Absolutely beautiful, Jenni! The clock’s faster tick such a perfect observation. I’m so glad you have these treasured items. Having recently been through this, I find it so interesting to see which unexpected pieces provide the most comfort. 💕
Oh wow Jen! This is so beautifully said and I love how you have woven the quotes in. I have yet to do this with my folks but remember so well when my mother-in-law’s possessions fit into two boxes as we neared her final days and how it seemed so sad. But it also came with the realization that a life could never be reduced to a few trinkets - our memories tell a bigger story and the memories of all those who knew them - an even bigger story. Maybe that is part of the significance of having that “great cloud of witnesses” - they see the whole story and know the full value of a life.
When I come for a visit, the want to hear the stories tied to the trinkets and celebrate the beautiful life of your mom. 🤗🤗
So nice to find you here, Jenni! This reminds me of my brother and sister going thru our mom’s things. The donate/keep/not sure yet piles. The things we each gravitated to. I wanted her old photos and a few tabkecloths, her favorite winter scarf I still wear round my neck. My brother and sister wanted furniture and we all divvied up her collection of English tea cups. I chose three...one for each of my grabddaughters who know their great grandma. Such beautiful writing here....taking me back to thses moments in time. Thank you fir sharing. I especially like the quote about nostalgia and grace...I still work to find that balance. Well done! 😊🫶
What a beautiful post about such a hard thing💗 It’s so relatable and brought memories of me sorting through my mother’s things just a few years ago, and I realized I wasn’t ready to discard any big or particularly memorable items. They still sit in my garage 🤭 and I’m now ready to sort through them. Parting with treasures and mementos is so emotional. ❤️ Sending you a hug from afar! Love you.
So beautiful, friend. You and your brother sound like my hubby and his sister after my sweet mother-in-law passed in the summer. We had his mom's big ol' German wall clock shipped from the UK to our home here in Canada (her wish!) and now it's finally on the wall. As much as it is a treasure, I can tell you we will not be having the chime going every 15 minutes. 😬 But I'm glad we have it here, especially for my husband... and her bone china tea set does come out on rare occasions when we're feeling extra fancy. These things really are precious and nostalgic! Sending you much love. 💖
This is a beautiful piece Jen. So relatable. I sat at my dear Dad's writing desk the other evening, for just a few moments looking for something my dear Mum requested. Of course I couldn't find it, but I discovered all the school plays my Mum had written and my Dad's old diaries, one from 1941 when he was just ten years old. Writing from the past. Which of course we must treasure.
And those special timepieces, what do you do with them? I can so relate to that feeling of panic, can we keep them? Treasured memories all. Sending so much love xxx
This line at the beginning stopped me- "Brother and sister, panning for memories." This is exactly what it feels like to go through someone else's "things". My brothers and I did this many years ago and will have to do it again sometime in the future. What a blessing to be able to do it together.
Panning for memories... what a perfect metaphor. My sister and I did that several times over the last year. I can so identify with the angst over what to keep. I am still working on finding the space for some of those treasured possessions. Love your quotes from James K. A. Smith's book. As you know it is one of my favorites of his. Thank you for continuing to share your heart with us. Love what you write so much!
Absolutely beautiful, Jenni! The clock’s faster tick such a perfect observation. I’m so glad you have these treasured items. Having recently been through this, I find it so interesting to see which unexpected pieces provide the most comfort. 💕
Oh wow Jen! This is so beautifully said and I love how you have woven the quotes in. I have yet to do this with my folks but remember so well when my mother-in-law’s possessions fit into two boxes as we neared her final days and how it seemed so sad. But it also came with the realization that a life could never be reduced to a few trinkets - our memories tell a bigger story and the memories of all those who knew them - an even bigger story. Maybe that is part of the significance of having that “great cloud of witnesses” - they see the whole story and know the full value of a life.
When I come for a visit, the want to hear the stories tied to the trinkets and celebrate the beautiful life of your mom. 🤗🤗
So nice to find you here, Jenni! This reminds me of my brother and sister going thru our mom’s things. The donate/keep/not sure yet piles. The things we each gravitated to. I wanted her old photos and a few tabkecloths, her favorite winter scarf I still wear round my neck. My brother and sister wanted furniture and we all divvied up her collection of English tea cups. I chose three...one for each of my grabddaughters who know their great grandma. Such beautiful writing here....taking me back to thses moments in time. Thank you fir sharing. I especially like the quote about nostalgia and grace...I still work to find that balance. Well done! 😊🫶
What a beautiful post about such a hard thing💗 It’s so relatable and brought memories of me sorting through my mother’s things just a few years ago, and I realized I wasn’t ready to discard any big or particularly memorable items. They still sit in my garage 🤭 and I’m now ready to sort through them. Parting with treasures and mementos is so emotional. ❤️ Sending you a hug from afar! Love you.
So beautiful, friend. You and your brother sound like my hubby and his sister after my sweet mother-in-law passed in the summer. We had his mom's big ol' German wall clock shipped from the UK to our home here in Canada (her wish!) and now it's finally on the wall. As much as it is a treasure, I can tell you we will not be having the chime going every 15 minutes. 😬 But I'm glad we have it here, especially for my husband... and her bone china tea set does come out on rare occasions when we're feeling extra fancy. These things really are precious and nostalgic! Sending you much love. 💖
This is a beautiful piece Jen. So relatable. I sat at my dear Dad's writing desk the other evening, for just a few moments looking for something my dear Mum requested. Of course I couldn't find it, but I discovered all the school plays my Mum had written and my Dad's old diaries, one from 1941 when he was just ten years old. Writing from the past. Which of course we must treasure.
And those special timepieces, what do you do with them? I can so relate to that feeling of panic, can we keep them? Treasured memories all. Sending so much love xxx
This line at the beginning stopped me- "Brother and sister, panning for memories." This is exactly what it feels like to go through someone else's "things". My brothers and I did this many years ago and will have to do it again sometime in the future. What a blessing to be able to do it together.
Panning for memories... what a perfect metaphor. My sister and I did that several times over the last year. I can so identify with the angst over what to keep. I am still working on finding the space for some of those treasured possessions. Love your quotes from James K. A. Smith's book. As you know it is one of my favorites of his. Thank you for continuing to share your heart with us. Love what you write so much!