YES, THIS IS CHRISTMAS!

CHRISTMAS 2020 another gathering with my little family

down for the books.

Each year my children get older it becomes harder to gather as 

all are so busy with their own lives so I appreciate the one day out

of the year that they spend with me all in the tradition of Christmas.

This year was quite different. I did not put up a tree this year.

I just could not see lugging all the Christmas decor out of the attic

just for myself to enjoy and lugging them back up there.

I know does not sound like my normal self, but this year,

it is what it is.

As each year, once they all leave with full bellies and

presents having been given, I begin to

reminisce of Christmas' past.

When Children were younger and hanging with me and

family was the only choices they had or wanted.

The years of Santa Clause and surprised on the tree,

Big family gatherings when they were still big but

small enough that we could still gather.

How I miss all those years.

Yet, as I have said Christmas change, traditions become those

of the grownups that were once our children.

So I compile here a few of Christmas past,

for you all to enjoy and for this Momma/Mumsie/sister/aunt/Nannie

to remember...

Each Christmas was one of my children by the tree, the last

one was a dress up day at school but it would be wise

to say they were over the photo thing.

Roddie's second Christmas at the Collins home that my sister,

Celena and her hubby, Ted had bought by this time.

I am thankful for all those years they continued to family tradition

of gathering at the big house. This was the last Christmas

that we were all siblings together for Christmas.

There were the Christmas' that the Riera's went on vacation/hunting trips.

and this the first with our Katie.

Roddie was not too sure about Santa but he held it together.

One of the many things I am grateful for is the fact that my Momma

got to be a part of Jillys first few years....

... and I remain grateful for all these and newer memories.

It has been a hard year of loss for so many.

My prayers are with all those suffering this year.

A happier New Year is on the horizon....

I feel it!

 

Memories of childhood sick days.

I am up early every morning. If it is past 4:30AM,

I have overslept. It takes me a while to get going in the

morning and I have this wild thought that if I sleep late I 

am wasting precious time that I could be doing something else.

My Dad always was a 4AM early riser, so perhaps I get it 

from him. This morning as I drink my coffee I get an early text

from Kd, JoJo is sick, threw up most of the night

"can you keep her today"

Sure! and having my sister, "aunt C" here, well that will

make it an even sweeter day once she feels better.

As I await our JoJo I am reminded of childhood sick days

of mine. There were many. Because I was the baby of a large

family and born to my parents in the 40's, Dad was retired

from his photography business and Mom worked at 

Randolph's Restaurant in front of our street.

So on sick days, it was Daddy who did the nursing.

He was so good at it. 

Yes, it was a rule, when we were home sick from school,

we didn't play, we didn't dress.

We stayed in our PJ's in our beds, watching Tv, reading,

coloring.....

How I loved sick days with my Dad especially on cold

winter mornings. Why? Because it almost always

meant he would go to the grocery store and you could

bet there was a new color book and colors in 

those brown paper bags. Sometimes a comic book too

and some favorite foods, but always, always a color book.

As a child I waited for it.

AS an adult it warms my heart to think of this

man I called Daddy who, at that time was probably 

in his 50's going through the color books to find

the best one for his little girl.

I will admit, I think there were a few mornings when it was

extremely cold that I faked a sickness. 

Yes, for the flannel pajamas, gas heaters,

new color books and....

a whole day by myself with a man I adored.

I would do it all over again.

Love you, Dad!

 

THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED.

I have not been blogging enough.

I have not been writing enough.

Life has changed so much for so many and I

need to put all the thoughts that flow through my heart and mind

down somewhere so as to remember this life right now,

the year 2020.... 2020!!!!!

I think every year that we live to add a candle to that birthday cake 

is something to be thankful for and celebrate.

In no way is this a complaint blog, just thoughts.

All the miracle babies born and made during this pandemic

only see eyes and masks when looking into the faces

of those they love. The fact that this is their year

I pray it is never their normal. I think a lot about

my school nursing days and just how many little people needed

speech therapy. this generation will be filled to capacity for speech.

Baby's learn so much by looking into the faces they love

and mimicking what they see to form words.

To keep them safe we wear masks around these young blessings

or we stay away for fear of spreading the "virus".

I hope this is not going to be the "new normal" for all of us.

The virus still lingers, I will not get into my personal beliefs

on what is wrong or right about the things being done to hopefully

stop this pandemic. It is not my intent.

However, I am a social type of gal.

I believe there is so much to be said with a smile

and I have been known to hug EvEryone, from a person

I have known my whole life to a stranger I have just met because

they have done something good or kind for me.

Shoot I have probably been known to hug a few trees,

especially since its safe to hug trees right now.... lol

So social distancing has been hard for me.

I have become quite comfortable in my cottage, painting away.

Seeing my grandgirls once a week. Although I have always loved

my own company and quiet solitude. I also like visiting, coffees,

meeting friends and family. The longer I go without doing this

the more comfortable I become, which is fine but I don't want to

loose the part of me that is social. So I try and "pay it forward" 

when I can, whether it be as simple as paying the way for 

cars behind me getting on the ferry, giving the 

proper amount of change to the person in front

of me at the grocery store, to gifting a home portrait 

to a suffering family. I don't want to loose the self I am.

I continue to take one of the grandgirls each Friday night

to have quality time with them one on one doing whatever

it is they want to do. It is my prayers that when my time comes to leave

this life behind that their little hearts be filled with memories from 

Mumsie's Cottage. Not fussing or correcting but playing and cuddling.

  The blessings I get from having these children

 in my life is priceless. They love me unconditionally 

just as I love them, they are always filled with compliments to boost my

day. For one instance, I had Jilly Friday night and she stayed here most

of yesterday to help me bake and deliver cookies. She loved the giving part

insisting that she carry the box that held the goods of her favorite cookie.

While we baked she made a video of my baking antics

 and she and I played around with the editing. 

 I ask "Jilly can you edit out my wrinkles, make me look

younger?" she without hesitation said, 

"Mumsie, you can't edit the perfect things"

be still my heart!

I visit with my sisters on the bayou as often as I can and sister, C

is coming tonight for a few days.

It remains hard for me to visit my oldest sister, Simone

who is 24 years older than me (80), through a window at her nursing home.

She loves it there and we know she is well taken care of but each time

I visit her, struggling to hear or speak to her through a glass pane

because she can never work her phone to speak to us, I just

want to hug her.... I know and understand the rules are to protect 

herself and the other residents there but it still is not fun to 

visit this way. I will end with one thing I began to change

beginning yesterday. I have not been known as a negative person.

Dramatic, over the top, whimsical, eclectic... are a few.

But negative, I try not to be....

lately I have noticed on several occasions my conversations

have a negative tone to them. I do not like it and I do not want it

to be part of me. I am far, far, far from perfect,

but I am not a negative person. Yesterday I began the

focus of keeping my words and actions on a positive level.

It becomes hard during such a crazy time in our lives,

Covid, election, sickness, death...

Death.. have lost so many wonderful friends and family this year.

These are all reasons why I need to make my actions those

of a positive person. When I become to see that my words

bring out negativity in others its time for a change.

Today I begin to follow once again my Daddy's Golden Rule:

IF YOU DON'T HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO SAY, DON'T SAY NOTHING.

Merry Christmas to you all, will make 2021 the year I begin blogging and

writing more.... It will be the gift I give myself as I still

have not gotten that book completed.

Thanks for following along! 

Big hugs and kisses, mask or no masks!