Happy Birthday Eric

Today is my husband Eric's birthday.  As I thought about what to write on my blog, many thoughts ran through my mind.  I thought about how respectful he was to my parents when we first met and how nice he was to my family.  I thought about him helping me cut my sister and brother-in-law's grass when they were on vacation, even though he had only met them once.  I thought about the times that he dropped everything and would go when his parents called him and asked him to come do something for them.  I thought about the times that he worked out of town during storm damage with the phone company and was gone for 2-3 weeks at a time.  I thought about how he took care of his dad in the few months before his dad died.  There were many thoughts racing through my mind and I knew I could be here all day typing away.  How do you pick out a few things to write about when there are so many that could describe someone like Eric?  You don't.  I just hope that anyone who reads this blog already knows him and knows all that he has done in his 55 years.  And I hope that everyone knows how much I love and appreciate him.

Happy birthday to the best husband, dad, father-in-law and Pops. 

Always Remember

In the late 70s and early 80s, my parents took a lot of one day trips.  They would fly out of Charlotte at 6:00am and return around midnight the same day.  The tour group would be picked up in the city they were visiting and would go to all of the tourist sites.  This was a good way for my parents to travel since they only had to miss one day of work, all of the arrangements had been made for them and they never had to drive anywhere.

One of the earliest places where they went was New York City.  They were excited to see the Empire State Building, World Trade Center, Rockefeller Center and eat lunch at Chinatown.  As they were on the ferry to Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty, my dad asked my mother what her thoughts were then.  My mother said, "as a little girl growing up in the country, I never thought I would see this".  My mother then asked my dad what he was thinking.  His response was, "I am thinking about all of the service men in WWII who were coming home and the first thing they saw was the Statue of Liberty."

I wonder if the service men on the ships cheered as they came into the harbor.  I wonder if the men kept looking at their watches, wondering if they would ever make it home.  I wonder if the men stepped off of the ships and thanked God they were back on American ground.  I wonder if the men saw an American flag and teared up at the beautiful colors and what they represented.  I wonder if the men thought of the many who didn't make it home.

Always remember Memorial Day and what this day means to the United States of America.

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mother's birthday.  I can think of a lot of things to write about her but I picked one subject that I felt described her perfectly.

When I was around 10 years old, my mother and aunt had just started taking a sewing class at the local community college.  My mother bought a sewing machine and could really make that machine hum.  Around that time, I started going to church with a friend.  Since I had not previously attended church, I had a limited amount of dresses.  My mom, knowing that I would want to have nice things like the other girls at the church, started making my dress clothes.  She would buy a pattern that had 3-4 different styles of dresses and a variety of cloth.  She could make a short sleeved dress out of a solid color material with a polka dot color jacket.  The extra polka dot material was used to make a skirt or jumper.  She could always find cloth on sale at different stores and use the same pattern over and over again.  For 3-4 years I had dresses that were as nice or nicer than you could buy in a store. 

When my mom passed away and we were cleaning out my parents house, we found her big sewing hamper.  Inside were remnants of cloth that she had used over the years.  Included was material that had been used to make my dresses for Easter, church camp and other special occasions.  I cut a 1 inch square from each piece to bring home with me.  I really didn't need to keep any of it, I can still see some of these dresses in my mind when I think about those days.   But when I see this small stack of cloth, I am reminded of the time and sacrifices that my mom made for me. 

Happy Birthday momma.

New grandson

This afternoon Eric and I will become Pops and Granny B for the 3rd time.  This is a happy time for our family and we are excited to see who he looks like and how his big sister reacts to him.

My parents and in-laws are all deceased.  When the first grandchild was born, only my father-in-law was still alive.  His comments about her still make us laugh as we remember them. 

Eric and I believe that only good things are talked about in Heaven.  My father passed away several years ago when all of his grandchildren were young.  He missed Eagle Scout ceremonies, high school and college graduations, grandchildren's weddings and great-grandchildren births.  I hope that when my mother passed away, she was able to tell my dad about all of the things that had happened since he was gone.  I know he would have liked to have been here and I know my mother missed having him by her side.

Out of the 8 great-grandparents that our new grandson would have, only 2 are still alive.  I think the 6 who are no longer with us, picked this baby out for us.  I can see my mother rocking and singing to him just like I think she did before my 2 other grands and my nieces children were born.

This morning as the baby is preparing to be born, I think the 6 great-grandparents are holding him one last time and saying good-bye to him.  I think they are whispering "I love you and I will always watch over you."

Welcome to world little one.  We can't wait to meet you.