Memories

This blog has been about the things in Mom's house.  There are countless other things that have yet to be written about.  I look forward to future blogs about all the things that are a part of my life and Mom's life and all that have touched our lives.  It never ceases to amaze me how looking at a painting or playing on an out of tune piano can conjure up so many memories.

Which leads me to this blog.  I was drying my hair this morning and thinking about my Mom, as I do every morning before I call her around 9:00 a.m. to check in with her for the day.  I was thinking about how amazing she is and what a full life she has lived.  She tells me all the time that she knows how blessed and lucky she has been her entire life.  I know this isn't just lip service...I know she means it.  I know that her life has  been blessed and that she feels fulfilled.  That is an awesome and amazing feeling.  I know our family has always talked about not living with regrets.  That is what the power of forgiveness does for us.  I cannot stress enough the concept of not having regrets.  If all things can be resolved, or at least simply forgiven, regrets are unnecessary.  When there are no regrets, there can always be peace.

But anyway, I thought about Mom and her blessed life and I thought about all the people who have come into her life to make it so blessed.  I started thinking that this blog doesn't just simply need to be about the things in her house that relate to her and her life, but it can be about the memories that have been created inside her house and because of who she is.  This opens up a whole new avenue and gives new life to this blog.
I love writing this and I know Mom loves reading it.  She keeps telling me I am writing our family's history.  I didn't set out to do that, but I guess the telling of the stories that have come from her home and her things have sort of done just that.
I have always been commended for my good memory.  I guess it is a gift that God gave me because I am so sentimental.  I love having memories and I love knowing I am who I am because of where I come from.  I guess that desire and that knowledge leads me to my good memory. 
However, God doesn't necessarily grant me good memory for life, and I suppose it gives me license to write about my life and memories....at least there will always be some sort of record of the life and times of my family!

I have always said that Mom's things are not merely things, rather they are reminders of all the people and events that have come to pass to create a history for us.  I would much rather hold in my hand a handmade ashtray made by Martha at summer camp for her Daddy that evokes a couple of interesting stories and shows a lovely sentiment than to hold a piece of silver that really never was used by my family or has any significant stories behind it.
I truly am a sentimental slob!

I am excited to continue my blog through time.  I look forward to touching on so many more memories and to remember the people who have come in and out of our lives. 
If I plan to write the history for Mom (and me), I need to get busy remembering the people and activities that have touched our lives.  So many of the things in Mom's house have evoked those memories, but there are so many more that exist just because.  And they happened in her house and because of her.  That is reason enough for me.
I long to recall them and I long to write about them.

And memories are made of this.