Making Memories Monday: The Post I Forgot

It’s been a busy two weeks.  So busy, in fact, that I lost all track of time and forgot to post the Making Memories Monday link this week.  Thank you Tina of Being Made New for bringing this to my attention.  It is, after all, Tuesday and my link should have been up Sunday evening.  Where does the time go?

The boys are still in New Jersey with their Grandma and Grandpa, and they’re having a great time.  Neither one has given any indication that he is ready to come home – but come home they must!  We’re starting our new school year – and all of the extracurriculars that go along with a new school year – in less than a week!

While the boys have been with their Grandparents, I’ve been organizing, sorting, and purging.  I am in no way finished, but I have definitely made far more headway than I would have had the boys been here to help.  Sunday, when I should have been writing my Making Memories Monday post, I was lost in a pile of books, tackling our overflowing book cases.  I packed up two large boxes of  children’s books to donate and reorganized the books on the shelves so that they all have a place and I can find them easily upon request for this story or that.  This took me ALL DAY!  It was only one book case, but it took me ALL DAY!

Why did it take so long?  Well, partly because there were a LOT of books… but primarily because I had to sit and read each and every book before I could decide whether to place it back on the shelf or in the box to donate.  My husband just shook his head and laughed at me sitting there surrounded by books; he couldn’t understand the need to read every book.  

But you see, books are incredibly hard for me to part with.  I would keep every book I’ve ever read if I had the space, but alas… I don’t.  Still, I had to be sure I was making the right decision for each book.

As I removed the books from the shelves, a flood of memories washed over me.  I picked up Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, and I pictured myself sitting in the rocking chair holding my first-born night after night as we read that story over and over again.  I can still recite it by heart. 

I  picked up Freight Train by Donald Crews and it was as if I was again sitting with Connor, worrying over the fact that he was still NOT mastering his colors…

“Connor, point to the purple train.”

“No, that’s red.  Try again”
“No, that’s orange.”

Sigh.
“No, that’s green.”

“No, that’s blue.”

“No, that’s yellow.”

And then it occurred to me… Connor had pointed to EVERY color EXCEPT purple!  And that was my first glimpse of what I’d be up against when teaching Connor.  That realization still makes me smile! 

I picked up A Mouse to be Free by Joyce Warren and I was a child once again, sitting with my mother reading the book – a gift from a family friend who wrote that she chose the book because the little girl in the story reminded her of me – that quickly became a favorite to both of us.

Most of the memories were joyous, but some were bittersweet.  I read through Dr. Seuss’s One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and I pictured my brother in his blue fleece blanket sleeper demanding to be read the story, “Gen! Gen!”  I think my Mom can probably still recite that book from memory!

After hours of reading and remembering, I had completed my task… and I couldn’t help but smile… not so much because I had finished sorting and organizing the books, although that was certainly an accomplishment, but because I had taken a lovely stroll down memory lane.  I had been sweetly reminded once again just how important books are to me.  I know that by taking the time to sit and read with my children, they too are creating memories that will last a lifetime:  memories of the stories, of the characters, of the time spent reading together, and of the feelings those times invoked!

Do you remember a favorite book from your childhood?  Do you have a favorite book you read with your children?  Do you have a special memory of a time you read together with someone you love?  

Link up and share this or one of your other special memories for Making Memories Monday this week.

Just a reminder… posts do not have to relate to the topic of my post.  Making Memories Monday posts can be a memory of the past, a story from your present, or an idea you have for creating a memory for the future. It’s your choice. But…

Remember: