The last time I saw my father, I was just two years old
I remember the smell of his cologne, mixed with alcohol
I remember when he carried me in his arms to someplace new
A place I had never been before, it smelled of cigarettes and of a *** of stew
People looked at me and gushed at how cute and fat I was
There it seemed like a lifetime of pass the baby, but it only lasted a second
Those seconds were all I remember of my father

Soil/soul

I reach down into mother earths moistened, dark soil
Her richness is still wet from the cold mornings dew left by Mr. Winter
She has kept her promise of becoming something new & fresh as the new year brings new days
Her greatness is unkept, no one could hold all of the richness and beauty she promotes
She has guided our ancestors paths thru dark nights and long summer days
Rooted with hard clay rocks, dusted  broken tree limbs& soft withery grass
She has promoted much growth with each passing season
Only changing her textures slightly to incorporate all the goodness that surrounds her(embades her)
Large cranes, rooters and tractors have beaten her soil, but Mother earth remains
Warm, gentle as the touch of a babys hand, but firm as the rock of Girbraulter
Trees sit, listening & swaying to her every word(beat),as she guides them into great seasons
Rain flows into her soil and bubbles up the earthly treasures we sometimes overlook
Long slimy worms, old, rusted bottle caps, small rigid rocks with crusted diamond dust sides
She has given us much love with her untimely, patterns of growth
As we remember that soil is a great commodity
It is also where we as beings started
From ashes to ashes, return us dust to dirt(dust)
Soil....so.il...soil....sou...sol..soul

Pop! Goes the weasel
Shakes, rattle, now roll the dice
Screams, loud yelps and sometimes teasing
All a part of our saturday night

"I win", hands clapping like thunderbolts, no lightning
Trying to persuade in a game of charades
Intense, play your cards, hold mouth tightly, say it ain't so
My sister just screamed "Bingo!

Laughs, and chuckles, high-fives in the air,
Teams of 2 or 4, one, two, guess my clue
Smirks, sly grins, trying to hide a bone,
No one bothers to check their phones

Spilled popcorn, empty sodas cans and bags of chips, fruits slices galore on mom's favorite  food tray with veggie dips, hard candy,
Mints and finger-sandwiches, lets hope we recoup with no damages

Winding down, it's getting late, 2 sleepy kids and a lazy retriever,lying on the fluffy rug, near the recliner, trying to catch a breather
Ongoing yawns, arms stretching, it's time for bed
Movie night tomorrow's special: Night of the Living Dead

Enjoying our time, bonds that will last forever, this is mi familia game night
We're in this  together!

I lay my open hands before thee
My dear, and Sovereign  God
I place my feet before thee
With nowhere else to run
Not hiding from my pain anymore
I cry out my sorrows and anger
For now my broken, calloused heart
Is unnoticeable, even to  me
I know the scriptures and all your names, it's not hard to believe
For all the times you've been there
I was constantly being deceived
My mind, my body, and my soul
They ache painfully to be renewed
But I must make a real- life changing choice to give my life to you
I have wronged so many times and done the unknown
But you know all my ***** secrets, Lord
And yet you keep me here
Safe, and blessed beyond measures,
And yet I am met with this great fear
A fear of not knowing where I am  going when I depart this earth
A fear of losing my life, to some ungrateful ****
A fear I can only hold, as a reminder of what's next(present in my girth)
To leave this world as I found it, only at it's best
To give, to share, and testify, my love for Christ does not rest
And even when I'm gone and no longer here, I hope that some remember
How faithfully I surrendered

First night home

Love at first sight, their eyes so bright
Lit up a room, like candle in the night
In awe of their sweet smiles and tiny feet, they sleep close to our chest remembering every heart-beat

Long days and shorter nights, we get no sleep, up and around the clock  they Continue to eat
Trials and error of lost appetite, singing soothing  lullabies to calm them thru the night

Finally, hope for those with no sleep, lying in  the hallway for a quiet retreat
Baby wore them down and tired them out, that's what parenting is all about!