SEPTEMBER

The goldenrod is yellow,

The corn is turning brown.

The trees in apple orchards

With fruit are bending down;

The gentian's bluest fringes

Are curling in the sun;

In dusty pods the milkweed

Its hidden silk has spun;

The sedges flaunt their harvest

In every meadow nook,

And asters by the brookside

Make asters in the brook.

From dewy lanes at morning

The grapes' sweet odors rise;

At noon the roads all flutter

With yellow butterflies~

By all these lovely tokens

September's days are here,

With summer's best of weather

And autumn's best of cheer.

LIFE'S MOUNTAINS

Success is not measured by the position one has reached in life.

Rather by the obstacles overcome while trying to succeed.

WHEN YOUR HUT'S ON FIRE

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out "God! How could you do this to me?" Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

****The moral of this story****

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember, that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

TREES

I think that I shall never see

A poem as lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree the looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair.

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

When I was growing up, Dad and Mom had so many little bits of wisdom, poetry, and other thoughts around the house. This little poem was framed and hung on the wall. As I look back now, I realize these are the things that have shaped my life. Mom loved poetry, especially Emily Dickinson, and shared that love with us kids. I was fortunate to "inherit" these special gifts.

QUOTE FOR TODAY

No one can go back and make a brand new start, my friend, but anyone can start from here and make a brand new end !!

This brings to my mind another poem that I think of often:

You cannot changes yesterday,

that is quite clear.

Nor begin on tomorrow

until it is here.

So all that is left, for you and for me,

is to make today the best that can be.

MY SISTER SANDRA

My sister Sandra, was born October 25, 1936, in a small town in Minnesota. She and I were born 3 years and 4 days apart. My sister and I were friends, and I can remember going ice-skating together in the cold Minnesota winters and coming home. Mom would have hot chocolate and cookies for us, playing softball, climbing trees, and just having fun playing together. Yes, and we did get into our fair share of mischief. I guess you could say we were "best buddies".

My sister worked at a LPN for a number of years, then decided she wanted to become a registered nurse. She enrolled at Westminster College in Salt Lake City and graduated with her Bachelor Of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 1991. This is my sister at her pinning ceremony. Sandra graduated with high honors.

Sandra and me at after the graduation ceremony from Westminster College. And now the story begins. About a year after my sister received her BSN, she had a stoke. She was in the hospital and rehabilitation for about 6 months. She wondered if she would ever be able to work again, but then that old "Irish and German" extract kicked in, and she began her journey towards recovery, which was amazing to watch. My sister decided the way to challenge her mind to recover, was to enroll in college again, which she did.

My sister Sandra when she graduated with her Master of Science in Gerontology from the University Of Utah in 1999. Again, my sister graduated with honors. She challenged herself every minute, while still recovering from her stroke. If this isn't amazing, nothing is. I have never seen anyone overcome obstacles like she did, but she did it....and WITH HIGH HONORS. My sister Sandra is still working as a registered nurse. Ned, Sandra and me.

Once again, thank you Mom and Dad for raising us kids with the values you did, the tenacity to carry on when the going got tough, and the ability to rise above obstacles. You did an amazing job !!! Blessed are those who have been given good and holy parents.

CONTENTMENT

Nine requisites for contented living:

Health enough to make work a pleasure

Wealth enough to support your needs

Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them

Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them

Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished

Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor

Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others

Faith enough to make real the things of God

Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.

AUGUST

Above the slowly moving stream,

Half-sleepily on leaning boughs

Through midday hours

As in a dream

The tired leaves drowse.

Stirring, half-wakeful, now and then

To send a yellow leaf to ride

In onward and unconscious course

Upon the listless water tide.

MY BROTHER TOM

My brother Tom was born August 6, 1945 and passed away in 2002 from a massive heart attack. He was such a sweet man (as you can tell from the picture.) He had a heart of gold. When Irish eyes are smiling !!

Tom and me in Sioux Falls, SD. I loved my brother. He was good hearted and kind. But he did have a bit of an Irish temper, but then Mom was a true Irish lass, and Dad was of German extract. It is nice to say my brother was my "friend" as well as my brother.

The little horse with Tom is one I have. The horse is probably around 60 years old, and our great-children love it to pieces. All the pictures I have of Tom, he was always smiling. He did have his share of heartaches, but I can never remember him hurting anyone. Guess he just kept it all inside. As I age, I appreciate my family more and more. They were good people, kept to themselves, never broad cast their problems and as all families do, they had their share. Mom and Dad loved life. Our parents taught us to give to others, to take people at their word. The older I get, I find out how smart they were.