day no. 15,045: the inaugural annual Van Voorst family poem for 2019

Claire Sabino had a tradition of writing a poem for the Candeo Church Christmas party each year where she would mention each staff or elder in her poem and present it at the dinner. Stan Hayek picked up this tradition and performed his prose at this year's Anthem Christmas party and it got me thinking a year in review for the Van Voorst family in poem form was in order. I commissioned Paige to help me and Penelope overheard. She took it upon herself to pen her own and no surprise, she delivered the goods. So presented for your entertainment and edification, the year in review per Penelope Page Van Voorst followed by my pedestrian attempt to capture the same lightning in a bottle. Confessedly, I think Penelope is the way to go in years to come. I asked her after reading hers if she would mind be commissioned to this annual task. She, not surprisingly, was delighted to be asked!

New Years Eve Poem, 2019

by Penelope Page Van Voorst

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Van Voorst Family has grown this year,

And two new members were welcomed here,

Without further waits, here’s a poem to share,

About what’s happened this year and all that was there.

Juniper was born on April fifteenth,

She was named a bit late, but Juniper Elise?

Her name was too perfect, but all just the same,

Her little baby hands were a match for her name.

Callista was a toddler, quite greedy in mind,

When something is yours, she declares “i’s mine!”

She found out about love and also some dolls,

When Mother’s not looking, she likes to make calls.

Rocco was headstrong, and also so smart,

With all that “piercorn” he’s falling apart,

His “little broken body” could still stand more,

So he decided to get back to doing parkour. 

Laurelai’s meatsticks were matches for ours,

She runs and she runs and she runs for all hours,

But forget “Hello Kitty” and experience shame,

As she bursts out in tears and then you get the blame.

Finneas can tackle and also can run,

So always include him in all types of fun,

Not girly games, that he doesn’t like,

And his wish for his birthday is a sturdy dirt bike.

I, Penelope, love my sleep,

And when I’m in there, I’m in deep,

I love books and sewing kits,

But I wouldn’t say no to oven mitts.

Atticus won’t say no,

To a toy pickup, watch him go!,

He’s sheriff of nicenland, so watch out!,

He’ll leave the bad guys with their doubts.

Mother is the mom of all,

She will not stand drawing on walls,

She’s very kind, kind as can be,

And championess of monopoly.

Daddy is so very strong,

And his beard’s so very long,

He huffs and puffs and takes cold showers,

And he could run and run for hours!

Stumpi has not grown her foot,

Still she shan’t be overlooked,

Her dreary stare and silent gloom,

Are very small but still take room.

The minivan is not so fine,

He’s broken down a million times,

His mileage is almost full,

And he can’t carry all of us in his whole.

The kraken is our last member,

One that I do want to remember,

He can eat and eat and eat,

Cover miles, inches feet.

All of us together be,

The giant Van Voorst family,

From story club to blood on three,

From power clap to all “RETREATS!”

  

Now this Poem’s almost through,

I’ve covered everyone, what’s left to do,

Is to shout out in loudest cheer…………

2019’S BEEN A WONDERFUL YEAR!

New Year’s Eve Poem

Van Voorst Family Year in Review

December 31, 2019

…

The year of our Lord, two thousand nineteen

has come to its end, no more to be seen

and now in our presence is becoming our pasts

so let’s take one last look and review while it lasts

When it first began, we had eight in our clan

one bun in the oven, eight seats in our van

with no clue what to do out it came of the blue

the beast with more seats... release the Kraken!

Now the one in the oven did not have name

even out of the oven, “baby girl” was her claim

we hemmed and we hawed over what she’d be called

until peace… *sigh*...  release… Juniper... Elise

Callista Janelle, never to be o’erlooked

Moved in with the big girls and gave up her nuks

While her head may be growing, her hair still has not

Yet her eyes take the prize, second place... was her gut

If somebody somewhere is yelling, “Cannonball!”

Rest assured, Rocco Henry Warfield is involved

From jumping off stairs to parkouring off chairs

His little broke body is a mystery… solved

Laurelai Rush may be little, but still she be fierce

her all may be small, but her call still can pierce

if you’re not a believer... just try to leave her

and forget “Bye Hello Kitty!” then prepare your ears

Finneas Haddon Foxe does not wear jammies to bed

he likes to sleep naked, in his undies, instead

and if given the chance, he delights in a dance

or a fight or a cuddle or peanut butter on bread

Penelope Page is a blogger, a daughter

a farmer, a gardener, a reader, an author

whether song or a story, her pen’s never boring

and beginning a business to her is no bother

If you need exact facts of when world’s are at war

ask Atticus Jacob Rhyne and you’ll wonder no more 

he’s long and he’s lean, an aspiring marine

a husband, a father... a man at his core

From cooking to candles, Paige fills up our home

with comfort and beauty and food for our bones

whether gift wrap or shiplap, aesthetic is on tap

and lives inside thrive as domesticity’s honed

In preaching and feasting and fasting and leading

Todd grew this last year without knowing their needing

story club was created and liturgies were instated:

from popcorn parties to “re:treat!” to “blood on three!!!" -ing

It was a good year for the Van Voorsts to remember

And by this time next year, in a brand new December

we’ll have more for our lists and new mercies to laud

more memories, more bliss and more gratitude for God

So here’s to the year and to many more like it

so raise up your cups and your spirits just like it

to be a Van Voorst is, of course, a delight

so tonight, let’s go hoarse saying, “cheers!” ...and things like it.