A Bed in the Kitchen - Family Time, Memories, and Prayers!

 Hello out there! It's feels like fall, y'all! The wind was quite blustery earlier but it has died down. I love fall weather but it sure gets dark early! I've been dealing with writer's block or maybe it's been writer's blah - either way, I'm ready to reset and start sharing my pro-life/pro-family/pro-faith message again.

 I've been writing stories for my blog for ten and a half years now. This one is #500 something! Sometimes I feel like I've said it all, shared it all, and don't know what else to say. Other times I want to say things that I know I shouldn't...!  And then there are times when I feel like I'm not able to type the words fast enough. 

I've been praying for God to please let me know if I need to continue writing, if I'm still on the right path, or has this chapter in my life come to an end. Do these stories help anyone? Is my message getting across? Etc. I went to the noon Mass today and sat towards the back. One of my friends stopped to say hello after Mass, and after we asked about each others family, she mentioned that I hadn't shared a blog post in awhile. I told her my prayer and she smiled and said that maybe this was a little push from God. (not exact words, but I got the message). It's so reassuring to know that God hears us and He speaks to us in different ways, reminding us that He is near. I pray that my ears will always be open to His voice, that my eyes will be open to His path, and that my stories will continue to be like seeds, that depending on the message, will be spread where they need to grow.

I love the following memory and the simplicity it represents:

My grandmother, on my mother's side, had two sisters and they all lived in the same town. We would go and visit about three times a year. I would usually stay one or two weeks with my grandparents in the summer. One of my cousins, who was also adopted, and not quite a year older than me would usually be in town during the same time. Our grandparents had the cutest house, but it was small; a two bedroom, one bath, foldout couch in the living room, large kitchen, and one land line phone that was a party line. They shared the phone line with a widow lady who lived down the street. Since most of you probably don't know what a party line is...let me explain. I would pick up the phone to call someone and Mrs. Widow Lady, (I think her name was Mrs. Keeler?)would be talking to someone so I would hang up and keep checking until I picked up the phone and got a dial tone! My grandparents had cable (12 channels) - we did not (3 channels) - so I thought that was pretty cool. Angie, my cousin, and I would stay up after everyone had gone to bed and watch tv. We'd go into the kitchen and cook chocolate pudding on the stove. Warm chocolate pudding tastes so good! Or other times we would get saltine crackers and break them up in a glass and pour milk over the crackers and eat that with spoon - super good! We played cards, board games, etc. Sometimes we would go and spend the night with one of our great aunts. Aunt Nowny, her first name was Velma, so I don't know who came up with that name but it was before my time! She was the sweetest woman and she had been a widow for many years. She also had a small, two bedroom, one bath house, and a tiny living area. But she had a large kitchen and there was a full size bed right next to the wall! I thought that was amazing! Angie and I would sit cross legged on the bed and play cards while our grandmother, and both great aunts would visit. It was always warm in the kitchen and it smelled so good when they would cook. Aunt Nowny made the best tuna fish sandwiches; she added chopped up boiled eggs, onions, celery, apples, and even pecans! I learned how to play Solitaire in that kitchen, my other great aunt taught me how. Her name was Cleo and we called her Aunt Cleo. With the accent people say I have, it always sounded like I was saying, Aint Nowny! Aint Cleo! And so on with all of my other aunts! When my other cousins were in town we got dropped off at the swimming pool and miniature golf course, and we were pretty rowdy! And in the fall, we would rake up all the leaves and then jump in them!

Jim's grandma lived in a small house also and she had a bed in the living room! It was a full size, wrought iron bed. We were blessed to have been given that bed when she passed away. Our children were young and that became our son's bed. The box springs and mattress have been replaced quite a few times but we still have that wrought iron bed and it is still slept in today. When my great Aunt Cleo passed away, almost twenty seven years ago, we were given one of her bedroom sets; a full size bed, dresser, night stand, and rocking chair. Jim and I have used that bedroom set ever since, just changing out the box springs and mattress when needed. That rocking chair has been in our living room all these years, and every one of our grandchildren have been rocked in it. 

We don't have a bed in my kitchen, but we do have a large table and chairs, a bar and barstools, and a comfy chair in the corner. The kitchen is where we are most times. Cooking, baking, laughing, sharing a meal, stories and sometimes tears! My home office sometimes doubles as a spare room when we have a full house. Our home may not be large but we always make it work. Everyone has a place to sleep, plenty of blankets and pillows, full tummies, and bedtime prayers. Plenty of memories, I hope they one day will share.

Peace and blessings to you and yours,

near and far,

wherever you are!

Bye for now,

Sharla