A Love Note

Jeanne 1 Comment

I found this poem that Bob wrote for me years ago. I thought it was really cute and appropriate since Valentine’s Day is almost upon us. Bob is a great one to always compliment me, and never to ‘put me down’!

What is my mate to me?
Someone to tell my troubles to,
Someone to care for me when ill,
Someone to organize my bills,
Someone to help me see myself,
Someone to love me for myself,
Someone to cook me meals so fine,
Someone to laugh with all the time,
Someone to hug and kiss a lot,
Someone, and that’s the one I’ve got,
Someone to pray with every day,
Someone that needs me all the way,
Someone to grow through life to be
One in God’s eternity.

Thank you Bob, you’re a keeper!

Words

Jeanne 1 Comment

Words will chosen can heal a troubled mind.
Words spoke in anger can hurt, maim, or blind.
I’ll choose my words in prayerful thought,
Through all life’s troubled sea.
Kind words can lead a soul to love,
Through hate’s insanity.
Kind words can change illusions
To be both warm and free.
The soul who masters words, my friend,
Will taste tranquility.

A New Year

Jeanne 2 Comments

On January 1st, I’m usually thinking of how I ought to improve myself. Well, today I feel sad and concerned for a number of individuals in my neighborhood who have serious health problems right now. One dear sweet young lady died last night. another lingers on the brink. Another young lady continues a valiant battle with cancer. Another friend is recovering from a serious accident that will take months to recover from. There’s a heart problem, a shoulder problem, and bowel problems. And so I’m feeling sad today and turned to a journal entry on Memorial Day that expresses my sadness, but also opens the windows of sunshine. I’d like to share it with you. It is written about my Dad.

“I visited your grave today…green grass, the monument, your name, the dates–reminders of a time when you were here. I can visualize your face, and hear your voice. I remember many things: places, holidays, road trips, meals, good times and bad times. I feel the emptiness of your absence and the sadness in it’s wake.

The pain and loss, I think, would be too much to bear, if I thought at all that you yourself really lay beneath the ground. But, no, I do not feel, in fact, indeed, I know, you still live on, the very same, just beyond somewhere. I do not need to see or hear, or even know the place. I only know you live again and we will be together–another place, another time.

I am consoled. I feel hope and rejoice in the reality of a plan that allows me the chance to associate with those I love so much forever, only to be tested with a brief separation that we call death, but is, in reality, just a mysterious journey to an unknown land.

I will not disappoint you. I will not waste time pining about the past and let your absence disable me. I know you would want me to care for others like you cared for us, and to create an existence with an abundance of love and laughter, hope and good things. And so I will revel in the associations I have now. Each minute, each encounter and event is a sacred opportunity and chance to feel and share love, like you gave to me, with those I love her and now.

So Memorial Day means to remember all those whose graves we visit, and to honor them by building timeless, loving memories with my special family I am so fortunate to share my time and space with.

The Christmas Tree

Jeanne 1 Comment

Our Christmas tree has become quite legendary. It’s truly one-of-a-kind with more than 200 elephants hanging, or sitting on the branches! We call it ‘The Elephant Tree’. It is on a rotating base so that we can view all the ornaments that surround the tree. If there is an ornament on the tree that is not an elephant, it has some special significance: a vacation, a beloved memory, etc. Such as, The Goose (pictured below) that Bob’s Mom made, but was not found until after her death. We also have a Christmas village of ceramic houses we painted. One of the painted village represents the old Burgoyne Store that our ancestors operated in Montpelier, Idaho. We put our own words to the familiar song, ‘O Christmas Tree’, reminding us of the decorations in our home. Christmas is a great time of remembering as we honor family traditions. What are some of the things you do?

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree, you turn so very magically!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree, your ornaments are lovely!
They tell of things we’ve done before, of memories that we adore,
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree, All blessings spin before us.
With elephants both great and small; round and fat, and thin and tall.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree, the pachyderms are ruling.
The bubble lights go flowing by, as rainbow stars delight our eyes.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, We love your laden branches.
Dear Mother made the goose we found, we think of her each time around.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree, with ornaments made lovingly.
The village lights glow warmly; Burgoyne Store to Christmas tree,
Above the town the nighttime sky has stars that shine so brightly.
The fireplace shows Nativity of Jesus Christ born humbly,
With shepherds and the wise men too, worshiping with me and you.

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Thank You

Jeanne 1 Comment

This is a post-Thanksgiving poem to remind us that it is always appropriate to be thankful. Today I’m thankful that it is snowing and I don’t have to drive to work.

Thank you God for everything
For mountains high, for rivers that sing
For oceans wide with endless sky
For mammals, fish and birds that sing and cry.

Thank you God for family
For grand kids, sweet, where joy runs free
For each child and married spouse
For foods to eat and a cool warm house.

For a wife that cares and honors me
For time to enjoy our family
For vacations amid the cares of life
For trials to share in toil and strife.

Thank you God for thy pure Son
Who gave his all for everyone
Who lived and died that we might see
How we can grow both pure and free.

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Praise the Lord

Jeanne Leave a comment

Why is it that the fall colors: red, yellow, orange, brown….make us feel peaceful and grateful? Tradition is strong. Memories of sitting around the Thanksgiving table with family are powerful, and I am led to give thanks for family, past and present. Another year of peace and plenty. How truly blessed we are. May our thoughts, hearts, and help be turned to those who are in want; the numberless masses without shelter, or food, or even family.

Praise the Lord with heart and mind, by what we say and do.
Thank the Lord for everything we see and know that’s true.
Each day we live, each trial we face; in peace and also war,
The more we praise our Lord and King, the more our joy will soar.

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Do Our Best

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Last week, family events pressed upon me at a greater intensity. Bob and Aaron were disagreeing about how to sell Aaron’s house. I was stuck in the middle. Bob expounded all the things that can ever go wrong in life, and expressed that they probably would. I decided that I can no longer let these troubles inside my heart where they produce enough anxiety and fear to immobilize me. I can no longer react in the best ways. I feel like a spectator wringing my hands!

So, I chose to put problems, worries, negative thoughts, and all other things included in that group….to put them out at arm’s distance, where I can see them, but they can’t ‘get to me’. I thought of putting myself in a bubble. Within the bubble would be happy things, or the ability to see good in what is happening now. It’s a pleasant place because I choose to make it so. I smile. I breathe deeply, and I feel safe. I can build this bubble with prayer, music, service, thankfulness, scriptures, etc. Do you think it worked? Ya, it did. I was able to deal with problems and move on. I let only what I chose into my ‘bubble’.

Last night I was listening to an interview with the LDS songwriter/singer, Hilary Weeks. She said the same thing in her way. She said when she counted her negative thoughts she became depressed, but if she switched and counted the positive ones, she felt peaceful. So, there you go..just a little ‘tweak’ makes all the difference in the world.

So, I’m thinking, “Lord, I’ve learned a lesson. Could you just take away some of the problems in the first place?” Ha.

Do Our Best

Do our best in all we do; that is all our Father asks.
At work, at play, stay firm and true to all life’s varied tasks.
When we slip and sin, we cheat ourselves in many different ways.
Don’t build our house upon the sand. Repent and forgive each day.

God gives us weakness to humble us. This helps us turn to Him.
If we do, weakness fades, for with Christ we start to win.
If we learn and serve our Lord in truth, Christ lights our darkened way.
The more we search and understand our sweet Lord, the more we want to obey.

See 2 Corinthians chapter 4 about being troubled on every side, but not distressed.

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Two Worn Out Shoes

Jeanne 1 Comment

Well, from the number of comments we’ve received, I assume that no one is reading. If I’m wrong, please send a comment. Hello, out there? Anyway, I’ve been thinking about how nice it is to have a buddy. Bob is my buddy. I found this poem I penned about 10 years ago. Read it and tell me about your buddy.

You and me, two worn out shoes
Treks and trips, we’ve had a few,
And when times come I need to choose,
Above all else, I choose you.

High fashion never was our lot.
We scrimped and saved and never bought
The things most other people sought.
Yet we were rich, or so we thought.

We worked and sweat to build a home.
Your Uncle Bob–Farm Home Loan.
Year after year, stone upon stone,
A place where all would love to come.

Memories along the way
Explored new roads day after day.
Some places near, some far away.
We made good times at each new stay.

Our lives, they changed once Aaron came.
New days ahead, and yet the same.
Then Val and Eve joined in the game.
Each brought us joy and also pain.

From coast to coast, across the land
You’ve basked with me in forests grand.
And walked along the shores of sand.
In heaven too, you’ll have my hand!

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Waiting is an Art

Jeanne Leave a comment

I so often get over-scheduled. Some days there is just no way to finish the list, so I try to go fast and push myself. Mostly, I do not enjoy what I’m doing. I’m just hoping that someday it will all slow down, so I can too. Then I get impatient, because, others, of coarse, aren’t doing stuff as important as I am. Waiting becomes really unbearable…waiting for traffic lights, waiting for people to finish their sentences and ideas, waiting in a grocery line…the list goes on and on. Do you feel pushed like this too? It’s been a busy week. My posts have been sporadic over the last few weeks, I know. Does anybody really read this? Hello, out there! I’d love your comments, more than you’ll ever know.

Waiting is an art, you know,
Some do it fast, some do it slow.
Some wait in silent, thoughtful bliss,
Some hate each moment, life slows their test.
At such a time, how do you go?
In frustration, or patience flow?

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