reflections from a mother's heart - entry 1

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Question: What was your favorite pastime as a child? Did you prefer doing it alone or with someone else?

Hands down, I choose the frequent trips to my Grandma Brown's house. Although it was fun to be with Grandma by myself, I think it was funner when the whole family was there : aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents.

Many times, the kids would simply play on Grandma's two acres, lush with grass, rose bushes, willow trees, and fruit trees - all while the parents talked politics inside. We loved it when a good political talk was brewing. It meant sneaking a few of Grandpa's Oreo cookies from the cookie jar, pouring a small cup of coffee, and dipping them - just like Grandpa would.

As we got older, it also meant (for some of us), smoking on the hill conveniently nestled out of view from her front window. But we'll not discuss that.

Other pastimes at Grandma's house were playing games, eating her fantastic cooking (specifically her biscuits and gravy, peanut butter balls, and pies!), and canning fruits and vegetables. Her and my mom knew how to make work seem like a wild and crazy good time. Grandma was the oldest of nine kids, and learned early in life how to work. Working was always regarded as a good and necessary thing, and I admired her ability to simultaneously love it and have fun.

Much to be thankful for.

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How about you? Do you have a favorite pastime? I'd love to hear them in the comments section, or if you prefer - start a discussion in my new BlogFrog Community widget! See? Over there, on the left hand side! In fact, I'll start a discussion about this, and you can just follow me over there. See ya' there!

reflections from a mother's heart

I picked up a journal from the used book store the other day. Not a used one, of course. But obviously one that soemone out there didn't feel the need to fill out - so they sold it to this used book store. It's called Reflections from a Mother's Heart: Your Life Story in Your Own Words. On the top, it says "A Family Legacy for Your Children."

Wow.

I flipped through the pages. I've seen many books just like this one. Only I had yet to find one that asked questions that I thought really applied to me. So I never bought them.

Until now.

I turned the pages, reading the questions they were asking mom's to answer. And I knew that this mom could answer all (or at least most) of what they were asking. So for a whoppin' five dollars, I bought the book.

I will fill the book out manually, but I also thought I would begin sharing some of it here also. I'll put all of these entries under the label of Reflections from a Mother's Heart, over on the left side bar.

For the first day, they ask me to fill out a "personal portrait." But they ask way too much information to be divulging on a blog. So I'll start with the next entry:

What is your favorite?

Flower: It's a tie between light pink roses and tulips.

Perfume: I hate them all. They give me nothing but nausea. Shaun and I are well matched in this area, since they all make him sneeze. ;)

Color: Red!

Hymn or Song: Nearer Still Nearer

Book: Way too many to name, and I don't think I can pick just one! I know, I know. If I were a good Christian, I'd say the Bible. But I always feel like I'm trying to be holier than thou when I say that.

Author: Jeanette Oke and Francine Rivers are two of my faves. Also, Catherine Marshall.

Bible verse: This changes throughout life. Right now, I'd have to say Ephesians 1:3-9

Dessert: When I could eat dessert, it was anything chocolate. Brownies ranked high, as did rocky road ice cream. Yum!

Vacation Spot: Western Colorado.

Type of Food: Anything in the category of JUNK!

Sport: Baseball - hands down.

Leisure Activity: Reading, or a hand project that involves a needle and thread.

Don't worry. Not all of these will be like a meme. We're going to get into some good stuff. Might even be juicy, so come back often. ;)

So ... pick one or two (or all!) and let me know what your faves are.

Please.

The beauty of the written word is that it can be held close to the heart and read over and over again. ~Florence Littauer