I make my bed in the morning as I think of the elderly woman fleeing who hasn’t slept in 3 days.
I brush my teeth as I think of the young man who lost his yesterday from shrapnel coming through the window.
I fix my coffee as I think of the little girl who is crying for lack of water in the deep dark train tunnel.
I get dressed as I think of the mother clutching the last dress she has, the one she’s worn for the last ten days as she holds her baby tight, wondering if her world is coming to an end.
War. What is it good for?
That’s the old song. It says it’s good for nothing. It says it brings no solution. It says it only brings heartache and decay.
Remind me. What is it good for?
I jump into my car, driving across town, and I think of the men, barely learning the world, crammed into tanks, being lied to about their missions and their cause.
I sit at my desk as I think of the soldier huddled with his gun, waiting for the shot.
I walk down the hall as I think of the many who may never walk back through their door.
I leave for home as I think of the millions who are fleeing their own, never knowing if they’ll return.
War. What is it good for?
That the age old question. It’s said to be a folly. It’s said to be for purpose. It’s said to be the point in which decisions can be made.
Remind me. What is it good for?
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven.
You came out of nowhere. Although, I knew you were always there. You hit me without warning. Although, I was expecting it everyday.
Blindsided
You flew in like a hurricane. I saw all the warnings, but I kept on driving. You landed like an earthquake. I was wondering, waiting, but I rode on the train
Blindsided
You demanded as a tidal wave. I resisted, yet you kept pushing and taking. You dominated as a tsunami. I revolted, yet you devoured and consumed.
Blindsided
You absorbed like a vacuum bomb. I can’t breathe, and you come back for more You depleted like a hand grenade. I can’t feel, and you return to draw again.
Blindsided
You prance forward as a golden peacock. I weep, yet not for me, for your hidden demise. You shout as a heralded trumpeter. I grieve, yet not for me, for your veiled destruction.
Blindsided
He will come out of nowhere. Although, you’ve known He’s always there. He will hit you without warning. Although, you’ve been expecting Him everyday.
I find myself screaming across the chasm You don’t have to live to die
Blindsided
Penned- MG -3/21/22
Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
Revelation 3:3
Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.
There’s an old song that proclaims this adage for some, “War. What is it good for?” And the singer answers himself to say, “Absolutely nothing!”
*I do not own nor possess this pic.*
As we have a war raging on the other side of the world, this song came to mind, and it caused me pause…
Pause, to think.
Pause, to wonder.
Pause, to ponder.
War is always devastating. It is always mind boggling. It is always consumed with questions and concerns. It is always heartbreaking and oh. So. Overwhelming.
Overwhelming enough to bring panic.
Overwhelming enough to bring depression.
Overwhelming enough to bring paralysis.
War often can bring a surprise along with it. Although, we wish it came so differently, it can bring a sense of togetherness, a bonding that would never happen in any other scenario. Whether they be broken, fearful, wounded or strong, it’s a gathering of souls.
Souls that need protection.
Souls that need encouragement.
Souls that need reckoning.
Souls that need redemption.
War, in a crazy kind of way, can bring about resilience never realized until that moment. War can bring about courage that is fortified in the midnight hours. It can bring about a needed change to rebellious hearts.
Hearts that beat as one.
Hearts that beat with anger.
Hearts that beat with fear.
Hearts that beat with love.
Love can rage war on evil like nothing else ever can. Love can bring light to the darkness. Love can bring hope to the hopeless. Love can bring resistance and a halt to evil that would try to prevail.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have thegift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Well, it’s been a little while again, but let’s see if we can get this started once more…
(Have to acquire the name!)
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
I know it seems funny that I don’t have the name of this restaurant, but as you will see below, I have the picture of the name. I have to get in touch with my Ukrainian friends to get the American spelling! Lol.
This place was so intriguing. We were told it is the setting of the Soviet Union homes back before the USSR fell. I felt like I was walking into a home from the 1960s in America.
I especially loved the bakers area, where they were creating all kinds of delicious goodness! I placed that pic at the beginning because I felt it really captured the essence of this restaurant.
The food was actually similar to what you could find in some diners in America. The menu was several pages long, and the food, although delicious, was not fancy or extravagantly presented. (My apologies for no food pics! We were starving by the time it came!)
The food was really good. We had pickles and veggies as an appetizer. We had roast, chicken fillets and sour cherry dumplings and a chocolate cake for dessert. There were other items ordered in our party; however, my memory is a bit fuzzy from the January trip. *I will get an update here soon!
I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. I almost felt conspicuous in the restaurant, as I was so awe struck by the decor and atmosphere.
The bakery displayed all sorts of delectable pastries and goodies!If you can decipher Ukrainian (or maybe a bit of Russian) , you might be able to read this! The atmosphere was actually very quaint and cozy. I felt as if I was eating in someone’s home, enjoying conversation in their living room. This was the table in which we sat. The bench was soft and inviting. The bookcase behind simply decorated with a few plants and vases, and a warm lamp glow just beyond. The stairs going to the downstairs of the restaurant was filled with old books I’d like to sit and read and a vintage lunchbox that made me wonder who owned it, where he has worked and if his home had been a bit like this one in years past. The napkins and toothpicks were all neatly displayed in little red and white checked jars.
I have never appreciated Russian fare nor the Russian way of life, as I have read so much destruction and so much heartache that they have brought to their world. Yet, when eating here in this restaurant, I can see why there are some in Kyiv who almost want to believe Russia doesn’t want to bring harm but good. (Yet, watching their invasion of Crimea, I do hope they are never deceived… another story for another day… 😉)
*I will need to acquire the name and the website; so, you can visit one day while you’re in Kyiv!
This place was has just the neatest decor and atmosphere. The staff is friendly and some can speak a little English. The food is delicious, and again, the decor is just really cool. (Lots of pics on this one; so, get ready!)
The food was phenomenal, and the menu was completely in Ukrainian; so, our friends told us things on the menu and ordered for us. As you can see, we ate like kings.
We started with a cheese plate that was delicious. It had four different types of cheeses and honey and ground coffee to dip. Now, I know, that sounds crazy, but it was SO good! They also had brought a type of dried beef, like beef jerky. It had a little kick of spice, and it was great. Our friend ordered a plate of, what I would call, bruschetta. I’m not sure what it is called there, and I don’t eat raw tomatoes all that much, but she said it was delicious.
My husband (and our oldest) ordered a burger that was about as big as his head! He had to squish it to try to eat it, and he eventually just eat it with a fork and knife. 😂 I ordered a steak and grilled veggies, and it was scrumptious. Our youngest ordered a cheese pizza. It was different, as it didn’t have red sauce on it, but it was very tasty.
We also ordered some drinks like (non-alcoholic) mojitos. One had ginger and lemon and the other was apple. They both were good; I liked the ginger and lemon best.
We had so much food; we were stuffed and couldn’t finish it all! We so enjoyed this food, and we look forward to visiting again when we return to Ukraine.
The Website appears to be in Ukrainian, but I didn’t peruse all through time see if there is a language selection. They also have a FB page.
*My apologies for the delay in this post! Had some trouble on the site and couldn’t post media. 😜 We’re back up and running smoothly, I hope! 😉
Before you read this review, you can check out the pics and my previous review here. We visited this restaurant again while in Ukraine, and it was just as amazing as the first time!
We had a few different items this time; so, I thought I’d share those as well.
The Greek salad is phenomenal, and it’s served with such class!
The apple strudel is so delicious. Last time, we had the molten chocolate cake, which is still scrumptious; however, if your wanting something a little different from chocolate, this is a must!
*My apologies for the delay in this post! Had some trouble on the site and couldn’t post media. 😜 We’re back up and running smoothly, I hope! 😉
Before you read this review, you can check out the pics and my previous review here. We visited this restaurant again while in Ukraine, and it was just as amazing as the first time!
We had a few different items this time; so, I thought I’d share those as well.
The Greek salad is phenomenal, and it’s served with such class!
The apple strudel is so delicious. Last time, we had the molten chocolate cake, which is still scrumptious; however, if your wanting something a little different from chocolate, this is a must!
Oops! I didn’t get the Friday Fun Day post up on time, because I was flying home that day. So, today I thought I’d share a few pics from that wonderful trip and plane flight. 😊✈️🇺🇸🇺🇦 Can you guess where I was?? (NO cheating by looking up the flag!😉😂)
This place was the coolest! They don’t really “mine” the coffee, as coffee cannot be mined, but the set up and the tour through the “mine” is just the neatest presentation. When we came out of the mine, it opened up into this great big warehouse type room, and they had a concert going on. You just found a seat, and this band, Ukrainian, mind you, was singing English Christmas songs and Golden Oldies, like Elvis renditions and “Johnny B. Good.” I told you, it was the coolest! So, we sat in this coffee house, in the middle of Lviv, at Christmas, sipping our lattes and cappuccinos while listening to these Ukrainian speaking dudes wail on their guitars and drums, singing perfect renditions of “You’re Nothin’ But a Hound Dog,” “Pretty Woman” and many others. It was definitely a night to remember! So cool!! 😎
the grizzle grist mill 