Have you all had a freezing week? What nutty weather. We have had lows that are unheard of in our neck of the woods. A dry bitter cold. Pipes bursting even though insulated, huge cactus falling over. Wild stuff, I tell ya. I have been having to make trips everyday to the city house, to make sure the pipes are in tact, etc. Today, whilst waiting for them to unfreeze and make sure everything was a-okay in the city, I decided to go through one of my drawers…
You see, I had a picture quite dear to my heart, that was missing for about 12 years (sometimes I hide things so well, that I can't find them). And every time I get a chance, I go through photos and hidden nooks, secretly searching for said photo. I hope and pray that I will find it. And, I don't.
The thing is, the picture is of my beloved awesome wonderful Mom when she was around 18 (oops, just found out she was 20). It is a photo of her laughing or screaming, in sheer joy, just as the image is snapped. And I love it. It is everything good that I see in her, in one snap-shot. Fun-loving, happy…
And today…
Today was the day, that tucked in a box, inside of a drawer, inside of an envelope, in an envelope, in an envelope, I was to find my long lost photo of her…
This is the woman who taught me so much about living.
It took years and years of me getting through my teens and then my early twenties to really see her, I mean really see her, as the amazing woman she is.
I had to mature and grow up, to truly truly appreciate her.
She is the one who guided me from early on, to really live.
She told me to take time to be independent.
To buy nice sheets and towels.
To set the table fancy for one.
To collect things I love, when I can, and to enjoy them.
To love and protect my soul, and to be careful of who I let in.
Endless and important teachings.
She made most of her own clothes growing up (even coats and intricate things), and showed me the way into creativity, doll making, all all sorts of artsy things. She sort of showed me the proverbial map, that I could only see when I was truly ready.
As did my Dad.
Both nurtured me into dance classes, playing the piano and painting, early on.
I was super duper close to my Dad growing up too. (and still am)
I talk to my Mom 100's of times a week.
I love to hear what sort of mischief her and my Dad are up to. They are so funny!
My Mom is the only person who knows some of my deepest feelings and secrets.
She gets me.
We talk about everything.
She is an important person to many of the adult kids in my family, and I love that about her.
I am so glad that I found this picture.
So glad.
It makes my heart laugh.
What's in a picture?
Oh, so much.
Don't you just love finding things as such, that were lost for so long?
(it's cold, must go find warmth, see you soon!! Love, V)
ps: If it is going to be this cold, I would love to see some snow. Make sure you send me some if you have extra, okay? ;) Stay Warm, and stay safe 🖤 (even if you are on the side of the world where it is summer/fall 😉
Vanessa, as a mother myself, this post truly touched my heart…the photo of your adored mother is gorgeous – she is indeed beautiful. Sometimes I find it a struggle being a good mother to my teenage girls, but I always tell myself that even though they may not like me at times, that’s ok, because one day I know they will appreciate the fact that I did everything I could to help them to become well-rounded, independent, loving, authentic, creative, strong women…thankyou for reminding me of this – I hope everything else is wonderful in your world xxx
ps…yay! I was the first to comment, hee hee!
Vanessa:
As a mom to a teenage daughter, I am so grateful to read this post. I have a fabulous relationshiop with Ava (my daughter), but I’m sure there are times when she just simply thinks I’m goofy. I have nurtured her in art, writing, humor, music, nature, gardening, God and everything else that is important and good. Hopefully, she will have the opportunity to do the same for her child/children.
Thank you so much for posting this lovely photo…and I am sooo glad that you found it today, because today must have been the PERFECT day to find it. Otherwise, you would have found it earlier!!
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
Vanessa, what a lovely happy picture of your Mum…so glad you finally found it! I can see you now, squealing with joy as you first saw it tucked away in that box, inside of a drawer, inside of an envelope, in an envelope, in an envelope 🙂 I do love hearing how much your Mum taught you about life and hearing how close you are now. With my 3 girls, we are not even at the teenage stage yet, but with my oldest being 10 now, it can be hard seeing her stumble, etc, etc and I just hope and pray that we’ll all be as close as you and your Mum are when they get older.
Stay warm V, it’s freezing here too and we still have lots of snow on the ground from our storm week before last!
Hugs,
Jamie 🙂
…and today is a special day! It was my Me-maw’s birthday 🙂
What a lovely post… Moms are wonderful, a few at least and we are the lucky ones that have a loving wonderful moms. My mom is my best friend. I tell her everything, but she lives 2,000 miles away ):
I posted about your valentine’s cards over at my blog.
much love,
Courtney
ps lots of xoxo’s
What a great pic of your mom. That must have been in the 60s, early 70s. She just looks like how we dressed then:) and her hair is how I wore mine.
One of the best compliments my daughter ever paid me was before she got married and had a roommate. She thanked me one day for “making” her learn to clean her room, wash dishes, etc. I always tried to teach her to depend on herself. She is a very artistic person with a great sense of style. She’s a great mom to my granddaughter. So I guess my mothering was a success.
Now I find myself worried sick (again) over my own mom. She had a biopsy today on a place in her mouth and the dr. doesn’t like the way it looks. So I’m just trying to think its going to be okay.
I have a couple pictures of my mom when she was young. One of her and my dad when they were a newly married couple. I need to scan them and post them.
The snow missed us this time. But its been cold and rainy here. Sorry about the pipes. We’ve had to keep our water runny so often at night to try to prevent frozen pipes.
What a wonderful gift to find that photo of your sweet mom! One of the great benefits of trying to organize all my drawers and nooks and crannies is that I have come across some special things, like little mementos from my kids’ childhood, things that make me smile.
My parents are so very special to me as well, fun, funny, such good friends to me. One of the reasons I was so throwing myself into cleaning is that they were planning to come visit next week. They live hours away. Well, today I find out that it is necessary for them to postpone that trip for a number of weeks, and it made me sad. Then I told myself to concentrating on gratefulness instead, gratefulness that I still have my parents! I, too, talk to my mom so many times during the week!
We have had quite the weather week here in North Texas, with ice and snow and below freezing temps! It has indeed been a wacky weather week.
Love to you!
No wonder you wanted to find that vibrant photo of your mom. I am so happy for you that you found it after all this time thinking it was misplaced or lost. Bless your mom for being there for you and teaching you so many things about life and your dad too. That is why I always come back to your blog most of all…you always inspire and share such wonderful stories, and your creativity is always spontaneous.
You go girl!!!
XXOO
Oops! I thought I had adequately proofread my post. Then I see that I wrote
“concentrating” when it should have been “concentrate.” Argh.
That is so sweet, and what a great photo! I love finding things that I have been missing.
It has been super cold! (for here anyway) It is funny because there are all these warnings on the news about like “be sure to wear a coat” and “don’t go wandering out in the desert” as if the cold is so strange people wouldn’t have the sense to wear a coat and then freeze in the middle of the desert! I guess being from somewhere colder I am more used to it.
It is wild how peoples’ pipes are bursting though. Did you hear that one of the pipes on campus burst and a portion of the campus had no water? Now that is crazy!
Vanessa, I love your post! I am very close to my Mom & Dad as well. I swear, I wish I had a tape recorder for all the advice “gems” my Mom has dished out…many are very funny!
I love your mom’s advice about buying nice sheets & towels. I think I may hit the stores today. LOL.
Thanks again for sharing, and having the most delightful blog on the planet. XO Tiffany 🙂
Wow Vanessa,
This post is beautiful. I hope your Mum gets to read it. As a Mother myself, I know she would love to read this.
Cheers,
Kyles =D
P.S
Thank you so very much for choosing to follow my creative adventure via my blog. I hope that you find things of interest that may help or inspire you.
I look forward to getting to know you better.
Kyles =D
How lovely <3
and you can have my snow!
I have a similar treasured picture of my own mother…it is so moving to me, i think, because it is an image of her, as HER, before she was a mother, before she was MY mother, and I feel I can see all the things I love about her, before I was even an inkling of a thought.
And yes, you can have some of my several feet of snow. I am happy to share!
You want snow? Feel free to take some of mine – there’s a surplus here!! And we are to get MORE!!!
Love the photo…what a thrill it must have been to finally find it!!
What a lovely post, Vanessa! I know from my own experience that it took reaching a certain age to be friends with my Mom. I have that same relationship with my daughter now {especially now that she is a Mom}. My daughter has written me some beautiful letters that I treasure. There is a light at the end of that teenage tunnel!
BTW, I have plenty of snow here, with more expected. You can take it all if you’d like! ‘Cause I’m done with it!
What a wonderful post. You are very very lucky to have such a great mother!
I enjoyed your post so much. My mother is in a nursing home, I go four times a week and thankfully I have two other sisters that live here and share the short time we have with mom. Mom has four daughters the eldest living out of town, but she still is leaving us a legacy on how to love, give and share yourself with others. Yet she has taught me so much more, the most important lesson, patience. Your post reminded me of this and so much more. Thank you Paulette
My Fanciful Friendling, your mother is so beautiful, which I’m sure is why you are a truly beautiful little Elfling yourself ;-). Many of the qualities that you hold dear about her are the very qualities that I see in you. One amazing woman begets another amazing woman.
I’m ever so glad that you finally found your picture of her “-).
Now, as for weather, yesterday it was so hot outdoors that I could barely prune my roses. These extremes are so wonky, yes? Me thinks so too!!!! Stay warm my friendling and I hope your pipes mind their manners from here on out.
xoxox
I’m 17, and although I love my mom to pieces, maybe moving out to attend college will make me love and appreciate her even more 😉
And the weather here in San Diego is FREEZING! A chilly 68 degrees yesterday. Well, it’s freezing to us anyway 🙂
Loved this post about your Mom. As for snow? Head over to my blog for a few quick pics if you want to see snow. And if I could bottle it up and send it to you I would. Here in Chicago they are actually putting the snow into trucks and taking it away. I’ll see if I can flag one of those trucks down I’ll send it to Tucson!
Warm hugs!
Kathy
Dear Vanessa,
I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your artwork recently in Somerset Workshop! I was inspired to use your instructions to try making a doll. I already make dolls from polymer clay, but it was fun to try something different. You are so very talented. Every page of your work just made my heart happy! Best wishes for continued success with your work!!
http://www.amothersjournal.com/2011/02/05/little-rescued-baby-doll/
Lynn Wilson
Such a beautiful post. I totally get it…feel exactly the same way.
Wonderful photo … I see why you were on the hunt!!! I have the same problem hiding things then not being able to find them!!! I have about 3 things that I hid that are driving me nuts at present!
Anyway … very sweet and moving. Had tears in my eyes! Wonderful to be so blessed.
I LOVE finding a photo you’ve been thinking about. I’m so glad you were able to find it because it really is a most fantastic shot.
And I’ve been hearing about your crazy weather! Yikes! Hope everything holds together!
I so love it when I find a treasured photo I have forgotten or lost. I am glad you found yours. Your mom looks so happy and carefree. I can see where she would be able to teach you all life important lessons.
Sorry you are having a frozen hard time. It has finally calmed down a bit here and I hope it stays that way. I hate Winter.
My mom is my best friend. We like many of the same things and have similar tastes and dislikes and I always always go to her for advice. We had some turbulent years during my teens but that was mostly because we are just so much alike. Now that I’m an adult we get along much better. I’d be lost without her. Here’s to moms! And it isn’t even mothers day yet. 🙂
I’d gladly send some of my snow your way…especially the snow that covers my street because the city plows don’t do our street. Made it tough to go out today to the grocery store! Hope your houses hold up to the cold!
what a wonderful photo. such a happy person. Being close to my mum I can imagine your joy when you found the photo. I think we all have a favourite photo of our mums. I have one that was taken recently but like your photo it really shows who she is. Hugs Sara
my mother died when i was almost 4 and i absolutely treasure every photo i have of her. i love her features in my girls and love it when my father says that i look the most like her out of his 4 girls. i became a teacher just as she had been. i am not sure what is harder, to lose a parent when you are young and not to have known them and long for them or to lose a parent after knowing them for many years…
anyhow, thank you for this post.it is lovely to know that people appreciate their parents such as you. and i hope that i can be a good mum to my 3 girls and show them a good life, not full of material things but a life full of love.
xxrosey
My daughter is 19 and in college. While she’s only about a 45 minute drive away from home, I miss her a lot. She comes home about every 5 or 6 weeks and I don’t go up to see her unless she asks me to come up. I want her to have her “place in the world” where she can explore and find out who she is.
Our relationship is nothing like what mine was with my mother. My mom wasn’t the most demonstrative when it came to showing affection. There was a clear flow of talking…..her to me and that was it. No give and take, no discussion, my way or the highway kind of thing. Every day I was told “remember, everyone is watching and waiting to see the general’s daughter screw up.” Appearances, appearances…….But that’s how she grew up.
My daughter and I talk about anything, are open and honest, even when it’s tough. I encourage her to explore her creative side and she encourages me to take to time to take care of myself. We can be silly and goofy and we can cry at “tear-jerker” chic flics. I’ve taught her that it’s ok to be disappointed or mad. Experience the emotion for about 15 minutes then let it go. Remove the negative energy from your life when at all possible. Be happy with who you are. Don’t let others tear you down.
Reading your post about your relationship with your mother today makes me smile. I think it’s the type of relationship that Erin and I have and I’m proud of it. She’s grown into a smart, fiesty, creative, caring, strong, and daring young lady. Mother/daughter relationships can be amazing things!
Now that my mother is in the beginning stages of Alzhimer’s, each moment spent together is even more special to me. She has been a wonderful Army wife, strong, supportive, and fiercely loyal and protective. Your post has made me decide to go dig through some files and boxes to find some of those old photos of her as a young woman…..treasures!!
Stay warm!
~Allie
You can see the beauty her soul has to offer radiant from her. How lucky to be raised by someone so beautiful!
Oh Miss Vanessa, what a beautiful post! That is such a lovely photograph of your mom. 🙂 I treasure my mom in much the same way. She was always my confidante. And I know I can spill my secrets and fears to her and that she will always understand. I truly believe, in 99.9% of all instances, that mom is always right. My mom has never steered me wrong. And she has always forgiven me when I have made mistakes. Thanks for reminding me and everyone what a precious gift a mother truly is! xoxo Theresa
PS Stay warm!!! I wish I could send you some, but we don’t have much! Today is a nice sunny day in who knows how long!!!
Eye of toad, frog legs good luck all week. Alas demurciélago tail worm, you are now and always feliz.Muelas dehipopótamo, dragon horns, that nobody ever hurt your snake corazón.Dientes, bones of dog, never forget that I love … much. Snake scales, nails magpie, this year we put more skinny. Cat hair, chicken feathers, God telibre swine influenza. SPELL undefined: “broom, broom queeste years makes me more beautiful. Toad, frog this year I vayamejorcito.Caldero, Calderito, I abound as currency.”
This is a wonderfully loving tribute to your mom…and your dad. I LOVE the photo of her! Such joy she is exhibiting and within that joy, a real zest for life! Thank you so much for sharing ~
We’ve been in a frozen tundra this past week here in the DFW area. Thank God, the sun came out Fri afternoon and all day yesterday to melt the ice & snow. Super Bowl activities kicked up a few notches too!
Honestly, I’ll be glad when this hoopla is all over…we’ve been inundated with it. It’s an honor to have it here in Texas but oh my, the media never shuts up. 🙂
Vanessa! You Do look like your mother!
This is such a wonderful treasure that was hidden in your house. See? Your mother likes to play hide and seek!
I still play hide and seek with the children who visit my house.One day a little boy told me ” you’re like us!!!”. This was the BEST compliment ever!!!
Your mum has this in her too and she has passed it on to you. When you look back then you realise it is the most beautiful gift EVER!
My sister has offered me something beautiful when I last went to see her ( she is in Australia). It was a book she’d made with all the photos of me when I was a little girl. There were photos I had never seen before! It is an album I treasure.I will never thank my siter enough for this.
I hope your sweet family is ok and that the boys are behaving!
xO
I have a picture of my mom in full laughter, too. I don’t know what I would do if it got lost. I will email it to you sometime soon. I keep it on my dresser to see each morning and smile every single day. I love it. This post is so precious friend. I love it so. I send you warmth and joy, friend.
I think that photo is the perfect kind of warmth! Plus your mom is so cute!
I did that the other day too. There’s a picture of my Grandparents that I’ve looked for for so long. My Grandma refused to have her picture taken so she decorated paper sacks for her and my Grandfather. It’s priceless. Cried like a baby when I found it.
So happy to hear you found your special pic…
Hi Vanessa,
Your mom is beautiful. I talk to my mom 100’s of time each week too. It never stops you know. My mom is 84 and I think I am your mom’s age. Love that you have such a close relationship. Theres no better best friend.
Karen
You were and are so fortunate to have a mother like that, I couldnt even imagine. Thats something I never had with my mom. My daughter and I have a great relationship though, she is fantastic and we couldnt be prouder of her! we all have our blessings in life. Amy
Your Mama is so beautiful!! I can only hope that one day my little girl will think of me as fondly as you do of your lovely mother! I know I feel just the same about my Mom….I love her SO and she is my bestest friend! 🙂
Happy new week to you!!!!
what a wonderful picture. it would be so nice to see a pic of her now. i love how you wrote about her. i hope my daughter says those things about me to others.x
love what you shared about your folks. 🙂
Beautiful post about your beautiful Mum Vanessa!
Now I’ve been very emotional lately, but your post is just so touching. Mothers are amazing and wonderful.
Unfortunately, my mother doesn’t have very many pictures to share with me and my 2 sisters, but I’ve taken plenty to cherish and share with my daughter.
Thanks for brightening my day!
🖤Naomi🖤
Your Mother is so beautiful… and what I love more than anything is the way to speak of her with such love and respect… you admire her … adore her … and it shows… and its special … and so my dear are you …
HUGS AND LOVE JO
That’s a great pic!Gorgeous post about your mom. I know you love her so much. Love this post.