Merry Christmas 2024

It’s time once again

As another year ends

To recount all the things we’ve been through.

 

In our families

There are plenty of these

We count blessings and memories too.

 

On a cold winter’s day

Carol’s dad passed away

And we mourned him as families do.

 

I retired last June

And the date came too soon

But as time marches on we must too.

 

Yet to write I still dare

And to preach here and there

As I find myself still able to.

 

And it’s pleasant, I’d say

Now that we’re found a way

To spend time with our family brood.

 

For this was the year

We were waiting to hear

Of new babies, one pink and one blue.

 

And the stork dropped them by

Just in time for this rhyme.

Seventeen of them now in our crew!

 

And in all things we know

That however life goes

There will always be grace peppered through

 

Because One Other born

In a Bethlehem barn

Has redeemed and made everything new.

 

Ah, so tiny His birth,

Who fills heaven and earth!

Wondrous mystery, wonderf’lly true!

 

So rejoice with us, friends

Knowing life never ends

For His people who sing, Happy Yule!

 

God rest ye merry, this Christmas 2024 and always! - Fritz and Carol Eckardt

The Grandpa Songs

 The Grandpa Songs

1. I Wanna Be a Friend of Yours

I Wanna Be a Friend of Yours

2. If the Word Keeps on Turnin'

If the World Keeps on Turnin'

3. I've Been Listenin' to a Secret

I've Been Listenin' to a Secret

Merry Christmas 2023

There once was an Illinois home

Which its children had left all alone

Except for the mom

And the pop, they had gone

To make families all of their own.

But at Christmas they always came back

All to gather and all to unpack

All the gifts they had bought

And had wrapped and had brought

'Neath the Christmas tree where they'd be stacked

Fifteen children will gather that morn

(That's how many who now have been born

To six sons and their wives),

Oh, how rich and alive

Will the house be that they will adorn!

Lately two were born just this same year,

And while no one has news we might hear

Of another, we know

there are bound to be more

Since the fam'lies keep growing, Oh dear!

Of the six fam'lies five are nearby

In the same state or just 'cross the line

And the one far away

Now draws near to the day

they will move near, next year, in springtime!

So together they all can enjoy

the great birth of that heavenly Boy

Who has take away

All our sin and dismay

For a new life no one can destroy.

God rest ye merry, this Christmas 2023 and always -- the Eckardts

(Pictured below: Burnie and Amanda's three: Mikey #6, Bevy #3, Millie #4; Andy and Kristy's two (with us): David #2 and Sarah #1; Peter's son Ezra #8; Johnny and Alissa's five: Paul #14, Hazel #5, Ada #7, Megan #9, Luke #11; Joey and Emily's three: Elizabeth #13, Mary #15, Jane #10; Michael and Brittany's daughter Bella #12

Merry Christmas 2017

Not much has happened here this year
That is, if you don’t count the cheer
Of children having children as we
Raise for each another beer.

If you would put aside six sons
And wives of four with their young ones
Then, sure, there’s nothing to report,
No reason for Post Office runs.




If you likewise would miss the five
The grandkids! Oh, so much alive:
Sarah, David, Bevy, Millie,
Hazel too, all full of drive,



Then one could say there’s no news here,
Unless you count our Mikey dear
Who, born just at the start of spring,
Undimmed our hearts and made them clear.

’Twas Burnie and Amanda who
Awaited and then welcomed too
This newborn number six grandchild
As thanks were given, as was due.

He’s crawling now, about to walk
While sisters squeal in glee and stalk
Him pretty much where’er he goes.
And listen! He’s about to talk!

But else, the year was dull, in all,
If you don’t count two days in fall
When in September came a pair
A day apart—O what a ball!

Our Ada came the twenty-eighth,
And next day Ezra too—same weight!
Though born of different parents, these
Twin cousins, cause to celebrate!

(To John, Alissa came the one,
To Pete and Allison the son,
Who make the total eight in all
Grandchildren, now that’s quite a run!)

And since they’re on the Eastern coast
We traveled there so we could toast
In person these two sweeties, these
Two babes who tempt our hearts to boast.


But we dare not; for we know well
The grace of God these children spell
And more so does another Child
Whose birth we yearly wish to tell

Who saved us all from Satan’s pow’r
As carolers declare this hour—
They move along from house to house
To warm our hearts with Christmas show’r.

So join them, friends, and let’s be glad
For this year, even were it sad,
Still holds a reason to rejoice:
Eternal Good drives out the bad!

Let all the earth rejoice today
For there is much good news to say:
That makes all fam’ly news seem small
Our Savior brings us life for aye!

God rest ye merry, this Christmas 2017 and always – the scattered Eckardt family (Fritz, Carol, Burnie, Amanda, Bevy, Millie, Mikey, Andy, Kristy, Sarah, David, Peter, Allison, Ezra, Johnny, Alissa, Hazel, Ada, Joey, Michael)

Merry Christmas 2016

Since the fam’lies

have all gone their ways

Except for the folks whose hair grays;

I declare with delight

That because of this plight

I am free from reports of those days

What I offer instead I have made us

Is a colorful map I have laid up

Where you match up the town

To which each has now flown

And from which

they occasionally raid us.

But beyond this map there is another

Showing where God became

our dear Brother

And was Bethlehem-born

on a mid-winter’s morn

To a lovely and low virgin mother.

There’s no arrow that points that direction

Nor a star any more for reflection

But a heavenly word

That proclaims him as Lord

And still offers eternal election.

God rest ye merry, this Christmas 2016 and always 
– the scattered Eckardt family

(in Moline, Ill., Oregon, Ill., Alexandria, Va., Warrensburg, Mo., 
Terre Haute, Ind., Pittsfield, Ill., and back home in Kewanee, Ill.)

Merry Christmas 2015

I take to writing poetry

When Christmastime is near

Lest perchance 

my words should be

More cumbersome to hear.

So this is how I choose to write

To tell you of events,

Of days of sadness and delight,

And of accomplishments.

In January’s 

birthday bash

Our David turned to five,

And Sarah, seven, 

so I asked,

Could these be more alive?

And Millie was 

a half year old

By February’s snow

A month before 

her sister Bevy’s

Happy birthday two.

Our March son found 

a different niche—

A better job for Joe,

And Burnie also 

made a switch

That’s two sons’ new mojo.

And April 

doth our hearts enthrall

Because of Easter Day

For Christ is ris’n 

and gives us all

New life to sing and say Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

   

We gathered in the month of May

At last the hour was here

For Peter’s ordination day

That filled our hearts with cheer.

And June was also glorified

For Peter, you’ll agree,

When Allison became his bride

And joined our fam’ly tree.

And in July we traveled up

To north Wisconsin’s wood

While fishing, swimming filled our cup

With memories of good.

In August, Grandma passed away;

We sorrowed and we wept,

But know that there shall come a day

Christ’s promise will be kept.

September brought 

a baby girl

T’Alissa and to John:

Our Hazel is a little pearl,

A joy to dote upon.

Expectant mother Allison

Then lost her little child:

October’s days did sadly run,

And we were there meanwhile.

We still gave thanks, November, though,

As Christian people do,

For in all things we always know

That God is good, ’tis true.

December brings to E I U

The end for Michael, grad,

So next, the days of hoping that                                                                        

He’ll find work to be had.

So now’s the time 
for Christmas lights   

To brighten all our days

And bring an end to all our nights

And yours as well, we pray.

God rest you merry, this Christmas 2015 and always. + Burnell (Fritz) and Carol Eckardt

Pictures, in order:

1 Holy Family; 2 Sarah, David (children of Andy and Kristy); 3 Bevy, Amanda, Burnie, Millie; 4 Michael (youngest), Peter (3rd), Burnie (oldest), Johnny (4th), Joey (5th), Andy (2nd); 5 Kristy (Andy), Allison (Peter), Carol (Fritz), Alissa (Johnny), Amanda (Burnie); 6 Fritz, Peter, Carol; 7 Peter, Allison; 8 Nancy B Eckardt (1921-2015);  9 Johnny, Alissa, Hazel 10 Wise men and star

'Tis the nights before Christmas, in Kewanee town

Soon the fam’ will be stirring, with nary a frown;

The gifts will be opened in most of a day,

Though longer, perhaps, and the reason I’ll say:

Where once there were children all snug in their beds;

Their children have children: we count thirteen heads;

And mamma wears no 'kerchief, nor I any cap,

We can’t get to bed, there’s a dog in our lap.

Where out on the lawn there was once such a clatter,

Of sons throwing footballs, or pitcher and batter,

Away they all live, but come home in a flash,

At this time of year for a great Christmas bash.

The lights on the tree and the wrappings below

Give a luster of warmth to the people who’ve grown.

More rapid than eagles my coursers they came,

Always happy they’re here, I can call them by name:

"Now, Burnie, Amanda! (with Bevy and Millie!)

Now Andy and Kristy! (with Sarah and David!)

And Pete! John, Alissa! and Joey and Michael!

Now dash back home! dash back home! dash back home all!"

Their eyes—how they twinkle! Their dimples, how merry!

Their cheeks are like roses, their noses like cherries!

They sing when at church of the Word become flesh

And at home they’ll all smile in the glow of the crèche.

While giving their presents, their joy will increase

In Him who is heaven’s great Gift, heaven’s Peace.

Then spring to their cars, to their kin give a whistle,

And away they’ll all fly like the down of a thistle.

But they’ll hear me exclaim,

ere they drive out of sight—

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

God rest ye merry, this Christmas 2014 and always – the Eckardt family

We welcome Millie (born in August) and congratulate Peter, M.Div. (graduated in May, now grad student) and Alissa, R.N. (graduated in December)!