Remember, He’s Just A Kid!

When he tries drugs and alcohol,

Instead of the truth he tells a fib.

Everyone says don’t worry.

Remember, he’s just a kid!

When he goes to school and doesn’t try,

His homework he says he did.

Everyone says don’t worry.

Remember, he’s just a kid!

When he rebels against his parents,

And their relationship hits the skids.

Everyone says don’t worry.

Remember, he’s just a kid!

On Sunday morning he misses church,

And from God his head is hid.

Everyone says don’t worry

Remember, he’s just a kid!

He joins the army when school is done,

And everyone flips their lid.

He doesn’t know what he’s doing!

Remember, he’s just a kid!

Then one day he’s whisked away,

As the Army is his bid

Were not sure about this!

Remember he’s just a kid!

In training he’s challenged daily,

Like those before him did.

We haven’t seen him forever!

What’s happened to our kid?

Now he goes away to war,

To bring freedom to another land

Now I say to everyone

Our kid has become a man!

Humbly God we ask of you,

Keep him safely in your hand.

I will kneel and pray every day.

For the kid, who is now a man!

I am proud of him for his sacrifice,

In God we must put our trust.

I’ll pray and wait each and every day.

Till by grace he’s brought back to us!

Mark Zaring

Yesterday, Today

Yesterday you were a boy,
For life you had a plan.
Today you go to fight a war,
And now you must be a man.

Yesterday was full of fun,
With friends about you so.
Today you're off to a land,
About it you do not know.

Yesterday was full of friends,
surrounded by their love.
Today you head away from us,
With only help from up above.

Yesterday was calm and fun,
With so much you could choose.
Today is full of anxiety,
Feeling you can only lose.

Yesterday your family had,
Love for you just so nice.
Today you're country loves you,
For all your sacrifice.

Yesterday seems so far away,
It's hard to remember when.
Today our prayers go with you,
So it can be yesterday again.

Mark Zaring

Love, Admiration, And Respect

Love admiration and respect,

That is what I have for you.

If I were in your shoes,

Don’t know what I would do.

You give up part of your life,

For people just like me.

So we can stay at home,

Living warm calm and free.

Some people might forget,

And others may not know.

What you had to go thru,

Just getting ready to go.

You will go far away,

Into the middle of this war.

A true American Hero,

Always welcome at my door.

When things get very crazy,

And the day is very long.

Remember what you have,

Is lots of love from your mom.

The days will be real long,

The nights short and cold.

I know you will get through it,.

Just be strong, fair, and bold

The people will probably hate you,

They just won’t understand.

Why you came way over,

From some far distant land.

When you get discouraged,

And you want to just give in.

Just think of us back here,

Praying hard from deep within.

I wish I could be there,

To help you in this quest.

But I will be waiting for you,

Just like all the rest.

We pray for you to come back,

We hope you get to rest.

But in my heart I know,

You are one of Americas best.

Mark Zaring

I Stand Here

I stand here proud, and long and strong
some say for a time that went wrong
and yet they still come cry by me
for all the sorrow that they see

with their memories others come
Some come with pain and some still numb
and I will stand for all of them
a symbol from where their pain stems

I have absorbed the many tears
that have been shed for many years
when trembling fingers reach to feel
in hopes of their deep pain to heal

I feel an honor deep inside
to stand here for the ones who died
for on my granite made of black
there is not one name that I lack

for those who died in Vietnam
I hope to bring some peace and calm
and stand here proud and never let
not one person ever forget

that heroes are carved in my wall
heroes that are still standing tall
and so I stand in heat or cold
all of THEIR glory to behold

Paulette Fagone

Without A Care!

There was a time though seems so rare,

That our young one's had not a care.             

Some were weak, and some were strong,

Their choices made, both right, and wrong.

When they could sit, we wanted more,

When they could crawl, we watch them explore.

They took their first step, oh how great!

We can teach them to bike, or even to skate.

Then school starts, and the excitement grows.

Reading, and writing are things they will know.

The teen years come, they have choices to make.

Some will be right, some a mistake.

Life seems real as high school starts.

Big expectations, that come from the heart.

Four years they labor with study, and play.

One goal in mind: Graduation Day!

After high school, an adult they will be.

What they become; we’ll wait and see.

We set them free, their dreams to fulfill.

There is no charge, not even a bill.

We did our best, hope it was enough!

Because life for them, will surely be rough.

Life’s in their hands to do as they choose.

Sometimes they’ll win, sometimes they’ll lose.

It is up to them now, which way they will go.

Knowing when to say yes, and when to say no.

As we think back to those early years,

With joy we smile, our eyes fill with tears.

There was a time though seems so rare,

That our young one's had not a care.                           

 Mark Zaring.  

Racing Heart

I will race
In the lines my brother traced
I compete
For the defeat
This is a race track
Never look back
The misplaced dirt
You must be alert
Pin the gas
To make the pass
The checkered flag
Begins to wag
All as I wait
For the gate
.
...............to drop

Written by: Mikaela Marie Stavron 2007
I love you my Matt So Much!! Love Mik