the old girl

This big girl joined our family in 1986.

We found her in a barn full of antiques in northwest Ohio.

For 25 years she's had a place in our dining room, alongside a 6-leaf oak table that seems to match her. She's collected an assortment of my Christmas dishes, my mother-in-love's

100-year-old Haviland china, candlesticks, baby spoons, and ceramic souvenirs. 

She is crafted of heavy, solid oak, and I imagine a woodworker or even a farmer

lovingly building her for his wife over a century ago.

She's seen my children grow up, and countless others, too, no doubt.

But because she holds so many treasures, she's become a bit of annoyance to me.

So today is the day. I emptied, dusted and cleaned her.

She'll be moving to the breakfast room,

filled with my favorite dishes and platters

and allowed to oversee the busier areas of our house.

Someday she might be passed on, but for now we'll keep the old girl.

Gratitude challenge day 10 - I'm thankful not for the "things" in my house,

but the memories they stir up:

of feeding babies and children's laughter and Thanksgiving dinners.