Lessons From My Hope Chest: Looking Back...Time is Short

My husband and boys brought my hope chest in from it's hiding place in the garage.  Now, I'm not going to get anything done at home!!

At first, I lifted and looked at items piece by piece.  That did not last long, and soon I had a Mount Everest pile of memories.  

Running my hand over my neglected hope chest shifted my mind went to reverse. 

 Mom gave me it and it was my treasured possession and I babied it with furniture oil and polish and hid my treasures within.  

This cedar hope chest came from a school teacher that had willed all of her things to my Aunt and Mom.  This teacher taught my Mom and sister and provided a mother figure to them, during a time they were on their own as kids.  She taught them to sew and cook and look ahead in life.  She saved their lives!

I filled it with treasures.
 
Letters, pictures and notes from my sisters.  Notes from boys and friends.  Special rocks, rodeo buckles and journals and stories filled the trunk.  Along with dishes and blankets that Mom wanted me to put there.  

In high school, I covered it with a doily and a mirror and gifts from someone special.

After marrying my husband, the hope chest integrated our wedding flowers and wedding book to the top of the treasures.  Other things were not as important anymore.  Family became more important.   More journals were added.

Then my boys began to be born and baggies with binkies and baby clothes and baby books nestled into the chest.

The lesson came from a loose piece of paper with a journal note written to remind myself not to worry about cleaning, soon the boys would be grown.  

I was right.

Time is so short.