1st stop

We just booked our tickets back to Jamaica for the kids and I!  May 10th is the day!

I'm so excited to get back to our home and a regular schedule.  I feel that bittersweet twinge I always get when it's time to leave loved ones behind.

The count down has started and it makes me more aware to treasure each day and memory.  First stop on this journey back to Jamaica was Great-Grandma Grace's farm near Queen City, Missouri.

Gram loved holding her latest great-grandson.  She couldn't keep her hands off of him. {sweet}

The girls and I were really praying that we would have a good snow before we went back to the Island.  We were not disappointed. The days spent there was so much fun.

(talking to Grandma's cows)

(Eden tasting the snow)

(Brynlee learning how to make a snowman)

 (cooking with Grandma)

 (riding in the tractor with Uncle Steve)

(Eden thought it was hilarious that the cow's hair stood up!)

(helping with the chores)

Making memories in Missouri,

I had the easiest job

I made it back to Jamaica without any problems or much excitement.

I enjoy flying..... expect for the stress of packing the luggage then worrying if it's to heavy or my carry-on is to bulky.  Or that {thing} is gonna get broken no matter how many t' shirts I stuff around it....or what if I'm the 1/2 of the 1% of people who's luggage gets lost!

 If I had to single out the person I miss the most in America, it would be hard, but I'd have to say my dad.  He's quiet and funny and easy to talk to.  I think we've gotten a lot closer as I've become an adult and moved away.  Sad that it happens that way often.

 Last Monday, Dad took me out on a date to eat Mexican.  It was great to talk with him without any interruptions.  Dad doesn't give a lot of advice or suggestions.  He just listens.  That's {special}

Dad loves little kids and he really bonded with Princess Brynlee while we were in America.  He taught Brynlee a little trick where they mimic each other and keep coughing.  When Papa told her "bye" she smiled and coughed. {special}

Dad took me to catch my plane in St. Louis.  He looked very handsome in his military fatigues.  While we were standing in line to check in, a man came up and shook dad's hand.  He said, "I just want to say thank you."  {goosebumps}

Because dad was in uniform, they let him walk me all the way to my plane.
One quick last hug.
{Fighting back tears}

I know I had the easiest job....just walking away to get on the plane.

Dad had the hard job.  Watching his first baby girl leave.

I love you so much, dad.

count your blessings

#97 the feeling of my cheek on my dad's strong shoulders

#98 the American military

#99 family....family....family

the original 4 princesses

"Oh, no! The Indians are on the warpath!

"They're getting their war paint on!" Dad said as he peeked in the bathroom door.

We enjoy their 3 bathroom house now,

 but growing up we had one tiny bathroom that the whole family "shared".

 Having sisters is pretty great....truthfully it's had it's moments!

  But now, we are very close and it's just awesome.

  We were all able to be at Mom and Dad's for Thanksgiving

 and we stepped out for a last minute photo shoot.

  Mom took the pictures and we had a few laughs

 trying to get my {8 month pregant} sister up on the rail road car, for example.

  I guess she did better then someone else...."don't snag my hose!"

 This last picture is my favorite.

Having someone you can laugh with is priceless.

count your blessings
#94 sisters who love to dress up
#95 sisters who can give me beauty tips and let me borrow their clothes
#96 having someone else do your hair...wow, I wish I could have a full time hairdresser

Lil' Grandma's Gravy Boat

I spent a few days with my Grandma Grace, at her farm.  I asked lots of questions and enjoyed her reminising about her mother (who passed away a few weeks ago).  I love listening to Grandma talk about her childhood and especially about how her and my Papa Roy met.  Grandma fixed a feast with all the trimmings for supper and she served the gravy in my Lil' Grandma gravy boat.

The year was 1943, this was a large serving set that my Great-Grandma Mona Chrisman bought.   WWII was going on a Grandma Grace and her parents had moved from their farm to Kansas City so Grandpa could do his part and work in a bomber factory.  My Grandma remembers she was 8 years old when her mother brought this set home in a large wooden crate.  The only pieces left are the gravy boat, tea pot without the lid, and a large turkey platter.  Priceless. {tear-filled eyes}

This picture is of my sweet Papa Roy.  I loved and respected my Papa.  I don't remember him ever "getting after me" even when I was naughty my cousin Timmy would get in trouble and get blamed.  I was Papa's sweet little girl.  {onery grin}  He was my Pastor until I was 17 years old and he passed away of cancer when I was 18.  My sweet Papa Roy. 

I snapped a few pictures that my Gram had sitting around. 

I love how she looks here with her first little baby, Daniel.

 Gram and I had a wonderful time together last night.  We watched Tyrone Powers and Maureen O'Hara in the 1942 swashbuckler The Black Swan.  So very romantic.  We ate {very} buttered popcorn and laughed at the funny little quips that the pirates said.  We didn't get in bed til' 11:30 pm!

 (My beautiful Grandma Grace Starbuck)

 

count your blessings

#76 a graceful grandmother

#77 a Godly heritage

#78 Grandma's cooking

In the Sweet By and By

This past week, my sweet Great-Grandma, back in Missouri, went to be with Jesus.
It is sad when someone dear to you passes away.
Sad you can't be with your loved ones to grieve.
Sad to return home and they're just not there.  Life is but a vapor.

So this post is to reminisce about my sweet Grandma and record these thoughts for my daughters.

Back in Missouri my {very large} family gathered to celebrate the life of Mona Chrisman.  She was the mother of 8, grandmother of 25, great-grandma to 52, and great-great grandma to 20.

I have the highest respect for my Grandma, whom I lovingly called Lil' Grandma.  And rightly so when she stood 4 foot 8 beside my 5 foot 9 frame.  Lil' Grandma didn't grow up in a Christian home.  She wasn't saved until she was in her 20's, but Grandma was a lady who lived her beliefs.  She stood up for them, and her close walk with the Lord would put many a preacher to shame.

Lee and Mona Chrisman early after they were first married

(My Brynlee is named after her Great-Great-Grandpa Lee)

Grandma Mona was sweet sixteen.

This picture shows the 5 generations.  

Mona Chrisman, Grace Starbuck, Paula McNamar, Maria Wesley (me), and Moriah and Alexis

I stole this picture off of my cousin's fb.  It is just adorable!

Me, my sisters, and my cousins visiting our Great-Grandma

My sister Rachel hasn't changed much....guess which one she is?

headed to church

My mom told me that Grandma Mona could tell "the best" Bible stories.  

She used flannel graph and she had so many tiny details that elaborated her stories.

 This picture is taken on the farm that my Great-Grandparents lived on since 1933.  This was their home where they were farmers.  Except for when WW2 started, they moved to Kansas City and my Great-Grandfather worked at Sunflower Ordinance Plant (where they made explosives).  Then he went to work at the North American Bomber Plant.  They returned home right before the war was over because Grandpa's health was not good.

This is the  same farm, in the beautiful hills of Missouri, that Grandma Mona lived on until the day she died, 78 years later.

1973 (I think this is their 40th wedding anniversary)

Isn't that mustache just adorable?

music is very special to my family

As a {young} girl, my favorite thing at family reunions was to listen to my Great-uncles and cousins 

get out all their instruments.  Christmas Eve (when everyone would crowd into Grandma's little house) and sing carols and listen to the instruments was one of the best things about the holiday to me.

I have a very vivid memory of Lil' Grandma singing "Oh, Beautiful Star of Bethlehem Shine On."  It will always be one of my favorites because she loved that song.  {tears}

Music was very important to my Great-Grandparents and they shared that love with their children.  Grandpa Lee played the fiddle, Grandma Mona played the accordion, and all of their 5 sons played a stringed instrument.  My Grandma Grace, was the oldest child, and she played the guitar and the mandolin.  My Grandma could also play the piano and organ.  Aunt Chris was another daughter and she used to play the accordion also.  

this is the Great-Great-Grandma that my girls remember.  They knew who she was right away.

The princesses were sad to hear of their Great-Great Grandma, but they have a few sweet memories of her.  And actually we were talking about her the very morning she passed away.

A sweet memory my girls have of lil' Grandma is our last Christmas.  While in the States, to have Baby Brynlee, we spent Christmas day at her house.

Princess Moriah and Princess Eden outside their Great-Great Grandma's backdoor.

What a heritage, God has been so good to me.