My Grandma

My earliest memories of my Grandma include poufy square dance skirts and Christmas lights… oh, and books, lots of books. She loved family game time, and she loved her coffee. Did I mention that she liked books? She enjoyed working on craft projects and making little knick knacks for everyone…. And she loved books. I remember her reading “The Little Engine that Could” and “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.” She was so thrilled when I learned to read at a young age, and she shared her books with me as I grew older. During the summers that I spent with my grandparents, I read every book in her library. Did I mention that I like books?

Over the years, my Grandma shared many things with me. We were both the oldest daughter, and both older than our husbands. We both enjoy dancing and making family memories. We enjoy a good game of Sequence! We enjoy eating ice cream and apple pie. We shared fun times at Disney World and swimming in the pool. We enjoyed good friends and a good laugh. We love Jesus and have been so blessed to see my Dad, her son, sharing that love with so many of you…. And did you know that we like books?

Thank you, Grandma, for sharing so much of your life (and your books) with me.

My Name

This is another one from the 1984 archives...

My name -
It means truth;
Yet, is that actually me?
I seem to be a facade,
A false front.
I am different on the outside
Than I feel on the inside.
The funny thing is
that I am two persons outside.
To some I am one way,
To others another,
And neither is the real me.
Help me, Oh God,
To be the truth-
To show others what lies within;
To always be honest
No matter who I am with.
That everyone can see -
Jesus in me!

Gram

I wrote this poem when my Great Grandmother, Julia Hamilton Carpenter passed away in 1984. This can also be said for her daughter, my Grandmother, Margaret Carpenter Roberts.

She has gone.
She will never return again
- as a living soul.
Yet a part of her
lives on...
In her poetry,
In the results of her love,
In the memories
of laughter,
of a smile,
of a long lifetime.

She has gone.
She is home for eternity
-an immortal being.
Yes, she lives beside
her Jesus...
She has found rest,
In the joy of true love,
She has found in heaven
a family,
a Savior,
a painless future.