My Mimi

Everyone who knows me, knows that one of the great influences of my life was my Mimi Darling. Mimi, my mom's mom, was one of my dearest friends. We shared a love of coffee,which started with her slipping it to me at a very young age, books, I got her hooked on Christian fiction, and shopping, my dad still talks about her dragging him from store to store the night I was born. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her, and sometimes, when I miss her quite a bit, I find myself pulling out that old blue night gown, the one I used to swing on, to see if it still smells like her. It does. I prayed for several "pre-child" years that Mimi, who struggled with lung cancer for quite a while, would live to see my first baby. The Lord answered that prayer, and some of the most precious photos and videos I have capture her dancing and singing to her great grand. In November it will mark her being gone for one year, and I still cannot believe it. I still reach for the phone to call her during times of trouble or triumph. And although a year has passed, I had not gone back to visit her house, the place where I spent many a summer and winter break. It wasn't until a few weeks ago where I felt the strong desire to take my little one to play in the front yard, where I spent so many hours. He laughed and played while throwing rocks around the front porch. She wouldn't have had it any other way.. well, maybe not the rock throwing.

Sun, Sea, and Sand

So, we just returned home from "vacation". We belong to a group of people that lacks time throughout the summer, so we head to the beach in the fall. We have done this for the past 4 or 5 years, and Caleb started to join us when he was just 3 weeks old, so I have sweet memories at Myrtle Beach. Now that our man-child is two, I found myself very excited about how he would react to everything. Last year, at 13 months old, all he really did was eat sand, he couldn't even walk then. This year, however, he didn't let me down! He embraced everything about the beach, and I just tagged along behind him with my camera! He adored the ocean, but was not content building sandcastles, he wanted to be in the water. He would run to catch waves, then would chase them as they rushed back out, only to get knocked down by the next one... with me right behind him to pick him up...so don't worry. And since I am all about memories, I hauled myself (and Sam) out to the (chilly) surf to watch him chase waves for a good solid hour. Sam also celebrated his 30th birthday there this year, and since we went with friends, we all enjoyed welcoming him to the club---so no more jokes honey. Ah, the beach, I miss it already... good thing, I have all these dirty clothes covered in it, to help me get through this rough time!

Caleb and The Great Pumpkin

Everyone who knows me, and reads this (Hi Mom) is aware that I adore Autumn. I cannot get enough of the smells, the colors, the breezes etc... I always feel like it's only here for a short visit, and then we are snatched up by the rush of the holidays and chilly weather. So, I decided that this year, we would make the most of every fall activity possible. However, since our schedule is nothing short of overwhelming (as I am typing this I am quite aware that we are leaving for a beach vacation in 2 days and I have an enormous to do list) it has been difficult to tackle my list of "memory building activities". This list, I have decided, is so much more for me than for him, but he is only 2 and hasn't quite learned how to protest yet. This year, I desperately wanted him to go pick a pumpkin, and since Sam had the day off, we ventured out to a pumpkin "patch" earlier this morning. I use the word "patch" loosely, as it was just a large variety of pumpkins in the parking lot of a farmer's market, but hey a memory is a memory! I found that no matter what my excitement level about an activity is, it sometimes isn't enough to enthuse my boy. He couldn't have cared less about the pumpkins, and was more fascinated by the crates that they sat on...boys! He did however pick one out to take home with him, and called it "pumpin" all the way home.. If only I could have found a hay ride and a place to bob for apples!