“These are the good old days,” my husband used to tell our two boys. They’d roll their eyes. Parents can be so lame.

Older-Friends-AlbumThe years have passed and our sons moved out, leaving my husband and me eating our meals together. We’re happy and our house is peaceful, but we miss our sons and their friends.

A few months ago, my mother-in-law told my husband and me we were still young compared to her. Her energy and activities are greatly diminished; someday we’ll be her age so we should enjoy every moment of our comparative youth.

Mother-in-lawOver supper that night, I thought of the oldies hit sung by Carly Simon, and said to my husband, “These are the good old days.” And he nodded.

Did your parents ever pass on words of wisdom that seemed like nonsense at the time? Did your parents seem to grow wiser as you aged, as mine did? Or sometimes I found that what they’d taught me as a child was incorrect, and I needed to regroup and rethink.

What are your thoughts? Leave a short comment and enter to win a copy of either Leaving Lancaster, Pennsylvania Patchwork, or Forever Amish! THREE winners will get to choose which one novel they prefer! USA & Canada. Winners have one week to respond.

Congratulations to last week’s three winners: Tracy V., Jan V., and Lynne W.! Each chose a copy of Leaving Lancaster, Pennsylvania Patchwork, or Forever Amish! I’ll email you soon to get your addresses! Thank you very much everyone who entered the giveaway. I wanted you all to win!

Kates-3-BooksPS: The books are sitting atop one of my darling aunt’s quilts. The picture album belongs to a dear friend. The second photo is of me and my fabulous mother-in-law.