Keep a Light on for Me Brother--a Tribute to Ben

Rob has a gift. He has an outlet for expression which also helps in healing. I decided to post it on my blog because it’s so special and his brother Ben, was so special. We all miss him very much.

This is a tribute to Ben, Rob’s brother who passed away November 2007.
Written by my husband, Robert Rowland.

To set it up: “After Ben died, I noticed he had left his porch light on with every intention of being home later to turn it off. For some reason, I could not turn that light off and insisted it be left on. I knew it was symbolic somehow but I couldn't wrap my mind around it immediately. A tune started in my mind that week and has been echoing ever since. It went, "Keep a light on for me, brother. Keep a light on while I roam. Keep a light on for me, brother and help me find my way home." Needless to say- and you can ask Becky to verify- the hardest thing I had to do that week was to turn that porch light off after we locked up his trailer for the last time. Well, all that culminated into another song I wrote on the guitar and I've combined the lyrics from what I was feeling at Jekyll and the week he died.”

Keep a Light On
By R. L. Rowland

I hear you name
whispered in the trees.
I fight back the tears
drying on the breeze.
Walking through life
trying not to fail
but I am overwhelmed
and sink into my shell.


(Chorus)
Keep a light on for me, brother.

Keep a light on while I roam.
Keep a light on for me, brother,
and help me find my way home.

Tell me it gets better.
Say that it goes away:
This ever present emptiness
that mocks me while I pray.
Tell me I'll get stronger.
Say I'll stop breaking down.
How am I supposed to laugh
knowin' you're not comin' around?

(Chorus)

Bridge:
Teach me how to live.
Show me how to love.
Tell me why I should sing
and play and dance again
without you,
without you.

Keep a light on for me, brother.
Keep a light on while I roam.
Keep a light on for me, brother,
and help me find my way home.

I love you all,

Rob

Husbands Song- Trying to Find My Way

My husband wrote this song. He was born with the "creative gene." No real category- bluesy, folksy rock...
D,G,D,A,D,G,A,B,D

Tryin to Find My Way
By R. L. Rowland

Walkin' down the road
Just kickin' a stone
Tryin' to make light
About bein' alone
People passin' by
I've got nothin' to say
I'm just tryin' to find my way

Even as a child
Plans were already made
Everyone could tell
I had it made in the shade
What I wouldn't give
For such assurance today
As I'm tryin' to find my way
(I remember Daddy sayin')

Chorus:
Hold on 'till tomorrow
Put away your sorrows
Listen when you pray
And He'll help you find your way
Chew your pride and swallow
Where He leads, you follow
Then down you'll never stay
'Cause He knows a better way

(Break)

Standin' in the road
Where His Light has just shone
Reminded once again
That I'm never alone
People, listen up
I've got somethin' to say:
Jesus is the Way!

(Chorus)

(Chorus)

Jesus is the Way!
Jesus is the Way!
Jesus is the Way!

We Are All Meant To Shine---my favorite quote

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

by Marianne Williamson

Why Spinach & Eggs?

Are you wondering why I named this blog "Stacey's Spinach & Eggs?" Well, it stems from the phrase, "You can't judge a book by its cover." The same goes to say that you can't judge a dish by its appearance. I was once enticed into trying spinach and eggs after turning my nose up. I took a bite and was pleasantly surprised by its wonderful taste. Spinach and Eggs are a part of my life and my children even like them. When put into the perspective of stepping out of one's comfort zone and trying new things, it's amazing what one would discover about other people and about oneself. You never know what you are missing until you try it. You never know what a person is going through until you try to understand them--from their perspective. Explore--that's part of truly living life, not being afraid to step out of your comfort zone and trying different things. Accept others and try to understand their humanity. This is how we learn, this is how we grow, and this is how we learn to not judge others, most especially until we've actually put ourselves in that person's place and experience some of their feelings.

So try some spinach and eggs and let me know how you like it. Here's how to cook them up:

-Add a little butter into an iron skillet and heat until bubbly hot
-Add one can of chopped spinach, drained
-Fry up in the pan for 5 minutes
-Add one beaten egg to spinach
-Scramble together until the egg is done

Enjoy!