“It’s going to be okay”

November 2026 Poetry Month, Day 6

Hydrangea, Vancouver British Columbia Temple

“It’s going to be okay”

We wait sometimes
for a long time
for a shout out
that everything is going to be okay.
Yet the shout out
doesn’t appear immediately.
In fact, it may never happen.
Our hearts digress.
Our minds float onto other things.
Our ears strain to hear
the refrain from others.
Our souls shudder.
But within ourselves,
we can see and feel
that it’s going to be okay
because we think it,
we will it,
we sing it,
we do it,
we move it along
as we trundle
forward, ever forward,
stopping along the way
to rest, reinvent ourselves.
Our thoughts and actions,
respond in positive ways
by ganging up
on the negative,
shoving it to the side,
chasing it away
out of sight
out of mind,
seldom looking back,
lessening its weight
on our psyche
and our doing
what we need to become.

Yes, it’s going to be okay.

Ketchup and Mustard Dahlia

“Morass of Life”

Hammon November 2026 Poetry Month, Day 5

“Morass of Life”

Challenges arise during our lives,
most of them not requested,
not invited, and not appreciated,
at least at the very moment,
when they appear before our eyes,
blind us, perhaps, blindside us
when we least expect it.

With great effort and a daily dose
of Heavenly Father’s spirit and push,
and friends who surround us,
waiting anxiously to help us,
we can climb out of any abyss
or any challenge that might come our way.

Often, we want to be done with it
immediately, but we discover—
much to our chagrin—
we have to learn something
that does not emerge straightway
and definitely not on our timeline.

Often it is drawn out,
tediously, miserably,
and we moan and groan
and then thrash about some more
for extra measure and an added dose
of grief, self-affrication, elongating
our wondrous escape.

When we do learn, we look back,
take a deep breath, sometimes roll our eyes,
and wonder why it took us so long
to point ourselves in the right direction.

Fortunately, we do acknowledge, sometimes
begrudgingly, belatedly, thankfully,
and gain knowledge and great wisdom,
and continue to plow vigilantly forward
through the mountains of morass
that we fondly call life at its finest.

“Does anyone read anymore?”

Hammon November 2026 Poetry Month, Day 4

Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho

“Does anyone read anymore?”

Does anyone read anymore?
Or are we at a point
that people have become
snippet readers or viewers

of just video of this and that?
What about podcasts
and other social media?
Does anyone read Huck Finn

or Great Expectations
or even To Kill a Mockingbird?
I am afraid to ask
if anyone knows who Romeo

or Miss Havisham or even Scout might be?
I asked one of my college Institute classes
if they knew about Sisyphus and his boulder
and all I got were blank looks.

Scary! Challenging!
And then many state legislatures
point out that 4th graders
cannot read anymore.

Should we all wonder
what causes all that
or just mind our own business
and read something for them

like Mrs. Jeppsen did to us in 4th grade 

after lunch our heads on desks while tears
clandestinely spilled down our cheeks
as she read Where the Red Fern Grows?

Swans

“The rain has come…”

 

Hammon November Poetry Month, Day 3

Along the Skagit River, Washington

“The rain has come…”

The rain has come.
Finally.
As soon as I awoke,
I heard it.
Rain.
Lluvia.
The pattering of drops
on my bedroom window.
Cries of joy
from distant farmers and ranchers.
Creeks.
Reservoirs.
Even home owners
with large and small lawns.
I stood at the open window,
looked out, looked heavenward,
and sighed hallelujah.
It is amazing when people turn
to God when their lands
are parched and dying,
threats of water rationing
from water managers,
and devastation of livelihoods.
Some say technology, oil and gas,
and bankers run our country.
It’s water that runs our lives.
Without it, there is no technology.
No oil or gas.
Banks eventually close.
Now, I just stare out the window,
listen to the water gurgle
through the gutters, the lawn
and fields seeping with happiness,
and the many people singing praises
they remember from years ago.

"The View from the Mesquite Tree"

 Hammon Poetry Month, Day 2

*"The View from the Mesquite Tree"

At seven, I climbed

the mesquite tree
in our backyard, thinking
I could rise above
the flat of Texas
and see further
than I had ever seen.

I climbed, a bit reticent,
yet feeling strong enough,
and knowing, thankfully,
my brothers had nailed boards
high up in tree
where I could sit
and stare beyond
what I knew to be.

Soon, I sat stoically
on those old boards,
hands around knees,
looked across the span
and opened my eyes wide,
finally able to see
across the world and beyond.

Now, steeped in my unfailing belief
in God, I have unobstructed views
of the Plan of Mercy,
His plan for me and you,
and the sacred view
of the sealing power,
that binds families forever—

simply and magnificently launched
when I was seven,
in a south Texas backyard,
ascending and elevating myself,
handhold after handhold,
up that old mesquite tree,
stopping just once or twice
to rest until I reached
my brothers’ handiwork
only to realize
that it was God’s handiwork
that I really craved.

*Inspired by a story told by Sister Nancy Roney 

during a Sunset Stake Conference, Provo, Utah, January 11, 2025

“Psalm of Darrel”

Hammon November Poetry Month, Day 1

Since today is Sunday and we have been studying the Old Testament, I thought I would share a psalm that I wrote after the lesson on Psalms.

Sunset, Spokane, Washington

“Psalm of Darrel”

Call to praise.

 Praise be to my God, the Redeemer of my soul. I will sing praises daily, on bended knee, in the quietness of the grove, wherever my body and mind may be.

Happy am I to be in Thy presence as my words ascend to Thee, happy to kiss each new day as I rise from my bed where dreams overtake me and send me into darkness; yet, I know that Thy hand is stretched out still to pull me back into Thy loving embrace where I may feel anew and sing praises to Thy name.

Yes, I will praise Thee forever and forever.

God’s attributes

The greatness of thine excellency encircles Thee and extends to me through Thy loving kindness, Thy graciousness that emanates from Thy constant embrace and loving hands, Thy sweet understanding that always overlooks my challenges and shortcomings.

May I sing glory, glory, glory as I bask in Thy redemption and be made clean through Thy Atonement so graciously and painfully given to all of us, especially me during any challenging time.

As I praise Thee, words of love and gratitude shall escape my lips and hiss to the far ends of the earth until they touch the ears, hearts, minds of the world. 

Recall specific acts

Thou has opened my eyes through the beauty of Thine creations, from the sand shores of exquisite beaches to the might and sacred Redwoods to the lofty clouds that saunter across the sky, including those who are boisterous with rain and laughter and ominous threats, to the hay fields of my youth and the mighty Buttes, surrounded by the great Snake River, where my life flowed until they encompassed Thee, and showed me the way along the Covenant Path and find Thee clamoring my name to come and see and do.

Can there be anything more divine, wonderous than finding Thee, aligning myself with Thee, feeling Thy gracious love distilling on and around me on so many occasions?

Yes, Thine arm is outstretched still, touching me at the right moments, regenerating new life each day, elevating me to where I can see beyond my puny self.

Closing vow of thanks.

My soul delighteth in Thy constancy, Thy forgiveness, Thy spiritual nourishment.

May my eyes see, my heart feel, my mind be clear and understand the mysteries of Heaven that my soul be redeemed, that I may be an instrument in Thy Holy Hand.

May eyes and ears and heart and mind raise praises to Thy Name.

May I become a holy seed, a righteous son, and stand at Thy right hand where I may reign with Thee forever and forever more. 

Our transition from Provo to Spokane

Our transition from Provo to Spokane

We have moved a bit in our lives, mostly because of job moves or missions. This move was for an entirely different reason. We moved to be closer to Hailey and her family.

Our Spokane home

The transition has been an interesting one. Living in Washington is just a different state, just like living in Montana was different, just like living in Wyoming and California was different, and living in the Dominican Republic was definitely different. Each place of residence has been full of both positive and negatives qualities and characteristics.

Sunset from the front of our home

When our family transitioned from Lewiston, Idaho, to Miles City, Montana, we read together the book Who Moved My Cheese by Dr. Spencer Johnson who also coauthored The One-Minute Manager. It is a book about change, something that happens to everyone during their lives. His premise hinged on the attitude you have during the change. Our attitude when we moved was that it was going to be an adventure, and it was every single time. We admit, though, that all moves were challenging and taxing, but we somehow survived and thrived simultaneously!

Sometimes you have to give up a few things along the way during the transition, but you gain so many more along the way!

Sunset on Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho,
just about an hour from our home

For example, I gave up teaching Institute classes at the Utah Valley Institute. I loved teaching on Fridays, seeing students’ testimony grow and develop.

I gave up serving in the Provo City Center Temple, and I miss being a sealer. Of course, there is a temple here in Spokane. We were living in Lewiston when it was announced and dedicated. Beautiful temple. We enjoy attending each week. We look forward to serving in the Spokane Washington Temple, too!

Spokane Washington Temple

We have given up our doctors and dentist. This is always a challenge when you move, especially at this stage in our lives. Finding good doctors who are attentive and have openings for new patients can tax one’s patience.

Our friends have remained in Utah, although we can still communicate through social media. We are finding new friends here. Our neighbors have been spectacular! We have received cards, flowers, goodies, visits, lists of places to eat, etc. People love to stop and chat when we are out walking the neighborhood or in our yard.

Our water feature in the front

Changing wards (congregations) can be challenging. Our new LDS ward is great. Lots of people have reached out. Our bishop’s wife called out to us to say hello in Winco just the other day. We are going to be speaking in Church this month. Cannot wait for that….

For us, though, transitioning to a new place has always been an adventure! New surroundings, new places to go and visit, new restaurants, new friends, new everything pretty much. But it is about your attitude, the way you look at things and situations, the choices you make, and then doing something positive about them.

Sunset from our deck

Remember: You are the product of the company you keep, and we choose to keep good company and be good company!

Our family--the company we keep!

And away we go!

Welcome to our home!