It’s 2016, and this year my Grandmother will turn 100. She moved to the homestead when she was two, and spent the better part of her childhood there. In fact, the picture on the cover of this book shows the Hurst Homestead during those years. Later, she and her family moved into tiny Rexford (an old, mountain town now submerged in the depths of Lake Koocanusa), and from there Cyrilla Hurst Curtis began the adventure called life.  She married, had a son, experienced the heartache of divorce, and built careers with the US Army and as the secretary to the pastor of a large church in California. She survived a depression, two world wars, life as a single mother, and the death of her only son. She lived through an onslaught of technology that took her from the horse and buggy to the automobile; from outhouses to indoor plumbing; from party lines to the cell phone. Her story is fascinating.

Through the tapestry of her life, however, runs a scarlet thread of faith. Cyrilla committed her life to Jesus Christ as a young woman, and it changed everything. In both the happiness and the heartaches, she learned to trust a God whose plans are always perfect, even when they’re hard to trace. As a result, her life was a testimony to the goodness and greatness of God. Whether she was planning a Sunday School class event at her church or knitting afghans for hospice patients, Cyrilla didn’t just talk about her faith—she lived it. Her faith remains strong to this day—in spite of the physical travails that result from a century of life—and she awaits with anticipation her journey “home.” Grandma Cy is a source of hope and inspiration for me and for others like me who long to finish their spiritual journeys well.

The poems in this book are the story of her journey. They are poems of hope and joy, hardship and sadness. They explore the entire range of human experience: births, deaths, loves, losses, promise, and fear. Yet, each poem is infused with her unwavering confidence in God and his promises. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this wonderful collection of poems—from her heart to yours!