I've spent quite a bit of time with my Dad over the past month. It's been such a joy but I've also felt great sorrow. We have been going through my Mom's "collections" and trying to decide what to keep, what to give away and what to throw away. Mom was an avid collector of many things, mostly fabric (she had enough fabric to make quilts for a century) but also lovely tea cups and saucers, little dolls, photos, greeting cards, etc. With the fabric, she made the most beautiful, award winning quilts I've ever seen. Designing and hand-quilting each one personally, stitch by tiny stitch, putting her heart in to each and every quilt (click here for a link to a slideshow I made a few years ago featuring some of her quilts).
My Mom was born in the first year of the Great Depression, she was a 1929 baby who grew up learning the value of hard work and saving for the things she wanted. She left Ohio when she was only 17 years old and moved to Detroit, Michigan. She found employment with Sander's Bakery and earned a living decorating cakes. Working hard but never losing the joy in her heart. I came across a little poem she had written and though I don't remember the exact words, I do remember the gist. It said to do your job well, even if you don't like what you're doing. Pretend you are a Princess while you are working and it will make you smile and the job won't be so bad! It sounded so much like her, always one to find the bright side! Everything she did, she did with a grateful, joyful heart.
As my Dad and I were working together, he brought me a little jar with some bags inside. He said "your mother saved these .50 cent pieces and I want you to have them". I gratefully took them, not because of the monetary value but because of the reminder of the life lessons she taught us children, the reminder all neatly wrapped up in those little bags. Each bag was handmade and had a little fabric tie around it with a rolled up paper stating how many half dollars were inside. I can just picture her putting these little bags of coins together with the intent of sharing them with her children one day.
A Great Depression Baby who worked hard, with joy in her heart, for everything she had. She taught her children to appreciate even the smallest of blessings. For that, I am forever grateful. I love spending time with you Dad, I'm sure your values, ethics and sense of humor are what kept you and Mom together for 60 years. Mom, I miss you with my whole heart. Wish you were here.
My Mom was born in the first year of the Great Depression, she was a 1929 baby who grew up learning the value of hard work and saving for the things she wanted. She left Ohio when she was only 17 years old and moved to Detroit, Michigan. She found employment with Sander's Bakery and earned a living decorating cakes. Working hard but never losing the joy in her heart. I came across a little poem she had written and though I don't remember the exact words, I do remember the gist. It said to do your job well, even if you don't like what you're doing. Pretend you are a Princess while you are working and it will make you smile and the job won't be so bad! It sounded so much like her, always one to find the bright side! Everything she did, she did with a grateful, joyful heart.
As my Dad and I were working together, he brought me a little jar with some bags inside. He said "your mother saved these .50 cent pieces and I want you to have them". I gratefully took them, not because of the monetary value but because of the reminder of the life lessons she taught us children, the reminder all neatly wrapped up in those little bags. Each bag was handmade and had a little fabric tie around it with a rolled up paper stating how many half dollars were inside. I can just picture her putting these little bags of coins together with the intent of sharing them with her children one day.
A Great Depression Baby who worked hard, with joy in her heart, for everything she had. She taught her children to appreciate even the smallest of blessings. For that, I am forever grateful. I love spending time with you Dad, I'm sure your values, ethics and sense of humor are what kept you and Mom together for 60 years. Mom, I miss you with my whole heart. Wish you were here.
