Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice...

She was sitting on the porch waiting for us to arrive and as soon as she saw us she ran into the house to tell her mom. As we walked toward the house I saw traces of chalk on the sidewalk, just one of the signs indicating a child lives here! One would have thought we were someone special by the excitement on her face and the wiggling taking place! It was the first time we had visited her new house and she could barely contain herself! She was dressed in a new, long sleeved pink shirt with a caricature of a little girl applicayed on the front. From my experience I could spot a new, long sleeved shirt that had been purchased in the summer just waiting for the first cool morning so it could be worn! She had a pink with white polka dots bow in her hair and it was a bit lower on her head than it had started out to be in the morning I am certain. There were a few loose curls framing her sweet face, an indication of a day full of play activities and maybe even a few minutes "rest" on her pallet at preschool. After a tour of the house we decided to eat on the deck since the weather finally had cooled down bringing us a hint that fall was finally here! She wanted to help expedite the whole meal process of course and asked for our preference of drinks. She actually made it from the kitchen to the table outside placing each filled glass correctly and without spilling a drop. How that happened is short of a miracle! During dinner conversation she interacted like she was one of us, the four adults exchanging news from the day and even showed us a few tricks she knew about her mom's iPhone! She recalled names and places like she had lived here forever instead of the short two and a half month tenure. After dessert we went back inside and I requested that she share with me one of her favorite books. As we sat on the sofa side by side with my arm around her so as to scoop her as close to me as I could get her, in an instant that posture with her made my mind race with memories of the countless times, minutes, books I had shared with my own girls dressed in a pink long-sleeved shirt and a pink with white polka dots bow in their hair. It felt so natural to me and I knew just how to giggle at the right places in the story even though I was reminiscing as I listened. ( God made moms able to do that, you know! ). I can't begin to count the number of pink, girly items I have purchased or made during that time in my mom life! The hair bows to match a specific outfit or season of the year alone was monumental! From hair bows to smocked dresses, ballet shoes, tights and tutus, to back packs and lunch boxes our house was filled with pink indicators that girls were on the premices! I loved every minute of coordinating outfits with shoes and bows so that my girls looked like a doll come to life! I didn't spend a lot money for them to have the look but rather accepted the challenge of accomplishing that by shopping for sales, garage sales, passing around items with friends and family, and working at a local specialty fabric store as my mother's day out two days a week for fabric instead of money. Our house reeked of pink with three daughters to dress! I'm not sure who had more fun, the girls or me! I do know that I cherish the memories of all the challenges that accompanied that stage of my life. It doesn't require much for me to be back there in my mind. Just the appearance of a little girl sporting a little pink and I'm there!

8 comments:

  1. this is beautiful...is it about your granddaughter?you are a special writer:)

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  2. Nancy,
    You are a great writer! Your words are picked so perfectly. The words jump off of the page and take on their own life. I remember the girls and their bows and dresses...... just adorable! Ray would say that Wilson and Alex P. wore some dresses too! (Although, we know they were smocked gowns and bubble suits and rompers)
    Keep the stories and the lessons coming!! I Love them!

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  3. Keep sharing....such wonderful stories!
    Retta

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  4. I remember very well when you learned to smock and sew. Remember the guy who lived across the street from you? And the chain saw!

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  5. I remember one time shortly after Lynn and I moved to LR, we kept AG for y'all over the weekend. Don't remember where y'all went but you had each kid staying somewhere different. We were very excited (this was pre-kids for us) and had a lot of fun with her. For church Sun. you had sent a sweet denim dress with something smocked in red and of course a big red bow. I had no experience doing little girls hair (still don't) and had the hardest time getting it to look right. I knew AG's bow's always looked right. I did the best I could and then when we got to church, I saw Abby and said "please fix it". You're right - your girls always (and still do) looked precious.

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  6. Hi,Nancy,is this Brady Chandler,Adam's daughter in your sugar and spice story ? Just like you,when i'm around little ones it takes me back to a time when my children were little.I just had one daughter,Lora Jean,i can't believe none of your girls had the color purple as a favorite,my daughter fluctuated between pink and purple,when her favorite was purple ,she changed her light bulbs to purple likewise,with the pink light bulbs,she was a preteen when this was going on.I used to make my boys sunday white shirts out of their daddy's shirts when his collars and cuffs were worn out,back then all men's sunday dress shirts were white.i'd starch and iron them,and they did look spiffy You have such great kids,of which you can be proud,not in a haughty way but in a grateful way,i'm sure they are a blessing to you,just as mine are.you don't know my other children well,but you do know Stacy,he is and always has been a joy and treat in my life.He and his family dearly love you all,he really thinks he's a Chandler.I was so glad to hear you had accepted the fact you needed the walker,not only for your safety,but it relieves your family's concern, somewhat.someone ought to compile your blogs into bookform,it is so valuable,not only for we who know you,but for anyone,you make your stories so interesting,your truth from your heart and soul,i know it's cathartic for you as well.keep up the good work.i love you,Jean

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  7. Great memories, Nancy, only mine only involved one little girl! Now, my little girl has a little girl of her own to get to do all those fun things! Your girls (and Joseph, too!) sure were lucky to have such great parents and to have so many sisters! I love your blogs! You are a great writer! Keep it up! :o)

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  8. Through the years, you've even tried to help me with my clothes, to little avail. Thanks for trying!

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