The other day I was watching one of my favorite British shows "Keeping Up Appearances" and of course had to make myself a spot of tea :-)
As I was drinking this cup of tea, I had a very nostalgic moment remembering having tea as a little girl at my grandmother's house. She would let me and my friend Elizabeth use her fine china (at least that is what I thought it was) to have a little tea party. We would sit in the floor of her sitting room and drink our tea out of fancy cups with the fancy sugar and creamer set; the view of the lake just beyond the glass of the wall of windows. I am so completely grateful for those little lady moments at my grandmother's house.
It got me to thinking about the special blessings that God has given me through each of my grandparent's and I thought I would take a trip into my childhood to share them with you:
Mama Doris and Papa:
Oh, Mama Doris and Papa. Tears well up in my eyes just thinking about the huge blessing they have been in my life. Great, now I am crying. Come on Melany, pull it together :-)
Mama Doris and Papa have given me oh so much. They took me on vacations and I have great memories from Gatlinburg, Virginia and DC (now my home), Destin, and that one family vacation to Disney :-) They have been a huge support in so many ways that I can't even explain (but I know that they will know what I am talking about)
When I was a child, while my Mama Doris and Papa still lived in Memphis, I would go to their house every other weekend. My mother was a single mom at the time and I guess she needed a little break. However, I can't imagine why since I was the most angelic child ever put on this planet :-)
The weekend routine at Mama Doris and Papa's house was pretty much the same every time. We would go out to dinner Saturday night and I would always wonder why we were eating dinner at 5:00 :-) We would usually go to Applebee's because it was my favorite. But I also have lots of memories going downtown to Spaghetti Warehouse and reading my Sweet Valley Twins book in the back seat. Also, when we went to Spaghetti Warehouse, I would always get one of those fireball candies for the ride home. (Side note - I really love Spaghetti Warehouse. I could really go for sitting in a bed or a railcar eating their delish bread and herbed butter. Gonna have to go there next time I am home)
On Saturday night, I would have solo time with my Mama Doris. We would go to a movie, or to the mall, or Blockbuster to rent a movie. Saturday nights were Mama Doris time :-)
On Sunday, I had time with my Papa. He would always be the one to take me home. We would stop at the 7-11 and I could pick out two snacks and a drink. We would then start driving home, but he never took me straight home. We just drove around the backroads. I loved these car rides with my Papa. I think they are a huge reason why I love roadtrips so much :-)
Mama Pritchard:
My Mama Pritchard is a rock. I have so much admiration for this woman and the strength that she has. She is such a lady and I remember so many sweet ladylike moments in her presence.
I can remember her teaching me how to eat my soup like a lady, scooping outward one spoonful at a time - and I remember it seeming to take forever to eat my soup :-) And then of course there was the lovely tea time. I am so grateful to have memories of tea time :-) She has also given me the first memory that I have of picking up sewing. She would give me her tin sewing case and teach me how to make clothes for Barbie. We were not making clothes for just any Barbie doll. She would pull out my aunt's old Barbie dolls. Think vintage Barbie - I grew up playing with vintage Barbie at grandma's house - I'm so lucky.
Grandparent's are awesome. I am so glad to have the grandparent's that I do. I love them so very much and they are so very special. Thank you Lord for grandparent's :-)
what a lovely tribute to these special people who have parented us ALL through life!
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