Raikes Christmas Poem

Twas the day of Thanksgiving
and all through the house
The Raikes family was mingling
with Valerie’s new spouse

The wedding took place
on the first of September
Now Nathan Cozart is our fam’s newest member

Nathan and Val live in Tulsa, O.K.
He designs airplanes, and she’s a T.A.
(teacher’s assistant)

Kristen graduated in May from John Brown
She’s co-teaching with mom livin’ in her home town

Working away to pay off her school loans
Then out to the mission field she will roam

Stephen spent his summer
at Camp War Eagle again
Impacting kids for Christ
at this place where he’d been

Performing in musicals for FMT
While attending school
at Criswell and Cedar Valley

Jonathan is also a star on the stage
Frisbee golfing and swing dancing
…it’s all the rage

After receiving his high school diploma in May
He now goes to Cedar Valley every day

Mom and Dad have been busy indeed
With weddings, a surgery and 5 mouths to feed

Before planning Val’s wedding
Mom directed VBS
With 7 classes at 2 co-op’s,
she’s not getting much rest

Still teaching Sunday school,
still hanging with friends
To all of you and your families,
much love she sends

Dad tore a leg muscle and had surgery in June
But he’s moving around
and back singing his tunes

After graduating 2 kids
and giving a daughter away
He’s back at work with his hands every day

Now on to me, oldest kid of this bunch
In May to Kenya, I flew in a crunch

After my travels to kids overseas
I took a job at Redeemer,
and now own church keys

That is the update on life with the Raikes
We spent Thanksgiving with Grandpa
(who makes no mistakes)

We hope and pray your light shines for our Lord
If so, know in heaven your treasures are stored

That is the end of this note I will write
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night