Shine the Light (Lyrics) - Sugarland



I was sent this song a few hours ago.  My daughter sent it to me via facebook.  She said, Mom this song made me think of you.  You have to listen to  it.  I love you.

That....made my day!  Great song. 

Hope you enjoy it.

Carol-the gardener

A Song, A Prayer and Goodbye

Beautiful flowers and candles lit.
A stunning picture of her on the center table.
A smile stretched from ear to ear on her face.
Kind words spoken of how sweet she was.
How caring of others.
The reading of how life is like a garden.  (See below)
A song sung by her oldest Son.  I Come to the Garden alone. 
A hymn sung at my Memommie's funeral five years ago also sung by him.
Words from her Bible teacher and friend.
A Psalm read by her only Grand daughter.
Her ashes placed beside her husband's ashes.

The service was over.

I woke this morning with tears in my eyes.

Thinking how she was like whipping cream on a dessert to me.  She was life's whipping cream.  She made everyday so much better, special.  She made holiday's delicious.  The holiday started when she arrived.

My niece is here with me, and I wonder if I could ever be as good of an Aunt to her that mine was to me.  It is comforting to have her here.  Now it is my turn.  Time for me to be the glue for my family.


Life’s Garden



To plant a garden for daily living, plant three rows of peas:

Peace of mind, peace of heart and peace of soul.

Add four rows of squash:

Squash gossip, squash indifference, squash grumbling and squash selfishness.

Add four rows of lettuce:

Let us be faithful, let us be kind, let us be patient and let us really love one another.

And, no garden is complete without turnips:

Turn ups for meetings, turn up for service and turn up to help those in need.

Finally, a garden requires thyme:

Time for each other, time for family, time for friends.

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love. You’ll have much fruit in our garden, because you reap what you sow.

We found this in one of her seven bibles she used everyday.  Her Bible teacher told us she shared this writing just weeks ago with her study group. 
 
We all smiled.  Seeing and feeling her presence once again.  It felt good.  It felt really good.  She too was a gardener.

through words

I met you through words. Words written by pressing computer keys. Words thought through in our minds. Words rehearsed before they were spoken.

I got to know you through songs. Songs you chose then posted becuase they meant so much to you. Songs I loved too. We shared the love of the ocean. We were sad and concerned together over the oil that spilled over our shores.

I lost you through words. Words written by Trish pressing the computer keys. So sad never to have seen your picture or heard your voice.

I was happy that I did know you but for a short while if only through words and song and love of the ocean. I'll miss your words and your songs. I hope I always remember how you can change by knowing someone if only for a short while.

Rest in peace Lisa. I hope your garden blooms constantly in heaven, and the turtles and dolphins swim for you to enjoy.

Godspeed.

He lived, He laughed and He loved.

It's been 28 years and I miss him more today than I did a year ago. Today is Father's Day and I can't seem to quit thinking of him. No need to say I was a Daddy's girl. I think...I'm sure it shows.

I was the third girl born to my parents. I was also born on the Saturday before Father's Day Sunday. Keep in mind this was before the days of ultrasound. I know he wanted a son, and there I was one more girl.

Daddy never treated me like a dainty flower though. I went wherever he went, to the bank, the tire shop, to pick up a lawn mower it just didn't matter. What did matter is...we were buddies. He did expect me to act like a lady and dress appropriately but always told me I could be anything and do anything a man could do and maybe better. He taught me how important common sense was and how everyone isn't born with it. You would have never known I wasn't the son he so wanted.

My Dad liked to remain anonymous. He would buy 10 or more watermelons in the heat of the summer and deliver them under the cover of night to porches of widow women in the community. He would buy Easter baskets for a family that couldn't afford for the Easter bunny to visit with loads of candy for their children. He was kind. He was thoughtful. Maybe they never knew, maybe they did, I'll never know. Some things in life a better a mystery.

He was born in February and in November of the same year his Mother passed away suddenly. He never knew here. How fitting he would be surrounded by my Mother and three daughters the rest of his life. Dad always had a special affection for women who were widowed, perhaps he understood what it was like to be left alone. He would take my Grandmother to visit my Great Aunts who lived on top of a hill in Alabama on his days off. He wasn't selfish. He would take care of them the best he could run errands and repair what he could. He didn't have an easy life, no Mother to teach him understanding and the more emotional side of life. You would have never known.

Dad loved adventure. Sometimes over breakfast he would announce to us all, "we are in a rut." Followed by, "where do each of you want to go?" A trip was planned before the jam was passed and we were off to a new adventure. The summer he passed away he had just taken a vacation. He visited both of my sisters who lived in other states. He couldn't wait to come home and pick up me and my children. I had made a Blueberry Pie for him. We ate and laughed together, how would I ever know that would be the last time I would hear his laugh? Share a meal with him? That day, I believe was the hardest day of my life. I can remember praying so hard he would take one more breath and open his eyes. Life is often unfair. I needed him, I still need him.

My Father loved music. At random times he would break out in any given silly song. I think of that so often and even sing some of them to my Grandchildren. He used to tell us when he was little people in town would tell him to sing a song for a nickle and he would. Sing and dance no doubt. He loved life. He loved a good meal and he loved to Barbecue. He got a bit carried away with things to prepare and went ...ah..lets say..overboard. Whatever he had he loved to share. The more the merrier.

Dad signed his High school year book.. Live,laugh and love for tomorrow you may die. I guess he knew at a very early age what was important. I might have not had him as a Father but for twenty two years but what an impression he made on me and my life and who I am today.

So, Happy Father's Day Daddy. I miss you everyday and I love you.