After reading my mom’s article from April of 1996, several things come to mind for reflection. Similar to her article from March of 1997, it’s really a gift that I can read something she wrote over 20 years ago, and see how it is relevant to me and where I am in life today.
Like she said, “Memories are a wonderful way to enjoy life’s pleasant experiences over and over again.” Though we were not there in April, I still remember our family trip to England, over 30 years ago now. The tea and cream and jam and scones she describes is a memory that my family still has. My love for tea comes from my mom. When I was growing up, she would sometimes have tea waiting for us when we got home from school, usually with some freshly baked cookies, or other treats. I usually got to pick out the tea cup I wanted to use from her collection, and none of us ever drank tea out of a mug!! As we sat at the table, she taught me that tea was more than a beverage, it was an experience that turned into a sweet memory. And if I keep thinking about tea, I can easily think of the number of times Kurt and I had tea over the years of us just being friends. Every time we had tea, either at his house or mine, we would sit together, sip our tea, eat some goodies that I probably made, and just talk. From having tea in England, to having tea with my mom after school, to having tea with Kurt, the experience and memory of tea has always been enjoyable.
My mom also talks about her memories of springtime from her childhood. What struck me the most about that is she kind of described my life now! From the spring cleaning to the gardening! Over the last few weeks, I just sorted out all of the boys clothes. We just got another dresser because the boys and their clothes are getting bigger, and their dresser drawers seem to be getting smaller. When I was a kid, it wasn’t too bad because my mom usually did it for me. But I now that I am a mom, I have discovered that sorting out 4 boys worth of clothes can be an entirely extensive and tiring project! I seem to have a love/hate relationship with organizing. However, what makes this a pleasant memory is that wonderful feeling of putting away all things winter, feeling the sunshine coming through the windows, seeing the grass turn that perfect crayola green, and seeing the buds on the trees that will burst into new leaves any day.
Gardening. My husband has a green thumb like my mom, and her dad. I really didn’t get that skill. But as my mom describes as her dad did, Kurt saves our seeds from year to year, and starts the seedlings in March, and we hope and pray for a good harvest in the fall. The boys have already learned how to garden and harvest. They understand how and where a lot of their food comes from. I too remember watching my mom plant seeds in the garden in our backyard. Canning and preserving was a way of life. It was quite a privilege to write the year on the jars before bringing them all downstairs. Now my kids feel that same privilege as I did of writing the year on the jars before they get to bring them downstairs. It is rather amazing to observe how excited the kids get while gardening, or canning, and how those activities are making happy memories for them, just has my mom had, and me too.
In my last blog, I talked about how March has given me sad memories, but as we are in April, and approaching May, I can’t help but notice all the pleasant memories I have too. What blessings those memories are. They are even better than a movie you’ve seen 10 times. Those happy memories make you completely aware of God, and his beautiful gifts he has given us. And now we pray for sunshine, rain, and a nice cup of tea.