Arabella

Sweet baby girl
Growing so fast
Welcome to your family
Its wonderful to meet you at last

My dear niece
You are greatly loved
Knitted together carefully
By your Father up above

I write to you right now
With some helpful advice
To help you in the future
So you don't have to think twice

Your Mom and Dad love you
More than you will ever know
You may not agree with what they say
But your respect for them will grow

GranPop and Big Daddy
Can't wait to hold your hands
To protect you every moment
And support your every plans

Grandma and YaYa
With love, care and fun
Can't wait to spoil you
Enjoying their time one on one

But don't forget your aunts
Kari, Carlyn, Emmalee
We are here for you 100 percent
Encouraging you completely

Life my get difficult at times
But your family is around
We'll be there if you fall
To pick you up from the ground

We love you more than words can say
But you may not always believe it
Watching you grow will be a blessing
And on you we will never quit

From Me

To you, the man of my dreams

There is so much I want to tell you
But where should I begin
First I'll say I'm sorry
For all of my past sin.

I guess I should warn you
About the life I've been given
That's made me who I am
And the reasons I am driven.

I was born into a family
That's always on the go
So traveling is a part of me
To see places I would never know.

God has called me to the mission field
And to Him I must be true
I pray that you feel this calling
Or will at least help to see me through.

My family is very important
A mother I want to be
Of our own or by adoption
Such a blessing for you and me.

I see us growing old together
One day at a time
Relying on each other daily
Making your hopes and dreams mine.

I have made some mistakes
I never want to speak of
But I pray we focus on the future
And together live for the One Above.

From me

Memory Lane

I want to take you on a journey, down my memory lane
Through this great house full of love, joy and pain

Here's the living room, where we would have the Christmas tree
Family and friends gathered in love and to sit on Santa's knee

I use to sit at this bar to eat my daily meals
Green and blue milk, bologna pizza, and pin wheels

Poppy would sit in this recliner, take off his boots, and take his nap
While asleep, we did our best to steal his socks, but he'd wake with a snap

Out here we had the trampoline, play house and tire swings
I remember one time, I got 8 yellow jacket stings

Driving the tractors to pass the time, running into the house
Watching Pepper run after the ball, turtle or mouse

Upstairs we played most our games, snuck out on the roof
Locked in rooms and toy chests, how it happened there's no proof

So much joy filled that house when our family was together
But the memories of those we've lost, will continue in all weather

Forever Family

My constant support
My my biggest fan
My best friend
My right hand man

Your trusting spirit
Your consistent prayers
Your loving smiles
Your unending cares

I can't thank you enough
I love you sincerely
I won't forget
I care for you dearly

Forever together
Forever free
Forever loving
Forever family

My funnest crew
My instigators
My travel partners
My trouble makers

Your loud laughs
Your funny jokes
Your crazy stories
Your slow pokes

I laugh still
I can't wait
I dream of then
I know our fate

Forever together
Forever free
Forever loving
Forever family

We smile
We stay
We sit
We pray
We laugh
We cry
We love
We try
Yesterday
Today
Tomorrow
Forever

Forever Together
Forever Free
Forever Loving
Forever Family

Words I Live By

Stuck in the waiting room with anticipation
Hoping for that answer we all want to hear
Although knowing it may not come
We perk up when the doctor comes near

"I have some news for you today
Lets all have a seat and talk
And at any point just let me know
If you need a break or walk"

The doctor began "There is something wrong
His lungs are very cloudy
And we are not sure how much longer
You will have with you Poppy and Daddy.

"At this point there is nothing to do
But give him love and talk in his ear
He is unable to respond
But he'll know you're there"

I could not just sit there anymore
So we made a fast food run at eleven
With 12 different orders and tears in our eyes
knowing tonight he might go to Heaven

We returned with our arms full
And nearly dropped the food when we heard
"Hurry, go up stairs , he's awake,
And for each of you he has a word"

The elevator took forever
We pushed through the crowd
To talk to the man with a huge smile
Sitting in that bed so proud

The words he spoke to me
Will forever ring in my life
With a sweet smile and a gentle touch
His words cut deep like a knife

"God has a great plan for your life
He will use you in so many ways
Just remember how much He and I love you
And follow Him all of your days"

The next day he taught us Rummy
And joked with us like before
Leaving his room was so difficult
Knowing he may never walk through that door.

A month later, the Lord took him home
It was a time of tears, stories, and showing love
But I know that right now he's praising God
And watching me from Heaven above

My Name

Born three months after his death
While the family still felt sorrow
But the moment she took her first breath
Her life gave new meaning to tomorrow

Named after him, Bert Carl’s legacy continues
As Carlyn learns to love as he once did
She strives to become a person who’s
Light shines and compassion is never hid

Meaning womanly warrior
She sounds prepared to fight
But if you saw inside her
You’d see she has but one sight

To reach out to those nearest
In hopes to comfort and teach
That Christ’s love is the dearest
No matter how far you reach

Change her name?
She would not dare
For her life would not be the same
If this name she did not bare

Her great grandfather was the type of man
Who could change a bad day with his smile
She only hopes that one day she can
Walk in his shoes for a while