Sentimental Sunday 'A Moment in Time'... A Hero memory

As we began the drive into town, my son popped a cd in to the cd player.  Little did he know that with first strain of music, I was transported back to 2002.



The road faded away, and I saw the Hero's office. There was the deep green carpet, the sun streaming through the open room with the Hero sitting at his desk. He turned around when he heard the door opening and a smile spread from his eyes to his lips when he saw it was me.
"Hi, honey.  I'll be done in a minute and we can go to lunch."
I grinned for I knew that meant another 30 minutes.
Not to be deterred from what I had been planning, I walked over behind him an said "I heard a song today that reminded me of  us.  Give me a second and ..." With that I reached past him, and popped my CD into his CD drive on his laptop.
As the music pulsed into the room, I couldn't help myself (I love to dance); I began to tap my foot and then to sway back and forth. He laughed, got up, took me in his arms and we danced around the room.
The music stopped on my car player, but the intense feelings of love and happiness continued, letting me know I needed to write this story.
How nice to have lovely moments in time be triggered in our minds.
The music was a song by Celine Dion.  "I'm Alive"

Writing Family History

I have been slacking as of late and have been trying to get myself motivated again.  In answer to my need, enters Lynn Palermo of The Armchair Genealogist returning with the Family History Writing Challenge .
This is a great!  Just the push I needed.  Well, that along with the fact I am helping my cousins family motivate their mother to write her stories.  I know, that is a bit selfish on my part too, as she is the last person old enough to remember my gr grandmother, who heard her stories.
If you have been in a slump, or over technicalized or thinking about writing your family history, this is a great motivation blog to assist you.  Lynn has many writing helps on her blog.
Thanks Lynn for caring to share and motivate others!
The Hummer is motivated, now I have to start writing again.  Hmmmm...  which line of genealogy shall I start on.  Watch for a new Hero post on Sunday, already have that scheduled.  Get Ready... Go!

Missouri family collage and resources for research

Wishing You a Blessed Christmas

About this time of year in the past, the Hero and I would be doing last minute shopping.  There wasn't a lot of money and so we would take the time to stop by the card aisle and choose a card we thought was just what we wanted to say to the other... We would then offer it to the other to read, then put back.  Then sentiments were held in our hearts.  I think of that as I walk down the aisles at the stores during holidays.
Christmas is not what you spend, rather what memories you make.
The late hours of sewing, assembling a toy, sitting and hold a little one and singing carols.  Hugs.
Making the most of each moment is so very important for a life time of memories.

Wishing you a Blessed Christmas from the Hero and me.

Blog Caroling -- I Love Christmas Carols All Year

Over the last few years I shared the Hero's favorite carol "O' Holy Night', and mine "I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day"

I love following Footnote Maven on the blog and on Facebook.  In spite of overwhelming challenges, she is always uplifting and showing how to overcome.  She has a regular 'Blog Caroling' theme every year.  This my support of her effort.  Not to mention, I really love Christmas music every day of the year. :)  This is a link to Footnote Maven's Blog Event. (Click on Blog Event)

 "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a favorite Hymn/Carol.  Our family knows the words to without a sheet of music. The text was written by Phillips Brooks. The words to this song paint such beautiful word pictures for me.  

Elements from LetmeScrapbook.blogspot.com  Finding Nativity elements is difficult. 

Merry Christmas Caroling to all. 

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories No. 2: Holiday Foods

I have been avoiding posting, so much going on with family loss and challenges.  But I saw AnceStories post and decided I need to get a grip and enjoy the Holidays sharing memories.

Holiday Foods

In our family, there are many memories around Holiday Foods.

Two years ago, I shared GreatGrandmother Sackley Ellsworth's Rum Balls. Last year it was my mother's Date Roll.

This year it will be Great Aunt Mary Gadleman Ellsworth's Cheese Cake. 

When Holidays rolled around We would all gather at either the Hero's mom's house or his uncles. They are all gone now, but the memories live on.  

Mary's recipe from the Ellsworth Domestic Goddess Cookbook by
Aine Ellsworth Schulmire

Sentimental Sunday ...The Hero Back Seat Driving

The Hero was always on the alert for my safety while I was driving... or maybe safety of the car????
He would sit in the shotgun seat and give alerts like there's a red light ahead, or watch out for that car.  Annoying right.  I do have to say there was an alert he gave that always sent me into a fit of giggles.
The area had been plagued by pine bark beetles.  The forest had lost acres of trees.  Thus when he would bark out the alert "Watch out for that pine bark beetle, as I rounded one of our road's 90 degree corners.  I would just start laughing.  I could visualize a beetle on the side of the tree in a state of horror or shock at the "close call" he had just had.
To this day, as I turn the corner going home, I will chuckle and remember "watch out for that pine bark beetle!" and smile.

Love those memories.

Sentimental Sunday, The Hero Was a Mischievous Boy

A story the Hero would often tell to remind himself of how boys are not always angels, was one between his mother and himself at about age 6.
It was a beautiful day for being outside.  The Hero had been playing in the backyard, but soon ventured into the front yard. After a little, he wandered across the street to the neighbor's yard.  After a while, he heard his mother calling his name.  Did he respond?  No, he shimmied up the front live oak tree.  Climbing up as high as he could to keep from being seen.
Soon, he saw his mother come out into the front yard calling his name and looking for him.  He said, "I don't know why, but I scrunched down more into the branches and didn't say a word."  She then came across the street and knocked on the neighbor's door.  He heard her ask if the neighbor had seen him.  They walked out right under the tree where he was and started looking up and down the street.
At this point, he was thinking it was funny they didn't see him, and began to snicker.  He couldn't hold it back, one snicker turned into full blown giggle.  His mom looked up and there he was...   We are left in the dark at this point, because he said, he didn't remember what happened after she found him.
What do you think happened?