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.