Happy Mother’s Day!
Old Tunnel State Park
My mom, sister, and I with cousins in the background at the old train tunnel near Fredericksburg before it became a state park.
Wishing all the moms, grandmothers, and mother figures a very happy Mother’s Day! Whether you are lucky enough to spend time with your mother figure today or not, I hope you spend some time remembering and thanking the special women in your life who have supported you no matter what.
I am fortunate enough to still have my mom in my life, not only to love and support me, but to share her immense love with my young kids. Seeing her with my kids reminds me of the wonderful relationship that I had with both of my grandmothers, who both lived very long and joyful lives.
Happy Heavenly Mother’s Day!
My grandmother holding me and my sister beside us in Kerrville in the early 80s.
My maternal grandmother is particularly important to me because of the love she instilled in me for the Hill Country. You see, I am not a Hill Country native, but for the first 14 years of my life my family visited Kerrville several times a year because my grandparents had their vacation home here. My cousins, aunts, uncles, and closest friends visited their home with us for holidays and summer breaks and anyone who ever visited always felt welcome. My grandmother, Gran as we all knew her, wasn’t just my grandmother, she was a grandmother to any kids who tagged along with us. Last night we took a walk with our kids along Camp meeting Creek, near where my grandparents’ house was, and the wonderful memories of the times we spent together came flooding into my head.
Playing in Camp Meeting Creek
Gran, my aunt, cousins, sisters, and I playing in the creek by my grandparents’ house. When the creek was full, we played in it, staged Thanksgiving plays near it, and fished there with Granddaddy.
Gran was the kind of woman that movies are made of, in fact many friends and family members talked about her beauty like she was a movie star. But her beauty was more than skin deep. She was loving to all who entered her home and treated everyone as if they were a special guest, always having homemade chocolate chip pecan cookies or seasonal peach ice cream to share with all. Gran at first glance was the best dressed and most refined woman in the room, but she enjoyed hunting and camping trips and did it all while looking fabulous.
Camp Verde General Store
My sisters, cousin, and I at Camp Verde. Thanks to my sister for sending me these pictures to help share my early memories with my grandmother in Kerrville.
A lover of history, art, nature, and life in general, many of my earliest memories with Gran happened in the Hill Country. After recently moving here with my family, I am constantly reminded of her love for this area as I revisit many of the same places with my parents and my kids. We visited the Cowboy Artists Museum (now the Museum of Western Art) soon after its opening in 1983 and now I take my kids there to play in the interactive gallery and enjoy the fun hands-on programs. I remember going to summertime plays at the Point Theater, where now my kids also enjoy plays in the outdoor, riverside theater and attend summer theater camps where they have been bitten by the acting bug. And no trip to Kerrville was ever complete without a stop at Camp Verde General Store. My sisters, cousins, and I couldn’t wait to satisfy our sweet tooth with the overwhelming selection of candy, while also discovering the history of the great camel experiment. Of course, we had to be at the grand opening of the new H-E-B in the early 80s and never missed a shopping trip to James Avery where we chose one more charm to add to our bracelets. Kerrville has always been a part of my life and I feel fortunate to be able to share the beauty and uniqueness of this place with my kids.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms who share their love and passions in life with those most important to them. Your love is immense and irreplaceable!
Angela Kennedy, Executive Director of the Heart of the Hills Heritage Center, feels fortunate to have the privilege to celebrate the history of Kerr County. Her grandparents would be proud to know their love for the Hill Country is inspiring her and the development of Kerr County’s history museum.
