MORE MEMORIES OF YESTERDAY . . .

Grandmothers! I was blessed with more than my share of them, at least if you compare mine with someone who only had one or maybe none.

My Brothers Three and Me, loved to go to “BIG” grandma’s house. Why “BIG” you ask? Well, she was tall . . . compared to “LITTLE” grandma who was short! “LITTLE” grandma was only, maybe, four foot eight or nine inches tall (or should I say short). And only about ninety pounds. “BIG” grandma was about five feet five inches and . . . ? . . . pounds.

Well, anyway . . . we lived a ways away from “BIG” grandma’s house, but not so far that we couldn’t walk there, or ride our bikes. We would go down the hill on Piccadilly Street, (I like that name!) Over the railroad tracks, past the house with the two Great Danes, and into the woods. I can remember running as fast as I could while hollering to my Brothers Three to wait for Me! I didn’t want to go past the railroad tracks alone, or past those big barking dogs! Not to mention the occasional hobo, that was waiting to hop a freight train.

So, safe and sound in the woods at last. This was our favorite place to play all kinds of wild and adventurous make-believe games. Oh, yes, back on the trail to “BIG” grandma’s house. The next obstacle was a large old log that made a perfect bridge to cross the most wonderful creek that any kid would love to play in. Then we wound our way through the trees, ferns and other bushes on a wonderful path that came out in grandma’s back yard.

One of us would telephone mom, so she would know that we made it to grandma’s safe. My grand-kids would be asking me if there really were telephones way back then! We couldn’t stuff them in our pocket and go, but we had ‘em, party lines and all! What’s a party line? Well that’s another story!

“BIG” grandma would give us all hugs and kisses and set us down to milk and cookies, cake, or something wonderful from her bountiful kitchen.

We never knew what lay in store for us there! It could be picking raspberries, blackberries or just playing in grandma’s yard, or in our wonderful “woods”.

Then at supper time, mom and dad would show up and we would enjoy some of “BIG” grandma’s good cooking! Yummy!

Memories of Easter . . .

Easter is a wonderful holiday.  When I was young, all of us kids loved seeing the new babies that Spring brings. We enjoyed all of the beautiful Spring flowers and blossoms on the many fruit trees, around the neighborhood and in our own yards.

I remember my new Easter outfit! It wasn’t just a new dress . . .  it included a hat or something special for my hair, gloves and purse, and of course, pretty new “Sunday School” shoes.

There were Easter Baskets full of that wonderful green grass and . . . oh yes . . . lots of candy and chocolate eggs nestled under and through the grass. And on top of all of that . . . a big chocolate bunny and some fuzzy little yellow chicks. And of course we always had marshmallow Peeps. Yummy.

Our family Easter egg hunt was always lots of fun. Our parents, aunts, and uncles would make us kids stay inside the house, while they hid the eggs! Then we would all be turned loose to find the eggs! It was great!

Of course, before all of the fun at Grandma’s house, we had all been to our Sunday School and Church services.

Then came dinner time! Big family dinners at Grandma’s house were always wonderful, with way more food than anyone could eat! Lots of family, lots of cousins. Did I say lots of food? And Grandma’s HOT CROSS BUNS!  We only had them on Easter. Big fluffy buns with a white frosting “cross” on top of each one of them, remembering the Cross where our Lord and Savior, Jesus, shed His precious blood for all the sin of the world.

But, more than that . . . He died for ME! Jesus loves ME! The pure, wonderful love that comes with forgiveness and grace . . . the LOVE that gives us HOPE for now and eternity. Join your heart, with mine, in thankfulness to Jesus, because He died for us on Calvary, and rose again on that beautiful Easter morning.

Thank you Jesus! You are the BEST!