Books by the old Leather Chair

  • Snow In The Summer
  • My Bible
  • The Power of Silence
  • What Comes Next and to Like It
  • Encore Provence
  • A Year in Provence

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

That Was Then and This Is Now

I just finished ready Billy Graham's new book "Nearing Home"
It shares that his beloved wife Ruth would make the comment
"That was then and this is now"

I read these words
and they sure spoke to my heart.

For One Woman who is in her 3 score ten years.
Now is a good time.

I still smile at some memories that come to mind
but many are becoming more difficult to even remember.

My oldest granddaughter wrote me a note recently that shared
her special  memories of when she would visit the old farm house.
Playing in the orchard, times with Miss Molly my little dog,
riding the tractor, fishing in the pond and she reminded me of the
little bike I bought for her that had streamers hanging down from
the handle bars.

Now different memories are being made for my two youngest
grandchildren.   Times at grandma's walking the paths in the woods.
The fire pit that they like to stand by, running with Miss Callie,
the clocks in every room ticking and their comments that
it is so quiet here in this cottage and so dark at night because
there are no city street lights.  They will remember grandma
living in a cottage at the edge of the woods.

My children have different memories.   The times spent on a
farm where they grew up.  Horses and cows grazing in the fields,
swimming pool and my son's special go cart.

Then the memories of the really big home that was featured
in Southern Living magazine.  The country club dinners, the
trips to Jamaica, private school and all the perks of this
upscale lifestyle.

My older grandchildren  have memories of grandma alone
at an old farm house, homes she built and now recently
 returned
to  the country in a cottage at the edge of the woods

What in the world would have happened
without the encouragement from the strong
women in her family - her mother,a special aunt,
 grandmother's and it seems life always brought
a special person along at just the right time.
 Now they are all gone and
may she be as strong as they were and encourage
the generations that are coming behind her.

Wonders never cease - through all the
ups and downs she never gave up and
life continues to unfold.

That was then and this is now.....

~~~~regarding the picture of me and 4 children in the snow
my youngest Jamie - in the picture with me and my two youngest grandchildren
 had not been born as of yet~~~

10 comments:

sallysmom said...

A beautifully written piece.
Sallysmoms

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

sallysmom, as always thank you for your visit..

Tabor said...

Such a lovely post. Your life has such a rich and full history with so many memories, you cannot help but be nostalgic. You did a good job.

Judy said...

Yes--to what you said. so many memories of so many lived in places.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Tabor, thank you - I keep having the thought "am I repeating myself"
if so then I just need to post an image every now and then.
Judy, thank you also share a lot memories. Good ones that make us smile and bad ones "we will not go there" :)

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post. How wonderful that your children and grandchildren have such rich memories of you and how you have fit in and influenced their lives. Thank you for your comment on my madwoman site. I have been involved with some family visiting (my sister and my older daughter) recently and have not even been online in a few days. I have been thinking about you, however, and have not had time to read your posts and comment. I'll catch up soon, however. No, I haven't gotten into my new home yet. The stories are long and involved, but, in general, I shall say, I have just been overwhelmed with not just the challenges I've taken on in creating my new home, but with my family situation at this time. So, truth is, I'm struggling. I hope to get a new post up very soon. Thinking of you. Take good care of yourself.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Ellen, thinking of you. We have much in common with our pathway through life. Take care of yourself....

lil red hen said...

"That was then and this is now" -- such a wonderful statement! I often remember my grandchildren as little tots, hoping they also made memories, because they are making their own lives now.

mermaid said...

She never gave up.

That one line caught my attention.

Through all the joyous and difficult memories, she never gave up.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Charlotte, you know they are. I have little ones 6 and 9. Plus the 3 older...
Kaveri, thank you - always your words have meaning for me...