My favorite Christmas decorations

As I'm getting ready to put away the Christmas decorations, I find myself thinking about my favorite decorations.  While there are so many that are filled with memories, and there are plenty that are over 40 years old, my favorite decorations are the photos.  I have 16 frames filled with Christmas photos from various years.  Obviously, not every year is represented, but I love not only looking at the memories, but I love the decorative nature of the frames.  I added this year already.  I've actually run out of room on the shelves where I keep them, but I've worked it out to expand a bit.  It makes me so incredibly happy when I get each photo out each year.

I undecorated the trees this evening.  I needed to separate Catherine's ornaments this year.  It seems like our trees might be pretty bare next year!  As I was putting the ornaments into their own bin, I couldn't help but think about how much I'm going to miss them next year.  I thought it wouldn't bother me because we've already had Thomas take his.  But, I realized this evening that some of the memories were still there because seeing Catherine's ornaments would make me think of the memory.  For example, one year, all seven of my grandmother great-grands visited Disney.  She made each of the kids a Disney related ornament that year by making them cross-stitch ornaments.  Those kinds of memories are so dear to my heart.

And speaking of my grandmother, today she turns 95.  My sister saw her today and said she is definitely fading cognitively.  My mom, sister, aunt and I are going to see her Saturday and bring in lunch.  I am nearly certain this will be her final birthday.  I am so, so grateful to have had her in my life for so long, but I know this is not how she wants to be living.

An entire week into 2026...time is still flying!

Songs take me back

I am definitely a person who "feels" songs. I can hear a song and it can take me right back to what feels like a different lifetime.  Christmas is definitely a season where it happens often.  We've been listening to a lot of my grandparents' records on their old Admiral console stereo that we've had for 4-1/2 years.  They are traditional songs sung by Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Irving Berlin, etc.  My heart has felt so full listening to these songs.

As I was driving home from my mom's house this evening, another song came on.  To back track a bit, I need to explain that my paternal grandmother's family gathered every year on the Sunday before Christmas.  I was the oldest great-grandchild.  I loved those gatherings.  They lasted through 1995, and I have absolutely wonderful memories from them.  Anyway, in 1992, we all traveled about an hour away as my great-aunt & great-uncle had moved to a lake house.  As we were driving home that day, the song "Daddy's Hands" by Holly Williams came on the radio.  I didn't love my first semester of college which had just finished, and I was so grateful to be home for break.  I was especially grateful to be home with my Dad with whom I was so very close.  I remember that song coming on, and I remember my eyes filling with tears in the car.  I was so very lucky to be my father's daughter.  As I was driving today, I realized the date, and realized it was exactly thirty-three years ago today...Dec. 20, 1992, that we had that Christmas celebration.  That's pretty ironic I would hear that song again this evening.

Andrew is off getting his mom tonight and they'll be back tomorrow.  I'm enjoying the quiet tonight.

Seventeen years of blogging

I started this blog 17 years ago!  I'm so grateful for each memory recorded here.  I especially love the December memories.  Eight more school days for me this calendar year.  I know that tomorrow is never promised, and I plan to soak up the holiday memories as much as I can this year...and hopefully I'll write about them here!

A gift full of so many memories

When Andrew was in Vermont in June visiting his aunt before she passed, he fell in love with her digital photo frame.  His mom commented on how much she would enjoy having one.  We bought her one during Prime Days and were able to add 500 photos for it before we gave it to her when she was here in September.  It is super easy to add photos, and I told Andrew it was exactly what I wanted for my birthday as well.  He agreed and was excited to get me one.  So excited in fact, he got confused and thought my birthday was September 27 instead of October 27!  He was so panicked about it that he ordered on my account, which meant not only did I know when it was arriving, but I knew what it was.  It was a bit comical.  I was excited to get the photos added, and got right to it.  Not only do I love seeing the pictures come up on the frame, but just going through the photos to pick ones has been a joy.  I've added some pictures from my childhood, and Andrew has a few from his.  I even have pictures from my Dad's childhood and there are extended family.  There are a ton of photos from during the pandemic, and I remember how much wonderful time we had together.  The pictures of our sweet Abby pull at my heart a bit, as she will be forever missed.  I love photos of big family groups, and of course there are lots of photos of friends, especially those who are truly like family.  I am also so truly enjoying the photos of the many, many trips we have taken.  Those photos make my heart so very full.  We have been so blessed.  There have been amazing family vacations and fabulous trips with friends.  I'm so grateful for the opportunities and for all the memories made, and I'm so grateful to have the phots displayed on the screen!

Mid-June

I am off work today, and I've enjoyed the quiet.  I don't get much alone time in my house in the summer, and I'm cherishing this opportunity.  Catherine is home from work, but is taking a nap in her room.  I should be more productive, but I'm listening to our sink drive (ugh!) and enjoying our cat, Maudie, who is insisting to be right up against me (it's a little warm, but sweet).

Tuesday, Andrew hit the road again, God love him.  Our original plan for the summer had been to take a trip to Vermont at the end of July and to take his mom with us as it was a visit to Andrew's aunt who is 92.  However, the week before we left for vacation, a phone call came explaining that Aunt had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Treatment would only extended the inevitable, and at 92, well...I think you understand.  It was decided that Andrew and his mom would make the trip right away, and unfortunately it meant I couldn't go.  I'm so, so grateful though, that Andrew and his mom are able to do this.

I've also been spending day looking around at my house.  I love photos.  I love having memories literally staring at me.  The hard part?  I can't cover every single wall space and flat surface with photo frames.  In the last six weeks, we've had two big photo-worthy events in the wedding and our vacation.  As I said, we took a TON of photos on vacation.  I'm trying to not have a cluttered house, while also having these memories surround me.  They truly bring me joy.  

I am so grateful for this summer and the slower pace of life!

Photo memories

The thing I've been working on most during the break has been labeling and organizing photos.  Some of them went all the way back to 2017, most were from the 2020's, especially in the last two years.  Honestly, it was a bit of an emotional experience.  Eight years ago, Thomas was in middle school.  It broke my heart a bit to see him that young.  I worked on the pictures from the last Thanksgiving G.G. was alive.  It caught my heart to see the family gatherings that we don't get to have anymore.  There were pictures of Rosie that we lost in August, 2022, and more heart-wrenching were the photos of Lincoln, and especially of Abby, both of whom passed in October.  In spite of a few teary eyes, I am so, so, so grateful for those memories!

This date

This date has some sad memories for me.  It was four years ago today that we lost our good friend, Tim.  It was so unexpected, and I'll never forget that day.  Five years ago today was a really rough day for our family.  I won't go into details for the privacy of my children, but it was a really, really hard day.  It was on this date 38 years ago today that my grandfather passed away.  Even though we knew that was coming, it too is a day I'll never forget.  Another memory is from 33 years ago today.  It was my senior year of high school, and our boys' basketball team was playing in the first round tournament game.  They'd won an incredible game two days earlier that went into double overtime that secured the league title.  It seemed as though the emotions and stress of that game caught up with them and they couldn't pull out the expected first round victory.  Thirty-three years later, I can still remember seeing my friend Ryan sitting on the bench as time expired.  I had never missed a home basketball game in which he played, and it all came to an end that evening.  That is not a memory I think of often, but it happened on a Sunday, and with Ryan gone, it feels a little sadder this year.

On the upside, today was a very nice day.  We ran some errands, and we had an impromptu dinner wtih friends.  Ready for another week!

An unexpectedly lovely Wednesday evening

We've made it over the hump of the week.  And the best part is that there are only five more working days remaining in the calendar year for me!  Yay!!!

Wednesday is the day we get out of school early, and I only had one quick errand to run before coming home.  Unfortunately, Andrew has to work at a basketball game this evening, but Catherine is here with me.  I was able to finish up the gifts for the church Giving Tree and accomplish a few other things.  The trees are lit, the balsam candle is lit, it's snowing outside, and we put the fireplace with Christmas music on TV.  Catherine was making a dessert for her school carry-in potluck meal.  I had to smile as it reminded me of so many memories of past holiday seasons.  Catherine even mentioned that she wished Thomas was here.  At first she mentioned it was because he was a big help with her dessert, but then later she admitted she enjoys having him around.

Two weeks until Christmas.  Looking forward to down time and hopefully a good amount of family time!

Sixteen years of blogging

It's my blogversary!  Sixteen years of recording memories here on the blog!  I'm so grateful I started this sixteen years ago, and I'm so grateful for the memories recorded here.  I can't really think of a better way to have recorded my kids' childhoods.

We are well into the holiday season.  Today was one of those days when I began to wonder if I'm going to find time to sleep at all between now and Christmas.  In addition to my jobs, this is the busy time with the church job with it being the end of the year.  I'm also in charge of the Giving Tree at church, which I love!  This year, though, most of the gifts are being purchased by financial donations to the church rather than members doing shopping.  It is truly, truly a privilege to be able to provide Christmas for two families including seven children.  It brings me great joy.  I think almost everything is purchased, now I just need to get everything wrapped.  I love seeing the stacks of gifts pile up!

We had lunch with our good friends today.  We haven't been able to get together since August, and we didn't want to wait until Christmas Eve for our next visit.  Friday evening was a gathering with some of Andrew's colleagues.  It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Making memories

Here we are, at the day before Thanksgiving, and I am looking at my nicely decorated Christmas tree.  I have ALWAYS refused to decorate before Thanksgiving, but since we ate on Sunday, and especially since Thanksgiving is so late this year, bring it on!

It actually happened in an unplanned way.  I was working on getting the trees up for planned decorating this evening.  Thomas texted as he was off work early and they were actually in the area in early afternoon.  I was happy to accept extra help in getting the trees put together and with lights, and Andrew was happy to have some help with the outside lights.  Everyone worked all afternoon, and after a quick break of pizza for dinner, the trees were all decorated by 7:30 last evening.  Thomas's fiance specifically mentioned how much she had enjoyed helping and sharing in this tradition.  The tree is full of so very many memories.  Andrew became a bit emotional as there are so many ornaments for our sweet pup.  She was included every year.   Thomas wanted to take some of his favorite ornaments with him.  It was fine, but I insisted on taking pictures! We laughed, but those memories are important to me as well.  In fact, apparently he was complaining to his fiance (let's call her Lynn, going forward) that the tree at their apartment only had "generic" ornaments on it.  I'm grateful these traditions and memories mean as much to them as they do to me.

A day off by myself

Today is a teacher work day at my school, and I am thrilled to be off work.  During the school year, it is really challenging to take off days "just because" (or as I like to think of them, mental health days), but when the students aren't there it is much easier!  I asked for this a month ago, right after the week from hell when I was the only admin working most of the week and we had teachers out left and right.  In other words, when they didn't dare tell me I couldn't! 😂

Yesterday I finished painting Thomas's room.  It's the exact same colors, but we joke that his room was a toxic haz mat dump and everything needed refreshing.  I always channel my dad when I'm painting, because we were the painters in the family.  I also found my self spending the day listening to 90's country music, and that was quite a trip down memory lane!

I'm so very acutely feeling the passage of time lately.  The upcoming holidays have me feeling incredibly reflective this year, and a bit melancholy, and I'm just not sure where the time has gone.  I'm so very grateful for this afternoon where I can spend some quiet time with my thoughts.  A lot of those thoughts also involve our sweet pup whom we miss so much.  Those are sad thoughts as well, but there is so, so much to be grateful for, and this is the month to remember that!

An afternoon in my hometown

I made a trip to my hometown today.  I stopped to see my grandmother for just a few minutes.  She wasn't having a great day, but I'm glad I was able to see her.  I then met my friend, Heather, for lunch.  It was a quick lunch, and a nice visit.  I then did some shopping at the local stores, and I was able to see another high school friend who owns some of the businesses.  And lastly, I ran into my cousin.  It was a fairly quick trip, but a very nice trip.

Upon getting home, I began painting (what was) Thomas's bedroom.  My mother-in-law arrives in nine days and she needs to sleep in there.  Painting always causes me to channel my dad, and we are only give days until the anniversary of his passing.  I was also listening to a 90's Country channel, and lots of memories came flooding in with those songs as well.

I'm so grateful for this weekend.  And I'm especially grateful that I am taking Monday off work and get an even longer weekend! 

Pete Rose died

Last evening we learned that Pete Rose had passed away.  My sister let me know.  I really wanted to write, but I wasn't feeling well at all.  My sister and I share so many memories from our childhood that involve the Reds, and specifically, Pete Rose.  I remember being devastated when he started playing for the Phillies, and I was beyond thrilled when he came to back to Cincinnati from Montreal.  I vividly remember watching the game on TV the night that he hit #4192.  It's always sad to lose parts of our childhood.  So, so many memories.

It took my breath away

My grandmother is in the hospital.  She is not critically ill, and I'm grateful.  She has a serious infection and needs IV antibiotics.  She isn't in any pain and she doesn't feel awful.  These are all good things.  At the same time, she is 92, and that is simply reality.

I made a trip to the hospital to see her this afternoon.  I needed to stop by her assisted living facility and pick up her glasses.  I decided to take the back roads to the hospital from there, and in doing so, I drove past the house she and my grandfather lived in for the first 29 years of my life.  Oh goodness, driving down that road literally took my breath away.  I was so blessed to have grown up with both sets of grandparents living within a five-minute drive of my home, so many, many trips were made down that road.  It all just felt so surreal.

I don't think this is the end for Grandma, but I do know that she is weakening.  Reality is that she may not be able to return to assisted living...we really don't know what the future holds.  I told her I loved her as I was leaving and she became emotional.  Oh goodness, it's been quite an afternoon.

Our wall of memories

I've written before about how I love having photo memories surrounding me.  I've been this way since high school.  I started noticing last fall though, that my wall of memories was in need of some updating.  For one thing, I had put the photo collages together last century (literally), in some cases, and frame styles have changed.  I also realized that because I had put the collages together before even meeting my husband, his family was not as well represented as I would have liked.  I was motivated, though, when my husband's cousin sent us a years' worth of digitized photos as Christmas.  I had purchased a bunch of new collage frames, and finally got my act together a couple of weeks ago to order the prints I wanted.  There are several from my husband's family, a few from when the kids were little, some with friends, on and on.  We finally got everything hung today, and I find myself standing in the hall and just smiling as I scan the photos.  The wall is full of so many wonderful memories.  As I've turned 50, while I certainly hope there are plenty of more years in front of me, I also have to acknowledge that there are more years behind me than there are ahead of me.  My biggest hope is that the people in those photos enjoyed making those memories as much as I did.

Four years ago the school shut down

Four years ago today was the last day of school for the year.  I guess, technically, it was the last day of in-person school for that year.  I remember just sitting on the couch that evening, because, suddenly, none of us really had anything to do.

I was talking to a co-worker the other day, and while we both agree we'd never want to go through it again, and things were really scary at times, we also have really good memories from the family times we had.  It was a blessing to be able to go through it with my kiddos and my husband.  I have memories of card games and board games, movie nights and family walks.  I'll never be sad we had all that time together.

It's hard to believe it has been four years.  Time sure does move along quickly.

Going through memories

Today was a teacher work day at my school, but our boss gave us the gift of an entire day off.  I'll write another post at some point to explain why.  We were to use at least part of the day for the self-care...and I feel I accomplished that.  I slept in until 10 this morning, which feels crazy!  Every time I woke up though, I would doze back to sleep so I must have really needed it.  Hopefully it doesn't catch up with me tonight and keep me from falling asleep.

It's been a gorgeous day so far, and I was able to accomplish two very important phone calls.  I've also been trying to reduce some of the tubs we have in storage, and this afternoon I spent a couple of hours going through my memories.  I found a tub with lots and lots of old newspaper clippings from my high-school and college years, and shortly thereafter.  I'll be honest, I was a little amused at some of the things I kept, and I'm pleased I was able to get rid of nearly 1/3 of the tub.

The memories were also a little poignant though, as so many of them were soccer memories.  Seeing Scotty's picture and accomplishments just made it ache that he's gone at such a young age.

I'm so grateful to have had today to just be with myself.  It was perfect timing and a lovely day!

I spent my weekend with memories

This weekend, I was able to spend my weekend not making memories, but feeling surrounded by them.  I spent most of the day Saturday working hard to get all of Christmas taken down and stored away (not in the attic because it's WAYYYY too cold, but in tubs).  I loved thinking about my great-uncle as I put away the Santa that he carved, and that had been a gift to my grandmother and I now have.  There were so many decorations that had been gifts from my paternal grandmother, and even a couple of gifts from my mom.  My aunt usually gives us a decoration each year as well.  I cherished putting away the tree that I had given to my grandmother one year that contained the names of her (then nine) great-grandkids, and I love the photos from many year that we've had in various frames, all displayed together on shelves.  There were a couple of decorations I've had since my childhood, and an entire ceramic village hand-painted by Andrew's grandmother.  There was also the Department 56 village pieces we have that my maternal grandmother collected.  We were each allowed to choose one, and we add them to the few that I already had.  I thought back to her opening one each year, and I thought about how she must have so enjoyed putting them out each year.

I also spent some time with a wonderful gift our family received at Christmas.  Andrew's cousin sent us digitized copies of dozens of photos.  I spent some time last evening going through them and organizing them.  Additionally, I've been wanting to re-do our photo wall in our hallway, so I've been thinking about what photos I want to put where, and what frames would look best in doing so.  I'm looking forward to adding photos of Andrew's family as well as some of my favorites of the kiddos.  I enjoyed those thoughts.

I am so grateful for this weekend.  It's been absolutely frigid, and we've been able to stay in so much.  We've had several beautiful fires in our fireplace, as well as enjoying the scents of lit candles.  I won't lie, I had hoped for a snow day tomorrow because I'm so motivated to organize, but the snow never really happened.  The windchills are going to be negative in the morning, but not cold enough to keep us from being in school on time!  We've been able to enjoy decent football games (ugh, Steelers, c'mon!), and this weekend has just been so good for my soul.  Additionally, Andrew and I even booked a weekend get-away for next weekend.  I am working on feeling peaceful.

The first day of 2024

Typing this title was the first day I've used "2024".  Another year has arrived.  It is so hard to believe.  I am fifty years old, so last evening was my fifty-first NYE.  Wow.

As a child, New Year's Eve was always so very special.  My parents hosted a gathering every year, and my sister and I would spend the night at my paternal grandparents.  My grandmother retired when I was very little, and my grandfather retired when only 11, so most overnights were at their house.  My mother always took us to the bulk nut factory in town, and we were allowed to pick out snacks for the evening.  Peanuts and other nut assortments, and always jelly beans, were served as evening snacks.  We would eat dinner at Long John Silver's, and then we would undecorate my grandparent's tree.  As I got older, those weren't my plans, but even my freshman year of college, I stayed at my grandparents.  The very first NYE I remember was 1983, and I remember walking into the bedroom where my sister and I slept thinking, "I can't believe it is 1984."  I was ten years old, and that was forty years ago.

This was a tough break, although I'll write about that another in a different post.  Today is always one of my favorite days of the year, and this year is not an exception.  I'm especially grateful as the last two years have been less than spectacular.  This year, this day has been exactly as I hope it would be.  Andrew and I spent the day in our pajamas and our meals were leftovers.  Right now I am watching Michigan play Alabama (ugh) and enjoying the candle with a lovely fire in the fireplace.  Catherine spent the day at her apartment, and Thomas had to work before going to spend the evening with his girlfriend and her family.  We are still off tomorrow, and although I have A LOT to do, but for today, I'm just enjoying the peace and quiet!

Fifteen years of blogging

I began this blog fifteen years ago.  I still remember that Monday afternoon when I decided to give it a try.  So much in life has changed in those fifteen years.  I'm so grateful for all of the memories recorded here, especially here at the holidays.  I miss having little kids, but I'm grateful for the life we have today.  When I started, there were a lot of blogs I followed that had I enjoyed reading.  Most of those are no longer active.  I get it.  Like I said, life changes.

I can't even begin to imagine what the next fifteen years will bring, but I'm sure there will be many blessings!