The Dulcimer~Giving the Gift of Music
Our daughter just turned 7. For years, she’s always had an amazing ability to hear a tune on the stereo or radio & walk over to her keyboard, working out the song while she hums softly to herself.
The other day my dulcimer sprung to mind. Tucked away for years, I thought what better gift than to pass along this cherished and beautiful rosewood & mahogany instrument ~ custom made for me to every delicate specification. Sure enough, within 15 minutes she figured out Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on her own.
Here is a quick 2-minute video of me playing the dulcimer years back…then the video transitions into just the other day when our daughter opened the case for the 1st time. We play Twinkle together that 1st hour with Dad proudly videotaping & at the end of this clip, she is playing the dulcimer for Grandma in England via Skype delighted with her special gift. Yes, very exciting for Mama, indeed. Thanks for sharing!  xo~b
Wings
 
This month marks the anniversary of Daddy’s passing. It’s been many years now, but I can still picture that shocking moment like it was yesterday. Sudden, unexpected, heartbreaking.
I grieved deeply, crying a sea of sorrow…and I emerged strong, sturdy and resilient. Why?
Well, there are two main reasons. The first is because he was the most incredible father in the world to my sister and me and gave us unconditional love, time, tenderness and devotion.
The second reason dates back to when I was in college. His mother passed away and sometime later I was talking to him and asked him how he was not falling apart.
My father, one of seven children, said, “Although you haven’t seen my tears and pain, my parents raised me to be strong and independent; they gave me wings so one day I could start my own family and teach my children to be independent and give them wings. If I fell apart, my mother’s teachings would have failed, and there I will not fail her. That is completely different to my emotions which I feel deeply.â€
                                                  So sometimes, especially the years close to when my father passed away, those poignant feelings would pierce my heart, but I wouldn’t fall apart, because that would fail him.
 
He gave me wings and I am blessed to be a mother now having the honor to teach my own children to be strong, loving future adults with wings.
   
Daddy’s legacy is indelible. And this lesson is true: Be present with your children. Of course you love them, but give them 100% of your attention, be truly present. You know, push the swing without the handheld…rather than texting someone who’s not there, focus on the one who is there – the person who thinks you’re the world! The person you are giving wings to.
The Bright SpotTMÂ 
– Daddy was kind & generous, and loved by his community. He was laid to rest on Valentine’s Day…appropriate for a man with such a big heart. To read all about my father’s story & see one of my *favorite pictorials*, click right here: http://theletstalkmom.com/tea-talk-momversations/daddy/
I miss you, Daddy, here’s to you!  
 xoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxo
Why I Love You
When my beloved father died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack, my sister’s and my life completely changed. He was the most special Daddy and we adored him.
Thanksgiving was the 1st big holiday without him and the empty dining room chair at the head of the table was a cutting reminder he wasn’t coming back.
One of the million things I learned from my father was to tell people why they are so special.
So when I learned earlier this year a close friend of 40 years was very ill from lung cancer, I not only rushed to her that day to tell her why I loved her so much, but I also wrote her a long letter of each and every little thing that made her special to me.
She loved my children like her own grandchildren and they even called her Nana.
It gutted me when she died, but I had no regrets. She knew how much I loved her.
We’ve just returned from Europe.
We took the children out of school and spent the Thanksgiving holiday in England. Of course, England doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving but it was a time to give thanks and tell a very special and significant woman in my life why she means the world to me.
Yes, it was that time again – Thanks…giving – a reminder to give deep thanks for why the people around me are so special and wonderful because there may not be another time – we had received a phone call that Grandma was in the hospital. So off we went!
We spent every day with her. She loved to have her arms stroked, and her grip was strong and purposeful as she hugged. She listened intently as our 5 year old sang her dozens of songs.
Grandma is blind. She lost her sight 2 years ago. She said to hear her grandchild’s voice in song was simply precious.
Every day her room was filled with grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws. Our visits were happy and loving, joyous and tender.
I spent my time with her telling her all the reasons I loved her. There are so many, it took all the days we were there to tell her.
The point is I learned the lesson my father taught me – tell those special to you how much you love them – you see, I didn’t wait until now to tell this incredible woman how much she means to me, I’ve been telling her throughout the years. But this week, I went over everything again just to reiterate how important she has been in my life, in my marriage and as a parent.
Next year will be 60 years with her husband, a beautiful role model of the most loving marriage.
The Bright Spot  – You have time right now to call that special someone in your life and tell them why you love them so much. Don’t wait. Because life can change in a flash and you don’t want to have any regrets.
Â
Tea Cups
Our sweet, adorable “Uncle†George passed away at the age of 95.
He was the consummate gentleman.
Always held the door open, always in a suit, tie and outdoor hat to go to dinner – no complaints or excuses even as he wearied in his 90s.
He was a devout religious man, a boy scout, an engineer, a loving husband, an incredible man.
My husband’s father and my father had both passed away and George became the
Patriarch of our family.
His beloved wife, Mildred, had passed away about 16 years ago and we met George the following year ~ he lived next door to my sister on the beach – this is her lovely house at sunset – simply glorious.
Mildred and George had no children; we “adopted†George into our family and for 15 years we shared every holiday, every birthday and every regular day in between as family.
He even had a cell phone on our family plan.
For George’s 90th birthday, we had more than 80 people at our home to celebrate. We set up huge foam poster boards with photos from his youth – he kept those boards all around his home for years.
Whenever we visited George at his home, he would make tea. It was our very own special tradition – he always had delicious goodies and a fine story to tell.
But the time came when George wasn’t feeling well. He asked us what we would like from him to remember him by.
He knew very clearly we never wanted anything but his love, strength, model of life for our children and model of love and communication for our marriage. But he asked more persistently as he was dissolving his material things so I said we would be honored to have his tea cups.
We would enjoy them throughout our lifetime and think of him.
Little Petal’s Fairy Princess Tea Party for her 4th birthday was inspired by George ~ for he gave us these gorgeous porcelain tea cups that he and Mildred had collected from all around the world.
We honored his gracious gift by telling that story to everyone at the tea party
and we all clapped in his honor.
Below is Little Petal turning 4 and her adorable friend – all the little princess were
so naturally gentle with the porcelain. So sweet and beautiful to see.
We miss our Uncle George very much but we know he longed to be with his dear wife so much.
Phillip and our son were pallbearers, carrying George to his final destination beside his beloved. Both said doing so was very healing for them.
George had brought flowers to Mildred’s resting site every single Saturday for 16 years. He is a model for all of us.
The Bright Spot – If we all bring one lonely person into our lives, we can change this world one snuggle at a time.
Please go to the Radio Show flower in the navigation bar above and listen to the show we broadcasted Live on November 4, 2010 – it’s now archived on this site ~ we talked about this wonderful way to integrate our Senior Citizens into our families, our lives (and the conversation after the elderly and children about World Vision reduced me to tears.)
Our Senior Citizens are the walking treasures of history, story-telling and love from a time gone by. Grab hold before their story is gone. Everyone in the family benefits and your experience will last for a lifetime!
Harmony and Magic
Do you remember the love the young boy and the 7,000 pound Orca in “Free Willy” had for one another. I love to see such a connection between people and animals.
I have witnessed the most remarkable relationship between our 5-year-old daughter and a young Beluga whale ~ the two just make my heart swell.
 
Sometimes there’s a crowd, sometimes we’re just there on our own,
but the two of them take no notice of anyone but each other.
He will look directly and intently at her, swim to her and play
with only her no matter how many people are around.
He brings her his toys – balls and floaties,
and she will stay and play for ages, cooing and singing and encouraging the activities…
even in the rain!
They have a unique and beautiful friendship.
The young beluga will swim up to her and sing his whale song…
and await her return.
And we will make the long journey back and forth because this connection, this love, this tie to nature is an incredible gift.
Our little one has begged to swim with her beloved Beluga. The rule is that children must be 6 years of age. Guess where we’re going in a few months! 🙂
The Bright Spot – may we all be so blessed to be that in tune with the world around us.
