Memories
The image above is a little set of angels that was my grandmother’s. MeMaw had all sorts of knick-knacks, and I got this one. Year after year, I have glued various parts back onto the fragile and wobbly angels. True to form, barely a tap against the shelf and this angel collapsed and broke again.
But since there is great sentimental value there, I will apply another layer of glue and hope for the best.
As a pre-schooler, we lived near relatives. Holidays meant gatherings of my mother’s large family. I don’t think we got together with Dad’s family much because his mother died when he was 19. His dad died when I was about 4.
Wanna see a pathetic tree that would rival Charlie Brown’s? This is my great-grandmother. Trees in West Texas were few and far between. No tellin’ where this one came from, but it looks like it had a rough trip!
One of my cousins and I stood in front of another challenged tree a few years later. LaDonna and I were doll players from the git-go and loved our purses just like the big girls we thought we were.
Six siblings meant lots of cousins and LOTS of fun. This year, I tried to get everyone remembering those times. I don’t know if it is our ages, or if memories get pushed aside, but there were very few tales I could use as part of the blog.
Rendi remembered Daddy Newt swiping cookies from a teddybear cookie jar and sneaking them to the grandkids without MeMaw knowing. We all remembered the tables of food – especially Aunt Ruth’s pecan pie! Even with the same recipe, no one can make a pecan pie like she did! MeMaw’s banana pudding was another favorite.
After we moved to Illinois, our infrequent trips to West Texas were special. The few Christmases we were able to be there meant lots of noisy kids frolicking through our grandparent’s home. At night, we would pile blankets on the living room floor and the kids would giggle and play half the night.
I remembered when MeMaw and Daddy Newt got a big TV. All the men gathered around for the football games, and the ladies stayed in the living room to chat. The kids ran through the house, outside and back in, making almost as much noise as the men did as they harassed each other and cheered their favorite teams.
My older brother remembered cigarette trays everywhere. Though my grandparents didn’t smoke, many of the adults did. Funny how times have changed.
And fashions – oh my! Renae sent these pictures of my fashionable, large-Texas-coifed aunts and mom. Even the brothers were pretty dapper. Though the picture isn’t so good, you get the idea!
The next photo isn’t very good either but I think you can see what we all felt at my grandparents’ house – LOVE!
And that my friends, is the most important memory.
Whether it is a Christian family of believers, neighbors, odd assortments of people who need a sense of family or your real, odd relatives, may you share Jesus’ love with everyone this season. Here are some verses to help toward that goal.
1 Peter 4:8-9 NIV Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Matthew 5:9 NLT God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together … but exhorting (encouraging) one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Ephesians 4:2-3 NLT Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Blessings
Kara Beth
