In Loving Memory

       I received this poem yesterday. It was written by my father-in-law in honor of his daddy who went on to Glory just a few short weeks ago. It's been a while since I've heard a poem that brought tears to my eyes every single time I heard it. I had no idea that my own husband's dad could write poetry; when I found out, it did my heart good because I am writer, a poet, an artist at heart. I thought I would post this poem for all to read. The words are powerful, the message is clear, the flow is smooth, and the meaning brings tears. Enjoy.

In Loving Memory

William Darrell Hamm, Sr. 

1930-2009

Oh hands so big and arms so strong

That swung the hammer and pushed the saw

And many a structure his skill made known

Provided on earth for us a home

Same hands have held the sacred book

And turned its pages to take a look

And built a home in glory land

Following the blessed Saviour’s Plan

Oh feet so sure, Oh legs so stout

Has followed the path the Saviour laid out

And climbed each mountain though tall and steep

Has crossed the valleys some long, some deep

So many have followed his steps so clear

And found the Saviour he loved so dear

They climbed the hills and crossed the plains

And to the cross, so glad they came

Oh arms so long and shoulders broad

Have reached around and hugged us all

And carried our burdens to throne alone

To give them to Jesus who helped us with love

Oh mind so keen and eyes so bright

That voice so gentle so strong and right

Has guided many to the Saviour’s love

And told us all of heaven above

So rest now body, so frail so weak

You housed a soul and spirit so meek

Now gone to heaven and there to stay

But someday return a dawning of day

So sleep now body beneath the sod

It won’t be long from heaven above

A Shout! A Trumpet! Will sound the call

Awake, arise to meet us all

That day to heaven take thy flight

In honor and power, in strength and might

To live forever with loved ones dear

Who trusted in Jesus, His salvation so clear

W.D. Hamm, Jr, his son

The Biggest Loser

    I thought I would give an update on my weight-loss journey. I have come a long way, but I couldn't have done it without the help of my Father, Jesus. I have struggled for years with my weight, but it became worse once I had both of my children. Then my gall-bladder slowed my whole system down. Now that it is removed, everything is recovering and starting to work properly. To date, I have lost 44 pounds. I cannot give myself the credit, for I could never have come this far without my God, my husband, my parents and my friend, Tanya. All of this support has given me the strength to continue; that and the fact that I was really sick for 10 months and knew that my way of living had to change. I still am working on this every single day of my life. I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I not only feel better about myself, I feel better, period. I am not on a diet; I have changed my way of eating, totally changed. People may make fun of me for eating veggie burgers or they may try to get me to eat things that are not good for me, but I continue to stay strong in my resolve. In the end, I am THE BIGGEST LOSER...I am strong, and I will continue to fight and I will win.

Various Thoughts on Life

       I found the song, "Go Rest High on That Mountain" a little over two years ago when Mamaw Hamm went Home to Glory. It only seemed fitting that the song was sung when Papaw went to meet her. I sit here tonight and listen to it and cry.
       I was told that Grandma Wetzl's apartment was packed up a few weeks ago, and that she even forgot who my mom was when they went to visit her not long after. My, I must say that I treasure life more now than ever as I get older. I never knew my Grandpa Wetzl as he passed away when I was only a year old. I am forever grateful that I will see him someday even though my memories of him down here are not there; I only see pictures of him holding me.
       I am missing my family something terrible today. I talked to my brother, Sam, online last night. He had just gotten back from a mission over there in Afghanistan. He's coming home on November 15, and I will be there to greet him in person...life is too precious to waste time with excuses. Grab the one next to you and hold them tight. Hold close your little one; laugh and play...it doesn't matter how old you are. You'll always have that kid in your heart somewhere. I talked to my daddy for over an hour this afternoon. He is so wise; he is constantly teaching me something new in my life and I owe so much to him. I may be rambling on and on, but sometimes my mind goes so fast that my fingers have a hard time catching up! :) Anyways, I miss my sister too; she is so easy-going and laid back. I think she'd love it if she went with me sometime further south in the mountains of WV. It'd be a new place for her, but she loves adventure. I just know that she would have something to say about all of the "rednecks" as she calls most people with cowboy boots and hats! I must say, all of us, Wetzls, haven't been in the same place together since Thanksgiving 2003! That's way too long if I do say so myself! I plan on making an extra effort to make it so we are all together this November! We are going to take pictures and make memories because life is too short to waste just saying you miss someone...you must go and be with them!
       I have to go and see my grandma too...I miss her so much, and it makes me sad that I just can't call her old number anymore.  And my Grandma Tirado is going to Puerto Rico for the winter; I can't wait to see her as well! I miss her, too, so much along with Grandpa Tirado...I miss my aunts, uncles cousins, etc. I miss the tree-lined streets of McDonald, the simpleness of the area...the slow-paced driving as compared to the fast-paced recklessness in this area...I miss jumping in the car with my dad and going to IGA for something my mom forgot to buy. I miss their dog, Jack...he is so full of character, it's almost as if he's my little brother! Seeing that the fall is my favorite season, those tree-lined streets will be beautiful! I have friends ask me why I miss Ohio...I must say it wouldn't be the same without my family there, that's for sure. It's where I grew up; it's full of memories of my childhood. I love walking to the park and sitting in the gazebo where I spent hours writing and thinking as a teen, the same gazebo where we had our wedding pictures taken. I miss walking up Pennsylvania Ave., passing the Dairy Queen and thinking of the LARGE butter-finger blizzard my brother always bought and gulped down as we walked down Ohio Ave! :) I miss my bike because it was the way that I got around town and knew every nook and cranny of our town. I miss the tennis courts where me and my sis, JoJo, attempted to play tennis many a summer afternoon or evening after work. I miss sitting near the fire-station and being scared out of my skin as the horn went off to alert the volunteer firemen! I think I miss all of the winters as well because we don't get as much snow around here! I never was aloud to drive in it when I did live in Ohio; so my brother and sister have something over on me! I just miss Mill Creek Park where we went to that giant hill, sled down it for hours and barely made it back to our cars because we were so stiff and cold!
       These are just a few of my various thoughts these last couple of days. I plan on picking up my guitar and piano again really soon. Music is apart of my life as well as my writing. I'm finding time these days to do the things I love...spending time with my children and my husband. Life is good, and I am blessed.

Legacy

       Pastor William Darrell Hamm, Sr. was born on May 24, 1930 and went home on September 6, 2009. He was a pastor for 45 years of his life, and he served our country in the Army fighting in the Korean War. On September 8, 2009, we laid him to rest at the top of a mountain right next to our Mamaw Hamm. The sun was shining as if God was smiling down, and as we reached the top, we saw a deer off to the side. It was a tear-filled memorable service not only honoring a veteran but also a great preacher of the Word. Uncle Mitch sang, "Go Rest High on That Mountain" as we cried tears of sadness and rejoicing. I lost it when I saw the Christian flag draping the coffin because that was Papaw...a true Christian in every sense of the word. Then, right beside his head was the American flag; his hands were clutching the old black Book that he preached from for years. I have to say that Papaw Darrell was one of the best Christians that I have ever met in my whole 29 years of life. He knew what the word "LOVE" meant; he also knew what it meant to live by example. I kept thinking that I am forever grateful that we named our little boy after him, Joseph WILLIAM DARRELL. Papaw left behind a legacy to not only his grandchildren but his great-grandchildren and generations to come. I am blessed to have known him and to have the memories that I do. I am thankful to be called his grand-daughter, even if it was by marriage; he treated me as if I was his own. I love you Papaw Darrell; your legacy will live on in my life and I will be sure that your great-grandchildren, Charity and JW will know about you and Mamaw. "Go rest high on that mountain until we meet again in glory..."