Iva Lou - Grandma Moses???

     When we were growing up, we knew our mother enjoyed art.  She often told us about her days at Landon High School when her teacher was Memphis Wood,  who would later be known as Jacksonville's "First Lady of Art".  She was thrilled when she learned that there is a special garden at the Mandarin Presbyterian Church that honors Ms. Wood and when I started to work at the Mandarin Museum, she enjoyed the Memphis Wood art she saw there.

     When our children were growing up she took some classes in oils.  We thought she did a pretty good job and all these years later, I love to go into a friend or family member's home and see one of the pieces that she did.

     After daddy passed, she saw a notice in her church bulletin about some art classes  That's when she began to draw.


 

    When it was time for her to move to an Assisted Living Facility, she asked for a coloring book.  One year she gave each of her children one of the books she completed  Now we have a reminder of the peace that she felt when she was coloring as well as the joy she felt when she gave something she had drawn or colored as a gift.
   This card hangs on my refrigerator.  It's a thank you for something I had done. (That would be another thing my mother is famous for).

      A few days ago, my brother in law, Robert Williams, suggested that we take her colored pencils and a couple of coloring books to the Activities Room at Westminster Woods on Julington Creek.  At first, that didn't seem to phase her.  I sat with her and colored a bird.  I wanted her to color a flower.  No response.

Our family loves this photo!

     AND then one day, I put a colored pencil in her hand and she started to color.  She completed a leaf.  I realized that she had asked me a question - "do you want me to color that?"

     We don't know if she'll ever want to color again but it is a great reminder to us of something she loved.

     We also never know who we'll find when we visit her.  This is so very difficult.  But again the faith that she and daddy instilled in us as children is the foundation that keeps us trusting.

     We don't know what the future holds...but we do know and appreciate who holds it.  And we thank our family and friends for your continued love, prayer, and support.  She would send you a thank you note if she could!

May your life be filled with enough Sunshine 

to make you appreciate the Shadows