Fatherhood in Form

When all else crumbles and falls
When evil men forsake God's laws
Biblical fatherhood stands firm
When all others fail to meet the term

Courageous fathers create the might
For a nation to rise and fight
A peoples' standard is what makes them free
And this is what good fathers see

True fatherhood will lead the way
Invest in their children every day
Train the next generation what's right
So they will never forsake God's Light

Fatherhood's form stands straight and tall
Strong and ruled by God's Law
Every thought captive to God's Word
With greed and lust they can't be lured

Godly fathers won't flow with the flow
Or blow wherever the wind listeth to go
The armor of God's Word makes them strong
And prepares them to battle right from wrong

The form of a father ought to be brave
With a legacy they'll take to their grave
No feminized man to be our lead
But a righteous and bold man we need

Alas, this day so many men lack
To carry their gun and hoist their pack
Men have failed as soldiers of God
To spread liberty wherever they trod

But hope remains among the dust
Not all men have begun to rust
Fatherhood's form is rising in men
Who bravely stand to fight and win

A father cannot just be any man
It takes more than most men can
It's sacrifice until the very end
And raging storms that God does send

Reward always seems so far out of reach
Until little ones live what you did teach
God will bless the righteous even in trial
And give them strength for every mile

The simple and weak will not last
But will fade far away into the past
Only true fathers will never die
As their memories rise in triumph's cry

History will remember their day
Of how they rose to pave the way
They never gave up no matter the cost
Or worldly pleasures that were lost

God gave them strength to press on
And gird their bodies in manly brawn
These men—courageous, fearless, and bold
Fight with the Sword that they hold

The Old Gray Uniform

Folded and tucked away in a wooden drawer
Lays an old tattered suit of gray
Blood and mud has long stained its color
From a battlefield where the soldier lay

Once he fought for his native land
To protect her purity from uncouth invaders
He battled courageously against blue bellies—
Men who were freedom-haters

Now his uniform lays forlorn
There's not much occasion to take it out
The sight of it usually brings tears
Memories of a bloody bout

The soldier's back was once young and strong
But now he's bent with age
He will never forget the Southern struggle
Of warring against a tyrant's rage

He was once the emblem of the South
Young, strong, and fervently proud
But now he's a forgotten old man
Whose voice is not so loud

Yet he is still just as proud
He still walks with a firm step
His old musket, though a mockery to some
Will always shadow his doorstep

His gray uniform once had a purpose
To fight Liberty's battle
But now—forgotten like its wearer
Is thrown into the mud by prattle

The old gray uniform is an emblem
Of a glory forever long gone
Of a day when the man was young
And his gun was drawn

The old gray uniform is still in battle
Of fighting evil invaders
Men who don't understand liberty
Wicked men who are God-haters

Farewell, Sweet School Days of Mine

I never thought I would actually be saying that.

I remember when I used to think about graduating and being done with my school days forever.  I longed for this day incredibly so, because I couldn't wait to "grow up" and finally be done with school.   I didn’t care what happened next, just as long as I finished in a hurry.

However, now that the day has come, I can’t help but look over the past twelve years and wish I had taken more advantage of being a schoolgirl.  I had wanted to grow up too fast.  And now that I have hit the "adult years," I can't help feeling a little mournful that those days are gone.  For good.

It's almost a scary thought of never getting back a special period of life.  Eighteen years of my life have now been lived.  I have gone through much laughter and tears, sorrow and bliss, heartache and happiness, pain and pleasure, grief and joy, discontentment and ease, anger and peace, strife and harmony, and I can say without remorse, it has all been worth it.  I have had my own fair share of being an unthankful and rebellious daughter; I have experienced more than enough of doubting faith; I have lacked in many areas that I should have been triumphing in; I have wallowed in the mire of self-pity—yet God has never failed me nor left me to the evil devices of my sinful heart.  He has been good to me for eighteen years by giving me wise parents that I don’t deserve, and seven wonderful siblings who have had to put up with me being the oldest (oh yeah, you younger siblings know what that means!).  Though we may not be the wealthiest family in material possessions, I believe I am the luckiest and richest girl to be alive.  I have love.  I have refuge.  I have protection.  I have friendship.  I have family.  I have salvation.  I have eighteen years to my credit.  I have an abundant life to look forward to.  I have joy.  I have unending love and forgiveness from my heavenly Father.  I have the life of a wife and mother to look forward to.  I have so many blessing to be thankful for!  Life isn’t bleak; life is bliss!

Look out world, here I come!  

I must admit, I am definitely not the most qualified to be growing up.  I still have so much to learn!  Just because I am graduating from my schoolgirl days does not mean I am fully prepared for anything that may come my way.  I will never stop learning on this journey of life, but that is the rewarding aspect of life!

The years have passed frightfully fast.  I used to think as a little girl that I would never grow up.  Life just wasn’t fast enough in my estimation.  My parents were always saying that life is actually too fast and I would realize it the older I grew, but I never could believe them.  Until now.  Now I understand just how fast life can be.

Thankfully I still have so much life to live ahead of me.  My dreams are still the same, and I plan to live them out.  My desire is still to become a wife and mother, all in God’s good timing (as hard as that is to say right now).  As for now, I can dwell in the knowledge that God is doing what is best for me—much better than I can even imagine.  In my impatience I cannot see what lies ahead.  In my finite “wisdom” I think that now would be best, but apparently God thinks differently.  For now, I rest content that one phase of life is over; many more are yet to come!

Just think.  Life is exciting.  Exhilarating.  Fulfilling.  Breathtaking even.  And it is all mine.  A gift from God.  One set of happy golden years are over, but there are others yet to come.  Even now I am experiencing a wonderful life!  So, farewell, sweet school days of mine.  I shan’t be remorseful, or regret the past, but instead press on toward new horizons.  There are too many grandiose dreams to live out in life, and I don’t want to miss out on even the smallest one.  Life is too precious.  Life is too fleeting.  One day I will look back on these days and wonder where the time went.  Just as I do now.  Goodbye, Happy Golden Years of schoolgirl days; hello Happy Golden Years of a brand new adventure!

Those Happy Golden Years

I never thought the goodbye would be tearful
When I waved my school days away
As I said goodbye to my childhood
And reached for a brand new day

I never thought I would miss those days
Of being young and learning a lot
Of books and pencils and aching fingers
And appliance of what I was taught

I'll miss being that little girl
Sometimes eager and sometimes glum
The dreary days I hated school
Once again those days will never come

I used to look forward to this day
Of being grown-up and free
But my childish naivety was sublime
To urge me on to what I wanted to be

I have found as the years have passed
That my time of learning does not end
My departed school days mark a beginning
Of a new horizon just over the bend

My outlook is bright as I press on
Excitement wonders what God has in store
I can only guess and be faithful to Him
As I spread my wings and step out the door

Farewell, good ole school days
Yesteryear seems so far away
Those happy golden years of being a child
Will never leave my memory from this day

Of how I was taught by the wisest parents
And learned side-by-side with siblings so dear
But now I have grown and those days are gone
My heart aches as I shed a mournful tear

Farewell forever, my sweet schoolgirl days
I press on to the mark of God’s calling for me
I’ll still be learning what life has to hold
A new dawn approaching I can see

I’ll miss you to a small extent
But I’m eager to experience something new
God has a plan for my life I know
—The big and little things I do

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall
Who is the fairest of us all?
I know it isn't me
The scars I can't hide
The times that I've lied
This ugly heart you see

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall
Who is the best one of us all?
I fear it isn't me
The trouble I create
The times that I hate
This ugly heart you see

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall
Who is the righteous one of all?
In tears—it isn't me
In sin and in wrong
I can never keep strong
A terrible wretch I be

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall
Why must I be the worst one of all?
Alas, yes this is me
My flesh is so weak
Self-love it does seek
Pride stops a bended knee

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall
I am the basest one of all
What is wrong with me?
I try and I fail
I drown in a gale
My lips raise a frantic plea

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall
Who can save me from this fall?
I fail when I try
I need a hand
To help me stand
In despair I cry

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall
Christ is the Savior of us all
I desperately need His strength
My sight is dim
Which is why I need Him
My rope has a very short length

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall
I found help after all
Humility paves my way
My outlook is bright
Guided by the Light
Peace and security liven my day

Silver Wisdom

When I was a little girl
My daddy was young and strong
His beard was full and red
Full of life—like a song

As I grew older
Little white hairs adorned his beard
Little worry lines creased his face
Because of the children he reared

The years came and went
Silver wisdom continued to grow
Because of life's many struggles
White hairs would not go

I cannot look at him
Without feeling sad
But I have to remember
The more times he made me glad

His white hairs give him wisdom
They tell of a productive life
Silver wisdom gives him the credit
Of not following the piper's fife

One day every hair will be white
But I shan't shed many tears
For they are a sign of love to me
That tell of memorable years

His wisdom I can always trust
Silver hairs give him a dapper look
He's a king wreathed in shining armor
Like a silver knight from an ancient book

Silver wisdom will grow every year
From time to time I may cry
But I'll always remember his white hairs
With a happy and wistful sigh

My First Valentine

I am a girl who loves romance

The chocolate, the flowers, and learning to dance

Eyes alight as in a trance

—I look for my First Valentine

I search for it in places of love

The feeling that makes me fly like a dove

And ask for guidance from God above

—To help me find my First Valentine

In surprise, this quest

Leads me to the very best

The shoulder on whom my head does rest

—The man who is my First Valentine

He was not the one I sought

A deeper love, or so I thought

When with surprise my heart was caught

—In the arms of my First Valentine

Daddy has always been there for me

Even the days I could not see

He has always held my heart's key

—The man who is my First Valentine

Blinded by what I thought

Into a lie I had bought

But even in the mess I wrought

—I found my First Valentine

My heart is safe in Daddy's hands

Until I get my weddings bands

And at my side my husband stands

—To become my Valentine

But Daddy shall always be the first

For his love I do thirst

I feel as if my heart shall burst

—In love for my First Valentine

A Poetical Song in the Midst of a Multitude of Color

I'm back to blogging after a month's leave of absence, and a two-week trip back home in Indiana.

I must say, I miss all the excitement and adventure we experienced during those wonderful two weeks.  I greatly miss the dear folks with whom we spent many hours laughing and talking—all the thrilling memories we now have to look back to—and I can't help thinking about how changed I am as I come back home.

Home.

 Home is where the heart is, or so I've been told.  Home is where loved ones gather each day.  Home is where there is laughter and play and memories.  Home is where Christ dwells in the midst of an institution that He created.  Home is lots of babies squealing around the hearth.  Home is wherever we meet in love and friendship.   

Home.

I love the sound of the word home.  It invokes a cheery sort of warmth in the pit of one's stomach, just like watching flames dance in a fireplace on a chilly Autumn evening with a friend.  All is peace, all is quiet, but there is such depth and significance to the silence.  I feel at home right now in the comfort of my own house, yet I can't help but miss the home that we left behind in the hearts of all our friends and family in Indiana.  Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Bliss is rather hard to describe, at least in my point of view.  How does one begin to express the deep yearning of love and ecstasy and excitement and incredibility and unbelievability and joy that comes from each blessing of God?  I know that I am not worthy to even attempt to describe it, except in these three words: God. Is. Sovereign.

God's sovereignty has everything to do with life.  It declares that He is in control of every aspect of our lives; it proclaims His goodness and wisdom and power and might; it sings loudly of His faithfulness to those who love Him (Rom.8:28); it shouts to the north, south, east, and west that He is the Creator, Master, and Lord of the universe.  It proclaims His majesty and holiness.

I feel so wonderful right now that I feel like singing.  My heart is too full for words.  Or is it?

At times when life seems too complicated
All I have to do is sit back and think
That the full picture is really so simple
And so much faster than the eye can blink

The colors of Autumn are a rare beauty
That only come once a year
Purple, orange, green, red, and yellow
Make God's love even more near

Love is a glorious thing
I can't even imagine its depth and height
One moment I cry in doubt
The next makes my throat swell tight

God's grace sometimes seems strange
But that is the mystery behind glory
Why some are called and others not
Is a deep and majestic story

A woman's emotions are a crazy ride
No finite man can understand
From happy to sad all day long
But even through that I can feel God's hand

True love is not just a feeling
Like Hollywood and storybooks say
True love is a biblical definition
That will last through even the roughest day

It is times like these when there's nothing to say
Yet I seem to think the most
Right now my heart is too full for words
Filled with peace from the Holy Ghost

There was a lot of happiness that happened on our trip, some of which I can't even begin to tell.  The joy of seeing lifelong friends once again, and the fulfillment of spending time with family members, is practically indescribable.  Even the photographer's lens is unworthy to capture such moments.

fishing ;)

friends for always

 Father and Son

 Sisters!

 Mischievous =)

 Football player in-the-making

 Photographer's battle

 Snickerdoodle

 Best Friends!

 Darling Little Bit!

 Cousin Elaina~So Sweet!

 Grandparents' love

 Self-portraits~love my new camera!

 Theater night with best friends~Courageous was fantastic!

 Autumn definitely is my favorite season of the year!

 My favorite Monkey!

 Old-fashioned preacher

 Guys and Guns

Unfortunately I couldn't post all of my pictures like I did on facebook...way too many!  But from the few that I have posted you can see a wee portion of the immense fun that we had every day.  We didn't want our trip to end, but as we know, all good things must come to an end.  Bummer.

So for now I'll just enjoy my new COOLPIX L100 15x wide optical zoom camera and my beautiful blue chocolate cellphone. Did I mention that I was extremely happy?

Joy cometh in the morning. ~Psalm 30:5