9:54

I remember when it started.

Driving up the hill,

On our way to school.

Rounding a corner,

Blinding sun in our eyes.

Mom said she had a lump.

I remember how it was.

So many details,

So many memories.

Two years, three months.

I remember when it ended.

The call at work,

Dad says it’s soon.

He can’t pick me up,

Can’t leave her alone

With my siblings tonight.

A ride home from someone else.

Her labored breathing.

Sitting on the top bunk,

My sister on the bottom.

Dad walks in,

Says she’s gone.

I look at the clock.

It’s 9:54.

A MOMENT OF CHILDHOOD CAPTURED

 

WINTER WALK TO THE LIBRARY

Blue skies

Forty degrees

Plaid shorts

Smooth bare knees

Cold ears

Tiara in place

Cowgirl boots

Desire to race

Striped hair

Stick for walking

At cars waving

With mom talking

Pink camo

Jeweled fleece

Head high

Heart at peace

Half mile

Sidewalk cracks

Off to get

Books in stacks

CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER - 2013 EDITION

2013 - A WEATHERSBY YEAR IN REVIEW

Roses are red

It's the time of year

To let you all know

What's been going on here

Tim earned a license

To administrate schools

These days he's subbing

And enforcing class rules

Bethany blogs

She cleans and she cooks

She's a homeschooling mom

And she reads lots of books

Silas is a talker

He'll soon start volunteering

He enjoys playing piano

So lots of music we're hearing

Devon's a joker

Often up a tree

He loves puzzles and books

And origami

Naomi loves dancing
Has a tender heart
She also makes weird faces
And thinks it's funny to fart

Teebs is so busy
He moves all the time
He loves singing and running
And finding things to climb

We do lots of things
Like shooting hoops
Helping at church
Joining homeschool groups

Jumping on trampolines
Going for walks
Baking cookies
Having interesting talks

Both public and private
This year's had some trials
But we've had so many blessings
That have brought lots of smiles

We're thankful for those
Whose paths ours have crossed
And for the love of Jesus
Without which we're lost

Merry Christmas!!

The 6 Ws

Tim, Bethany, Silas, Devon, Naomi, Tyler

And now our latest batch of family pictures, which we are so thankful we were able to get done this year!

Stunt time.

Snuggle time.

Couple time.

Kid time.  The one where Silas said, "You can tell I have my legs kicked up, but it looks like Devon has a horn."

Kid time.  The one where Devon, in reply to the photographers request that the kids line up, said, "By age or by height?  Because they're different lines."

ODE TO THE SINK

Roses are red
My toilet is white
When I need to hurl
It's an unwelcome site

I'd have to kneel down
With my face where butts go
When out of my mouth
My last meal starts to flow

If food's coming up
And I must hold back my hair
Then at food in the toilet
I don't want to stare

I could close my eyes
To block the view
But then I couldn't watch out
For the backsplash of spew

So when I am preggo
And feel the puke coming
Into the kitchen
You'll see me go running

I don't have to kneel
I just stand at the sink
I turn on the water
But don't take a drink

Instead I just hurl
And it goes right down the drain
No staring at vomit
To make me insane

The flow of the faucet
Also muffles the noise
So the sound of my wretching
Won't bug the girl or the boys

When I'm throwing up
My head gets really hot
So I splash running water
To cool down that spot

When it's all said and done
When the chunks are all blown
I flip on the disposal
And hear the thing groan

There's no mess to look at
And my puke is all gone
That's why I like the sink
Instead of the john



And, yes, in case you were wondering, this poem was inspired by preggo puking this morning. I only puked once per pregnancy with the other little Ws, so I'm hoping today's excitement was the first and last time it happens.

ODE TO A FEVER

Roses are red
Pumpkins are not
When I woke this morning
My body was hot

A stick in my mouth
Soon told me why
In triple digits
My temperature was high

I didn't eat breakfast
Which is incredibly rare
Had no appetite
Despite delicious fare

Cancelled a class
I was supposed to teach
My feverish germs
To students shouldn't reach

But the biggest proof
That my health is gone
Is that I asked Tim
To mow the lawn

Oh, how I love
That household chore
After our move
It won't exist anymore

Letting him do it
Is a pretty big sign
That my poor body
Is not feeling fine

Maps off the wall
And sandwiches made
That's all I could do
Til I felt energy fade

Read "I Spy" with Naomi
Watched a flick on the couch
All in all
Been a total slouch

I'm hoping by bedtime
That the fever is done
My temp shouldn't start
With one-oh-one

JUDY

Roses are red
Elephants are grey
I know someone
Who's sixty-nine today

Her name is Judy
And she's totally great
The reasons?
Well, let me elaborate

If I'm discouraged in marriage
Feel like a bad wife to Tim
She challenges me with ways
That I can bless him

If I'm weary in parenting
And just want to sob
She puts things in perspective
Reminds me it's a long-term job

If I'm generally weepy
And falling apart
She gives me a hug
And speaks from her heart

If I'm talking to someone
And she passes by
She'll squeeze my shoulder
Just to say hi

But it's not just me
Many others are blessed
Far more than she
Could ever have guessed

So I hope on her birthday
The fun doesn't fade
As she kicks off the last year
Of her seventh decade

ASHLEY

Roses are red
I'm not a mister
Neither is Ashley
She's my step-sister

She posted on Facebook
A few days ago
Who wanted mail?
She wanted to know

I do, I do
I think mail's fun
I answered quickly
Response number one

Something would come
But I'd have to wait
It would be soon
Though I knew not the date

Today we were gone
On a family outing
Tired and grumpy
I just felt like pouting

When we got home
Saw a box at the door
Figured the Moffits
Is who it was for

When I got closer
Saw my name in print
So into the house
I started to sprint

I opened the box
The gift I did see
I got a big smile
So filled with glee

Two dozen cookies
To pass through my lips
Macadamia nut
And white chocolate chips

She'd put some thought
Into which type to bake
No generic cookie gift
Was she going to make

So she thought back
To a chat we'd had
When she'd come to visit
Along with my dad

It was a few years back
But her memory's snappy
She sent cookies I love
And my taste buds are happy

The loot.

Just doing some quality control testing.

PAM

Roses are red
The hour is late
But I want you to meet
A woman who's great

I've known her for years
Twenty-four, in fact
Into that time
Much kindness she's packed

Cooked carrots for Ben
When he was a boy
Hosted my 16th party
Both a surprise and a joy

My mom's last Thanksgiving
At Pam's table was set
Her kindness that day
I'll never forget

For Beep and I
Pam was a rock
Both in practical ways
And when we needed to talk

She's kept in touch
Over the years
Pretty sure at our weddings
She shed some tears

Now we're grown up
Have kids of our own
And into their lives
Kindness she's shown

She tells us she's proud
Of the adults we've become
And praises the family
That we came from

This lady is special
I love her a lot
Lest she ever doubt that
This poem she's got

LINDA

Roses are red
Jewelry is pretty
I got some in the mail
From a different city

I needed a present
To ship overseas
I knew Linda's creations
Would be sure to please

So I hopped on her site
But there was bad news
Everything was so nice
I just couldn't choose

Do I mix and match
Or do I buy a set
I wanted the most
That my money could get

I finally chose
She made a sale
And before I knew it
It arrived in the mail

Now, my sister knows
What site I bought from
But she has no idea
What selection will come

Linda has jewelry
For all types of girls
Simple and fancy
But none made with pearls

She'll even do custom
Make your vision come true
Then in record time
She'll mail it to you

So, if you need a gift
For a woman that's great
Then go visit Linda
Hurry, don't wait


In case you missed the link in the poem, click here to see her site.

KELLY

Roses are red
Kelly is not
A package from her
My mailman just brought

It has something in it
Oh wait, there is more
There are five things
Not bought at a store

They are dishcloths she knit
Some blue and some green
The prettiest ones
My kitchen has seen

Handwashing our dishes
Is a regular chore
Thanks to Kelly
It won't be a bore

I just have to say that I love all my Sonlight friends! Kelly, thanks for blessing me with these dishcloths. They're beautiful, though I must say it seems a little weird to use that word to describe a dishcloth. :)