"Moments With Poetic Thoughts"

I have found throughout my life, that I see to enjoy poetry very much. It all started with children's poetry books which my Mom would give me to read, and excellent teachers who had high expectations for our lives. When I was in third grade I took an exam which placed me into a group of students the following two years where we took three full grades in two years. In these classes, we students were expected to not only read books, but weekly we also had to memorize and stand before the class and recite one of the poems ~ many written in old English from a wonderful little book, which we were given to keep, which had hundreds of poems from the great poets of the past. And to this day, that book of poetry is still one of my favorites!

My son, likewise, was also drawn to books, and had a pretty heavy load of reading throughout his years at Mesa Union Elementary. This has made John's life very creative in his writings, also. Our daughter, Amy is/was/and always will be drawn towards music, and played first flute in her orchestras and bands from 6th grade through high school. I want to share with parents, that reading stories from the beginning of life is so important to the development of your children. Playing music from the softest to the most enjoyable upbeat of sound also plays a very important part in the development of a "little ones" joys throughout life. I will never forget our children and grandchildren falling to sleep to the softest of music which soothed them to sleep. And to this day ... all of them enjoy music very much. Our son loves musical plays ... and his attention hardly turns from the stage.

Another thing that I tried with our children and grandchildren was when they were listening to the television/radio ... I always had the sound on "low" for a couple of reasons. First, to teach them to pay attention and carefully listen to the person instructing them on the television program. Second, by having the sound down to a softer volume and having the children sitting at least 7' back from the screen, it allowed me to find out if they had trouble with their hearing & visual. You can learn a lot from watching how your kids react to sound like this. It also teaches them that if they want to learn, they have to listen. This is a model that will greatly benefit them through life! Also, always "praise, show, and share your joy" over your children for ALL of their great writings, music, drawings!!! Those words of "praise" brings a multitude of joy and smiles to them, which will go with them forever, also!!

One of the poems in here is "The Seasons Passing By" a beautiful poem which our son John wrote at the end of his Senior Class year at Rio Mesa High in 2002. When I first read it I was overwhelmed with his depth of thought, and I am honored to share it. I hope you enjoy reading through these when you come to visit me here at NomiAnnzPlace. :)

Have a wonderful day! ~NomiAnn~ ;)

"Mommy, Always Remember I Love You & Miss You"

"I Miss You, Mommy..." :*

Please pray for the women who are pregnant and are unsure what to do. Pray that God shows them that what is growing inside of them is truly "a living being." A gift from God. Please pray for the unborn babies that they might be allowed to live. Please pray that men, women, & doctors will stop taking the lives of these sweet and innocent little babies. And continue to pray that the Lord will touch those Moms (& Dads) who have gone through abortions, and help them through the dark days, and that they will seek His Love and precious forgiveness, and that He will give them His Peace, and lift them out of their sadness.

October 5 - Today my life began. My parents do not know it yet, I am as small as a seed of an apple, but it is I already. And I am to be a girl. I shall have blond hair and blue eyes. Just about everything is settled though, even the fact that I shall love flowers.

October 19 - Some say that I am not a real person yet, that only my mother exists. But I am a real person, just as a small crumb of bread is yet truly bread. My mother is. And I am.

October 23 - My mouth is just beginning to open now. Just think, in a year or so I shall be laughing and later talking. I know what my first word will be: MAMA.

October 25 - My heart began to beat today all by itself. From now on it shall gently beat for the rest of my life without ever stopping to rest! And after many years it will tire. It will stop, and then I shall die.

November 2 - I am growing a bit every day. My arms and legs are beginning to take shape. But I have to wait a long time yet before those little legs will raise me to my mother’s arms, before these little arms will be able to gather flowers and embrace my father.

November 12 - Tiny fingers are beginning to form on my hands. Funny how small they are! I’ll be able to stroke my mother’s hair with them.

November 20 - It wasn’t until today that the doctor told mom that I am living here under her heart. Oh, how happy she must be! Are you happy, mom?

November 25 - My mom and dad are probably thinking about a name for me. But they don’t even know that I am a little girl. I want to be called Kathy. I am getting so big already.

December 10 - My hair is growing. It is smooth and bright and shiny. I wonder what kind of hair mom has.

December 13 - I am just about able to see. It is dark around me. When mom brings me into the world it will be full of sunshine and flowers. But what I want more than anything is to see my mom. How do you look, mom?

December 24 - I wonder if mom hears the whispering of my heart? Some children come into the world a little sick. But my heart is strong and healthy. It beats so evenly: tup-tup,tup-tup. You’ll have a healthy little daughter, mom!

December 28 - Today my mother had the doctor kill me, I couldn't understand why they were hurting me so very badly, .... but then I couldn't feel it anymore ... ... .. .. . . . . ___________

Dear Mommy: I am in Heaven now, often sitting on Jesus' lap. He loves me and rocks me, and even cries with me; my heart was so broken ...

Jesus just rocked me for a long time, I could feel his warm tear drops on my face and hands as I cuddled in His arms.

I so wanted to be your little girl. I don't quite understand what has happened. I was so excited when I began realizing my existence.

I was in a dark, yet very comfortable place. I saw I had fingers and toes. I was pretty far along in my developing, yet not near ready to leave my surroundings.

I spent most of my time thinking or sleeping, and I was having fun moving around in my womb.

Even from my earliest days, I felt a special bonding between you and me. Sometimes I heard you crying ... and I cried with you.

Sometimes you would yell or scream, then cry. I heard Daddy yelling back. It made me so sad, and I hoped you would be better soon. I wondered why you cried so much.

One day you cried almost all of the day. I hurt for you. I couldn't imagine why you were so unhappy. I just wanted you so much that day.

But later on that same day, the most horrible thing happened. A very mean monster came into that warm, comfortable place I was in.

I was so scared, I began screaming, but you never once tried to help me. Maybe you never heard me. The monster got closer and closer as I was screaming and screaming, "Mommy, Mommy, help me please; Mommy, oh, please help me."

Complete terror is all I felt. I screamed and screamed until I thought I couldn't anymore. Then the monster started ripping my arm off. It hurt so bad; the pain I can never explain. It didn't stop. Oh, how I begged it to stop. I screamed in horror as it ripped my leg off.

Though I was in such horrific pain, I realized I was dying. I knew I would never see your face or hear you say how much you love me. I wanted to make all your tears go away. I had so many plans to make you happy. . . but now I can't; all my dreams were shattered.

Though I was in utter pain and horror, I felt the pain of my heart breaking more than anything else. I so wanted, more than anything, to be your daughter. But it was no use, for I was dying such a painful death.

I could only imagine the terrible things that they had done to you. I wanted to tell you that I love you before I was gone, but I didn't know the words you could understand. And soon, I no longer had the breath to say them;

I was dead . . . and then, I felt myself rising. I was being carried by a huge angel into a big beautiful place. I was still crying, but the physical pain was gone.

The angel took me to Jesus and laid me on His lap. He craddled me into His arms, put me up to his face and whispered to me that He loved me, and He was my Father. Then I was happy.

I asked Him what the thing was that killed me. He answered, "Abortion. I am sorry, my child; for I know how it feels." I don't know what abortion is; I guess that's the name of the monster.

Then several more angels brought more little children to Jesus that were just like me, and He held us all for such a long time, crying so much and telling us how very much He loved us.

I'm writing to tell you that I still love you and to tell you how much I wanted to be your little girl. I tried very hard to live. . .oh, how I wanted to live. I had the will, but I couldn't; the monster was too powerful. It sucked my arms and legs off and finally got all of me, and it was impossible for me to live.

I don't know what I did to make that mean monster so mad, but I just wanted you to know I tried to stay with you. I didn't want to die. Also, Mommy, please watch out for that abortion monster. . . I don't want him to hurt you! Mommy, I love you and I would hate for you or any other baby to go through the kind of pain I did.

Please be careful, and, Mommy, I hope you will tell others about the pain that we've been through, so more babies don't have to go through what I did, and more mommies won't have to go through what you did.

Love,Your Baby Girl

P.S. I miss you and will always and forever love you, Mommy. I always wondered what you were going to name me when I was borne, Jesus named me Sharon Rose ... and I love that name.

"The Paradox Of Our Age" ~ by Dr. Bob Moorehead

The paradox of our age in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints;

We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time;

We have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness; we take more vitamins, but see fewer results.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch tv too much, and pray too seldom;

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values;

We fly in faster planes to arrive there quicker, to do less, and to return sooner;

We sign more contracts only to realize fewer profits.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and lie and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life;

We've added years to our lives, not life to our years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbors.

We've conquered outer space, but not inner peace.

We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.

We've split the atom, but NOT our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less.

We plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but NOT to wait.

We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, BUT have less communication with those who are closest to us ~ and their need for us is great ... just as much as our need is for them.

These are the times of fast foods, and slow digestion; tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce' of fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer ... to quiet ... to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window ... and NOTHING in the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose to either think about this insight, or to just ignore it.

"Your Heavenly Father Knows Best" ~Naomi Knox

I sit and look out beyond where my life is now …
There are some dreams, and then some questions in my heart.
What could tomorrow bring? Why are we here?
Where will the road which we’re now on take us?
I sometimes find myself consumed in sadness,
Yet … it brings no peace to my heart .
Our dreams of yesterday, some came true ….
Many of which seemed to vanish into thin air,
Some of which happened and taught us lessons.
Yet I know that though my heart seems to struggle,
And even though my dreams are my dreams …
I have to always look back over my past and realize
That those things which I once dreamed for ….
Which never came into fruition, although I thought they should,
Those things, as I look back upon my life,
Would have NEVER have worked out, had they happened …
Nor would they have made me the person that I am today.
I believe that there is an 'old saying' which my dearest Momma often said to me,
'Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow isn’t here yet …
And our tomorrows may never come …
So take your life and live it the very best you can today!'
And that is absolutely the solid truth to life …
Take your past, with all of it's goods and bads, and use it as a “tool” in your life.
Take your future and let your hopes and dreams plan …
But don’t invest all of yourself in your hopes and dreams …
Because they are not always what reality has in store for you.
Plan, but always remember …. We only see the beginning,
“YET ~~ God sees the beginning ‘from the end’” …
And He sees and knows the very best for your life!
He sees all of the in between of your life,
And how that will bring triumph or turmoil to life’s end.
So take your dreams and place them in your Maker’s Hands
And you will have that deep settled Peace within your soul,
…. because your Heavenly Father Knows Best!

I’m resting in You, Dearest Lord ~ thank You for all of the yesterdays, todays, and the tomorrows which You may allow in my life. May I be quiet and looking for You in all that I do, think, and say. May I do my very best to always bring that loving smile to Your Face, and when I don't, may my heart feel that prick of Your Holy Spirit. Abba Father, Amen & Amen. }*>
**All of PSALM 90**
**Psalm 90:13~17**

"YOUR MOTHER ...."

Your Mother ~ (and the Mothers before her) ~ are always with you.
They are the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street;
The smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick;
The clean smell of their skin & hair, the perfume which they wore;
The cool hand(s) on your brow when you're not feeling well;
The breath in the air on a cold winter's day;
The memories of the love in her eyes as she looks into your face;
The breath in the air on a cold winter's day;
And the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep;
The colors of a rainbow, and the hugs on Christmas morning.
Your Mother lives inside your laughter,
She is crystalized in every tear you drop.
Mothers show every emotion ..........
Happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy,
Love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement,
Joy, sorrow ..... and all the while they're hoping and praying
That you will only know the good times ~~ the best life has to offer .....
And when times are tough, that you will believe and know that they will get better.
She's the place you came from, your very first home;
And she's "the special life map" you follow with every step you take;
She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy ....
But absolutely nothing on earth can separate you ....
Not time, nor space ....... not even death!
NEVER TAKE MOTHERS FOR GRANTED ....
Without them, you'd never be here!!!

"The Seasons Passing By" ~~ by Our Son John Knox ~ May 2002

"The Seasons Passing By"
By: Our Son John Knox - We Love You, John!!!
Written before his graduation from R.M.H.S. in 2002

Wake up again on this new day,
Reflecting on memories as you lay.
Cringe at the thought of moving on,
Shedding a tear when realizing it's gone.
Saddened by the apparent change,
This new life forcing you to rearrange.
Friends of your youth drift away,
The ones with which you used to play.
Time changing your old precious life,
Memories mock you making more strife.
Showing you the life of innocence again,
Fighting tears life seems to become vain.
Tired and mourning your rise to face,
A new life with which faith you still place.
Walking outside your house you see the clouds,
Darkening the sky that once made you so proud.
Wipe away the tears as they form in your eyes,
Making new goals and gaining new things to prize.
The sun emerging through the shrouding dark,
Warming your back helping you to embark.
A new voyage is awaiting for you to start,
Happiness seems to comfort your bitter heart.
The old has gone and the new has come.
The tale of yesterday turns away from,
This new adventure that you start.
Only you know it will only be a part,
Of the seasons of your life.

Thank You Mom!!!

I had a wonderful time with my hubbie, Rich, on Mother's Day. My day started out wonderful with a call from our daughter, Amy, and it ended with a call from our son, John. What a sweet way to begin and end my special Mother's Day. Rich took me to a wonderful little restaurant in Keene, and we had the best hamburgers we've had in a restaurant in years!! The only thing that I really missed was the sweet, sweet voice of my precious Mom, and my kids & grandkids being here in town with us.

My mom was a beautiful lady, who I wish everyone could have known. My father, being the "speaker" of the house seldom allowed my mom to be heard, but I will always treasure the fact that she could share her love with me, and I could hear her from her heart through her words. There was never a person she wouldn't warm with a thoughtful word. She was a wonderful seamstress and cook! And always had food for others! She could make the most delicious pies and cakes that I had ever tasted. She taught me to sew, and believed in me when the rest of the world didn't.

When I was little it seemed like Mom couldn't talk a lot when dad was around, but I would hear her pray and talk to the Lord, just as though He was right there by her side, and I know for a fact that He was, and He was her Strength, and her Husbandman all through her life. He saw her through the troubles that came her way, He gave her the confidence to be the real lady that she was, and when my father wasn't around she could truly be herself, which was a delight.

I asked the Lord when I was a teenager, to bring someone into my life that would love me, not like my dad had loved my mom, but who would love me for who I was. And it was my mother's love for me that helped me to break away from the mold my father had tried to put all of us kids into. The Lord answered my prayer, and two weeks after I had prayed that prayer, the man of my life, Rich, walked into our Church. That was 39 years ago, and today our love is still strong and becoming stronger.

I have to love and thank my precious Momma everyday for teaching me all that she taught me, and for believing in me. It is my prayer that my daughter & son will carry on this love to their spouses and our grandkids. Love is such a beautiful part of life! It just takes consistency, great care and nurturing, weeding out, and cultivating .... to bring out the real beauty it offers to it's fullest.

Thank you, Sweet Momma, for teaching me how to love and to have faith through the good and the bad which life brings our way. You are the "Queen" of my life, and I miss you so much since you've left this old world. I will always love you and thank my precious Father God for bringing me into your life. You're with the Lord now, and it is such a joy to know that I will one day be with you there, loving our Father God and Lord Jesus together with you, and with all those who have gone before us. What a wonderful day that will be!!!

I am so thankful that we could raise our children with you nearby, so that they could have your love spilled into their lives. I hope that my children will always cherish their memories of you, and that one day they will cherish the memories of me with this same love that I do you!!! Huggs Forever Sweet Mom!!!

I'll Love You Forever ...
I'll Love You For Always ...
Forever, For Always ~
My Momma You'll Be!!!
I so, so miss you, Momma ... XOXOXOXOXOX FOREVER & FOR ALWAYS!!!!!

Gladys Naomi Espey Rice
October 29, 1914 - May 30, 1996
Precious Mom, Daughter, & Sister ~ Beautiful Lady Within & Without
One That Truly Gave Without Expecting Anything In Return ~~~ What Precious Love!!!