Submissions from Friends

Ace Coolidge Conner

Gentle loving hands
will hold you tenderly
And whisper sweet dreams
of all you will be
Eyes filled with wonder
will watch over you
And strong arms will hold you
the whole night through.

Love will surround you,
sweet little boy
Daddy’s little man, and
mama’s little joy
You will be the “Sunshine”
in our new family
And dad will sing you lullabies and
bounce you on his knee.

Mom will fall in love
a million times each day
And kiss your tiny cheeks and
watch you as you play.
Tiny little miracle
I can’t wait to see your face
My child, my love, my sweet little Ace.

With Much Love - Grandma Sherry

C3

Caring friend, loving Companion, Compelling artist
Confident, sometimes Cocky, but always Charming
Creator of Cool southern-rock Country songs
Careless yet Calculated in life’s Choices
Calm in a Chaotic Crisis
Counselor to the Crowd at every Concert
Connected with his Creator and accepts his Calling
Consistent and in Control when everyone else is Crazy
Compassionate father, Concerned brother, Cancer survivor
Christopher Cary Conner

Kimi Brock, February 2007

Too much time

There have been times in my abundant life
That restless, dark thoughts have filled me with strife

I’ve wished time would pass like a shooting star
And grasp my hand to take me to places afar

Too much time to think, too much time to dream
Wishing my desires would swiftly lose their gleam

Reaching and grasping and hoping for a sign
To know and believe that tomorrow will be just fine

Then I heard the truth, I felt the tender touch
Of Christ’s unfailing comfort that I’d missed so much

Too much time, now wasted I believe
For His love for me is more than I could conceive

Living daily now, in His comfort and care
He’s allowed me time to live even more than I dared

Thank you, Lord, for giving the gift to me
Of too much time to imagine, to hope, to be.

Catherine Hodges, August 10, 2007

Sunshine

Tadpoles and mud holes and crickets and toys,
Holey kneed jeans and days filled with joy,
You were my sunshine with your eyes of sky blue
And tousled blond hair on a boy just past two.

Hot wheels and puppies and a little red barn
Sand dunes and castles and spinning a yarn
You were my sunshine with your sky blue eyes
And tousled blond hair on a boy just past five.

Guitars and music and 12 mile creek
Perry and Martin and mud on your cheeks
You were my sunshine with your hair of gold
With sky blue eyes and 10 years old.

Girls and movies and playing the blues
Three Chris’s together missing curfews
You were my sunshine with your eyes of sky blue
Just a lad of 16 standing 6 feet 2.

Loving and laughing and moving along
Giving the world the joy of your songs
You are my sunshine with your eyes of sky blue
And I hope you know just how much I love you.

Mom

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free;
I’m following the path God laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard him call;
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I found that place at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void;
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;
Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow;
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full, I savored much;
Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.
Perhaps my time seems all too brief;
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me;
God wanted me, he set me free.

Author Unknown

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am the diamond glints on the snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifing rush
Of quiet butterflies in circles flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there; I did not die.

Author Unknown

Another Soldier's Coming Home

His back is bent and weary
His voice is tired and low
His sword is worn from battle
And his steps have gotten slow
But he used to walk on water
Or it seemed that way to me
I know he moved some mountains
And never left his knees

He faced the winds of sorrow
But his heart knew no retreat
He walked in narrow places
Knowing Christ knew no defeat
But now his steps turn homeward
So much closer to the prize
He's sounding kind of homesick
And there's a longing in his eyes

Strike up the band
Assemble the choir
Another soldiers coming home
Another warrior hears the call he's waited for so long
He'll battle no more
But he's won his wars

Make sure Heaven's table has room for at least one more
Sing a welcome song
Another soldier's coming home.

Janet Paschal

The Real Thing

He wore a song around his neck
Like some medal of honor
He carried his wisdom like a knife
An empty pocket was a temporary chain
Knowing you've got it coming
Ain't no crime

Every blue note that rolled off his tongue
You could feel his soul twisting right in two
Nobody knew where he came from
Ah but everybody knew, everybody knew

He was the real thing
No doubt about it
The kind that you remember when they're gone
The real thing
Put here for a reason
We knew someday the whole world
Was going to know his name
He was the real thing

Warren Haynes

Untitled

I thought of you with love today,
but that is nothing new.
I thought about you yesterday,
and days before that too.
I think of you in silence,
I often speak your name.
All I have are memories
and your picture in a frame.
Your memory is my keepsake,
with which I'll never part.
God has you in his keeping,
I have you in my heart.

Author Unknown

Peace on Earth

Alone in my home, I am not lonely. I give thanks for so many who can not be here with me.

Yet that separateness is in miles, or cities, or states, not in worlds.

To think your grace is gone, Lifted from this world too soon, lifted from this world too soon.

Could it be that your voice was needed elsewhere this Christmas? Somewhere beyond this veil?

Could it be that angels heard your voice so loud and deep declaring God does not sleep, they declared a need to have you sing for them? Or maybe God himself?

To me, it seems cruel, yet I remember your words of peace, your words of preparation, I remember you saying you were ready no matter what you faced, you knew.

To me, at this moment, it just seems cruel as if the wrong has in fact won.

Then, I hear your voice reminding me how wild and sweet is the peace of God.

I hear your sniffle just before you play, your fate was sealed by that day and still you sang 'Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men.'

As I feel the trail down my cheeks and the bead of water spins down to my jaw, it comes to me they fall for me and the mystery.

I will see you no more here, but I feel a dance somewhere beyond what I can see or know where all our energy dances as one.

The drying trail reminds me I cry for my loss, my sadness. As you remind me that God does not sleep and you are there while here on earth your voice repeats, 'Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men'

Bentz Kirby

A Life Complete

Standing here tears in my eyes,streaming down my cheeks falling to the ground at my feet.

They are falling not for I feel defeat, but that now I know your life is complete.

Today you are in heaven and it is there we shall meet again.

Know that my love for you will never end, and that it is the thought of you that will bring a smile to my face at the day's end.

The sorrow I feel is not for a life lived in vain, but for one that touched the lives of many, and shall continue living in the hearts of your family and friends.

I stand here today saying good bye for now with tears in my eyes, streaming down my cheeks, falling to the ground at my feet for now you are in heaven a life complete.

©2007 Tammie Dianne Evans

Untitled

I know that Chris burst through the gates of heaven last night, proclaiming, "My name's CC Conner. I'm a southern gentlemen. I've been called up by our heavenly Father to join the angel band."

Kris Simonds & Chris Conner

If You Could See Me Now

Our prayers have all been answered. I finally arrived.
The healing that had been delayed has now been realized.
No one's in a hurry. There's no schedule to keep.
We're all enjoying Jesus, just sitting at His feet.

Cho: If you could see me now, I'm walking streets of gold.
If you could see me now, I'm standing strong and whole.
If you could see me now, you'd know I've seen His face.
If you could see me now, you'd know the pain is erased.
You wouldn't want me to ever leave this place,
If you could only see me now.

My light and temporary trials have worked out for my good,
To know it brought Him glory when I misunderstood.
Though we've had our sorrows, they can never compare.
What Jesus has in store for us, no language can share.

You wouldn't want me to ever leave this perfect place
If you could only see me now
If you could see me now
If you could only see me now.

Author Unknown