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Abundant Love Through the Years

ABUNDANT LOVE THROUGH THE YEARS by Catherine Mann

Today, my husband’s grandmother turns 90! Certainly that in and of itself qualifies for our September theme of abundance in years. I would also say Mamaw quantifies a person who treasures up and shares love in abundance.

As a romance writer, I’m always fascinated by the many forms happily ever after can take. Today, I would like to celebrate the abundant romance of my husband’s grandparents - Mamaw and Buster.

The framed photo shows that they obviously dated and married during the WWII era. The photo was taken on their wedding day (they’re the couple in the middle.) Months later, Buster shipped out just after Mamaw learned she was pregnant with their first child, my future father-in-law. She gave birth without Buster there. During the Battle of the Bulge, Buster was shot three times and was reported dead. Later, she learned he was in a prison camp where he stayed for the duration of the war. She told me once how she learned from that experience to treasure the abundance of the moment, of the simple things in life.

Now, family members who know Buster and Mamaw, also know they could and often did grouse at each other. But I still saw the abundance of their love in those unspoken moments. I saw it in the way Mamaw quietly made sure he had warm wool socks because his feet were sensitive to cold since they’d frozen during his train ride to the prison camp. I saw that love in Buster’s face when he gave up living on his family farm in their senior years so she could be nearer to their three sons.

Mamaw and Buster celebrated sixty-five years of marriage before he passed away last year. Those sixty-five years of abundantly lived moments expanded even further, encompassing all of us around them. Including my twenty-three year marriage to my own military hero hubby. (See photo from our wedding day.) Whether we drove down the winding road leading to their farm home or walked up the steps to their tiny apartment, we knew we were entering a circle of unconditional, abundant love that lives on.

In the spirit of living each moment abundantly, what are some unspoken ways you’ve been shown love or seek to show love for others through simple gestures? In the novels I read, I find great reassurance in seeing these played out with the hero and heroine so I can envision their abundant happily ever after lasting a lifetime!

To learn more about my books and my upcoming Casablanca debut, COVER ME, check out my website at: http://catherinemann.com/

Happy Birthday, Mamaw!!!!!

Comments

  1. I had to learn to say the words--to my child, to my parents, to my friends, to my sig O, to my sibs. And sometimes, particularly with the people I love, the greatest kindness I can do them is to keep my silence when I want to pass judgment. It's usually a better course to tell them I have faith in them and will be there for them, like my parents and siblings tell me.

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  2. That was a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Great blog, Catherine...my children and parents gave me the joys of love throughout the years. My children continue to.

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  4. Grace, you're so very wise to know that words of love and encouragement net far better results than nitpicky criticisms. Sounds like you have a wonderful family!

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  5. Thank you, Jessica, for joining in the celebration with me! :-)

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  6. Terry, I agree - family is a real blessing!!! :-)

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  7. I love hearing stories of couples who stay together for a lifetime. content sigh....

    Several reviewers have said one of the things they love most about Backstage Pass (releasing tomorrow! wooooo hooooo!!!!) is the affection the members of the band show towards each other. Yeah, they're five guys and they pick on each other and joke around and make fun of each other (they're GUYS who practically live on top of each other), but the affection between them is palpable. They really are like family to each other. Of course, the hero/heroine are affectionate and even though she REFUSES to say the l-word, her actions speak loudly of her love.

    Great post, Catherine.

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  8. Hi Olivia! Congrats on Backstage Pass landing on shelves tomorrow! That's awesome! And I agree the love shared by friends is extra special. I don't know what I would do without my peeps. :-)

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  9. Wow. I got goosebumps reading this. 65 years of marriage? That's freaking amazing! Love it.

    Happy Birthday to her!!

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  10. Great story! My grandparents, both 91 (almost 92) have a great marriage even after almost 70 years!

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  11. Hi Lynn - 65 years together is amazing, isn't it?! I'm so glad they have both been a part of my life. :)

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  12. Hi Shana! How awesome that you still have two of your grandparents - what a wonderful blessing!!

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  13. Great post, Catherine. Very touching. There is something so sentimental about old love stories and I loved the old photos.

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  14. Hi Anita! So glad you enjoyed the post and the photos!! I looooove looking back on old photos. We have tons of old photo albums. :-)

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  15. Wow! That story sounds so familiar!

    My parents met at Fort Riely and were married there. Right after my mom got pregnant my dad was sent to the South Pacific.

    They had 56 happy years together. I have their engagment picture on display. Both of them are in their dress army uniforms. My dad was a captain and mom was a lieutenant.

    Every year I go to their graves to be sure BOTH of the have veterans' flags. Once they got one for my father, but forgot my mother's. I called up the town offices and let them know my mother earned hers just as much as my dad did. She was one of the first female pilots in the armed services and had to go against her Quaker up bringing to join the Army.

    Well, that wound up being a long winded departure, but your blog brought it all back to me.

    Thanks for the reminder.

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  16. Ashlyn, what a beautiful story!!! Your father and mother both sound like amazing people!

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  17. What a touching story! There's nothing like a love that keeps blooming through many years. That's true romance.

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  18. You sure said it, Abigail! There is something so incredibly romantic about a couple falling in love with each other over and over again throughout the years. :)

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  19. What a wonderful tribute to the love shared in your family, Catherine. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  20. And thank YOU, Kathryne, for stopping by to check out the blog and say hi! :-)

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  21. Great post, Catherine. You don't see many marriages that last sixteen years these days, let alone 65.

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  22. Hi Cheryl - I hear ya! Buster and Mamaw's marriage is a great testament to happily ever afters!!!!

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  23. Thank you for this information. " So What DO You Want " I commonly ask my students. If you do not know what you Value first then you will never know where you are going. It is important to Live Big in Your Life not small in someone elses.
    ( Mona McClelland www.MeetMonaMcClelland.com Abundant Life Guide & Health Coaching Specialist)

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