L-R Front Row Shelley, LeAnne, Marilyn, Judy Back Row Kathy, Patti, Gigi<\/p><\/div>
\nBut not being at the party doesn’t make me any less proud.
\nTrust me when I say her name is not Goodheart by accident.
\nMy sister Marilyn is a Devine Poet extraordinaire.
\nWhenever there is a family celebration of life, Mar comes through with a poem.
\nSo today I share the poem Marilyn wrote for Kathy.
\nKathleen Marie Theresa (of the little flower) Devine Goodheart<\/strong><\/p>\n

She is the fourth of ten siblings<\/span>
\nWith a smile that is so Devine<\/span>
\nWith a heart as big as the universe<\/span>
\nAnd a soul so pure and so kind.<\/span>
\nHer banjo eyes would tell a story<\/span>
\nWith conviction and with desire<\/span>
\nShe had a passion for teaching<\/span>
\nAnd now it\u2019s time to retire.<\/span>
\nEvery student of hers will remember<\/span>
\nThe lessons taught with a \u2018good heart\u2019<\/span>
\nThe belief that every child she met<\/span>
\nHad a right to learn and be smart.<\/span>
\nNot all times were lessons in classrooms<\/span>
\nNot all lessons were taught from a book<\/span>
\nIt was first aid and mittens and snow boots<\/span>
\nOr times when she just gave that look.<\/span>
\nThey knew whenever she was near them<\/span>
\nThat each one was important to her<\/span>
\nTo her they each had a purpose<\/span>
\nTo each they knew who they were.<\/span>
\nThey were children with all different stories<\/span>
\nWho wanted their stories to be heard<\/span>
\nAnd wanted someone to believe in them<\/span>
\nWho would focus on their every word.<\/span>
\nThese children were lucky to find one<\/span>
\nThat cared about them from the start<\/span>
\nThat gave them one hundred and ten percent<\/span>
\nHow lucky to know Mrs. Goodheart.<\/span>
\nThere were many Flat Stanley\u2019s that traveled<\/span>
\nWith his colorful clothes and kind face<\/span>
\nHe transparently taught all those students<\/span>
\nEach geographical place.<\/span>
\nThere is nothing like a good teacher<\/span>
\nThat forms an innocent mind<\/span>
\nWith love, with faith and conviction<\/span>
\nIt\u2019s my sister, who is so Devine.<\/span>
\nI believe that you made a difference<\/span>
\nAnd followed your heart and desire<\/span>
\nTo make the world so much better<\/span>
\nTo teach, to love, to inspire.<\/span>
\nMay you leave the profession with a smile<\/span>
\nAnd walk away with pride and with grace<\/span>
\nCause Kath you truly gave it your all<\/span>
\nFor the world is a much better place.<\/span>
\nEnjoy this great time cause you earned it<\/span>
\nAnd know there is pride from above<\/span>
\nCause you made them so proud for what you gave<\/span>
\nMom and Dad I am sure send their love.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Kath-Sorry I couldn\u2019t be there tonight but know I celebrate everyday for being lucky enough to call you my sister! <\/span>
\nCongratulations and enjoy your retirement…the next chapter in this good thing called LIFE\u2026love ya. Marilyn<\/span>
\nDitto for me, Kathy.
\nGigi<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tonight my sister Kathy Devine Goodheart is being honored at a retirement party. She is leaving the teaching career she has loved these past thirty-seven years. I’m sad I can’t…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[168,225,304,340],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Gigi","author_link":"https:\/\/gigimurfitt.com\/author\/gigi\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigimurfitt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/681"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigimurfitt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigimurfitt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigimurfitt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigimurfitt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=681"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gigimurfitt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/681\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3093,"href":"https:\/\/gigimurfitt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/681\/revisions\/3093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigimurfitt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigimurfitt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=681"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigimurfitt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}