Saturday, November 29, 2008

I Come From A Long Line of Love

Mamaw is 94 years old this month and is more full of love now than ever. She has a line of descendants longer than David and if you get that joke you are a good God fearin, Bible totin, hand raisin, Pentecostal woman....and you wear panty hose on Sundays and all...cause you are pure and holy and righteous.

That has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but I very rarely stick to topic...kinda...usually not. Anyhoo, she has 70 direct descendants and they were all there for Thanksgiving...all but two. We have now removed them form the will. I kid. I kid. Kinda.Mamaw had ten kids...nine of which are living. This is the Eldest...Esther. She is the FIRST born -- a leader, a take-charge woman. She also keeps everybody in line and would never, ever allow anyone to pick on any of us. She is priceless. And she drove out to Oklahoma to visit us when I was nine months pregnant ... and she took me out to eat...and PAID. And I was not a light eater. Amen. Aunt Esther teaches me to take care of others.
Dallas is the second child. He left before I took his pic. But he is the epitome of someone who never gives up. Never does not see hope. Never doesn't see a better way. Uncle Dallas teaches me to believe and never give up.

Dolly May died when she was three years old in an accident. I never met her nor did my mother.

Bobby is the fourth child. He is as strong and secure in his beliefs as anyone I know. He is a man of integrity and honor. He always puts God and his family first. Uncle Bobby teaches me to hold fast to my beliefs. Next comes Becky. She has had a hard life. But at the end of the day, no one can ever deny her sacrifice and love for her kids. Aunt Becky teaches me to always love....always.Johnny comes in at number six. He is a hard worker and is dedicated to success. He teaches me to have drive and a strong work ethic.Shirley is lucky number seven. She is the one I spent the most time with because her daughter was only two months older than me. Her other daughter is my rich and beautiful cousin who loves just a few miles from me. Aunt Shirley taught me family can be friends.Barbara is a school teacher and the educator in the family. She always truly CARED about my life -- where I was, who I was seeing, where I was going. She taught me to value education and the love of reading. Aunt Barbara and I are kindred spirits and have a heart for teaching. Betty is number nine and the fashion guru of the family. I always wanted to be just like Aunt Betty and thought she was the most beautiful thang ev-er. Aunt Betty gave me my love for shopping and the most important thing ev-er....THE CARROT CAKE RECIPE.And coming in last but not least me my momma....the BABY. She is the glue and the peace maker in the family. Always negotiating and trying to see everyone's point of view...I take away the gift of peace from my momma.
This guy? I have no clue who he is. But this is also just like my family...we invite everyone. He might have been the maintenance man, he coulda been the mayor, he probably was a guy with no family for the holidays....either way, we don't care...we just love ya and can't believe you wanna be with our family. God love em.
This is my rich and beautiful cousin who lives close to me and had absolutely GREAT hair and he biggest heart you have ever seen. Next to her is my brother's wife who is absolutely wonderful. I love her to pieces. And I can't wait for her to pop out some babies. And they will be as cute as her....
But this was a typical Thanksgiving with forty eleven people even more food...
The food...oh the food...
in which they all slave away and I sit back and watch
and drool...and my belly cries out...Finally, Uncle Bobby does the prayer...

and I totally catch my cousin in the red sweater on the right ...yeah.he is totally texting during the prayer. Heathen. I was taking pics but my eyes were closed. Honest.Then please take a look at who is the first person in line...It was for the kids....I SWEAR I was makin plates for the Boy Twerps. Honest. Probably.Then everybody else followed....even the Hell Bound Texter.And let me tell you, this Twerp takes after his momma...not only in his stellar good looks, but also his appetite.And once dinner was complete...
We moved on to Aunt Betty's straight form heaven and right to your thighs carrot cake. You can see the joy it brings to one...we are all aware of how my thighs sing out in glory at the splendid beauty of this cuisine.

And now I weigh 8,421 pounds and my thighs are still singing forth in praise.

11 comments:

Linda said...

How awesome that your WHOLE family was able to share Thanksgiving together! Totally!

Lo said...

girl, i lova ya, for postin so honestly and straight forward. your family is awesome.

happy thanksgiving, and all the more giving to give. and have thanks for that. bc it feels, SO. GOOD.

i love you sister!!!!

(and, uhm, not tryin to be stalker. just sayin. you rock!)

Anonymous said...

Can I be adopted into your family???

Anonymous said...

Wow, what an amazing post- and an amazing family! You are all so blessed to have each other! I love how you wrote about them all with such love and respect... You certainly made me more grateful for mine.
And I'm also totally always the first in line. You know, for the kids.

Marchelle said...

are there enough leftovers for the "new twerp?" cause i can ship him right on down. my aunt & my FIL work at FedEx so i got connections.

Anonymous said...

Panty hose is the Debil!

Oh yea,great post!

Dana and Daisy said...

my momma comes from a family of ten kids too, but we don't all get together anymore, BUt we did when I was a little kid.

Last family reunion we had like 140 peeps there!

Anonymous said...

Country girl,i think you really are my long lost daughter!!! lol did I see the name Dolly Mae?? that is my great grandmother's name!! (from southwest Mo) the middle name was handed down thru 3 generations. I'm glad my neice has used it(Mae for her new baby girl. It looks like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Meemaw

edie said...

Dear CG,
What a joy to see your Thanksgiving fun. I made Aunt Betty's carrot cake and it is wonderful. My thighs didn't need any help singing either......but they started in on the Hallelujah chorus after a piece of that.

Now here's what I'm gonna request from ya.....I know you've got a real job and all......but I feel like surely you must need our help on...say some cute outfit for a Christmas party or what to get IJ for Christmas or who should do a guest post.....Dolly May or the janitor from Thanksgiving?
We on the ready.....for whatever help you need. We love you like that.
And your little momma is so adorable. It makes me sad for you to have to leave them. Love to you and yours!
Edie

The Kelso-Winter Family said...

what a wonderful tribute to a loving family!.. did y'all have pumpkin pie?? pecan pie?? we didn't get either up here on our canadian verion of american thanksgiving... i'm making that carrot cake for my little gathering tomorrow! can't wait!

Anonymous said...

Was looking for Michael MM's song, I Come from a Long Line of Love and "happened" onto your site - LOVE IT! Love and family make you rich!