Do I have a date of expiration According to the Good Book, I do Not like the food we purchase we're not stamped with a date that's due I should live every minute to get the fullest use of my life Not knowing my future fate could bring much strife If I trust my Maker who created me in the beginning He knows the exact time when my life will be ending Peace with Him will make my life whole Bringing complete commitment to my soul July 1, 2023 MarkWaldrop
In a world where signals dance across the air, Where frequencies hum and voices declare, There shines a beacon of radiant light, Solana, our sunshine, gleaming so bright. A Field Day Event sparked her youthful desire, In 2019, her heart caught fire, Ham radio's magic captured her gaze, A passion ignited in those early days. With her mother, Mari Ann, by her side, They ventured forth, their knowledge to abide, Technician class exam they did take, At nine years old, a milestone they did make. Solana, N4SOL, her call sign they gave, A mark of dedication and courage so brave, Mari Ann, KD4SGC, her mother stands tall, Together they embrace the radio's call. April 26, 2021, a day to remember, Their General licenses, a glowing ember, As a Ham Family, they proudly stand, Grandparents, Randy, W4YSN, and Patti, KB4PAT, hand in hand. Solana, a granddaughter cherished and dear, Bathed in love from those so near, A lineage of hams, a legacy shared, With every transmission, their bond is declared. This past weekend, Solana did shine, Field Day with WAARC, a moment divine, With the Williamsburg Area Amateur Radio Club, She immersed herself, her spirit did scrub. A coach for the GOTA station, she guided with care, For youth, a mentor, her wisdom to share, The control operator on SSB she danced through the night, A voice of passion, reaching great height. But beyond the airwaves, her heart takes flight, For dancing is her joy, a dazzling sight, Ballet, Tap, and Contemporary too, Her movements grace, her spirit anew. Solana, our sunshine, a beacon so bright, In the realm of ham radio, a radiant light, May your journey be filled with joy and delight, As you dance through life, forever taking flight. Created by MarkWaldrop KE4WA & AI Penned for Solana J Stevenson N4SOL Mother Mari Ann KD4SGC Grandparents Patti Altona KB4PAT Randy Altona W4YSN
All gave some Some gave all No one can have a greater call Whether for my country family or friends There is no greater love that God can send John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. June 30, 2023 MarkWaldrop
Do your kids and friends see you as you are Do you want them too? Had you rather they gaze from afar Am I one person when I leave the house and another when I return home Do I walk the straight and narrow path or tend to weave and roam The Path to Heaven is as straight as an Arrow The path to hell is a very deep and a wide furrow Lord help me to walk the straight and narrow That my kids and friends see me as God sees the sparrow June 28, 2023 MarkWaldrop
We all have different priorities that's the way it should be What's important to me you shouldn't necessarily be able to see We are all different God made us that way for a reason We all grow and bloom in our own season Just because I'm an apple and you're an orange does not make me sad In the salad of life, many ingredients are needed to make me glad God's plan we cannot understand I can only trust Him grasping His Helping Hand June 28, 2023 MarkWaldrop
I find myself in a desolate place no movement can be heard Without movement no life not even the sound of a little bird Looking around for a sound to hear Straining nothing comes to my ear Then listening with my soul a flood of music comes rushing in There is life all around if I pause and listen from within June 28, 2023 MarkWaldrop
No matter what happens in life I never stop I pick myself up and continue the climb to the top I have had many setbacks no one is perfect Those offering well-meaning advice, I was not impressed Unless I have walked that path burdened with a heavy load I cannot offer advice until I've carried my cross down that road God hold my hand, walk with me through the pain That I might through you have a new life again Thank you to my friends that never leave my side That through Your Son Jesus I will forever abide I pray the Glorious Love you have shown I may continue to pass on Until I have completed the race and see your face at the break of dawn I cannot explain the incredible peace I have within Since I accepted Your Son Jesus and invited Him in June 27, 2023 MarkWaldrop Penned for my friends Changed Lives Ministry
I have had depression off and on in my life Not knowing, It often caused much strife Being diagnosed at a younger age Many medications were all the rage I lied a lot to myself and my friends About many feelings I had within Then one day a friend introduced me to Jesus I had never heard that He came to Love us A feeling flowed through me like warm electricity Bringing unexplained peace is quite a mystery Today my prescription for depression Worshiping with friends has become an obsession June 27, 2023 Created by MarkWaldrop
In the heart of Moncks Corner, SC, In the year of 2003, a vision took flight, Pastor Mickey White, with a compassionate plea, Sought to change lives, to bring hope in the night. From Santee Circle Community Church he arose, With a shepherd's heart, a purpose in sight, A ministry to help men in their throes, To break addictions, to find God's guiding light. Marvin and Carol Wiggins, friends of old, Owners of Berkeley Motel embraced the call, They opened their doors, hearts generous and bold, Rooms provided, a shelter for those who fall. The "Motel Ministry" began to take shape, Men off the streets, given a second chance, Shelter, food, and love, no soul to escape, Transported to church, offered a divine dance. Critics questioned the worth of this endeavor, Financial concerns whispered in the air, But Marvin stood strong, his faith he would never sever, "For one man saved, it's worth the burden we bear." The Berkeley Motel chapter eventually closed, Change brought by a drug store's acquisition, Yet God's hand guided, new paths were exposed, Tracy's Camp and Calvary Baptist's transition. Keith Griggs stepped in as the director's helm, Prayers lifted high, seeking God's divine plan, Through labor, donations, a story to overwhelm, A site emerged, built by a mighty hand. Roads, septic systems, and a well appeared, Donated by grace, with no cost to bear, Buildings given, volunteers persevered, Curriculum and guidelines formed with care. In June 2006, the current home they found, Relocated to Reid Hill Road's embrace, Changed Lives Ministry, a name renowned, 2 Corinthians 5:17, a testament of grace. And in April 2010, the Transitional House stood, An extension of CLM, fostering growth, Additional accountability, men understood, Guiding their steps, preparing them for both. So let us celebrate this ministry's tale, Changed Lives Ministry, a beacon of light, From humble beginnings, their mission set sail, Transforming lives, dispelling the night. Pastor Mickey White's vision, a ripple of grace, Through partnership and faith, they dared to believe, Changed Lives Ministry, a life-altering place, Where brokenness mends, and souls receive. May the work continue, the impact everlast, With love as their guide, they'll never tire, Changed Lives Ministry, a future so vast, Building bridges of hope, setting hearts on fire Created by MarkWaldrop & AI
In the realm where signals soar,
Where frequencies unite,
Amidst the airwaves' boundless lore,
Shines a beacon of pure light.
On the fourth weekend, every June,
When summer's warmth does play,
A gathering of hearts in tune,
For Field Day we make our way.
Amidst the land of red and white,
From sea to shining sea,
Enthusiasts, with hearts alight,
Set up their stations, wild and free.
Amateur radio, our shared delight,
A symphony of waves we send,
Across distances, day or night,
Our voices on the wind.
With antennas reaching for the sky,
And Morse code tapping away,
We strive to make connections fly,
To those who share our fervent sway.
From the rolling plains to mountains high,
In cities bustling, and fields serene,
Our camaraderie shall never die,
United in this cherished scene.
In Canada and the U.S. wide,
A bond that cannot be undone,
Across the borders, side by side,
We reach out to everyone.
For on this day, our spirits soar,
As contacts spark and friendships bloom,
The thrill of radio we explore,
Our passion casting away the gloom.
So let us gather, one and all,
For Field Day's grand embrace,
Where echoes of the radio call,
Connect us in this sacred space.
Amidst the crackling static's sound,
A symphony of voices rise,
Amateur radio, forever profound,
We reach for distant skies.
With every contact, every word,
We bridge the gaps that separate,
Amidst the airwaves, undeterred,
Love and kinship radiate.
U.S. ARRL Field Day, a cherished morn,
When thousands of kindred souls convene,
In the tapestry of radio, reborn,
A beacon of unity, resplendent and serene.
June 23, 2023
Created by
MarkWaldrop KE4WA