Memories

Well, Christmas celebrations went well. Family behaved (although it was touch-and-go there for a bit) and I was able to spend time with friends. Christmas Eve evening service was beautiful at church. And Chad did a great job for his first "midnight sermon." And Jessica Kayrouz - her voice is straight from heaven! It was great to hear her sing again. Unfortunately, on Christmas day I had a serious migraine. It took all the energy I had to move from the bedroom to the living room. I had to miss out on going to friends' houses! It would have great to part of some festivities that day - but I did get an extra 6-7 hours sleep. And I am seriously shocked that I haven't gained 20 pounds from all the dinners! This Christmas season was wonderful - a welcome change from the past few months - and did anyone notice the full moon? Of course, I've been working hard on a blanket project. It's taking some serious time, but I am determined to get it done this week. That, and paint & decorate my bedroom.

I've lived in my new house for over a year. When Jan Pope told me it would take me years to get the house settled - I laughed. Little did I know...I'm still not half-way through with painting the rooms let-alone decorating! I'm anxious to get my Wonder Woman stuff out of boxes.

So to change the subject...memories. This time of year is sensitive to memories - both good and bad, happy and sad. There's been a lot of loss this year for many of us. And I started thinking about other memories.

My little bathroom has got touches of both my grandpas (Udell and Alfred), and they loved me! So I like just going into my little bathroom to play with the Avon "lazy man" or look at this picture I got from my other grandpa's room. Then I get to thinking about the men they were and the things we did together. They were by no means knights in shining armor. Far from it. But there are still points I admired from each of them. And there are so many memories from each.

Alfred was a former Navyman and a truck driver most of his life. He was actually Mamaw's second husband, her first did of a brain hemmorage (which was my biological grandpa - died when my dad was 13). Alfred loved my Mamaw - and dogs - and food - and travelling. They lived in Texas for years, so I got to spend Summer vacations with them when I was little. He and Mamaw took me on my first road trip when I got my driver's permit - all the way to the west coast and back.

Udell was a Korean war vet and a farmer. He was big and rough - temper that would shake the house - but he loved life. Loved his family, loved the land and animals - taught me to write cursive, make Strawberry milk and to not worry about what the food looked like all mixed together "It was all going to the same place anyhow." This was the same grandpa that would bring the runts into the house to take care of them. This is a picture of him with the twins - my mom is on the left. When we would go see his and Bonnie's parents once a month, we would always stop and eat at KFC in Jasper, IN. (Irony nowadays, I know). This picture is Stella and Burnell Small (Udell's parent), Sherry, Udell, Carry (my mom), and me in the front (happy little child, huh). I may have been smarting-off - shocker that would be! LOL! So anyway, we eat at Kentucky Fried Chicken every trip. And I would always ask mom if I could have one of the strawberry shortcakes. You know, those little "bucket parfaits." Mom's answer would be "no." But before we left the restaurant, grandpa would always get me one. So now, when my boss surprises me with one of these little "buckets" it takes me back to spending that time with grandpa. Grandpas are great...they really know how to spoil granddaughters! Boy, do I miss that...