There's a hurt down deep
one that is only for me alone
I share it with no one
only God knows of my pain
I have endured all these years.
Eyes, shades of brown & blue
think they know who I am
But their thinking and reality
are as opposite as the earth's poles
There is too much in between.
No one will ever know
no one will ever guess
As some things aren't meant
to be shared outside
Of one's personal being.
There's a hurt down deep
that will never go away
No matter how many times
I have prayed for God to
Erase it from my memory bank.
I don't understand how some
memories linger on
While others fade as fast
as they were born
Ones that I would gladly embrace.
Things in life take you by surprise
while other circumstances you expect
To happen within your world
yet both can invade your personal space
And take away your feeling of trust.
There's a hurt down deep
that needs to stay right where it is
As a reminder that feeling safe
within this uncertain earthly realm
Doesn't leave you with a false security.
Some things are just what they are
can't be changed once they are done
Why share it with others
so their lives can be negatively
Affected as well as your own.
There's a hurt down deep
that through the years other hurts
Have joined it's counterpart
creating a feeling that rolled into one
Resembles a cancerous tumor.
It just keeps growing
suffocating the good
That has been absorbed
throughout a lifetime
Of ups, downs, and sideways.



I WANTED TO SAY THAT THIS POEM ISN'T ABOUT ME, BY-THE-WAY. I GOT THE IDEA FROM A BLOGSTREAM FRIEND, BUT AFTER RE-READING IT, I GUESS IT COULD FIT MANY WITHIN THIS WORLD. Karen

Earth Angels wear priceless golden halos
unseen by the human eye
Yet God in his infinite wisdom
allows only Himself to view their glory.
Why you might wonder, how can this be?
that human eyes are purposely shielded
From observing something so magnificent as
golden relics identifying God's chosen Ones.
Our Dear Heavenly Father protects
His Earth Angels from those who would
Seek out these Blessed Earthly Beings
and destroy the very essence of their souls.
How many halos slipped today because
these Human Angels let their shields falter
Allowing Satan's followers too close
absorbing a piece of their essence.

THIS IS A POEM IN THE MAKING, SO I WILL BE ADDING MORE
ANOTHER DAY. HAVE A TERRIFIC THURSDAY AND PLEASE DON'T
BE THE CAUSE OF ANY SLIPPING HALOS.

KAREN

I decided after I read the poem, I'm leaving it as is. When I first wrote it, I thought it sounded unfinished, but now I feel it is a complete work. Thank you for the comments. They helped me decide that the poem should stay just like it is. Have a great weekend!

MELODY ON HER WEDDING DAY DECEMBER 23, 2006. HER DAD, CHUCK, KISSING HER AS HE GIVES HER AWAY!


My Dearest Melody,

Being the youngest is sometimes a pretty rough place to be
Within the birth order of a large family
Yet there you were a surprise to us all
And the day you were born, I vividly recall.

First of all I was so very sure
You would be born early among all of the Christmas rush blur
But you kept putting it off and kept us all guessing
Until January 7th, when a darkhaired beauty became such a Blessing.

I knew in the wee hours by that morning in winter
Our precious fifth child was just about ready to enter
Into this old world to join the rest of our clan
As I rubbed my bulging stomach with a loving mother's hand.

I called Beatrice around seven o'clock to see
If she could watch your twin sisters as we suddenly
Prepared Bill and Misti to ride the school bus
Gathering all the necessary items amid the expectant baby rush.

Your dad looked more like your granddaddy that day
As he sported a full beard that was mostly gray
I often wondered what people thought about this "Old Man"
Becoming a Daddy, adding a fifth babe to the Forest clan.

It didn't take long for you to be born
On that wintry January God Blessed morn
You came out screaming, so I knew right then
You would be able to hold your own and blend right in.

Your eyes were the largest I had ever seen
So bright and shining, like rounded jeweled beams
And then I had to laugh out loud
As I saw all your hair, dark and disheveled like a windblown storm cloud.

You were so beautiful, your skin darker than the others
Darker than your sisters and darker than your brother's
But I figured you had gotten a tan when I got pregnant with you
As I was busy in the sun in the spring, making everything look new.

Now I know you have heard this story time and again
But it's always fun to retell it because your Grammy had a sense of humor back then
When I called her up to tell her I was expecting without a doubt
She told me we weren't supposed to be spring planting inside, but out!

You were quite a surprise, but what a great one you were
And oh how your siblings adored their newest little sister
April and Amy thought you were their own special little doll
As they were not quite four when you were born after all.

Biggest sister Misti was so much help to me
She was nine and a half and loved playing "Mommy"
Your one and only brother Bill had just become a teenager the month before
His eyes, so much like yours, would silently tell you how much you were adored.

My Mom, your Grandmother, came here to help out
Winter weather decided to make itself known with an icy shout
A Texas blizzard came in when you were just a week old
Welcoming you into this world with a blast of freezing white cold.

It was the worst winter weather we had ever had
And since then it has never gotten that bad
So I think it was God's way of creating a wonderland show
Announcing your birth, Dear Melody, as something special we should all know.

The years have gone by way too fast
Yet your sense of humor has made it a blast
You are so very unique in your own special way
As I wish you a wonderful time on your 26th Birthday.

When you and Michael found one another and fell in love
It was meant to be from Our Father above
Keep Him your focus everyday of your life
As you continue to learn the wonders of being a good wife.

Your Dad and I love you
How could we not?
Within our lives
The joy you have brought.

All those many nights
Just me and my sweet child
Rocking in the darkness
Helping one another become mild.

I didn't send a card
Your birthday came too fast
I pray this gift of words
Will help fill in the cracks.

I miss you so much
More than you will ever know
I miss my sweet youngest
Who always had that special glow.

WITH ALL OF MY LOVE,
MOM

Volunteering in our local hospital's ER today started several people on a bad note for the new year, poor things.

Then I received a call from my husband, and we will be spending some time Friday morning in an emergency room at a VA hospital in another town. My husband had blood work yesterday and his doctor called today to say the blood work was showing something not quite right. His doctor said it could possibly be an infection in his knee.

Chuck has rheumatoid arthritis throughout his entire body, yet his knee has been so swollen and gives him such pain that makes it hard for him to walk.

I know I shouldn't worry until we find out what is going on, but this has the feel of my dad's illness before he passed away, so hard not to compare the two situations.

My dad had a shoulder that was so painful and time and again the doctors kept saying it was arthritis. Well another condition landed him in the hospital, and when that didn't get better, the doctors ran more blood tests. See, he was diabetic, so he was always going in for blood tests, but unfortunately they didn't run the right tests to find what was causing his painful shoulder.

His shoulder was not arthritic, it was deteriorating because he had cancer of the blood. We had to make some difficult decisions at this point, and Mom decided she would rather see him go peacefully rather than start chemo, live a few months longer, but in pain. So a few weeks after his diagnosis, Dad died peacefully at the age of 80 years old, eleven years ago.

So my worry thoughts I'm going to turn into prayers of hope and recovery. I will however, take an overnight bag with me since the hospital is two hours away, and sure would be a long way to have to drive back to pack some things in case he has to stay at the hospital for further treatment.

I so appreciate my Stream Friends. You have been such a wonderful support system for me and so many others. No matter what the outcome will be, I know God will be looking after Chuck.

Bless each and everyone of you this brand new year. May you keep well, enjoy your loved ones, and believe that God is your Heavenly Father and go to Him everyday in prayer for your needs as well as those within this uncertain earthly world we call home for now.

Karen PLEASE!



Karen & Chuck

The Year 2007 in our own unique style
Making our family life worthwhile
Chuck and Karen now both retired
The coming of a fourth grandchild is lovingly desired.
Little Riley is to make her appearance in March
Having to travel to Georgia seems a little harsh
But what can we do? April and Jason live there
So we'll have to travel to prove that we will always care.
A second granddaughter is a blessing from above
While Keith and Phyllis await their first grandchild with love
Misti's and Brad's Jordyn in October turned six
She is now in Kindergarten sharing her little tricks.
January 16th Little brother Landon will be two years old
Two weeks later, Charlie will also turn two becoming quite bold
This year has flown by as Melody and Michael celebrate anniversary #1
They are planning to spend it in Austin hoping to have some fun.
Bill is still in Seattle, so far away
But we still hope for a visit home someday
Annette, Chuck's sister, is doing well, still working hard
Karen stays busy subbing and creating her greeting cards.
Chuck enjoyed our recent Lubbock trip to babysit grandson #2
Granddaddy was kept busy with all the things Charlie wanted to do
University Teacher Amy and Dr. Andy stay busy within their realm
Each one has set their goals, but their Charlie seems to be at the helm.
My Mom is doing well at the wonderful age of 82
She is as sassy as ever, which helps her life continue
My Sister Donna, brothers David, Michael and Ricci we don't see too much
But they seem to be doing well, some adding more grandchildren to our growing bunch.
That's just about it, our family news in a nut shell
Each one of you and your families we pray are quite well
Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2008 New Year
We pray there will be an overflow of smiles, and only happy tears.

God's Blessings to each of you from Our Home to Your Home!

Love,
Karen and Chuck