‘Twas
the night before Christmas, when throughout the abode,
I sat with a very blank piece of paper not one, but 2 years ago
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
And I hoped that I could find some comfort there.
With children nestled all snug in their beds,
Recent 2012 events kept swirling in my head.
My heart wasn’t into trying to make the words rhyme
As I watched the Sandy Hook story on Prime Time.
And closer to home too many friends had passed; I was mad,
A little league dad, Zach’s friend & soon to be grad.
A friend I’ve known since I began coaching at U-Dub,
A member of the Elite “Cool Goalkeepers Club”
I sat with a very blank piece of paper not one, but 2 years ago
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
And I hoped that I could find some comfort there.
With children nestled all snug in their beds,
Recent 2012 events kept swirling in my head.
My heart wasn’t into trying to make the words rhyme
As I watched the Sandy Hook story on Prime Time.
And closer to home too many friends had passed; I was mad,
A little league dad, Zach’s friend & soon to be grad.
A friend I’ve known since I began coaching at U-Dub,
A member of the Elite “Cool Goalkeepers Club”
I
didn’t send a poem back in two thousand twelve,
Thinking I’d prove a point and feel sorry for myself.
… and learned if you focus on the sad, the gloomy the cheerless
You miss all of the happy, the courageous, the awesome the fearless.
Thinking I’d prove a point and feel sorry for myself.
… and learned if you focus on the sad, the gloomy the cheerless
You miss all of the happy, the courageous, the awesome the fearless.
BUT, focus on the “great” and you will quickly discover,
Blessings outweigh tragedies; and I also uncovered…
That moping about doesn’t help those that have sorrow,
They need joy more than ever, it’s ours they should borrow,
Blessings outweigh tragedies; and I also uncovered…
That moping about doesn’t help those that have sorrow,
They need joy more than ever, it’s ours they should borrow,
I tore open the shutters & did something with a
sash!
I don’t know what a sash is, but here’s the news flash
We all need to spread laughter, and happiness, and joy
And a helping hand to those in need is another great ploy.
I don’t know what a sash is, but here’s the news flash
We all need to spread laughter, and happiness, and joy
And a helping hand to those in need is another great ploy.
So I hope you enjoy a few things that appeared
With the Griffins over these past couple of years.
With the Griffins over these past couple of years.
Now Lesle!
Now
Benjamin! Now Nick! Jack & Zach!
Let’s get this sled rolling, get our hearts back on track!
No time for wallowing! No time to silence our voice!
Time to help when we can! Time to love and rejoice!
Like Whorton with his Who, needs to be heard loud &clear .
We are here! We are here! We are here! We are here!
Or the Grinch who is jealous and thoughtless and mean,
Just needs some good friends and examples to be seen.
Let’s get this sled rolling, get our hearts back on track!
No time for wallowing! No time to silence our voice!
Time to help when we can! Time to love and rejoice!
Like Whorton with his Who, needs to be heard loud &clear .
We are here! We are here! We are here! We are here!
Or the Grinch who is jealous and thoughtless and mean,
Just needs some good friends and examples to be seen.
To the top of the Calendar!
I begin and remember them all!
Even the hum-drum moments, I will cherish them all!
Even the eye-rolls, that accompany my tweener named Nick.
I have learned that time is fleeting, and every moment fantas-TIC!
Even the hum-drum moments, I will cherish them all!
Even the eye-rolls, that accompany my tweener named Nick.
I have learned that time is fleeting, and every moment fantas-TIC!
Packed up with Nana and Papa and headed to the sky,
Landing in Puerta Vallarta, with the sunshine for all.
Nana and Papa made sure we had quite a ball.
Spring filled with baseball. Nicholas loves the
mound,
Recalling each batter’s stance before he “mowed them down.”
Ben struts to the plate mirroring the pros with a confident stance
It’s his 1st year of “Kid-Pitch” (he didn’t stand a chance.)
Recalling each batter’s stance before he “mowed them down.”
Ben struts to the plate mirroring the pros with a confident stance
It’s his 1st year of “Kid-Pitch” (he didn’t stand a chance.)
For their 50th Anniversary we all boarded the train,
Up to the top bunk, the boys thought it was the best,
We saw towns right out of theWild Wild West.
And then in a twinkling I
heard on the P.A.
Only 23 more hours… we were only half-way?!!!
I drew in my head, whispering to Mark, “No internet??”
Chugging through Idaho, Ben asked “Are we there yet?”
Only 23 more hours… we were only half-way?!!!
I drew in my head, whispering to Mark, “No internet??”
Chugging through Idaho, Ben asked “Are we there yet?”
I thought I’d jump at the chance to disembark, THE BEST to be "stuck" with the folks, Mary Beth & Mark.
Fun for the boys asleep in their bunk, to feel the track gently shake,
Great to hang for longer than a meal, family portrait or wake.
Mom, nervous the boys would be bored in her hometown,
Without Sounders games and electronic games always around.
It was the opposite, they loved doing the exact things we did
When we visited our grandparents back when I was a kid!
Great to hang for longer than a meal, family portrait or wake.
Mom, nervous the boys would be bored in her hometown,
Without Sounders games and electronic games always around.
It was the opposite, they loved doing the exact things we did
When we visited our grandparents back when I was a kid!
Went to the Cheese Factory and the best Dairy Queen of all time.
Headed to the lake Dressed in red, white and blue,
We celebrated their 50th as well as the 4th of July, too
Still dressed in red white and blue from my head to
each foot,
I joined the U20 USA team; to Japan we took hot
pursuit
Not easy to leave so much for so long but last time
I checked,
Dreams do not ring your doorbell and appear on your
doorstep.
That they were “wide awake” and living the dream of winning a World Cup.
2 More seasons of Husky soccer, shy 1 more goal or shut-out.
Teaches me a bit more of myself and what I am about,
Because even in the years where I think we fell short,
Talent
is nice, but a bundle of passion is also a tact
That every player needs to be the best team in our Pac.
His eyes how they twinkle, his dimples full of cheer,
Jack in Hawai’i with his golf clubs and cold beer.
Friends, food and fish with sunsets that were jaw dropping,
Lesle and Nick snorkeled by a shark eyes practically popping
That every player needs to be the best team in our Pac.
His eyes how they twinkle, his dimples full of cheer,
Jack in Hawai’i with his golf clubs and cold beer.
Friends, food and fish with sunsets that were jaw dropping,
Lesle and Nick snorkeled by a shark eyes practically popping
While most talk of how Santa gets down that darn chimney,
Kieran teaches a dance move we remember as The Shimmy”
Our Hawai'ian - athon looked for the better part of a week:
Snorkeling to Uno, to the pool, to ping pong; then eat and repeat.
Kieran teaches a dance move we remember as The Shimmy”
Our Hawai'ian - athon looked for the better part of a week:
Snorkeling to Uno, to the pool, to ping pong; then eat and repeat.
Spring Break for the boys was a trip that came in 2 stages.
The cone of ilence, makes it so it will remain the N.Cal trip of all ages! Another family reunion, the next summer of twenty-thirteen, Jack’s side of the family; we visited with Dave and Maureen
The cone of ilence, makes it so it will remain the N.Cal trip of all ages! Another family reunion, the next summer of twenty-thirteen, Jack’s side of the family; we visited with Dave and Maureen
As well as Linda, Emmy, Nancy, Don, Doug, Carolyn
& Chris
For me the stories were new, as Jo and Stan reminisced.
For me the stories were new, as Jo and Stan reminisced.
 |
| Hoops with Palia, Shane, Nick, Ben and Cameo by Sol |
Arguing over should have won women’s Soccer Olympic Gold.
There is nothing like family and friends, never fear!
And that the Sounders will beat the Whitecaps next year.
There is nothing like family and friends, never fear!
And that the Sounders will beat the Whitecaps next year.
A
trip to Italy with the family in tow,
Castles, cathedrals, gelato and pizza to go,
Enjoying the ‘business’ trip, many pictures we took
Mixing soccer and sunshine and our World History book.
Castles, cathedrals, gelato and pizza to go,
Enjoying the ‘business’ trip, many pictures we took
Mixing soccer and sunshine and our World History book.
Upon
our return, Zach expressed the new path he chose,
And giving a nod, off to the Marines he goes.
This holiday will be much different without that guy,
He was "All IN" proving Santa’s sleigh would come in the nigh’
Each kids' ornaments hang, & I miss Zach when I read his name, Knowing the Zachary that returns will not be the same, Semper –Fi means, “Always faithful”: such a simple term.
Reminded at Christmas; “Faith” is what God’s children learn.
And giving a nod, off to the Marines he goes.
This holiday will be much different without that guy,
He was "All IN" proving Santa’s sleigh would come in the nigh’
Each kids' ornaments hang, & I miss Zach when I read his name, Knowing the Zachary that returns will not be the same, Semper –Fi means, “Always faithful”: such a simple term.
Reminded at Christmas; “Faith” is what God’s children learn.
 |
| Meet Skittles |
We will be thankful and joyful for everyone in our lives,
For the guinea pig my mother gave is with teeth like knives,
For the fact that our Jacuzzi tub meant for bubbles and wine
Is full of guinea pig shampoo and chew toys most of the time,
For eye-rolls, and alarm clocks, for car pools and the dentist,
For a Tweener who is slowly becoming a Teenager’s Apprentice.
For lunches I cannot imagine packing or eating for that matter
Or filling out one more thing on my ‘to do’ list calendar planner.
For a Tweener who is slowly becoming a Teenager’s Apprentice.
For lunches I cannot imagine packing or eating for that matter
Or filling out one more thing on my ‘to do’ list calendar planner.
Bring
it on life! I’ll find the best part of each year,
Regardless if Ben does or does not wear underwear.
For bumps and the bruises for each win and each loss,
For bloody gums because there is no time to floss!
Regardless if Ben does or does not wear underwear.
For bumps and the bruises for each win and each loss,
For bloody gums because there is no time to floss!
 |
| Les' 50th ! |
For
birthdays! Be happy we are allowed to get older!
For the lost homework you swear you put in your kids' folder.
Rejoice for those band concerts landing on the busiest eve,
When your kid forgets his reed and gets teriyaki on his sleeve.
I'll rejoice and and give a blow on my coach’s whistle
Giving thanks for the prime rib we devour, forgetting the gristle!
Be thankful for each breath, each friend in our life
Be the rock! Be the hug! Be the smile for those in strife.
There is no time for whining if another option is near
(she said as the boys are fighting about something she can’t hear)
For the lost homework you swear you put in your kids' folder.
Rejoice for those band concerts landing on the busiest eve,
When your kid forgets his reed and gets teriyaki on his sleeve.
I'll rejoice and and give a blow on my coach’s whistle
Giving thanks for the prime rib we devour, forgetting the gristle!
Be thankful for each breath, each friend in our life
Be the rock! Be the hug! Be the smile for those in strife.
There is no time for whining if another option is near
(she said as the boys are fighting about something she can’t hear)
The RULE is: “Tell me something good that has happened
tonight,”
That's the question, not just on Christmas, but every single night!
That's the question, not just on Christmas, but every single night!
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| Middle School Here we Come! (and ya' can't miss us!) |
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| Mom… one more sec' and then its' not cool |
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| Mom and I at Haiti Babi Fundraiser |
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| No caption necessary |
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| Nana and the devils.. and the deviled eggs |
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| Ben, Zach, Nick |
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| Geoff hogging the camera |
 |
| So much easier to rejoice when it's not your birthday |
4 comments:
Wow, Amy! What a great blog entry! Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas, and a bright and Happy New Year! Susan Karnesky
Awesome as always!! And yes, I am just getting around to reading this. hahaha Sorry to have missed you this year but maybe we can work something out this summer!
Miss you!!
Amy C
Awesome as always!! And yes, I am just getting around to reading this. hahaha Sorry to have missed you this year but maybe we can work something out this summer!
Miss you!!
Amy C
Amy,
Great as usual with a fun and loving meesage. i found the beginning very meaningful and it rings so true to me. great words and then followed with the usual great poetic message.
love and miss you all!
Bruce
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