Sunday, February 16, 2020

Family thoughts on the Family Day weekend

The Maharani's Great Granddaughter with 
her Great Granddaughter
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Barbara Muir © 2016
It is wonderful to grow up in a warm, loving family.  When
I was younger I took my family for granted, my parents, and
our wider family.  Only as I got older did I understand the
importance of having, and being a loving family.

And as for my parents-in-law.  I knew I loved my husband
almost from the first time I saw him, which I believe was
at his sister's wedding.  We didn't actually start dating until
a few years after that.  I am an agnostic, and have been
forever, and his parents, staunch Catholics found me hard to
take.  Looking back I'm sure I was.  I was probably full of
myself, judgmental, defensive -- everything I've tried to
get over in my life.

I'm showing this picture tonight for Family Day, because a
lovely miracle happened in our family.  When my mother-in-
law, Daisy was older we bonded.  She understood that I
made her son happy, and she had always loved my children.
I learned to love her, and she learned to love me.  And that
was huge.

I will never forget the day that inspired this painting.  We
brought my granddaughter Alice to meet her great grandmother,
and Daisy was so sweet with the baby and moved to meet
her.  I am so happy that my mother-in-law got to see the
painting hanging in a show, and that she loved it.
She died in 2016, and I got to see her and hold her hand
before she died.  And we both told each other that we
loved each other.

The more I learn about her, the more I admire her.  And once
again my message here is love.  Thank goodness we got
to share that emotion.  She was a brave woman who had
seven children in eleven years, and continued to work as
a nurse.  She was amazing.

Have a loving your family day.

2 comments:

Steven said...

Yes, she was an amazing woman and mother. I love that painting.

Barbara Muir said...

Thank you Steven,

She was, and I'm glad we have it. She is in the studio and I see her
every day when I start to work. And every time Alice sees the
painting she says, "that's me and that's my great Nanny, Oma."


XOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!