Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Come Go With Me



                                                Come go with me
                                                like a kindred friend
                                                we'll walk through the past
                                                where our ancestors have been

                                                We'll visit the places
                                                where they once grew
                                                and absorb every moment
                                                as we walk on through



                                             We'll stroll through valleys
                                              over hills and plains
                                              and capture the beauty
                                              of spring time rains

                                             We'll listen to the echoes
                                              in the distance afar
                                              those old familiar voices
                                              having raised high the bar




                                          We'll experience the joys
                                           that filled their days
                                           and follow the examples
                                           set forth in yesterdays

                                           We'll wear the same shoes
                                            and walk the same mile
                                            and remember the past
                                            with tears and a smile




                                           Then when we return
                                            to the present day winds
                                            let us never forget
                                            when our journey ends

                                            Susie Swanson, Copyright  2010

As another year comes to an end and a new year begins, I want to thank each one of you for your love, caring, prayers, friendship and most of all your words of encouragement. They mean so much to me.  Each one of you are very special  and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your uplifting posts.. They always make my day. I look forward to them. I may not have as much time as I would like to visit but I enjoy every minute and every post..
As eveyone knows by now, I'm a frequent visitor of the past.. There's something about it that inspires me more than anything I could ever explain. It may not appeal to some but I will eventually and hopefully come up with something you might like. I just have to pull myself back to the present every now and then.
With that said I would like to wish each one of you a Happy New Year. As for me, I'll be visiting the old year quite often, more yesterdays to write about.. May God Bless Each One..

Friday, December 23, 2011

The Savior



                                              Many long years ago
                                              in a town called Bethleham
                                              a baby boy was born
                                              a precious, little lamb

                                              Sent by God's own grace
                                              to save the world from sin
                                              a gift of undying love
                                              from heaven did descend

                                              From a tiny child he grew
                                              in this world he did trod
                                              spreading wonders did abound
                                              from this Savior sent by God

                                              A shining light to all
                                              each road that he walked down
                                              resisting the works of destruction
                                              he wore a shining crown

                                              He came not to call the righteous
                                              but the sinners to repentance
                                              from his father's hand above
                                              he was led by love and guidance

                                              He set forth a fine example
                                              for all the world to see
                                              to follow in his footsteps
                                              and do the things as he

                                              For God so loved the world
                                              he gave his only son
                                              that who so ever believeth
                                              their soul shall be won

                                              So pick up thy rod and staff
                                              and follow him each new day
                                              just know in heaven we'll live
                                              it's just a prayer away

                                              Susie Swanson, 2011

                                             From my Family to Yours
                                             Merry Christmas and May God Bless..

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

My Christmas Card To You



                                                Every name is a blessing
                                                upon this list of mine
                                                somewhere our paths have crossed
                                                in another place and time

                                                Perhaps it was years ago
                                                or only yesterday
                                                but every person on my list
                                                has changed my life someway

                                                A simple hug or conversation
                                                a friendly smile or meal
                                                a spoken prayer to God above
                                                has helped me grow and heal

                                                Perhaps God went through you
                                                and wove his magic twine
                                                in some small or kindly deed
                                                to touch this heart of mine

                                                You wished the gray clouds away
                                                 and prayed for sunshine instead
                                                 I raised my eyes to heaven
                                                 and found a rainbow instead

                                                Worldly things that trouble me
                                                 just seems to disappear
                                                 knowing you are always there
                                                 across the miles or near

                                                 You restore my faith, love and hope
                                                  a bond that will never cease
                                                  so many wonderful family and friends
                                                  brings to me an inner peace

                                                 Each day my list continues to grow
                                                 and each name I hold so dear
                                                 each one has brought Christmas joy
                                                 everyday of the year

                                                 This Christmas card I give to you
                                                  is more than just a wish
                                                  it's a "Thank You" to God above
                                                  for putting you on my list

                                                  Susie Swanson, 2011



                                                  Merry Christmas To All and May God Bless.


                                                 

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

A Legend



While traveling down through life,I remember oh so well. An old gentleman I loved dearly that loved to talk and tell.

About his cherished memories of many years gone by. Learning was an humble experience and to listen I always did try.

He talked about his childhood and how he grew up rich and poor.With wealth not of money but riches a thousand ways more.

I'd just sit and listen and feast on every word. Now I want you to read this legend of a man's life as told in his own word.

I lived through the Great Depression when there was no jobs to find. We always had plenty to eat he said, each year the gardens grew more kind.

And when they came in, we canned everything we could. In the winter we killed our hogs we raised and had plenty of meat and the eatin was good.

And hard work was never a stranger, I helped run that old gristmill everyday. If me and my daddy made fifty cents it was more than they could pay.


But we never did ask for money our satisfaction always came, in knowing we helped put bread on their table, it was money just the same.

Back then people growed big cornfields and worked from sun up till sun down. They brought it anyway they could to the mill just to get it ground..

Oh I remember a few that was just plain sorry back then. They'd lay around and let their family go hungry, the more you'd give em the more they'd depend.

I remember this one old feller was the worst I've ever known. Somebody offered him some corn one time and he asked if it was shelled and they told him no and he said drive on.

But most people wasn't like that, they learned to work early on. And there wasn't much time for schooling back then, what I learned I learned on my own.

Back when we were both younguns, me and my brother walked up the hill. To a little one room school housewaht time we wasn't at the gristmill.



That teacher taught every grade and she sure had trouble keeping us in line. I'd slip out the backdoor going home and the next day she'd whoop my behind.

I guess that's the reason I didn't learn and don't know much today. But you know common sense will get you pretty far and go a long way.

You know the younguns today learn alot and have more opportunities than we did. They got the best chances in the world to go farther, but first they need to be a kid.

I started out young learning to be a man and that was fine by me. Today younguns want to drive fast cars, I drove a wagon hitched to mules and it made me feel free.

I was pretty young when when I helped my daddy drive an old wagon to town. It took us all ady to get there and back but it was the only way around.

We'd haul a whole load of pulpwood and they'd pay us two to three dollars a load. Not much money at all for an all day trip on an old gutted out road.

And I can still remember the first car that came through the country side, An old A Model Ford, it spooked the mules pulling the wagons and the old feller just drove on in stride.



After that my daddy died back in 1937 and I helped make his casket before they put him in the ground.
People kept their folks at home back then, there wasn't any funeral homes around.

It seemed after he died times got even more rough.I had to pick up work wherever I could , but it never did seem to be enough.

I remember leaving home at two o' clock in the morning, walked every step of the way. I worked  hard at that old sawmill, never got home till after dark for fifty cents a day.

Most people walked everwhere they went, to me it was never a chore. You know people were a lot more healthy back then and enjoyed life more.

And people took time to visit their neighbors and check in on the sick. Mommy stopped at every house a long the way, carrying that old walking stick.

She'd take em some chicken and dumplins from an old hen she'd killed. Even if that old hen was sitting on a nest of eggs she didn't care, it was her favorite meal.

Mommy prayed a lot for us boys back then. Many a time I could hear her upon the mountain down on her knees praying and God was surely her friend.

And it payed off to, God surely answered her prayers. I made it right with God one night at an old revival and mommy jumped straight up in the air.





But before that I was meaner than the dickens I do recall. I used to slip out the front door of the church when they give the alter call.

Mommy's brother my uncle Tom was a preacher man and he got to watching us and one night he came up with a plan.

Just before he gave the alter call he walked to the front door and laid his Bible down. He said I dare anybody to step over God's word, we climbed out the window and jumped to the ground.

Well I better get off of this stuff or I'll be in a big mess. Uns younguns don't need to hear about so much meance today, it's for the best.

Well we lost Mommy back in 1960, the coldest time I ever seen. They liked to never got her grave dug, had to shovel the snow back and dig in between.

Back then people in the community dug every grave there was and I always pitched in. Some we had to shoot with a stick of dynamite when we got in a big rock den.

And that reminds me of digging wells he said, we dug everyone by hand. We'd dig for weeks or even months before we struck water and sometimes we just got sand.

And today when I walk up and down these roads, it comes to mind so clear, of how many I help build and how many's still here.

I started out when Roosevelt was President, working with the W.P.A. That was the best thing to come along back then and I worked for em many a day.

You know Roosevelt got the country back in shape, it was just about gone. Some people almost starved to death it was the worst I've ever known.



We built roads and dams all over the place and everyone I still recall. A lot of them roads and dams are still around today but they're more large now than small.

Everybody had it rough back then but we managed to make it on through. Even after me and your mammy got married and we had uns younguns too.

I had to go off to work again down south with that road crew. We built a lot of roads down there and never got to come home but once every week or two.

Come Sunday evening I always had to pack up and go straight back. She never would say it but I think your mammy had a lot of trouble keeping uns younguns on track.

I had to use my belt a time or two but I never did beat anybody to death. You know if anybody gets caught whooping their younguns today, they'll stay in jail until they draw their last breath.

Well I think I'll get my old walking stick and go out to the old place. Need to check on that corn, if the crows has got it again, I'll need to replace.

But there's one more thing I'd like to say, you see these overalls I wear. When I die just bury me with my overalls and hat, I don't want no fancy attire.

And you see this walking stick here, just pass it on down. I won't need it anymore, let it help someone else walk these roads and get around.

And then he was gone, back in 1998 he passed away. And today this legend of a man is wearing his overalls and hat and telling his stories in heaven everyday.

And today I'm so honored to share these cherished memories of mine.Oh how I still miss and love my Dad, what a legacy he left behind.

                                             Susie Swanson, 2011

                                   In loving Memory Of my Dad....January, 18, 1904----April 27, 1998

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Santa And Me



                                                 One Christmas I had to help santa
                                                 or no presents there would be
                                                 It was very warm and rainy
                                                 a very unusual Christmas to me

                                                 The presents were stored and ready
                                                  in the old mill house across the creek
                                                  Me and santa thought we'd never make it
                                                  crossing that footlog and swelled up creek

                                                  But we managed to make it across
                                                  and we carried them on in home
                                                  The kids were fast asleep
                                                  and didn't even know we'd been gone

                                                  We left them in that old toe sack
                                                   and laid them near the tree
                                                   When the kids got up the next morning
                                                   what a sight there was to see

                                                   But one present came up missing
                                                   and my sister was awfully sad
                                                   Me and santa had to back track ourselves
                                                   or things were going to get bad

                                                   We found that little doll
                                                   a little piece out the road
                                                   Me and santa had surely dropped it
                                                   out of that big toe sack load

                                                   Then everyone was happy
                                                   thanks to santa and me
                                                   What a wonderful Christmas memory
                                                   every year I put under my tree

                                                    Susie Swanson,  2011

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Somebody Prayed For You


                                                   Somebody prayed for you today
                                                   when your feet ached and your back grew sore
                                                   and your heavy burdens weighed you down
                                                   and you cried aloud, "please God no more"
                                                   Somebody prayed for you today
                                                   when you were sad and you felt alone
                                                   and you vainly reached for the yesterdays
                                                   and the simple joys that you had known

                                                   Somebody prayed for you today
                                                   when nothing seemed to turn out right
                                                   and you longed for a friendly voice and smile
                                                   with never a living soul in sight
                                                   But somebody prayed for you today
                                                   within whose heart you'll always be
                                                   and the dear Lord listened and blessed us both
                                                   For the one who prayed was me

                                                   Grace E. Easley

I want to give you all an update on my niece. She got to come home today. They can't do anymore surgeries for three months until her body heals some from her ordeal and other surgeries. She has several more to go and they won't know if she will ever walk again for about two years. They will be doing therapy on her while she's home. She will have round the clock care, as she will be in a hospital bed. Her family has their hands full and still need prayers.. They are overwhelmed with so much caring, love and support. I know with God's help she will overcome this tragedy and they will make it.. Thank you all for your wonderful prayers and caring.. Please continue to pray.. May God Bless Each One.. Susie