Rubbermaid

I've had an interesting weekend and if this gets too personal, quit reading it! I've decided to get some things cleaned up before Tana's baby shower and all the family coming for Easter so I attacked (literally) the basement. All the fairies were in order (the laundry, cleaning and dishes, etc... you know the ones) and the stars were in alignment and the Rubbermaid containers were there, so I jumped in.

I ran across so many things that took me places I hadn't been in a very long time.

My family thinks I'm too scentimental. When we were going through Dad's things after his funeral, they kept saying thing like, "A dry cleaning receipt? Give it to Codi... she'll take it." Well, I did have a Rubbermaid full of Dad's shirts (yes, there were dry cleaning receipts in there). I opened the lid and his uniform was there. I pulled it close to me and it still smelled like him. It was faint, but there. I remember him coming home from a trip and he would smell like the airplane. I still look for 4 stripes when I fly... and I think of Dad.

That box had dad's old shirts and his old burgundy jacket. I put the shirts in the DI pile and I folded the jacket back up and put it back with the uniform. I still can't quite throw it away. I remember when Dad was dying and he wore that jacket all the time. He used to go out in 40 below weather with a down vest and his barn boots. He never got cold. When he was sick, he was cold all the time.

I really miss my dad.

I came across my graduation cap and honor cords. I saw the picture of me and my kids at my graduation. Just us four. We really did it! It was hard on all of us, but I wouldn't do it any other way. They learned so many lessons those few years. We all sat on the front room floor one Christmas Eve after a box had been delivered with food and money... the exact amount I had paid the day before in tithing even though I didn't have it to pay. I told the kids the day before what I had done and knew we would be OK. I just didn't know how. I had never been a "casserole taker" before. I had always been on the giving side. I was so grateful to my Heavenly Father and whoever those angels were that night. ( I still don't know.) They taught myself and my children a valuable lesson that we will never forget.

Jessi's overalls were in a box that she wore in the painting "Tickled Pink" that Ann Hanson drew. Jessi was two and was absolutely the most adoreable model ever! Those overalls were hand me downs from Brandon, McKay and Tana. After "Tickled Pink", I just had to put them in the "Special Box".

Jessi has acquired the "Rubbermaid Gene" from her Gammie and I, so her momentos were numerous and nicely organized into their own containers... but I had to sneak a peek at "Wee Hee" her favorite stuffed pony. That pony went to Bumpy and Gammie's one too many times and stayed outside in the rain once, and is now blind in one eye... but, according to the "Velveteen Rabbit", he now is "Real".

I had to stop and think if I was.

There were Kayci's shoes from her trip to the mud puddle right BEFORE the family pictures. Bob and I were so broke it took me months to save for that cute Osh Kosh outfit. She was laughing so hard in the middle of the mud, I couldn't be mad.

Her ballet shoes and tutu were in a little bag like they were ready for the next dance class. It was her first year dancing... she was 8... the rest of the girls were 4 or 5. She LOVED dancing. Her first recital made me cry... she was so proud. All these little girls and Kayci... It was wonderful. She wasn't talking very much yet, but she did say, "Kayci is the Prettiest Dancer!" Yes, she was.

Jake's bear was there... the one he would hold by the hand and come get me in the morning. He would drag me, and the bear, to the rocking chair and we would rock...and rock... and rock... until he was awake. We wouldn't say a word until Jake was ready and then he'd say a couple of things, ask me things about the sky, or cheese, or sticks. Whatever was on that little boy's mind. Then he was off about his day.

There were rocks from a beach in Hawaii, the "hands" headbands Jessi and I wore to Disneyland on her 18th birthday. School work and notes and cards... so many memories.

The worn out books... "The Big Hungry Bear" and P.J. Funny Bunny, especially! I could recite both of those, cover to cover, by heart TO THIS DAY! Every night it was all three kids in the girls bed. We would read 2 (and only two!) books and sing one song, usually "Touch" (Heavenly Father Loves Me). I would touch each of their little noses when I sang the word, "Touch" and they would giggle like it was the first time. One of Kayci's first words was "Touch"... it was wonderful. Then we would say prayers and it was off to sleep to "have sweet dreams about purple elephants." (Don't ask me, I don't know why!) Isn't it crazy how the little things become so great?

... and pictures! WOW, do I love pictures! I do believe my children's lives are well documented!

I know that I am scentimental and I keep so many things that other people find odd... but I guess it's just who I am. I was able to get quite a pile for DI, but some things I just had to smile and embrace... and then put back in the box. Grateful for the tangible reminder of that moment, but most importantly, for the person with whom that moment was shared.

I do hope my children become good, responsible adults that eventually leave home and start building their own homes. But as for now, I'm grateful for the little wonders of life...

... and Rubbermaid.