I REMEMBER WHEN - by Casandra Marie Arinaga

I  REMEMBER  WHEN by   Casandra Marie Arinaga I remember when you didn't  want to let me go  let alone leave your sight, because of your fear of me not coming back I remember when you wouldn't stop kissing me because you thought of everyone as the last. You made it matter. I remember when you would say, “I Love You” Over and over because you always wanted me to know. I remember when I would come first no game or phone call was before me. Because you wanted me to know that, you were all mine. I remember when you would send me a little text in the middle of the night. Just to tell me how much you loved and missed me. I remember when you would miss me the second you couldn't feel me, and the second I wasn't there. I remember when you used to look at me  with love in your eyes and care in your touch because you always wanted me know. But now as the time has passed all those have stopped, but not because you don't care. But cause you feel as if you have done your part. The part that has got me to fall deeply in love with you. But just because I love you, Doesn't mean you can't show you care. Because with the care comes more love. So, the less care you show, the less love we will have. And we need our love to keep us               ...TOGETHER...

TO MY MOM - by Genna Lea Rizor

TO  MY  MOM by Genna Lea Rizor “The greatest gift is a portion of yourself.” –Emerson Mom,  You’ve given me life. You’ve given me love. You’ve given me hope On the wings of a dove. You’ve given me strength You’ve given me might You’ve given me courage To stand and fight. You’ve given me faith. You’ve given me a start. But best of all You’ve given me your heart.

GHOST OF VEZIO CASTLE - LAKE COMO - ITALY - by Joan Carroll

You hear that the view of Lake Como from Castello di Vezio above Varenna (Italy) is amazing but when you get there, you wonder ‘what’s with all these ghostly figures ?’. It isn’t hard to find out HOW they got there, but it’s harder to determine WHY ! HOW ? 

The ghosts are made with a help of tourists who offer to be put in position and then covered with gauze and plaster for about an hour until the it is dry. The sculptures then remain in the castle grounds until the snow comes and destroys them. WHY ? 

The information I found online was somewhat confusing but one website cites a legend that the construction of the castle in early medieval times is linked to a will of the Lombard queen Teodolinda who spent the last years of her life in this area. it is said that her heart and soul are within the walls of the castle of Vezio and that on moonless nights her spirit wanders through the corridors of the castle. In the photo you can all see part of one of the most northern olive groves in the world, , thanks to the thermoregulation effect of the waters of Lake Como. 

THE TWO CLERKS - anonymous - it Contains an Important Lesson

Boys are apt to think that their parents and teachers are too strict; that they ought not to be obliged to get such perfect lessons, or to go to Sabbath school, to be so punctual and so particular. They wonder why they are not allowed a great many amusements and indulgences which they would like so much.

"What's the use?" they often discontentedly ask.

Well, boys, there is a great deal of use in being brought up right; and the discipline which sometimes seems to you so hard, is precisely what your parents see that you need in order to make you worth anything. I will tell you an incident, to illustrate it, which has just come to my knowledge.

William was the oldest child of a widowed mother, and she looked upon him, under God, as her future staff and support. He was trained to industrious habits, and in the fear of God. The day-school and Sabbath school seldom saw his seat vacant. Idleness, that rust which eats into character, had no opportunity to fasten upon him.

By and by he got through school and succeeded in securing a situation in a store in the city.

William soon found himself in quite altered circumstances; the stir and bustle of the streets was very unlike the quiet of his village home; then the tall stores, loft upon loft, piled with goods - boxes and bales now, instead of books and bat; the strange faces of the clerks, and the easy manners and handsome appearance of the rich boy, Ashton, just above him in the store, - all these contributed not a little to his sense of the newness and strangeness of his position.

William looked at Ashton almost with admiration, and thought how new and awkward everything was to himself, and how tired he got standing so many hours on duty, and crowding his way through the busy thoroughfares. But his good habits soon made him many friends. The older clerks liked his obliging and active spirit, and all had a good word for his punctuality.

But William had his trials. One morning he was sent to the bank for money; and returning, laid the pile on the counting room desk. His master was gone, and there was no one in the room but Ashton. Mr. Thomas soon came back.

"Two dollars are missing," said he, counting the money.

The blood mounted to poor William's face, but he answered firmly:

"I laid it all on your desk, sir."

Mr. Thomas looked steadily into the boy's face, and seeing nothing but an honest purpose there, said, "Another time put the money into my hands, my boy."

When the busy season came on, one of the head clerks was taken sick, and William rendered himself useful to the bookkeeper by helping him add some of his tall columns. Oh, how glad he was now for his drilling in arithmetic, as the bookkeeper thanked him for his valuable help.

Ashton often asked William to go and ride, or to visit the oyster saloons, or the bowling alley, or the theatre. To all invitations of this kind, William had but one answer. He always said he had no time, or money to spare for such things. After the day's work was done, he loved to get back to his chamber to read. He did not crave perpetual excitement, or any more eating and drinking than was supplied at his usual meals.

Not so with Ashton. This young man had indulgent parents, and a plenty of money, or it seemed so to William; and yet he ate it, or drank it, or spent it in other things, as fast and so soon that he was often borrowing from the other clerks.

Ashton joked William upon his "stiff notions," but the truth was that William was far the happier of the two.

At last a half bale of goods was missing; searching inquiries were made, and the theft was traced to Ashton. O the shame and disgrace of the discovery! but alas, it was not his first theft. Ashton had been in the habit of stealing little sums in order to get the means to gratify his taste for pleasure; and now that his guilt had come to light, he ran off, and before his parents were aware of it, fled to a far country, an outcast from his beautiful home, from his afflicted friends, and from all the comforts and blessings of a virtuous life.

William is rapidly rising in the confidence and respect of his employers, fearing God, and faithful in duty.

THE ESSENCE OF SPRING - by Faith Marie Hughes

THE  ESSENCE  OF  SPRING by   Faith  Marie  Hughes Winter has ended, and the harsh snow has melted away. New blades of grass begin to poke up through the rich substrate. The warm sun nurtures.. and the rain quenches. Soon a meadow will be in full bloom again! A gust of wind rushes by... causing grass to sway back and forth like light feathers in the spring breeze. Little children at play freely roam here- running, laughing, and hoisting their kites on a gust of warm breeze to the sky. Deer, birds, and other animals come back to the meadow- trampling over the grass and eating it for nourishment. This cycle of life is unending.

A PRAYER AND A SONG by Ed Walter

A  PRAYER  AND  A  SONG by Ed  Walter I was sort of hoping,  That you would come along, Like the answer to a prayer, And the music to a song. Like the kind of thing that happens, At a special place and time, That will change our lives forever, Like a fantasy of mine. The fantasy was there before, I ever knew your name, And now that I have found you, We will never be the same. So, pardon, if I look at you, Forgive me if I stare, At the fantasy I knew before, I saw you standing there. For I was always hoping, That you would come along, Like the answer to a prayer, And the music to a song.

THE WEDDING GIFT - by William Thomas Kinsey

THE  WEDDING  GIFT by   William Thomas Kinsey What could be the perfect gift, one to truly show I care, to reflect the way I feel for you may I offer you this prayer: "May your life be one of kindness, true purpose and peace of mind; may you rise above the rainbow, may true love be yours to find. May you share your love with others who feel the same as you; may you dwell in fields of happiness in all you choose to do. May you always feel you do belong, may you always be a friend; may you always feel you're wanted and be in love until the end. May all who know you show respect, may you have no need to cry; may all who know you- love you at least as much as I. May God be there to show the way to influence your thoughts and deeds; may he grant to you inner peace and all your earthly needs. May your life be filled with meaning, may each day be fresh and new; may you always be the way you are and may all your dreams come true." All this I would ask for you, plus a life that's free of sin; in the name of God the father on this your Wedding Day.