Aprons!

Just looking at this photo makes me miss my Grandma Johnny and Aunt Ina, both were incredible women in my life, and ones that taught me how to create things with my hands. I can hardly remember a time that they didn't have an apron on, well except when they went to church. So when I ran across this again, it brought a sweet memory to my heart. I hope my Grandchildren have some special memories of their Nana and Poppa and of our home as they grow up.
Good night dear friends!

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The History of 'APRONS' 

I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids..

And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

In Memory Of Lincoln

I got my Pinwheels out today, in memory of a sweet little boy who passed away last year. His parents,  sister, family and friends have set aside his Birthday to celebrate his life, and are asking others to celebrate it too...by doing a simple act of service. What a great honor it was to participate in this Pinwheel Day for Lincoln!

To read more about Pinwheel Day's... timeline and see what others are doing to spin hearts today go here:

What a sweet way to remember such a special boy!

Our thoughts and prayers continually go out to his family!
If you are just reading this, then do your Simple Act of Service tomorrow!
It really can change lives!

The Cord

We are connected,
My child and I, by
An invisible cord
Not seen by the eye.

It's not like the cord
That connects us 'til birth
This cord can't been seen
By any on Earth.

This cord does it's work
Right from the start.
It binds us together
Attached to my heart.

I know that it's there
Though no one can see
The invisible cord
From my child to me.

The strength of this cord
Is hard to describe.
It can't be destroyed
It can't be denied.

It's stronger than any cord
Man could create
It withstands the test
Can hold any weight.

And though you are gone,
Though you're not here with me,
The cord is still there
But no one can see.

It pulls at my heart
I am bruised...I am sore,
But this cord is my lifeline
As never before.

I am thankful that God
Connects us this way
A mother and child
Death can't take it away!

Author Unknown

Memories

I recieved in the mail the other day, a card from an ole friend. She sent me photos of Jeff an I, that was taken YEARS ago. I didn't really even remember that Halloween until I saw the photos. Even after I saw the photo, I couldn't remember what year it was, or what we were doing. That is a hard thing for me to accept as I have gotten older. I have always heard OLDER people ( that means anyone over 40 at the time, and of course I was only in my 20's ) say that your memory gets worse as you get older. Back then, I just couldn't imagine forgetting some of the really neat things in my life, after all I could still remember some things when I was a child. Still they were right ( like they usually are because they are so wise ), these photos proved it.
It made me sad, because some times I hear the kids talk about something that happened when they were little, and I don't remember it at all. I am trying on my blog to remember as much as I can and try to express what those experiences have meant to me, I hope that helps the next generation to know Nana, or Aunt Lynn better.
Then I thought the same is probably true for other situations. There were probably things that I did or said years ago that might have offended someone, and they completely remember every detail ...and I probably don't remember it at all. I guess that is why we hold grudges for years, because even though it happened many years ago...the pain and wound is still open and hurting to us. Actually I totally understand that when it someone who had hurt me badly. The point I guess is... we should let it go, especially if the other person has completely forgotten about it, or didn't even realize they did it. We are the one who are carrying around the baggage... not them!
I hope it is also true for the good things you have done. Even if you don't remember them, I hope that others do, and will always remembered that you cared. I think that is why we like photos so much, they help jog our memories. Still there are some special days that I have never forgotten, the day Jeff and got engaged. Our wedding, the kid's births and on and on. I pray those memories won't be taken away from me, but I will at least write down as much as I can so... if I do, my great great grandkids will know of my love for them and for my family.
For now, I wake up every day...grateful to be here, and pray that I will be able to make some more memories! Good night dear friends!

"Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others."  ~Rosa Parks

"Take care of all your memories. For you cannot relive them."   ~Bob Dylan

I should have kept it!

I smile when I saw a class being taught on HOW TO WEAR YOUR SCARFS, there seemed to be a ton of ways to tie them. When I was a teenager, I remember going to Anderson Newcomes store with my Mom. Next to the make up counter was a lady demonstrating how to wear and tie your scarfs. I was so excited and begged my Mom to get me a couple of them. Which she did ( probably just to stop the begging ) of course I wouldn't want to admit this to my kids. But I had for years the handouts that I got in that class and over the years, you seldom would see me without a scarf.
I really should have kept the scarfs, the pattern and colors would have been right back in style now! I feel that way about quite a few items that I wore in my younger days.
As a young Mom, my advice to you would be... keep as much stuff as you can because...some day it will come back in style and you won't have to buy it again! But really, who has that much storage space that they can do that? But still , I smile when I see things that I had back in the day, and now they are vintage and cool once again! Who knew? ( I think that means I am getting older! )

 Here is a photo of me and my cute nephew getting our scarfs on for the Western Themed party we went to! Yes, I still love scarfs!
Good night dear friends!

"It is easily overlooked that what is now called vintage was once brand new." ~Tony Visconti

“Fashions fade, style is eternal.” ~ Yves Saint Lauren

Books!

One of my favorite authors is Jason Wright. He wrote the Christmas Jar, that is the first book of his that I read. I have talked about his books before, but one of the reason I like his books is ...because they make me think and examine my life more. I always feel uplifted after reading his works, that is saying a lot ...because not all books make you feel that way. One of his new books that I haven't read is The Cross Gardener. Here is his own summary of that book. I need to read it!

The Cross Gardener is the story of John, a man tested with a series of enormous heartbreaks. But the most dramatic and traumatic moment of John's life may be the one he finally cannot bear. Facing sudden loss, John is swallowed up in sorrow and self-pity.

Following in the tradition of many in the South, John erects two white wooden crosses at the accident site that forever changed his world. John chooses to grieve by visiting the crosses frequently, talking to his loved ones and reminiscing about a future that — like a misplaced roll of old black-and-white film — will never develop.

One day while visiting this roadside memorial, John meets a stranger who introduces himself as the Cross Gardener, a nickname given him by others because of his curiosity for these makeshift memorials and because his hobby is tending them.

The stranger explains that when crosses need painting, he is there. When weeds need pulling, he is there. When mourners need comfort, he is there with a willing ear and a lesson or two about life and death. But he is not who you think he is.

http://www.jasonfwright.com/column/do-you-believe-there-are-angels-among-us.html

He also has a weekly article that he writes and this is where I got this summary. He is quiet a talented writer, I could only hope to inspire people like that some day. If you get a chance, check out one of his books and see if you feel the same!

Good Night dear friends!

"To live in hearts we leave behind Is not to die."  ~Thomas Campbell

"For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity." ~William Penn

"While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil."   ~John Taylor

How to survive the grief?

I looked up this web site, which gave suggestions for people who are suffering loss of a loved one. It was a neat idea. When my Mom passed away, we gave many of her clothes to a nursing home near by. But some things I just wanted to keep, and have near me. I only wished that I would have kept more and used them for Memorial Quilts, like these ladies make. It was a very healing idea!  Read it and see what you think?

Memorial Quilts

So what did you do with their clothes?

Well, you probably gave the nicest garments to friends and family, and that's a good thing. But what about the rest of their clothing? It will help de-clutter your life and lighten your grief a little bit if you eventually clean out your loved one's closet, and dispose of their clothes, shoes, ties or purses and other personal items.

And we know exactly what you should do with some of the fabrics... make one of these memorial quilts! (Or have one made for you).

Remembering Bobby

One family who lost their 16-year-old son Bobby to a sudden cardiac death, used quilt making as a ritual for working through their grief. Five quilts were made, one for each member of the family, each of Bobby's younger siblings, and each parent. One of Bobby's shirt pockets was sewn onto each quilt, and the oldest child remarked that the pocket looked as if it was actually on Bobby's chest.

As part of their griefwork, each night the children write a private note to Bobby and tuck it into his pocket. In this way, the kids share their day with their lost brother. The grieving parents also use the quilts in their own way. Bobby's mother wraps herself in her quilt to be close to her son, and his father hung his quilt at work in his office.

Just the gathering of women (and men!) for quilt making can provide much-needed emotional and social support in your time of bereavement. We realize that some people are just not cut out for a project like this. So we present below several different ways you can go with your memorial quilt project.

http://www.recover-from-grief.com/memorial-quilts.html

"Man, when he does not grieve, hardly exists."  ~Antonio Porchia

"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."

"Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow."  ~Dan Rather

A special teacher

I know that school ended less than a week ago for us, but when I read this story it reminded me of a dear teacher and friend of mine. Her name was Julie Ann Wilks Pollard and she lost her battle with lung cancer 2 years ago. I still have a note that she wrote just days before she died, hanging on my bulletin board...along with her picture. She was an inspiration to so many.  I belief that her influence is still being felt today by her family, friends,  and her community, YES, she touched many lives. This post is dedicated to her...one incredible mother, sister, daughter, friend and TEACHER! I sure miss you Julie!

Years ago a John Hopkin's professor gave a group of graduate students this assignment: Go to the slums. Take 200 boys, between the ages of 12 and 16, and investigate their background and environment. Then predict their chances for the future. The students, after consulting social statistics, talking to the boys, and compiling much data, concluded that 90 percent of the boys would spend some time in jail.

Twenty-five years later another group of graduate students was given the job of testing the prediction. They went back to the same area. Some of the boys - by then men - were still there, a few had died, some had moved away, but they got in touch with 180 of the original 200. They found that only four of the group had ever been sent to jail.

Why was it that these men, who had lived in a breeding place of crime, had such a surprisingly good record? The researchers were continually told: "Well, there was a teacher..." They pressed further, and found that in 75 percent of the cases it was the same woman.

The researchers went to this teacher, now living in a home for retired teachers. How had she exerted this remarkable influence over that group of children? Could she give them any reason why these boys should have remembered her? "No," she said, "no I really couldn't." And then, thinking back over the years, she said amusingly, more to herself than to her questioners: "I loved those boys..."

- Author - Bits & Pieces

http://www.motivational-well-being.com/motivational-stories.html

"If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job."  ~Donald D. Quinn

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."  ~Henry Brooks Adams

"What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches."  ~Karl Menninger