Twenty-Five Years Ago

Twenty-five years ago, Jim and I were married.  I've kept the cards we received in a scrap book all those years.  But, I thought it would be more fun to look at them in a smaller format that didn't need dusting and moved around.  

It brings back lovely memories of all the people who gave us good wishes so many years ago.  Time goes on and some of these people are no longer with us, but they all have a story worth remembering. 

A Wedding Story

I had this post ready for several months to celebrate this day.  In the light of recent events, it is more precious than ever.

Twenty-five years ago, we were married.  

I'm glad the the story continues and gets better every year. 

Remembering

When I got the letter from my Aunt Wanda, I was afraid to open it.  "Oh, no, it's too soon, I'm not ready for a family picture without Michelle."

But, it wasn't a family picture, it was these.  Photos that show the passage of time.   

The tent, the color of our hair, how much younger we cousins looked, one that is no longer here, one that has grown up.

This is 1999, I think.  

It is lovely to have photos that remind us of the time. 

Going to Gramma's

We had Zane last weekend.  Mama and Daddy both had to work and Grammy from GI was gone, so we were the gainers thereby.  It is a good thing that I can do a lot more work without complaining than I used to, since he came at the end of a very busy week.  We had two meetings here, overnight company eight days in a row, and a two day Fourth of July celebration in there, too.  That means a lot of cooking and a little paying attention to what needs picking up. Thank goodness, most people around here are capable and willing to do a little picking up themselves.  (Or else, they don't leave things lying around, as in the case of my son.) 

Anyway, it sure is fun to have Zane around.  It's like we are making up for lost time.  The only chance we have of getting to know little kids again is with these grandchildren.  They don't live with us like our own did.  Sometimes they live far away.  Therefore, we need to make the most of every opportunity.  If we want to have any influence over this little boy's life, we have to start now.  Zane especially loves being with Papa.  Papa does do all sorts of interesting things, mostly involving dirt and things with wheels. I think sometimes we want to fix the mistakes we made with our own kids, but mostly I think we know now, how fleeting those years with young children are.  They don't stay young forever, and we won't be around forever.  The more love in anyone's life, giving and receiving, the better.  No one is ever sorry they have truly loved. (I suppose someone else wrote that first, but I don't know who it was.)

My nice, more ordered than ever, life is put on hold when he is there.  Toys are all over the kitchen and living room.  I know there is no use to put them away until bedtime; they will just come out again. It isn't so bad.  No toys, no grandson.  So, I took a couple of pictures of what the house looks like when there are kids in it. 

Of course, it doesn't look too bad.  I wouldn't take pictures of what it was really like.  And I notice, that some of the stuff ISN'T toys.  I should look up a photo of what it was like when my kids were going strong.  Zane isn't here long enough or have anyone to help make a REAL mess. 

And, oh, does he love his trains. 

Here's a good one.  They made huge messes when they played but they sure had fun.  

January 1996--Lorene would be 4; Nathan, 2, and Lynette a babe in arms, and not helping with THIS mess.  

We love all our time with Zane, and then we he goes home and tells his folks, "I miss Maury and Papa"---well, it's all worthwhile.

It Seems Like Only Yesterday

It doesn't take very long for a few years to go by. Here my oldest daughter is 18, graduated from high school and thinking she is very grown up indeed.

But a few years ago, she wasn't so old.

This, I think, is the first picture I have of Relyssa and Lorene, who were born exactly three months apart to the day. Relyssa is 6 months and Lorene is 3. I wish it was a little better of Lorene.

I wonder if anyone else remembers the circumstances behind this photo. My daughter had just spent the last two hours screaming her head off, on the way to, during, and coming home from gospel meeting in Grand Island.

It was the first of many such screaming sessions, which I don't really know now and didn't know then, the cause. I could only guess at over stimulation or over excitement. So, she really wasn't in her best looks.

Now why on earth I wanted COMPANY that evening after having a screaming baby on my hands, I can only wonder now. But, since the company was a woman who was already on baby number 8, and my friend, and a big help in times of trouble and fun, then as now. One who would never look down on someone else's baby problems, one with infinite patience. (Well, with her friends anyway, who has infinite patience with kids even if you don't have 12)




My aforementioned friend whose skill as a photographer is very useful in taking pictures of our girls together, took several of Lorene over the years.

This photo is from a very successful photo shoot in Harmon Park, after we got there. I wonder if Lorene remembers the hissy fit she had before it, to which I responded with a hissy fit of my own, before she wore the dress.

At any rate, we got some very nice photos of the two of them.