easter 2011

 
Tina, Truett's oldest daughter, has been visiting us for the past four days, just in time for Easter. 

 
Tina was about fourteen years old when I met her. . . when I began dating her father. 

Even though I had reached the old age of about twenty-seven years old, I was not much younger than Tina was . . in my spirit. 

Tina and I used to sit in Cherokee Park in Louisville and learn to smoke cigarettes together.  Of course, neither of us knew what we were doing, so we both learned to light a cigarette lighter with our right index finger. 

At one point in our lives, Truett said, "Who taught you to light a lighter like that?  That's downright stupid!" 

And, of course, I responded, "Tina and I learned how together." 

And, to this day, that's the only way either of us can light a cigarette lighter. (P.S. Neither of us smoke now thank goodness; and we chalk it up to maturity!)

 
Tina flew in from Chicago on April 20th and has helped me out with her father for days. 

Heck.  Just lifting that God-awful wheelchair up into our Acadia saved at least six weeks off my back . . . and  my life. 

I became concerned, however, when Tina referred to me as, "My stepmother."

"Stepmother?" I thought; and being an ex-elementary teacher I thought of all the horrible stepmothers in children's books.

So, I brought this up with Tina. 

I told her, " I refer to you as 'Truett's oldest daughter. . .not my stepdaughter'.

 
So, with that said... it was said.

Tina did much of the cooking for our Easter dinner today.

But, what she really did was continue to instill writing in my grandchildren. 

 

 

 Instead of watching videos in the children's bedroom, Maddie wrote an Easter book.

Thank you, Tina!  I gave my grandchildren jelly beans!

 

I know none of these people will think these photographs flattering...but these people are my lives! 

Truett and his two beautiful, intelligent daughters: Merry Jennifer and Tina!

So...after taking photographs of egg hunts, this post has nothing to do with that.

This post has to do with the meaning of family. . .the meaning of love. . .

This was  our Easter of 2011.

Comments

[Lou Hollis]

Sweet Easter story!!!!

[Erin]

My stepdaughter calls me Mere (french for mother, pronounced mare) and she is my daughter. I didn't like the evil stepmother connotation either.