My Life - Part 2 - Family

Family

I was released from my mission in ‘73
and I returned to my home in Californy.
I yearned to be a father and husband.
I looked ‘round and could only see one
young lady that was created especially for me.
She was kind, and sweet, but most of all she
loved me as much as I did her.
So just 3 months and a little bit more
after I returned from my missionary chore,
We visited our Bishops and Stake President; then
we went to the temple and there did listen
to a man of God who sealed us together
for time and eternity and told us to ever
remember the ceremony that wrought
our family that will n’er be forgot.

One by one our little ones came.
Our camera was filled frame by frame.
First came Caryn, cuddly and small,
then came Kristin who could out scream them all.
Along came Matthew a little later on.
Janice was next and I thought we were done.
Then Gardner found his way
into our clan and joined the fray.
Along about then I was sure, I thought
there were no more little ones to be brought.
But, to our surprise, more happened along;
twins to make our days busy and long
Peter and Jeremy were cute little fellas,
Made all our friends a little bit jealous.

Our family now was finally complete.
That is until our children began to compete
to see how many grandchildren they could bring us.
Here they come, and what a great fuss.
(I thought we were out of the baby business.)

Caryn began with her little group
giving birth to Brittany and into the soup
she went – for that was not all.
Andrew came along, not very small,
Justin was next and we thought that was fine.
Then little red headed Ciana entered the fam.
Colin was next, a tiny little gem.
He could throw a fit with the best of them.
Caryn was done – that’s what she said.
Then came HER twins, Colton and Logan instead.

Kristin was only to be in this mortal world
a little while and then she was gone in a whirl.
Heavenly father needed here there, I guess.
She left while driving home, maybe too fast.
She left a little boy, who we call Jon-Jon.

Janice was late, she wondered if she ever
would get to enjoy a family, but she never
gave up hoping and with faith she strove
Finally along came Ivy to hold and to love.
A little while later  Zoë entered this world
She caused us concern and worry unfurled.
But now she’s growing and all is fine
Her older sister thinks she is divine.


Peter met his sweetheart and fell head over heels
Dorian came first and all was well... then...
Surprise... here’s Caleb, how’d that happen?
So two little boys within a year’s short time.
Wow!, what work.  But worth it – they’re fine.

Jeremy knew his bride as a childhood chum
She always kept him in line so he’d never be glum.
He went into the Air Force to learn his way
but he knew he just had to pull her away
and into his life, permanently, she came.
First came Cody who everyone adores
but he is so shy and can’t bear to score
a glance in anyone’s direct eye view.
things went well and then time to renew.
Along came Eli into the fold
looks just like Cody, who could have told.
Now we have Emmy, fresh from above.
She has the same look, one we all love.

My Life - Part 1 - my youth

Youth

I was born at a very young age,
to a pretty young lady and a fairly young sage.
They taught me all through my years
that I am worth more than just a few tears.
I’ve caused some tears of sorrow and joy
as I’ve struggled through my life, but boy,
I wouldn’t change an instant of it, except,
I’d have learned the gospel better and accept
all of the teachings of the prophets of old
written down experiences that have been told
to help us gain that testimony strong
that Jesus is the Christ and in not very long
we will experience that which has been told in story.
We’ll see him come again to earth in glory.

When I was a child, I and a buddy
stole a doll from a girl and made it all muddy.
Then we threw it into a near-full ditch
to cover our sin, but there was a glitch.
Someone saw our dastardly deed.
They called our parents who did heed
the news and made us repent of our mistake
and search the ditch banks with shovel and rake
to find that doll and return it back
to the little girl with hair shiny and black.

When I was older we had a great flood.
There was much water and lots of great mud.
To the church we went to get all of us shot
with typhoid shots, so none of us got
a dread disease that would make us sick.
Some of the kids went out into the flood to pick
out the good spots to play and wallow in the mire
where parents wouldn’t come and see us conspire
against one another and against friend or foe,
whether against Ronnie, or Shirla or Greg, or Joe.

As a teen I thought it was great fun
to take a girl out to the graveyard and run.
I’d tell stories about ghosts and those long gone
(making things up as I went along).
I hoped to cause such a horrible fear
the girl would want to stay very near.
One time, though, things went awry;
the car stalled and so by and bye
I couldn’t get it started again and then
we began to hear noises long and thin.
Those noises gave us both a fright
even when we turned on the light.

When I graduated from High School
I thought it’d be pretty cool
to go on a mission; visit and preach
the gospel to others; reason and teach
people who hadn’t yet received it.
So..onto my knees I went to visit
each morn and eve with Father in Heaven.
I asked for help to learn to leaven.
I asked for confirmation of my testimony small.
I even asked for an angel to teach me all
the things I’d need to know
as a missionary whe’er I’d go.
I never got any celestial view
but nonetheless I did learn and review
the lessons that I’d need to apply
to investigators in “El Uruguay”.