Beautiful Blessings

A Sunday afternoon home from church and I feel refreshed. A wonderful sermon about prayer. Dear hubby and my daughter went to my SIL to see puppies. I gave my daughter the speach about not getting attached and dad already said we have one dog and one is enough and so forth.
My son and his buddy are downstairs playing games.
Finding that apron has me thinking about family. My maternal grandmother that passed that apron on to me is 78 years old. She is a treasure in my life, and I have much to say about her, but I can not write about family without starting with my parents. They are truly blessings.
I am an only child, I am sure I was plenty! My dad grew up in a family of 8 children, parents and grandparents on a dairy farm. The farm is no longer in the family. I don't think any of the kids were interested when they reached adulthood; and I also think there were other family issues involved. But my dad, 40 years later is still a farmer. He always said he wasn't really big into the cows, but he loved the equipment. The John Deere tractors especially. He has always owned a tractor and plowed and planted crops. He connects with his grandchildren that way too. Tractor shows, parades and even rock picking. My dad is my hero. I just love him to pieces.
Equally wonderful is my mom. She grew up in a family of four children, each child 6 years apart from the other. I don't know how this has worked in other families, but in this one the siblings are not close. Mom's parents are from Kentucky. They moved north just before she was born to find work. I know my grandparents have always missed Kentucky, but my grandfather especially was very poor there. My mom grew up as a village kid. Antiques and vintage were junk a sign you couldn't afford to buy better, but she still grew up in a home where homemade was the best made, and that did filter down to me.
My parents met in their hometown and married. Again because of work and probably some family issues they ended up moving about an hour and a half away from their families. By the time I was 8 they both worked. My mom usually worked nights. It was hard on all of us, but I had a good homelife. We depended a lot on convience foods and such. I wasn't brought up in a do-it yourself atmosphere. But I appreciate everything my parents did for me. They were always there and did the best they could. Even in my late teens and early 20's when I was basically a rebellious IDIOT, their prayers and faith in God pulled me through.
Now, I thank God for them on a daily basis. They are two of my best friends. I try to take the best of them, and the best of the generation before them, and raise my children in the best way I know how. . . giving it ALL to God in prayer. Ahhh we went around in a circle back to Sunday service.
I am drawn to the simple life, but there is plenty from this era that I like now. Like my computer. Sewing, quilting and embroidery are theraputic to me; but I use my sewing machine in my quilts. I like to make cakes from scratch, but I buy 90% of my fruits and veggies from other people. (working on that one) Learning to "do it myself" over the past 10 years has been a satisfying experience. I commit to learn more!