-C.B. 2026

•••

I have found this to be very true lately with several friends, and, as I am fixing to leave home for 9 months, am fixing to face it with my family. But I do think it's a token of God’s love, that we connect with others so deeply. It’s actually amazing!

There are highfalutin people with their highfalutin houses,

Pulling highfalutin campers with their highfalutin trucks;

With their noses in the air and their hearts set on the mountains,

They have zeroed in on top-notch and have settled on delux.

   They will go straight to a campsite, while we sit here, scratching chin hairs,

Wondering how they got the best one while our tents adjoin the john;

Then we see the little plaque that’s hanging on the sign before us,

In the month of January, they reserved, and it was done.

   There are highfalutin people with their highfalutin estates,

And their highfalutin landscapes in their highfalutin yards;

With their sprinklers spritzing always and their yardman never absent,

They prepare their precious rosebush to be given five bright stars.

    While we sit here, scratching chin hairs, looking at our yard of bindweed,

Wishing somehow we would have a special gardener’s famous touch;

But with growing things comes water, and we think again, and know, that,

We could never make our payments with a yard that costs so much.

   Be it camping, be it landscape, be it running, be it baking,

Name whatever is your hobby, or your passion, or forte;

Every one of us is picky in what we have set our heart on,

And we all are highfalutin in our own peculiar way.

-C.B. 2026

•••

I have nothing against those folks with campers and great landscape, believe me. That's just the first thing that came to mind when I was thinking about this poem. We all have stuff we are picky with, so in a way, we all want to be seen as great and important in whatever that is. Which is highfalutin of us.

Upon the sea that is my life,

I sail my little skiff;

The ever moving waves are days,

The moments, only spindrift.

   And of this sea, there’re many kinds,

And, just like now, I’ve stood,

Upon my salt-stained, sun-bleached deck

And said that God’s been good.

   The waves are different, varying heights,

And some can be quite rough;

But Jesus keeps me through each swell

He makes my strength enough.

   But now, the spindrift, it’s the joy,

Of this short sea I sail.

A spray of happiness I feel

Comes daily, without fail.

   It doesn't last, and soon I know

I must keep paddling on;

But always I await, with hope

The mist I know will come.

   I know the sea can look so dire,

The waves can rock my boat-

But spindrift, that's what blows on me,

Of joy and love and hope.

-C.B. 2026

•••

I have realized a lot lately that moments are so fleeting. But they are so good. And they come down from the Father of Lights, I am positive. I believe that He smiles when He sees us smile in joy. And that joy- that's what gives us the courage to keep sailing on the days that are rough and rock our boat.

How far is marriage from my door?

I have no earthly clue;

But, as of others I have known,

I hope to say “I do.”

   And what are my ambitious dreams?

What qualifies the man,

Who nervously inquires of me

And seeks to gain my hand?

   I want a man that's comely, yes-

Don't let his nose be long,

And also, let him sing on tune,

And let him, please, be strong.

   Don't let him be ten years behind,

But someone who has style,

Who floofs his hair and wears a suit

And has a white, straight smile.

   Make sure he’s got a job that brings,

A nice big sum of cash;

And also, that he owns a car

That doesn't look like trash.

   I wonder though, to have all this,

Is that all possible?

To have your life made, just like that,

And yet be sensible?

   So turning back to what I think,

On who my man should be,

I have a better thought on this,

A comely man, to me-

   Is someone who takes time to pray,

And has humility,

And who, in God’s true will for him

He anchors his soul deep.

   If he can't sing, or has no style,

It really plays no part;

For love is blind, and this I know,

What matters is his heart.

C.B. 2026

•••

This one kinda makes me laugh cause I don't think I’ve ever attempted a poem like this. Take it for what it is. I really have scattered thoughts about the subject, but I do have standards. And, to be clear, I believe that I am a ways from this step in life, and that's a good thing.

The air outside is sultry

Every plant is brownish-green,

The midsummer days have brought me

Mocking visions of a dream;

   The dream I had of being free

In cool, clear summer days,

Of being light in temp and air,

Not captured by the haze;

   Not held inside to ward off heat,

Nor striving to survive,

And trying doggedly, to keep,

Both me and plants alive.

   I dreamed of evenings, almost cold,

And sparkling with delight;

I didn’t think, that when outside,

I’d sweat til twelve at night.

   The sultry days sometime will break

Again for crisp, fall air;

And when I’m freed again, to breathe,

I’ll laugh at my despair.

   It really wasn’t all that bad,

Humidity won’t kill;

Next year, the summer will be sweet,

At least, I dream it will.

-C.B. 2026

•••

We’ve had more humidity this year than usual, but I don’t live in the south so I really have no reason to complain. And honestly, I’ve had a great summer, even with the humidity. This poem was dramatized quite a bit for the sake of this challenge.😂 I don’t hate summers, although they are not my favorite, but they are good.

I posted a note about this, but also decided to write an actual post about it, proper. I’m doing a poetry challenge for a month. I started July 27 so I’ll go until August 27. Every day I take the Merriam-Webster dictionary word-of-the-day and write a poem based off of it. Some of them will be serious, some of them will be dumb, some of them simply won’t be worth reading, some of them might be. This is not anything to prove my skill to anyone- that’s pointless, for it is not my own. I believe God has given me this talent and when He asks me to write something for him, such as possibly co-author a song or maybe write it myself, music and all, I strive to follow through with that. Otherwise, I believe He also gave it to me for my enjoyment, and that is all this challenge is. Follow along if you wish!

Thank you!

Cassie Becker

The mountains will inveigle you

And draw you with appeal,

From pines and flowers, lakes and streams

To rippling, wooded hills.

   The dignity of every pine,

Their deep and woody hues,

Makes your frail soul stand tall, erect,

And dominates your moods.

   The grace of every swelling hill,

It’s hollows filled with brush,

The way it bears it lushous growth,

Calls you to gentleness.

   The beauty of the wildflowers blooms,

A riot of delight,

The reds and purples, yellows, blues,

Wake you from winter’s night.

   The joy of every mountain stream,

As blue as summer skies,

Its laughter as it fills the lake,

Dissolves all burdened sighs.

  The mountains will inveigle you,

And draw you with appeal-

Breathe deep of streams and blooming flowers,

And pines and wooded hills.

-CB. 2026

•••

First off, this word was kinda hard. To get a good poem based on it and the connotations it could have was kinda tough. So I took it a bit out of context, but overall, it’s not too bad I guess.

Second, I have lived surrounded by mountains all my life, and oh, do I love them. The fact that in a few short days I will be pulling out of my home to take up a permanent residence on the prairie for a while kinda hurts. The mountains have always drawn something out it me that is dear to my heart. I don’t even know what it is but you can probably relate. Now, I know prairies can be beautiful; all sorts of places are lovely, not just the mountains… but they seem to be a part of me and the adjustment to not being able to just look out my window and see them looming up in the distance, not being able to drive an hour and actually being in them, might be kinda hard. They are truly one of the best things God created I think.

My MuseScore program broke,

The screen is just a fuzz;

My techy brain long fried

Or maybe never was.

   I have ability,

When MuseScore works alright,

To hopefully compose,

A song to what I write.

   But now the system failed,

And I must find the clue,

To quickly fix it up,

So I create a kludge.

   The kludge consists of me-

My brain, my skill, my time.

In all these, I am dumb,

To solve this case of mine.

   And after five attempts,

Of messing with the screen,

I shut my mouth upon,

The utterance of a scream.

   My kludge has been a bust,

I have to, and I will,

Ask for some smarter help,

From someone with more skill.

-C.B. 2026

•••

All jokes aside, this actually happens. So thank you to all the kind people who have helped me learn how to run MuseScore and will help me in the future- you know who you are. I still use it very unprofessionally, still but only because I haven't dedicated the time to learning all the shortcuts and actual ways to run it. This poem, while dumb, was a really fun one to write.

These earth-worn eyes are dimmed,

Parochial in sight;

It’s only God who sees,

What comes at end of night.

   I only see the place

This one step leads me to;

I’ll never know ahead

The panoramic view,

   Of all my paths, lifelong,

With every twist and turn,

And all the ups and downs,

The hopes or grave concerns.

   And even at the end,

When I have gained a rest,

My vision still will be

Parochial at best.

   I still won't know the whole

Of how my life played out;

So I will be content

With treas’ring what is now.

   All I see is today-

This next step’s ground untrod.

The future is unknown,

Seen only by my God.

-C.B. July 2026

“Oh, I have come too far to now start looking back. I’ve set my aim beyond the stars.” -D.K.

My mind is thinking tonight of how far I’ve come. I haven't earned riches as the world seeks nor fame as most men crave. I haven't even become fit and strong. No, I’m thinking of how far I’ve come in the things that really matter.

   Firstly and most importantly, I have come to a point now in Christian life that I have never been to before. God has blessed my life with new direction, beautiful forgiveness and the ability to actually forget, and the strength to live only one day at a time. That means I focus on inspiration for devotions only for today. I lay down tomorrow’s dreams before I go to sleep, future ideas I give to Him so I can truly rest. I have never felt this close to Him. I have come so far in my Christian life.

   Another thing is how far I have come in letting fear go. I used to worry to the point I would almost make myself physically sick. About 7 years ago, I had my heart checked out because I wad constantly out of breath. Turns out it was from worrying. But through miracle after miracle, God has shown me how to let that fear go. And today, while I am not free from fear, I can say that I have come so far.

   I have come so far in friendship, how to be a friend, how to accept friendship. My whole life I have felt somewhat behind the mark in friendships. After all, I’m just Cassie, with all my failures and reasons people wouldn't like me. But in the past I have forgotten all the qualities God has given me, I’ve not been willing to own them while my very being yearns to feel that someone notices them. I think I have blocked out half the times people have noticed them, shrugged them off as “they are just trying to be nice.” But lately, I have found out what true friendship means. God has given me a friend who challenges me, prays for me, and fights for me. All the while she also leans on me. And as we are both putting the same amount into each other, the friendship grows and becomes stronger. She knows what makes me glow, notices when I get mad or am down, and always listens. I never expected anything like this from a friendship. In friendships, I have come so far.

    I can hardly fathom how far I have come in this life. No, not in worldly ways- I don't seek those; but in the ways that really matter. I have grown in Christ and I don't expect or want to stop growing anytime soon. I have released and learned how to deal with a lot of fear. This alone has freed me to do things I never thought I would do and enjoy. I have built a lasting friendship that has overcome the doubts of my self-worth. In these things, I have come so far- too far to now look back, too far to not turn my eyes still beyond the stars toward my ending goal.

•••

   I hope you, my friend, have also found places you have come far in. Sometimes forward movement seems like it must have halted, but I ask you to look deeper, deeper than all earthly things. And I am fairly certain that you will find something in which you are surprised at how far you have come.

   “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” Isaiah 43:19. God asks us to move forward in the new things He is doing. And when we do this, we will realize suddenly, one day it will strike us, how far we have come.

   If you feel like you can't find anything in which you have moved, seek the Lord. I believe He will have something for you, something that He might be asking you to move forward in so that down the road, you, too, can look back with a heart of gratitude for how far you have come. This is His work, the constant moving forward in His name, for His glory, till our reward beyond the stars.

   Love,

          Cassie🤍

Upon earth’s bleak and barren scape,

The wind lisps out a song

That shudders leaves and bare-limbed trees

Then quickly hastens on.

The clouds above look lifeless, gray,

They block the warming sun;

And naught but brown is all around,

For winter has begun.

Upon my heart’s embittered scape

Raw forgiveness lies;

It will not let my mind forget

Another’s failing time.

The lifeless clouds of other hurts

Block out the warming sun;

And naught but brown is all around-

In me, the winter’s come.

~

Then, from the sky above this earth,

A snowflake glimmers down;

And after one, another comes

To rest upon the ground.

Then soon, from misty clouds above,

A million flakes of snow;

Transforming gray and barren day

Into a whitened glow.

And, from above, beyond myself,

I see the promise stands;

A pardon sure I don’t deserve

Can come from nailscarred hands.

And when this cleansing I accept,

God’s mercy falls like snow;

Transforming life of sin and strife

To one of glistening hope.

-Cassie Becker

December 2025

The fear of climbing the mountain because “I might run out of breath, or I might miss a step and fall,” holds me back no longer.

The fear of playing volleyball hard because “I can’t play as well as others, and if I try, I will make a fool of myself,” holds me back no longer.

The fear of making friends because “as soon as they get to know me, they will find out how weird I am,” holds me back no longer.

That fear of finding simple joy in this moment, because “tomorrow might be cloudy,” holds me back no longer.

Those “what-ifs” have no place in my mind, those insecurities might as well flee right now because I refuse to spend time thinking about them. Yes, these “what-ifs” hold me back no longer.

I have chosen and will continue to choose a path that spurns “what-ifs.”

I will climb with determination, rest when I run out of breath, and trust a protecting God to keep my steps.

I will play volleyball with vigor. The floor is hard but losing is harder. My knees might hurt but knowing I didn’t give my all for my team hurts more.

I will be a person that shows friendliness. If I hold out pure friendship, no judgement, surely I will attract true friends. Yes, I have my quirks, but as long as I accept their quirks, I don’t need to worry about mine and restrain myself from making a life-long friend.

I will find simple joys in simple things and let tomorrow take care of itself. Today is too beautiful to focus on the possibility of clouds tomorrow. God asks me to live today and let Him have tomorrow, so I choose to do just that.

Those “what-ifs” that held me back, they hold me back no longer. God asks me to give of myself without reserve, leaving no room for any insecurity. God has given me the physical ability to be active and I believe that He smiles when I take delight in a game well-played. He asks me to trust Him with my friendships, my tomorrows, my hopes, my dreams and that leaves no room for holding back.

•••

This writing was inspired a couple months ago by the influence of a beautiful friend I have. Her positivity and enthusiasm for today and this moment, her love of adventure, and her friendliness made me realize that spending time worried about these trivial “what-ifs” is completely pathetic. Thank God for those He brings into our lives that challenge us to be more positive, try new things, and put our heart into the small moments of every day.🤍

-Cassie♡

The moon’s leaden light is shining tonight

After the sun sinks to sleep.

It spreads through the town, mantles the ground, seeming to speak of unease.

Stars from the sky are taking their flight.

They drop ever down, making no sound; Merging with lights from the town.

The moon’s leaden light is shining tonight

Wrapping the forest in shadows.

It sifts through the trees, wrests with the breeze, casting a light pale and sallow.

Stars from the sky are taking their flight.

They seem to be leaving, audieu they are breathing,

Stealing the last light of evening.

The shadows of night have stolen the light.

Causing my head to bow low,

My mind void of freedom, a heart, torn and broken, questions consuming my soul.

Stars from the sky have taken their flight.

All faith seems a memory, hope flutters dimly,

Trust starts to fade just as simply.

The moon’s weary light is furtive tonight,

Finding me down on me knees.

Eyes raised to Jesus, heart clothed in weakness, Heaven receiving my pleas.

The stars in the sky are dully in sight.

Waiting in stillness, poured out to Jesus,

Knowing within I am helpless.

The moon’s waning light has somehow turned bright,

Making my heart beat with faith.

Tears dried through solace, peaceful assurance, breathing with hope through His grace.

The stars from the sky are twinkling and bright.

I hear Him then, speaking, “When earnestly seeking,

My peace every ache will be feeling.”

-Cassie Becker

A flat and empty space holds no appeal,

Nor stretched out scapes of only grass and trees;

While other things confuse, I know this still,

My heart was made to see the mountain peaks.

They cloak themselves in blue like winners proud,

Their outlines crisp call to a languid mind;

They beckon me from heeding earthly crowds,

And challenge me to claim their heights as mine.

Enveloped in the pine and earthy scent,

Of wooded slopes upon their towering crests,

I feel the chilly mountain winds incense,   

And grant me freedom from all earth-borne stress.

Their turquoise rivers flow among the trees,

The splash of trout and salmon sweet to hear,

Until at last their song fades into peace,

As waters flow into a lake so clear.

And ever through my life “the mountains call.”

And every time I find that “I must go.”

For always to their kingly sway I fall,

Forever in their courts I find a home.

•••

I love many different places. My heart finds joy in the rolling green hills of Indiana, the sunflower laden ditches of Nebraska, the red rocks of Utah, and many other places. But mountain scenery will always remain my favorite. I am blessed to live in the Uncompahgre valley of Colorado, so any time of the day I can look out and see the peaks of the surrounding mountains. I love the way the sun is close and very brilliant, the way the stars are also close and very clear, and the way the is air is chilly and crisp. At least the mountains I have visited are always a blessed relief from the warmth of the desert summer I try to endure. To me, they always feel welcoming and beckon me to stay awhile. Sadly I must go back to my home and workplace in the valley, but at least their peaks, stark against the sky, still tell of goodwill.

This little piece of poetry was inspired because of our recent trip to Nebraska. I enjoyed the scenery there, but when I saw the mountains again as we came home, my joy increased. I think they will always be home to me.

Thanks for reading! This is simply my way of getting out emotion, sharing a bit of inspiration God blesses me with, and telling about the joy that comes when I experience or am around the things I love. Thanks to all my subscribers, new and old! I appreciate each one of you! ✨

-Cassie Becker