"You never know the true value of a moment, until it becomes a memory."
I know that all so well. Today, July 7, would have been my late grandmother's birthday. Just last year we were enjoying her voice and her laughter. Beating her at Scrabble and eating her donuts. We were all together for the birthday memory that we did not know would be the last.
Ironically, I'm sitting at my computer tonight to ensure that all my pictures go from my old phone to my new phone and a few pictures caught my eye... and a few memories filled my mind.
This is the last photo taken at my grandparents home before it was sold. This was the home of their dreams! It was accommodating and unique... just like them!
This is the kitchen where my grandma spent countless hours feeding my grandfather 3 meals a day. She loved cooking and really loved if she had an audience. She loved to pretend she was on a cooking show! Such the actress.
This closet may seem empty now but it held countless hours of fun for us grand kids. Dozens of dresses, shoes, and accessories filled this closet and allowed our imagination to run wild!
This beautiful piece of furniture was dear to my grandparents! My grandmother loved to tell the story of buying this bedroom suite - only to realize this piece would not fit down the hallway. They paid to have the window removed in their bedroom, shoved the armoire through, and then replaced the window. The things we do for love!
This small tiny bathroom potty trained my babies. Ethan loved that he could reach the soap in this bathroom, all by himself. He also loved that the slated doors ensured he didn't miss any of the conversation in the kitchen.
This back porch housed our warm weather gatherings. My grandmother loved to "setup" her porch every year. Getting the rug and the furniture all setup was one of her favorite things about spring. I understand now why my mother and I get so excited to get our porches ready for summer. A little Dorthy in us all!
This yard. It used to hold my grandfather captive for hours, even days sometimes. It housed his massive garden. He loved growing, watering, and maintaining this small piece of earth. What's now a bumpy piece of grass used to be his pride and joy.
The woods (in the middle of North Canton) allowed our wild side to take shape. My grandfather built us a sandbox and a monster truck sized tire swing. We played out here for hours as kids. My oldest cousin Mark was already using his skilled hands to make us the most awesome of forts.
And now...as my babies walk through this place, they see nothing but weeds and dust. They see none of these memories that so many of us hold dear. They are timeless treasures of the heart. They can not be stolen or taken away. They are shared in our minds and our hearts with those that are closest to us. Those we can only call family. I am blessed for these 28 years of memories with my mother's parents. I pray that I never forget the wonderful memories that Frank and Dorthy left me with. And I pray that my children have even better memories with their grandparents.
"You may not be here in my life, but pieces of you and our memories remain."
.JPG)
