Little Henry William,
we know so little of you.
You lived so vibrantly in the womb
Just out of touch,
just out of our grasp
we'll grieve for our loss.
To stroke your head,
hear you coo and giggle,
see you suck your thumb
burp and tumble.

We try to picture you
in our mind,
a full grown spirit
to comfort our sorrow.
Running around in heaven
on God's merciful errand.

Patient and faithful
that God in his heaven
all knowing, all seeing
will pour out
grand blessings and
faithfully comfort.

We'll keep our daydreams
safely tucked in our secret hiding place
until the time we meet
and embrace you face to face.

Life can be like the sunshine and warm breezes but quickly turn stormy.  An unwanted hot flash, and a million other things can rub me the wrong way.  Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite.  I'm all sunny one minute the next I'm not a very nice person.  Happy that I don't have to be perfect but sometimes I wish I was a little farther down that path

Eager to be
eager to feel
eager to see
eager to know
things of the Spirit
joy
peace
love
gratitude
Like the sun that shines so brightly
at times I do so
Like dark clouds scudding quickly
that can overcome the glow
Why do I let shadows creep in
and steal my heavenly peace
Love, take the place of pride
and make me see all living kind
inside of me, a part of me
by thy patient grace.

Here is a poem I wrote November 25 the day after Thanksgiving.  A very trying day.  I cried myself to sleep that night and actually wrote this in bed because I couldn't sleep.

Help Us
See the rose that fades away
See the parched and barren land
Angels come quickly, hear our cry
for the lost and lonesome die.
Send the gentle rain
Take back the hail, sleet and snow.
Turn our hearts and make them flow.
Flow through valleys lush and green
giving more as we go.


Winter
The lights are up!
Our hearts are full!
Snow is fluffy
on the ground.
Evergreens everywhere
snow resting
on their arms.
Get the skis out
time to glide.
It's cold
yet it's warm.
It's dark
yet it's light.
Serve the chocolate
Turn on the tree!
Life, winter, the barren tree
We can dress it up
to be what we want it to be!

I'm having a bit of a hard time getting inspired now.  I should be able to write a poem about the Hartford Temple being dedicated on my mom's birthday so I'll give it a shot.

Mothers stand like temples
They have a lot in common
they bring us closer to God
unite families
help us see things clearly
comfort us
guide us
point us toward heaven
beautiful inside and out
made of the finest materials.
Their door is always open.
They testify of Christ's love.
Help you return to your Father in Heaven.

Oranges glow
as the sun
Beets, the color of my blood
Carrot fingers
mushroom toes
In the forest how they grow

Here I am 59 years old and still worried about my weight.  If I was talking with my friend I would call her out on it and say you're at the age where you don't have to worry about that anymore.  To be a good grandmother you have to have folds for your grandkids to snuggle into.  But here I was the other day ready to try a high protein diet to shed a quick 5 lbs because, exclamation point, I had gotten up to my holiday weight way before holiday eating even started!  But, Will warned me against it and it does go against the word of wisdom.  And then by chance I came across some articles that led me to a place of peace and I'm sure Heavenly Father sent his Spirit as well to confirm these things  in my mind.  Because I feel completely different about my body right now, different than my whole life.  I just hope this feeling isn't gliding in and gliding out.  Here's my poem about it.

To love your body is a sin
Today you're made to hate your form
What will others think of me
If I am up to a size 10

For me no more!
I'll side with Dove
And give myself
A great big hug!

I'm here to talk to all of us

There is so much of course to like
Instead of all the jigly chub
I'll keep my flub though, just the same
And tell myself I'm not ashamed.

The thought I have that
makes me fly,
"I love my bod,
this outward shell"
This simple thought
Will help me keep
myself so strong.

Will keep me from the pantry shelf
Where things are kept to make it weak
I'll eat and drink the food I love
With just the right amount of no

This is healthy, this feels right
Appreciate my beating heart
My lungs;  balloons fill up with air!
All sight, all sound, all taste, all fair!

I started this poem last night after the Giants beat the Bengals on Monday Night Football.  Seems I always think of my Dad whenever I watch the Giants, our family's favorite football team way before my memories start.  I've passed the tradition down to some of my children which makes me very happy.  Brother Jon and his kids too.  It's fun when we can get together and cheer and put holes in the ceiling and think of Elmer.

My father's knee

a good place to be

when all we felt was sorrow

as we watched our team

get buried.

We suffered toe to toe

As we watched Francis T.

and wide receiver Homer Jones go

 home unceremoniously.

Week after week we'd sit there suffering

cheering loudly, loyally crying

hoping that one week

we'd end up cheering and

happily sighing.

Didn't happen much

But we were diehard fans

Who cares about lunch

 dirty pots and pans

The games were long 

full of disappointment

Giant fans always strong

Ever loyal in our deportment.

He made me a Giant fan
Of the New York Giants see
The sweet memories still fill me
Sundays, always hopeful,
Next to my Dad