Grandma's Gentle Words

I am a lucky girl.  Both of my grandmothers lived until just a few years ago, when I was well into my adult years.

They both taught me many great things to remember and guide my life.

One item of business that I often have time to reflect on is:

THERE IS NO ROOM IN A HAPPY LIFE FOR JEALOUSLY

I have found that if I start feeling a bit under appreciated or achieved, a good dose of good deeds for others cures that ill feeling.  When the green monster of jealousy rears it's head in relationships it usually comes out in unkind words and actions.  When you are feeling attacked from nowhere it is usually because the attacker is feeling jealous.  I find it best to try not to be that person.

Another of my grandmother's wise words were these:

THERE IS NO ROOM FOR HURT FEELINGS IN A HAPPY LIFE

Sometimes it is best to resolve a matter by talking about the issue with the person who has offended you.  But, sometimes you just have to walk away and let time work it's magic.  It may be best to just lay low for a while. Then, when circumstances bring both of you together, go forward without looking back and dredging up old issues.  The two of you may always disagree, but a relationship on some level is better than none at all.  Remember TIME is your friend in this matter. Give it some time.

As our world swirls with commotion friend will be pitted against friend and families will be torn apart on issues that seem and are innocent at the start.  We live in perilous times.

Grandma also taught:

BE KIND IN ALL YOU DO

SMILE

REMEMBER TO PRAY

YOU ARE SPECIAL TO ME

I am thankful for my wise grandmothers who helped me see the world from their point of view, after years of experiences they could see the good and look past the rough.

A smile makes a world of difference.  Kind words build bridges.  Time heals open wounds.  Prayer mends a broken heart.

Mother

My daughter had back surgery AGAIN last week.

My husband and I are staying with her and her family to lend a hand to the care of her young family while she convalesces.

I am so tired.

I find myself laughing--a lot--at the antics of the children.

I can't keep up, when we arrived the day before the surgery, the house was spotless, now there are games, shoes, homework papers, mail and toys scattered about.

This morning it was time for Eden to get ready for school, Grandma's suggestion of what to wear did not make the cut and Mom needed to be consulted.

The baby is secure when grandpa rocks her but when a boo boo shows up, only Mom's kiss will make it better.

The kids are used to my cooking, but always refer it back to the way Mom does it.

When we were out taking a walk, we knew which way Mom thinks is the best route.

We were looking for strawberries in the garden and stopped to pick out a few weeds, I was informed that Mom says the best way to rid a garden of weeds is to pull out the whole root.

Last week at church a friend gave a wonderful talk on motherhood that made me stop and think.  Motherhood is the hardest job and the rewards are not all immediate, though, that jelly kiss sure is sweet.

Now as I look back over my 38 years of mothering my own children I feel quite rewarded.  My house now is usually tidy (when I am not working on a home improvement project) or it cleans up easier and stays that way until I do something that messes it up.

I very seldom yell anymore except to find my husband who may be out in the back 40 somewhere.

After all of the preparations, dinner is now met with a smile and cleanup help rather than a judgement of "I don't like it" even before being tasted.

Being a full time mom is hard work.  Hard on the nerves, ears, back and brain.

Being a full time mom means no time off, no vacation from responsibility, no breaks.

I have discovered that it is easier to go to work and have someone else do the every day chores of wiping up messes and changing diapers all day long.

I raise my voice in praise and admiration for the women I know who have chosen to be full time moms.

I have 3 daughters and 3 daughters who married my sons who are all great mothers and wives.  They are women I admire.  They are women I am proud of.

They keep up their homes, nurture their children and support their husbands.  They stretch their single income to meet the needs of their young families.

A mother is the center of family and needs to be there to be sure things run smooth--plenty of clean socks, boo boos kissed and dinner on the table.

I am thankful for a good mother and my grandmothers who taught me about the important things in life--family love.

I hope I have taught my daughters well enough and can influence my granddaughters so they know that home and family is an honorable profession.

Crafting with the Girls

I am visiting my daughter this week.

Today we are working on a project for the young women at church.

Three generations sitting down with watered down paint and wooden blocks.

It brings back memories from when my grandmother visited about 10 years ago.

I had a pile of vintage silverware that needed to be polished.

My mother, grandmother and I spent many hours over the course of several days wiping, washing and shining.

My grandmother was elbow deep in blackness.

The end result was beautiful.

Our blocks will be beautiful when they are finished as well.

Three different generations in the same family.

The last time I was the grand daughter, this time the grandmother.

Passing down the desire to make our homes and lives lovely with the work of our own hands.

It has been a good visit

Miles and Miles

Since my daughter has been sick I have put quite a few miles on my car. I have been averaging almost 400 miles a week on my weekly commute. I have been driving this round trip for about 2 months. That adds up to about 3200 miles. That is not my record--that would have been the month of July last summer when we drove from NC up to IN down to FL back up to NC on again to IN and into OH then back to NC. We had two grandkids with us for the 4,000 miles --one of the best trips I have ever taken.

My grandmother passed away 3 years ago at the age of 95. She never drove a single mile in her life. She had her first baby in 1936. A lot of women did not drive in those days. But as the years went by she never saw the need to learn. Papa would drive her where she wanted to go. When she needed to travel on her own she used public transportation. I remember riding the bus with Nana back home again after a visit to her house.

As I drive down the road I am amazed how many women my age are on the road. My friend Phyllis drove to Florida by herself for the weekend last week to be with her grand children. Sometimes I wonder if Nana had it right and was really more liberated than we are. She had her own chauffeur for where ever she wanted to go. I look forward to the day that we guide the car to the freeway, program it where we want to be and sit back and let the computer do the work. No more traffic accidents, no more road rage, no more travel exhaustion. Just sit back and relax. Now that will be the day.