november came
ending a great october with fall festivities
candy and a church party
trick-or-treating with friends
and fun
november came
with easterling hearts falling like the leaves outside
in the winter breeze
my world was shaken
seems the brilliant rose
whose bloom had warmed my heart
and caressed me tenderly with her petals
was beginning to die
a cruel symbolic irony of nicknames
laughter turned to tears and as many restless nights
back from a day of reminiscence
at the great white-walled chamber of fear
the rose never gave up hope
but dazzled and amazed us all
with her courage and perseverance
until the very end
tears swept the halls as angels danced to the goodbyes
and final hands were laid
a grave now stands
the lifelessness of what was so beautiful
now a shockingly bitter reality
she is missed
she is loved
she is singing again
in a heavenly reunion of both the lamented
and the unseen of all angels
as a grandma earns her wings
and hope comes
in the remembered birth of a savior
whom she is currently beating at cards

Trevor Easterling, 14
1.4.06

My thoughts on the past few months...

Last month we lost a person very near to us.  Grammy has touched us all in different ways and I know that she has touched so many more in her path.  She always left endless love and laughter in her wake.  Christmas was not the same without her, but thanks to a number of family and friends I believe it may have been the best Christmas ever.  And it relieves me to know there is no more pain, no more bills, and no more hospitals.  She had the best Christmas of us all, and I can live with that.  It was the first of her eternal New Years in Heaven with the Father, and soon, very soon, we will be with her.  We will sit beside her and watch that Heavenly ball drop.  We will welcome all the new years and will never be separated ever again.  But until that time comes to pass, I will wait patiently.  I can go on knowing that someday, some way, we will be together.

I'll see you then...

Matt Easterling, 12
1.4.06