What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Box Full of Memories -- Updated 9-25-2016

Today is my birthday, and it has been a weekend full of blessings and joy and celebration with family and friends. I am always amazed at how God brings sweet surprises out of the woodwork on my special day...and this year was no exception.  I may write more about that later.

In scrolling back through things that I wrote on previous birthdays, I came across this one that always brings back special memories.  That "box full of memories" is close by to peruse and enjoy whenever the mood hits me. It is always a joy-giver and tear-jerker to go through...but the memories are all pleasant and bittersweet.  I am so thankful for the precious heritage God has given me. Read on and enjoy.


Original Post 9-23-13:
My birthday isn't for a couple more days, but we celebrated over the weekend so we could have family and friends together to share in the fun. As you can see, I was blessed with two apple pies and one Cinderella Princess cake...and a lot of candles to blow out.
I closed my eyes and listened as my family sang the familiar strain of 
"Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear (Pam), (Mom) (Aunt Pam),
Happy Birthday to you!"

I was actually enjoying the moment so much, and directing the choir as they sang,
It sounded like the angels were singing.


And then I had to blow out the candles...all of them, if I wanted my wish to come true!

I started at the pies and went all the way down to the cake...and I almost made it...but not quite. 
I guess my wish won't come true...but that's okay.  God is working on it. He knows exactly
what I need and want...and He'll take care of it. He always has and always will.

So, after the singing and the blowing and cheers I opened gifts and had a marvelous time.
We were at my sister's home. I was sitting in front of my grandmother's antique china cabinet,
that was passed down to my mother, and then to my sister 
after both my parents joined each other in heaven.
My sister's house is the only place left here in our home state where we have actual
memories of having our parents with us in that place. My parents' home has been sold to strangers, and it wouldn't be the same anyway without them and all the familiar things that we enjoyed in their home.
So being in my sister's home, with my mother's china cabinet behind me, I felt somewhat at home.
I kept waiting to hear my parents' voices join in the singing...that was one of their favorite times...birthdays.
Never a birthday went by that they didn't call us up and sing to us over the phone if we couldn't be
together in person. It was a family tradition...one of the best kinds.
I missed them...but I could hear them singing in my heart.

Well, after the gifts were all opened my niece placed a plastic container in my lap and said,
"Aunt Pam, here is a box from Grandma and Grandpa's house that has your name on it."
Well, I kind of knew what it was, but I wasn't prepared for the flood of memories that
I was about to have hit me.
My parents were great "savers".  They saved cards, letters, pictures...and much much more.
Actually, I had told my mother many times over the years when we lived far away from
them to be sure and save my letters that I wrote them, because someday I would
need them to write a book!
My mother did just that.
She saved them all.
I only wish I'd written more!
Be sure to click on pictures to enlarge for viewing.


But the ones she saved were all very special...letters written to them when I found out I was pregnant with our first child, and I was one state away from home, and very sick.  I spent the first three months not holding down anything...and missing my mama so much. But I sounded brave in my letters. I even told them how it felt the first time I felt the baby move...and how big I was getting and how I was making maternity dresses.
I never realized I had written so many details...what a thrill to find these letters again. I read them to my now 42 year old son...the one I was carrying when I was so pukey sick that I wound up in the hospital for a week on IV's....He said he was sorry.  I'm not sorry. He was worth it.



Then there were letters from when we went away to prepare for the ministry...and I shared a little of the hardships we endured while in Bible College...but I also shared the joy of opening our home for a ladies' Bible study with unsaved women in our apartment complex...something I said I had never done before and I said how wonderful it felt to share Christ with my neighbors. I'm so glad she saved that letter. I'd forgotten how special that time was...



Then there were many pictures...pictures of our babies, newborn and sweet, growing and cute, pictures from all over the country, wherever our journeys took us as we served the Lord in the ministry. There were even little hand written letters to Grandma and Grandpa from our boys...so sweet and scribbly, and priceless.

Yes, this was the best birthday present ever.  A gift to me from my wonderful Mom and Dad, who held these letters as something to be treasured...the letters to home from their baby daughter.

I know why they saved them.
Not just because I asked them to.
They would've done it anyway.
Because they loved me and cherished me 
and my little family. 
They brought me into this world,
and they loved me until they left this world.

Just like Jesus loves me and cherishes me
and my little family.
I'll bet He saves all my letters (my prayers to Him)
in His heart
and He answers them one by one.
(I noticed my mother often put a little note on the envelopes of my letters
with a date showing when she replied to my letter)
Why? Because He loves me.
He truly brought me into this world
and then
He gave His life for me.
He made it possible for me
to join Him someday in heaven
and be with Him for eternity.
My parents are there too...
they'll be waiting for me at the gate I am certain.

The box full of memories is something to treasure.
But even better than that is the knowledge that this is not all there is to life.
My "treasure is in Heaven ~ 
where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do 
not break in and steal."
Matthew 6:20

Even so, 
this was a pretty special birthday present 
from my Mom and Dad.
Don't you agree?
Thanks Mom and Dad.
I love you.






27 comments:

  1. Oh my eyes are brimming! What a lovely thing to enjoy on your birthday week. This conveyed the sweet moment so clearly and with so much love. Beautiful Pam and Happy Birthday my dear friend. Susie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing this special moment with me, Susie. I know you understand how priceless this is. It's been a bit overwhelming to me...in a very good way. Oh, and these letters are like reading from a journal...so you may see some excerpts in future "Random Journal Days". Thank you again dear friend across the continent who seems to close right now.

      Delete
    2. That should have said "who seems SO close right now." Never too close! :)

      Delete
  2. On the Saturday of my birthday celebration after you left Mom and I were standing in the room where all of these things are stored and I saw the box with your name on it, I told Mom that we should have pulled it out when you were there....so when we were all gathered again this Saturday, Grandma must have whispered to me to share that box with you on your special day because all of a sudden out of the blue I remembered the box and ran to get it!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you dear sweet niece Debbie. I can't tell you how much this has meant to me. I've been reading all these letters out loud to whoever will listen, and they are enjoying them as much as I. And even though I've seen most of these pictures before and have my own copies of them, it's like Christmas all over again looking at them through my parents' eyes...they way THEY saw them and treasured them. Yes, this is very special indeed. Thank you, Debbie, for remembering it for me. <3 <3

      Delete
  3. What a nice birthday,Pam, and such good memories you have. Hope your birthday ,tomorrow, will be just as great! It's good that you can celebrate all week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you, Sylvia. I feel so totally blessed and thankful. Not sure why I am receiving so many blessings...but I thank the Lord for His goodness and love every day. Thank you for being one of those blessings!

      Delete
  4. I am so glad that Debbie remembered to bring out that box to you! I would have been so upset with myself if I had found it AFTER you left to go home! I know just how precious those letters and pictures are to you, as mine are to me too! It was a special day. I know Mom and Dad were looking down on us all and enjoying the day too! Their presence is still in my home as they had been there many times for celebrations that weren't held at their home! Happy Birthday, Dear Sister--I love you!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you dear sister Doris for being my little big sister forever and ever! That was the best birthday gift ever!!! Of course, the pie and rose bush were exceptionally wonderful too!!!! And just being there...together. Such a blessed day! You are right, I am spoiled!

      Delete
  5. Happy Birthday, Pam. Such a treasure you received. Such a treasure you are. To God and to us. Thanks for being. Just that.
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Carolyn...such kind and sweet words...I feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends near and far...even in cyberspace as we are...we are sisters in Christ...and that makes us family! Thank you for being a part of this wonderful family. Blessings to you today.

      Delete
  6. Oh my, Pam! What a wonderful birthday gift you were given! Letters are almost a thing of the past these days, so to have those letters you'd written to your mom and dad all those years ago are certainly a treasure...as they certainly must have been to them when they received them! Happy Birthday, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Dianna. Yes, they are indeed a treasure trove of memories to me...and makes me wish I had written more often. I know how much my parents appreciated getting letters, as did I enjoy receiving them from them. I'm afraid the future generations will be wondering if we ever communicated because email/facebook will disappear and there will be no record. Sad.
      Thank you for stopping by and for the birthday wishes too. :)

      Delete
  7. Hi Pam! What a precious gift to you! (and by the way Happy Birthday!) Isn't it amazing to find out how much your parents cherished your communications to them after all this time. And as you said, you wouldn't have to ask them, they'd just do it. Because that's love.

    In todays world, people don't write letters like they used to...we all have texts and emails. You can't put them in a box, so this is really a special, special thing.

    Thanks for sharing your birthday with us!
    Ceil

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ceil. I think our blog posts are the new letters...IF we remember to save them and print them and keep them. I don't even hand write my journal anymore. But I am guilty of not always saving what I've written to another place...and I fear that one day I will wake up and blogger will be gone. So, it is a reminder to save AND print! Thank you for stopping by today. Sorry I am just discovering your message. I've been "away" for a couple of days (home, but away) :)

      Delete
  8. Pam, Thanks for bringing back that memory of your birthday party at my house and especially your very special box-gift! Now you have my eyes brimming like your friend said her's were! We can thank Mom and Dad for giving us all so many precious memories! Happy Birthday one last time until next year! Love you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Has to be the best gift ever! Thank you for making it possible! Someday we need to go through more of that stuff! I'll bet there are other surprises waiting! Love you, my little Big sister!!!

      Delete
  9. Hope all your birthdays are just as memorable and blessed. You deserve the best, my dear friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Sylvia! Did you notice that you had commented on this 3 years ago? Isn't it great that we've been friends so long? One day we will actually meet!! Thank you for your kind words and birthday wishes. Blessings to you as well.

      Delete
  10. Beautiful post Pam...precious memories, precious treasures. Wishing you many more happy birthdays!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Mary. It still takes my breath away when I start going through that box. Sometimes it is a good idea to save stuff, even when people say you should clean out those old drawers and boxes. Precious memories deserve to be remembered. Thank you for your friendship.

      Delete
  11. Oh, so special, indeed!!! Such a glorious gift to be treasured always, and one day passed down to your children and grandchildren.
    Happy Birthday, Pam!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Martha Jane. Yes, I am thankful for this special gift and what it represents...so many happy memories and treasures. A perfect birthday present. Thank you again.

      Delete
  12. I'm just a little overwhelmed by all that is in this post. How blessed you are! I love the letters that were saved. I love that you have such a wonderful and loving heritage and are carrying it on. I love what you share about Jesus saving our letters to Him. Beautiful, and so precious. Happy belated birthday wishes. I'm sorry I didn't see this yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Nonnie, for seeing the full picture here. Can't you just picture Jesus treasuring our thoughts and prayers and even our tears? Someday He will present them back to us as we gain understanding to the "bigger picture" that He's been watching all along. Thank you for your birthday wishes. It was a special weekend. God is good.

      Delete
  13. Happy, happy belated birthday. What a blessed day celebrating you had and a very special gift to be passed on down. Hope you have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Debbie. This past weekend was a time of joy and happiness indeed. I am truly grateful for such wonderful family and friends and the fellowship of Christian friends here as well. So blessed!!

      Delete

Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.