Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Yesterday When I Was Young

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

my mom...Sylvia

"Yesterday When I Was Young"

My family was fortunate to have another REunion here at the farm on Father's Day weekend. Our father, Voy Rivers, passed away on March 1, 1981--29 years ago--but his memory REmains with us and his life will always be celebrated as long as there is breath in any of us. As I was looking at literally hundreds of photos that were taken over the four days that we had together as a family, to REunite and REminisce, I was touched to REcall the many blessings that the union between my father and my mother has brought to each of us. The greatest of all these are our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

My mother, Sylvia, celebrated her 88th birthday on Friday, July 2. Although her many trials in life have become a broken REcord to us, she none-the-less brings joy and happiness to us on a daily basis. I think you will agree that she looks amazing for her age. She started married life the early age of 15 1/2 and birthed all nine of her children at home!

This week I would like to share a few of the pictures taken during our REunion. I found myself looking into the faces of a few of my siblings via their children and grandchildren, as well as my own. The strong German jaw line, high Choctaw cheekbones, Irish red hair, and the large eyes, strong brow and nose of the French. We've been blessed with two more new additions to the family this year and there are two more in the oven!



Memphis

Jace



Ethan and Amelia
"Yesterday when I was young

The taste of love was sweet as rain upon my tongue;

I teased at life as if it were a foolish game

The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame"


Madison

Maggie and Hayden

"The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned--

I always built to last on weak and shifting sand;

I lived by night and shunned the naked light of day,

And only now I see how the years ran away"

Owen

Boston


"Yesterday when I was young,

So many happy songs were waiting to be sung,

So many wayward pleasures lay in store for me,

And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see"



Parker

Conner

"I ran so fast that time and youth, at last, ran out,

I never stopped to think what life was all about;

And ev'ry conversation I can now recall

Concerned itself with me, and nothing else at all"

Evan


Haiven

"Yesterday the moon was blue,

And ev'ry crazy day brought something new to do,

I used my magic age as if it were a wand,

And never saw the waste and emptiness beyond"


Kaleb
Mya
"The game of love I played with arrogance and pride,

And ev'ry flame I lit too quickly, quickly died;

The friends I made all seemed somehow to drift away

And only I am left on stage to end the play"


Josiah

Sylvia


"There are so many songs in me that won't be sung,

I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue;

The time has come for me to pay for yesterday
When I was young"



I will be linking this post up with Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. On Thursday, please grab her button on my sidebar and head on over to class. I'm sure there will be LOTS of "Y" 's in class!

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today. We love having company.

Au revoir,

"Yesterday When I Was Young" sung by Johnny Mathis
photo credits: Voy Gillentine


















20 comments:

Sarah said...

Jacque, what a delightful post! Love the lyrics. Always have! I'll be humming this one all day. The photos of the children's faces are fabulous. This is a perfect subject for Y. ~ Sarah

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the photos. It looks like fun was had by all. All the youngsters looked so nice. New generations to carry on the line. I was thinking of the Roy Clark version of the song when I first logged on. I didn't know Johnnie Mathis had done it. The pool looks nice.

Unknown said...

This is such a wonderful post. What great family. The children and their names are each so unique and special.

Sea Witch said...

Amazing post. I have returned to it several times. What a magnficient family legacy you have in the eyes of all of these children. Your mother is something else...but then you are her child and you are too. Sea Witch

Red Couch Recipes said...

Loved your post and all the family pictures and the bittersweet poem. Joni

Red Couch Recipes said...

Loved your post and all the family pictures and the bittersweet poem. Joni

laterg8r said...

great song and lovely family :D

Amanda Lee said...

This post was amazing! I was definitely "feelin' it". Seeing my own kids, so unappreciative of their youth, their energy, their health. I remember that I was often that way, too. Like my dad used to quote, "Youth. It's wasted on the young"!

Doris Sturm said...

I enjoyed looking at your young family members - they are all so handsome and pretty...what a lovely family you have. Oh, to be young again...there's just nothing like it!

Doris Sturm said...

p.s. sorry, I meant to compliment your mother. She does indeed look very well...looks like she has passed on her good looks to all of her family!

signed...bkm said...

Nice post with beautiful pictures of family...youth go so fast may all those beautiful children enjoy their youth....bkm

Pondside said...

What a great post - and what a woman your mother is!
I loved your take on the beautiful features handed down through your family - sounds like my family. When anyone asks me what kind of Canadian I am I say "100% home grown".

Terra said...

oh my goodness. Beautiful youngsters. I was young once too and now my kids are and I wonder what they will remember!

Susan Anderson said...

I really enjoyed your photos...And the song is a favorite of mine.

=)

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

cute smiles,
lovely family images.

Christy said...

Your mother is beautiful! I love the name Sylvia - my youngest has the name! I especially liked the picture of the kid dressed in the grass skirt and shells - what a great sport!

Viki said...

Wow, your mom looks a lot younger than her age. Happy belated birthday to her. I loved all the pictures from the reunion. This was a wonderful Y post.

Jenny said...

Your Mom is beautiful.

And so is this post.

That poignant music made me cry. I've never read all the lyrics before...and oh are they bitter-sweet.

You have a gorgeous family.

Thank you for this thoughtful and lovely stop on our little journey through Alphabe-Thursday's letter "Y".

The music was an amazing touch.

A++++++

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

What a lovely way to reminisce and recall... Love the wonderful photos of those following in the family lineage...Beautiful ties that bind from one generation to the next!
Blessings & Aloha!

Ana said...

What a beauitful family you have Jacque. Your looks amazing...ask her what her secrect is :-) Sounds like you all had another wonderful reunion. They sound like so much fun. Hope you are having a super summer my dear friend.

Much love,
♥Ana