Eighteen......

Oh how I’ve loved you my dear oh how
Can it really be eighteen years ago?
That first deep thrill of motherhood
When I knew, yes, this is good
Can it be eighteen years have passed
And childhood has its shadow cast
Perhaps yet unbeknownst to you
But soon you’ll see its shadow too….
I used to think I’d be so sad
As I recall the hours we had
When you were just a girl so wee
Never very far from me
But now a deeper keener sense
Stirs within the present-tense
And in its stirring I am glad
For every hour we have had
And my dear girl, I wish for you
The joys of growing older too
The light that sparkles in your eye
As a dream goes drifting by
I wish for you the wondrous chance
Of dreams come true, of loves sweet dance
I wish for you both smiles and tears
For as I look back o’er the years
I see how one refines the other
As I’ve been blessed to be your mother

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

Happy Eighteenth Birthday, Emily<3

Be happy, young 'woman', while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy
in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you into judgment. Eccles. 11:9

Today, Tomorrow and Beyond

I could speak of by-gone things
But what good would it do
Joy and sorrow both have wings
To fly beyond the blue
And life on a whole
Is not in our control
But one giant mystery
So I’ll speak of today and tomorrow
The past is history

Today I will whisper a prayer for you
Just as I do every day
Today I will focus on the good I can do
Tomorrow come what may
I will always be glad
For the today I had
And its coffer of memories
It seems to take the happy and sad
To create tender harmonies

The wind blows softly out of the blue
The sun rises in the east
On them ride my thoughts and prayers for you
As foam on the ocean crest
Today, tomorrow and beyond
Translucent shimmer of a mystic frond
Breath of hope in misty hue
Sparkling through eternal blue

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin


Happy Birthday D~

"For I know the plans I have for you,"
declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future." Jer. 29:11

Echoes

Time, you're fleeting as the wind
A breath and then you’re gone
Time, I beg of you, be kind
She is so very young
And as I gaze into the eyes
That sparkle with a dream
I begin to realize
A distant echoing…..

‘Mommy, won’t you hold my hand
Oh, mommy tie my shoes
Mommy, I’m a princess grand
No, I’m a kangaroo
Oh, mommy help draw my name
Mommy, can we sing?”
Oh, can we play another game…?
Tender echoing

Time, you are a heartless foe
Nay, you are a friend
I hold on and I let go
A tug-of-war within
I urge you on and pull you back
‘Cause it’s a cold, cold world
It seems too big and heartless
For my little baby girl

‘Mommy I am nine today
Oh mommy I’m so tall’
She does not hear the echoing
Within my hallowed wall
Mommy dear, I love you
“Oh babe, I love you too”
And down the shady corridor
The echo…I love you, love you, love you….

...as I smile and bake a birthday cake

Happy Birthday, precious...

Happy 9th (golden) Birthday Tori, love, mom.

It is fitting that Tori's B-day (her golden)
was hot and sunny.
Nine years ago we had a BLIZZARD!!!
Today Mom got a SUN-BURN!!! Very HOT
today..on a south-facing deck, anyhow:):)
A tropical island cake completed our summer-theme.

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

Mere Humor or Mirror Humor

Time is a ruthless painter, so I do declare
I despise my mirror but the mirror doesn’t care
If it’s the truth it’s telling well I’d beg to differ please
Cause I’m still feeling dapper but for creaking in my KNEES!!!!

Some mornings I sprint out of bed just like I used to do
But then a cramp assails me and I holler out for you
We limp like weary soldiers to the nearest easy chair
You bring me an ice-pack and cushion for my REAR!!!!

I stopped counting wrinkles when the wrinkles became me
My blue eyes still twinkle, I just wish that they could see
But when we turn the lights out it’s so good to be alive
Because when I am sleeping I still feel like twenty-five!!!!!

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

okay...I know this is a little corny!!!!
I was inspired after being regaled
with tales of what we ladies get to
look forward to at menopause!!!!!

While it isn't really what I used in this poem
I decided our only coping mechanism may be
a good sense of humor!!!! So, CHEERS!!!!!!

On Aging Gracefully

Aging gracefully, aging gracefully
This path I trod by the grace of God
So I’m aging gracefully

I rise each morning, a gift of God’s grace
To gaze into each loving face
Of those whom God has placed in my life
Precious children, a husband or wife
And I care not so much for that face in the mirror
For as time passes by one thing is clearer
It’s not in the face staring back at me
That measures if I’m aging gracefully

By God’s grace I bask in warm sunshine
I see creation’s Hand divine
Reviving a dead and barren land
With a miraculous touch of His hand
He allows me to feel the raindrops fall
Or hear the feathered song-birds call
In reverie a by-gone path I retrace
Lord, I stand in awe of Your grace

By Your grace and strength I gladly labor
You’ve shown me such kindness and loving favor
By presenting me with the gift of another day
Showered with wonder and I’m compelled to say
Tis but by Your grace that it is so
For what is tomorrow; only You can know
So by Your grace today I will try with pleasure
To use most wisely this glorious treasure

Some days hold burdens so heavy to bear
But your grace surrounds me with tender care
You whisper a promise to help me along
When my lips would otherwise cease their song
You open my eyes to help me see
The gifts Your grace bestows to me
So as years pass by and my limbs start to falter
Thankfully still I will kneel at Your altar

For tis only Your grace that gives each day a goal
For only Your grace could save my soul
And this is the joy that lives in me
Above any other blessing I see
So, as the years pass, leaving proof on my face
Help me to focus on Your love and grace
For this is my life-time guarantee
That each day I’m aging gracefully

All Rights Reserved
-Janet Martin-

My Mom has the perfect name for her....
Grace.Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

Would You Trade It?

So Dad, today is your birthday....
and here are a few things I've wondered.....


Would you trade it? Those wrinkles on your face,
For a little more poise and youthful grace,
A little more lightness in your step,
A little more ‘swagger’ in your hip,
Would you trade the morsel of wisdom you’ve garnished
For that youthful gleam still untarnished?
Would you go back if you could today?
To start over in some distant yesterday?
Would you trade experience for carefree laughter?
Would you give back your children and the here ever after?
To be young; to start all over again,
To experience once more all the sorrow and pain,
To live out your firsts with no more knowledge
Than the one who must yet go through grade school and college,
Would you give her back, your lovely wife?
To start a-fresh this journey of life?
If tonight you heard God’s voice
Give you this impossible choice, would you trade it?
Sometimes I wonder why we fret and sigh
At the speed with which the years hasten by,
When in reality most would not likely go back
Knowing what age gives that in youth we lack,
So when wrinkles come and knees get stiff
I hope I’ll believe that age is a gift,
And God’s design is best,‘tis truth,
For there’s much we would never trade back for youth

All Rights Reserved Aug. 29, 2009
Janet Martin