JUNE 20TH, 1934.... the world was blessed with Nora Glendean Reynolds... she is one of my dad's sisters....
Not sure if you're supposed to have a favorite or not... but I did! My AUNT NORA was the best..... talk about lovin to spoil everyone. I'm sure it wasnt just me she spoiled (in fact, i know i wasn't the only one) , but she made you feel so good and so important. She had tons of love to give away. Nora married the love of her life Jim Boyd july 23rd, 1955. They only had Janet, and her and I were only 14 months apart ( yes, i'm older and yes i was always the strong willed one!) so we grew up together. Tons of memories. We would spend lots of Saturday nites at there house in Lodi, playing cards, watching Lawrence Welk and Hew-Haw... we always loved to shop, she would let us pick out our favorite meals and cook them for us. I would stay a week or more at a time during the summer, we would go to Disneyland each year, one of Nora's favorite places.. I loved visiting her at work, she was a school secretary for years. At Easter, she always got the prizes for who found the most eggs, the special egg and so on... she would either give us money or See's candy. You couldnt ask for someone with more kindness, she always gave gave and gave of her love and time. She loved to eat at the OLD HOOSIER INN....(hamburger steak, well done, like leather!) making the resturant one of my favorites....she loved each and every neice and nephew, her brothers and sisters, planned each holiday, made everyones birthday cakes, and took pride and joy in everyone she knew! Her life was cut way short, she had so much more for her and Jim to do, go and see, but I guess the good Lord needed her more than we did. Her husband Jim was quite the guy too. I don't think I ever met someone who loved their wife more than he did, I probably didnt know that then, but after she died in 1992, you couldnt have a conversation with Jim without it involving Nora!
Tonite.... i was able to have a conversation on facebook and texting with my dad and my cousin Ilene and i'd like to share our conversations about Nora.....
awww... my daddy (as i shared on fathers day) is and was pretty spoiled but his words tonite brought tears to my eyes.....
dad: "SHE COULD NOT SPOIL HER BROTHERS AND SISTER ENOUGH AND ESPECIALLY ALL OF HER NIECES AND NEPHEWS.... GREAT COOK AND FANTASTIC CAKE DECORATOR. ANY BIRTHDAY OR HOLIDAY WAS SPECIAL FOR HER. STILL MISSING HER;(
ilene: i have been thoroughly enjoying your blog. Keep it up, its inspiring.
me: Awww thanks Ilene, tonite or tomorow it's all about Nora.... her birthday is June 20th
ilene: thanks for the warning. I'll get out my box of kleenex before I read that one. What a special aunt. She took me in as a niece and loved on me alot!
me: My dad was just telling me how much she spoiled everyone! He said "I miss her"
ilene: remember her sweet tea? We tried everything, but we could never make ours taste like hers, and i still make Jerry's favorite strawberry dessert that aunt nora always made for him (here i thought she always made it for me...) Jerry says he remembers aunt nora and uncle jim coming down to ceres and buying a bag of hamburgers and bringing them to the house to share.
Gosh, once i get started on memories of my aunt nora, i dont want to stop... she was the happiest, kind hearted, giving, loving, nurturing,talented, and most important the impact she had on so many lifes. Today, i am a better person because of her.... she loved the Lord,she placed her faith in Jesus, and we prayed... she had struggles and i believe she gave and gives my daddy part of his strenght today... You see... Nora was on kidney dialyslis.... she lost that battle on December 5th, 1992. Yet, when my dad was faced with kidney failure and going on dialyis, or the alternative... he took much into consideration....and Nora came up several times... she is part of his inspirtation, his willingness and desire to win this battle, i believe and feel she is smiling down and so glad her baby brother has chosen to fight and to fight hard! i know she is also enjoying watching down from heavean... her one and only grand daughter HAYLEE MARIE. She blows kisses down to all of us....
My dream is that these memories will live on forever, through sharing them with each other. Generations have come and gone, lives have been lived and families have been loved. Some family members i will never know, except through fragile photos and maybe a letter, yellow with age, from a forgotten corner of the attic. But they are my family, and they have endured hardships and heartaches. I cant begin to imagine. Life was slower then and they experienced simplier joys. While weaving stories and photos together, i was caught up in a journey only my imagination could take me. Nora loved family, and instilled that in all of us. I wish i could step back into time and be a part of their stories. Then it would be easy to fill in between the lines.
but for now, i will continue to gather memories and pictures and a few faded words or names from the back of the old photos. I am a part of the puzzle and a peice of my heart is tucked away in each memory. The precious life of NORA and sweet memories are definelty a part of who I AM....
With His AMAZING GRACE....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT NORA....
awww... my daddy (as i shared on fathers day) is and was pretty spoiled but his words tonite brought tears to my eyes.....
dad: "SHE COULD NOT SPOIL HER BROTHERS AND SISTER ENOUGH AND ESPECIALLY ALL OF HER NIECES AND NEPHEWS.... GREAT COOK AND FANTASTIC CAKE DECORATOR. ANY BIRTHDAY OR HOLIDAY WAS SPECIAL FOR HER. STILL MISSING HER;(
ilene: i have been thoroughly enjoying your blog. Keep it up, its inspiring.
me: Awww thanks Ilene, tonite or tomorow it's all about Nora.... her birthday is June 20th
ilene: thanks for the warning. I'll get out my box of kleenex before I read that one. What a special aunt. She took me in as a niece and loved on me alot!
me: My dad was just telling me how much she spoiled everyone! He said "I miss her"
ilene: remember her sweet tea? We tried everything, but we could never make ours taste like hers, and i still make Jerry's favorite strawberry dessert that aunt nora always made for him (here i thought she always made it for me...) Jerry says he remembers aunt nora and uncle jim coming down to ceres and buying a bag of hamburgers and bringing them to the house to share.
Gosh, once i get started on memories of my aunt nora, i dont want to stop... she was the happiest, kind hearted, giving, loving, nurturing,talented, and most important the impact she had on so many lifes. Today, i am a better person because of her.... she loved the Lord,she placed her faith in Jesus, and we prayed... she had struggles and i believe she gave and gives my daddy part of his strenght today... You see... Nora was on kidney dialyslis.... she lost that battle on December 5th, 1992. Yet, when my dad was faced with kidney failure and going on dialyis, or the alternative... he took much into consideration....and Nora came up several times... she is part of his inspirtation, his willingness and desire to win this battle, i believe and feel she is smiling down and so glad her baby brother has chosen to fight and to fight hard! i know she is also enjoying watching down from heavean... her one and only grand daughter HAYLEE MARIE. She blows kisses down to all of us....
My dream is that these memories will live on forever, through sharing them with each other. Generations have come and gone, lives have been lived and families have been loved. Some family members i will never know, except through fragile photos and maybe a letter, yellow with age, from a forgotten corner of the attic. But they are my family, and they have endured hardships and heartaches. I cant begin to imagine. Life was slower then and they experienced simplier joys. While weaving stories and photos together, i was caught up in a journey only my imagination could take me. Nora loved family, and instilled that in all of us. I wish i could step back into time and be a part of their stories. Then it would be easy to fill in between the lines.
but for now, i will continue to gather memories and pictures and a few faded words or names from the back of the old photos. I am a part of the puzzle and a peice of my heart is tucked away in each memory. The precious life of NORA and sweet memories are definelty a part of who I AM....
With His AMAZING GRACE....
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT NORA....
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