Two down and four across. How many crossword puzzles and fill-ins had she completed through the years? When I saw this Word Search book today, it reminded me of her. My Mom, Lovie Boyd Barker, was born in April 1914. I started celebrating her birthday and an early Mother’s Day by reminiscing over some old photos…

My Mom was an expert at finishing each puzzle book in record time. Sometimes she was well into its pages before Dad had even driven her home from the store with the latest edition. She was also known for being victorious in outlasting any Scrabble opponent who was bold enough to suggest playing a game together.

I discovered her success in both endeavors was primarily due to her voracious appetite for reading. Anytime, anywhere.

When we drove to Williamsburg for a family vacation, she had her nose in a book most of the way. While I was becoming saturated with American history, she was learning about other cultures in distant lands. Their foods, tools, environments, family life, transportation came to life for her through fictional and non-fiction reading.  No wonder she knew how to include words from those excursions into her game playing strategies.

She was an early multi-tasker. While supposedly relaxing with my Dad for after dinner TV watching, she outscored Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy contestants night after night even as she kept a book handy to read during the commercials.

While there are so many things I associate with Mom (like her teacup and owl collections and her love of flowers), few memories bring her essence back to my heart faster than remembering those moments we spent together working puzzles or discussing the latest books she had been reading.

Happy (almost) Mother’s Day, Mom, from one bookworm and flower-loving, puzzle-solving multi-tasker to another! I raise a teacup (one from your collection) to toast and celebrate you!

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I’d love to support you in capturing your memories as family celebrations draw near. This can be as simple as jotting down some mini-stories of moments you’ve spent together with those you’re celebrating and gathering a few photos that go along to give a glimpse of their uniqueness and what having them in your life means to you. What a gift for those in your family who may have never gotten to know and love them the way you do!

What’s coming to mind already that you’d like to include in this year’s Mother’s Day gifting? Hoping to StoryJot From the Heart along with you at our Free Zoom Gathering as we remember some Mom Moments (being, loving or missing Moms.) 💕

JOYfully jotting,

Katie

Family PhotoStory Curator

Mini-Stories Writing Coach

Your Legacy of Memories Mentor

Capturing Mini-Moments That Matter…

Energizing & Connecting Families for Generations!