Family history

Happy Thursday evening,

How was your day? It’s officially, Friday eve. One more work day for many and then we get to enjoy another weekend. It’s suppose to be a tad cooler in my neck of the woods, so I am excited about that. How’s the weather where you are? Hope everyone who lives in the hurricane Wilton path is safe and sound. Sending lots of prayers and well wishes to everyone and their families who have been affected by it.

Seems like my posts are getting later and later each day. These last couple of weeks have presented me with many writing challenges. Things just keep taking me away from my writing and I’m not happy about that, but it is what it is and I will make the best of the things I’m presented with. Hopefully I’ll be better organized next week and I can post earlier in the day. Thank you for your understanding in receiving my blogs so late and thank you for your continued support and kindness. I appreciate you all so very much.

Today was a very special day for me. I think I mentioned to everyone that my Aunt Billie has moved into an assisted living and she is now closer to where I live. Only 15-20 minutes so I’m grateful to have her closer so I can visit her on a more regular basis.

I spent half the day with her and I thoroughly enjoyed our long visit. Aunt Billie is so full of wisdom and history. She shared with me how she early on in her aeronautics career she worked on the B-17 and the B-29, but her favorite thing to work on was the ground missiles used back in WWII.

Being with Aunt Billie today made me realize again how much wisdom is stored in her brain. She does repeat herself a little more then she used to, but only on things that aren’t of real substance, for example, she repeated how there’s an extra bonus dining room at the assisted living place where residence can host parties. I think part of the repeating is because 1, she’s 99 and 2, her new home is so new to her. Maybe she’s just figuring out her bearings around her rather large new home.

Where Aunt Billie thrives still to this day with her 99 year young brain is her childhood through adulthood and her career.

She remembers old friends who passed on many moons ago. She remembers a cruise her and Uncle Bud took together and the friends that went along with them. She remembers my mother taking care of her daughter. She remembers stories about my granny and grandpa and today she shared some pretty amazing and heartwarming stories about her sweet Steven. He’s her oldest grandson.

Aunt Billie couldn’t stop talking about her granddaughter Lynsie who lives near by. She shared how Lynsie not only has come by to see her, but has brought her three tiny ones to see there Mimi. Aunt Billie said the great grandbabies know she’s nearby now, so they are always asking their mama to take them to see Mimi.

Aunt Billie has done some pretty remarkable things in her life, but I think the one thing that I personally feel she should be most proud of is how she raised her daughter. You see, my cousin is one of the most giving people I know. She gives unconditionally from the heart. My cousin also raised her kids to value their elders and in particular, their grandparents.

Uncle Bud has been gone since 2006 I believe, but Aunt Billie/Mimi is 99 years old and ever day her grandson Steve calls or texts her to just check in. Lynsie calls often and now that Aunt Billie is so close, she’s stops by frequently. Multiple times a week to just say hi and check in. Her other two grandsons also call or text her nearly every day too.

You see, my cousin raised her kids, who are adults now to value the time they get with their aunts, uncles and grandparents. You don’t see that a lot these days, but you see it with Aunt Billie’s immediate family and that melts my heart every time Aunt Billie shares with me that one of her special grandbabies or great grandbabies reaches out.

Aunt Billie and I have been trying to write a book together. Believe me when I tell you, our family had some pretty interesting characters who have long ago passed. Some of those we’re related to are pretty well known in world history.

My Aunt Billie has a lot of the details about the last 90+ years of history stored in her memory and I don’t want to miss out on preserving those details. I don’t know if our family history will ever make it to print, at least to print outside of our family, but that’s okay, because no matter where her memory takes us, her family will have it to pass down for many more generations to come.

“If you don’t recount your family history it will be lost. Honor your own stories and tell them too. The tales may not seem very important, but they are what binds families and makes each of us who we are.”-Madeleine L’ Engle.

Miss Linda over at https://nutsrok.com/ shares her family stories for her readers to enjoy and let me tell you, when she tells stories, you feel like you are right there in the mix of it all. She shares her family history and stories and it keeps them alive.

I want to share Aunt Billie’s stories and keep them alive well after she’s gone and I’m gone. Her stories like many others are worth reading and hearing.

“Care for your parents with love and respect, for you will only understand their full value when you see their empty chair.”-sassysisterstuff.com.

One of the truest things I’ve ever read is from an old Chinese Proverb, “if a family has an old person in it, it possesses a jewel.”

Recently Lynsie shared a photo of her little 1 year old holding Mimi’s hand. That photo is priceless and endearing. I don’t know how many more moments this little man will get to hold his great Mimi’s hand while nestled up close to her, however, if we can preserve her knowledge and her history of not only family but of the world, he can share those stories with his own children someday and even their children.

I hope by me sharing with you some of the things I admire about my Aunt Billie you will be inspired to take a moment and connect with someone of an older generation in your family. Go listen to their stories. Write them down. Life is short and when our older generation descends to another world or life, they take with them part of our history.

We are bound to our ancestors though we can’t look into their eyes or hear their voices. We need to honor their history, cherish the life they lived. We need to tell their stories and remember them.

“I wish I had realized that family history is a perishable commodity. It disappears with time, as memories fade, and as loved ones pass on. I wish I had know that the most important aspect of family history is preserving a record of the present for the future.”-Guy Black.

I only pray that God gives Aunt Billie and I the time to complete writing her memories into a book so she can pass that down to all her grandbabies. Wouldn’t that be a precious and priceless gift? I sort of think so.

I was inspired by Linda over a https://nutsrok.com/ to ignite the fire I had a few years ago of writing Aunt Billie’s book.

Knowing we could have lost her 3 1/2 weeks ago to a heart attack has really given me a little glimpse into knowing that the possibility of losing her is really not all that far off. I pray she lives well into her 100’s because I’m selfish and I don’t want to lose her, but I know that when He calls her home, she will answer that call and close her eyes and go to be with Uncle Bud.

My dear readers, I hope you are inspired to take a little time to dive into your own family history and maybe spend a little time with one of your family jewels. I know I’ll be buying out more opportunities to spend time with my Aunt Billie. She’s one of my favorite jewels in this life.

Well guys, sleep tight and pleasant dreams to you all.

Until next time, don’t forget, Love Life++ Hugs.