Pink Clouds and Popsicles!

Happy October's Mother's Day, Jade Hooper Holmes! 

She's my daughter-in-love, and she's a rock star mother juggling a late teens special needs daughter, a typical 3-year-old, two other boys (11 and 15) along with a dog named Reko, a black kitty named Esmeralda, Sally the coon dog, Mr. Turtle, assorted cousins, and sometimes a snake or two plus her SuperHubby and (Great-Granny) Nanny (age 98) all in the same little house tucked under the trees, rhodendron, and laurel beside a mountain stream.

Daughter Vania has had serious cardio issues since her birth 17+ years ago.  When she caught an upper respiratory infection recently, she got clobbered especially hard.  Finally two days ago she ended up at Mission Memorial Children's Hospital for respiratory and oxygen therapy. 

On the way Jade and Vania were stunned by the beauty of the sky.  Pink is Vania's favorite color, hands down!  Jade posted on Facebook what she told Vania: Vania - Look!  God made the clouds pink just for you!

Another post describes a midnight popsicle party with pictures!  ... in the hospital! 

October is Down Syndrome Awareness and Celebration month.  I celebrate the blessing Down Syndrome is in my life in the beauty of our sweet Vania and her very special mom!        (published with permission)

Memories

I took a walk down memory lane today. My uncle is writing a book and he wanted me to write some memories about my grandparent's home. Of course, I could probably write my own book about that subject 'cause I do have lots of memories of visits there, but it was fun just thinking and remembering and then trying to put it all down in some semblance of order.

He asked me to write memories of a house, of a property basically. Guess what? I found I couldn't write just about a house and its grounds. That house and those grounds only have meaning as they connect to people I love, things I did and saw.

As I mentally wandered down memory lane from room-to-room in my grandparent's home, every single memory was tied to a person I loved and who loved me. In fact, about ten years ago that same house I remember where my grandparents lived was open for a garden tour. My husband and I went. It wasn't the same! So much had changed as much of their property was sold to make an exclusive residential area filled with other beautiful homes. The house no longer sits on the bank of the James River. There are other houses between "Merry Point" and the James now.

What is wonderful is knowing all the legacy of happy memories I have and all the love I experienced at the spot. Those memories are part of who I am - not because of a house. It was the people and the love we shared that made the difference!