Skip to main content

Christmas tickles the memory

MomMom Helen
It seems like it takes for ever for the Christmas Season to come, then before you know it, BOOM!  You are in the middle of it, and behind schedule.  I have visions of parties, baking days, dinners with friends,   taking the kids to see Candy Cane Lane.... but somehow, if I am not very careful the season can come and go with out hitting the memory making stuff.   We have been to the mall to see Santa, couldn't get the whole crew there, but 4 out of 5 kids isn't bad.  We are having friends over for dinner this weekend, and working in a little cookie decorating, looking forward to that.  We are not hosting a party this year, that poses a little to much stress, so I thought we would do smaller gatherings of friends. It makes for better time together anyway.

This morning was Nick and Victor's holiday performance at school.  It doesn't get much better than a bunch of precious Kinders dressed as presents, singing "Good Things come in Little Packages".  So sweet. My parents are coming for Christmas, Yeah!!!  I am so glad they value this time with us, and the grandkids so much.  Family is so important.  I feel so blessed to have so many memories of my own Grandparents, Jack & Helen Lafferty.

I can still hear Pop's laugh, and see his grin, I even have his snore engrained on my memory.  My MomMom even more so.  Sometimes I forget she is gone.   Everytime I sit indian style in a chair, or paint my nails, I think of her.  I am more like her than I ever thought. I love that she always put herself together, didn't leave the house without her lipstick on, and of course, no lady leaves the house without a nice big pump of perfume.  Hers was Estee Lauder, Youth Dew.  I need to buy a bottle of that.
I can't wear pearls without thinking of her.  She always used the adjective Marvelous.  I love that.

Pop Pop Jack with toddler Victoria


I have funny memories of my more dysfunctional Grandma too, Margot Suzanne-- or as my cousin and I used to call her, Betty Davis--- she was very dramatic, and glamorous, even when she stopped getting out of bed, she just decided to live in nightgowns, and stay in bed.  She had a tv tray next to her bed covered in craft supplies, and many unfinished masterpieces. Her bed stand was covered in empty drink glasses, pill bottles, and make up.  She had all of these girlfriends stopping by, night and day.  I uncovered the mystery of that eventually.  Another story, for another day.  But the stories I could tell..... good times.  You could always count on Lasagna, and meatballs at her house on Christmas, I never really got that, but it was her thing.

Thank goodness I have been the keeper of the pictures.  I have pictures to go with the stories.  My Grandma's will be remembered for generations, I'll make sure of it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fox hole parenting

I enter this new week a little tired, but smiling.  Why? No drama this weekend.  We had sunshine, and sports, and cuddle time--- less the drama.  Most families don't experience the intense level of emotions that the Rhodes clan does. Sure, they have the hectic life of families, perhaps some fighting, the normal mess--- perhaps a little teen hormone induced drama....but we have drama of a different kind in our house.  The kind of drama caused by a brain that is shooting off crazy chemicals induced by years of trauma.  When our son Victor is home, the whole world is a great big land mine.  Saying the wrong thing, calling him out on behavior, or even suggesting that he not eat a 4th serving of ice cream can cause the the peace to recede, and for chaos to ensue. He is now in a boarding school for kids with emotional issues.  As sad as it is that our family isn't all together--- I must admit that the peace in our household is a welcome blessing.  We are learning more and more
Post a Comment
Read more

New season of renewal & refinement

I am a girl with strong faith.  Strong, blind, childlike faith.  My atheist friends are bewildered by it.  They cannot understand how such a smart woman would believe such "nonsense".  I have no explanation other than, I just do. I preface this post with that statement because, you won't find me quoting scripture here.  Though I would if I were more confident in my ability to do so competently.  I do not have that confidence, never have.  I am a believer.  My belief has been nurtured by life experience, by answered prayers, by constant evidence that God cares about me.  I see his hand in big things and small. I look to him for guidance and help in all things.  I am not a Biblical scholar.  I have always been somewhat insecure about that.  I am bolstered up by the words of a Godly woman much wiser than I who assures me that "I am living my walk out loud".  My faith is not in my knowledge of the scripture, but in the choices I make each and every day. I
Post a Comment
Read more

Networking can be expensive!

I went to a cool women's networking meeting the other night. It was with an organization called Heartlink . It was at some one's house. An awesome dinner was served. Tables set, lovely hospitality, and about 20 very interesting women were there. We each got 3 minutes to introduce ourselves and tell a bit about our business's. Most of the women knew each other already. Many of the women present had business's that sell through direct marketing. Most of the big ones were represented, and a few new ones I had never heard of but found interesting. There were also women with other business's like insurance, legal services, printing, etc... It is great to meet like minded people, and I can definitely see the benefits of attending regularly. The bad part however, is it leaves you wanting to go shopping! All of a sudden, I MUST have the new mango cutter from Pampered Chef, and I am yearning to freshen up my candles, and I NEED a hole new wardrobe from CABi .
1 comment
Read more