I don’t know about you but when I was a child, I loved listening to stories. Especially family stories. Some of my earliest memories were listening to my grandmother talking about her childhood. She had a small picture of her mother holding her first child. That little framed picture was always on the small, round table with claw feet and a lion head with a ring in its nose for a drawer pull. I sat under this table, holding Grandma Lizzie’s photo in my hand. I could imagine her sitting in a rocking chair, singing lullabies to her little one. I could see her washing clothes on a scrub board, and hanging them on a line. Most of the chapters in The Vision of a Mother’s Heart are taken from my grandmother Isabel’s memories.

I think you get the picture. I’m visual. I imagine a scene and then put that scene into words. In future posts there will be pictures of “Mama”. I’m so thrilled to share this with you!

Apparently, I told the stories to my friends and one of my friends from childhood remembered them too. We found each other on Facebook and I haven’t chatted that much since sixth grade!  My friend is a great photographer, seamstress, baker, mother, grandmother, wife and a great friend!

Photo by John Purdy

~*~

The day was freezing cold but my friend, Kathie and my niece, Emily were determined to get some pictures of “Mama” that I can use in my posts or even in my book, The Vision of a Mother’s Heart which is in the process of editing for a second printing.

The Lord is good, He granted me with a healthy day without vertigo or migraines so my husband, John and I were there too. It was amazing! A day I shall remember forever and sweet Emily must have been freezing but she didn’t complain. The temperature was below freezing that day and we were all bundled up except her. Her only warm item was a small afghan throw. What a trooper!

Why did I choose Emily? You know how families are, we see grandma’s eyes, granddaddy’s humor, mama’s chin. Something about Emily’s eyes reminded me of Grandma Lizzie or “Mama” in the book.

Emily and David

Meet Emily. She is my cousin but her Mom and I are so close in age and were more like sisters, I’m “Aunt Kathy” and Emily and her two older brothers are more like my niece and nephew. (Phew! That’s not complicated at all is it? Love is the tie that binds regardless of the title.)  Emily is married and has two wonderful sons.  She recently posted this picture of her and her husband. When I saw this it reminded me of our great-grandmother Lizzie aka “Mama” in The Vision of a Mother’s Heart.

I pulled up Grandma’s picture and placed it beside Emily and shared it with her and my dear friend the photographer and cheerleader for my books. We could finish each other’s sentences in the sixth grade and when we found each other on Facebook, we have been chatting ever since. We still think alike! Our former teacher has given us her approval for our talking now.

A plan was formed. I must say that Kathie and Emily did all of the work! Kathie knew of a perfect location and even made an apron for Emily to wear as well as props for the photos.  Emily wore her mother’s wedding dress as the blouse, bought a long skirt and had her hair fixed in a pompadour.

Emily dressed as “Mama” Photo by Kathie Kingrey Photography

Kathie took shots of “Mama” doing the same chores women in rural Virginia which were part of their every day life.

Look for more pictures of “Mama” in upcoming posts.

                  I would like to thank everyone who was part of the photo shop.

To my friend, Kathie of  Kathie   Kingrey Photography, Emilie, my husband, John who ran around taking pictures of Kathie taking pictures! To my Aunt Sandra, her son Doug, Emily’s husband, David, Kathie’s husband, Russ and   a dear friend of Kathie whose excitement for the project matched ours!

I am also thankful for Granny (Nannie to most of her grandchildren), her siblings and their spouse for sharing memories with me. Most of all, I thank The Lord Jesus Christ for opening the door for me.

Blessings!

Kathy

Proverbs 3:5-6