My inspiration for this post came from my dear, longtime blogging friend, Debbie @ Musings by an ND Domer's Mom, who is not only a gifted...
This is the time of year when I miss my parents the most because Christmas was always such a big deal in my family. My parents celebrated Christmas as if they were kids, making sure that my siblings and I had lasting memories.
Which I do.
And which I will always hold deep within my heart.
Whenever I share a post about my parents and my childhood, I must include photographs of both my mothers because I was blessed with two.
One was my birth mother, and the other was a lovely lady who my father married several years after my birth mother passed away.
And I'm not just saying this because these women were my mothers, but these two ladies were incredibly special.
I think of them both as angels.
Because that's what they were.
Which I do.
And which I will always hold deep within my heart.
Whenever I share a post about my parents and my childhood, I must include photographs of both my mothers because I was blessed with two.
One was my birth mother, and the other was a lovely lady who my father married several years after my birth mother passed away.
And I'm not just saying this because these women were my mothers, but these two ladies were incredibly special.
I think of them both as angels.
Because that's what they were.
-----------------------------------------
This is a wedding photo of my father (Frank) and my birth mother.
Her name was Mary...
This is my father with my second mother.
Her name was Ruth-Ann, but preferred to be called, Ann.
And although she was not my biological mother, I just naturally thought of her as my mother...
This is me now, at 64-years old.
And as you can tell, I still act like a silly elf...
You know, my parents and childhood were far from perfect. However, I know that my parents did the best they could with what they knew at that time, as parents. Later in life my parents and I even had some really intense differences, which sometimes led to arguments and distance. Trust me, my childhood and my relationship with my parents was not always smooth-sailing.
But I will tell you one thing that I know in my heart of hearts.
I was loved.
So, whenever I look back on my childhood and my parents (and Christmas), I can honestly say that I don't ever focus on the differences.
I only focus on the love.
Because that's what I truly remember.
This is a wedding photo of my father (Frank) and my birth mother.
Her name was Mary...
This is my father with my second mother.
Her name was Ruth-Ann, but preferred to be called, Ann.
And although she was not my biological mother, I just naturally thought of her as my mother...
This is me (4-years old), sitting on my brand new hobbyhorse that I got for Christmas in 1959.
You can tell I was very proud of it, can't you?
I think I look a little like John Wayne in the rough and tough movie, True Grit...
This is me now, at 64-years old.
And as you can tell, I still act like a silly elf...
You know, my parents and childhood were far from perfect. However, I know that my parents did the best they could with what they knew at that time, as parents. Later in life my parents and I even had some really intense differences, which sometimes led to arguments and distance. Trust me, my childhood and my relationship with my parents was not always smooth-sailing.
But I will tell you one thing that I know in my heart of hearts.
I was loved.
So, whenever I look back on my childhood and my parents (and Christmas), I can honestly say that I don't ever focus on the differences.
I only focus on the love.
Because that's what I truly remember.
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, and Blessed New Year!
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