MomMo's Cobb House Part 1

I decided to write a story about one of my dreams and include all the people in my family because that is how I would love for this to happen. So what I'll do is begin the story and write installments until it is finished. Don't worry, it's a short story anyway! Just please remember this is a rough draft and will not be edited, this is just like I am writing it in a journal.

The early morning sun shone brightly as it peeked above the ridge and the meadowlarks serenaded the group on BoBo's mountain. Brightly colored tents formed semi-circles around two campfires and a cooking area set up under the huge cottonwoods. BoBo was already out in the cool morning air being followed by two Chihuahua's, Mutts and Rosie, and two labs, Bo and Mocha. Rosie saw MomMo head out of the tent and went to help her put the coffee on the camp stove. Mutts supervised BoBo, Mocha and Bo stir up the campfires. The two labs were helping by bringing BoBo sticks to put on the fires then they took off to check out the early morning wildlife at the creek and get a drink of water.

The smell of brewing coffee and frying bacon caused a stirring in some of the tents and a little red headed boy popped out of the nearest tent. Jacob rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and smiled a lopsided snaggeltooth grin, "Hi MomMo and BoBo."

"Good morning baby! Did you have sweet dreams?"

Jacob nodded sleepily and stumbled toward his MomMo's arms. She pulled her lanky first born grandson into her lap. No matter how big they get they are never too old for MomMo hugs. He snuggled his head against her chest listening to her heart beat and her voice as she talked with BoBo.

"MomMo? Is it today?...are we making the house today?"

MomMo hugged him tight, "Yes, this is it! We will get started today and we are going to do it all together!"

Max, an older Alaskan Malamute ambled across the camping area and nudged Jacob's feet. "Uncle Jon must be awake, or he just let Max out so he could sleep longer!"

The entire Wilson clan had gathered for an old fashioned barn raising of sorts - in this case a Cobb house building. They were camping on the mountain property with all the grandchildren, grown kids and spouses, cousins, everyone's dogs, solar showers, porta-potties...It felt like a hippie gathering from the 60's! All we needed were tie-died clothes and tambourines

The coffee and bacon did the trick and everyone began to gather under the "kitchen" tent and around the picnic tables. The girls were helping scramble eggs while the guys corralled the kids to get them fed.

Installment One:

To be continued ...

Poetry Break

Here are a few of my favorite poems and why I love them so...
The first one is entitled "When I'm an Old Lady"

When I'm an old lady, I'll live with each kid,

And bring so much happiness...just as they did.

I want to pay back all the joy they've provided,

Returning each deed. Oh, they'll be so excited!

(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids).

I'll write on the wall with red, whites and blues,

And bounce on the furniture wearing my shoes.

I'll drink from the carton and then leave it out.

I'll stuff all the toilets and, oh, how they'll shout!

(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids).

When they're on the hone and just out of reach,

I'll get into things like sugar and bleach,

Oh, they'll snap their fingers and then shake their heads,

And when that is done I'll hide under the bed!

(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids).

When they cook dinner and call me to eat,

I'll not eat my green beans or salad or meat.

I'll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table,

And when they get angry I'll run...if I'm able!

(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids).

I'll sit close to the TV, through channels I'll click,

I'll cross both my eyes just to see if they stick.

I'll take off my socks and throw one away,

And play in the mud 'til the end of the day!

(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids).

And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh,

I'll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes.

My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping,

And say with a groan, "She's so sweet, when she's sleeping!"

(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids).

I believe the reason I love this poem so much is very obvious! I can't wait to share the love!

This next poem is for my grandchildren (especially Jacob and Benny)

Angel of Motherhood (Grandmotherhood)

by Kristen M Saccardi

The angel of all motherhood

She kisses each child good night

Wraps a child in her special wings

and holds all children tight.

She is a perfect Angel to answer to

A Mother's special prayer

Forever she is constantly

Hovering somewhere.

A treasured gift this angel is

She'll always do her part

Protect each gift that you receive

That lives inside your heart.

a gift from God He sent her here

To hold your child so close

The precious gift a child to love

a most angelic host.

The Angel's name is MomMo

She is the only Angel that shines so bright

She is an amazing angel

That will guard you through the night.

The Angel MomMo is truly wonderful

She will kiss your tears away

The angel MomMo is so beautiful

she looks pretty every day.

So say a prayer to God each night

Forever she'll be near

A guardian to every child

Each one her heart will wear.

I am Jacob, Benny's, Gage's, Gracen, Lily's and even Clyr's guardian Angel MomMo.

Then there is this lovely sentiment placed on an old church wall in Upwaltham, England:

I will not with thee riches nor

the glow of greatness, but that

wherever thou go some weary

heart shall gladden at thy smile,

or shadowed life know sunshine for awhile,

And so thy path shall be a track of light

like angels' footsteps passing through the night.

Then there is the beautiful poem:

A Grandmother's Prayer

by Barbara Burrows

Oh Lord, I do not ask for much,,

Eternal beaut, or youth, or such.

Just give me a little hand to hold,

And I'll forget that I'm growing old.

I do not ask for cloudless skies,

A life that's free from tears and sighs.

Just give me a little face to kiss,

And anxious moments will turn to bliss.

For what is there, really, that means so much

As little hands that reach and touch,

As little eyes that search and see

Only the best in fragile me?

So let me grow more loving and wise

By looking at life through their wide eyes.

For through these little ones, you have given

This grateful grandmother a glimpse of heaven.

Musings on Life

Here I am, about to turn 1/2 a century. That's enough to give anyone pause-can I really have been alive that long? I don't feel any older than I did when I was 20. Ok, Ok, maybe when it's really cold or raining and my broken/healed ankle hurts or my fingers feel a little stiff, maybe then I feel my age, but for the most part I wonder who that woman is in the mirror!

I stand amazed at how my body is growing older and my mind/spirit is staying put. How is that possible? Is that how we age and stay "young at heart?" In my mind I can keep up with my grandkids, I can exercise with the best of them, I can hike up the mountain and ride my bike and not get tired out too quickly. In reality, I fade fast, I get winded quickly, my body hurts, it takes days to recover from just a hike in the heat! I don't hold up like I used to. I think I'll stick to my fantasy of not growing old!

I look at my Dad and Mom and wonder how they grew old, in my mind they are the young, active parents who tried so hard to keep up with my sister and brother and I. I still see my Dad in his cowboy hat and black and white custom boots, standing on the mesa looking for all the world like an older James Dean. I see my Mom in pedal pushers (now called Capri's!) and loafers, curly brown hair and a curvy figure, catching the eyes of the guys as she passes by. Those are the parents I remember and still see - not noticing the gray hair and bifocals.

I still have two grandparents alive. My grandchildren have great, great grandparents! They are both weak and feeble and I know in my heart they won't be here long. We truly are a "vapor, a mist" a blip in the grand scheme of things.

How can we make our mark on this world? How do we keep ourselves "alive" in the memories and history of our world when we are not famous, we are not world leaders, we are not in the news, how? We leave a heritage of our children and they carry on our ideals, our looks, our beliefs in God, our past. As long as we remain in their memories, we remain .

I am feeling very mortal this week. We had our sixth grandchild and out of six children two are now estranged. I celebrated the birth of a new life into this world and it hung by a thread. It is still in the balance as I write this. He was born with a serious congenital birth defect and will have surgery on Monday. He was hooked to so many machines I couldn't even hold him. All I could do was stoke his head and sing to him and tell him how much he was loved and to hold on, Jesus was holding him tight when we couldn't. How could I have lived my life for nearly 50 years and this child not even have a chance? I would trade with him.

In heaven we have two grandchildren. I am comforted by the knowledge that I will see them someday and at the same time haunted by the refrain from Sting's song, "Will I know in you in Heaven..." Will I know them?

The Bible tell us we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, cheering us on toward the goal. Who are those witnesses? Angels, family members, people who have passed that know of us but perhaps our verbal history has forgotten them? I don't know. I do know they are there, they are cheering for me and for you. My babies are there, my Grandfather is there, Trace's Dad is there, ancestors that I don't know, and eventually my parents will be there. They will know of my race, they will be at the finish line when I go to meet Jesus. Thank you God. Thank you for letting us know our families know about us, have knowledge even when they have passed over. It is comforting, it is a security blanket that helps me feel OK about growing older and eventually leaving this world for a better place.