A Beautiful Life

 I said goodbye to my mother Wednesday morning.  She was an amazing women.  I will never be able to put into words all that she meant to me and my family.  Virginia wrote a beautiful poem about her. 

In the Blink of an Eye

In the blink of an eye, the kids are all grown.

In the blink of an eye, they’ve all left home.

No more dishes to wash, meals to cook, or laundry to fold.

Before I knew it, I realized I was getting old.

Growing old is a privilege - so they say.

I’m getting used to it more and more each day.

In the blink of an eye, I have wrinkles and gray hair.

But it also comes with wisdom that I can share.

True wealth isn’t about riches or things.

It’s about having family and peace through whatever life brings.

I’ve endured loss and many years of pain.

But I wasn’t alone - I had my faith and family to keep me sane.

I’ve been blessed to be a ‘Mama’, ‘Grandma’, and ‘Gigi’.

I have multiple generations who look up to me.

In the blink of an eye, my life here is done.

Don’t worry about me, I’m on my way home.

I have lots of loved ones up there who have been waiting for me.

From all of my pain I’m finally set free.

I’m passing the torch now to the next generation.

I hope you’ll stay in touch with each other, no matter your location.

Treat others with respect and stay true to your core.

In the blink of an eye, we’ll be together once more.

I have been struggling with what to say on this blog about her. Or whether to even share her death. But since this is mostly a journal for me, I decided to try.

But what do you say about someone you knew your entire life and who knew you better than anyone. So much of our life is just about us that we lose sight of the people that are most important. They are just someone that is always there, until they are not. As an infant, Mama was the caregiver.

She did the laundry, cooked the meals, did the housework, bought our clothes, all the endless tasks that a mother does. As I grew, she was the chauffeur to school activates, 4-H meetings, gymnastics practice, doctor, dentist and orthodontist appointments.

And she didn't just take care of us, she took care of the entire town through her 32 years on the town council.

When we were children, my father, who was 13 years older than Mama, would introduce her as one of his children.

I know it was just my father being funny, but as a child, when you think your parents are an embarrassment, I was mortified. She was my mother, how could anyone mistake her for my sister.

But in the pictures we looked through for the funeral, I saw someone different.

I saw her for the person she was, not just my mother.

She was beautiful in every way. I also found that there are not enough pictures. Do you take a picture of the person doing the laundry, buying the groceries, driving you to practice?

No, we take pictures of scenery, tourist attractions, wildlife, nature.

It is so easy to overlook what should be the more important focus.

She was an incredible Mama,

Grandma

and Gigi.

But I wish I knew her more as Frances.

25 Days Of Christmas, Day 17

Santa’s Mail!  Everyone in my family knows this one. 

Mama made this one from this Bucilla kit 60ish years ago. As children, it was always special to write our letters to Santa then put them in the Santa’s Mail. They would magically disappear overnight. I’m sure flying  straight to the North Pole.

Then in 1997 I decided to continue the tradition with my girls. Not surprisingly, Mama still had the original instructions. But since it had been a kit, I needed to round up all of the supplies. 

Now my Santa’s Mail is one of the first things I put up every Christmas and the last thing I take down.  But I did not stop there.  

I made one for Linda, 

Ann, 

Mitchell, who is always a little extra, 

and Carol.                                                                                                                                                        

Then, when Virginia got married, I made one for her. 

And last year, after Emily got married, I made one for her. 

The cutest one however, Carol made for Mama's stocking.  I am in love with the miniature proportions.  I also think it would make a fantastic Christmas tree ornament.  Just for fun, before writing this post, I ran the Santa's Mail picture past Google Lens. 

This odd thing appeared.  I don't know what is going on with that mustache and eyebrows.  But when I clicked, the link is said it wasn't safe and to go back.  So I don't know the story on that one.   

But I found this one on Ebay.  You can see with the original Santa has a pompom on his hat.  I substituted a bell and left the bells off the bottom.  The original also used trim to write Santa's Mail.  I did a shortcut and used glitter glue.  

The one on Ebay is selling for $35.61.  I found where one sold for $44.99.  

 Mine however, is priceless.  

Finally Framed

Over 50 years ago my two aunts took me, my brother and one sister on vacation to Virginia Beach.  I remember going down the boardwalk and wanting to buy a poster.  My aunt Jean tried to talk me out of it.  But I spent the $5 and bought the poster anyway.  There are tack holes in each corner, but I really don’t remember where in my room that I hung it.   After that it has been rolled up and in the closet.  I finally decided to frame it and hang it up in place of a random picture from Goodwill.

The poster it large, 26 inches by 44 inches.  I ordered the frame online.  When it arrived I was very excited and wanted to put it in the frame right away.  Only the acrylic was broken.  So I waited patiently for another week. 

I love it!  It even has horses!

You can see it has some age on it.

The entire poster is like a Where’s Waldo.  

The more you look the more you see.

The Chinese Laurel and Hardy are a bit unusual. 

There is something for everyone.  I am glad that I finally framed it.

 

Birthdays And Other Stuff

We headed to Blacksburg today to celebrate the family April birthdays. 

Three different generations were represented. 

The forth generation enjoyed petting the tiny goat, 

Picking lots of flowers, 

and playing on the swing set.

A neighbor suggested a picture in front of the mill stone that is part of the wall my father built.  I thought that was a fantastic idea. 

I guess I come by my love of rocks naturally.  I remember my father always stopping by the side of the road to pick up a special rock.  I have always thought that this wall was amazing. 

Then it was back to the real world.  Heading up the driveway, Joe noticed a new set of twins.  Cow twins that is, not goat.

As we were getting them to the barn we got covered in ticks.  I really hate theses ticks.

But the twins looked great and the mom was taking them both.  

Then we checked the barn and found a new set of triplets.  This time it was the goats.