Memory Lane Monday - Family...

Christmas Day 1959 (I'm the one on the right.)

I remember those early Christmas celebrations when the most important thing was getting that present I really wanted from Santa. In 1959, it was a baby doll that I adored. As I became older, other things became more important.

Our 1986 family Christmas card.

In 1984, I married Handsome and we were immediately a family of four. I was privileged to become a stepmom to 13 and 8 year old boys.

My focus moved from "me" to "us", and through the years we've added to our family in the most wonderful ways.

l-r: Son #2, me, Handsome, Son #2's Lab, King Friday the 13th (Friday), DIL #1, and Son #1

Our elder son married his childhood junior high school sweetheart, and we've been blessed to have her as part of our family...

2000 - l-r: Handsome with golden, Duff, me, DIL #2, DIL #1, Son #2 and Son #1 with golden, Bee

...and when Son #2 married his sweetheart, we thought it couldn't get any better. Our family celebrations took on new meaning as our family grew. It wasn't really about the presents. It was about the gifts of love and shared lives.

2011 - Our Grandson

Now our lives all include three of the most remarkable young people who, daily, take our breaths away. When the Christmas card arrived from our elder son's family, I almost dropped to my knees. This little man continues to make my heart stop every time I look at his face. I don't expect you to feel the same. I'm his Grandma, after all, but I'll completely understand if you agree with me.

2011 - Our Granddaughters

Then we got our Christmas card from Son #2 and his family. As grandparents, Handsome and I look at our granddaughters and our hearts swell with love. Not only were we blessed with that dark-haired beauty, but God saw fit to bless us with another red-head. That impish grin perfectly shows her personality, which she is more than happy to share with us, whether on the phone or in person.

Being a part of our family is an honor that I never even imagined as a child. I say "honor" because carrying on our family name and teaching our values to our boys and our grandchildren is not something I take lightly. In our family, the best way to teach is to lead by example. I want them to be proud to carry our name and all the integrity, honesty and history it carries, and they always know that they're loved by us. Of all the things a person can give to their family, I value these things the most.

As we move into a new year and a new start, I again make a resolution that I find easy to keep. I will continue to be the person that my family is proud to call their own, and a person who will always make them the first priority (after their father/grandfather) in my life. For me, there's no other way.

Thank you for joining me for the last Memory Lane Monday of 2011. I'm looking forward to sharing more memories with you in 2012, and hope that you'll join me as we welcome the new year.

If you have a memory you'd like to share, please write your story on your blog and then come back and link here so others can read your memory. See you again for January's Memory Lane Monday!