Lady Cady

Faith * Family * Life

Poems

Pondering {A Poem by Madalyn!}

My daughter recently started studying the life and poems of Emily Dickinson in her Literature Family School lessons. As port of their discussion for literature a few weeks ago in Power Hour they were each asked to write a poem on pondering. It was something Emily Dickinson did and its important in our lives as well. Madalyn shared her poem with her class and then her poetry/literature/writing obsessed mom (who also loves everything she writes) afterwards, and since she knew what my next question was before I even asked it…, here it is for you too. 😍

Pondering
By Madalyn Cady (March 2022 – age 10)

Pondering –
Is a simple thing.
We do it every day.
We do it during scriptures
And we do it when we pray.

Pondering –
Is a simple thing.
The prophets do it too.
They also know how good it is
For you and me to do.

Toddler Life

My youngest little boy started walking a few months ago, just before his first birthday. He is doing really well, and definitely our fastest walker! But there is still so much he is still learning and navigating and getting used to. (Like walking with shoes on outside for example…) He’s so serious about it all. It’s adorable. It’s so fun watching him figure things out. Sometimes he seems so smart I’m amazed, but I remind myself he’s a full-grown spirit squished and navigating a little tiny body. ❤

Stumble, stumble, tumble, tumble,
Stand up and try again –
Without that pesky shoe on
I might make it further then I’ve been.

Fumble, fumble, crumble, crumble,
There goes my lunch again –
If there was a prize for mess maker,
I’d be the cutest one to win.

Mumble, mumble, grumble, grumble,
I’m tired out once again –
So let me get my nap in
And I’ll be ready to begin.

Jumble, jumble, bumble, bumble,
I made a mess of things again –
If you can’t believe the things I do
Just think if I had a twin!

Stumble, stumble, humble, humble,
Stand up and try again –
I may be just a little toddler
But I’m a giant deep within.

Conversations

I’ve been thinking lately about my relationship with our Heavenly Parents. I know this is something we don’t often talk about so I’m going into dangerous waters here…, but (my opinion) I believe we really do have loving Heavenly Parents – a Father and a Mother – who love us perfectly and when we think of them reverently, as well, parents and not some abstract thing, it can do wonders for us and how we see ourselves and treat those around us. I know how much I love my earthly parents. I can only imagine how much love I have for our Heavenly Parents! That thought never ceases to motivate me to be better. To follow the Savior and my Church Leaders, that I may someday happily return Home too.

Loving Father, and Mother too –
How I miss and long for you!
To feel the warmth in your embrace.
To see the love upon your face.
To feel my peace restored again
And fill the place that fear has been.
Oh, how I long for soon the day
When I may come back Home and stay
And never need to leave your side
Because it’s too where I reside.

Precious Daughter, we miss you too
But we’re so proud of all you do.
The kindness that you always share,
The burdens that you gladly bare.
How precious you are within our sight.
How glad we are you keep up the fight.
We know Home is where you long to be
But there’s more to learn before you’re free.
So, here’s a gift to help you out.
Take it and replace your doubt.

Loving Father, and Mother too,
Thank you two for all you do.
Thank you for giving the things I need
And protecting me from pride and greed.
How glad I am you help me out –
With the Spirit, lead me about.
Help me grow each day like you.
Help me see good in what I do.
Where others think I’m failing fast,
You lead me to the things that last.
Loving Father, and Mother too
I have so much love for each of you.

Precious Daughter, we love you too.
How much we miss and long for you!
To feel the warmth in your embrace.
To see the love upon your face.
To know that you are safe again
In the place you once have been.
Oh, how we long for soon the day
When you may come back home to stay!
And never need to leave our side
Because it’s too where you reside.
So, until your time on Earth is done
Do everything to follow our Son.
Know down deep within your heart
With us is where you got your start
And oh, how glad will be the day
When you once again come Home to stay.

When Darkness Threatens

I’m going to be real and honest here. Anxiety sneaks up on me more often than I’d like, and I have to fight hard to tame it back down again at times. I normally don’t pay much attention to any media to help with this but with much of the world events recently it’s been hard to avoid it! That plus a story my daughter read to me as part of her Language Arts lessons plus several helicopters flying over our house… it all caught up with me! Thankfully Heavenly Father sent me a tender mercy and my wonderful husband wasn’t busy when I needed to talk. My sweet husband let me share my fears and taught me things I didn’t understand that helped me start back to where I prefer to be – calm and peaceful. Once I was feeling better, I worked out this little poem. Darkness is always all around us in so many, many forms, but we all have the choice to turn towards it or turn away from it. What will you choose?

When darkness threatened you today
Where did you try to hide away?
Did you stay where darkness lives
Or stretch out to where goodness gives?
Did you feed on junk and more
Or choose to walk right out that door?
Did you give in and criticize
Or did you recognize those lies?
Did you play the victim card
Or go and rake your neighbor’s yard?
Did your eyes see only Bad
Or did you let your heart feel Glad?
Did your strut around all smug
Or give a friend in need a hug?
Did you wear your pride all day
Or did you think to stop and pray?
Did you stay tucked in your bed
Or follow what the prophet said?
There will always be darkness at your door
But will you let it in to explore?
Or will you choose to seek the Light –
Cast out that fear, no matter the night.
Feel peace no matter how Hard the day.
Tuck your fears far, far away.
Lean on Christ to get you through
And show you what you need to do.
Trust that Christ indeed has won.
Trust that Christ is indeed God’s Son.
How glad you’ll be if from this day
From the Dark you turn away.

The Keys to the Castle

Do you sometimes wish for Better in your life? I know I sure do. These sure are crazy times aren’t they! I reflected in Church yesterday that even though these are difficult times – this isn’t the end! Don’t despair my friends. These things have all been foreseen and foretold by Prophets. This is Act 2 where the Drama really heats up for the poor Protagonist. We can make it through “a time such as this” and the reward will be beyond any we can imagine if we are faithful through it all. How happy we will be when we get our own Keys to our Castle. ❤

The keys to the castle
Aren’t silver or gold
Because the keys to the castle
Are things that aren’t sold.
They are things that we do
As we go through our lives –
It’s being the very best
Husbands and wives.
It’s loving our children
When even it’s hard.
It’s not judging our neighbors
Despite their front yards.
It’s going to church
When we’re not sure it’s the way.
It’s attending the temple
When it eats up our day.
It’s kindness and patience
Over anger and pride.
It’s following God
And not letting it hide.
It’s following Church leaders
As they guide us each day.
It’s following Church leaders
Who show us new ways.
It’s trusting that Christ
Really took all our sins.
it’s trusting that Christ
Really did win.
It’s obeying the Spirit
When it tells us To Do.
It’s obeying the Spirit
When we don’t even want to.
Each of these things
Is a drop into place
And so, we’ll be ready
When we again see God’s face.
When He welcomes us home
And tells us “Well done!”
And we happily tell Him
We followed His Son.
And then with the love
Only a father can give
He’ll show us the place
We then get to live. –
A mansion of glory
Beyond any we’ve known.
A castle of glory
With our love, we have grown.
A place just for us
For the rest of our days.
A place just for us
For following God’s ways.
Because the Keys to the Castle
Are things that aren’t sold –
The Keys to the Castle
Are more priceless that gold.
The Keys to the Castle
Are something we earn
When we cast aside all
And to God, we do turn.

Home

I have a confession to make: I’m a Homebody. Judge me if you must. I live with the best people in the whole world so really do you blame me? Why would I want to go spend time anywhere else? Plus, sometimes we wear matching pajamas and eat cookies. 😍

From this place upon this porch
I look out and I see,
The things I love, the things I need,
That lift and strengthen me.
My children riding on their bikes
Around and around and around.
The most beautiful trees that you might see
More than anywhere around.
A husband who works very hard,
And loves and cherishes me.
A dog who thinks wherever I am
Is where she needs to be.
And when I turn and go back in
There’re more things that I love,
Like the sounds of quiet guitar playing
From somewhere up above.
Pictures hanging on the walls
With lots of smiling faces
And little cars lined in a row
Waiting for the races.
A lazy cat, stretched on her back,
Of course, where I want to sit.
And how around our kitchen table,
We make a perfect fit.
Books scattered all around
To teach and help me grow.
Sitting in a big glass mixing bowl –
A fresh batch of cookie dough.
Memories soaked in these walls
Of times that we have shared –
Times that we have laughed and loved
And showed how much we cared.
Now I could leave, could take a chance
And travel the whole worldwide,
But I have all I need and want
Right here where I reside.
Now you may be one who has the need
To travel, to leave, to roam
But as for me, I’ll stay right here
In this place that I call Home.