Lady Cady

Faith * Family * Life

Poems

What a Blessing is Each Day

A few weeks ago we celebrated my two oldest kids birthdays. This year we celebrated each birthday while camping, which was an adventure… I can’t believe how fast they are growing! I am now a mom to a teen/tween/toddler/baby. My oldest kids have birthdays that are just two days apart so it sometimes makes for a crazy week! I decided to start a tradition this year of writing my kids a special poem for their birthdays. While I’m not going to share those here, this one came to me while reflecting on our week and we embarked on our epic drive home. 🙂

What a blessing is each day
To watch my children grow and play
To hear them laugh and hear them squeal
What they think is a big deal
To help them learn to make good choices
to hear their tender little voices
To see their art and towers too
And with them find out something new
To see their forts ‘neath woods so tall
To watch them kick and throw their ball
To camp with them beneath the stars
Crawl on the floor and play with cars
To snuggle on the couch at night
And give them hugs when caught in fright
To watch the bugs crawl on the ground
To see their joy when stuff is found
To make with them some cookies, yum
And watch them eat them one by one
To go with them to brand new places
To wipe their smudgy, dirty faces
To teach them how to clean a mess
To teach them how to get all dressed
To see the breeze blow through the trees
To help them pray while on their knees
To give them rides upon my back
to make each one a mid day snack
And while the years go way to fast
I’m glad for memories that last
How glad I’ll be to look back one day
That I watched them grow and play.

The Blessings of a Trial

I haven’t yet met anyone who has figured out how to get through life without ever experiencing any hardships or trials. I have had my moments where I have wished I could figure it out though! Often I think we look at trials only in a negative way but what if we stopped to think deeper about them? What if we choose to see what God sees when he lets us go through the trials we are given? Why not trust him and let him shape us into who He knows we can become? What if we let Him let our Light out?

While on my knees in prayer tonight
I asked the Lord if he just might
Ease the trials that rain on me
And if not that, to help me see.
And while I listened to his voice
He reminded me of Choice,
The reasons why I’m here below
That I might live, and learn, and grow.
“These trials you have aren’t meant to be
A punishment to you, you see.
But are meant to free the Light
That glows inside you, warm and bright.
It’s once the Light has broken free,
That you become much more like me.”
It’s then I humbly thanked the Lord
For all His love and much, much more.
Because the trials that rain on me
Are only meant to help me be
Much more like Him in every way,
Who suffered more then I can say
But lived and loved most Perfectly
To teach us all just how to be.
And all because of that great love
I’ll put my trust in Him above.

The Daughter of a Queen

This past week was Girl’s Camp in our Stake and while I am not currently serving in Young Women’s or have a daughter yet old enough to go, I do have a husband who was invited to Bishop’s night. I love making treats for the Youth so I made several batches of Chocolate Chip Treasure Cookies courtesy of Mel’s Kitchen CafĂ© and a couple batches of Rice Krispy Treats, also courtesy of Mel, and I bagged them up all nice and cute like and tied them up with a ribbon, and this poem I was inspired to write last week.
Then off they went with my husband to the crazy experience that is Bishop’s Night at Girls Camp. In it’s own special way, this was my way of testifying to the Young Women (and now to you) that even if we don’t fully understand it yet, we are beloved Sons and Daughters of Heavenly Parents, who love us deeply. And we are much happier when we never forget it.

Last night I had a lovely dream-
I was the daughter of a queen.
With soft and flowing locks of hair,
And a heart that always, always cared.
And when I felt her warm embrace
I knew this was my favorite place.
Arm in arm we talked awhile.
Arm in arm she made me smile.
Many things she taught me there,
Many things with such great care.
Not only how to be a queen,
But also things that are unseen.
Like how to have a loving heart,
And make the right choice from the start.
Best of all she told me how
to make it through the hard times now
By never, ever letting go
Of my faith, and things I know
And trusting in the Lord’s Great Plan
And not the many ways of Man.

As with the dreams beneath the moon,
I found the new day far too soon.
Missing greatly that great place.
Missing greatly that kind face.
So in the morning on my knees
I begged for much “Remembrance Please”.
Then the spirit spoke to me
And I remembered faithfully
That while a veil may be in place,
And I don’t remember each great face,
Heavenly Parents wait for me.
Heavenly Parents hope for me.
That I’ll make it through the hard times now,
And make it back to them somehow.
To sit beside them way up there,
To sit beside their Golden Chairs.
And while down here it may not be seen,
I am the daughter of a King.
I am the daughter of a Queen.

The Stars at Night

I’ve always been fascinated by the stars. They are so beautiful and calming. Living in the Pacific Northwest as I do now, we don’t see them all that often. But when we do, it is always a fun surprise I do my best to appreciate!

I like to get up in the night
And look out at the stars so bright. 
Each tiny twinkle in the sky
Winks back at me from way up high
Each one in place with such great care
Only heaven could’ve put them there
And how many people have they seen –
From peasant to a lovely queen 
Those troubled just outside the bay –
And helped them all along their way
What a blessing is each one
That helps us when there is no sun
And the moon is hiding its bright face
In some other secret place.
How glad I am for perfect love 
From One who made those stars above
What peace and comfort find me there
When stillness shadows everywhere 
And a quiet whisper in my ear
Reminds me that there’s love right here. 
How glad i am for oh, so bright –
The stars that twinkle in the night.  

Kind Words

Sometimes its the simplest things we do that can change things. Like choosing to be kind instead of saying what we may really want, whether to a stranger or someone we know and love. But choosing to be kind and uplifting is always the best choice!


Do you know the value
Of a kind word spoken now?
Leave the mean ones left unspoken –
that conversation with a bow.
Instead use words to lift and praise 
And share the good you see.
If all the world was kind like this
How different would it be.

When I Get to Heaven’s Gate

This week is the anniversary of when my mother passed away. It’s always a hard time because even though I’ve lived more of my life without her now, I still miss her so, so much. It is also a time that once again causes me to reflect on what’s important in life and motivates me to try a little harder where I’m falling short. I want to not only see my loved ones again but live with them forever. I hope you do too.

I often think of Heaven’s Gate
And wonder – will my mother wait?
Will my grandma be there too?
Will it shine like something new?
Will the angels let me through?
Will grandpa show me what to do?
Will friends I’ve lost a long the way
Be there to greet me on that day?
Will Jesus be there with a grin
And say “Well done!” and let me in?
Have I lived in this dark place,
To earn my Father’s Warm Embrace?

Or will the gates be locked in place
And no one with a smiling face
Because I didn’t Earn the Prize
And didn’t grow my heart that size.
But instead ignored the way
And chose to do things my own way
The thought alone makes my heart break
To think of all that is at stake.
Father, help me here below,
To be obedient and to grow
That I might live with you again
And see my loved ones once again
For I don’t want to be Too Late
When I get to Heaven’s Gate.