Fondest Childhood Memory.............will I be one?

I was in Katy's Hallmark yesterday and saw a journal for grandparents to write to their grandchildren. It had questions about how you were brought up, your favorite things, just your life in general. Since we have little Elliotte on the way (and hopefully more in the future) it got me to thinking about how I would answer some of the questions. There was one question that really struck me. "What is your fondest memory of your childhood?" That got my mind racing. Now, I can't remember where I put my water bottle, but I do remember my childhood....................isn't that called Alzeheimer's??? I have lots of good memories of my childhood but one in particular stands out. There is one person that is always in my memories of growing up, my grandmother, Mema. I had 2 wonderful grandmothers. But I spent more time with Mema because we lived down the street from her for the first 9 years of my life. I think of Mema almost every day. I have the spoon she used to mix cookies, cakes, mashed potatoes and all things GOOD to eat. I use it when I'm cooking and every time it's in my hand I remember her. Her beautiful silver hair, the aprons she ALWAYS wore, the hankerchief she always had in the pocket of her apron because of her allergies, rolling out the dough for her biscuits and using a juice can to cut them with, helping her shape the butter cookie dough into cresent moons we called "Santa Claus Eyebrow" cookies, the old iron skillet she fried the best fried chicken in the world in. My days spent in the little rock house on Overhill Dr. in Donelson were some of the best days of my childhood. Sunday lunch after church was always the best. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes (and gravy), corn, green beans, okra, homegrown tomatoes in the summer, and of course, BISCUITS!! For dessert, cookies, pies, and my very favorite, prune cake. Now I know you're thinking, prunes yuck, but this little lady could take prunes and make the most moist, sweet, delicious cake that melted in your mouth. And at Christmas, it was a bonanza of cookies, every kind you could think of. Before we would take a bite of anything she would say, "I'm not sure any of this is fit to eat." And as usual it would be the best ever. But Mema wasn't only good at cooking, she also played the piano. Kim and I would sit on either side of her while she played and sang songs from the Depression Era. I even remember some of the titles, "How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm After They've Seen Parie'" and "Jadda Jadda Jing Jang Jing" (sp?) I learned my love for singing at Mema's knee. Kim and I would BEG her to play the piano "just a little longer." And she usually would. She taught us to play Old Maid, checkers and a card game called "Touring." That was always my favorite game to play. She would get tired of playing Touring, but "just one more time" would always make me happy. And her green thumb was the best on the street. Mema could grow anything! She always had the most beautiful geraniums and petunias I've ever seen, even today. And along the back of her house she had my favorite, lilies of the valley. They smelled so pretty everytime you walked by. I have lilies of the valley growing along the back of my house. Mine will NEVER be as beautiful as hers were, but everytime I look out my window in the spring and see them blooming, Mema is right there. There was a swing that moved several different places in her yard but ended up on the side porch and Kim and I would fight over who got to sit with Mema in the swing. I remember spending copious amounts of time in that swing, thinking of all sorts of things and trying to solve my problems of the day. It was the most relaxing place on earth where nothing bad could ever happen. As I write this today, I'm thinking that heaven must be a little like Mema's house, warm, inviting, loving, where only good things happen with all the people you love most. Will my grandchildren feel same about me as I do about Mema? Will they love to come to visit our house like I did Mema's? Things are totally different these days than back in the "days of innocence." But I hope we can have a warm, inviting place that our grandchildren will feel loved and want to visit OFTEN. I am definitely not the cook Mema was and never will be and I can't play piano, except for a few easy pieces, but I can sit on the floor (not sure about the getting up part!) and play whatever their little imaginations can come up with. I can read to them, swing with them, bake cookies with them and most of all LOVE them. I hope someday when my grandchildren are asked the question, "What was your fondest memory of your childhood? that being with me will be one of the things they remember most. I thank God every day for my family and for giving me a grandmother like Mema. I will now add to my prayers for God to help me be the kind of influence in my grandchildren's lives that Mema was in mine.

What is your fondest memory of your childhood? Think about it and thank The Father above for allowing you to experience it. Until next time, think of the blessings in your life. Love to all!

A First, An Old Friend?, "Looney Tunes" and A Blessed Event

My Bible reading yesterday inspired my blog today. "For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well." Psalm 139:13-14

It's easy to remember the day Beth was born for she was our first. John and I had been at my parents the night before having dinner. I wasn't feeling well because I had been to the doctor that day (Oct. 23) and he was putting me in the next day (Oct. 24) to be induced. I was having major back labor and feeling awful. But Mom made my favorite dinner of steak, baked potato and salad so I could have a good meal before the "big day." Unfortunately, I didn't feel like eating so as soon as John finished his steak we left. I got in the bed as soon as we got home because I just felt really bad and I needed to get some sleep before the next day. I started having some pains but wasn't sure it was "labor" pains. Now, we took all the classes and had all the info on having a baby. But, until you actually are in labor for the first time and someone verifies that fact, you're not sure. Ladies, you all know what I mean. You can be the most prepared for the blessed event but until you actually experience it firsthand, you are clueless!! As the pains got closer, I told John to get ready. I called my doctor and was told to head to the hospital, it was 10:15 p.m. My pains were about 5 minutes apart. We got to the hospital and I was put in the wheelchair and taken to Labor and Delivery. Once there, I was put in a room, given the LOVELY gown to put on and got in the bed. John had to wait in the waiting room until I was prepped. During all of this I was having pains fairly regularly. A nurse came in to get some info from me. I answered all her questions then she asked me one more.........."You don't remember me, do you?" Now, I'm in pain like I've never felt before and this nurse is expecting me to remember her from somewhere!!!! She did look familiar but I couldn't place her. She said, "You were in the popular group so you probably don't remember me." All I could think of was grabbing her and saying "Get me some pain medicine NOW!!!" But she continued on, "I was in your senior English class." "O.K., yes, your name is Gerry", I said. She responded, "You don't remember my last name?" Finally I'd had enough and said, "No, I'm sorry I don't because I'm in labor and it hurts!" She got the point after telling me her last name, and said she was finished with her shift and the night staff would be in to get me prepped for delivery. Thank you, Gerry. Now what happened next was not pleasant. I must have pissed off Gerry because the night nurse didn't come in. I kept waiting and waiting not knowing what to do since this was my first experience at this. I put the pillow over my mouth every time a pain would hit. Being a nice person I didn't want to disturb anyone else. After an eternity, my doctor came in to check on me. The next thing I knew, he was yelling for the nurse and letting her have it for not having me prepped. Gerry didn't tell this nurse I was actually there. She mentioned my name but the night nurse assumed Gerry was referring to the board showing I was to be induced in the morning. No one on the night staff knew I was in a room in labor!!! The nurse asked why I didn't call someone and I told her this was my first baby and I didn't know what in the heck was going on. The one great thing that came out of this was I was too far along to have the dreaded ENEMA!! I had heard horror stories about having them. Next came the epidural. I was dreading that long needle with everything in me but by the time the guy came in to give it to me, I was begging for relief! Once it took effect, I was feeling just fine. Off to the delivery room, I finally saw John for the first time. He was sitting at my head as the doctor was telling me to push. Next thing I knew, a baby was crying. I was so excited when he said, "It's a girl!" 7 lbs. 6 oz.; 19 1/2 inches long; born at 1:32 a.m. I looked at John but he wasn't sitting at my head any longer. I asked the nurse where he was. She said when the doctor said it was a girl, he got up and left the room looking a little green! We were all thrilled and the first thing I said to my mother was "We can buy dolls now!", which was a joke because Beth NEVER liked dolls! The next 2 days were a blur. Evidently I was having a reaction to something they were giving me. I was telling guests that I knew the girl in the bed next to me because we skated on my grandfather's pond together. I didn't know her from Adam!! Then someone asked me if my stitches hurt and I told them "You mean where I stuck the fork in my foot?" Everytime I looked at John after I said something, he was cracking up laughing. I knew something wasn't right. The nurse wouldn't leave me alone with Beth because she was afraid I would drop her on the floor. Everyone got a big laugh at my expense. It was finally determined that the pain meds were making me "looney tunes." I wouldn't let John leave me because I didn't know what I would say to the next person that walked in. On the third day, everything was back to normal. Yes, we got to stay in the hospital 3-4 days after having a baby. It was a luxury! Now to our precious Beth........ you always think your own baby is beautiful. BUT, Beth had to be pulled out with forceps and she had scratched her face with her long fingernails. My mother put it best. "She looks like one of the Coneheads from Sat. Night Live!" Her head was shaped like a cone, really, it was. She was scratched all over her face, so she wasn't the most beautiful baby you've ever seen. We've told her this, she has seen the pictures and understands. But she was ours, she was healthy and we loved her at first sight. We were thrilled and blessed. Even though John wanted a boy, she has ALWAYS had her dad wrapped around her finger since she was tiny. I look at Beth today and am overjoyed for the experience she and Ben will have with this first baby. I can repeat everything about my knowledge of childbirth to them, but until you experience it firsthand, you won't understand what a miracle it is. It is a blessing from God. He knows the path little Elliotte will take because He has "knit her together in her mother's womb." I for one, can't wait to see this beautiful creature God has created. And yes, she will be beautiful to me, no matter what she comes out looking like!

Until next time, look for your blessings and give praise to the Father. Love to all.


Beth, 2 days old. We both look like we've been through it!




Beth, 4 weeks old and beautiful!

Cows...........and the name MooMoo.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter. We went to my sister's for lunch after church. Everyone had a great time and the food was delicious! It's always good when the family can get together and everyone LOVES to eat (even my nephews who ate about 3 lbs. of bar-be-que together!). After the Easter festivities were over, John and I went to our farm in Hickman Co. Now, I'll admit I haven't been there in 3 or more years. There is a farm house on the property but it's not one of my favorite places to spend time........it SMELLS! It's usually used for the guys that like to hunt and fish so it's always had this musty, outdoorsy smell in the house. We've had the carpet replaced and other things fixed but it still smells yucky to me. I know that probably sounds like I'm being snobby and uppity about not wanting to stay there, which I guess I am! I can usually roll with the punches in life but this is one smelly punch I don't have to roll with. If I could tear down the house and start from scratch, that would be perfect. I have a million ideas of the kind of farm house I would build and it could be sooooo cute. But then it wouldn't be so outdoorsy and farmsy which is what John and the guys like. Anyway, I decided to make the trip out there because we have new occupants at the farm............COWS! I love cows and yes, I know they smell but they're outside so it's not so bad, (unless the wind is blowing in the direction of the BIG piles of stuff on the ground). Most of the cows are black with one brown cow.

There are 2 adorable babies and one VERY LARGE BULL! And I mean large in every way!! John started calling the cows to the barn for feeding time......"ouuu cows, ouuu cows." A couple of them started moving from the field towards the barn. I decided since the rest of them were not moving I'd try my hand at calling them. "Come on cows, time to eat," they looked up to see the strange voice calling them. And you know what, they all started running to the barn. I've decided if I need a job in the near future, I can be a "cow caller" when it's time for them to eat! While they were chowing down, I made some pictures. I used my sweet cow calling voice and asked them to look at my camera. Here's the results.......

See how photogenic these cows are!! Even one of the babies looked at me.........sort of. Well, I had a great time with the cows and look forward to more great times with them. Some of the mothers are ready to "drop calves" anytime now. More babies, how fun!

Now I want to talk about the grandmother names that have been submitted to me. First, I have to give Betty Townsend a "big shout out" for sending the name that gave me the biggest laugh. Leave it to her to come up with the name MooMoo, because of the dairy. In reality, it fits the best because I love cows and my back end could be mistaken for one! My loving little brother sent in "Granny, because you're old." I will get him back some day for that one. Leslie Simmons sent in the name "Naunee" which is a really pretty name. My sister in law, Janene, sent in "Momma T or GrandTerrie." Both of which are good. Beth is still pushing TeTe but Clay brought up a good point about that name. He said he would not be calling his grandmother TeTe at the age of 29. It's too embarassing........I agree! I had several other good names submitted, MeHe, MeMaw, ReRe and Nonnie. I thank everyone for their contribution to my grandmother name search!! Right now, I am thinking I would like to be called "Nonna" which is Italian for grandmother. I'm not Italian, but I don't think they would mind if I borrowed from their language. Of course, sweet Elliotte Lynn may decide to call me something completely different. And what ever she wants to call me, will be just fine with me, (unless it's TeTe in which case I will stear her in another direction). It's getting closer and I'm getting more excited! Again, thank you all for your response and until next time, have a blessed week!

A Girl............and an MSN Ed

I'm trying very hard to contain my excitement. Beth told me I couldn't blog until after she put her blog on. So now it's safe for me to tell everyone the news, which most of you already know. We are having a granddaughter!!! I tried to be very neutral about what I would like the baby to be. Of course, God knew exactly what the baby was and it didn't matter what I wanted. But secretly, I was hoping for a girl. It's so much more fun shopping for a girl. There are so many more clothes choices than for boys. Of course you have to look hard to find "appropriate" clothes even for a little girl now. Beth and I made a trip to Babies R Us yesterday to do a little scouting and purchasing. I mean, is there any other way to celebrate finding out what the baby is?? I have to admit I was a little shocked at some of the clothes choices for baby girls. I'm used to the precious smocked dresses, Feltman Bros. dresses and bubbles and sweet pastel oneies. It's going to take A LOT of self control to keep my opinions to myself. I just know that every once in a while an opinion is going to slip out, by mistake of course! This just means I'll have to dust off the sewing machine and try to remember how to make those tiny little clothes. I may have to get magnifying glasses for my magnifying glasses to see the tiny stitches that need to be handsewn. A friend of mine says it will all come back to me when I start sewing. Yeah right, like my mind remembers all that's involved with children's sewing. In a way that's good, because if I really did remember what all is involved in making those baby clothes, I would be at "Helen's" purchasing some beautifully made dress. Is"Helen's"even still in Green Hills?? Or I would call my cousin, LeEllen, and ask her to whip up a few little "handmade" dresses, which she could do with one hand behind her back. She is "one of those" people that can do anything and you really want to hate her but you can't because she is so sweet! I also have another disadvantage when it comes to children's sewing. I lost all my patterns when our house burned 17 years ago. I had traced them from the Watkins sewing classes my sister and I took when my kids were tiny. I used to make matching outfits for Beth and the boys. I have pictures to prove it!! They were so cute! Beth looks at the pictures and smiles. The boys look at the pictures and say "Why would you dress us in such dorky clothes?" And John would say "Why would you make the boys wear clothes that have lace on it? It looks so girly." To which I would respond "If I take the time and energy to make something for them to wear, IT WILL BE WORN! And besides they really did look so cute! See for yourself................... First attempt at smocking.

I used to love to applique.

Sailor suits. Got a little big with the ties!

Another smocked dress.
And back then, rainbows were cute. And

didn't mean what they mean today!

Now on to the other news......................Beth has finished all her coursework and projects for her Masters and received her final grade of an A. John and I had no doubt about her grades. She has his brains, thank the Lord. Sorry boys, you got mine. Anyway, she has received her Masters of Science in Nursing Education (MSN Ed). Hopefully she will get a teaching position at Belmont after the first of the year and still continue to work part time at Baptist Hospital.

Until next time, "rock on." I'm not exactly sure what that means, but we all said it back in the 70's because it was so groovy to say!! God bless!