She Could Have Been

 

My youngest daughter, Angela

She's certainly not mine, but she could've been

The older we grow, we're more like kin

She was almost thirteen when first we met

I was hopelessly lost in her Mama's net

A child to raise, I needed no more

Having finished the task, with a previous four

But God grants you gifts you don't recognize

'Specially when your eyes are fixed on a prize

What a special day, what a ceremony

As her Mom and I joined in matrimony

Each of our kids took part in the fun

As the clouds rolled away and we stood in the sun

Tho' I did make the offer,  to take  her in too

She chose to remain and not become new

A promise I honored and did never refrain

To keep her on track, her goals to attain

From a Sunday School slip of a "Brown of panties"

She's now leader in sales, with no ranties

Clever and witty is she, there's no doubt

Her words and her actions bring plenty of clout

Along the way she began her own story

With John and three boys to earn their own glory

Tho Nana's in Heaven, be assured she looks down

To remind her of course, that panties aren't brown

So as I reflect on what I have gained

With her Mom, I got her,  and all she's attained

But God chose the time and picked out the when

She's certainly not mine, but she should've been

To my sweet Angela Lee which by the way, is my middle name too.

Just before I met Cheryl

First Christmas together

The Beach House

The beach house

First light

The sun is like a sparkling ball

Bailey and Scouts' view

The sun struggles to break through the clouds and the mist

First light above the horizon

We went to the beach where St Augustine be

To a house sitting next to the mighty blue sea,

We'd only to walk a few steps or more

To the edge of the dune, not far from the door.

The beautiful rise of the sun seemed to me

Like a bright glitter ball, as it skipped 'cross the sea

It struggled to burn past the clouds, and the mist

To illumine the surf, and all things it kiss't

Each day brought new clouds, and new vistas too

For the palms and the beach took on a fresh hue

Sunsets  'cross the river, on the back of the place

Closed each day with hope and a smile on your face.

As each day waxed in the sun and the sand

New things would unfold, both wondrous and grand

Overhead flights of pelican formations

Up the beach, down the beach, no sure destinations

Make time to trek to the coast in your life

Make time to relax and escape all your strife

But don't lose sight of what it all seems

Of the ones you love and share with your dreams

We walked down that beach with memories past

Holding close  to thoughts that ever shall last

Gripping tight to the  hand of one held so sweet

One, who for sure, in Heav'n we'll meet

Take time to share with those you are given

With an eye toward God, your father in Heaven

For the pleasure of family and the things that we love

Mean  more than the sea and the sun up above

New vistas every day

The pelican Patrol

A beautiful golden sunrise  over the beach

The pelican patrol flight leader

Sunset over the Matanzas River

Playing Wordle with Johnathon, "Lets start with 'water', Poppy" (Every new game)

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Bennett and Bailey with Poppy

Poppy and Weston having fun

On the beach on the 4th of July with Angela, the boys and the girls

On the deck the morning I left

Trained guard dog warding off evil beach walkers with dogs.

Lord, thanks for those times we all shared together

Tis the kind of thing we'll remember forever

Life's too short to skip the best parts

Those times when together, we all shared our hearts.

Amen

The last sunset over the Matanzas before I left

The final flight, not really, they are endless, like my memories