Tag Archives: family

Monday Memories: Quintet of Brothers

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College basketball star and high school majorette

Growing up under Montana’s brilliant Big Sky

Destined to raise this band of brothers as their sons

Rearing five boys, better than any Fourth of July

 

Household of boys born over a span of twelve years

Perhaps their father dreams of a basketball team

While their mother nurtures with love and care

Quintet of brothers’ thoughts filling with biggest dreams

 

Brothers grow up, facing life’s many challenges

Inspired by a father with amazing courage

Battling back from near-fatal car crash in his youth

His steadfast work ethic always encourages

 

These driven brothers discover their niche at school

Excelling with their academics in the classroom

Competition fuels a welcome outlet through sports

Lives mature too quickly, future destinies zoom

 

This family story would never be complete

The boys’ mother remembers God’s lovely bouquet

These five brothers always cherish their one sister

Believe it or not, she’s born on Valentine’s Day

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This poem gives you a quick glimpse into my childhood family.  Growing up under Montana’s Big Sky was a blessing for my brothers and sister.  The memories will last a lifetime.

Originally published July, 2020.

Washington Irving Quotes

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There is an enduring tenderness in the love of a mother to a son that transcends all other affections of the heart.

There is an emanation from the heart in genuine hospitality which cannot be described, but is immediately felt and puts the stranger at once at his ease.

American Washington Irving (1783-1859) ranks as one of his country’s most renowned authors.  His amazing short stories of “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleeping Hollow” remain all-time classics.  Ironically, his final resting place is at the Sleeping Hollow Cemetery in New York state.

Alan Shephard Quotes

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If you don’t use your experience, your past is wasted, and you are betraying yourself.

I think the sense of family and family achievement, plus the discipline which I received there from that one-room school were really very helpful in what I did later on.

Born in Derry, New Hampshire, Alan Shephard (1923-1998) was an American astronaut, naval aviator, test pilot, and businessman.  In 1961, he became the first American to travel into space.  In 1971, he became the fifth person (and the oldest) to walk on the Moon at the age of 47.

Monday Memories: Passing the Torch

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man wearing gray and brown hat with eyeglasses

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Watching Saturday’s unhurried sunrise

Feeling gratefulness, spirit shall arise

 

Being retired, life moves at much slower pace

Realizing, there’s no need to win life’s race

 

Remembering grandfathers, crisp and clear

Teaching life lessons, steady and sincere

 

Growing up, learning from their example

Tasting life with every new sample

 

Loving family, with kindness and care

Treating marriage, with love beyond compare

 

Passing on wisdom, making good choices

Sitting here now, hearing cherished voices

 

Accepting their torch, these years move along

Being a grandfather, where love belongs

 

Filling up life, grandchildren sharing love

Joining other grandfathers, fits like a glove

green lit torch

Photo by Kelly Lacy on Pexels.com

 

Originally published April, 2020.  Edited September, 2023.

Gift of Family

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From Proverbs 19:21:  “The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.”

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Gift of family unfolds

Relationships healthy and blessed

God’s love covers this home

Leading this grace-filled nest

 

Imperfections reverse tide

Frustrations fill with discontent

God witnesses each tear

Reshaping what is meant

 

Time healing deepest trauma

Days, weeks—sometimes months travel by

God breathes, never silent

Wiping every tear dry

 

Faith speaks, better days ahead

Hope generates from cherished love

God welcomes members home

Blessing life from above

 

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From Joshua 24:15:  “Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living, but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Monday Memories: Treasured Pleasures

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Sunrise at Walnut Woods

Sunrise at Walnut Woods Metro Park in central Ohio. 

Every day, filling with precious moments

Life’s simple pleasures, love-filling treasures

Never again, take any for granted

Traveling life’s long road, each step measures

 

Darkened dawn sky, erupting with bright hues

Granddaughter taking first tentative walk

Life sometimes slows down, bringing a replay

Neighborhood sidewalk, hopscotch drawn in chalk

 

Neil Diamond lyrics, harmony through song

Mother calls, reminding me her love cares

Favorite novel, author’s words smile back

Trio of daughters, sweeter than a pair

 

Evening sunset, brings awesome pleasures

Tomorrow, witnessing simple treasures

November 30, 2014 005

Sunset in Columbus, Ohio.

Originally published April, 2020.

Martin Short Quotes

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The thing you can always rely on, your core person, comes from your family’s attention and love.

No on is any one thing.

Martin Short (born 1950) is an Canadian-American actor, comedian, and writer.  He is well-known for his work on “SCTV” (Second City Television) in Canada and “Saturday Night Live” in the U.S.

Martina Boone Quotes

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Family is always a mirror.  You can hide from other people, you can hide from yourself, but your family is going to reflect what you’re doing right back at you.

It doesn’t matter how great your shoes are if you don’t accomplish anything in them.

Martina Boone is a Czech Republic born author who has lived in the United States since turning seven years of age.

Allyson Dinneen Quotes

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You’re not here to be perfect or to set a good example or to please anyone.  You were born to love and enjoy your ordinary, peculiar, inconsistent, good-enough self.

PERFECTIONISM:  You have to do everything right to be loved.  LOVE:  You don’t have to do anything right to be loved.

Allyson Dinneen is an American marriage and family therapist as well as a writer.  As the above words attest to, much of her work reaches out to dispel the connection between perfectionism and being loved.