March 2022 Blog

Life's keepsake moments

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Trinity 18"x24" Oil on Canvas by Yvonne Dagger

Years ago, while I was watching my granddaughter, Maddie, 
​I made up a little song that we would sing on our way home from her Pre-school class.
​It went like this...

"The Sun is shining.
The Sky is blue.
The Birds are singing a new song too.
And We're on our way to have a GREAT day...
MADDIE and me!"

Grandparents do stuff like that. I never did anything like that for my kids when they were growing up. At the time, I was too busy. BUT, as a grandmother, I now had the time to make silly things up and do silly things with her. We'd pretend, bake, paint/draw and do crafts together. We'd even make up stories in the car about what the dogs might be doing while we were away from the house. For instance, there was one time when I told her that I think that as soon as I left the house to go get her from school, Tommy TuTu would have a party with the neighborhood dogs and as soon as they heard our car pull into the driveway they'd tell all of the neighborhood dogs to high-tail it out of the house and pretend nothing happened. She got a big kick out of all of this...at least I think she did. Oh, how I remember those days like it was yesterday. ​

Maddie is now heading off to Hofstra University's Honors college on a full scholarship. I couldn't be prouder. 

I'm sure you all have you own memories about your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews. I feel that life gives us the opportunity to seize these moments and hold them in our hearts. I'm a big proponent of taking photographs of the special moments in our lives. Throughout the years I've gotten the eye-rolls and "I don't want to's" from my kids about taking a photo of an event or happening. "Just stand there and smile," I'd say. It was challenging to say the least!

Fast forward to today and I find my kids looking through those photos all of the time and talking about days gone by and those special times in our lives. They're truly such treasured memories in our family's history. Photos and keepsakes are the things that define who we are.

Currently, as I'm writing this month's blog, our world is going through a very difficult time. My heart goes out to the people of Ukraine. I pray for them. I ache for them. I think of all of the memories, treasures and keepsakes that they had to leave behind to escape their homes for safety. Many have even left their husbands, sons and friends behind to defend their country. The photographs of people fleeing with their pets is heartbreaking to see. To see the children holding a stuffed toy or doll close to them brings tears to my eyes. It's hard for me to comprehend how someone can disrupt a country and feel justified in destroying lives, property, and treasured memories. It just doesn't make sense to me. I guess it never will.

I am hopeful that this will all speedily come to an end and the people of Ukraine will be able to go back to their homes again.  I'm afraid to say that many will go back to lives lost, rubble, and destruction. They'll have to pick up the pieces of their lives and start all over again. The trauma that the children will witness will be with them forever.  Will they need help? Without s doubt they will. We can pray for them. Prayer is free. Prayer is powerful. Prayer is helpful and needed. 

In conclusion, I ask all who have taken the time to read this blog to say a prayer for the people of Ukraine and perhaps you too can think of those treasured memories you hold in your hearts with eternal happiness. 

Be well. Stay safe.
Happy tales to you,
xoxo Yvonne

PEACE BE WITH YOU!