I love this idea. I think I did this, sort of, as a kid and then forgot all about it. I found a book after my mother-in-law died that had "Henry's" jotted on the binding, inside were all kinds of neat newspaper clippings and recipes, notes and such. And guess what, Henry was my husbands fathers name. I wonder! It could be!!!! I've started a craft journal and it may just become a bit more now that I've read this article. THanks for the ideas and inspiration.
I for one agree on the bangs thing. I love wearing bangs for the exact reason noted. They hide a terribly receding hairline (inherited from my grandmother) and a few forehead wrinkles. I have straight, straight hair that I am always curling because I hate it straight. I even curl my bangs a bit. I've recently restyled my hair and have the "face-framing fringe" now and am getting compliments. I didn't know about the darker shades lipstick ageing my face. I guess I'll have to hit the store for some pinks. Thanks for a great article.
This article is an inspirational one for us all. I am so glad you found your doll and restored her. I am also glad you found a new voice and I am sure you will be an inspiration to many over the years. Bless You dear!
Wonderful ideas. This read like a to do list for me. Circle the ideas you like and check them off as you get them done. Thank You for a wonderful article and a lite swift kick in the rear to get busy.
I agree with Susan. Do not think you have to celebrate just because it is Thanksgiving Day. My mother-in-law passed away 2 days before Christmas 10 years ago. We did the normal plans that year and the food was barely touched and all my husband wanted to do was be alone in a house full of people. Everyone left early that year thankfully and we spent the rest of the holiday season making arrangements and crying and being cranky nad remembering. Sit the kids down and ask them what they want to do. Is there a special place everyone went with your husband. Did he have a special hobby that everyone could do in his memory. Or, is Susan's idea of helping the poor and homeless the right idea? It is very likely your thought is right, the in-laws just can't handle being without their son. Be sure to let your children klnow this is ot a rejection of them. Many people handle loss and the holidays after differently.
This year my daughter and son-in-law have separated, I've asked both to come to Thanksgiving Dinner and both have agreed. I now see what I have done is put two people I dearly love in a situation of having to pretend for the family and their little girl. I hope they can forgive me!
Remeber the word thankful can apply to being thankful for the time you had with your husband and for the beautiful children he has given you.
Susan and Dear Mom, I too felt the absence of a friend when my daughter movced out and became her own person, more distant and independent. We were not as colse as Sad Mom and her daughter but we were close enough that I felt such loss it was as if a part of me had disappeared. She let me know she was strong and I had raised her well, but still I worry to this day and miss that little girl that would listen to my complaints and successes and would share many of hers with me. Now she has become a workaholic and has even less time for mom. It has been 5 years and I have learned to cope with the missing friend, but it seems I will never stop missing that little girl I once knew.
Congratulations Kim on a battle well fought. May you continue to be blessed with good health. My maternal grandmother was diagnsed with breast cancer at age 79. She had Alzheimers and was in the end stages so family chose to do nothing. She wouldn't have understood anyway. She lived another year before passing on "of natural causes". My thought was there is nothing "natural" about Alzheimers or breast cancer. A maternal Aunt has now had a breast removed due to cancer. I've had a small benign tumor removed. Breast cancer is the scariest form for me, knowing I am succeptible due to heritage. I have had mammo's every year for the past 15 years. I am now 47. I have 2 daughters, 25 and 31, and pray daily it never gets to them. The younger generations just do not understand the importance of regular self breast examinations and mammograms. I found my lump myself. My oldest had her first mammo two years ago, clean thankfully. Our Aunts surgery scared her into it. Now I pray daily that my youngest will understand and the doctors will agree to schedule her first sooner instead of later.
Blessings to you and your son.
And thank you for sharing your experience so others may learn from it.
I love articles like this that just make me feel all "warm and fuzzy all over". This article reminded me of the time my husbands cat came crawling into the living room wearing my daughters dolls clothes, bonnet and all. She was so cute with that horrified look in her eyes, all dressed in pink ruffles. Awwww!!!!
My brother and sister-in-law are going through a ruff patch right now. They have been together for 12 years. She even contacted a lawyer and had divorce papers started. They are attempting to work things out now. They are going to counseling and have started once a week date nights for themselves; some weeks with the kids, some weeks without. I was extremely disappointed to find the greatdatesdonecheap.com site was just a shameless plug to buy a book. And one that cannot be gotten at our local library at that. I know they are one the right tract, spending more time together; and I agree that with the fast paced life and kids to take care of it is easy to become disconnected. They seem to be happier now that they are spending more time together and dateing again. I was so hopeing I had found a site to direct them to, to give them more creative and cheap date ideas. Oh well!!
tess1960 (anonymous) says...
I love this idea. I think I did this, sort of, as a kid and then forgot all about it. I found a book after my mother-in-law died that had "Henry's" jotted on the binding, inside were all kinds of neat newspaper clippings and recipes, notes and such. And guess what, Henry was my husbands fathers name. I wonder! It could be!!!!
I've started a craft journal and it may just become a bit more now that I've read this article.
THanks for the ideas and inspiration.
On Make memories while saving them
April 9, 2008 at 3:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tess1960 (anonymous) says...
I love etsy.com, it's a great place to just hang out and be inspired also.
On Old meets new at Etsy
April 9, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tess1960 (anonymous) says...
I for one agree on the bangs thing. I love wearing bangs for the exact reason noted. They hide a terribly receding hairline (inherited from my grandmother) and a few forehead wrinkles. I have straight, straight hair that I am always curling because I hate it straight. I even curl my bangs a bit. I've recently restyled my hair and have the "face-framing fringe" now and am getting compliments. I didn't know about the darker shades lipstick ageing my face. I guess I'll have to hit the store for some pinks.
Thanks for a great article.
On From 'Old Lady' to 'Young & Hip'
January 24, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tess1960 (anonymous) says...
This article is an inspirational one for us all. I am so glad you found your doll and restored her. I am also glad you found a new voice and I am sure you will be an inspiration to many over the years. Bless You dear!
On A old friend still brings a smile
December 27, 2007 at 9:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tess1960 (anonymous) says...
Wonderful ideas. This read like a to do list for me. Circle the ideas you like and check them off as you get them done.
Thank You for a wonderful article and a lite swift kick in the rear to get busy.
On First, clear out the clutter
December 6, 2007 at 8:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tess1960 (anonymous) says...
I agree with Susan. Do not think you have to celebrate just because it is Thanksgiving Day. My mother-in-law passed away 2 days before Christmas 10 years ago. We did the normal plans that year and the food was barely touched and all my husband wanted to do was be alone in a house full of people. Everyone left early that year thankfully and we spent the rest of the holiday season making arrangements and crying and being cranky nad remembering.
Sit the kids down and ask them what they want to do. Is there a special place everyone went with your husband. Did he have a special hobby that everyone could do in his memory. Or, is Susan's idea of helping the poor and homeless the right idea?
It is very likely your thought is right, the in-laws just can't handle being without their son. Be sure to let your children klnow this is ot a rejection of them. Many people handle loss and the holidays after differently.
This year my daughter and son-in-law have separated, I've asked both to come to Thanksgiving Dinner and both have agreed. I now see what I have done is put two people I dearly love in a situation of having to pretend for the family and their little girl. I hope they can forgive me!
Remeber the word thankful can apply to being thankful for the time you had with your husband and for the beautiful children he has given you.
On Adjusting holiday plans in the face of loss
November 20, 2007 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tess1960 (anonymous) says...
Susan and Dear Mom, I too felt the absence of a friend when my daughter movced out and became her own person, more distant and independent. We were not as colse as Sad Mom and her daughter but we were close enough that I felt such loss it was as if a part of me had disappeared. She let me know she was strong and I had raised her well, but still I worry to this day and miss that little girl that would listen to my complaints and successes and would share many of hers with me. Now she has become a workaholic and has even less time for mom. It has been 5 years and I have learned to cope with the missing friend, but it seems I will never stop missing that little girl I once knew.
On Mother-daughter bond won't break with some stretching
November 2, 2007 at 8:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tess1960 (anonymous) says...
Congratulations Kim on a battle well fought. May you continue to be blessed with good health. My maternal grandmother was diagnsed with breast cancer at age 79. She had Alzheimers and was in the end stages so family chose to do nothing. She wouldn't have understood anyway. She lived another year before passing on "of natural causes". My thought was there is nothing "natural" about Alzheimers or breast cancer. A maternal Aunt has now had a breast removed due to cancer. I've had a small benign tumor removed. Breast cancer is the scariest form for me, knowing I am succeptible due to heritage. I have had mammo's every year for the past 15 years. I am now 47. I have 2 daughters, 25 and 31, and pray daily it never gets to them. The younger generations just do not understand the importance of regular self breast examinations and mammograms. I found my lump myself. My oldest had her first mammo two years ago, clean thankfully. Our Aunts surgery scared her into it. Now I pray daily that my youngest will understand and the doctors will agree to schedule her first sooner instead of later.
Blessings to you and your son.
And thank you for sharing your experience so others may learn from it.
On A promise kept
October 30, 2007 at 8:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tess1960 (anonymous) says...
I love articles like this that just make me feel all "warm and fuzzy all over". This article reminded me of the time my husbands cat came crawling into the living room wearing my daughters dolls clothes, bonnet and all. She was so cute with that horrified look in her eyes, all dressed in pink ruffles.
Awwww!!!!
Thanks for the smile!!
On I dress my cats up as chickens, and I don't need your judging
October 12, 2007 at 9:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tess1960 (anonymous) says...
My brother and sister-in-law are going through a ruff patch right now. They have been together for 12 years. She even contacted a lawyer and had divorce papers started. They are attempting to work things out now. They are going to counseling and have started once a week date nights for themselves; some weeks with the kids, some weeks without. I was extremely disappointed to find the greatdatesdonecheap.com site was just a shameless plug to buy a book. And one that cannot be gotten at our local library at that.
I know they are one the right tract, spending more time together; and I agree that with the fast paced life and kids to take care of it is easy to become disconnected. They seem to be happier now that they are spending more time together and dateing again. I was so hopeing I had found a site to direct them to, to give them more creative and cheap date ideas. Oh well!!
On Benefits of spending time together
October 10, 2007 at 10:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )