What does love look like? Sometimes it looks like hearts and roses. And sometimes it looks like Steve filling up a car with gas and then backing it into the driveway so I can pull straight out in the morning when I leave for work.
And speaking of love, Tippi is learning to love us and we are learning to love her. We enjoy sitting with her while she dozes–with one eye open to keep watch as a good guard doggie should.
This is one of the items we inherited from Ken and Vernie–a solid teak, mid-century secretary. I love to think of Vernie opening the drawers and little cabinets and getting out her stationery, pens, and stamps.
I also enjoy the nooks and crannies, and the pull-down shelf where I sit and pay the bills. Memories and beauty are all wrapped together in one piece of vintage wood.
Here are a couple of items from inside the secretary. Sometimes I long to go back to the simpler day when these vintage pieces were new. Whenever I use them, I imagine Ken and Vernie’s fingerprints all over them.
Speaking of office items, I have always been one of those people who enjoys wandering through an office supply store just for the fun of it. As a little girl, I loved sitting and scribbling on crisp pieces of paper and pretending that I was a secretary. My mom would show me her shorthand skills which I thought were absolute magic.
And now all of these years later, guess who is in charge of the office supply room?
The room is right behind my desk and I keep it stocked and organized. I feel like I have my own mini office store; plus, I do a lot of administrative/secretarial tasks so I guess one of my childhood dreams came to pass without me even chasing it.
Even though we live in a large-ish city, I am thankful that in 10-15 minutes I can be on a country road or in a small town.
Saturday I got my hair cut at my salon in Mt. Holly, a quaint, small town just a few minutes from our house. It always soothes my soul to turn my car in the direction of Mt. Holly instead of the direction of the freeway.
After I was finished with my haircut, I decided to stop at a community garden next to the salon; the garden is hosted by a local church.
Such a great sentiment.
Sometimes when I am tempted to be a little internally complain-y that I don’t have as much opportunity to take photos on leisurely country drives, I remind myself that you don’t have to drive for hours to find beauty. Beauty can be found minutes from anyone’s doorstep, just waiting to be discovered and appreciated.
Mt. Holly also has a thrift store, so I stopped in there after my haircut and garden visit.
As a lover of words and grammar, this sign stopped me in my tracks while I tried to figure out its precise meaning.
I found this blouse for $7 so that was fun! (My hair was sticking up everywhere so I did a little head-lopping.)
I never cease to be thankful that we live in a home surrounded by trees. Trees are some of the things on earth I love the most; they speak peace to a person just by existing.
As I am at my two-month anniversary of starting my full-time job, I’m assessing the adjustments Steve and I have made along the way to make it all work so well. As a friend of mine told me, “You and Steve have always been a team. This season of life is still about teamwork; it’s just a different kind of teamwork than in the first 41 years of your marriage.” That is so true.
While I work at work, Steve works at home. He has a never-ending list of fix-its, painting, and renovating, as well as covering many of the tasks I would normally do.
Friday night, he prepared this pork loin on the grill; we added some potatoes and a veggie, and dinner was done. He even remembered to sprinkle on some parsley. I’ve trained him well.
We’ve been married long enough that we can switch roles and keep on moving forward into new adventures and ways of doing life. That’s one of the things I love about our marriage and friendship.
While he was waiting for the food to cook, he and Tippi spent some time hanging out on the deck. Tippi makes such a good buddy.
I can always tell when he’s been hard at work when I get home and his boots are in the living room. It’s a nice sight to see!
When we babysat the grands a couple of weeks ago, I happened to notice a certain chair in the house. Nathan has had this chair since he was a pre-teen and now, at thirty-three, it’s still in his life!
In this season of life, it’s pulled up to his drum set. I love seeing things pop up from seasons in the past.
Saturday, June 24, marked the first anniversary of Mom’s passing. A million memories come to mind when I look through old pictures– like this one with her and Noah.
This is another favorite showing Mom doing what she loved more than anything–enjoying all of God’s creation in Ruth and Arnold’s yard.
A couple of years later, another picture was taken at Ruth and Arnold’s house except this one was overlooking the yard that mom used to walk in. This is the day before she passed. I was so incredibly honored to be there with my family during her last days of life. It will always remain one of the sweetest seasons I’ve ever experienced.
I think right before a person gets ready to leave this world they become more luminous as their eyes look beyond what they see in order to behold what is about to come.
Mom taught me to see things I might have otherwise overlooked. Through sixty years of example, she taught me what it meant to be kind, to be encouraging, to listen, to stay sweet in the midst of hardship, and most importantly, to turn to the Bible and prayer at every juncture of life.
I am grateful to have been shaped into who I am by this amazing and unique woman–Jo Ann Campbell. Her face was one of the first things I ever saw and my face was one of the last things she ever saw. From my cradle to her grave, we have been joined at the heart. I love you, Mom!
What about you?
How would you describe your mom in 2-3 sentences?
Has there been a season in your life when you and your spouse traded roles?
Do you have anything in your life from your childhood (like Nathan’s red chair) that you still use now?
Are you an aficianado of office supplies?
Does anybody out there still know shorthand?
Oh our moms, you never really get over it, they were our biggest cheerleaders….my Mom passed away in 2009 after a tragic accident and I have been thinking about her a lot lately…she was the kindest, funniest, most caring woman in the world, my parents divorced in 1969 and it was a tough time to be a single woman, she went back to college, got a job and opened our house to all who needed help, she was amazing, I think I have posted this before but when she died, in our little town in NJ, it was April, pouring rain and over 500 people waited outside the funeral home for the visitation….we were astounded by the love people had for her….and yup a husband’s love is not all hearts and flowers…..my husband shows his love by cleaning and detailing my car, when I broke my hip, he set up a hospital bed, a shower chair, sat with me for countless hours watching my tv shows, cooked, did the laundry I guess that is when our roles were reversed…cheers to these special men.
Dale,
For a single woman to go back to college, get a job, raise kids, and open her home? I’m not surprised there would be that many people standing in the rain to say good-bye. She sounds like an amazing person; I know you miss her terribly.
And her husband is certainly a fine fella–switching roles without missing a beat. Blessed, indeed!
I love this post since it is literally close to home. I will sometimes go through Mt. Holly instead of I-85 to get to Gastonia just to move at a slower pace. We love the little town of Belmont also. I haven’t been to one but during summer they have concerts in the park. We live in a good area!
Karen,
I always take the back way to Gastonia. And yes, I love Belmont, too. Some good consignment stores there and such a cute town!
I love “thing” posts!
I have a few things from my childhood but the one that is used daily is my Snoopy telephone lamp 🙂 It still sits by my bed (not as a phone but as my bedside lamp – lol).
I never knew shorthand but my mother did! And I love office supplies (and school supplies). I miss buying school supplies for the kids and having everything be so fresh and clean and organized.
Suzanne,
Glad to hear you love all the Things!
A Snoopy telephone lamp. If that’s not cool, I don’t know what is.
And let’s hear it for fresh, organized school supplies!
I always enjoy your “Thing” posts! Although it was still taught in my high school, I did not take shorthand (opting instead for band & yearbook as electives), Forever Young. That is how I describe & remember my Mama since she passed at the young age of 31. While I don’t use it regularly I have an apron from my maternal grandma, I have a restored doll that belonged to my paternal grandma, and while I don’t display it I also have my mama’s “casket pillow” with the dried rosebuds still on it that my aunt saved for me. The box it’s stored in is also special because it has my aunt’s handwriting on it and she passed away about 20 years ago. Funny you should ask about office supplies – my co-worker (who retired this year) and I would always talk about how “geek-y” we were about our office supplies! Colored pens (ink, gel, Flair & Sharpie), pretty folders, colored paper clips & binder clips are our “work love language”. Nice to hear we have that in common. Wishing you a wonderful week!!
Sue Ellen,
Oh my. That is so, so young for you to lose a mother and for your mom to lose a family. I’m glad you have some tangible things to hold on to–and so many memories, as well.
Sounds like you and your co-worker were kindred spirits; we’re all part of Office Supply Geek Group!
Your writing this week was beautiful and touching. My husband and I are watching his Mom fade away day by day with dementia
As we care for her. We can see that far away look in her eyes also. My mom is still with me and is one of the strongest women I know. She has gone through much in her life. I know the Lord will one day take her to himself and I will miss her wise and generous heart.
Donna,
“Fading day by day” is such an apt way to put it when a loved one has dementia. So hard to see them fade and yes what peace to know the sun will rise on them in another life. Hugs to you and your husband.
As always you share the greatest photos.
My Mom was a hard worker to manage our family. She was devoted our family and extended family which we saw as often as we could considering that most were in Kansas and we were in California. She made the best molasses cookies and let us help her bake.
I think my husband and I traded places from day one. He loves to cook and does almost all of the cooking. He will step up to do other tasks when needed.
I have several kitchen items that I inherited and still use all the time. I had several of my toys but have been selling them off on Etsy as I have no one to pass them down to.
I am an aficianado of school supplies. Always loved getting new supplies when in school, then as a teacher, and even now retired I just found an organization that wants school supplies to give in back packs to immigrants. I am so excited to go buy some school supplies now!
I sadly have forgotten my shorthand, but never used it after taking the class in high school. My mom remembered it and would use it for her Christmas lists.
Patti,
Molasses cookies. My mom used to make those, too. Haven’t had any in forever. Thanks for that memory and for sharing about your mom.
So glad to know you have a very good excuse to go shopping for school supplies again. What a great outreach to give backpacks to immigrants. I love that!
My grandmother liked old furniture, and I have lots of it that belonged to her after my great-grandmother passed away. I have an old piano, about 100 years old, that was in the old church in the tiny town she lived in and that I visited often as a child; her sister played piano at the church for about 70 years. It originally belonged to my great-grandfather’s first wife, who died young back in the 40’s. I took lessons on it as a kid. It’s in rough shape, but I keep it around for sentimental reasons. The one thing from my childhood I still have? My Powwies. Powwies are small, mostly flat little pillows that I’ve had since I was a baby. They used to be a lot larger and fluffier than they are now! I’m 58 years old and still can’t sleep without Powwies. They go everywhere with me when I travel. Any time I had to go on a work trip with a co-worker, or travel with a friend, I always pull them out and tell my co-worker or friend to go ahead and laugh, but these are my Powwies and I can’t sleep or travel without them. My husband teases me about them, saying he’s going to sleep with them, or snuggle them, as he knows I don’t like anyone else touching them! Crazy, I know!
Melissa,
Seventy years as a church pianist. My, oh my. My hat is off to her. Such faithfulness is rare to to see. And how special to have inherited the piano. I’m sure the melodies are still unraveling from inside that piece.
Powwies, huh? 🙂 If they’ve been with you for 58 years then then there must be something very wonderful about them! I’m glad you have understanding friends and a husband who know how much they mean to you.
Happy 2 month anniversary at your job. I am like you, I love office supplies. I could spend a lot of money at Staples if I let myself.
Cute blouse! I have never shopped at thrift stores until today. My mom is in need of some larger tops. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money so I hit up Savers, a local thrift store that benefits Big Brothers and Big Sisters. I have taken things there several times but never went in. I got her 12 new tops for right at $80. I was going to go to another thrift store or two but found enough at the first one, I decided to stop at the one.
I do not know shorthand. My aunt was an administrative assistant for 40+ years and used it frequently until she got a boss that used his computer a lot. She’s retired now so not sure she remembers it.
I have a cedar chest that my great aunt bought me before she passed, I think in 1968. It’s still at the foot of my bed and has things in it.
My mother babysat for many years until my younger brother started kindergarten. Then she worked in a garment factory until she retired. After she retired, she babysat my niece until she started school then kept her in the summer until she was old enough to stay by herself. She was a good cook and always made a bunch of candy at Christmas. She loved to plant lots of flowers in the spring – she always waited until after Mother’s Day so she didn’t lose them to a late frost. While she is still with us, I can’t really have a conversation with her. She still knows who I am which I am thankful for.
Phyllis,
Wow, you did great at Savers! Nice to just make one trip and find so many things your mom can use.
Cedar chests are wonderful pieces of furniture, being entrusted with so many memories. Glad you have one to fill up.
Your mom sounds like she lived her life serving other people. I’m glad she still knows who you are although I know you miss your conversations with her. Hugs.
I read the sign before I read your post about it. That sign stopped me in my tracks as well. As an English teacher, that gerund and infinitive together drove me crazy not to mention: who is the you who will be asked to leave? Okay so that sentence wasn’t grammatically sound, but hopefully you get my point. 😜
I love your new blouse. I never get so lucky in a thrift store.
I lost my mom in 2019 and while we didn’t have the kind of mother-daughter relationship that I wanted, I know she loved me the best she could with what she had to offer. I have spent all of my years as a mother, being the kind of mother that I wanted. At times that made my own mom angry when she saw me doing things for my kids that she never did for me. I feel like some of her anger may have been regret that just came out as anger. Either way, I still miss her and grieve what we would never get to have.
Happy Two-monthaversary. I am glad that you are enjoying your new job and getting to relish in wonderful office supplies.
Lisa,
Yes, I was stopped in my tracks too, standing there and scratching my head and wondering the same things you were wondering. I love keeping my eyes open for interesting signs like that.
Your paragraph about your mother stopped me in my tracks, too. You have so much wisdom, forgiveness, and insight. “I know she loved me the best she could with what she had to offer” is the kind of sentence that can bring a lot of peace to people who have had a complicated relationship with their mother. I admire the way you forged your own path for motherhood and came to understand that your mom’s regrets drove so much of her behavior. Blessings to you.
I loved your tribute to Mom. Such a sweet lady! I always describe my mom as having a strong, quiet soul. She spent a lot of time reading or praying. I have her secretary in my house too! I will pass it to Jessica one day. I also have the small milk can that my Mom carried to the barn, and back to the house so we had milk to drink. And i have this wooden tray, that my Dad made, that us kids would use to eat off of in bed when we were sick. It has all 3 of our names scribbled on it. My Grandson, Evan uses it now when he eats in the living room. Although I took shorthand in high school, I don’t remember much. Just a few of the lines and the letters they represented. I should look it up somewhere. I do remember her being very good at it. You and Steve have done a wonderful job of role reversal. I’m pretty sure Phil would do a good job of it too. When I was working, and he had days off during the week, he did really well and had dinner waiting most nights. Have a great week at work!
Carol
Carol,
Oh, I love that you have the milk can that your mom carried to and from the barn. You’re one of those rare people who can say they grew up with milk that was that fresh!
I remember your dad being so good at building things; glad Evan still has that special tray.
I have good memories of your parents–loving, salt of the earth, godly, hard-working. I know you miss them.
I was just thinking about trees the other day–expounding to my son on the amazing feat of God creating Billions of leaves -just within our view from the deck!! I love trees too and was treasuring their wonderful existence in my heart as I rode along on my scooter looking at them–everywhere! Truly one of God’s best ideas!
And oh how good it is to thank the Lord for all the little everyday blessings he pours around our lives.
As the verse says–“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord-and to sing praises to thy name, oh most high.To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning and thy faithfulness every night.”
( I believe a favorite of mom’s)
Ruth,
Yes, I can see mom loving that verse. It’s a good one.
Trees are so beautiful and steadfast; just standing there . . . being. A world without trees would be absolutely horrible. And I always think of what a great color God chose for them. Can you imagine purple or orange trees? Green is so wonderfully perfect!
As you know, “The Thing” is always my favorite post. This time, the pictures of the garden and of course, Pastor Steve and Tippi on the beautiful back porch!
Fred,
Glad you enjoyed all The Things!
That was truly a lovely garden; I’m so glad I decided to stop by.
I’ve ALWAYS wanted to know shorthand, and it was offered in my high school. I only took typing (BEST, most useful class I’ve ever taken!!!) though because shorthand was always against the science classes I needed.
My mom tried her best. She loved cats.
I have a few things from my childhood – a brick “doorstop” that I made in kindergarten, and I still use it; my great-grandmother’s iron skillet that was passed down to my mom; my add-a-pearl necklace that was gifted to me by another great-grandmother at my christening.
Stefanie,
How cool that you use still your doorstop from kindergarten. I love that! And a skillet and a pearl necklace that have traveled through your life with you. What treasures.
Your brief description of your mom communicates so much–maybe not the best relationship between you but an understanding on your part that she did try. I think a large measure of peace comes when you just hold on to that knowledge that someone tried.
And she loved cats. That’s always a good thing!