Keeping Things Familiar

For the better part of the afternoon, I had the privilege of chatting with my daughter via text. She had an accident with falling that caused her to be placed in a boot for a bad sprain and was put off work for a week. I really think she needed the rest for many reasons. Today was a great afternoon just chatting about many things that came to mind.

She had taken a picture of her family and what they were doing, so I decided to show her what my view looked like as I sat quietly looking at my Christmas Tree in the den. I guess it sparked a memory in her mind and she shared with me how my homes always look like the home she is used to living in with me. She reminisced about how all my homes I move into that I decorate it to look consistent to all the homes we have lived in. She meant that as a compliment. She remembers that I always had candles or scents plugged in to make the house always smell nice. I told her I intentionally decorated that way, because no matter where God places me in this life, I always want my homes to feel like their homes. Currently, I have three homes that I live between and each one has a memory in them that makes them part of who I am and the memories I have shared along the way with my family. I want them to be able to land in any of the houses and feel at home there.

I recognize that I’m part of that make up, but I also like to have tangible memories displayed that they can relate to as being part of then — mostly through photographs, but I’ve also kept many items that have been moved into various rooms and places that they remember were in our other homes as they grew up. I also like to keep the Christmas decorations and holiday decor familiar so they can remember those previous happy times we have had together. I still buy and have on hand many of the snacks and drinks they like when they come to visit.

With my daughter, when she started to create her own home, I was able to divide some of my furniture and things that she grew up with to place in her own home. When I go visit her, I really feel at home there, I feel like there is a part of me there because some of her home furnishings were mine at one time or another. She took many of the holiday decor that was once part of ours as a family. I’ve always had an over abundance of stuff to display for many of the holidays. She also decorates with her own tastes, but when it all comes together it looks a lot like I would decorate. She also developed the habit of after cleaning her entire house, she lights candles and plugs in scents throughout her home as well. So I can walk into her house and it always smells pretty.

I remember when she first moved out, her room smelled like her pretty perfume that she used to wear. Now when my oldest son comes to visit me when he is in the Bay Area on business, after he leaves I can smell his cologne for days after to remind me that he was visiting. It warms my heart to have my kids scents linger after they have left.

There was a time when our long distant separations were starting to affect my grandchildren. So when they would start to cry because they had to leave, I would take off my cross and give it to them to wear to think of me. I was able to do that with both of my grandchildren. I usually have something for them when I leave, so they can think of the memories we shared together when we were together after I’ve left. I have things they have bought for me that I display on my dresser to think about them. I’ve done this with all my kids with things that they have bought for me. Some of my favorite blouses are from my son when he worked at Walmart and just because he wanted to buy me something, he paid for four blouses that I wear comfortably to this day.

The other day when I was in Los Banos, I found a toy ring that my son James had given me. He had a choice of a sticker or a ring. He wanted to give me a ring, so he spent his quarter and gave me a beautiful little red and gold ring. I still have it in one of my jewelry boxes there. I also have somewhere in my jewelry belongings a ring that my eldest son had bought for me. It is pink and white glass stones that make up to circles on a silver band. Those types of memories are so special to me. My daughter had bought me a stem of roses in a wooden box that plays a song that is in my closet in Los Banos. I just love those small familiar memory keepsakes. I have a hutch that houses many of my memories from many family and friends from different events throughout my life.

I have many encouraging biblical items that family and friends have given me to keep me focused on God. I love looking at them and remembering who and why that person gave me their gift. I’m sure all my things will remind my children of me throughout their lives.