Friday Show and Tell - and Twin Update

It was my senior year in college. I had to spend the summer there to finish my student teaching and officially graduate. Nobody could stay in the dorm and I could not afford to rent an apartment; possibly a room. I had a job on campus, but it wouldn't provide an abundance of money. I began asking around to see if I could find something I could handle financially. A local girl was in one of my classes - in fact, we were the only two elementary education majors in the John Bunyan literature class - it was mostly religion majors. I took all of my electives in the English department. This girl told me she'd do some checking.

It was only a matter of a day or two when I had a letter in my mailbox. It was from this girl's mom. She was inviting me to stay with them in their spare room that summer. Apparently, they had done this before, because the letter was filled with her requirements and expectations. She must have had some real doozies, because one of her expectations was that I would change the sheets regularly, and not throw my underwear into the ceiling light fixtures! But imagine my amazement and gratitude when they asked me to be their guest for the summer. God is so good!

Not only did they give me the room, but they fed me, and took me out to eat several times that summer. There were some things that were not ideal, but overall I couldn't complain about the accommodations, considering the financial arrangements.

Imagine my surprise when, on top of all they had done for me, they then gave me an amazing graduation gift. This woman had found a china pattern at Montgomery Ward that she really liked. She bought it in bulk and gave sets of china for all wedding gifts. She also gave me a set - and I was not getting married - I was setting up housekeeping as a single teacher with a roommate. What a generous gift!

(Note the zinnias from my yard - I love them)

Here is a close-up of the pattern.

Also included in the set were various sized serving bowls and platters, one large enough for a turkey dinner.


Amazingly, my sister stayed with them the next summer for only two weeks and they gave her a set for graduation as well. Years later, when this wonderful, uniquely interesting lady was doing some remodeling of her kitchen, she sent all of her extra pieces to my sis and me. We have enough of these dishes between us now that we can serve our large family holiday dinners on matching china.

Needless to say, I have visited this lady almost every time I've been back to that town in Oklahoma.

The twins are growing like little weeds - they'll be 8 months old on Sunday - unbelievable!

I love the way they interact with each other. They were both crying, rolled over on their tummies, and hugged.

Their hair is the same color - the sun makes Emma's look reddish.

They love their baths, with a maniacal kicking and splashing fest - and they love making funny noises - and they laugh gustily when you copy their noises back at them. Notice their sweet little hands??

For more Friday Show and Tell stories, stop by Kelli's blog, There Is No Place Like Home.

EDIT: It's a chilly fall-like morning in Colorado - 48 degrees at 7:30 a.m. I feel like crawling back in bed for a good snooze! I hope this isn't a harbinger of our winter to come! DC is at a golf tournament today for his job (poor guy). But seriously, normally it is a lovely fall day when he gets to do this. Providing I get myself going this morning, I think I'll be driving to the gym instead of riding my bike.