
It’s just a little box—plastic, slightly musty and the stickers peeling off. But inside? A treasure trove of delicious jewel like morsels of childhood. When my mom fished my Strawberry Shortcake house out of the attic, I was immediately familiar with it. There was no flood of memories or emotion–it was just an intimate reacquainting.
I looked at each figurine with the same delight as meeting a long lost friend. I brought the figures to my nose hoping to smell the lingering fruit scent. And I think I did–or maybe I was imagining it or just remembering. I set out Strawberry Shortcake, Blueberry Muffin and Lemon Meringue back in their spots (with an adeptness that only comes with familiarity). Then I presented my old friends to a new one–my 1.5 year old daughter.
She oohs over their bright (or, once bright) colors. She sorts, holds and plays with them like any child would. But she doesn’t see what I see. She doesn’t see and feel the family and love and comfort and security I see encapsulated in that toy–a picture of my growing up years.

But my mother? She sees something that neither my daughter nor I can see. She sees a 5 year old Amanda dumping her treasured Strawberry Shortcakes dolls in her mama’s lap. A gift for a friend from her Daddy’s work. A little girl who’s house burnt to the ground.
Mama wouldn’t let me give the whole house. Not every figurine. But some did go. Daddy took my gift of little Strawberry Shortcake friends to work and passed them on to his co-worker who gave them to his daughter.

And somewhere (I imagine) there is a grown woman discovering her old Strawberry Shortcakes in the attic. And she is remembering them as a gift after a traumatic time in her life. I wonder if she feels the mysterious thread that connects us?
And now I know why this toy of so many is the only one kept in the attic all those years.
{This is an exercise in prompted writing from a Wisdom Workshop at Blissdom. I did not go back and correct anything. Just wrote. Thank you, Amber, Mrs. Flinger and Sara Sophia for the inspiration!}
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When I was little, every Christmas my mom would make let us sing a song before we opened presents. Usually it was a song from our church’s Christmas play. This is one of many amazing photos of Jason and me performing for the fam. Don’t we look excited? And exciting?

Well, besides my beautiful 10 year old self singing a song, there are more wonderful things about this Christmas photo. Care to look around?
1. The gifts. How is it that wrapping paper and bows can look retro? I mean, they are unusually un-trendy!
2. Grandpa. That’s my mom’s dad. He died when I was in 8th grade. I just like looking at him because this was before he got sick. (Notice his excitement at watching his grandchildren sing. We must have been so entertaining!)
3. Jason, my bro. He was 7 here. And boy howdy can he rock a geometric multi-colored sweater.
4. Oh, Amanda. Indeed. The hair. The dress. The shoes. The beautiful expression.
5. Technology. Do you see that tape deck? And the rotary cable box? Suh-weet!
6. The mantle. That’s my stocking—I know because there’s a little doll sticking out of it. We always put little stuffed animals in our stockings until “Santa” filled them up! And the four candles? I mean, how Christmas-y!
What did your Christmas of 1987 look like?
Asa is one month old today. It’s hard to believe. It’s been the longest month of my life. But it’s also flown by. I wish I could write all the emotions and feelings that have been flooding my heart and my mind and my body this last month. They’ve been conflicting, that’s for sure.
I’ve been on the epitome of an emotional roller coaster. The high of a belonging to a newborn baby that is beyond beautiful and soft and sweet and precious contrasted to the low of being unable to care for him, not knowing what he needs and feeling completely inadequate. It’s been a month completely on its own plane. I’ve been in the Land of Asa in the country of the Pirate.
Today I vlogged about Asa’s first month. And it’s not sappy, sweet or even featuring Asa. Sorry. I wanted to do something fun to celebrate Asa each month and I vlogged a few of my ideas.
So, if you’re here from the vlog the pictures are below for your viewing pleasure. And if you’re here because you routinely stalk my blog for cute pictures, well, look below, then head over to newbaby.com to see the reason behind them.
(click here, then view videos then uploaded videos then
celebrating your baby month by month)
the super cool growth chart…

the giant horse…


the babylegs (i got mine from mom4life)…

and one more that didn’t make the vlog…
it’s not a stuffed animal, but when Yancy gets you a toy, it’s going to be a guitar…

So, which one do you like best for my monthly pirate updates?