I'll Do My Best

Me on the Anasazi Trail
In Shivwitz, UT

I go, I went, I go, I say

Do please come back another day.

I go, I went, I go, I say

I cannot handle this today.

I flutter here, I flutter there,

I wish that I could stay somewhere.

I flit, I fly, I touch the sky.

This really is too much to bear.

I stop myself, I stop and stand

I take a breath and look around.

I stop, I breathe, where did I land?

Are my feet firmly on the ground?

I'm in control, it must be true

My life is up to me not you.

So why the flutter, why be blue?

I've found the key.  I think it's true.

I need not rush to here or there.

I need not do it all right now.

I must remember and be fair

To me, and you, and this is how.

I'll do the best I can today.

I'll do my best and rest a while.

Your needs and mine I won't delay.

I'll try to meet them with a smile.

But all the while I won't forget

That we are humans with error.

I'll quick forgive myself and let

Me try again to reach splendor.

I am not perfect yet I know.

I'll stop expecting us to be.

We'll travel just as fast or slow

As we are able to, you'll see.

If we keep trying we will get

To heights that yet we have not known.

And we will help some others yet,

To reach with us our heavenly home.

The World is a Garden

A blast from the past.  My Garden in 2015.  I do miss it!

The World is a Garden

The world is a Garden, a Garden of people

Who live and who die through all ages and time.

Mothers and fathers take care of the garden

For they are the gard'ners, their call is divine.

A few of these gard'ners work hard in their gardens,

They strengthen their charges in numerous ways.

They pull out the weeds and they tie up to stakes,

Helping them get through those treacherous days.

There are other gard'ners that are a bit careless,

They think it won't hurt to let a few things go;

They let a few weeks in and leave out the stakes,

Not knowing just how hard the mighty winds blow.

There's a kind of gard'ner that's worse than the rest.

They do not care what to the garden befalls;

They might even step on things without thinking.

The garden is without protection at all.

The ones in the garden have many decisions.

There are many things that they cannot control.

The weather comes in, there are often bad storms;

The gard'ner has a very serious role.

There are some in the garden that even with care

Were just simply not meant to always live there.

But while in the garden, the gard'ners in charge.

The good ones are those that are always aware.

For gard'ners must be aware of all of their charges,

The needs that come daily and have to be met.

They must be aware of the daily changes,

They must take good care, they must never forget.

There are those in the garden given every care

Who still will grow wild and grow crookedly up.

Some of them may lie down and reject all help.

Good gardn'ers still care, they just never give up.

Being a good gard'ner is not always easy,

But it can bring rewards for us just the same.

For though gard'ners cannot take credit for all

They feel pride and joy if their garden is tame.

The world is a garden, a garden of people

Who live and who die through all ages and time.

Mothers and fathers take care of the garden

For they are the gard'ners, their call is divine.

**Written sometime between 1993 and 1995

When

Photo by Marc Wieland on Unsplash

When the clouds are low and threatening

And the sky is far from blue

When the winds and waves rush in at me

When my thoughts are a dark hue

When the world is rough and echoing

And the time is rushing by

When the sky seems to fall in on me

Then I hang my head and cry

That cry is heard on a distant plane

It's heard by the One who knows

That when elements are really harsh

And the mighty wind it blows

Then at that time when our needs are great

When beaten at every side

We open our ears and listen for

The help that will turn the tide

And the One who understands our call

Who has felt it all before

Sends comfort and knowledge to help out

As He's done for many more

A Little Glimpse of Light

 

Photo by Ankhesenamun on Unsplash

Moving, always moving, trying to catch up with self

Ever hoping to be better, Ever hoping for some help

When at times I feel surrounded, by a thousand things to do

Then I close my eyes and ponder, wondering what is best for you.

Then, of course, just for good measure, I will wonder something else

Is it best for me AND for you, should I think about myself?

Time is funny, life is funny, everything is in a way

Everything has so many sides to consider in one day.

How can we hope to be happy, with the world crowding in?

Just too many things to worry, far too many ways to sin.

Then we stop just for a moment everything seems very clear

And we understand exactly why and what we're doing here.

We wish the vision would last, that we could hold it in our hand

But that is not the way life works--this we should understand.

So every day we go and go and wonder where to turn,

And all the time for peace and certain knowledge we do yearn.

Prayer gives us just the means to find that little glimpse of light

That lets us know just whether we are moving in the right.

Direction, oh direction we must take and give each day

From our Father to our children guiding them in the right way.

So though life is very hectic, we don't always smile with ease

We can for sure remember life's not meant to be a breeze.

Though it is not always easy, we can find some happiness.

Life is difficult as ever but through prayer with peace we're blessed.

I'm Lucky

Photo by Dustin Humes on Unsplash

I'm Lucky

Some people think if they need luck

They'd better find a four leaf clover.

But I think if they need some luck

They ought to call me over!

I have to think I'm lucky

I have some proof you'll see!

For almost every time I smile

Someone smiles back at me!

I'm sure that I am lucky

It is the honest truth

While walking on a house or two

I've never fallen off the roof!

Now I've been sick a few times

But that's no cause for doubt.

I've always gotten well you know

Which should give me some clout.

And though I've fallen down some

And been yelled at on the phone,

I also have been given hugs

And I never broke a bone!

I've got lots of proof I'm lucky.

I cannot share it all!

But if luck was measured up in height,

I would be really tall!

So if you think that you need luck

Don't look for a four leaf clover;

It's better to give me a call

And I will run right over! 

A Yazamazoo Birthday Poem

Photo by Storiès on Unsplash

There once was a yazamazoo 

Who was a little like you

Oh -- not the orange hair, or the spots

It was the personality -- it was just tops!

This yazamazoo liked to smile at me.

I had to smile too -- it was catching you see.

The yazamazoo also liked to chat.

I liked to too, can you imagine that!

And sometimes when faced with a little distress

This yazamazoo would (you'll never guess).

The yazamazoo would cry just a bit

But quickly recover (stiff upper lip!).

This yazamazoo was the caring sort

It showed in its face (if you ignored the wart).

And when really tired -- too tired to be glad

This yazamazoo would sometimes get -- MAD!

I liked this about the yazamazoo

Because sometimes I'm tired -- and I get mad too!

This yazamazoo was graceful most days.

It reminds me of you in so many ways!

So this is why though its looks aren't the same,

I could almost mistake and call Yaz by your name!

Imperfections

 This is labeled The true story of my day on Monday the 5th)  This was December 5th, 2011

The picture was taken in 2012, A year and a little bit after I wrote this poem.
Look how cute everyone is!

Imperfections

Today I found that I'd forgotten

Where I put my keys.

I looked and looked

And then I even crawled upon my knees.

I couldn't find them anywhere

And my frustrations grew.

I'd looked and looked,

I needed keys.

What else was I to do?

And then in one desperate attempt,

I bent down on one knee,

And there they were

Tucked carefully

Beneath the Christmas tree!

My list of things that I should do

Was lost there with the keys.

And I had to go without it

Out in the cold and freeze.

I headed to the bank,

Where the words that one man said,

Filled me with a feeling

That can only be called dread.

He said property taxes, had really done him in.

I knew at once that I forgot to pay our tax on time.

And I also knew at once that the fault for this was mine!

So trying not to panic

I did the grocery shopping,

Then headed home as quickly as I could

With not much stopping.

And wrote the checks for taxes

And put them in the mail,

Hoping they'd get to the treasurer

Without fail.

After paying taxes and eating lunch

I took the garbage out,

And the thing that happened next

Really made me want to pout.

I threw the garbage in the can and pulled the big can up,

And that is when, around the corner,

Came the garbage truck.

I realized I had pulled the can

Back to the house still full,

But I couldn't get it back to the curb.

I think my brain is dull!

I knew the can felt heavier

Than one trash bag should make it.

But the garbage man never comes so late!

I almost couldn't take it.

So my imperfections plagued me

All throughout the day,

But it's Christmas time

And the Savior came to help me on my way.

And one day through his help

After many years have passed

I'll find my imperfections are

A thing of the distant past.

**(I kind of think imperfections will plague me into the next life

but Jesus doesn't expect anything different)

Loving Angel

 

Photo by Christophe Van der waals on Unsplash
The person I wrote this poem for does not have wings,
but I imagine that she would enjoy being able to fly around!
I know it sounds fun to me!

Loving Angel

There is a loving angel

That is a friend to me.

She listens to me kindly,

And she helps me to see,

The good that is in every day,

The sunshine through the rain,

The joy that's after sorrow,

And the patience that comes through pain.

She is the kind of angel

That people long to have,

The kind that lifts your spirits,

And helps you to feel glad.

She is a loving Angel,

And she's a friend of mine.

And simply thinking of her

Makes me smile every time!

I love my loving Angel,

And hope she will feel joy

As she celebrates the birth

Of a special baby boy.

Jesus became our Savior,

And helps us every day,

He sent me my own angel,

Who helps me along my way.

A Thankful Heart

 Written 12-2003, Revised 4-2008

Photo by Courtney Hedger on Unsplash

A Thankful Heart

Finding in us a Thankful heart

Is sometimes hard to do.

But it shouldn't be for me

And it shouldn't be for you.

For every day that we have life

Is a gift from heav'n above;

A chance to breathe, and smile and laugh.

And a chance to care and love.

It is a chance to see a smile

And to see the beauty near.

It is a chance to think and feel,

And possibly to hear--

The voice of someone dear to you

Or the music of a song,

The gentle breeze that ambles by,

The rain that comes along.

We can look at plants and flowers

Or mountains big and tall.

We can look at fields of green,

They're God's creations all.

The trees might seem to touch the cloud

That you see drifting by

As you look at the wonders

To be found up in the sky.

So think of all the good gifts

That God has given to you,

And have a Thankful heart

Every day in all you do.