Something Worth Sharing

Last Wednesday

My daughter-in-law and 4 of my grandies

Found ourselves at Chick-fil-a... shocker.

(note: my grandkids think I live there. Seriously.
When my youngest grandson approaches a CFA

he assumes I will be there and shouts,

"Nana, Nana, Nana!")

We were in the middle of our chicken and fries,

or salad and tea,

When the manager came out to the table area

and said to all of us diners

"Thanks for coming to CFA today.

We're glad to have you here.

Today I dropped my 20-year old child

off at college. (a tear)

I can't believe the time flew by like it did.

So, love your kids while you have them.

Hug them and kiss them.

Enjoy them.

And if you are here with your husband or wife,

hug him or her, too."

We were all taken by surprise at this man's

honesty, humility, and vulerability.

My mother often said the same thing

when I was exasperated with the tiredness of raising young children.

She was right. He was right.

We came for lunch,

But we got a lot more than chicken.

Enjoy those you love. Linda

It's that Day

It's that Day

I had a post

But it seems frivolous

Not quite right today.

Two Numbers

speak volumes:

9/11

Heartache

Unbelievable loss

Shattered dreams

Shock and Terror

But then -

Courage

Grit

Strength

Resolve

Heroes

Nine Eleven

We remember. Linda

Out of the Mouths of Babes

One of my precious grandie girls - 5 year old "E" - spent a few days with us recently. Just one of many conversations:

E - "I miss Gigi" (her great-grandmother -my MIL- who recently passed away).

Me - "Me, too. She was a very special lady."

E- "Does she miss us in Heaven?

Me - (trying to be theologically correct) "Well, she is with God in Heaven. There are no tears or sadness in Heaven, so she is just very happy."

E - "But does she miss us?"

Me - Well, I just know that she is very, very happy and remembers us with happy thoughts, because no one is sad in Heaven.

E - "Nana, I'll miss you one day when you die. "

Me - "Oh, "E", I know, but one day we will all be together in Heaven because we love God."

E - (with tears bubbling in her eyes) "Nana, when you go to Heaven I"ll miss you and I won't be able to come to your house!

Me - (speechless) "Oh, "E".

E - (Still teary) "Nana, will you miss me when you are in Heaven."

Me - (Set aside theology for now) "Yes, E, I'll miss you." Gulp!

E - "Nana, I can do a front flip in the water!"

Oh, my, talk about an abrupt turn in the conversation! Love it, love my grandies. Truthfully, I can't imagine NOT missing them! Enjoy your blessings.....Linda

How do you say "Good Bye"?

I have been blessed to have not only a wonderful mother, but a dear mother-in-law. I am so thankful that my mother is still alive, but my sweet mother-in-law left us Tuesday morning, very peacefully, at the age ot 92.


She was a part of the "Greatest Generation" having watched her husband go off to WWII for four years in the Pacific.
I wish you could have known her.....

She was a wonderful gardener - her green thumb was reknown!

She gave me these hydrangeas which will probably be deep blue by next week.
These hostas came from her yard and they have multiplied so much that I can't even count them.

She gave me these shasta daisies from our pastor - we think they were holy, and that's why they are so beautiful! They'll be in full bloom in another two weeks.

She was a beautiful artist...these are just a few of her many paintings.

She was a talented seamstress and quilter...just one of many quilts that she made

She was a sports nut.....especially for Kentucky basketball!
She was an avid bridge player and an amazing crossword puzzle worker!


I wish you could have known her.


In some ways we were very different, but in some ways we were two "peas in a pod". In fact, her daughter said that her mom and I were more alike than she and her mom.


She taught me so many things.....like cake decorating. (We started a business - I baked the multi-layer wedding cakes and she decorated them. I told the story of one of our wedding cakes sliding into the spare tire in the trunk as we were en route to a wedding at a very nice country club. No problem, we traveled with extra icing!)


...and quilting...I pieced together a quilt and she quilted it, and now her grandchildren and great-grandchildren enjoy it on picnics.


...and doll making....We made exquisite cloth dolls (from an old antique pattern that she had) with bonnets and southern clothing and actually sold them in a major department store in our city, as well as some small shops.


....and gardening....She taught me gardening by example. She gave me cuttings and I watched her prepare a "dollar" hole for a "nickel" plant. We joked that she could put a plant in concrete and it would grow.


She gave me grace and love.......
She walked with me through a very difficult time in our lives and never let go of my hand.

I wish you could have known her.

This painting of hers is probably our favorite. It sums up her life. She loved the Lord, she loved her family, and she loved her neighbor - as herself.



This quilt will lay across her casket tomorrow at noon. It was made by her grandmother for Aline's wedding day. Ironically, tomorrow would have been her 72nd wedding anniversary. How wonderful to know she is in Heaven and she has already seen her beloved husband.
I wish you could have known her. You would have liked her. Everybody did.
May you be so blessed to have people like Aline in your lives. May you be reminded to love them well. Blessings.......Linda

I am thankful

Last week I gave my daughter-in-law a darling little top I had bought for Grandie #1 (4 yrs.old). It was one of those nice finds - marked down from $25 to $4.

I was in another room and overheard my grandie say, "Mommy, what is that?" Mommy, "That's for you....Nana got it for you." G#1, "Oh, I just loooove it! It's so pretty!." (Imagine giggles like bubbling water in the voice!)

As I came into the room, she said, "Oh, Nana, I love it....thank you!...I'm going to put it in my room right now!...and up the stairs she marched to put it carefully in her room.

I was struck by her sheer joy and heartfelt gratitude for such a small gift.

Two days later a friend recounted that the wife of his friend was diagnosed with cancer in November, and they buried her a week ago. He encouraged us to be thankful and appreciate every day with the people we love.

So, I ask myself, do I have that same spirit (like giggles and bubbles!) of thankfulness to God for all His blessings - both big and small? Am I thankful every day?

I want to, because I am thankful for much.....faith, family, friends, freedom, sight, hearing, touch, taste, the beauty of the earth, laughter, hope, and so much more.......I know you can add to this list.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Blessings, Linda

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever. Ps. 107:1