Memory Monday ~ Nostalgiaville

We all know I love to reminisce, and it's been so much fun going through some old scrapbooks, calendars, and saved memorabilia as I'm helping my parents move!

...First off, Mom loaned me these calendars for a while -- she wrote in them almost daily for the first couple years of my life and Rach's life, and I have LOVED going through it. (I come by my love for documenting life honestly. lol)  Every "first" of any sort is written down and noted here... and it's awesome to read about what was going on in my parents' lives and the lives of our family friends around the the time I was born. From Marilyn and Georgia being pregnant with Michael and Brandon to Debbie Wallace at the hospital having Ty to Grandad Doc's injury to Dad's State Farm school and Mom's court reporting life, it's all fascinating to me! Mom was 29 when she had me and 31 when she had Rach, so it's been fun getting to connect with who she was when she was my age! :) And reading about how much she and Dad and Grandad and Babah loved and delighted in me right from the start is heartwarming and good for my soul. :) (insert heart emoticon - I'm always sad I can't use those on blogger)

In that same file were some old Mother's Day and Father's Day cards from me and Rach that they'd saved... this one from Rach was my favorite! "Dear Mom, Sometimes it seems like I'm not nice..." lol

Mom is the opposite of a pack-rat, typically being practical and getting rid of things you would think would be sentimental to her. So imagine my surprise (and mild disgust) when I found that she had saved all our baby teeth and written the date and story on the envelopes! lol Who knew!?

This was an old church program from Meadowood where Mom and Dad were the Chairmen of some committee. Their picture being right there on the first page surprised me - I'd never seen this before! :)

(I looked through one of Mom's old scrapbooks at night when we were done for the day. The light in the room where I sleep is a pink light, so the next few pics look a bit orange. lol)
This = precious. Grandad's card for breaking, training, and showing horses! Short and simple. lol

Mom's pic as the Salutatorian of Channing High School (1973). :)

Precious.

Not sure what this pic was for, but she looks really pretty here!

In more recent years, here is a card Aunt Nancy sent Rach after her mugging ordeal... note Rach's pink shoes and big earrings, and the knife and baseball cap on the mugger. lol

I really adore this card!! So great! I'm going to incorporate little drawings into my cards more often now. lol

This = my elementary-school age prize-winning calligraphy at the OKC State Fair... I think there was one other person entered. lol  (This was a cover we put over the children's version of Little Women, which I'm now re-reading. Such a great story!!)

Old pics from Olan Mills, plus a random Glamour Shot thrown in from when I was 16 and had tried to cut my own bangs. #epicfail

Mom and Rach and I were talking about how Jace's hair is starting to get darker.  It's so weird how that happens... here I am at age 2, and the next picture down is me at age 4... quite the hair color change!!

I remember Chet saying he was blond as a child also. I kinda hope J&K stay mostly blond, but we'll see what happens! :)

Here is a super-awkward short story I wrote for school at age 6. lol  We found one of my 1st Grade notebooks in with a pile of mostly trash, so we saved it from the rubble. lol

I love that I spelled wolf "woof," and that I labeled our hero, Ann, as the brave girl for hitting a "woof" with a brick, not being scared of an owl, and chasing off some bees... Proving that insects have been my nemesis from a very young age. lol

We also found several transcripts from Mom's Jury Trials, including a carbon copy from 1977 and this murder trial from 1980. I like that we both worked at the good ol' Grady County Court House for a bit!

I made a box for myself to take home full of some old pictures, frames, etc. from my high school days.  I love this one from Eric's costume party where I came as Legally Blonde's Elle Woods and Casey and Jason were the SNL Spartan Cheerleaders!

Speaking of... I've actually done pretty well over Christmas, all things considered. I used all my flex points this past week, but did not go over them. YAY!  At last count, I had lost 21 pounds. I'm planning to weigh in on Wednesday this week, thanks to sucky weather and me still being in MWC.  I'm not sure I'll make it to 25 by the New Year, but I'll be close and proud of myself either way!!

Dad made chili last night and it was pretty awesome!!  It always feels appropriate on a cold wintery night.  Here I am in the theater recliner chair taking a break and having some tasty chili, watching the Thunder game with Mom and Dad. :) I also got to watch my two fav Harry Potter movies last night (Order of the Phoenix & Deathly Hallows Pt. 2)! #winning

Rach bought these for me to try, and I gotta say she was right about them being awesome!  A great chocolate snack that's about half the points of other chocolate bars on this new plan!! #score :)

Tomorrow, I may try to do a post with pics of Mom and Dad's new place... it's coming along really well! =)  There's been a lot of looking forward and looking back during the move, which is appropriate right around the New Year anyway. (Goals post on Wednesday - eek, so much to write about in this season!) 

Quick Side Note & Final Memory for Today:  On this day two years ago, we drove down to Texas to get these two adorable flufflepuffs, Sam and Ella Belle!! :)

 I got to sleep in today, then ate breakfast looking out at the snowy golf course view in my parents' backyard.  I love home, and I love winter!  My heart is full, and I'm feeling very thankful for God's grace and for the many little and big things He's used to speak to my heart and bring me joy this week!!

"But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread Your protection over them, that all who love Your name may be filled with joy!"  ~Psalm 5:11