Reminds me of my Dad

This ol jewelry box sits proudly atop my Hoosier cabinet in the bathroom.

It does not contain one valuable piece of jewelry,

but it is full of value to me.

It was my dad's box.  I don't think he was a man of much jewelry

but he had a few treasures.  I have to think my mama might have

opened this box and had a many of tears after he died in 1984.

I don't remember seeing her do this, she was always so strong for us kids!

My dad was a hard working coal miner and this button likely fit him to a T.

He was a part of the union and sometimes was on strike in the late 70s, I imagine

this button was used a few times then.  He did not like being on strike, would have just rather

worked for fair working conditions.  But, I also notice so other funny buttons that remind me of my dad's personality and sooooo much of my brother Scott.

The Weeblo must be Will's - for sure.

And the silver watch band was ever present on my dad's arm.

The edge of avaitor glasses are showing and those were my dad's signature sunglasses,

 think Chips (the cops on motorcycles TV show).

Belt Buckles, Clippers, Name Badges, metal letter tags, watches stopped in time

 - not one of these items are really valuable

 -but all together they are full of memories and a treasure.

I wish I had my dad for a few (or forever) more years. 

My eight years are full of good and plentiful memories.

And, there is this sort of perfection that comes from remembering a loved one.

As far as I can remember, my dad was perfect. 

 A sort of feat that is difficult for a mortal to accomplish.

Oh, how I long for the grandkids to know Grandpa George.  

He lives on thru family for sure.  

He would be proud of who we are and how close we have stayed.

Thanksgiving 2016

Thanksgiving day was a blessed one for sure,
 and the beginning of a 4 day stretch off work AND school.

I had planned to make rice krispes with that crispy rice box I had purchased earlier in the week.

And we had our marshmallows melted and ready for the krispies and we opened the box

and it was...almost empty - and then I remembered that those empty cereal bowls

for every morning that week (the boys usually eat while I am getting ready in am).

We giggled and pulled in the cereal reinforcements to come up with our own krispie treats.

We had fun. They were pretty.

But, alas, thumbs down on taste.  TOOOOO sweet.

We enjoyed our morning and headed to my family's Thanksgiving lunch

at my grandparents home - now called Uncle Carl's house.

My nephew Cole got to hold my cousin Amber's son, Boone.

Boone doesn't LOVE just anyone holding him and he fell asleep to boot!  

So precious.

It was a chilly but dry day _I chased Joe down for a coat after this picture (and a little reminder from my cousin Jonna, lol).  I knew the cousins would be exploring out side if they could.

They were DIRTY when we left.  That meant fun had occurred.

Cars always line this familiar gravel drive and when they stretch to the corner and turn,

you know its a great group!

This pile isn't usually here, but became the play pile for Thanksgiving.

I don't know what these crazies were doing except avoiding my camera

Dan snapped a couple of pics from across the room. 

Noah, Jill, Will, me and Taylor (Cole's sweet girlfriend).

I treasure these pics.  We were playing on snapchat and laughing so hard we about cried.

So grainy and blurry, but I love my brother and treasure our friendship.

No pics but the laugh at the Walker Thanksgiving was my taco salad.

When DH (graciously) braved Walmart the day before thanksgiving to get supplies, he brought home

Thousand Island dressing (needed for Catholic taco salad, a post for a later day).

But, he brought home Smokey and Tangy Thousand Island...

well, no one said anything until I was headed out the door and some one said...did you do something different to the salad today?  My mama started the Taco Salad tradition in 198something and everyone knows how it should taste. Yep, busted.  Blech.  Two Thanksgiving fails.

We left and headed to the Grabers (they ate lunch, too) to visit, and visit we did

because we stayed so long we also ate their leftovers for supper.

Kids around cousin Andre's ipad, playing the latest game, I am sure.

And clay pigeon shooting, but I had taken my boots off 

and it was too cold to go out any further, so these pics would have to do.

We played a rousing round of Taboo, lots of laughs. I had not played that in a while.  Boys had fun with a new to them game.

And there ever popular Rook

We have spent the last several Thanksgiving days in Florida,

it was nice to be near our whole family this year.

Great memories and reminders of our many reasons to be Thankful.

Psalm 9:1

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;

I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

And the stockings were hung.

The day after our Thanksgiving feast - 

we did this.  The morning after, in fact.

This year, Sam said he wasn't really interested...until

we brought the first box up.

And then he joined in - he carried the heavy tree tub

and got down to business.

They must set up the train first and give it a good test.

Oh, this tree tells such a tale.  

From its fat and furry branches and ever leaning top all the way down to its

 homemade (by my mama in 1970 something) tree skirt.

Most years I long for the beautiful trees of pinterest with the ever matching ornaments and perfect topper - but I always end up back at this ever familiar (from my childhood) and full of memories tree.

It is covered in ornaments, the oldest I am aware is from 1968 - it was my mom and dad's first ornament, documented as such by a tupperware label on the bottom in my mom's handwriting.  And each year the boys look for their specific ornaments from each year.

It was Joe's turn to add the topper. We might have staged the photo and then I helped him.

Sam got to plug in the lights after they were hung.

My favorite night of the year.  All snuggled in beside the tree, the room lit by the glow of the tree.

And, yes, it really does lean that bad this year. It is slightly more broken than last year.  My friend Lauren says if your tree leans it is just a little reminder that we are not perfect either - a gentle reminder that we need to lean on Jesus.

Each boy has a small and special tree for their room.