2nd to last Post

Stan here:

Sad to say that it is time to close down this blog. Several people at the service asked if this poem could be on the blog so following is that poem.   In  a day or so I am going to post one more time with some reflection and thank you's.  Even though  very sad, our family learned a lot through this entire journey and I thought after this I might pass on a few thoughts that may be of help in the event that any of you are called on to face events like this of similar nature.

A poem for this Day and Something I want to Say.

It was about 44 years ago that a ship started to sail

In the hold were a few cents and a desire to never fail

On the mast was a man in a basket with a telescope

All relationships should start with this level of hope

A wedding, a party, and soon the study of nursing

A test, a quest and medical issues rehearsing

A passage to adult life and the pursuit of a medical careers

A bill or two from the Harper School that left us in arrears

A love for the piano and the ability to make it ring

A happy smile when she could hear that ring and sing

Of every note she sang and played over all her 60 years

Of every trip she took to far corners with no fears

Of every friend she met that were captured by her smile

Of every time she had to hold her happiness if even for a while

Of every time she played a sport like golfing with her dad

Of every time she told me she that her dad made her glad

In this regard a shift to a honoring her father and her mother

In so doing a deep feeling for her sister and two brothers

In fact to tell the truth a love for most all people she met

In so doing a return feeling from them, no lie, good bet

Kinda happens to all who hold high the right values in life

Kinda helps to always worship and hold high the virtues of a fine wife.

When life starts together you never sense a dark spot on the lens

At this juncture I must share something with all of our friends

Trouble entered our scene some 35 years ago

Full term infant deaths, pain deeper than you can know.

The telescope of life though, remained focused on the hope

That her future held a within its boundary the power of her hope

That has included the birth of two boys and a daughter

Gathered in to her arms as a gift her God brought her

Treasured in a way that was enhanced by the trouble

And followed by a love that I think was at least double.

In 2012 on a trip to a reunion

A moment occurred that caused great confusion.

"Something is wrong with my dress it does not fit

I have pain when I stand I have pain when I sit."

And so started a journey of courage and endurance

A life that was guided by the Lords assurance

A life that was blessed with 4 years of making each day right

A life that was witness to how to live a really strong fight.

A ship now arrives at an undesired destination

A family now tries to find some explanation

A thinker knows though of something that can be sure.

A God we serve in the end will make it pure

Let us all go forth with this level of hope

Let this life show large in every telescope.

Let it bask in the glow of new found eternity

Let us be assured of this with God granted certainty 

I must share with you that this poem was hard for me to read at the funeral.  But it was not near as hard to read it to you guys as it was to Deb several weeks ago. It was the first time however that she said I could read it without chopping out a verse someplace.  She was honored by it and that was important to me.  

Stan