I remember seeing this picture in my grandmother's bedroom when I was a little girl. it was amazing to me that my father was the little blond boy in the photograph. I was very lucky as a little girl, both sets of grandparents and all my aunts and uncles lived in the same small town. We celebrated holidays together, we attended church together. My cousins ran in and out of my house all the time. What richness.
Now I live across the country from most of my family. But the stories of my childhood and the memories are alive. My children talk about their relatives as if they had grown up with them. I hope the stories my children will tell to their little ones will be as happy and full of love as the stories I have to tell.
One of my favorite quotes says, "God gave us memories so that we can have roses in winter and mothers forever." I have great grandparents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and brothers and one adorable sister all mine forever. We still have many memories to make, but I already have a great wealth in my memories.
I once had a conversation with a woman who had chosen to have only one child. She was an only child and her husband was an only child. Being ignorant of all that when she expressed her shock at my choice to have so many children and expressed concern at what my children were missing by having to share their mother with so many others. I told her how I felt on the matter. I said that I felt sorry for children who grow up without siblings. I feel they are cheated on many levels. They often learn late in life that they aren't the center of the universe, they are deprived of the lasting friendships, shared association, and support of brothers and sisters. And their own children are cheated of aunts and uncles and cousins. As we watched our children play - her little son and my sons and daughters; the woman listened and shook her head sadly when I'd finished. Then she told me that it had never occurred to her what her son might be missing being an only child.
So I look at the picture of my father with his brother and sister and I see generations of people I love who have blessed my life. Y'all may live on the other side of the country but you are near and dear!

The Great Disappering Blogger

Hi. It's me again. I get busy living and forget to share my thoughts. The funny thing is that my children who live with me, see me daily, and spend hours each day talking to me are the people who keep asking me when I'm going to blog again. So I'm borrowing an idea from a friend's blog and the theme here is 5 things I've never done.
So here are things that I've never done - not necessarily good or bad, just never done.

1. I've never been snow skiing. Okay, I've never wanted to either, but I have had visions of sitting in a ski lodge by a roaring fire sipping hot chocolate while I admire a lovely view.
2. I've never had escargot, but I did have a pet snail once.
3. I've never been to Hawaii, but I did spend a couple days on Catalina and a week at Hilton Head. Did you know that the waves at Hilton Head are warm - deliciously warm.
4. I've never yelled at my Sweetheart, other than "Supper Time" or "Telephone". We won't discuss whether or not I've ever yelled at my children, but they still love me anyway.
5. I've never been able to turn down caramel.

In making this list I've realized that there are only a few things that I haven't done in my life that I've really wanted to do. There are still places I'd like to visit and things I'd like to do but for the most part I've been very well occupied experiencing things that I've loved. I think I'm going to make another list of 5 things I'm planning on doing in the future! Sooner than later!

It's been awhile since I blogged. Too many things have been happening. Comings and goings. Good things and bad.
What I keep reminding myself is that at the end of the path there are great and glorious blessings!
I'm watching friends and loved ones go through challenges, joys and heartaches. And I wonder how to be there for them; to celebrate and to cry with them. I guess what I want to say is that life goes so fast, we need to make sure that we make the most of every minute! Don't let the important things slip away. Life is all so very precious.

Books, Delicious Books

I love to read. I read everyday. Honestly I read so many books that I often can't remember the names and authors of all the books I read and I find myself starting a book only to discover that I've already read it. I know I should keep track. I confess I am a bookaholic, but....I just finished a delicious book. I don't rave about stories very often and I don't share them except with my nearest and dearest. My daughters have suffered through books that I fell in love with years ago and I have insisted that they must read. They are usually gracious and tactful in their responses. But today I finished a delight. The story is told in the form of letters from several people to other people. Usually I detest that sort of writing, but I was starving for something to read, the only other choice I had was a cookbook and since I am dieting I am trying to avoid reading cookbooks - it's very self-defeating. So I forged onward with the letters and it only took a couple of pages to completely captivate me. So I suppose you are wondering what book I am gushing about here. I will tell you; The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. The title caught my attention and the story enchanted me. I feel like I have a whole set of wonderful new friends and a charming new dream vacation destination. So I am sharing with you, my friends. Take a couple of hours off from your worries and cares and think of me as you make some new friends of your own.
(There are a few adult situations discreetly mentioned in the book, but I would feel completely comfortable having my 14 year old daughter read this book.)

I know it has been awhile since I last posted - too many things going on. Changes are happening all around. One of my sons graduated from college. Another is engaged. One is in the west doing missionary work and wondering if spring will ever come. My parents will be leaving on their mission soon, but they are coming to Virginia!
Here in Virginia we have our spring. The air is already perfumed, I can smell honeysuckle, roses, and some early magnolias. I love it. The beauties around me help me deal with changes that I don't always want to accept gracefully. I read an interesting quote the other day, it said something like this, "One of the main things in life that you should realize is that life consists of getting used to a great many things that are the results of other people's choices, rather than your own."
There are people I love who are experiencing changes that are painful and that is hard. It is hard for me because as a mother I want to make it all better. I want things to be perfect and right. Life doesn't always happen the way you want it or plan it to. I would have thought that with my advanced years I would be more prepared to deal with things. In reality I've found that being older just means I have more people to fret over, worry about, and pray for. And there are that many more people making choices that give me the opportunity to practice gracefully dealing with change.
Oh for the good old days when diapers were the only things that were always being changed at my house!

Spring

It is spring! We celebrated Easter with blossoms and today as I was walking , I was greeted by the perfume of the first lilacs in bloom. I love the promise of new life, new beginnings, renewal, and fresh starts.
My house is full of flowers and sunshine. I'm doing a little spring cleaning. I confess I'm not a big spring cleaner. For many years we would just move every year or so and I did moving cleaning, so the habit of spring cleaning is a little alien. But I have been rearranging and clearing away, cleaning out and freshening up. It feels good.
As for the diet....now that the peanut butter eggs are off the shelves at the store I will begin again!

Diet Update

I walked and jogged five miles since I determined to get thin. I twisted through an entire episode of Gilmore Girls. I was only slightly sabotaged this weekend by my family - chocolate cookies, apple dumplings, and Girl Scout Thin Mints. But I have managed to lose 1/2 of a pound. Why do I not feel successful? I want skinny NOW! (Sorry for shouting.)
Today I have not yet exercised though I have carefully monitored my caloric intake. I will do my treadmill trekking in a little while. I will not be distracted by my sweet children's affection for my fat or my husband's alleged fondness of curves.( I am determined to weigh less than my husband.) I have a pair of skinny jeans and a lovely pink dress that I try on when the call of food seems overwhelming. Hopefully between the allure of skinny clothes and an ample supple of 0 calorie flavored water I will triumph over the ever present call of chocolate and chips!