V E R S E 1

We bought twenty-four acres in Orleans County

small ranch-house sitting quiet on the land

come spring the wildflowers painted the ground

rabbits running wild beneath black walnut stands

neighbors were distant, down the road a spell

but two souls in a single-wide changed everything

Polly and Ivan, set on in years

took us on like family, under God’s wing

V E R S E 2

Little Dean got mad, he’d bolt out the door

Straight through the woods like a shot from a gun

Kathryn would just say, “Dean went out the front.”

I’d trail quiet behind ‘til his little run was done

They’d greet him with cookies and hot chocolate

wrap him in love like one of their own

Ivan rolling tobacco from his electric cart

Polly praising Jesus in that trailer-home throne

C H O R U S

Polly and Ivan, salt of the Earth

Born-again hearts and heaven-sent worth

they loved my wife, they loved my kids

showed us what living for the good Lord is

Through harsh winters and sweet summer rain

Good people, good times, and the good Lord’s name

nothing better this side of heaven’s door

Thank you, Lord for Polly and Ivan

V E R S E 3

Kathryn in braces would ride to church with Polly

Faith burning bright again after all the pain

I’d sit out back with Ivan, watch the smoke rise slow

Talk about life, hard work, and Amazing Grace

One time, Polly baked us a big ol’ dirt cake

we paid her back with one made of cat litter cake

laughed ‘til we cried, for days-on-end

that’s the like of love that sets a soul free

V E R S E 4

One cold fall morning, Ivan went home

Left Polly standing strong and all alone

God ran deep in that woman; never alone

she carried his memory with grace so real

We kept writing letters and sending cards

‘til the day the good Lord called her too

now I know they’re up there all together

Looking down on the ones they walked through

B R I D G E

Lord, you sent us angels in overalls and aprons

in a single-wide trailer on a country road

they pointed us gentle to your open arms

when the road was rough and the burden was heavy

F I N A L C H O R U S

Polly and Ivan, forever in our hearts

born-again love that never departs

they loved my wife, they loved my kids

guided us closer to the life that you give

through every season, through joy and pain

good people, good times, and your holy name

nothing better this side of heaven’s door

thank you, Lord — for Polly and Ivan

thank you for my wife

and thank you for the ones who showed us your light