What is your name : Wendy Smith

Who do you want the poem written for: Barbara and Jimmy Smith

Why do you want the poem written: 50th Anniversary

What are the key messages you would like to send: Correction: Married after knowing each other less than 3 months, introduced by Jimmy's first cousin Helen, who was Barbara's best friend in high school.Correction: They lived with Jimmy's mother, Granny Smith, the first 3 months of marriage, not Barbara's mother.Correction: lived next to Mrs. Hart (not Harp)Addional info. regarding the Navy: Jimmy is very proud to be a "Tin-Can Sailor."Their children remember fondly the vacations the family took, which always included cousins. "The more the merrier" has been a family motto from the beginning. Vacations included travels to Washington DC, Arizona, and the Gulf Coast. In addition, the family would camp often, providing more fond memories. Now as adults, and parents themselves, the children appreciate Barbara and Jimmy's efforts to expose them to the world outside their home town, and they realize the sacrafices that were made for their benefit.Once Barbara and Jimmy opened their own business, it was harder to get away for long trips, so they built a cabin on Smith Lake for the family to enjoy on the weekends. Robby remembers his daddy teaching him to water ski during those times at the lake. In addition, the family would take bicycle rides when Jimmy came home from work, Karen remembers riding in a special basket on her daddy's bike.Barbara and Jimmy returned home to Tennessee whenever possbile, Jimmy Ray remembers going to Granddaddy and Granny Smith's during the holiday's and walking in the snow. Even now, the Bonner family (Barbara's side) gather for holiday's and summer reunion's, where it is common to have more than 80 people in attendance.

Do you have any funny, sad, happy, embarrassing or otherwise memorable moments that you would like to share: Barbara sewed for her family, often making the girls Easter dresses. At the time, they didn't appreciate Barbara's gift of time and energy, but looking back, they are amazed at all she was able to do for them. Lynn remembers one Easter with matching blue dresses for her, her sister, and mother.Although Jimmy worked many long hours, including evenings and weekends, Barbara managed to keep family time a priority by working around his schedule, especially for dinner. Her children remember her wonderful meals, and especially the divinity she made at Christmas. Her grandchildren (11 total) are always requesting her famous breakfasts, or potato salad and banana pudding. Not to be outdone, Jimmy is also known for cooking, but his specialty is anything that can be grilled. He is just as comfortable grilling for a few as he is for a crowd. He has been know to feed many including family reunions and birthdays, jeweler's conventions, civic clubs, and little league baseball teams.

Do you have any other comments or thoughts: Although Jimmy and Barbara have had the pleasure of meeting many dignitaries, including US Presidents, US Senators and many state officals including Alabama Governors, they are most happy to share their time with family and close friends.They feel a sense of duty to give back to the community that they have been blessed to be a part of, and many organizations have honored them for their charity. Together, they have built a sucessful business where employees are treated like family, and customers always come first.Although they have built a life together that many would descibe as comfortable in monetary terms; Jimmy and Barbara have always placed the most value in their faith in God, and their family and friends. By working together, both at home and at Jimmy Smith Jewelers, Barbara and Jimmy have been able to blend his high energy and positive attitude with her calmness and patience. This partnership has been a wonderful example of unconditional love, courage and commitment for all who have ever know them to see.

What style of poem would you prefer (happy, sad, romantic etc.): a tribute to their life together,

Please choose which package you would prefer:Deluxe

Do you have any last comments or thoughts: Allen,Sorry that this is coming in more than one email, and I know there are typo's since I have rushed this.Thank you for agreeing to do this in a short notice.I look forward to hearing from you.Wendy

About Thirty Minutes Apart

Now, where on Earth shall we start? Well, they met in their home state of Tennessee, Jimmy, from Lewisburg, Barbara from Lawrenceburg, just thirty minutes apart, from their destiny. They had only known each for three months, when they got married on July 23rd, 1954, she was only 18, he was just 21, the start of a love story that'll last for evermore. Barbara came from a family of eleven, and remembers picking cotton as a little girl, Jimmy was one of five, his father cut timber, grew tobacco and gave a country store a whirl. Jimmy is very proud that he was a "Tin-Can Sailor", (and he served during the Korean conflict), his parents had to sign for him because he was only 17, (back then the rules were really quite strict). This time of life was very precious to Jimmy, he attends reunions and travels to the Guinard ports, we know that he made many friends in that time, and many of them remain in his thoughts. They lived with Granny Smith for the first three months, and Decatur is the place they've always stayed, and now Bethel Road is the family center, it's where all our happy family memories get made. Jimmy Ray, Lynn, Karen, Robby and 11 grandchildren. My! Look our how your tree has grown, all are very grateful for your love and kindness, and for all of the love that you've shown. The children fondly remember the family vacations, "the more the merrier" was the motto from the start, Washington DC, Arizona, the Gulf Coast, camping, magical memories (held closely to the heart). And we have so many, many wonderful memories, in truth, there's just too many to individually list, just know that everyone is imply precious, there's not one that we would have missed. You've always managed through the hard times, you've relied on each other and your faith in God above, you've both worked hard to provide for your family, but most of all, what you've given is your love. And thankfully you didn't get into refrigeration, or else they'd be a few less jewels shining bright, but the brightest jewels of all are you two, and we'd like to thank you for sharing your love, your light. And the story that started "about thirty minutes apart", well, it's a story of love and commitment, together, and we know that, because of your love, it's one that'll last forever and ever. I guess we've never really told you, told you just how wonderful you really are, but if our love for you were a distance, then it would be further than the furthest star. We just wanted to say "thank you", we'd like to thank you for simply everything, because you are simply wonderful parents, and you put the gold in each other's wedding ring.

Copyright www.agiftofpoetry.co.uk 2008

Allen Jesson

Comments:

Thank you for working so quickly on the poem. It is very nice, and the family is warmed by the sentiment you have created.