Dee Dannewitz Wallace KG4VMI came to Virginia from a southeastern Nebraska farming community. She spent her early years being mentored in business, and obtained sponsorship for much traveling in education, for 4-H, and mission trips with the church & others. She received great education at LIFE Bible College and Virginia Tech, and has background in finance, accounting, sales and management. She has always enjoyed spending time outdoors and working with various community groups. After college, Dee moved to Floyd with her son, Christian, to get back to “farm living” and for a closer association with David and Gaynell and LCF Group activities.In 2007, Dee married her long-time friend, Greg Wallace, who is a native of Floyd County, Virginia. They have their home at “Oak Hill Farm” in Floyd, where they spend free time watching the wildlife and grass grow, and sharpen their artistic and culinary skills. Greg photographs many of the historical buildings and breathtaking sceneries throughout the County.
Shayley Grace Martin prefers her more mature writings, that is those that she did in the past year as an 8-year-old, rather than her primary school work. Nonetheless when she expressed interest in turning her writing into a book, her mother, Lydeana, wanted to include samples of Shayley’s work dating back to kindergarten. “We struck a deal,” Lydeana explains, “Shayley agreed to include some of her ‘older’ work as long as I would add an index that tells how old she was when she wrote it.”
Shayley Grace Martin prefers her more mature writings, that is those that she did in the past year as an 8-year-old, rather than her primary school work. Nonetheless when she expressed interest in turning her writing into a book, her mother, Lydeana, wanted to include samples of Shayley’s work dating back to kindergarten. “We struck a deal,” Lydeana explains, “Shayley agreed to include some of her ‘older’ work as long as I would add an index that tells how old she was when she wrote it.”
So, Shayley’s book, called Lyrical Miracle: Creativity in Creation, includes Shayley’s writing from ages 5 to 8. The phrase ‘lyrical miracle” came from one of her unfinished poems, but when her mom heard the phrase she knew it was the book title they had been looking for. Shayley’s dad, Charlie, came up with the “creativity in creation” subtitle, which was appropriate, Lydeana smiled, “because Shayley gets her creativity from him.”
Shayley and her mom put the book together recently as Lydeana was undergoing chemo therapy for stage IV colorectal cancer. “This was a project we did as a family keepsake, using Shayley’s poems and songs and illustrating it with many photos Charlie and I had made over the years.” Many friends had shown a special interest in Shayley’s writing when Charlie and Lydeana were sharing it via email with friends last year, so they decided to order extra copies to make available to anyone who wanted to purchase one for herself or as an inspirational gift for a loved one.
The book is organized into three main categories: God, nature, and creating. Shayley has always loved to play outside and her writing demonstrates a strong faith in God, love for the created, plus her amazing well of creativity that is wed to a passion for words.” The book is beautifully illustrated with photos of animals, plants, water, and fun.
Shayley reports, “I’ve been trying to teach my mom to be more creative.” Thus, the book took on the theme of respecting Creation and nurturing creativity. “We hope this book will encourage faith and good stewardship, but also inspire children and adults alike to feed their own creative spark,” Lydeana adds.
Shayley, who recently turned 9, is a 4th grader at Floyd Elementary. She wants to be a writer when she grows up. It looks like she already is.
Shayley will do a book signing at Sweet Providence Market (
Promotional Images attached; more are available on request from 3martins@swva.net.
Here are three poems from the book:
What does the Sparrow Say?
What does the sparrow say?
Of all the things to say—
He says that Jesus loves us
From the beginning to today.
The sparrow cannot tell us
What happens in a hour
Because what happens then
Is never in our power.
The sparrow only tells us
A message Jesus gives
That He forever loves us
And He always forgives.
Earth’s Beautiful Creatures
Someday when the cardinal sings its first spring song
All of humanity will sing along.
With God’s peace and eternal love
Coming to us from up above
Sharp as a bear, soft as a dove,
And someday soon
Birds sing tunes
Crickets croon
Just know
To sow
Your seed
To grow.
Babies, what they do is play
All day, as they may,
So I say,
Just know,
So your seed
To grow.
Sing along,
Sing your song,
And I long,
To belong
In the fronds.
And, after all,
When it is the last of fall
Nature is still alive
Nature still will thrive
When doing our daily routine
We should stop and look at the greens.
Beyond the sun
And the sunset
There are flocks of birds, I bet
And on the ground, way back down below
Bugs are helping the earth to grow.
From tiny shrubs to great big cedars
Do not be a nature-weeder
And in fact, we are needers
Of Earth’s beautiful creatures.
My Dog
My dog ate a lizard
Digested a bat
Absolutely no dogfood
Anything but that.
My dog ate a dribble
Of Mexican coffee
Will not eat any kibble
He’s really quite scoffy.
He ate a red rocket
He ate a stone
Consumed from my pocket
He will tolerate no bone.
He swallowed a nickel
And a parakeet
Finished a pickle
Will digest no treat.
He eats even metal
Mud from River
Tea straight from the kettle
At least he gets fiber.
(Poems from Lyrical Miracle: Creativity in Creation used by permission.)