~MY SISTER LINDA and I~
(Around 1959-60)
(Around 1959-60)
Just after Christmas my big sister, Linda, made the eleven hour drive from her home outside of Nashville to Oklahoma City for a long overdue visit with our aging father and mother and my younger sister, Jenny and I... We were all sooo excited when we found out she was coming!
~MY DADDY, LINDA and I~
It was truly a JOY for us all to see her and I was so grateful to sit once again and share with her the simple truths I find wrapped up safely within our sisterhood bond.
~GOOFING OFF IN TEXAS~
(1977)
With each and every family gathering I realize more and more how quickly time is passing and how truly grateful I am for both healing and redemption.
(About 1964)
It was truly a JOY for us all to see her and I was so grateful to sit once again and share with her the simple truths I find wrapped up safely within our sisterhood bond.
(1977)
With each and every family gathering I realize more and more how quickly time is passing and how truly grateful I am for both healing and redemption.
~DINING OUT FOR CHINESE FOOD - 2010~
(Sisters! Check out our unplanned attire!)
Linda was a little over two years old when I was born and for as long as I've known her she has been a towering, protective force in our family. Her faith in the Most High is nothing less than inspiring and if not for her I'm not sure I'd have survived my growing up years. She has missed our parents terribly and I was so thankful she was able to get away after having such a challenging year herself (you may recall she was involved in a terrible car accident last summer). Because our father's mind continues to be devoured by the 'monster in his brain',this trip was especially meaningful to Linda...to all of us.
Just before Lin's visit I tracked down the two tattered picture you see at the top. The second one was taken when I was in kindergarten and she was in second grade and snapped while on a trip to Tijuana, Mexico, via San Diego. The only thing I remember about the entire getaway was that our father bought us both sombrero's and of course having that picture taken in the tree. Our daddy was only about 34 years old at the time and I don't mind telling you that we, his two oldest girls, are well past that age today...
~HUGGING OUR BEAUTIFUL FATHER~
I heard it said once that after the master-painter Michelangelo died, a piece of paper was found amongst his belongings on which he had written a message to his young apprentice. It said "Draw Antonio, draw, and do not waste time."
~MY DADDY AND ME~
Christmas Day -2010
As Linda and I shared precious time with our aging father I couldn't help but reflect upon the meaning behind the simple yet profound words of the revered and renowned artisan... He was a wise man.
"...do not waste time."
Our days and years are clicking by at a feverish pace. Our childhood memories will fade. Our young adult and middle age years will one day come to an end. I've decided I need to get on with living my life to it's fullest while I still have time.
I'm one-hundred percent positive my daddy would agree.
Blessings for a beautiful 2011! I'm so excited to see where it leads!
Love to you...
37 comments:
What great memories! Thank you for sharing.
Oh Dear Rebecca, I am so thankful that your Sister made the trip! Loved the pictures of you girls as children and of you ladies as adults! Oh... and your sweet Daddy! I wish that I could have just one more day with mine! I miss him so much! I pray that your Daddy will have peaceful days and good health! I know you are taking really good care of him!
Hugs and many blessings!
Very sweet and inspiring. The visit with your sister made for a very special holiday!~Hugs, Patti
Oh precious Rebecca,
I am sitting here with
tears streaming down
my face! You are so
very right!!
xoxo
Lori
It is unfair of you to write something so heartfelt and beautiful that it puts tears in my eyes this early in the morning...AND I am at work to boot! You are a treasure...truly a treasure! Hugs-Diana
My dear Rebecca, may this new year bring you many blessings and may you not waste time with all the trivials. You are right, life goes by so quickly and when we see the things happening to our parents that do happen, we realize that we need to live life to the fullest. My sister and I are so close and it's wonderful to see that closeness in you and yours. Have a wonderful new year.
Rebecca,
A truly beautiful post!!
I am so glad that your sister was able to get away to spend time with all of your family!
And you and your family including your dear Dad are always in my prayers!
Hugs,
Debbie
Your love for your family shines so brightly in this post. I am so glad you have the lovely memories of this visit. Have a lessed week.
What a lovely post. Both you and your sister are beautiful daughters.
The photo of your father and two of his daughters is priceless. God Bless all of your family. sandi
What a wise outlook and I can feel your determination to head for the future. Our memories are so important when they encourage and delight us but they should never keep us in the past. Easier said than done on some days!! May your new year bring peaceful and productive days.
Thanks for sharing this post with the reminder to not waste time! Having lost so many loved ones in the last couple of years I am really feeling this way myself Rebecca.
I am glad you and your sister Linda had some time together. Time to share your faith and to encourage one another. That's wonderful.
Hoping you will have a wonderful New Year
Linda @ Truthful Tidbits
What a touching and lovely post (and those words "do not waste time" are so very true. Thank you for the reminder and for sharing this heartfelt post)! Sending big hugs your way, Peggi
Rebecca,
As usual, your words are beautiful, truthful, and well said. Life is rich and full when each day is lived as if it were our last.
So glad you are feeling better and back to giving us all wonderful things to think about during our day ahead.
Blessings to you, dear friend.
In Grace,
Marie
Rebecca,
As usual, your words are beautiful, truthful, and well said. Life is rich and full when each day is lived as if it were our last.
So glad you are feeling better and back to giving us all wonderful things to think about during our day ahead.
Blessings to you, dear friend.
In Grace,
Marie
Rebecca, I am sitting here crying after reading this cause my sweet daddy has a monster attacking his brain also and his memories are fading ever so fast.
Your post has reminded me that my brothers and I need to be there more and more for our dad and to share with each other all the fun memories we have of him as we were growing up. Thank you.
Hugs,
Anna F.
Wonderful pictures and words. I had my morning cry now. It is off to start the day. No wasting time . You have a great way with words and always give me something to think about . Thanks.
Rebecca, thank you so much for sharing this part of your life with us.
I lost my Daddy when I was 9 and he was my best friend. :( I've never fully recovered and while it must be difficult for you to see your father aging, I would have loved to have had my Dad into those golden years.
This is a beautiful post that stopped me in my tracks. Thanks for the reminder. Hugs to you today.
HELLO REBECCA :)
AWWW!!! I LOVE THIS! BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES AND WISE WORDS :) LIKE MUSIC TO THE SOUL :)
XO~MARI
Amen! A simply beautiful post! What a wonderful family and you and your sister are beautiful,too! hugs from Kerrie
Dearest Rebecca,
You're still lucky that someone can reach you, and your Dad, driving 11 hours... Wish I could drive home but there is always a steep price tag attached to such a visit. However, we have paid our dues and did visit our family 62 times over the 27+ years. Hearing others talk about their beach home, their mountain cabin... We have the value of such a home inside of our hearts; memories and peace of mind is a lot more precious than worldly goods! Your story is a lovely one and I fully understand.
Whenever we did visit Pieter's Mom in her nursing home (she had colon cancer and lived with her pouch, that prevented her from ever flying over to the US as airline lavatories are too small for such care) other elderly looked at us very sad. They ALWAYS said the very same thing: 'Our children live right here, but they never come to visit...' Very sad if such a visit is put off because they think, oh I can do that tomorrow, they'll always be near us. It is later than you think it is!
So for that, no matter how, I live with the feeling that we've done more than our share. Besides we paid their way over to us; several times. Maybe, just maybe, this will count as a pay-down for Heaven instead of indulging here in worldly possessions of second homes and such...
Lots of love,
Mariette's Back to Basics
Rebecca thanks for sharing this post with the reminder to not waste time! and it's beautiful that you and your sister are so in feeling ! excuse me for my bad english !have a wonderful new year!
Emanuela
What a precious blog today! Couldn't agree with you more. Thanks for sharing. Love the pic of you and your Dad from this past Christmas. Won't heaven be sweet?! Perfect bodies... perfect minds!
Have a blessed day, Lisa B.
My daddy has a monster too. He's 86 years old and thinks I'm his eldest(I'm the middle...only girl). I don't know how to tell him that the cancer is back...and that I may have to go first to our Heavenly Home and wait for him there. Thank you for the lesson!!! Do Not Waste Time!
Rebecca, you have got to quit ruining my makeup! Oh, this was so beautiful and so true, and I have tears running down my cheeks. I hung on every word, and I want you to know what an inspiration and a blessing you are.
I can't get over how much your sister favors your dad. I can see his face in hers in that one picture... they are shaped alike. I'm so glad that you got to spend time together. I haven't seen my sisters in several years, and time truly is fleeting. Sigh. But at least it is fleeting toward the Lord. That's the one positive in all of this.
The pictures of you all with your sweet father are so cute, and I loved seeing all of them... from the old ones to the new. Do you have any idea how beautiful you are, inside and out? You are. And you are dearly loved...
XO,
Sheila :-)
I wish this POST would have been available to me 10-12 yrs ago. My Dad was 93 yrs old when he passed from the complications of Alzheimers. During the five yrs. he was in the "Home" I couldn't and didn't want to see him in such a muttled up state of mind.
I wish to could turn back the clock and hold his hands, look into blue eyes and tell him I loved him, and stroke his forehead.
Now I live with the burden of much guilt. To those that have parents this message today is powerfully profound. Please "Don't Wait" like I did.
Carol from
Good 'Ol Texas
Thanks for sharing this wonderful post. You are right we should NOT waste time. We can never get it back and we don not know how much we have.
You are a beautiful person inside and out.
Have a blessed day!!
BEAUTIFUL POST REBECCA,
I SO LOVED WHAT CAROL FROM TEXAS AND MARIETTE COMMENTED.
IT IS SO IRONIC AS I WAS GOING TO DO A SIMILIAR POST 2 DAYS A GO AND POSTPONED DOING MINE.
THE QUOTE I WAS GOING TO USE WAS:
"TO LIVE IS THE RAREST THING IN THE WORLD. MOST PEOPLE EXIST, THAT IS ALL."
~OSCAR WILDE
I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO PROFOUND.
LOVE YOU REBECCA GIRL
HAVE A SUGAR SWEET DAY
SIMPLY DEBBIE
Beck....
Thank you for putting into words what I wanted to say! Spending time with you and mom and dad and Jen was so precious to me. I love the pics - (I've never seen the one in our Levi's jumpsuits!)
Your post felt like a big hug. I love you and can't wait to see you again! Hope you feel better soon! Kiss Daddy for me!
~ Lin
Do not waste time....
wisdom speaking.
God bless,
d
Hi REbecca, so glad to hear you are feeling better! What a lovely post.. you must be so happy to see your sister again and then be all together with your dad. OUr time here on this earth is way too short.. and funny you should do this post as what you said is actually my new year's resolution.. not to waste time.. with anything! I tend to procrastinate too much so this year I am hoping to change all that. Take care, Maryann ps your sister looks so much like your dad!
Well Rebecca.... you've left me in tears....... this is such a beautiful post, and how so true.....seize the moment and enjoy those we cherish.
I love the pictures!!!
Thanks for sharing parts of your life with us.
Hugs
NOTHING is more precious than family. I'm happy to spend time with mine and do things for my mom. She is always so grateful. Some people probably thought that it was strange that I could play the piano for my daddy's funeral, but for me it was the way it always was--his chair was right next to the piano and he had to listen all the time. Love and honor for all the days of their lives-nothing less. ♥♫
Another awe-inspiring post, sweet Rebecca! May your precious dad have more lucid, beautiful moments with you and your family.
Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
Beaautiful blog post my friend..So sweet...Enjoy your family...and life..Your sweet friends from ON Canada.....♥
Big hug from around the world....Hugs...
HI REBECCA;;; ENJOY YOUR PARENTS,,,, TAKE THE PICTURES AND ENJOY THEM.... I LOVE YOUR PICTURE WITH YOUR DAD.... HAVE A GREAT DAY... LOVE YOUR BLOG.. THANKS FOR LETTING GET ALITTLE HOPE AND ENCOURAGING WHEN I READ IT... LOHOMA
Rebecca, this is a beautifully written post and so poignant in its truth...time seems to slip by so fast. I often times remind myself that I need to capture the day - as tomorrows are never promised to anyone.
God Bless you and your beautiful, beautiful family.....
xo
Becky
Dear Rebecca:
Great post! I couldn't agree more and thanks for the reminder. Your family is beautiful. I'm happy you and your sis got to spend time with your Daddy. Such lovely pictures. Sorry you and MrAGPman are still under the weather. Feel better so you both can get on and live life to the fullest! It's flying by!
Love,
Roselle
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