I have to say – looking at 40 year old photos – that time flies – and we HAVE done a lot and grown a lot in 40 years… (Photography and photo printing and camera design has changed a lot too. I marvel at these adorable 15-photo disc negatives – going to make an art project out of them – I have easily 100 of them from my aunt) 

I can’t help but have to marvel at the MEMORIES in this new set of sorting – sorting that I picked for myself – limiting myself to only “half a bag a day” so that I get my other work done (meaning job applications – hey even my daughter said it was good that “I did something physical and creative and different than just screen-time”, LOL – when Mom is mommed).  

So wow a great reminiscing opportunity in photo sorting my aunt’s “duplicates” – honestly it is not just sorting but it is also a way to honor my aunt who passed away about 5-6 years ago – and I was not able to go to her funeral because it was during the harsh covid lockdowns up in my hometown – much more strict than our area… I am thankful for the opportunity to process and count my blessings of memories while my hands keep busy sorting sorting sorting… Half the photos I have tossed – so many we don’t need – really –  kitten photos and random things and duplicates and triplicates. A fuzzy photo of yet another president inauguration – seen a lot of these photos in these piles by decade but don’t know who this president is – well toss the photos – too much is too much… (and I am pretty sure that she has them in albums too – these are duplicates).

But in these sets are gems – REAL GEMS… I went through about 40 packets today of the 100 plus from the 15-disc sets of photos that my aunt took – so I’m really dug into the1980’s now. There is a photo taken by my aunt, fall 1987, of me in my freshman dorm when I was still 17yrs old, the photo 39 years ago this year. Geez…

And perhaps you remember – there were circus and zoo days when animals were performers – a photo of big bears who were riding bicycles at a game farm. These are real photos – no AI stuff – just stuff stuff – and look how minimal the fencing is…

AND some pictures of things that are a memory – that don’t exist anymore at least not like it was – of downtown sidewalk sales – cool – and of the old buses and buildings and businesses…

SO when year 2001 photos showed up in my 1980’s pile (mis-sorted oops) – photos of my apartment move from home north to home south – I marvel that I barely remember it – and it was “only from 25 years ago” – yet it is also like yesterday – and wow I have moved on and grown… Which means I have moved on and on and on by now… Which means I got through LOTS of tough times since then – and before them…

And so my aunt took photos of moving my apartment where I had been with my husband for 10 years during my doctorate and postdoc schooling – and wow those were tough years of school and dissertation and wow – and yet the memories of the angst slip away – and we have moved on – and well I see photos of 4 Subaru’s ago – and photos of college where I know that my chem classes were TOUGH – and yeah photos of the packing remind me that I took three layers of stuff away and sold in yard sales while 7 months pregnant – and it was a tough pregnancy (with a preemie baby 6 weeks early – now great at 25) = and those years were certainly filled with tough spots…

AND THAT MEANS THAT GOD PULLED ME THROUGH THE TOUGH SPOTS!

Oh I remember that I forgot and forget…

We should REMEMBER that we WILL – you will – I will – FORGET!

AND THAT MEANS THAT GOD PULLS US THROUGH THE TOUGH SPOTS!

Psalm 4 reminds us to be still – we can be angry but we should remain still and not sin – and well yeah – all those times that I was angry and sad and scared – and well somehow I got through it – sinning or not – God’s Grace abounded then and still does. The Lord’s Mercy abounded and we got through – the Lord’s relief came with our prayers – the Lord heard when we called – and the Lord made His presence known when we trusted Him.

Good… and a good memory to never forget is that God is good and always here – always was and will be – Thank you Lord…. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

AMEN

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Psalm 4 NKJV  – The Safety of the Faithful
To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood? Selah
But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly;
The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

Be angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And put your trust in the Lord.

There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
You have put gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.