"The Mixture Journey" by Susan Pearl

Life is a mixture of joy and pain,
   of laughter and tears,
  of straight-a-ways and tight curves.
It's not where we've been or what's ahead-
It is being aware of our current surroundings
   and adjust accordingly-
   that is the journey.

With faith, hope and love as our guide
   we will take things in stride  
With rest, reflection and solitude,
   yet not feeling alone,
Or with the company of others by our side,
   or a combination of the two-
We continue on- time and time again-
Knowing life is not easy at times,
but has other times of coasting through-
And staying aware shows us what we need to do.  

"Celebrating a Well Lived Life Of Appreciation" by Susan Pearl

Sleeping outside under the stars,
   away from the city-away from cars,
Who could ask for more?
It had been such a good day,
   hiking challenging trails to see the beautiful sights
       that are "out of the way".
Who could ask for more?

 A wonderful life-priceless parents,  a dear son,
   a loving wife by my side in a heart to heart special way,
   good friends and lots of nature enjoyment that uplifted the soul,
So, so much to be thankful for, having the joy of life each day.
The spreading tops of the tallest of trees formed a canopy over me
   as I walked to see mountains of great majesty-
Then reading book after book with so much knowledge to take in,
Oh,what a grand journey it all has been!
I have been given a lot and I know it,
I have gratitude and I want my life to show it.
By expressing to others my appreciation like never before,
How could I have ever asked for anything more?
May the words "THANK YOU"
   be written across my forehead throughout eternity
   because of the good life that has been given to me.

Personal note:   We celebrate the life of our good friend,
    and we celebrate the gift of knowing him
    with thankfulness and with peace.
Remembering the love and appreciation of life he showed-
    the inspiring and humorous stories of nature he told,
    with gratitude for what we've got-that was the lesson he taught.

"Apple Tree Memory" by Susan Pearl

I could tell by the way she was running towards the back door
  that something was wrong.
Her sister had gotten caught in the apple tree
   and she was running as fast as she could to tell me.
I ran immediately and was instantly relieved to see
   our older daughter had freed herself from the tree.
Our two daughters went on to play the rest of the day,
  and it may be a vague memory for them now.
 but in my mind I still can see, somehow,
     that I knew something was wrong by the way she was running to get me
      to help her big sister, who was caught in the apple tree.