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!

Friday, May 12, 2023

Friday Foto Friends...Just Wow!

Dear friends, Here it is Friday, and I really didn't have any photos to share with you until a few minutes ago, when my dear niece Sandy in North Carolina, sent this old family photo to me that she found at her parents' home.  I am overwhelmed with joy and happy tears, to say the least.  What a perfect picture for Mother's Day weekend...

This is my family on our farm in Pennsylvania, many many years ago, probably circa 1952.  
Left to right: My brother Clifford, My brother Russell, our dog Laddie, My Mother Dorothea, my sister Doris, My Father Bill Mursch, and then last, but not least, little me!!! "The Little Redhead", as I was known by everyone back then.
How I love this photo.  I'm not sure what I'm happiest about the most...one thing, that it is my whole family and it is in color! That's a blessing. It is especially special because now three of those family members are now in heaven, my brother Russell, my mother, and my father.   And also, that our dog Laddie was in the picture with us! I don't know if we have any other pictures of Laddie, and I loved him so much.  I remember taking walks with my mother down the lane every day to the mailbox, and Laddie would walk along beside us or lead the way...
and then when we sold the farm, Laddie was given to someone else because we were moving to Florida and didn't have any way to take him with us.  I know I cried and my mother cried too. She and I both loved Laddie.   And my mother really didn't want to leave the farm. She married a farmer and always wanted to be a farmer's wife!  But in the 1950's farming was difficult.  If you didn't have lots of money to go big, you had a hard time keeping up.
And so a decision was made to sell the farm and auction off all the equipment and Black Angus cattle and other animals, etc.  I don't know all the details. I was only 5 at the time and I really didn't understand what was going on.  All I knew was we were leaving the farm and all our beloved pets and things behind.  We had to store a lot of furniture at my Uncle Paul's farm in his barn because we couldn't take much with us.  We were moving to a very small 2 bedroom apartment in Florida, which was to be temporary until Daddy could get a new house built. We actually moved a couple more times into little houses before the new house was built, and once the house was built we went back up to PA. and brought down some of the furniture we'd left behind, but there really wasn't much.  The only thing I remember looking for was the little green wicker doll buggy that my sister Doris and I played with, and for some reason it wasn't there anymore.  No one seemed to know what happened to it.  That's probably why when I found this wicker doll buggy in my parents' attic many years later, after they died, I brought it home to live with me:

Of course I already had a special purpose beyond just nostalgia for wanting the doll carriage...those of you who've been around for awhile have already heard the story of "Baby Elva", but just in case you haven't, here's a link to her history


So anyway, I guess I don't need to keep going down memory lane so far today, but I just had to share that photo of my family with you.  Also it goes along with the fact that this is Mother's Day weekend, so it's a good time to remember our mothers and the sacrifices they made for us for the betterment of our future.  Moving to Florida was hard for my mother, because she left behind not only the farm and way of life that she loved, but we moved farther away from her aging parents and all of her extended family. But because in the long run it would be better for our family to make that move, she acquiesced to my father's plans and made the most of our new life in Florida.

In loving memory and to honor my mother...
HERE's a link to a story I wrote about "Flowers for Mama" several years ago, that kind of tells a little more about her, and here's another link:"A Kiss From Heaven".



Okay, back to whatever you were doing.  Thank you for taking this little walk down memory lane with me. I am sure we are all thinking of special memories of our mothers this weekend. I hope you will share some of yours.
Have a blessed and wonderful Mothers' Day weekend, no matter what.



 

18 comments:

  1. Wonderful family photos. I like old photos, don't y'all?! I hadn't even thought about doing a Mother's Day post. For me, sometimes going down that well-worn memory lane only dredges up too many memories I don't care to recall. I enjoy everyone else's though. Lots & lots! Makes me smile. Since I'm a new creature in Christ it's time (for me) to open the throttle, shift gears and go forward. Make new happier memories. Plus, we're both missing Steve's Mom. That's still kinda raw.
    Blessings & Love To You All. xx

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    1. Oh, I can understand how you are feeling this Mother's Day. I remember when my mother passed away 17 years ago the week before Mother's Day. It was very difficult. And then John's mother passed away in August of 2018. She was such a big part of our lives for so many years, actually living with us for quite a while...and we were very close. So yes, I still miss her as well...sometimes as much as if not more than my own mother, because 'Nanny Steiner' was such a huge character and influence in our lives. I've written about her a lot over the years when she was with us...probably before you and I became "friends". She was an amazing woman and I loved her very much. So I definitely understand what you are saying. I pray your weekend will be filled with only the good and pleasant memories, and yes, make new happier memories together. You are both so blessed to have each other. I'm so glad we got to "meet" here, and I hope maybe someday we will meet for real in person. We "Pamelas" have to stick together!! (((hugs)))

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  2. Thank you for sharing your memories with us. My memories of my mother are mixed. But, after I found out she had died, I realized she may have had some "issues" that she really didn't know about or understand. Happy Mother's Day to you. Peace and blessings.

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  3. What a wonderful family photo...I can see why you love it so. It was a pleasure to read more of your family's story. Your mom sounds like a remarkable woman who loved your father and her family very much. Have a blessed Mother's Day weekend. 🕊️

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  4. Hello Pamela. I love the family photos you shared and also reading a little about your background and family. You were very blessed to be raised in a good family. I hope you have a very nice Mother's Day with family and friends close at hand. I am sure your family will spoil you. See you next time.

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  5. Pam, I just love that you were gifted such a special photo that brings so many wonderful and happy memories to mind!! It makes me a bit sad that the family farm was sold. So many family farms are gone now. Memories warm our hearts, don't they?! Have a blessed weekend, dear friend!! xo

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  6. What a beautiful family photo, Pam ... like something I'd expect to see in an issue of Good Housekeeping! Bittersweet, your mother having to put aside her own longings to accompany the family to Florida. Wow, that reminds me a bit of the scene in Fiddler on the Roof when Tevye's eldest leaves to accompany her new husband, "far from the land I love."
    Thank you for sharing the link to baby Elva again. I'm going to go back and read again, just because.

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  7. Thanks for sharing these precious memories.

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  8. What sweet memories you have and I so enjoyed hearing them tonight.

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  9. What a wonderful family photo from your niece. I can only imagine how it must have felt to receive it.

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    1. I was actually quite emotional all day long. Something about that picture just really tugged at my heart. I honestly think it was the picture of Laddie that put me over the top. What a rush of early childhood memories of a sweet doggy that I loved so much! I never realized how much until I saw that picture. Strange how it affected me.

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  10. I love that family photo, Pamela, Laddie and all! Such sweet memories of childhood and renewed gratefulness for all your mother's sacrifices for her loved ones.
    Happy Mother's Day!

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  11. Grinning...thank you Pamela for the many smiles. Wishing you a beautiful Mother's Day my friend.

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  12. Holding Baby Elva is very calming -- I know since you handed her to me to hold years ago when we visited your home in the Forest. Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

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  13. How wonderful to receive the family photograph, after all these years. I remember a picture of my parents, my brother and I together that is possibly the only picture of all of us together. My brother and I were grown up with families of our own. I believe I can relate how wonderful it is for you to have your family picture.

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  14. What a treasure to have that photo!

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  15. What a wonderful picture. I had a dog named Laddie, too, when I was a kid. A farm dog-border collie. I was lucky enough to grow up on the farm in PA until I left home at 17. I am so glad you have a little buggy to remind you of the one you lost.
    Happy Mother's Day, my friend. xo Diana

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  16. Happy Mother's Day to you, Pamela! I am keep of many family photos. I need to finish scanning them...

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