"THAT drawer"

I have a drawer that really needs to be cleaned out. My husband went to be with the Lord two years ago. Since that time I have been putting many things of his in the drawer to be dealt with later. These little things have piled up. I need to make decisions. Every time I look at the drawer I'm reminded of what I need to do.

One day I opened the drawer determined to get the job done. The first thing I picked up was a small box containing pins. They were High School senior pins. His pin had Q. A. on it with a chain going to the year, 1943. He graduated from Queen Anne High in Seattle, Wa. two years before I graduated from Roosevelt High. He was getting ready to go back home to Ark., and then he would be in the Navy for at least 3 years. We were in the middle of World War 11. To my surprise, this tall, nice looking, very smart young man asked me to wear his pin. In those days it meant you were going steady. I didn't think it could be for very long, but I said I'd wear it for a while, at least. A very nervous guy tried to pin it to my collar. The clasps were so tiny and his fingers were long and trembling, but he did it. If anyone had told me at that time, that in a few years we would be married, and one day celebrate our 60th Anniversary, and have 6 children, I wouldn't have believed them. Well, that was all I could take for that day. I closed the drawer, and told myself - later.

Procrastinating Bee

Be happy for me. I made my decisions and put all my memories into a Memory Box. Since the memories are mine, alone, I don't know how much it will mean to anyone else, someday. Memories are only good if they are your own memories. To others, they will just be pins. But they are making their own memories, and that's how it should be..

That drawer is just a drawer, now.

"The Pause That Refreshes"

I grew up in Seattle, Wash. Yes, the skies were so blue, and the trees and grass were so green, but what I remember most are the mountains. I walked about a mile and a half to the U of W, and the fog would be so thick I couldn't see a foot in front of me. It was early morning when I started and as I walked the sun would burn off the fog until it would lift and the air would be so clear, the sky so blue, the green so green, and I could see the snow-capped mountains all around me. To the east the Cascades, and to the south Mount Rainier, high in the sky like a giant ice cream cone. Of course the day often turned gray and rainy, too. We are talking about Seattle after all.

Last year I was able to go to Seattle for a family reunion. I prayed for good weather because I wanted so much to see Mt. Rainier again. I had heard that air pollution hid it sometimes. We had perfect weather, and I got to see my mountain from many places - including the Space Needle. What a joy!

Years after I married and left the N. W., my husband's work brought us to Arizona. The desert was hard for me to accept. I was a very busy wife and mother - we had six children and an eight room house to care for. There were times when I would get stressed out. I guess it showed because my sweet husband would suggest a day trip to Flagstaff, and a picnic on the way. The first time we went I made the comment that seeing the mountains and trees really refreshed my soul. After that he would say, "I need to take my honey to the mountains." We made several trips, and my soul was refreshed each time by the mountains and tall trees, and picnics on the banks of Oak Creek.

"Honey" Bee

Since writing this, I've been to Vancouver, Wa. - not Seattle, but close. Along with a nice visit with my sisters and their families, I got to see some different mountains and tall fir trees.There were Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Adams. They probably got tired of hearing me exclaim over the mountains in the distance - since it's the norm for them. Now, I'm home again - in the desert. I wouldn't be anywhere else, because that is where my family is - and that is home to me.

Now and Then

I’ve been thinking, lately, about things a grandma can do for her children and grandchildren. Lots of hugs and a few cookies aren’t what I mean. I mean things that only a grandparent can do. Like remembering the past and passing it on. I’m the only one left who can remember my past and my husband’s past. I’m writing our family history, but word of mouth is important, too. Sometimes, I tell about how things were so different when I was young, and how things were different when their parents were young, too.
The grandchildren seem to really enjoy the stories. They often ask me to tell them about the olden days. Their parents have very little time to reminisce, but I have a lot of time.

There is a very good precedent for passing important events and family history from generation to generation; The Bible is full of instructions to tell the next generation about their forefathers and about their God. The time came when everything was written, but in the beginning it was all word of mouth. The records in the Bible and the long genealogies tell us that Jesus fulfilled all the Messianic prophecies. Our pasts tell us a lot about who we are today, too. I sometimes see myself and wish I didn’t. I’m better at seeing their father in them, but that’s good.

Another thing grandparents can do, is encourage. We should always praise when praise is deserved, and not just silently approve. They need to hear the words. Self-esteem is so important for young people today. This world has so many temptations that can hurt them that they need to love themselves enough to say no, because they don’t want to hurt themselves. Always tell them what a good choice they’ve made, that you’re proud of them, and that they’re special to you. Be sure to voice the words and not just think them. Children know the difference between real praise and just saying words. Other children, besides yours, can use some recognition too. Tell them you’ve noticed them and see the surprise on their faces. Always try to praise those who are doing good things.

Grandma Bee

Who am I?

This is a special day because it is my birthday and the first time I publish a blog. The calendar tells me I’m 81 years old, but in my heart I’m about 60 – lol. You see I’m learning. This blog site goes from very young to very old, now. I think an older point of view can be helpful.

I’ll give you a very brief bio. You’ll get to know me much better later on. I was born and raised in Seattle, Wash. I married the sweetheart of my life when I was 19 yrs. old. We had six children, two boys and four girls. One boy died in a plane crash when he was 21 yrs. old. The other son lives in Maryland, where he is a computer analyst. My four daughters live very close to me – what a joy that is. I have nine grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

I’ve been a widow for almost 2 yrs. now. I miss him always, but I’ve decided to find as many interests as I can and keep busy and interested. Learning to use a computer at my age is a challenge – how I wish I had started a long time ago.

I have been the wife of an engineer who was also a lay preacher for several years. I have been the mother of children who were very active in church and school. Just when I thought I had no more time or energy, the Lord helped me to realize He had given me a spiritual gift –- a quiet listener became a Bible teacher and counselor of women. I began the greatest spiritual adventure you can imagine. The Lord used me as a channel – I always knew who was doing the teaching. He is still teaching me, and now I have a place to share the special insights He gives me.

The only thing wrong with blogging is that I can’t see your faces or hear your voices. Oh dear, my hearing is so bad I probably couldn’t hear you anyhow.

It’s been a wonderful birthday. A luncheon with three of my girls and two of my granddaughters and a little grandson yesterday, today dinner out with another daughter. Lots of cards and phone calls. My children pamper me a lot and I enjoy it so much.

Buzzing off for now,

BEE

Beginning is hard

Thank you for your kind comments.
I think I'm ready to start my blog.
Be patient with a beginner and we'll
Get to know each other.