What is your Legacy?

After losing dad almost 7 years ago, and mom 2 1/2 years ago, I have begun to read thru their journals.
Dads journals are filled to the brim on most every page. Moms journals are sporadic, at best, with some months almost full, others empty, or just a page or two.
Both were meticulous in making sure the weather was reported each day they wrote :)
Dads is from the farmer/rancher perspective. How many cows have calved, how many sick steers were doctored today, what field got plowed, disced, chiseled, or drilled that day. How many bales were baled of grass, hay, feed or straw. Who ran what tractor or did what chore, or who rode horses to round up in which pasture,etc etc. Dad got into the habit of abbreviating words, and it took me a bit to remember that f.b was not face book, but farm bureau ! LOL Dad had never heard of facebook :)
Dad was also very good at recording deaths and births.
Mom's days almost always started with up early, late or as usual. breakfast over and we were off and rolling.
Her views come from a very busy farm/ranch wife, who sold Avon many years, ran the ML Sale Barn Cafe 19 years, and worked part time at at least 3 other places.
They were both great at recording who called, who visited or who they visited. Before grandchildren, when mom mentioned dad it was either "dad" or "Edgar". after grandkids it was "Papa". guess I know where I fell after grand kids came along :)
In the 70's mom even recorded how many fresh eggs she gathered every day, and also recorded if any were broken.
They recorded:
The blizzard of "71.
Mom having appendicitis and having it removed on their 19th wedding anniversary.
When I cut my hand on the red glass bowl,
When I fell thru the grain bin door, slipping on ice, and bruising myself quite badly.
When I ran over Fritz,the dog.
When Bozo died, and Peanuts. (dogs)
Sandy (sister) was nicknamed Pete
I was Pack (short for pack rat-----------and that shoe still fits today :) :) )
When Paul came along he was Pokey Pete, or Little Paul.
Rachel was magpie
Karen was sweet pea
And later, dad called them his little fellers.....
Mom mentions the grand kids as the "boys", a few times. I remember when my niece wanted to "be a boy"...get her haircut like her brother from the barber (and she did--and it was cute!)

In years past I have read excerpts from their journals, but now, I am really reading them, one at a time, not in any specific order. Each one I read takes me on a trip down memory lane. The picture in my mind is clear, of the home I grew up in............ the sand tire under the big elm tree..........mom painting the dining room and living room green................dad driving the tractor...............the machine shed...............working cattle in the corral............swimming in the horse tank.................mom working in the garden...............mom cooking..................picking/dressing chickens............. bucking bales...............digging turnips planted in the alfalfa field.......grandad coming in on his tractor, always standing up ....................cutting weeds to feed the chickens........riding our purple, banana seat, Huffy bikes..........

As I am reading thru the journals, I am reminded at how much of my life is also wrapped up in these journals. here is my legacy, my heritage, recorded for me to read and cherish, and treasure. To laugh about, and shed a tear. To go back in time, and to be thankful for the childhood I had. I see two hard working people, who at times, never seemed to slow down.

Mom and dads lives are wrapped up in these journals. Some of the things are frivolous, some useless information, but at the time it was written, it was important to them.

I, too, have kept journals off and on thru the years, more like mom than dad :) A few years ago, I found mine, and began reading thru them. Several pages I tore out and threw away. I was a little to expressive when I put pen to paper, and some of those things are not what I would want to leave as a legacy.

Someday, when I am gone and my journals are read, I want those who read them to be able to walk thru the pages and see the good things, not the time in my life when I was walking the wrong path of life. I want others to see that Christ was the most important person in my life. I want their to be goofy things, and yes even my embarrassing moments (after all, I don't plan on being around to be re-embarrassed by them).

So, I ask you, are you leaving a legacy on paper for your family or friends? And, if so, what is your legacy?

1-16-2012

It has been almost a year since I blogged last. I have been thinking about starting it up again, so here I am.

New year
New start
Me time.
For the last "many years" my life was wrapped up in first helping mom and dad out long distance, then after dad died, helping mom from a distance, then moving mom in with me, then after mom died, 6 months later I moved my chosen daughter and grand daughter in for a year, then assisted them for another year. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. But, now that I am on my own again, it is time for me.

Time to take care of myself, eat healthier, get my house in order, sew, scrapbook, read, and enjoy my 3 "dog children".

I am looking forward to spring and yard work, and enjoying the outdoors.......

And more than anything, in 2012, I want to learn to lean on Christ more, to serve Him with all of me. I want to honor Him, because Jesus is the reason I am who I am and where I am today. Because of His love.

There is a "feeling" inside that God is going to do great things this year. It brings a spark of excitement to me, knowing He is in control, yet not knowing what the future holds.

Though I am no longer longing for patience to take care of my mom and deal with her issues of Alzheimers/dementia, I am still longing for patience, to wait on God, to be all that He wants be to be.