Enduring Love

 

For Christmas, Papa decided to get Mom a necklace symbolizing his enduring love for her.  Of course, Pop is not the gushy, wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve type, and he asked me to find (or in my case write) a poem for Mom to go with her gift.  It's a little cheesy, yet I think Hallmark quality (ha!) and if someone gave this to me, I'd DEFINITELY cry!  It was truly touching, both Mom and Pop cried!  David - sorry dude - I think Pop beat us all this year!  I know when I'm old and gray (sorry Mom!), I have faith Gary and I will be just as in love as you are!  

My Enduring Love: Past, Present and Future

~By Amanda Raymond

You are my past.

Your bright smile caught my eye,

On that night at the bar.

I said, "Come see my truck."

"It's really not far."

Your beauty amazed me, 

Both inside and out.

Even with two baby girls,

There was never a doubt.

You were my one and only, 

That was easy to see.

Our future held happiness,

That's all we would need.

I spent many years at sea,

Much of the time we were apart.

But there was never a moment that

You were far from my heart.

No matter what happened,

Our love would see us through.

With your courage and strength,

I knew there was nothing you couldn't do.

We had a beautiful boy,

A Hawaiian babe was he.

But with T. I. Kujawa

We put an end to that tree.  

You are my present.

We moved many times 

And finally settled Downeast.

You made our house a home,

We had our family at least.

Faith has seen us through,

In good times and bad.

We've suffered our losses,

But cherished all we had.

Our kids are all grown now,

Living out on their own.

Because of you they return,

There's no place like home.

Three grandkids to us,

God has truly blessed.

To our future we look,

And the love we possess.

You are my future.

We hope we are wiser now,

Older and perhaps a little gray.

But don't count us out,

God has plans yet to play.

No matter our location,

In the snow or in the sun,

We've built us a life,

But the journey has just begun.

I'm stubborn and crusty

That may be true.

But no one knows my heart

Better than you.

On rocking chairs and porches,

By mountains or sea,

We'll sit and hold hands,

Letting God take the lead.

And as time still goes on,

And the years fade away,

Know my love with endure,

To the very last day.