A Year of Reading

Jackie Mommy? Grandma? Why are you crying? Did I do something wrong? No, Jackie. No, Punkin'. It's not you. We're cr...

Papa It seems like just yesterday my little girl was in ruffles and a bonnet, then serious-faced with that long, long hair. ...

Lizzy Falling in love with a race car driver surprised me as much as it did you. When the children come, he has promised to fin...

Henry Dear Iva, I couldn't be more sure. But are you? You'd give all that up for me? For a life on this farm? For a job...

It's been a little nerve-wracking to be the 27th poet to add a line to the 2016 Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem. I've peeked in o...

Mother This picture haunts me. It's as if I sealed my fate in a moment of silliness prompted by the photographer. The blind...

Iva I never knew Great Uncle. When I turn twenty and can manage the money he left for me I will thank him for his hard work, his...

Iva Dear Henry, Yes, that's me -- on the outside. Inside, I'm still the girl who could out-race and out-spell you with ...

Henry All right, Pa. You want me to invent a better story? Youngest son grows up to become the world's first famous ukulele...

Papa and Henry There's my gallant Henry, high on his steed, ready to gallop into the sunset!                                 ...

Henry There I am, Jack's shadow. I'm surprised he let me hold his precious bat. Do you think he's okay? Why haven'...

Lizzy A note to my younger self: Don't take the world so seriously. You don't always have to do as you're told. Snatc...

Papa I remember that day. I did all my morning chores up to my knees in mud, came back to the house to clean my boots up, and t...

Mama We went back to Nebraska just that once. My brother's wealth was hard on your Pa. All of it -- tidy barn, grass in the ...

Papa Jack was always a joker, using the animals for some prank or scheme, but Lewis loved them deep and hard. They were a team: ...

Mama This one takes me right back to the day of my mama's funeral -- Lewis playing "Amazing Grace," sitting there i...

Lizzy When Lewis' first model plane took off like a dream on the first try, is that when you knew he'd be a pilot someday...

Papa Yes, indeed. That's me. Star of the team. Valedictorian of my class, too. If you work hard, I believe you can succeed ...

Henry and Lizzy Who's that, Mama? The one in the middle marked with an X?                                         He's s...

Mama I've got enough work to fill three days, but here I sit, mooning over the photo book. Mama, I wish you'd look up f...