More of my favorite things...

Well, you see, I got this wonderful new camera from this terrific husband for Christmas and I can't resist the urge to take pictures... my kids aren't home, my dog will not sit still and I WANTED TO TAKE SOME PICTURES!!! My family wouldn't have worked with me anyway...they are still recovering from taking Christmas card pictures and I will just leave it at that. So, I decided since I had so much fun making my list of favorite holiday items, that I would continue on the "my favorite things" search. It was actually fun, for of course each thing I chose has a special memory or meaning. If you know me well, then you know that I love things that are dated with their own story to tell, so hopefully you will enjoy this little tour with me...

There is no significance to the order they fall, for I have too hard of a time choosing favorites, but I thought I would number them so that it would read better. Also know that these are my favorite "THINGS," so don't feel bad if you name is not mentioned. (HA! HA!) So here we go...

1. On both sides of the big window in my dining room I have picture shelves. One side is my family (seen above) and the other side is Kevin's family. They just aren't any family photos, but rather great black and whites of my our grandparents, our parent's wedding, old baby pictures, etc... I love this. I love old pictures of my family and the stories they hold. The two top pictures are my all time favorites. They are of my grandmothers ( the baby in one is my mom) and I think they were beautiful!

2. Read the wooden sign...it says "BLESSED." I am, with two terrific kids. My sister gave me a very special Christmas gift one year. She put my kids baby clothes in frames. So instead of them sitting in an old box somewhere, they became art. I love the memories they hold. I still remember bringing Kayla home from the hospital in the crocheted outfit and that Winnie-the -pooh pacifier was a constant pal for Jordan his first year. It is so hard to believe they were ever that small. Time flies. Thanks Sis, for a great gift! I treasure this.

3. My clock. I use to live next to a gift shop. I loved that gift shop and all the wonderful treasures it held. One day they got these beautiful clocks in. I loved them, but never could find the extra money to buy one. One Sunday at the church we were going to at the time (my husband was a minister there) they called me up front. It was my birthday and they had a special "birthday wish" for me. It turned out to be the clock! I cried and I'm not a public crier. They just wanted to do something special for me, for my birthday in appreciation for all I did for them and for supporting my husband with his ministry. I will always treasure this. Not only is it beautiful, but it reminds me of the feeling of "being appreciated," something we all need once in a while.

4. This plate belonged to my Granny. It hung on her wall in her living room for as long as I can remember. She was a collector of "treasures." She would go from garage sale to yard sale to auction, in search of what she considered to be a treasure. I have several of these treasures, several which I will show you pictures of, but this one has an unusual story with it. Actually, the plate and my Grandmother are not really why I love this plate... it actually has to do with my Grandpa and how I acquired the treasure. I love plates, especially "pink" plates (I'll explain that later) and my whole family knew I loved dishes, old dishes with pink flowers on them. I was sitting in my Grandpa's living room one afternoon, admiring that plate (my Granny had passed away a few years earlier and he had remarried) and a thought crossed my mine. I would like to have that plate "one day" since it was PINK and was my Granny's. So, I talked to my Mom about it and together we asked Grandpa if "one day" I could have it. He smiled, walked into the living room, took it off the wall, went and dusted it off and handed it to me, saying "Your Granny would have loved for you to have it. Take it now, so it will for sure be yours." I was flabbergasted that he did that. Yet, I loved him to death for it. I will not say anything more about it, but my family knows NOW, why he did what he did. Thank you Grandpa Sib! (I wish I had asked for more!!!)

5. Another PINK plate! However, this is the plate that started my whole obsession with fine china, pink roses and dishes in general. When I was a little girl, we would visit my Aunt Fay (by the way she is now 96 years old or is it 97?). Anyway, I was drawn to her china cabinet and these beautiful dishes that she had. I would always tell her how beautiful they were and that one day, I too was going to have some rose dishes like her. When I got married in 1993, she had a box waiting for me. Inside was her rose dishes. She had never had kids and knew I would be the one to "appreciate" them. She was right, for I have really treasured them through the years, even collecting pieces to go with them, doing my own "treasure" hunting. My Aunt Fay was and still is a very loving, generous lady and I love her. I am thankful for that box of plates and look forward to passing them on to my daughter one day along with stories of our dear Aunt.

6. These glasses were "Granny Treasures." She found them at different yard sales through the years, collecting 13 or 14 of them. When my cousin, my sister and I were younger she had asked us what we wanted out of her treasures. My cousin chose her china, my sister chose coca cola glasses (she was VERY young) and I chose the green glasses. (I already had my sights on the rose china!) Sure enough, when I got older, the green glasses became mine...well that is with the exception of half of them. I ended up sharing them with my sister, who as a young adult realized she didn't think the coca cola glasses were that big of a deal after all. I've had many people tell me the glasses are worth something and I have to agree. Of course, I'm not talking about money. To me they are treasures of the heart, reminders of my Granny.

7. I have also gained some real special items from my husband's side of the family. One of my favorites is this old trunk. His Me Me gave it to me a few years before she passed away. She knew I liked "old junk" as she liked to put it. She was right, I do like old junk when it was something like this. The story behind this old trunk goes something like this: When Kevin's grandparents first got married, a carpetbagger came to stay with them. He asked if he could leave his trunk with them and he would send for it later. They never heard from him again. It had been in her wash house for years, forgotten. Not only do I think this trunk is special because it is really old, but I love it because out of all her children and grandchildren, Me Me chose to give it to me. I really loved that lady!

8. Another favorite thing of mine belongs to my son. It was given to him by his Papa, my father in law. Jordan is his only grandson, so although he is the youngest grandchild, this is his treasure. I love it. It is a miniature roll top desk, with a matching chair. It was my father in law's when he was a boy. Isn't it cute? Papa just turned 77 years old, so that will tell you how old this little set is. I hope Jordan will one day appreciate it as much as his mom does. In the meantime, I think I will treasure it for him.

9. This chest belong to my dad. My Grandpa Jack built it when he was young. (don't worry, Dad, I won't say how long ago that was!) The story behind this chest is that my dad got it when he got married. It has been all over the world and one day, while my family was having a yard sale in Thailand, my parents discussed selling it. I threw a fuss. If they didn't want it anymore, than I did. I guess even then, I loved pieces of furniture with history. Well, as you can see, I ended up with it. It has been in my bedroom, my kitchen and now my dining room. I love this old piece of furniture. It has history. It was made by a man I adored for a man I love dearly. Thanks Dad, for letting me keep it.

10. I guess I will end my list here for tonight. Believe me, I could go on and on... there is Granny's mickey mouse cookie jar, Nanny's salt and pepper shakers and glass jars, my table from Aunt Fay, my quilts... as I said I could go on. Maybe I will have a part two sometime. If you are interested let me know.

For now, let me tell you about this bowl (sorry about the dust on it, I guess it's time to do some cleaning!). Anyway, when I got married, I received a package in the mail. It was from my step grandmother, who lived in Oregon. My grandfather had died a few years before and the honest truth is that I only met her a few times in my life. She was always good about sending me stuff on the special occasions. I did not expect this. It was an heirloom. Evidently, it belonged to my great grandmother, one of the few things they still had of hers. I was honored and still am. Although, I am the oldest "granddaughter," I was surprised she chose me to give it to. Maybe an angel whispered in her ear that I like that "old junk." My step grandmother died not to long ago. I probably sent her a thank you card, like I did everyone else who sent my a gift on my big day, but I kind of wish now I had said more. Somehow, sometimes, "thank you" doesn't seem quite enough.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my tour of favorite things. Maybe we can do it again soon. I really do have a lot of treasures and junk and stuff! My daughter asked me one time why I liked "old" things... I really had to think about it for a while, in fact I'm still not totally sure I know the answer. I will say this: there once was a young girl, who moved her whole life. Although she wouldn't change her travels and past experiences now for anything, I think that young girl always longed for that place called "home." Her grandparents and other relatives represented that for her, and all the memories that go with them. Hence, a love for the old, with a story to tell.

These treasures that I have are only "things." It is actually what these things represent and the memories they hold that make them special. The Bible says "where your treasure is, there your heart is too." I agree with that. I'm thankful for the people who have gone before me in my life, who have raised me, loved me and showed me Christ. I've been blessed with a wonderful family, a great life. I'm thankful for all the souvenirs I've been given to remind me of those blessings.

What about you...do you have a "favorite thing?"