Joyous Tomorrows

Aine at Blue Raspberry Sunday  gave the prompt writing about a talent that you or an ancestor had.  Since I am trying to write my stories for my family about me, it will be a talent I have.  A talent I have been blessed with would be called God given.  I did nothing to develop it, it is just me. I was blessed with the talent of looking outward and caring for others.  Looking back one incident that stands out to me, probably not the first time I had done, but a memorable experience; was when my mother caught the hillside on fire. We live halfway up a sizable hill, not a mountain, but definitely could wind you if you walked up it.  (Side note:  Rocky Mountain states say Oklahoma mountains are hills. J )  In the 1950s, people burned their trash in the country.  My dad, to be safe, had a 50 gallon barrel with a mesh wire top to keep the fire contained.  This day, my mom had lifted the lid to add some paper to what she was already b...

This last week end, I spent with my son, his wife and their 3 new children.  It was a special week end, starting out with visiting when I arrived.  The mom had to go pick up a daughter from sports, and the dad was giving his last presentation for his classes for the semester. There was the making of gingerbread houses. Always a fun Christmas activity. Of course, afterwards, there were the territorial markings of MY gingerbread house (and candy.)  But nothing out of the ordinary. starting construction. Nibbles were required to make sure the product was good. :) The next day we were up and it was 31 degrees outside.  Did the family let that stop them? No, we were out walking on the green belt just huffing and puffing.  It was fun. There was shopping to do later and in the evening we went to the church ward party.  The dad had to create a stall for their part in the party, it was a night at Bethlehem event. Stall and creator. Stall k...

I love children’s creativity.   multi-media art by my granddaughter As my 6 children grew up, we would have a room full of toys and they would always go for the oatmeal box as a drum or my pots and pans. Don’t know how many spoons were taken outside for shovels, I still find some occasionally.   The youngest used a hanger to jump out of a loft to catch his fall… that didn’t turn out too well. (oh my)   However, there weren't any broken bones… the daughter twirling knives caused that. Laughing at the memories of the oldest son galloping across the yard with his stick horse his father and I had made for him.   He ended up on the front page of the local newspaper when he took it to town, and the reporter was amazed at a child that was happy with a toy that didn't do anything. Oh yeah it did.   It spurred imagination. Now that I have 23 grandchildren, it has been a delight seeing my grandchildren continuing in the world of imagination and creativ...

You are always proud when your child has an achievement. Of course, he would be quick to tell me, he is a man, not a child. (smiling) Loved this observer's tee. Last week the Texas State Plumbing Association held their annual tournament for apprentice plumbers.  Each area could pick one.  My son had thought he was not going to be able to go as a classmate had been picked.  At the last minute, he was given the go ahead to compete.  He asked me to go so he could study the Plumbing Codes on the way up to Dallas.  Not a problem, I like seeing plumbing tournaments... just one question what is it? Do they joust with wrenches? or pipes?  Not exactly, they are given a blueprint,   supplies, a work space,and told to bring specific tools, His work space The first night they arrive, they are given an exam.  The second day, they have to perform a task with in 8 hours.  It was a challenging task. The contestants worked hard at it, ...