I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD…

It may seem a tad abnormal, but I love wintertime! Fall is probably my favorite season, but I really like the winter too. I relish being wrapped up in plaids, jackets and sweaters, bundled into coats, and swathed in colorful shawls with frosty air nipping my nose and the possibility that I will be able to look out of my kitchen window and watch the snowflakes fluttering down through the bare grey limbs of the sugar maples behind the house.

But as March steals onto the scene with gusty winds and bright skies, I do enjoy seeing the succession of bulb plants that begin to bloom this time of year: crocuses, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths and irises. To see them sending deep green shoots through the stiff, brown grass cannot help but remind you that the earth is beginning to awake and make itself ready for spring and for Easter.

I especially like daffodils and they never fail to remind me of one of my favorite poems by one of my favorite poets, William Wordsworth –

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud"
(also commonly known as "Daffodils" or "The Daffodils")

I wandered lonely as a Cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and Hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden Daffodils;

Beside the Lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:-

A Poet could not but be gay

In such a jocund company:

I gazed---and gazed---but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude,

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the Daffodils.

Published in Collected Poems, 1815

(I somehow identify with the “in vacant or in pensive mood” line....)

Uncle R’s dad knew that poem by heart, having learned it in school when he was a child in North Dakota. It’s so amazing to me that he carried that poem in his heart and mind for some 80 years or so and when I would ask him about it – he would give me a toothy grin and begin reciting. As with so many talents and traits of his - I loved that!

Just in the way the Lord sends rainbows as a continual reminder of one of His promises, I think that the soft green leaves emerging on trees and sharp blades of green emerging from frozen soil can remind us of His continual renewal of our hearts when they remain open.

You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the ground.
Psalm 104:30

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16

Love and Happy Springtime to the Pamela’s Girls!

Auntie J.

The Boys...

Now that we have been moved for almost a month, the boys seem to be settling into our new home.

Since our old desk was too heavy and large to move, Cici and SS let us use an extra desk that they had. It is very special to me because Papa made it by hand (which is absolutely amazing) and SS has refinished it several times. Baby B immediately recognized it as a new piece of furniture and a new novelty for him to explore. For the past week he has enjoyed hiding underneath it, stacking toys on the shelf and placing toys in the drawer and closing them inside. It has been neat to see Baby B enjoying a piece of furniture that carries so much family history.

Barkley, on the other hand, has also found his own special perch in our new house. Around 5:00, when it is time for Daddy L to come home from work, he jumps up on the soft cushion on the couch in the den infront of the window that overlooks the driveway. There he waits until he sees Daddy L's truck pull into the drive. He also jumps up on the couch if he hears a car so he can alert the family if anyone is here. It is kind of cute because when Baby B and I run out, Barkley is usually sitting infront of the window waiting for us when we return. We didn't have a "Look-out Post" for Barkley in our old house, so I am glad he is enjoying this perk of our new house. Its nice to have such an efficient watch-dog!

Love to all my Pamela's Girls!

~Mommy M

Happy Birthday, SanFran S

IT'S A GIRL!!

March 20, 1982

9 lbs, 22 1/2 inches
Those were the joyful words we heard 28 years ago, on a beautiful first day of spring, much like today in South Carolina. SS and I reminisced about that happy time as we drove to Columbia today. The due date was March 17, so I realized when I woke up that Saturday morning about 4:30 with little twinges, that it was probably time. Because this was my second baby, I knew my labor pains were not as bad as depicted in movies. Mommy M was born in a matter of hours, so we knew we better get ready. I got the rest of the family up about 6:00 and fixed some blueberry pancakes - it was Saturday, after all. Then we called the grandparents, who came over to get Mommy M, and SS and I headed to the hospital about 7:30. They would not let SS park out front, so I got dropped off at the door and headed on up to the maternity ward. It was a very busy day, so they just sent me to a nurse's office to wait till they could make room for me. In my notes I wrote(I remember being very irritated), "8:10 Sitting in Chair." When SS came in and we finally convinced them to check me about 8:40, they said "Whoa, you are ready" so I was whisked to the delivery room in time for a few pushes before SanFran S was born.

SanFran S was such a sweet happy baby with such a sunny disposition, that after a few months we gave her a nickname that described her, and she has lived up to it. Her teachers always said she was a "free spirit" and her daddy and I have alway tried to let that spirit soar. She has always had her own ideas and style, from hair to clothes to music (New Kids on the Block). Because I was not interested in sports, it never occurred to me that she might be, so she had to go sign herself up for softball and was very talented athletically. Some of our fondest memories are of watching her and going with her to play traveling ball for 2 summers.

We are very proud of her and the beautiful young lady she's become. Her creativity and ideas are boundless, and we eagerly anticipate seeing what she has planned for the next phase of her life. We know it will be something wonderful!

Psalms 127:3 Children are a gift from God; they are His reward

Thank you SanFran S and Mommy M for providing your daddy and me with so many years of happiness. We love you very much!

With love to ALL the Pamela's Girls,

CiCi

Happy Birthday SanFran S!

Happy Birthday SanFran S!

I'm so glad to have had you to grow up with! It is now so special to have you as such an important part of Baby B and Barkley's lives.

Even though you're a 28 year old Tia now, you'll always be my "little" sister!

We love you so much and can't wait to see you again soon! Have a great trip and enjoy your birthday weekend!

Love you!

~Mommy M, Baby B and Barkkey

Put On Your Birthday Shoes

Tomorrow will be my 28th birthday. Although I have been quite silly lately about dreading getting older on this day, my family has made it so special. I'm SO lucky and blessed to have been born to such a caring family that makes me feel loved every day and especially so on my birthday. From time to time, the philosopher in me ponders how possibly easy it could have been for me to have been born in another family, another place and completely different circumstances. And then I feel so extremely thankful for all God has given me in my life. Anyone who knows me, or worked close to me, has noticed and commented on how sweet my mom is for sending me something in the mail every week since I left home at age 18. Maybe it's just a sweet note or an article she found interesting or a care package with food and other thoughtful gifts. I can't tell you how many times in my life I've heard "Wow, you're mom is SO sweet! My mom doesn't do things like that for me!" I've gotten these comments throughout my life whenever I talk about things my family has done for me. So why should I be down about only having 2 more years left in my twenties? I should be celebrating the fact that I have Cici, SS, Mommy M, Auntie J, Uncle R, Baby B, Daddy L, and…I couldn't forget my little Barkkey, in my life! I thank God for being blessed with my Pamela’s Girls.

I received my sweet cards and gifts at my office this week, which I didn’t hesitate to put right into use and display the cards on my desk. I have to add that I feel especially proud now having an “Aunt card" to show off.

With my money from Auntie J and Uncle R, I decided to buy a shoe trend that I’ve been dying to be a part of. At Urban Outfitters I got these cute, off-white oxfords that are also completely animal-cruelty free, yay! Tomorrow I will be putting on my birthday shoes for a trip. My present from Bing is a trip to Monterey and the Big Sur for my birthday! We’ll take the drive down the scenic Highway 1.
I have picked this place that I want to go first thing Saturday morning.
Here’s a link to the waterfall view I want to see first: http://www.hikinginbigsur.com/hikes_mcwayfalls.html

Being a big lover of the beach and views, I will have a great time seeing all the beach scenes. Also, thanks to Auntie J for the sweetest blog for my birthday! It made me feel so special and kind of “chokey” as some would say.

Thanks and much love, Pamela’s Girls.

Love,
SanFran S

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANFRAN S!

Because I live so far from home and my sister, I am rarely told that I have a “family resemblance” to anyone around me. If I visit SC, I sometimes have the treat of hearing that – and I love it! It gives my heart a little tug to have anyone say that Mommy M or SanFran S look like me. And to be said that I look like my sister… well, that seriously makes my day!

What CiCi says about me and SanFran S is that, perhaps… just maybe… I was a bad influence. Well, maybe just in the “moving far away from home” category. (I hope.) As a teenager, I longed to move to Nashville and work in the music business and as soon as the time came to head to college and plan a career – off I went to Tennessee and have been a resident ever since. As a matter of fact, I have lived in Nashville longer than I ever lived in my home town. And although I miss the wonderful state of South Carolina and family there – I really love Nashville.

SanFran S seems to have caught my same love for travel, international foods and living in a big city, multicultural environment. She of course lives in a far larger pool of multicultural variety, but I think that there probably is a common current between us in finding ourselves drawn to discover what life is like far beyond our roots. Our roots are precious to us, but we’re somehow gravitationally attracted to foreign towns and international interests and wonder how the far off lands in our ancestors’ past have made us who we are.

I see SanFran S as a lovely combination of a creative urban fashionista and a warm & magnolia soft-complexioned young woman with a sweet tea smile and the savvy to find her way across a teeming metropolis. She is beautiful, exotic, poised and has developed her own style that sets her apart from those of us who stare into their closet and think “jeans and long sleeved t-shirt… yep, that works”. She is her own creative woman - full of sparkle and color!

It doesn’t seem that long ago that SanFran S would curl up in my lap when I came to visit. Her soft little voice and large thoughtful eyes could charm anyone and they always especially worked on me. One of the favorite quotes that I will carry through my entire life (and Uncle R & I occasionally say this to each other & smile) is one that CiCi related of the time when little girl SanFran S was exasperated one day and said; “Don’t say I’m coot! It makes me an-gee when people say I’m coot!” But the inescapable problem was… she really was coot… I mean, cute!

Although her current creative efforts benefit a worthwhile non-profit organization, I often wonder if the world of fashion will lure her back. Might she ever become a world famous stylist to the stars? Or develop a fashion line of her own? Have Paris Fashion Week runway shows in the City of Lights?!? If so…..SanFran S,… don’t forget your poor ol auntie would LOVE to have a Paris apartment to visit, so pick a nice one!

Happy Birthday to SanFran S! I'll be thinking of you on Saturday!

You are loved by your Your Auntie J

Making a House a Home

We are finally starting to get the house like we want it. I've been working hard decorating the inside and Daddy L is working hard on the outside. Cici went with Baby B and me to Hobby Lobby last night to pick out a frame for Baby B's room because I felt like his giraffe paintings were lost against the blue wall. I really love the new look. While we were gone, Daddy L spruced up a very leafy yard. It looks so pretty now! I also painted a sign to decorate our front porch. The house had not been lived in for a long time, so it has taken a lot of work but its really coming together.

I'm reading Numbers now in my "Bible in a Year" program. My favorite verse from this week is my wish for each of my Pamela's Girls: "The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee." Numbers 6:24-25

~Mommy M

Looking Forward To SanFran S's Birthday This Week!

THE ORIGINAL PAMELA'S GIRLS!

Happy to have new little SanFran S with us!

Spring is Coming!

Song of Solomon 2:11-12: For lo, the winter is past,

The rain is over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth;

The time of singing has come,

And the voice of the turtledove

Is heard in our land.

After a particulary cold, wet winter, it is wonderful to feel the first few warm breezes on a blue-sky, sunny day. It is my time to put away the things of winter and bring out the colorful, spring decorations. So it was, that I relegated the "snowman" china back to the top of the cabinet for another year. I store them under some beautiful, delicate pink glass dishes that Pamela purchased just a few months before her passing. She used it for her birthday on December 15, 1982, and she told me that she had bought it to use when she had her granddaughters over for special little occasions.

It was indescribably precious to me that my sweet little mother, always so frugal in spending on things for herself - always buying clothes on clearance at Midnight Madness (after 11:00 at night) or Early Bird Special (8:00 in the morning) sales- would buy a special set of lovely dishes to use to create special memories for her much-loved and adored granddaughters. Next time all of us Pamela's Girls get together, let's send the guys out and have a special tea party in memory of Pamela!

With love and springtime wishes for all my Pamela's Girls,
CiCi

BREAKFAST AT THE PFUNKY GRIDDLE IN NASHVILLE

Last Saturday morning Uncle R & I tried a new breakfast/lunch restaurant that had been strongly recommended by some friends from church – The Pfunky Griddle.

We had heard about this restaurant before – an innovative eatery located in a small house situated in the midst of the sprawling, residential/commercial Berry Hill area just south of downtown Nashville. I was a bit intimidated when I heard about the restaurant’s premise – an all-you-can-eat/make-your-own pancake place.

Cook my own pancakes? At a restaurant? Really?!? Yipes!

But it was actually fun. This tiny restaurant is outfitted with custom-built tables that double as griddles and for $6.99 a person, you are given a spatula to wield over them with unlimited pitchers of either a normal, white flour batter or a 5-grain batter made of organic buckwheat, rice flour, whole wheat, rye and corn and you can choose from toppings of blueberries, chocolate chips, walnuts, M & Ms, banana slices, pecans, coconut flakes and more.

The little room where we were seated was a riotous happy pandemonium of families & kids, college students and groupings of laughing friends. I could hardly hear Uncle R. across the tiled table and griddle, but that was OK, because we were seriously concentrated on not burning our pancakes and the hash browns that the cheerful and welcoming owner tempted us with as we had gaped at the menu. We didn’t order an egg, but if we had, we would have received one – shell-clad – to cook ourselves. French toast? You make it – right there - on the griddle.

Again – yipes. But it’s a slightly less nervous yipes than the one I felt before we visited. Our pancakes were good and we didn’t burn a one! Now Uncle R. and I are planning who we will take back with us to this fun breakfast spot.

Mommy M? I think Baby B would like it!!!

Love to Pamela's Girls,
Auntie J.

The Airport

It was so sad having to say goodbye to SanFran S at the airport yesterday. We had such a great visit! It was nice to have everyone back together in Darlington! Our new location made it possible for us to spend lots of time together. We watched movies (and Mickey), played, ate delicious meals and shopped (for Baby B's first pair of "big boy" sandals). Baby B and Barkley thoroughly enjoyed having their Tia around to spoil them all weekend.

Although our family has been through many changes in the past 25 years, one thing remains the same... We are very blessed to have each other.

We had a great time with you SanFran S. Love you!

~Mommy M

...Showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. - Exodus 20:6

...From everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children - Psalm 103:17

March Visit to South Carolina

I had such a great time visiting my family this past week. I took more videos than pictures this time of my Baby B. I think because he is now walking and really on the move. I'll upload some on youtube later. I did manage to get a few really good pictures from my mac. These I took when I was babysitting both my nephews while Mommy M went to run some errands. I love pictures with them together! It sure will be nice when I live closer and this happens more often. :)
Have a great week Pam's Girls!
Love,
SanFran S
P.S. This blog was created on the plane back to San Francisco!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK, MOMMY M!

It is such an amazing thing for me to look at current photos of Mommy M & Baby B when it seems like only yesterday that these baby photos were taken and Mommy M was a tiny, delicate gift from the Lord that filled all of our hearts with quiet yet overflowing thankfulness.

She is a lovely woman now – accomplished, beautiful and sweet – a loving wife, devoted mother, affectionate daughter, fun-loving sister and beloved niece.

I can remember so clearly the first time I saw Mommy M. I was 23, living on my own in Nashville, Tennessee and newly embarked on a career in the music business that would send me down a bumpy, hairpin-turned road leading through record companies, recording studios, publishing companies, and even a between-music-business-jobs stint at a Tennessee wildlife park (the music business is just a different kind of wild life, right?)

There was a crazy-early morning call with my mother giddily telling me that my older sister had given birth to our happily-awaited new family member… a little baby girl. And when my big sister does something, I am here to tell you, it is going to be exceptional, it is going to be perfect, and so it was with this new little niece of mine.

After a plane trip back to the home state, my mother and I drove as fast as her sturdy little Chevy Nova could carry us out to the pine forested subdivision where my sister and her husband lived and I crept up carpeted stairs and into the baby room to see Mommy M for the first time. She was asleep. As I gazed down at her – her peaceful, perfectly exquisite face, tiny shell-like ears and quiet breathing captured my heart forever.



I dedicated myself to attempting to be the best aunt anyone ever had. I had never felt very close to my own aunt and wanted Mommy M to have something that I never had. I can’t say how well I accomplished this daunting goal, but I will say that I have a happy, cascading succession of memories of Mommy M and her equally delightful sister, SanFran S, that slip through my memory like burnished pearls gathered into the most exquisite necklace - unwound into a jeweled box.

I have loved the God-given opportunities to enjoy different personality traits, enjoyments and talents of Mommy M as she has grown through the years - from LEGO sets & crayons, to acting out Bible songs with motions, to picking out little girl’s clothes that were fun and cute and now sharing our enjoyment of oil painting. Not to mention the wonderful Daddy L that she has brought into our family and now precious Baby B!

Both of my sister’s daughters have grown to be remarkable women in every way and I am so proud of them. If you leave me out of the equation, they come from a line of women in our family with the same mix and quality of character - a paradox that stirs together indomitable spirits with gentle, tender hearts. We are thankful for each other and grateful to have been born where we were and with the heritage with which we have been blessed.





















And yes – we recognize that it is a blessing. Not a random universe moment, but a bounteous gift from the Giver of all good things. He is the thread that knits us together and bends our paths toward the hope of being together forever.

Thank you, Lord, that You love me. Thank You, Lord, that you saved me. And thank You, Lord that I’m Mommy M’s and SanFran S’s aunt.

Love to the Pamela's Girls!

Auntie J.

Our New Home

Thank you to all of the Pamela's Girls for my sweet birthday wishes. I LOVED reading your blogs this morning!

We are finally getting settled in our new home. Although we have had our ups and downs during the last few days as we have discovered all the joys of moving into an older rental home, it is good to finally be settled. It is so nice for Daddy L to be able to come home for lunch and get home for the day at 5:00 instead of 6:30. It is also wonderful to be so close to Cici and SS.

Baby B has adapted very well to his new home. He is enjoying having a playroom with lots of shelves and cabinets for all of his toys. He has also been sleeping really well in his new bedroom. Barkley, on the other hand, is still adjusting. He keeps following me around and staring at me with REALLY big eyes as if he's saying, "Why are you doing this to me? I just got used to our last house!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EheULuy_b2s

All in all, it is good to be moved. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers over the past week! I am looking very forward to seeing SanFran S tomorrow!

I love all of my Pamela's Girls so much!

~Mommy M

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY M!

Have a wonderful day!

With love,

Auntie J. (Uncle R. too!!!)

Happy Birthday, Mommy M

MARCH 2, 1979

March is the month we celebrate the births of our two beautiful, cherished daughters. Each of them is so talented and special in their gifts, and we have marveled at how God creates two babies with the same parents and upbringing, yet each comes into the world with her own unique personality. We realize as parents that we are only given brief custody to guide and direct them as they grow and develop, and we have been so blessed to have Mommy M and San Fran S as part of our lives.

Mommy M's birthday is March 2. Being the go-getter that she is, she surprised us all being born eight days before her due date of March 10. Since then, we had had such fun watching her grow and develop. We've had a lot of fun birthdays. Her first birthday was a major snowfall, so that poor Auntie J who had flown all the way from Nashville, was unable to make it across town to see her - nobody could come, so we had to have a delayed birthday.

Since then we have celebrated birthdays at many places - McDonalds', the skating rink, Pizza Hut.... And had many themes, Raggedy Ann, Big Bird, Strawberry Shortcake, and who could ever forget "A Very Brady Birthday!"

Through it all, Mommy M has grown in wisdom and character, and as her daddy alway likes to say -

"She's as sweet as she is pretty."

Your daddy and I wish you a very Happy Birthday, Mommy M, and many, many more.

Thank you for the 31 years of happiness you've given us - we love you dearly!!

Love to all the Pamela's Girls,

CiCi

Don't be sad, Mommy M!......

It's almost your Birthday!

Hee-hee!

Love you!

Auntie J