Building up treasures.

One of my treasures is the Bible belonging to my Great Grandmother, Annie Susannah. She had thirteen children and my Nan L was the youngest. Her Bible was given to me after Nan died. I could see it was the real deal as soon as I opened it. It was well worn from use, it had pencil markings of where she had been up to and highlighting bits. There were newspaper clippings and pretty cards from her children. Oh ! lovely! It felt very personal.

My Nan was Cora Jean. One of the cards is from her in her writing which is beautiful to have. "To Mother from Cora" :) Nan was so little when she was born she came home in a shoe box with cotton wool around her. 

These cards and things I found and read and little newspaper clippings etc. one is an article about Billy Graham in 1946 it seemed she had kept it because of the beautiful message from Billy Graham.

I did not find right away the best thing. The finer the paper the more things hide between the pages. And like many things there are treasures that you miss if you don't look.

I found this. The first time I read it I sobbed. I felt it in my heart. It is a letter Great Grandma got when Great Grandpa died. And she kept it tucked in between the pages.

I will let you read it for yourself. I am struck by the quality of the words, the meaning, the feeling, the message, everything.

Every time I read it, it gets me. What a treasure. It's like going back in time with my Great Grandmother.

I think of her often. She influenced my life through Nana very much. 

And this is how it is. What we do now forms a foundation that will influence our own children and theirs and the ones after that. I feel the influence of previous generations everyday and it is as if both my Nanas are still living the way I talk about them so often! 

Reading Laines Letters I knew what I was doing back then was forming a foundation and was important work. I'm so glad I knew that! I didn't believe the world that I was wasting my time and talents. But this is a message lots of young Mums get! If I can encourage one Mother that her work is priceless I will be happy. 

And since I have learned and realised that Grandmothers and Great Grandmothers are as influential as the Mother, or can be. Maybe now that Lucy is married I am thinking about these things and the meaning of it all! And I hope the pages of my Bible bless and amaze my great grandchildren just as much.