Cherish the Memories

 As we're in this holiday season. we tend to see family and friends more 💖. This season also causes us to reflect on the past memories of holidays and the people we shared them with. Many of our people are still here. However, many of us are also missing loved ones who are not here anymore 🙏. There's still that longing and hope that they could still be here. I miss my Mom, Dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who are no longer here. I'm grateful for the time I got to spend with them. I'm grateful for the conversations, laughs, visits, trips, and celebrations I shared with them 💖. Many of those memories are in photo albums. I love pictures as I have shared in previous blog posts 😊. There are some memories that didn't get captured with a picture, but they are in my heart. Here, I want to take some time and share memories that are near and dear to my heart. As I share my memories, I hope that you will be thinking about memories with your loved ones and friends also. 

1. Growing up, I remember going to Sunday dinners with family. The family would laugh, eat, and talk. The kids would be playing. It would be a really good time! I can still smell the rolls cooking now at my Grandma's house (Dad's Mom) 💖. That was a smell that never got old!! I remember Sunday afternoon visits to my great Aunt's house on my Mom's side. I loved sitting on the bar stools at her house and I would swivel away 😊. I also loved going upstairs from time to time because I would love seeing her jewelry. Every day was about family, but especially Sundays. I miss those Sunday gatherings! I am grateful for them and cherish those memories 💖. 

2. Every year since I can remember, we would get a real Christmas tree in the house. My brother and I still keep the tradition going! I remember one year in particular that Granddaddy (Momma's Dad) gave us a tree. That was very thoughtful of him looking out for us! When I tell you it was a tree, it was a TREE!! I had never seen such a tall tree like that before! I remember the look on all of our faces like how are we going to get this in the house. I can still see the look on Daddy's face- it was so tickling 😊!! His eyes got so wide!! Momma was around somewhere laughing and smiling as she was not surprised at the size. We all thanked him and Daddy was like, "Are you sure we can fit that in the house?" and said we're going to have to cut some of the top off. Well, that's what happened! Finally, the tree made it in the house and it was up and decorated. With some adjusting, it worked! It was a beautiful tree! I think there's a picture of that tree somewhere in a photo album 😊. The laughs, joy, and love that day were priceless!! I still smile thinking about that day 💖,

3. In Christmas 2019 before Momma passed, I remember she was not feeling 100%. I remember her wanting to hear a lot of Christmas music. I remember pulling out the CD player in the living room (yes, I still own one 😊) and putting in all of the Christmas CD's we owned. When I ran out of Christmas music, Momma requested any music after that. Next came all the gospel CD's I had and she had. My Momma wanted all the music!! She loved music anyway, but she especially wanted it that day 💖. Looking back, I'm glad I honored her request. I dint' know that was going to be her last Christmas with us 🙏. Maybe she knew or maybe she didn't know, but one thing she knew is that she wanted to surround herself with what she loved and who she loved. I can still see her sitting in her favorite chair in the living room and me sitting on the couch with the music playing 💖. Now, as I listen to music, especially Christmas, these are memories cherished in my heart forever!

4. When my brother and I were younger, Daddy used to travel a lot. He was an electrical engineer and he would often have to travel. That was good for him as he got to see lots of places and was able to grow professionally. However, Momma, my brother, and I missed him at home. We would often talk to him on the phone 💖. I remember we would always have Sunday night phone calls. Back then, I loved the NFL teams San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills! I don't have a team now and don't watch football as much, but back then, I did 😊. I did something that was very unique. I would write down the scores of every NFL game that Sunday. When Daddy called, I would share with him many of the scores. I would have my clipboard (still love them!!) with the paper ready to go 💖. It was our special Daddy- daughter thing on our Sunday night phone calls. Oh how I wish I could have one more phone conversation with Daddy! I'm so grateful for that special time and will cherish forever 💖. 

5. As I look back on recent years since Momma and Daddy have both been gone, I'm grateful for the family, friends, church family, work family, and community that has supported my brother and me. I'm grateful for the trips I've been on, the new experiences and adventures, celebrations with family and friends, and every day conversations and laughs with my people 💖. There are so many things I wish I could share with Momma and Daddy. I wish they could all the great things going on right now. I'm grateful for them and all they did 💖. I'm grateful for all I have now and all I'm able to do. I'm grateful for my growth. I'm grateful for the pictures and memories in my heart. I'm grateful for it all!!

As we continue to move forward, let's not only cherish memories, but let's make new memories 💖. Let's make new memories with those we love. Let's keep growing. Let's keep having new adventures and experiences. Let's keep sticking together. I can't wait for the new memories!! So, remember to hold on to the memories and make new ones 💖. God bless you all!!