Mondays with Momma: On Raising a Square Piece, Part 3

I thought you all might like to see some more childhood pictures of Square Piece.

This picture was taken around the time Square Piece was four years old.

We were breeding Siamese cats at the time. Suzy is sitting with Sasha, Sophia and Sabrina, the daughters of our male cat, Sapphire.

This picture is from a very special trip to the beach.  Suzy was finished with Kindergarten and turning six years old at the time.  We stayed with an Aunt who helped me deal with our loss during this first summer after Suzy’s father left our family.  This Aunt was a tremendous blessing to our family, and enriched my faith in many ways.

I’m guessing here, but I think that our Square Piece was in 2nd or 3rd grade when this picture was taken.  She is holding Priscilla, our first guinea pig.  Prissy was an unusual pig, as she would run around the apartment, but return to her cage when she needed to do her business.  I had to be careful with my coffee mug, which I set on the floor at the time, else she would sip a drink and then literally run laps around the room from her caffeine buzz!

Another picture from around the time SP was in 2nd-3rd grade.  Our neighbor across the hall got a lizard.  Obviously, we were easily entertained in those days.

Looking back on these, and other childhood pictures, I see many blessings over the years.  Times were tough and we could not afford any luxuries, but we had each other, and that was more than enough.  I’ve been reflecting on that a lot lately, how blessed we are to have each other and many, many special people who have made a huge difference in our lives.

Some call it “paying it forward” and others call it “being the hands and feet of God” … I’m just grateful that I can do something today (like volunteer work for food pantries/meal ministries, or simply being a foster Mom) to show my appreciation for all that God did, and is doing, for us as a family.  I’m especially grateful that my children are aware of these blessings and do not take them for granted.  Suzy’s “Thankful Game” might seem silly or even redundant to some people, but it brings me so much joy to see her making the most out of life … thanks and appreciation, even for the little things, … truly makes a difference.