My Blessings

My Blessings
by Vivian Gilbert Zabel

I count my blessings by the places they fit
In the love within the depth of my heart.
Four children nestle as past memories,
Three also belong in my present life;
The other, a tiny girl, plays games
In heaven next to her Grandmother’s knee.

Frolicking in corners never hidden
Lurk young people, all godsends just for me.
The oldest, a granddaughter love added,
Maybe not ours through birth, but ours through choice.
Elizabeth’s dark eyes, lovely face, and grace
Brighten our eyes, whenever we see her.

Macayla, first daughter of my daughter
A matched pair in size with Elizabeth,
Petite, both pocket beauties from birth,
Gladdens my heart with her sweet endeavors.
Also, she helped fill the spots in my life
With Kurtis, a smart, dark-haired domino,
His eyes a snapping hazel, his smile bright.

Next comes Keri, tall, graceful, elegant,
The second born of my daughter Rene.
My second child, my son Bob, gave me much,
Not only himself: his valor, his honor,
But through his love made our family grow
With Brenda, her two girls becoming ours:
Elizabeth, younger sister Jennifer,
An athlete with her talent, love of sports.

Following in age, our grandson Faris,
The only son that my daughter has.
He and his sister Yasmeen leave a hole
Since their father has hidden them away.

The last three grandchildren, born of Randy
My baby, my youngest left on this earth.
With Janelle (she and Brenda, daughters, too)
He brought three boys to lighten, grace our lives.
Ryan, but two years younger than Faris,
Stands tall, his pale blue eyes searching all.

Colby, strong, built like a blond-haired bull,
Wants to play ball more than anything but eat.
Shane, the baby of my baby, loving,
Sweet, wanting to please, helps Grandpa often.

My greatest love overlooks all, my husband.
No words can describe years of love shared.
Blessings fill my heart with joy, even pain,
But my heart has no lonely, empty places.