I was born with NF
But let me put you at ease 
It's not a defect 
And it's not a disease

A disorder, perhaps
But more to the letter
Just say I'm physically challenged
I like that much better

I'm covered with tumors
I have thousands, it's true
And they vary in color
From pale pink to dark blue

They come in all sizes
Some are larger than eggs
Especially those two
On the back of my legs 

When you're born with NF
It's genetic roulette
With no guarantee
How bad they will get

Occasionally there are problems 
Some are medical too
But more often then not
It's just a problem for you

For when I explain my NF
You find the truth too confusing
Yet you swallow a whopper
Which I find quite amusing

Folks get upset when I joke
With a reply that's quite witty
It just flies over their head
Much more the pity

Then there are Christians
Who really depress me
With their phone line to God
They try to impress me

They say I've sinned against God
And if I'd only face it
Why, He'd take my NF 
And gently erase it

Then they do something
For which I have a knack
They start quoting me Scripture
So I quote it right back

I show them God knew me
From the day of my birth 
God sees beyond my NF
He knows my worth

I tell them how beauty
Is deeper than skin
How beauty, true beauty
Comes from within

I'm comfortable with me
And the way that I look
It's something I've learned
But not from a book

It comes from living life challenged
With nothing to hide
I'm quite happy knowing 
My beauty's inside

And this truth I know
And can say without doubt
Life's quite amusing
When you're born inside out

By Miss Freddie

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The joy in my life
It's not so odd
For you see my friend
I've been touched by God
  He holds me close 
In the palm of His hand
And tells me, "I love you"
And "I understand"
You wonder dear friend
Why my elation
I walk with Christ
In His plan of salvation
And after death, Heaven
My destiny secured
Forever at peace
At home with my Lord

By Miss Freddie
Written January 18, 1989

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"My Teddy - My Friend"

My teddy bear had a hole in his arm
It seemed almost too large to mend
But I hugged him and told him he'd be alright
 Cause after all he's my best friend 

I took him home to my mother to sew
With her trusty old needle and thread
When Teddy needs mending, she stops being Mom
    And becomes a doctor instead 

She found material, almost the right shade,
   Began stitching, and when she was through,
Teddy's arms were all mended and so were his feet
And my teddy bear looked good as new

Then she tied a red ribbon around Teddy's neck
And gave him back to me again
And I heard Teddy say, as I hugged him real tight
"Your mother is also your friend."

 By Janice Lovell
Written January 1, 1990

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Michael you're so different 
Because God has a special plan 
He's had a purpose for your life 
Since before your life began

He fashioned you in such a way 
That perfected His own will 
 Others just can't see clearly 
They just think you're ill 

When the kids send you a stare 
and make you feel so blue 
 Let them feel His presence 
Shining back to them through you 

Show them that there is more to you 
Than the earthly home they see 
Then they will wonder how you carry 
Yourself so gracefully 

Then smile and tell them 
That God had a special plan 
He sent you here to help bring 
His love to every man 

By Seesnow
Written August 2, 2001

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"A Circle is Not Unbroken"

A circle, a circle 
An inclusive place
Unless you’re outside
An unseen face

Standing outside
Facing their backs
Wanting to add
To what the circle lacks

Will hands unclasp
To free a space
To pull you in
 To make a place 

A circle, a circle
To ever grow
To draw someone in
You must first let go

We come together 
And pull apart
To add a face
Another heart

A circle, a circle
Will you please come in
Open, shut
And open again

By Miss Freddie

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"No One Lives in a Funeral Home"

No one lives in a funeral home
No fingerprints on the wall
To show the joy some girl or boy
Had playing in the hall
There are no pictures of grandpa
 When he wore that old straw hat
While he took the yield of his summer field
Or stopped to have a chat
 There is no sign of grandma
With an apron 'round her waist
In that kitchen small, I can still recall
The sights, and smells, and taste
No one lives in a funeral home
No memories fair and kind
But come folks so dear, with smile or tear
To bring them back to mind
I look for my sweet mama
The love that filled her eyes
That unspoken word, loudly heard
For her faith is long and wise
They come to tell of daddy
And share a tale or two
Of younger days so far away
The things he use to do
I long to see the babies 
That brought our lives such love
But they're not here, the little dears
They've gone to God above
No one lives in a funeral home
It only relives the past
 With whispered days that slipped away
They've come and gone too fast
Oh love those who share your home
For too quickly our days end
 Words said in haste are such a waste
When we use them to offend
Heal the wounds you find today
And mend each broken heart
Find no blame, or guilt or shame
In hatred have no part
For no one lives in a funeral home
The one you seek is gone
The time has passed, all too fast
Time, time marches on
It's silence now for those at rest
They cannot hear the things you say
Your words do not ease, or touch, or please
Or brush the pain away
Tomorrow never comes my dears
Today is brief, then gone
The one you hold dear, is no longer near
Their soul has traveled on
The funeral home holds sorrows
Of lives that too quickly passed
Of dreams and fears, smiles and tears
Somehow we make them last
Tell those you love, you love them
Don't settle that they may know
Speak loud and clear and hold them near
For soon, you let them go
For no one lives at the funeral home
For  dark and sad and gray
 You're left alone, with soft, sad tones
 And memories fade away
 You wonder if you had told them
That you loved them long and true
Words come to mind, and it is hard to find
 What you did and didn't do
Love your family while you have time
Tomorrow is always a day away
Be loving, and caring, and in gentleness sharing
For you only have today
No one lives in a funeral home
Only visitors come and go
Today has faded and moments were traded
And now they will never know
Love, oh love while today is here
And be swift to forgive and repair
Any harm done, with heart or tongue
And shower them with your care
No one lives in a funeral home
Only silence for words not spoken
WIth whispered sorrow waiting for tomorrow
And too many hearts lay broken
No lives in a funeral home.........

By Miss Freddie

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