Friday, July 31, 2015

212. The Merry and the Rock

No, the time is not now
The time is fault
And we are as stars
Traveling through the merry sky.
But merry is not what you think
For life cannot be only 
This or that.
What is it to you of the father?
Can we be or not?
Have we or not?
Or are we just simply here
For time
For truth
For nothing?
No, the time is not now.
But yet...

Thursday, July 30, 2015

211. Salesman

Selling is not always easy
Especially when they forget
But when you're a door to door salesman
You have to just take what you get 

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

210. Mother's Advice

My day was really fine.
A normal day for me.
Nothing really going on.
Nothing much to see.

The pre-nap day was over.
It wasn't dinner yet.
When my child came from the bathroom
And her sleeves were rather wet.

I hadn't heard the faucet.
She couldn't reach the sink.
So how she's gotten herself wet,
I didn't want to think

But doing my motherly duty
I went to investigate
And wished I'd gone in sooner.
I'd gotten there too late.

As one mom to another
I'll give you free advice.
Children should be noisy,
Not quieter than mice.

When your kid is silent 
Don't wait out in the hall.
There's nothing quite as gross
As poop smeared on the wall.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

209. Darkness Will Show

Work your worry away from your heart
Forever and ever the past is apart
Wherever your path leads your life
Know you'll recover from pain and strife
Along your worthy way you'll go
Following light the darkness will show

Monday, July 27, 2015

208. Royalty

I may not be the star of the show
I may not know quite where to go
I may not laugh as daintily
Or wear the clothes of royalty
But I am worthy of great praise
For I'm your child til the end of days.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

207. Eve and Mary

Eve who is the mother of man
Made a choice and took a bite
So that all could come to earth
And learn to see the wrong from right.

Mary, mother to a god 
Bore a son to save mankind
She taught him who His father was
And helped Him His true mission find.

Eve provided a way for man
To come to earth from home in heaven.
Mary bore the way for man
To go from earth to heaven again.

Each woman gave all that she could,
Her body, her mind, her life, her love,
To bring mankind to greatest joy.
Now we can live with God above.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

206. My Super Awesome Amazing Husband

This dude I know
Once said hello 
When we first met
Some years ago.

This dude I know,
He is on the go.
His super-human strength
Makes big muscles grow.

This dude I know
Can beat any foe.
He's mighty and large
And he climbs like a pro.

This dude I know 
Will smiles bestow 
And flies through the sky
When the wind doth blow.

This dude I know
Can actually sew 
And will do it without
The smallest row.

This dude I know
Ain't no Joe Schmo
He's super manly
And way macho.

This dude I know
Would see an art show
If I wanted to see
A Vincent Van Gogh.

This dude I know
Will smile and glow
When he sees that there's
fresh cookie dough.

This dude I know 
Runs kinda slow
But his polevault rocks
Your hammer throw.

This dude I know 
Has a third whoa
That shatters my inner
Status quo.

This dude I know
Will always mow 
Our long, long grass
Unless there's snow.

This dude I know
Sings "Let It Glow"
With his daughter 
But deep and low.

This dude I know
Can wield a hoe
And dig a ditch
To let water flow.

This dude I know
Once had a fro.
But then he cut it
Cause I said so.

This dude I know
He is my beau.
He's wonderful,
My Jacob Grow



Friday, July 24, 2015

205. The Indian and the Wooden Spoon

Mama's stew is the best stew in the world. Nobody anywhere can make it better. It's perfect. I don't know what she puts in it but it's so yummy. In all my life I've never had anything better. And I'm five, and that's a long time. I've lived a lot of places, too, so I know what I'm talking about. Willy and George say that when we still lived in Illinois and Mama had her pretty bowls, the stew was even better! But these wooden ones that Papa made here in Utah let it be pretty good still. And I can't break these ones. I even dropped a whole stack of them yesterday. There were probably about a hundred of them. They went all over the house. Papa was a little mad, but not one of them broke. I told him they didn't break because he made them and he's the best, and then he didn't whup me. But Mama's stew is the best! That's why the Indians came today. Well, that's why the first one came. See, everyone in the valley knows about Mama's stew. And it's so yummy you can smell it all the way down at the Pratt's farm, I think. So when this Indian smelled Mama's stew he came right up to the house with his big horse. He was the most huge horse I've ever seen. And he just walked right in and told Mama to give him some stew. Not the horse, though. The horse stayed outside. He wasn't even tied to the post or anything. He just stood there and waited the whole time. But the Indian came in and told Mama to give him some stew. He was real mean and scary. I wasn't scared but Rudy and Hayworth wouldn't come out from under the bed. They're supposed to be watchdogs and keep Mama and me safe when the Indians come and Papa's in the field, but today they just hid. But I wasn't scared. And Mama wasn't scared neither. Mama's never scared. She just told that Indian no and kept on stirring the stew. Well, he didn't like that very much. He called Mama names and said all sorts of mean words that I would have got my mouth washed out for saying. He tried to push Mama out of the way so he could get some stew but she told him she wasn't going to feed anyone who was so rude. That made him so mad that he spit right into Mama's stew. That's disgusting. It takes a long time to make Mama's stew. One time I tried to help Mama make it. I put some spices in it just like Mama does, but I guess I put the wrong ones in cause she had to throw it away and by then it was too late to make more so we had to eat some old bread and apples for dinner instead. I got whupped for that one. So when that Indian spit in Mama's stew I knew he was in trouble. Mama doesn't usually get mad, but she got mad at that Indian. She took her wooden spoon and smacked that Indian's bottom so hard with it that it broke! I felt a little bit bad for him. I've been hit with that spoon a lot and it hurts a lot, but it's never broken before. Mama must have been swinging really hard to break it. Well he howled and cursed like he'd been kicked by a horse, but he finally left. He got up on his big horse and rode away. Mama sat down on her rocking chair and cried. Mama doesn't cry very often, so I knew she must've been really sad. I climbed up on her lap and hugged her and told her everything was going to be alright, just like she does when I'm sad. After a while we got up and I helped Mama get rid of the bad stew. I picked some carrots and potatoes and we started getting an easier, quicker dinner ready. I was pretty sad that we weren't going to have any stew. I love Mama's stew. Mama sat down to mend Papa's shirt and I was doing my letters when we heard a couple of horses outside. It was too early for Papa to be back and we weren't expecting the Carpenters until tomorrow. Mama told me to keep doing my letters and she went outside. I tried real hard to be obedient but when I heard the Indians talking in their other language I had to know what was going on, so I sneaked up to the door and watched from there. Mama had left it open a bit and I could see and hear everything. The mean Indian was back, but he'd brought his whole tribe with him. There were probably about fifty Indians with big horses and bows and arrows and feathers and leathers. And Mama just stood there alone with her arms folded across her chest like she wasn't scared of them even a little bit. Mama is the bravest woman I know. And then this old old old Indian got off of his horse and walked up to Mama. He was huge. Even bigger than Papa. But his hair was silver and his skin was all crinkly. He walked up to Mama and told her he was the chief of his tribe and asked her if it was true that she hit his warrior. He pointed to the mean Indian and the mean Indian spit at Mama again. Mama just said yes and kept right on staring at the big old Indian. He asked Mama why she hit him and Mama said it was because he had been disrespectful and rude and no one should be treated like that. I thought Mama was very brave for saying that. I think I would have lied and said I didn't do it. But then I would have been whupped for lying. Mama never lies. I thought the old Indian was going to get mad. I thought Mama was in trouble for sure. I prayed that Papa would come home early so Mama would be safe. But then the old Indian reached out his hand to Mama and said thank you. Mama shook his hand. He said thank you for teaching his warrior some manners. And then he apologized that the mean Indian was so mean. Then he said something in his other language and two woman Indians came up with two huge baskets of fruits and vegetables and gave them to Mama. The mean Indian said something and the old Indian said something back that made the mean one really angry. He turned his horse around and rode away real fast. Some of the other Indians rode away too, but a lot of them got off their horses and walked up to Mama and shook her hand or bowed to her and thanked her. Mama just stood there the whole time and didn't say much. Then they all got back on their horses and left, except the old Indian. He and Mama talked quietly for a long time. When Papa and the others came back from the field the old Indian was still there. He told Papa that Mama was a good woman and he was lucky to have her. I'm going to be just like Mama when I grow up.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

204. Dinner Time

Putty, patties, pickles, pops.
Log frogs, lemons, lollipops.
Turkey, fishtails, tater tots.
Little kids just their snot.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

203. Courage

Courage is closing your eyes and breathing.
Courage is shutting your mouth and not screaming. 
Courage is holding a tear or two back.
Courage is helping to pick up the slack.
Courage is bearing the weight of four.
Courage is continuing when you know there is more.
Courage is wearing all hats in one.
Courage is pushing until you are done.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

202. Time is Love

Time is gift
Time is a treasure
Time is a trap
Time is a pleasure

Love is a gift
Love is a treaure 
Love is a trap
Love is a pleasure

Time is love and love is time
Time to love and time to shine
Time to hold and time to try
Time is love for you and I

Monday, July 20, 2015

201. The Prince - eating buns.

Anger. Injustice. Pity. Loathing. Concern. Indignation. This is what I feel for Madame Eccles. I have not lived this story, and I feel betrayed by her. And yet I look at Ella and she shows no sign of this. She tells her story's matter-of-factly, without a trace of frustration. Her only sadness comes as she tells of her father's disappearance. This affects her but the rest? The rest she takes in stride. She finishes her story with a cheerful smirk and a shirt of her shoulders as if she has just shared a pitiful joke. 
The soldiering side in me wants nothing more than to ride to Eccles Estate and drag the woman before my father's court for her abuse of her husband's daughter. But I know that a good ruler does not act on emotions. Especially rage. Rage is dangerous. Rage destroys unjustly. Rage has no place in a king's heart. And I know I must act as a king. It will be my burden soon. 
I wait until my anger has subsided and I can trust myself to speak calmly. It is far longer than is polite, but Ella is patient. I know my emotions are plain on my face. I can see her look that she understands.  We walk into a courtyard. Shops encircle a small fountain. We sit on the small ledge, and still I cannot speak. She squeezes my hand gently and then releases it. 
I watch her disappear into a bakery. She was the child I remembered seeing at Eccles Estate the day we began our search. That was her last day as mistress of her own home. 
I think back on all I have heard of Sir Eccles daughter since that time. It was said that she went mad after her father died. Mad with grief. She would see no one and no one tried to force her. I should have. I should have demanded that Madame Eccles let me in to see her. But why? I had no reason to doubt her word. Madame Eccles is a well-bred lady. I do not know her well, but I know her face. She attends court. Her two daughters have been presented. Why should I have doubted her word? To my knowledge, the mad child which was rarely spoken of was her own. But what purpose could she have for humiliating Ella in this way? And why now did she allow Ella to attend the balls? What is Madame Eccles playing at? And why has she so cruelly used Ella? 
She returns and sits at my side, handing me a large crossed bun. She bites cheerfully into her own. "Eat," she demands playfully. I can only stare at her in amazement. "It has been a long morning," she says. "You must be starving. If your day is anything like mine, you haven't had anything to eat for hours."
I simply shake my head in disbelief at her obtaining smile. "My day is nothing like yours. And yet, it should be. You were born into a life far above your current station. You deserve better."
She shrugs her shoulders again and swallows another mouthful of her bun. The icing begins to drop down my fingers  and I take a bite of my own. She is right. In the excitement of finding her, discovering Lady Denise's injury, and learning Ella's history, I haven't realized how hungry I am. My mother would scold me if she could see how quickly and ungraciously I devour the roll.
"I deserve nothing," she says after finishing her bread. She licks the tips of her fingers, clearly relishing the last tastes of the icing. "My mother was a lady, but that does not mean that I deserve any more than the daughter of this baker." She gestures to a girl in the window who is arranging a display of cakes. "She is a person of value. She has a loving heart. She finds humor in her life. She knows her father's trade. Why should I deserve an easier life or prettier gowns than her? Just because I was born to wealthy parents?"
I blink. I swallow. "Your father was a brilliant man whose mind brought him his wealth. He provided invaluable services to the king. Has this baker?"
"He provided cakes and truffles, rolls and breads to your balls this week. His daughter was unable to attend because she was needed here to help him. Is that not an invaluable service? Is that not a sacrifice for her king?"
She is comparing her father, one of the most intelligent and well-read minds of our kingdom to a baker? "You cannot say that this baker is the equal of your father."
"Why not?" She looks me straight in the eyes. There is no irony or playfulness in her voice now, and I realize she is serious. She truly sees them as equal. 
"Because," I begin slowly, trying to frame my words carefully, "though they both serve their king, they provide different levels of service. This baker is a tradesman. He provided goods. Your father provided guidance, knowledge. That kind of service is more valuable."
She screws up her nose a little before responding. "But this baker provides exactly what he can. He uses all of his knowledge to help the king. My father used all of his knowledge to help the king. In that, they are equal. It is only a matter of opportunity that separates them. This baker and his daughter are as loyal to the king as my father and I ever have been. How then are we any more deserving than they?" She takes the same tone I have heard before in our previous conversations. She is defensive and a little cross at me. 
"How do you do it?" I ask. Her expression clears and turns to confusion. "How do you see so much and care so much for everybody? Madame Eccles and her daughters have treated you so pooy and yet you still love them as if they were your family. You have lost so much and yet you care more for the misfortunes of others than you do your own. How do you do it?"
She smiles at me and shrugs her beautiful shoulders again. "I am fed, I am clothed, and I am sheltered. The rest will come when it can."
I cannot let her go. She is perfection for me.
"Please, Ella. Let me be the rest."

Sunday, July 19, 2015

200. "I Will Fight Goliath"

"I will fight Goliath!" 
Was heard around the camp,
And little Dave appeared, 
But he was just a scamp.
We laughed and scoffed and ridiculed. We all thought he was mad.
But then he went and took his sling,
The silly little lad.

"I will fight Goliath!"
He shouted once again.
"I will fight and kill this man
Who threatens all my kin."
Goliath roared and charged at him,
But David took a stand.
He stepped right up with feet held firm,
A stone held in his hand.

"I will fight Goliath!"
The shout was heard around.
He put the stone into his sling
And swung it round and round.
He let it go, the stone went far.
It flew across the sky,
And hit Goliath in the head.
He fell without a cry.

"I will fight Goliath!" 
He'd said with bolded voice.
He trusted in the mighty God.
He knew it was his choice.
He followed what the scriptures taught.
He did just what he should.
The Lord protected Israel,
Just like he said he would.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

199. Four Sisters

Four sisters sat in a room. 
Cinderella, and Snow White fought for the broom.
Rapunzel and Beauty, both locked in a tower,
Were lovely and tender, and nice as a flower. 
The four sisters whistled, their fingers were strumming
Guitars and harps golden. Their princes were coming. 
They saw them approaching upon their white steeds
And watched as they stopped to do some good deeds. 
And while they waited they sang a sweet song,
And because they were princesses, the notes were not wrong. 
Snow White and Rapunzel had witches who want them.
Cinderella and Beauty had fairies to help them.
They waited and waited and waited some more
And soon found that waiting was a tremendous bore.
And so they decided to wait no more.
They packed up their bags and they walked out the door.
They went on adventures and had lots of fun. 
And that's how they realized their lives they had won. 

Friday, July 17, 2015

198. Seven Kids

Seven kids is quite a lot.
Seven kids can make home hot.
Seven kids go trippity trot.
Seven kids is what I've got.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

197. Super Flight

Superman, super flight
Flying through the air at night
Come to save the world tonight
Choose between what's black and white.


Wednesday, July 15, 2015

196. The Prince - The Maid of Eccles Estate

"How is that possible?" I blurt. How rude of me. But this revelation doesn't make sense. I try to recover from my blunder. "I'm sorry. I am sure you know your heritage better than I do. I don't understand." Her cheeks have reddened with blush. Is she angry? Embarrassed? "Please," I say, hesitantly. I don't want her to think me unfeeling. She means too much already. "Please, tell me about your family. How did you, the daughter of Sir Eccles, come to serve Lady Denise?"
"It's not just Denise I serve. It's the whole house. I wait on Denise, Muriel, and Madame, but I keep the house, too. There is a cook and a few menservants to keep the animals and the carriages, but the rest is me. It's been that way since father left." 
She tucks a loose hair behind her ear. Her voice is sad, but not angry. How she isn't angry, I cannot imagine. I am angry for her, but I try to match her temper and keep it hidden. "That must be exhausting," I offer. "We have dozens of servants who work the household." 
She laughs, a joyful sound for this sad subject. "Yes, but your home is considerably larger than mine, and houses far more people than mine. Madame does not entertain at the estate. I don't know why, but she never has visitors anymore. Only her solicitor, really. She pays visits to others, but no one comes to us. So there is less work than you would think. Still, it is busy."
I don't know what to say in response, so I remain silent and let her continue her story. 
"Father married Madame when I was twelve. He said I needed a mother to teach me about being a woman. He meant well. It was wonderful at first. I had sisters. It was nice before that. Father and I spent all our time together. He taught me so much. He took me with him when he went exploring, and every time he brought a new book home we would read it together. But having sisters was marvelous. They understood me in ways Father couldn't, even though he tried. Denise and I would dance and play all day. Even Muriel would join in when Madame wasn't around. When she was, Muriel would try to act properly, but Denise and I would always make her laugh."
The only laugh I have ever heard from Lady Muriel was a forced flirtation. I try to imagine the playfulness as Ella describes it, but the images jar in my mind. Ella, I can see. Lady Denise, even, I can picture having fun. But Lady Muriel is too much for me. 
"Once Father remarried, I stopped traveling with him. He took Madame once, but she never went again. Their marriage was not a happy one. They pretended thy were happy in front of us or when there was company or we were in town, but I knew Father was unhappy. His eyes lost their smile and his trips became longer with less time at home between them. And then one trip he just didn't come back. The day the king sent out a search party for him was my last day as a mistress of Eccles Estate. I was present for the guards' meeting with Madame, and then I was taken inside, given some old clothes of one of the other maids, and sent to the kitchens. When I tried to go to bed that night, I was told I no longer belonged with the family. I worked with the other maids for a few months, but eventually they were all sent away." She sighs and looks up at me with a smile. A smile. She tells me this story of her humiliation with no trace of bitterness or resentment. And here I am, ready to burst with anger at Lady Eccles. How could she have done this to my sweet, innocent Ella? 
"And that's how I became the maid of Eccles Estate," she finishes simply.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Monday, July 13, 2015

194. The Prince- Nervous

Ella is silent again. She must be worried about Lady Denise. I do not want to disturb her thoughts with nervous prattling so I keep quiet as well. Nervous. It is a strange sensation to me. 
I have no doubts that she would be a great queen. The people would love her. She is knowledgable about much of the world and would be eager to learn what she didn't know. She is kind, caring, compassionate. And yet I am nervous. Would she be happy? Would she want to be a queen. It is such a different life than that of a servant. And yet even that would help her be a great queen. She would see details I could never think of because I do not know the lives of so many of my subjects. 
My thoughts are broken by her sweet voice. "Edmond, do you know what happened to Sir Eccles? Madame has never spoken of it to me. There was a time after he disappeared when her solicitor visited frequently and there were many messages passed between them, but I never learned of their content. Was he ever found?"
I am surprised by her questions. I would have thought all the servants would know. "Several months after he disappeared, a man came into town in Sir Eccles' carriage. One of the townspeople recognized it and sent word to my father's guard."
"The carriage was sold to him by a man in Frendal. Alfred was part of the guard that my father sent to inquire. The man who sold it led them to a physician in a nearby town. The physician had tended Sir Eccles after he was found on the roadside. He had been robbed and badly wounded." A tear falls down her cheek. I want to comfort her, but I don't know what to say. Nervous and awkward. What would Father say? 
Another tear falls. "He is dead, then?" She asks and I silently nod. I don't know what else to do. She sighs and wipes another tear from her eye. "I knew he must be," she continues. "When he didn't return...and then Madame changed. I knew. I just kept hoping he would somehow come back."
"He was a good man," I respond lamely. I am still surprised that this is new information to her. I cannot fathom how or why the family would keep the master's death from the servants. It was common knowledge in the town. I attended the memorial service with my father. 
"Your lady never said anything?" I finally asked, perplexed. "Wasn't she upset at the death of her father? Didn't she cry? Throw a fit? Do whatever it is young girls do when they lose a parent?"
"I wasn't serving Denise then. Things were a bit different. And no, she wouldn't have. Sir Eccles wasn't Denise's father, Edmond. He was mine."

Sunday, July 12, 2015

193. Come, Follow Me

My Savior, Lord, from Galilee,
Was born among the ox and flea.
A shining star led wisemen three,
And spake to them: "Come, Follow Me."

My Savior, Lord, from Galilee,
He came to set our spirits free.
And as he helped the people see,
He said these words: "Come, Follow Me."

My Savior, Lord, from Galilee,
Was lifted up for all to see
Upon a cross so painfully.
The people heard, "Come, Follow Me."

My Savior, Lord, from Galilee,
Rose upon again in great glory.
His resurrected self to see,
He called to them, "Come, Follow Me."

My Savior, Lord, from Galilee,
I'll serve thee always, faithfully.
I'll answer when you call to me.
I love thee, Lord. I'll Follow Thee.

Saturday, July 11, 2015

192. Banana Tree

1. 2. 3. 
Banana tree.
Bananas squish
Bananas free.

Slip and slide
And groove and glide
1. 2. 3.
Banana tree.

Bananas bananas
Yellow and slim
Hang in the tree 
From limb to limb

Slip and slide
And groove and glide
1. 2. 3.
Banana tree.

A-jiggin' and a-joggin'
A-wigglin' and a wogglin'
Shaking and snaking
Bubbling and baking.

Slip and slide
And groove and glide
1. 2. 3.
Banana tree.

Friday, July 10, 2015

191. Diseased

"Hand, Foot, and Mouth"
That's what the doctor said
"That's why he's hot and mean,
That's why those bumps are red."

"But he's been home with me,"
I jumped right in and said.
"No one's been around,
Our house is like the dead."

But somehow my poor boy
Had got quite infected
And now he's got these bumps
From toe up to his head.

I wondered how he got it.
Could it be in his bed?
Could he have got it from
The mud back in the shed?

But now I do not wonder.
I caught him flaming red.
He didn't eat his dinner.
He ate his poop instead.

It happened in the bathtub.
It wasn't that widespread.
But now there is no question.
My little boy's diseased.


Thursday, July 9, 2015

190. Mating Day At The Pond

The constant quacking is what first drew my attention. One long continuous stream of agitated quacking. It just kept coming. Non-stop quacking. Quack quack quack quack quack. At first I was too far away to see where it was coming from, but as we got closer, I saw the big tan duck waddling next to the house. It just kept quacking. Like it didn't need to pause even to breath. It disappeared behind a bush just as a smaller, darker duck came into view. He quickly disappeared after her, but the quacking continued. Soon the bush started moving, and I could make out the progress of the pair by the dancing of the leaves. He was gaining on her. She made it to the far side of the bushes alone, but she only had a few seconds of freedom before the male burst out behind her. She gave one final quack of defiance before he caught her and mounted her. Then she sat down. 
I looked across the pond, and saw two more tans, darker than this one, leading a pack of five crowding males. I'm not sure which males won, or if they all took their turn. 
All the while, quacking rang around the pond.
It's mating day.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

189. Sick

When kids get sick 
They get to stick
Around in bed
And rest their head

When moms get sick
No little trick
Will get her booty
Out of diaper duty

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

188. You're the Mom

Tea time
Rest time
In between time
Nothing stops when you're the mom

Play time
Sleep time
Have-to-pee time
They need you, cause you're the mom

Monday, July 6, 2015

187. A Giggle, A Bonk, and A Song

Thomas giggles as he zooms down the stairs, his belly bumping each step as he slides. Janey chases after him, "Go, Thomas. Go!" Laughing, she jumps the final step. I descend at a much milder pace, exhausted from days of being ill. They reach the bottom and are out of sight before I found the turn of the staircase. It's not long before I hear the inevitable smack of baby skull against furniture. Learning to walk is hard enough without your three-year-old sister pulling you along at her accelerated pace. Thomas cries as I expect. This thunk was harder than usual. I pick up my speed, but I am not fast enough to be the hero this time. I am serenaded (if you're a mother of more than one you understand why I choose this word) by Janey's words. "Oh, no, Thomas. Thomas broke (Janey-speak for bonked) his head. It's okay, Thomas." I hear her giving him kisses and round the last corner in time to see her hugging his head. Thomas stops crying and gives his rescuer the smile she deserves. "Are you okay?" She asks. He responds with his monosyllabic word-for-all-words, "Ah." Janey waits for Thomas to right himself, grabs his hand, and slowly (impressively slowly for my energetic daughter) leads him to his favorite ball. I'm pretty sure the angels are singing.

Sunday, July 5, 2015

186. Father with thy power great

Father, with thy power great,
Help me, heal me, think of me.
Take this body, remove hate,
My life is thine. My soul for thee.

Father with thy power great,
Bless my life. I can't do all.
Guide me, for my life's not fate.
Help me so I do not fall.

Father with thy power great
Help my children go through life.
Watch them through their great debate.
Guide them through their times of strife.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

185. Our Flag

Stripes of white and stripes of red.
Honor soldiers now long dead.
Stars of white on a field of blue.
To our country we are true.
Wave the flag up high today.
Freedom stands. It paves the way.

Friday, July 3, 2015

184. I Scream

I scream in the car because I can
I've screamed in the car since we began.
I scream and I scream the whole ride long.
I scream and I scream from dusk til dawn.
I scream with Teddy. I scream with my toy.
I scream with anger. I scream with joy.
I scream and I scream the whole ride long.
I scream and I scream from dusk til dawn.

Thursday, July 2, 2015

183. Alamo

American heroes 
Lost that day
All for a cause
Men, women, children
One star is free

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

182. Bats and Boats

Bats and boats and bugs galore.
Cats and coats and crunchy gore.
Fats and floats and flaming s'more.
I hate camping. Don't want more.