I had been wanting to do a layout about the gingerbread house that my grandaughter and I made together, but just couldn't come up with an idea for it, so when I saw Yvonne's sketch challenge on her blog (http://designsbyyvonne.blogspot.com/) I knew it would be perfect! I plan to add some hidden journaling behind the photo - I was so impressed with how well Arilie did helping with this house - she just may be the first "crafty" female child in this family! I'm so glad that I insisted on getting this photo too - because during the night, the dog ate our work!
"A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and
visiting with her Mother.
As they talked about life, about marriage, about the
responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the
mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a
clear, sober glance upon her daughter.
"Don't forget your Sisters," she advised, swirling the tea leaves
to the bottom of her glass.
"They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you
love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may
have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places
with them now and then; do things with them. "Remember that 'Sisters'
means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your
other women relatives too. "You'll need other women. Women always
do."
What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. Haven't I
just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a
married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and
the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!'
But she listened to her Mother.
She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each
year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came
to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about.
As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a
woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life.
After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've
learned:
THIS SAYS IT ALL:
Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't always do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.
BUT.........
Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are
between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her
can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have
to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the
valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you,
intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the
valley's end.
Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or
come in and carry you out. Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,
daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers,
aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!
The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I.
When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the
incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much
we would need each other.
Every day, we need each other still."
