Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you. ~Deuteronomy 32:7
This past week, I embark on the same mission that Danny completes in April: removing my many printed photos from their albums and relocating them in organized, labeled drawers.
My goal is to have this fully accomplished by the time my daughter and son-in-law arrive this coming Saturday with the three grand-girls to spend a whole week with us just as they did last December. Setting a deadline becomes a surefire motivator!
Working on this project, of course, evokes memories of joyful experiences, but seeing the faces of children now grown and parents no longer with us trigger sadness, too. I struggle with a longing to return to the times revealed by the photos, not to relive them, but to better appreciate all the treasures they held then and hold now in my heart. Tears well on more than one occasion as I choose which photos should be stored in which category.
The grand-girls, Virginia, Savannah and Alexandra, haven't seen many photos of their mother, Sarah, as a little girl or teenager, or of their uncle, Daniel, when he was going through those same stages. I'm hoping that looking at them together while they're visiting will generate curiosity on their part to know more about their lineage, at least on this side of the family.
Honestly, there are so many questions that I wish I had asked my grandparents and even my parents while they were still living, but failed to do so. I want to encourage our grands to inquire of me here and now while I have breath and my faculties are intact. That may sound a bit morbid, and perhaps it is, but it's also realistic.
And once this project is completed? I've promised Virginia to begin writing a memoir of what life was like for me and for Papa when we were growing up. That would be a gift for all three grandchildren, needless to say, but Virginia is the one who makes the request during their last visit. I plan to do everything I can to honor that in the weeks and months to come.
It's my turn to leave a legacy.
Amen!
Due to the family being here, I will not be posting next Tuesday and I may not get around to other blogs as I usually do. Thanks for understanding!
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Wow, cool!!! and what a major undertaking. My mom is doing something similar and each of us kids will get a box of our photos etc. Wishing you a beautiful day my friend.
ReplyDeleteIt is/was, Linda, and I'm happy to say that I completed the project yesterday! I'm glad to know that your mother is undertaking the same effort for you and your siblings. It is definitely a labor of love.
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Yes, you are right to be writing your memoires for your family to read and treasures many years from now. We owe it to our children and grand-children to do so.
ReplyDeleteLet's consider this: If the writers of the Old Testament and the Gospels and many letters had not bothered to write them down ... what would we have known about our Christianity?
God bless.
I believe that is a gift of love that we can leave for our children and grandchildren, Victor, and they, in turn, can pass these on to their own. Yes, where would we be if the people who knew about God never wrote down their experiences? I shudder to think!
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Sounds like a huge task. I hope you get it finished. And I would be extremely upset if you gave up family time to read blogs (except mine). LOL. Seriously, enjoy your family being with you.
ReplyDeleteIt is/was, Bill, as I wrapped it up yesterday, in plenty of time to be ready for the family visit. There are still a few other things I'd like to sort through other than photos, but that will have to wait for later. I'm just so excited to have them visiting with us soon!
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It's a wonderful idea, Martha. One of things I've begun to do is "liquidate" my library. So far, we've given about 450 books to the classical Christian school my grandsons attended, and the books have become the basis for the school's library. Just last week, I saw a photo pop up on Facebook that showed three students browsing through the shelves - and I recognized the books. My name appears nowhere - recognition isn't the point. The point was to move really good books that were sitting on a shelf to a place where they would be found and read.
ReplyDeleteThat is a marvelous and meaningful legacy for you to leave to your grandsons and their school, Glynn! How gratifying, too, that you actually could see a photo of students browsing the shelves of books that you donated. That's all the thanks I'd need, too.
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Enjoy special time with the grands and all the family!
ReplyDeleteI sure will, Diana.
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That is a wonderful project!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine! It's a fun one, that's for sure.
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Martha, a very worthy project!! That includes writing the memoirs. Keep us posted! And how fun that the kiddos are coming for a visit! I know how much you miss them since they moved. More photos!! xo
ReplyDeleteIt certainly has been a great use of my time, Terri, and a great way to share with the grands. Yes, I'll keep everyone updated on whatever progress I make on the memoir, too. I'm so looking forward to seeing everyone!
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This is something I started a few years,ago and then dropped the ball. You've inspired me. Now to actually set the date...I do need motivation.
ReplyDeleteI gave a lot of my children's childhood photos to them one Christmas. I continue to transfer township to them, only keeping certain ones. Most I already have saved on a hard drive anyway.
I also am in the process of writing about my childhood and life for my sons. I want to upload it in a book format but only for their eyes. And I also have quite an extensive geneaology project going that seems its never done that I want to print up for them.
You really have me thinking about this, Martha. No better time than the present!
It's so good to know that I'm not the only one thinking along these lines, Debby. Although I do have lots of other things to go through, I did complete the photo sorting and storage yesterday, and I'm looking forward to sharing this with the grands when they get here. All of my recent photos, of course, are stored digitally, but I'm going to have Danny back them up on a jump drive; we've done that before, but we've added more photos that need to be included. Good for you, writing your own memoir for your sons. They will be ever so appreciative, I'm certain of that.
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That's quite a project, Martha. I admire your dedication to it. Have a wonderful time with the family! Love and blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteIt is, Trudy, but as I've said to others who have commented here, I managed to complete the photo sorting just yesterday. Whew! Time well and productively spent.
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I have found that our kids do not seem to care about family history till they get to be at least middle aged! And I wish there was more interest in it, so it stays alive not only in photos but also in memories. I have several questions I wish I had asked my mom, now there is no one alive who would know...this is sad to me. I hope you have a wonderful visit.
ReplyDeleteI think that's true for so many families, Ginny. That's why I've decided to be proactive with this process. I'm sure it will provide for some interesting conversations and questions while the kids are visiting with us. Yes, after my mom died, there wasn't anyone else of her generation for me to ask anything of; I sure miss that.
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Oh, I am so happy to hear that your family is coming! I know you are excited! And I love the project you are doing for your family. I did much the same thing when we moved here and I needed to make space to store all of our photos. They still could use some more organization, but at least it's a start. I hope our family will appreciate it some day. I know you will have a great time with your family...so just relax and enjoy them every minute. Take some more pictures so we can see how the girls have grown. They grow up so quickly. Every moment counts. Happy for you.
ReplyDeleteThey've grown by leaps and bounds, Pamela, that's for sure! I'm so glad to have been able to do this project for my two children and the grandchildren. My poor mother didn't leave anything organized for us in the least. My brother still has most of the old family photos, and now that he's finally retired, I need to get on him to get some copies of them sent to me or simply put them online. We plan to enjoy every minute of our time together.
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I love this project, Martha! What a blessing for your whole family. Enjoy your weekend with your family. Blessings to you all!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you liked the project, Deb. And they'll be staying with us for an entire week since they live in NC and can't visit very often as both mom and dad are working. We are beside ourselves with happiness that the girls are out of school and that Sarah and John could take the same week off for this vacation.
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Dear Martha, this is indeed a blessing for you and your family! I love your photo, dear friend! You look beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your sweet compliment, Linda! I'm so very glad that Danny encouraged me to embark on this project and now that it's finished in time for our family's visit makes it that much more gratifying.
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Last week I deleted at least 1,000 snapshots from my iPhone. Many of these were duplicates and some just serve no good purpose to keep. I did save pictures of people. Sometimes I can handle looking at the old pics and sometimes my emotions won't cooperate. But I am glad for what I was able to accomplish.
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Barbara, especially when it comes to seeing photos of people we loved that are no longer with us. Perhaps I'll say more about this in a future post as this project brought both joy and sadness. I'm glad that you were able to get so much accomplished in spite of that. I need to revisit my phone photos, too.
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Boa noite minha querida irmã Martha. Hoje fiz uma limpeza geral na casa da minha mãe. Uma excelente noite de terça-feira e um grande abraço do seu irmão carioca. O Brasil tem artistas maravilhosos, se Deus quiser, um dia conhecerei outros estados brasileiros.
ReplyDeleteI can't argue with that, Luiz! Your museum visits that you share on your blog are so impressive. I'm glad to know that you cleaned your mother's house today and that you care so much about her. That speaks volumes about the kind of man you are.
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Boa dia minha querida irmã Martha. Obrigado pelos elogios. Minha mãe é o bem mais precioso que ei tenho nessa terra. Sei que ela não viverá, para sempre, enquanto eu tiver fôlego de vida, cumprirei o que a Palavra de Deus diz, "Honra o teu pai e a tua mãe, para que o seus dias sejam longos" Êxodo 20.12 e Efésios 6:2-3. Uma excelente manhã de sexta-feira, para todos os seus familiares na Geórgia e um grande abraço do seu amigo carioca.
DeleteAnd so, you should, Luiz! We actually had Danny's mother living with us from the point where we knew she couldn't properly care for herself until she passed away. Those are actually some of my most precious memories. And subsequently, we looked after my mother as best we could, visiting with her as frequently as we possibly could. Honoring our fathers and mothers is the least we can do for them.
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Good luck and have fun while you are doing it. It will be something they treasure for the rest of their lives.
ReplyDeleteOh, I sure hope so, Bill! It was tedious at times, but since I completed the task yesterday, I am joyfully relieved. Everything is set for the kids' arrival on Saturday.
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Pictures can be so much fun! The memories they bring make me want heaven more…to be reunited with those who are waiting on the other side! Enjoy your family time! B Blessed Martha!
ReplyDeleteYes, they can be so much fun, Mike, and they bring back both sweet and poignant memories. It will be a wonderful day when we can be reunited in heaven when God calls us home. Danny and I plan to enjoy every minute of our time with the family.
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Once again, Martha, your thoughts echo my own. I've been such a terrible procrastinator. I've not much in the way of material gifts to leave, but this sort of thing is priceless. Thank you for setting an example ... and thank you to Virginia for planting the seed!
ReplyDeleteI'm so gratified to know that my post inspired you to do something of the same, Myra. And I'm grateful that Virginia actually wants to know about how things were when her grandparents were young. Life is so markedly different today than it was and, sadly, not always for the better.
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How cool is this, a big task but a worthwhile one
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed, Jo-Anne! It has been worth every moment I've put into it.
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Going through old photos is such a tender mix of joy and tears, isn’t it?
ReplyDeleteI love how you’re sharing those memories with your grands.
And the memoir idea is wonderful-- they’ll treasure it always.
Blessings, Martha!
I do hope that they will do just that with both the photos and the (eventual) memoir, Veronica. And yes, going through photos can be such a bittersweet endeavor, but so worth the effort.
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I do understand about your post next week and being too busy to read others. I want you to have a grand time and spend time with them and answer all their questions.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe Virginia asked about the past. I loved to ask my grands about the past - my grands don't seem to care that much. I wonder if they will ever wish they had.
I know what you mean too - by going back in time to just visit again.
I didn't realize life was moving that fast way back then - now I realize time went so fast.
ENJOY YOUR FAMILY and I know Danny will have fun being chef!
Time passes way too fast, Sandie, I agree. Even if we don't realize that when we're young, there does come a time when we wish we could have known more about the lives our parents and grandparents experienced and how they become a mirror of our own. Danny has already planned out the week's menu, more or less, and we will be doing lots of shopping Thursday and Friday to get ready for the gang's arrival. Believe me, I plan to treasure every precious moment they are here with us.
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Oh wow, so many pictures!! Last year I emptied my dad's (91) attic, we went through a lot of photo's, too many memories (for him at least). have a wonderful time with your family, enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteI can certainly understand why this would be too much for your dad, Marja, especially at his age. Still, ask him all the questions that you can before the Lord calls him home. And yes, we plan to have a great time with our family while they're here.
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Setting a deadline becomes a surefire motivator! Indeed! You are so smart, my friend, to get this done. Enjoy your time with the family!
ReplyDeleteLove and blessings.
Setting a deadline can definitely light a fire under our reluctant wills, Debra, that's for sure! I managed to get this project completed and I'm so looking forward to sharing the photos with our family. Yes, we will enjoy every precious moment we have with them
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Family is a treasure and lineages as well. Memories are fleeting and most often forgotten unless written down. I too wish I had asked those questions about family lineage when I was young. Bless you and do share all the remembrances.
ReplyDeleteHugs and Blessings
I think that the majority of us have that same regret of not asking questions when the opportunity was there, Jim. Family is most certainly a treasure and the stories that flesh out the persons in our past can certainly teach us more about who we are and from where we came. I do hope and pray that my grandchildren will treasure this long after I'm home with the Lord.
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Our older son has slowly but surely been digitalizing the best-of-the-best family photos, so that he and his two siblings as well as the grandchildren will have access to them. We've done our best to date them and include names, if not already labeled. It is indeed a bittersweet project! No doubt, Martha, your family will treasure the photo record you've organized, and the memoir you'll soon be writing!
ReplyDeleteOh, what a priceless endeavor your oldest son has taken on, Nancy! Dating them and including names is also invaluable. Danny and I both have lots of digitized photos that we have saved over the years, but I do want to make sure that those who are following will be able to access those easily, too. I do hope it will be a treasure for them!
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Same here Martha...so many questions that I sure wish I had asked. We take so much for granted until it's too late. So thankful for the photos that speak to our souls. I need to do this exact thing ..ORGANIZE MY PHOTOS. I have a few photos of family members on both my mom and dads family and they are not marked...I do not know who they are and this is sad. Proud of you for working hard on this project..
ReplyDeleteOh, Shug, my heart breaks for you in not knowing who is in the photos that you currently have. As I mentioned in previous comments, when we were sorting the contents of my mother's house, Bill took the photos and I took correspondence (letters). We need to put our heads together and get these shared between us and our children. So many questions left unanswered, yet one day they will be revealed.
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Martha, this is so neat that you are doing the photo organizing like Danny. The Bible verse is a perfect reflection for thinking of past memories and wishing we'd asked grandparents those questions in our hearts and minds. And, yay!, glad the girls and family are coming to stay with you a whole week. A memoir? Amazing. God bless dear friend.
ReplyDeleteWe are beside ourselves with excitement to have our family visiting with us in just a few short days, Karen! I did finish the photo organization, and I'm sure that my son, daughter and the grands will be glad to know why these photos are/were important memories for them. I'd appreciate your cheers and encouragement in the memoir department, too. That's going to be a dedicated undertaking, for sure.
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It's a great thing to do and will be such a blessing to your family. Have a great time with the kids!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Mari! Yes, I've missed them so much and can't wait to spend time with them soon.
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Bom dia, Martha
ReplyDeleteO legado que você está deixando para sua família é maravilhoso! Aproveite os momentos com a sua filha, genro e as três netinhas; sei que serão experiências incríveis. Que bênção a escrita deste livro, vai ser muito edificante. Um forte abraço.
Thanks so much, Lucinalva! We plan to cherish every moment we have with them while they're here.
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This is very cool and love seeing the photo of you sorting the pictures!! And so true setting a deadline really helps me get things done too. Such silly mindgames we play but they seem to work. LOL
ReplyDeleteI know, Jean! Those mind games can seem silly, but they give us both focus and purpose. The kids will be arriving here tomorrow and this project is completed. I can't wait to share with them!
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É importante que todos os familiares estejam por dentro da história da família.
ReplyDeleteBom fim de semana.
Abraço de amizade.
Juvenal Nunes
It truly is an obligation to pass down our family history to the generations that would not know otherwise, Juvenal. We are so excited that our daughter, husband and the three grandchildren will be arriving tomorrow. Can't wait to share these photos with them.
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Martha, this is such an awesome project. There's so many things I need to sift through and put in order but it seems so daunting and I'd rather do something else.
ReplyDeleteMaybe just one simple step at a time instead of looking at every possible picture, heirloom, album, and memory all at once.
That's exactly how I approached this project, Linda, and seeing how Danny was able to tackle so many photos in what seemed like a fairly short span of time really inspired me. The family is on their way here as I type, and I'm looking forward to sharing these with them all. Yes, I do have lots of other tasks to tackle in the months to come, but for right now, my only focus will be seeing our family.
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Very interesting , greetings .
ReplyDeleteYes, Orlando, it certainly was a fascinating project, and I'm so glad I accomplished this goal. It feels great to be organized!
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What a wonderful project, Martha! I'm always in the middle of *trying* to get my photos organized. My latest project is deleting some off my phone because I'm out of storage there! And I need the space to take more photos and videos. :)
ReplyDeleteI think we can all identify with you, Lisa, when it comes to having to solve storage issues, especially on our phones. That's an important task to tackle because that's about the only way most of us take photos today. I did manage to get everything done in this particular project with "hard" photos before everyone arrived. We're looking forward to sharing with the kids.
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Oh this is such a wonderful project Martha...your granddaughters are going to so appreciate seeing the photos and also in time reading about your and your beloved's life growing up. Enjoy your family visit and savor each moment friend. Take care - Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found it a wonderful project, too, Debbie. My daughter and son are truly enjoying looking through these old photos and the grands have been impressed, too. I'm so glad that I got it done in time for their visit.
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Bom dia irmã Martha, espero que esteja tudo bem com seus familiares na Geórgia. Passando para desejar uma excelente quinta-feira e um grande abraço do seu irmão carioca.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Luiz! We are enjoying having our family here so much. I will get back to reading blogs this weekend.
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Such an incredible blessing to do this for your family, Martha! I well understand both the joy and sorrow when looking at photos of days gone by. I think you absolutely should leave a memoir! It truly will be such a blessing to your family when the years come, and they have questions. I pray you are having a blessed and very special time with your family! Love and hugs!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by, Marilyn! Yes, we've had a wonderful week together and have enjoyed every moment. They are leaving later today for home, and while it's hard to say good-bye, we will stay in touch via FaceTime until they can come visit again.
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Boa tarde minha querida irmã Martha. Esse celular, que estou digitando, é o mesmo que eu aguardo, para chegar mensagem de WhatsApp, para que a minha mãe faça um óculos novo. Uma excelente tarde de domingo na Geórgia, bom início de semana e um grande abraço do seu irmão e Evangelista João Luiz.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got to enjoy your family!
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