Heroes Among Us

                                                     There are signs of freedom

                                                     Clear across this land

                                                     The battlefield scars are many

                                                     A fighting soldier's brand

                                                     They wear the armor proud

                                                     So honored and glad

                                                     To serve this great country

                                                     They are patriots of bravery clad

                                                     The stones a constant reminder

                                                     Of brothers who are gone

                                                     When the bloodshed was over

                                                     They were left to carry on

                                                     Some have marched into battle

                                                     So earnestly and young

                                                     Many wars there have been

                                                     Much fighting they have done

                                                     They soon became a man

                                                     A fighting soldier's creed

                                                     To defend this great land

                                                     They all took the lead

                                                     Freedom sails on wings

                                                     They paid the ultimate price

                                                     We should never forget

                                                     Their courage and great sacrifice

                                                      Let the bells of freedom ring

                                                      For the red, white and blue

                                                      There are heroes among us

                                                      Let's wave old glory too.               

                                                      @ Susie Swanson, 2013

                                                      Like father

                                                     Like son.

                                                     Happy Memorial Day, Blessings, Susie

Blessings

                                                    Everyday is very special

                                                    In my life, it seems to be

                                                    Rising in the morning 

                                                    Is a blessing just for me

       

                                                    Each day that I am given

                                                    With my health and even more

                                                    Is more than I was promised

                                                    Than the day I lived before

                                                    My wonderful, loving family

                                                    Surrounds me each day

                                                    God's great treasured gift

                                                    Sent from heaven my way

                                                    A home filled with happiness

                                                    And joy abides within

                                                    Sewn with the thread of love

                                                    On that I can depend

                                                    When I'm in the valley

                                                     My friends are always there

                                                     To lift me up and carry me

                                                     Because they truly care

                                                    The beauty of a sunrise

                                                    Sparkles on the morning dew

                                                    Awakens my soul

                                                    And warms me through and through

                                                   A picture perfect blessing

                                                   Of  a night time sky

                                                   With the stars shining brightly

                                                    Is a blessing from on high

                                                    My little flower garden 

                                                    Means so much to me

                                                    I planted it there

                                                    God grew it for me

                                                    Even the little birds

                                                    Singing in the trees

                                                    Warms my heart 

                                                    With their sweet melodies

                                                    

                                                    The days of my youth

                                                    Are no longer here

                                                    I'm more grateful for each blessing

                                                    Now that older days are here

                                                    So every morning when I awake

                                                    And my feet hit the floor

                                                    I thank God so very kindly

                                                    For giving me one more

                                                    Susie Swanson, 2013

Decoration Day

It's that time of year again, Decoration Day here in our little part of the world.. I've been busy making tombstone wreaths and flower arrangements for the up coming Decoration the Saturday before Memorial Day.. Then we have another one coming up in June.. It takes me back to long ago memories when I was a little girl and I went every year with my little Ma (as we called her) to Decoration and Dinner on the ground.. My mom and dad went alot too and when they couldn't go I always went with little Ma.. We called her that because she was so little and my other grandma was bigger. We called her Big Ma..lol... Eveybody always said if it came a good, stiff wind she'd blow away. 

Times were so much different back then.. We made flower arrangements from my Little Ma's roses that I've wrote alot about or we made them from crepe paper.. We knew those flowers didn't last very long on the graves but as Ma used to say, they'll last, long as they last. As for the Dinner On The Ground, I never could quite figure that one out.. They always had the food spread out on big tables, either at the church or over at the preacher's house, who happened to be my little Ma's brother.. Everybody made sure they brought  Little Ma's favorite dish, Chicken and Dumplings. They'd be so many bowls I couldn't count them all.. I was just a kid but I remember it as if it was yesterday.. It was a big Homecoming where everyone came from far and near and they looked forward to it every year.. My little Ma never wanted to leave, she just kept staying until sunset. She knew everybody there and they all knew her and all were her kin one way or another... She could talk for hours on end and my dad was always like that too. Everybody always says that's who I get it from..lol.. But the kid that I was I enjoyed playing with the other kids. Time meant nothing to me, even if I was so tired I couldn't play another lick.. I always looked forward to that new, little dress mama made me each year, especially for Decoration.. She made about all of my dresses that I wore to church or school.. I was the oldest in the family and there were no hand me downs for me except from friends and I cherished them. I handed mine down to my one and only sister, who happened to be almost ten years younger than me.

Each year when I get busy making these flower arrangements I think about it all and how the times have changed.. People don't go all out like they used to and it's kinda sad in a way that certain traditions have fell through the cracks. I know when I put these flowers on those graves they're not gonna know anything about it but it's for me to honor their memory. My mama once said , when I'm gone don't throw my old body in the ground and walk away and never come back around... I knew what she meant and she knew we wouldn't do that.. It's just that she saw so many people that did it.. 

 I also want to add that I've been slow to keep up with your posts lately and I'm sorry. With garden season in full swing and planting my annuals and making flower arrangements it's been a busy time , needless to say.. I thank each one of you for the sweet comments and visits to mine and I will get around to your posts soon.. I really enjoy each one... I almost forgot to mention that I'm working on my new book as well. I'm doing the editing now and hopefully it will be done soon.. Hope Ya'll have a nice Wednesday and God Bless, Susie

My Mother's Prayers

                                                      My mother prayed for me

                                                      And I felt every prayer

                                                      With a humble, loving heart

                                                      She placed me in God's care

                                                      She never ask for riches

                                                      Or material things and such

                                                      To her those kind of things

                                                      Never did matter much

                                                      She only ask for prosperity

                                                      And happiness without end

                                                      Peace for my very soul

                                                      And love as my true friend

                                                      She ask God to walk with me

                                                      And stay close by my side

                                                      Shelter me from life's storms

                                                      And his presence always abide

                                                      She prayed so earnestly

                                                      As only a mother can do

                                                      With a mother's faithful heart

                                                      In the only way that she knew

                                                      Even when her life was at end

                                                      Before her final breath

                                                      She ask God to comfort me

                                                      Then closed her eyes in death

                                                       @ Susie Swanson, 2013

                                                      Happy Mother's Day everyone!!

                                                      

Memories Never Age

                                                       From the time she was a little sprout

                                                       She walked with a happy song

                                                       Old dirt roads were the common route

                                                       Where so many feet traveled upon

                                                       Walking hand and hand together

                                                       Her little grandma by her side

                                                       Eight short years seemed forever

                                                       A happy little girl with joy and pride

                                                       She came to learn so much more

                                                       As she listened along the way

                                                       Visiting many, walking to the store

                                                       Was the usual routine each day

                                                       Or sitting on an old fence rail

                                                       Eating an apple under the tree

                                                       Grandma gathering apples in her apron tail

                                                       The taste of that apple, what a memory

                                                       Skipping along, looking for a pretty rock

                                                       Running through the creek, busting it wide

                                                       Hardly a shoe, never a sock

                                                       Stumping her toes, she never cried

                                                       Her mouth running ninety miles an hour

                                                       Asking questions, curious as could be

                                                       Grabbing a crabapple, oh how sour

                                                       Her grandma warned her aimlessly

                                                       Walking to church many a time

                                                       And Decoration Day an annual event

                                                       Dinner on the ground a sure fire sign

                                                       The whole day they rejoiced and spent

                                                       So proud of her pretty, little church dress

                                                       Her mama made, especially for the day

                                                       And those pretty roses were the best

                                                       Sitting on the graves in a big bouquet

                                                       Carrying that little doll her grandma gave

                                                       With piercing eyes blue as the sky

                                                       The smallest things are worth the save

                                                       Worth more than money can buy

                                                       So many memories for a small girl

                                                       Tucked away of a few short years

                                                       Her grandma wasn't long for this world

                                                       Golden memories wipe away the tears

                                                       In her mind she'll never lose sight

                                                       Of her grandma on that distant shore

                                                       Her voice she still hears each night

                                                       Go to sleep now, tomorrow we'll do even more

                                                       Today she smiles with a happy heart

                                                       Turning back time and each cherished page

                                                       She and her grandma will never part

                                                       Although she's grown, memories never age

                                                       @ Susie Swanson, 2013

This is for my grandma with much love.. A few short years together seemed like a lifetime of memories and I hold them so dear. I think of her more often this time of year when her pretty roses are in bloom..

I will be taking a short break from Blogger next week. Taking my computer to the Computer Doctor for a tune up. Hoping that's all it'll be.. To the ones that I miss visiting your posts, I'll apoligize now and catch them later. I do look forward to each one of your posts and appreciate your sweet words and visits to mine. It means the world to me and I thank each one of you ... May God Bless, Susie

                                  

When A Woman Prays

                                                 I planted a rose and I talked with God

                                                 I looked straight into the clear sky so blue

                                                 And I said, Dear God you do the rest

                                                 I have done all that I can do

                                                 The sun was warm on the moist ground

                                                 The wind from the south cooled my lifted face

                                                 And I think God came from the far blue sky

                                                 To watch in my small garden space

                                                 For this morning I found it, a lovely thing

                                                 A red rose proud on its red thorned stem

                                                 And there like little candles lit

                                                 Were the red tipped buds, a score of them

                                                 I believe God comes for a little while

                                                 When any new flower takes root and grows

                                                 And I am quite sure that he comes and stays

                                                 When a woman prays when she plants a rose

                                                   @ Susie Swanson, 2013

                                                 

Fears Hidden Away

                                                           It happens so often

                                                           A small, whimpering voice

                                                           Heard in the dark

                                                           Without reason or choice

                                                           With an empty stomach

                                                           A body that's bruised

                                                           No where to turn

                                                           And everything to lose

                                                           Such an innocent place

                                                           Where childhood lives

                                                           Is slowly taken away

                                                           By the hand that gives

                                                          A small spirit is broken

                                                          The pieces are gone

                                                          Never to be replaced

                                                          But innocence goes on

                                                          Running and jumping

                                                          So happy at play

                                                          With a smile on its face

                                                          And fears hidden away

                                                          @ Susie Swanson, 2013

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.. Sadly, to many children are abused everyday. It breaks my heart to know that so many suffer in silence and come to expect it and never know different or have anywhere to go or anybody to turn to. Blessings, Susie