Home for me has several implications. It is doused in memories of the people and places that offer sweet memories of the past, joy in the moment, and all the promises for the future.  Life was not perfect, by any stretch of the imagination.  It was sometimes uneasy, and painful and raw; still, love found its way into my life and tangled my heart with many that I hold so dear.  Deep within, I know I have been blessed with the love and companionship of family and friends.  I have cherished them all.

In an old Victorian home

with stained glass windows

and childhood dreams,

I treasured family.

In a quaint little cottage,

with Johnny Jump ups and pansies,

I witnessed absolute love.

In a Nazarene church

on a little island home,

I uncovered a second family.

With a Goun Girl by my side

and adventures in our hearts,

I claimed a sister.

In a sweet yellow home

on a garden road,

I observed tenderness.

In a little mountain town

in a home full of love,

I unearthed joy.

With one compassionate man

that stayed by my side, I

unearthed a best friend that

remains in my heart and in my family.

Under Colorado blue skies,

on a dusty mesa

I found home.

On a desert prairie,

with backyard splendors

I received unexpected contentment.

In this life, the people,

the places hold dear memories

of love and laughter

I hold a lifetime of joy

that will never be erased

as I look into the faces

of those I hold in my heart.

Ballena Bay

Cameron and Kylie

Crab Cove

Aaron and Leslie

grand kids

Alameda

Alameda, California San Francisco in the distance.

Keith and Jan

Jaxon

Max and Mitzi

Barb

Crab Cove

Perry

Stonehenge

Nina and Dale

Jessie

Sierra Marie 2002

Connor

Jan Lacy

Jesse

Dotty Allen abt 1948

Hotchkiss

Kim’s Garden

Park Street

North Fork Valley

Tommy and Annie 1964

Hoosier Pass

Crab Cove

Tommy, Annie, and David, 1966

Elva Allen – abt 1970

Ballena Bay

Beach in late afternoon, Robert W Crown Memorial State Beach. Alameda, California, USA

My Crazy Crew

Leslie Annie Bryant – 1985

Mount Lamborn

home 1966

Florence, Colorado

Sierra 2015

Annie, Momma (Dotty), Dave, and Tommy

Dad in Navy Uniform –

Cameron and Kylie

Cameron

Leslie and Mathew – abt 2001

Annie Bryant – the cabin

Grandma, Aunt Barb, my mom, my grandpa, and my Aunt Jan – July 1958

The Outhouse

Kylie

Christmas, 1975

Max and Mitzi

Aaron and Leslie

Dotty Allen – abt 1945

Encinal High School – Alameda, CA

The family

Grandpa

Dotty Allen abt 1946

Leslie Marie 2004

1890, Charles Mau

Connor

me at Grandma and Grandpas

Aaron and Kylie

My mom and dad and me Hotchkiss, Co

Paden Elementary School

Sierra

Jaxon David -2004

Sierra, Leslie, and Kylie

David

Fairplay

Kylie

Mom

Max and Mitzi

Webster Street

Mathew

Leslie

Sierra and Jessie

Morman Temple

Jessie and Connor

The Goun Girls

The Cabin – 2017

Holding Mathew for the first time

Keith

Sierr, Mathew and Jessie

David, Keith, Tommy, and Annie

Connor

Uncle Roger and Aunt Jan

the Ranch 2017

Dotty Allen abt 1951

The Cabin

Dorothy Allen – 1997

Leslie Marie 18 months – Oct. 1983

Alameda – from the Oakland Hills – 1979

Canyon de Chelly

Cameron

Jessie

Tom Allen and Annie Reeder Bryant

Leslie

Kylie

Sierra, Mathew, and Jessie

Annie Bryant 1962

Elva Marie – 1922

Sierra

Tom Allen

Dotty Allen abt 1949

Family

Sierra

The Posey Tube

grand kids

Alameda

My Mom

Grandma – Elva Allen

Cameron and Jaxon

Hotchkiss

Longfellow Park

Mathew – six months

Annie – The Ranch- 1963

Leslie – 1991 and Guy

Crab Cove

Max and Mitzi

Connor

grand kids

Leslie

San Padre Island

Guy and Leslie

Jessie

Cameron

Mathew – 15 years

San Padre Island

Jessie

Kylie

My Family

Jessie

Mathew

My Kids

Neptune Apartments

Sierra

Mom-Dotty Allen

Hoosier Pass