More of Honey's poetry

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A little more tired at close of day
A little less anxious to have our way
A little less ready to scold and blame
A little more care for a brother's name
And so we are nearing the journey's end
Where time and eternity meet and blend
The book is closed and prayers are said
And we are a part of the countless dead
Thrice happy there if some soul can say,
"I live because she has passed this way."

This sounds a little morbid, but I have a feeling it was written soon after my grandfather died.  I'm reading her journals.  She was pretty sad for a long while.  She wrote that she didn't want to let anyone know how sad she was because she didn't want to make them sad.  I know how she feels about this.

I can honestly say that I do live because she passed this way, and not just because she was my grandmother, but because she was my role model, mentor, teacher of sewing, and a great and real Southern Lady!

Another poem by Honey - this one a Prayer

A Prayer

Lord let me live from day to day
In a most self forgetful way
That when I hear Thee call, "It's just a little while."
I'll be ready to fall asleep with a smile.

"House Cleaning" by our grandmother, Honey

This isn't really about house cleaning.

House Cleaning by Honey Brakebill

When winter is over
With its clutter and muss,
We clean all the corners
And sweep out the dust.
We climb the stairs
From bottom to top,
Rubbing and scrubbing,
Until we're ready to drop.
The house is all shining
Gone the must and the mold,
But there's something fine
We've left untold.
Have we let in the sun and pure fresh air
And washed away prejudice, discontent and care?
Have we opened the way for meekness,
Self discipline, and inspiration
And set up a pattern of self purification?
By brushing out the cobwebs
And brushing off the mold, have we
Opened the windows of heart, mind, and soul?

Honey's Journals

My grandmother started keeping a journal the year I was born.  Her first entry is to tell that my cousin Malinda had been born a few days before.  Her first entry also was about her and my granddaddy's 38th wedding anniversary.
My sister is visiting this week.  We've had fun reading these.  We have laughed and almost cried about some of the entries. 
Our mother started keeping journals the year our grandmother died (I think).  My sister has those.  She said she would bring them to me. 
I've now started keeping a journal.  I hope I will be as faithful as my mother and grandmother were.

This photo shows just a few of Honey's journals.

I need help!

I have been trying to change the color of my background and text on my other blog and on this one.  For some reason I cannot find how to do that anymore.  I've never had a problem with this.  Has Blogger changed the way this is done?  Is is because I'm using a background from outside blogger?  I always have, so that shouldn't be the problem unless Blogger has changed its policy. 

Mother's Favorite Season

This is why Mother liked Winter the best of all the seasons.  She could see through and beyond the trees.  She liked seeing the things that she couldn't see the rest of the year.  She felt smothered in the summer.
This photo was taken off my deck this morning.  If I had gotten out there just 5 minutes earlier you would have seen much more vivid colors in that sunrise!!!  It was ORANGE and PINK!  The color isn't showing up on this photo like it looked even when I took the shot.

Here's a poem my grandmother, Mother's mother, wrote to her four children.  Reading this and thinking about how she was a mom watching her children at the stages that mine are in now, makes this poem especially special to me.

Thanks
At night when I lie down
And can't go to sleep
I try counting my blessings
And in memories cree[

Of course with the sweet
There's sure to be bitter
For we can't always
Have sunshine and glitter.

There were the golden years
When you children were small
And we loved you and spoiled you
And answered your call.

We cried with you and laughed with you
And saw you grow tall
Yet watched you and guarded you
Lest you stumble and fall.

Now, you have children, too
I trust you look up above
And give thanks as I do
That my cup runneth over with love.

by Honey (that's what we called our grandmother - she really was a honey!)

Mother Loved Valentine's Day!

These are Valentine's Day cards that Mother received when she was a child.  She saved them all these years.  She had them framed for my siblings and me, and for our grandchildren.  I think they are beautiful!  We had our Valentine's Dinner at our church last night.  She loved, loved, loved going to that dinner.  I have kept the pretty red blouse that she liked to wear to it.

  I know I've posted these on my other blog, but I wanted a record of them on this blog, too.

Taxes

Today, I've got to get mother's stuff together to take to her accountant on Monday for filing for her income taxes.  This will be the last time I do this. 

I'm okay

My last couple of posts make it sound like all I'm doing is sitting around moping and mourning and crying, etc......  But, I'm not.  It's just that sometimes, out of the blue, some something will trigger a memory, a feeling, a ????? that makes me tear up.  Really, I'm okay.  I'm going on with my "normal" life.  If you read my other blog, you will see that I am very busy sewing, etc.....  So, you see, I am not depressed or anything like that.  I just have weepy moments.  I understand that is pretty common. I  thank you all so much for all of your concern and encouragement.  It truly helps.  It's been harder here lately because of my brother's issues.  My sister isn't well either, so that doesn't help. But, hey, I'm in great health.  I take meds for the few little issues I have, and on the days that I exercise (which are much more frequent lately), eat right ( my husband and I are really working on this), keep busy, etc.... I am feeling GOOD.

Tears again

when will they ever stop?