Thanks for the memories...

On the top shelf of the closet in Mama's bedroom in the tall yellow house on Dartmouth Street 

was a folded piece of woven work, the size of a small area rug or lap blanket.

It was woven of threads the color of the winter sea, blues and grays and black.

Mama had made it on a loom in the mental hospital when she spent some time there for severe depression the year I was nine.

When I went away to college, Mama sold the yellow house that I had lived in for all of my eighteen years and moved to a smaller, more manageable home.

I suppose she might have gotten rid of that piece of woven work when she moved, 

for I don't remember seeing it after that.

Likely, for her it was associated with one of the darkest seasons of her life.

But for me, it was a wonder that my mama's hands could still produce a thing of beauty when her soul was broken.

It's strange that this is the thought that bubbled to the surface of my memory as

three years ago today Mama went to heaven.

Yet, God showed me something through this memory.

I've often said that Mama was my roots and Daddy was my wings.

Mama was practical to a fault and hard working and faithful and steadfast.

Daddy was impractical,  imaginative, a dreamer and a storyteller.

I figured I got my steady, practical side from Mama, and my imaginative, creative side from Daddy,

until I thought of that woven work which led me to more memories of all the other creative things Mama made.

She might not have played with words or a camera or paints or crafts, 

which are some of the ways my creativity is manifested,

but she created play clothes and school clothes and prom dresses and wedding dresses on that sewing machine of hers, the finish work hand sewn in her  perfect, tiny stitches.

She sewed quilts, knitted mittens, crocheted blankets, and embroidered tablecloths and pillowcases.

She made the best homemade breads, cookies, candies and pies.

She created beauty with her hands in the good times as well as in the deep valley.

So, I guess Mama wasn't just my roots, but she gave me some wings as well.

Daddy, he taught me so much about God's love and grace,

so I guess he wasn't only my wings, he helped me to be rooted and grounded as well.

On this third year anniversary of Mama's death,

I'm giving thanks in a new way for the parents God gave me,

for my roots,

for my wings.

****************

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little black journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#4225-#4256

1-20-14-

-my husband's mentor who is such a help and encouragement to us

-the check engine light on the Hub's car just needing re-set, nothing wrong with his car

-my handyman son-in-law fixing the molding on my antique wood cubby for me

-a phone call from my big brother

-youngest daughter excited about some "Jesus time" at the beach

1-21-14-

-a beautiful day

-antiquing and thrifting with my friend

-eating a healthy salad for lunch then sharing a delicious dessert

-running some errands with the Hubs in the evening

-a phone call from my second born daughter asking me to go with her for her ultrasound on Friday, (her husband had to work)

-a sweet friend's 50th birthday

(No, I don't have a flower in my hair! It's behind me.)

1-22-14-

-a warm house

-a fire in the fireplace

-roses from the Hubs

-hot coffee

-Greek yogurt with granola and fruit

-going to my oldest daughter's and enjoying time with our two youngest granddaughters and a good dinner my daughter made for us

-making some homemade granola

1-23-14-

-my little grocery store hyacinth in bloom

-delicious homemade healthy soup that the Hubs loved in spite of all the veggies in it

-Thursday night prayer and worship at church

1-24-14-

-we're having a grandson-no doubt about it on the ultrasound!

-all tests show that he's healthy

-going with my daughter to surprise my two oldest grands at school 

with blue frosted cookies and "it's a boy!" balloons

-lunch with the Hubs at a favorite place that we haven't gone to in a long time

-enjoying a drive on a sunny afternoon

1-25-14-

-a sunny Saturday morning
-a husband who's perfectly happy to have leftover soup and tuna melts for dinner
-my friend finished a painting she's doing for me!

1-26-14-

-His body broken, His blood shed, for me!
-buying a red dutch oven as a housewarming gift and finding out after that her favorite color is red
-home in bed and snuggled under a warm quilt after a long day

gratefully yours,

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