Treasured Times, draft no. 1

 With gratitude to Jen (and Chris) for our early Christmas gifts

 

Savoring pub fare at The Lord Clyde’s

Seeing Love’s Labor at the Globe from on high

Rubbing brass plates at St. Martin-in-the-Fields

Haggling for I ❤ London tank top deals

Rainy day Pimlico [marathon] charity shopping

Fortnum and Mason cream and scone stopping

Sporting “Classic Wedding Clobber” for Jersey “I do’s”

Making floral arrangements for the chapel pews

Always a pleasure to spend time together

No matter the place, the time, the weather.

 

Love, Jen

Goods from the Good Gift Giver, draft no. 3

 For Alden and Claire, with gratitude for our

Fall 2026 Scotland/London/Isle of Jersey vacation

 

Peeking at V&A Annex’s hidden gems

Cable caring across the Thames

Seeing Love’s Labor Lost at the Globe

Enjoying Japanese cuisine at Tombo

Savoring Britannia’s fudge and tearoom

Bracing for Edinburgh Castle’s “Boom!”

Caledonian bunk sleeping and Menken Proms

Souvenir shopping on and on

Hiking from Holyrood up Royal Mile hill

The matter of paying that first pub bill

Sporting “Classic Wedding Clobber” for British mores

Walking low tide on Old Jersey’s shores

Spotting lavender farms and tiny lizards

Worshipping God, the Good Gift Giver

Always a pleasure to travel together

No matter what time, what place, what weather.

 

Love,

Mom/Jen

"Happy Hobbler", draft no. 4

Nothing could ever match the thrill

Of having my son lead us around the Hill,

Landing a White House West Wing tour

And poking my praying head through the Oval Office door.

Daughters of the Revolution gave me hope

My progeny might land on their rolls,

Taught me of Phillis Wheatley, The Revolution's Poet Laureate

A fellow wordsmith, despite her bound chariot [or enslavement?].

Snuck morsels of Calder and Mary Cassatt

Between back spasms and ice pack stops,

Even got to the National Cathedral

For carillon hymns and vibes medieval.

My knee made me a tad slow pokey

But I ordered correctly my DeSalles gnocchi

The metro was smooth; the weather sultry

The company cool; the expenses paltry.

Glad to see the newlyweds at their intern best

Before they head off to their grad school nest.

Power Couple, draft no. 2

(For Calvin, I wrote this just before your wedding, but sending it now):

I know she takes your breath away

But I do not ask your love to stay

I'd rather you fall out of love

Learn the cadence from above

Of loving someone for the ways

They aren't who you thought they had to be

I'd rather you love unto holiness

Hers, yours, the kind only found

By Christ's example, power, and fellowship

This is your bread, your calling, a mystery

You will amass a large school debt

(And one day pay that off)

But I would rather you know the constant debt of

Outdoing the "I do" one breath at a time

May your highs and your disillusionments

Draw you deeper into communion with Christ

A deeper well that nourishes you into 

A swaddling kind of love

Your signal is getting stronger, your melody is ringing true

How wonderful to be sure of this:

You will not die with your song still inside you, 

You are singing it every day

At the top of your lungs. 

Love, 

Mom

Luxury Ride, draft no. 11

Rain, wipers pulsing,

Echo deepest childhood slumber

My dad at the wheel

Good Things Come, draft no. 4

 For Calvin and Tori on their wedding day, May 26, 2026:

You’ve dated and grown

You’ve prayed; you’ve flown

Now the waiting part is done

Now the two have become one

This is the time you’ve dreamed of

This is the dawning of your love

Good has come to those who wait

What a fitting pair you make!

May each sunrise be better still

As you seek to do God’s will.

 

Love Mom/Mom Hunt

 

For: Marin and Julie, draft no. 3

Come with me for a wagon ride

Up and down on Peonies Drive

The pink peonies have started their show--

Let’s celebrate with dolls in tow!

Dodging rain drops, thunderclaps

Wearing tissue papered hats

There’s lavender lemonade and cake—more! More!

Learning about lupine from Miss Rumphius’ lore

One doll’s hat (almost) lost

One girl’s stroller cris and crossed

Some new friends were surely made--

Won’t you join me for next year’s Peony Parade?