Family

Family...it's a powerful thing.  

When we are younger, we don't realize the importance of family.  Of course, we are all scattered far and wide these days, but it is still so important to make time to gather the family together when possible.  The older we get the more family we have as kids grow up, get married, have children of their own.  It is the wonderful part of the circle of life. 

Today, we reminisce about a family gathering 50 years ago.  It was our grandparent's 50th Anniversary.  If still living, they would have been married 100 years this year.  My, how time goes so fast.   

I remember this day well and the dress that I wore with that purple velvet ribbon.  I loved purple at that age. (I wanted purple carpet in my room - I didn't get it and I'm still a little "salty" to this day!) 

My mother made my dress as she did most of the time and also made my grandmother's dress that you see in this picture.  The vision of her sitting at her sewing machine attaching the gold sequins to the neckline and sleeves still resides vividly in my mind. 

Christie and I grew up in a close-knit family with talents and skills in abundance.  On this day in particular, not only were sewing talents on display, but also baking and cake decorating skills.  What you don't see in this picture is the cake to the left that was 4 layers with columns holding up the top 2 and 4 heart shaped cakes underneath the pedestal at the bottom.  Talking about WOW factor!  It had it!  My aunt Delilah, Uncle Tom's wife (our mother's brother), made this cake.  She had tremendous talent that she passed along to her daughters.  

As parents we pass along many abilities, traditions, traits, and talents.  Talents and traits are innate while traditions and abilities are taught.  My talent for art was just something I was born with.  My ability to cook, sew, or host a party was learned from my mother as was Christie's.  For you see, our mothers are the epitome of hospitality.   It just exudes from them.  The other things you don't see in these pictures are the tables full of food that the entire family prepared for this 50th Anniversary celebration. Other things you don't see are the family and friends that came to honor my grandparent's as they were highly thought of by all. 

As we enter into this time of year for family gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's so nice to think of the wonderful celebrations of the past. However, it is so important to make new memories for our kids so that 50 years from now they can still picture those wonderful times in their minds just like it was yesterday.

So, our encouragement today...make memories this holiday season that will last a lifetime.