Being Thankful

Summer is gone now,
How time races.
Fall coming on
In so many places.

We raced through the summer,
no time to sit reminiscing.
So busy and Happy
Wasn't it just SpringIng?

The picnics were many,
the Fishing holes busy.
Time to sit still short,
Enjoying the tizzy.

The landscape so pretty
The crops and the traces
Of Iowa gleaming
Proof of God's Graces.

Now turns to Golden
Each day quickly paces.
The Leaves Tarnish and
Fall now, see the Smiling Faces?

We look to the West now,
The weather is changing.
Scurrying and hurrying,
the critters go Ranging.

Winter to come soon,
they quickly get ready.
Carrying food now
so ripe and so steady.

Farmers go tending
and storing their crop songs.
From Late Summer to Winter
Harvesting the day long.

Pumpkins,Squash,
Zucchini,Tomatoes on the Table
They harvest with zest now
Store, Save, They are able.

When Snow falls this Winter,
Oh how Family will rave.
Knowing Bounty galore
fills the Cupboards, All Pray.

Looking forward to Winter
The Season so Merry.
The time soon will come
To Drink Punches of Berry.

Celebrate Good times, Harvest,
Family and Friends...
We all will be Happy
Now this Poem ends!

(God Bless You every one!
You are a Gift to Me!)

Katie

Beckoning

Feelings feeling
Temptations calling

Deep sensations
Lusty confrontations

Thinking about nature
enjoying Rapture

Joyful singing
Tears they are bringing

Calling me Home
No more to roam

Deeper going
Joy I am knowing

Falling further downward
Learning to let go, ever forward

I am
I am

I go
I will go

There I follow
There I lead

This I am
This I will be

Kate

Fog

Quiet, Alone
No Stone unturned

Moving Cautiously
Still Alone

Wondering
What is to come

Fearing yet
Excited

Waiting
Holding Breath

Danger
Respect

Suspense
Fog

Small Fry

Small Tiny Fingers
Taking your Hand

Looking up at you
Standing tall and grand

The World so BIG
Around her small frame

She ventures forward
Showing no Fears

Braver and Bolder
Than her two and a half years

Exploring her "Turf"
Looking at yours

Watching and Helping
As you both do the Chores

Moving so Swiftly
Twinkling her toes

Sparkle and Bubble
Off again she goes

Hiding in Corners
Singing and Talking

Crawling in Boxes
Tumbling and Walking

Turning and winking
A giggle she gives

To see her so Happy
Help our Hearts to live

She gives lots of Kisses
Hugs, snuggles and shouts

So fast she is growing
Too soon Time will fly

No more sitting and Rocking
She will then wave Bye Bye!

First Day of School
Lunches with Friends

Busy and Thoughtful
Kindness she sends

Too Soon, a Wedding
Kids of her own

Skating and Movies
Gosh, Time has Flown!

She still comes to visit
This Child we adore

Bringing Joy and Singing
In through our Door

Love to my Children
My Nieces and Nephews

Each time you think of me
My Heart your thoughts blesses

Grand Child named Tyler
Jim's girls Julia and Ashton

Love to you ALL
Is Always IN Fashion!

Inspired and written while thinking of all my lovely family and feeling so loved and blessed to have you all.
If I didnt name you, it doe not mean I love you any less, I just ran outta rhymes, ok? HUGSS to you all)

Geneology

Looking for History
Exploring the Past

Finding My Family
Strangers the Last.

Unearthing Heritage
Who could They be?

Where did I come from
Solving the Mystery.

Where did they Travel
Freedom and Prosperity seek

What made them wander
Risks they did meet
Wander Lust stronger
Than Homestead it seems

Following ambition, freedom,
Seeing new lands
Overlooking Valleys
Standing in sands

Why so important
is this to me?
Seeking closure
Relief, Geneology

Crossing Mountains, ditches
Hilltops and Streams,
Continued persuing
Every Man's Dreams.

 Land Rush in Vehicles,
Walking and Riding.
Horses, Wagons,
Slipping and sliding

Watching for Dangers
Fears never subsiding
New adventures ahead,
Nature's laws ever abiding.

Going ever onward
What left behind unsaid.

What chased them away?
Were they following Passion?

Why couldnt they stay?
overcoming, succeeding, surviving each day.

"Onward Wagons"
Did this they hear?

What kinds of Adventures
and Hardships did they bear?

Children Dying, Illness, Woe
Wild Animals, Indians, Deep Mountain Snows

Strength never failing
As onward they did go.

From across the Ocean, England tis said
They came by Boat

to wilderness given, Massachusetts they tread
From Massachusetts to Vermont

They settled for a few years of dread
or History and Hope.

To Illinois then,
A Beautiful Land

Green Trees, Meadows,
Prairie Grass Stands

In Illinois' Beauty
they settled a while

Onward to Iowa, Wisconsin,
Missouri with style.

The route is so muddled
But a Quest it is true

Researching and Looking
Is time well spent, this I knew

Struggling to Trace Family
Sometimes goes slow.

Their Survival was important
Keeping records could wait

A Journal was Luxury,
The Bible great

Searching, Looking, expanding
Knowledge will flow

Make me Deliver
These Words with a Glow

Never sure what I'm Finding
Will have meaning to Any

I dig deeper inside
A poor soul seeking a penny!

I may never find the exact things
that I crave....

But the time spent in searching
Is something to rave!

One thing I have learned,
I will never again be meek!

I will not give up
Keep on looking, digging deep.

Take Heart, keep looking, its
Been but a week!

It helps to read and see clearly
How things were back then

Adding Value, Appreciation,
Respect for my Kin

I will go on looking
My Heart I will tend

That Love for the Past
Is Faithful and Pure.

Learning is ongoing
Of this I am sure!

I will do my best to Discover
Keep Memories alive

Till my own Grandchildren
Are grown to look and revive

To sit on my knee
And Hear Grandma tell

Stories of times
Of a long way back when

How she learned of some History
Where the Great River bends

The struggles and trouble
My Family is facing tis sure

Are as different and varied
As the Vittles in Stew

Trudging ever forward
Not getting lost in the Snow

On through their own Lives
They continually go

Never time in the Present
To sit and Record

Too Busy,Fast Scurrying,
Or being too Bored

We can all learn something
That I know is Great

Investigating the Past
Terrifically rates

Looking is Fun
Imagination keeps Track

Just so we aren't Stuck there
And Move forward, not Back!

My Ditty is finished
So Sad, Yet so True

I hope you enjoyed it
Here To Looking at YOU!

Katie, Bamma Kate, Mom,
and Me

Happy Days (rebirth of spring)

 Puppy playing
 Ducks quacking
Cats meowing
Sunny laying.

Spring coming
Flowers growing
Popping up
At last, stunning.

Snow melting
Brooks flowing
Crops sowing
Trees budding

Hopes soaring
Critters waking
Birth renewing
Spring scenes viewing

Roads opening
tires spinning
New beginnings
Cobwebs cleaning

Muscles yearning
to be used again
Fresh air breathing
Winter gloom ends.

Doors wide open,
Windows, too.

Happy Days
Come in to View.

My Puppy

Wet nose
Droopy Eyes
Idolize
My Puppy

Large Sighs
He sleeps nigh
heartbeats high
My Puppy

Quiet cries
Whimpering
Begging
My Puppy

Warm body
friendly napping
Snuggling closely
My Puppy

My Buddy
Best Friend
Without end
My Puppy!

Quiet

Ssshhh!

Did you hear that?

"What?"

Listen! Hear that?

"No, What? I don't hear anything!"

Exactly!

That's It!

"Ssshhh!"

Quiet!

Hustle Bustle

Street Sounds,
Horns Honk,
Dishes rattle,
Time to chomp.

Men Whistle
Horse carts clatter
Hurry, Scurry
Milk bottles rattle

Policeman's whistle blows
Trainman hollers "all aboard!"
Up and down the street now,
Out onto the road.

Fresh Baking bread smells
"Buy my Fresh Hot Bread, Cakes, Muffins",
The Bakery man Yells!

Babies cry
Mothers sing "Lullaby's"
Coffee's Perking, Car's
Rush by.

Bacon sizzles,
Eggs in a pool.
Kids tell riddles
On the way to School

People hurry by,
Carrying packed lunch tins.
Work beyond beckons
Another busy day begins

Baby Smiles

Sweet Little Giggles
Wrinkled up nose
Look at those Dimples
Red like a rose

Cute curls that wiggle
Little dances she does
Just Like Shirley Temple
Shines light from above

Crawling in Boxes
Driving a toy Jeep
 Cleaning and fixing          Know what I mean?
See how she sweeps?

Ruffles and Jeans,
Curly hair too
 Eyes Twinkle Bright
 Pretending, a Zoo.                                           Oh what a sight

For her impish grin
I am such a glutton
Dressed always
In Bows and Buttons

The Stars and Mountains
For her do swoon.
The world twirls around her,
Even The "man" in the Moon.

Playing and Sleeping
Such a gift did we see
How lucky we are
When she is on our knee

She is growing so fast
This time will not last
What can we do?
She's ALREADY Two!

(written 2003, 2005)

My Dad

Going fishing
Bait and tackle

Pickup loaded
Wood to crackle

Camping ready
Tent a packing

3 years old now
Loves her daddy

Pole line baited
Clothing ratty

They sit fishing
Quiet, sshhhh now

Always chatting
Man walks by, wow

She looks over
Says "how ya doin?"

"Not to bad"
The man replies

Fish abiting?
He asks, waiting

She says no
Calmly stating

Eyes a'twinkling
She replies then

I'm not sad though
You know why?

I'm spending time here
That's not bad

Tellya why....
THAT'S my Dad!

Little Man

Little Man with Eyes so Blue
Dimples deep, Santa Is jealous too

Blonde Hair like Daddy
Impish Grin

Mommie glady takes second
Since you came in

Growing so swiftly
Seems last week you were born

Time passing so quickly
Was that the Car Horn?

Soon will be
I will blink and then

Proms you will be attending
Weddings, Parties without end

Seems just a short time
I did that for your Mom

Held her so gently
She slept in my arms

Memories rush over me
years fly by

Don't rush so fast
Slow down, Hear me? *Sigh*

Loved ones we treasure
Family we adore

These are important
This I implore

So many words,
so fast you are learning

Does it show
How much I'm yearning

To hold you, play with you
Try to keep up

Take more Pictures
give Seven up

As much as I miss you
I know you are safe

You are our sweet treasure
Our Lil Tyler waif

Keep watch over Mommie
Daddy kiss too

Soon Bamma and Bampa
Will come visit you

For Dad

Wrote this for my Dad just about 3 years ago or so...did not date it.
_____________________________________________________________________
Dad

I tried to write a Poem for you,
But I couldn't make it Rhyme.

I want to show my Love for you,
So I'll try it one more time.

The times when I was growing,
Though far away from now....

Remind me things you did for me,
The things you taught me how.

Your Love for other people, your
Kindness overflowed.

You shouldered so much Duty, I
Feared you would overload.

The work you did to support us
Was Hard and you Labored long.

Yet many was the Evening you
Entertained us with a Song.

You led us through the Lean years,
The Teen years and beyond.

Your Strength was always saying:
"Have Courage", "Go On".

Now as we All Grow Older,
Time together is what we need.

Life has taught us both the lesson,
Dad's can BE a Friend Indeed!

My story is almost ended....
A Poem to write you I did try.

I hope you like the effort
And it doesn't make you Cry!

"Love You Dad",

Kathy