Ah, high school. Not all of us had the perfect high school experience, but we can all imagine what that would look like thanks to the movies.
My mother-in-law Denise was the quintessential high school girl in the 1970s. When I look at these photos, I can practically hear awesome classic rock and roll playing in the background. I love how carefree and happy she looks in the top photo. Of course, that might have something to do with her driver...
Happy (11 days early) Anniversary to my inlaws. They started a Hardin tradition of marrying at Christmastime. All three of their children were married in December.
The Hardin family at Christmas a few years ago...and about 10 years before that.
My mother-in-law Denise is a very busy lady who spends most of her time taking care of her family and friends. Most women have a strained relationship with their mother-in-laws, but she is one of most selfless people I know. She spends most of her time taking care of her family, friends and neighborhood kids.
When she does have a free moment, she delights in the simple things -- a Sunday afternoon in her garden, a Saturday morning drive to the flea market to look for vintage treasures and a holiday spent with her children, granddaughters and soon-to-arrive grandson (!). She is an old soul, and many of her lifelong interests were formed during days and weekends spent with her beloved grandparents. Many of her family photos burned in a house fire years ago, so the photos she still has are very precious to her. Lately I have been working to digitize and create a photo book of her family photos.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Clovis and Arletta Geno, Denise's parents.
Her adorable grandparents, James and Pearl Barnes.
Denise (bottom right) and most of her siblings.
Denise's grandmother, Mommie Barnes (third for left), and her sisters (Sarah Gann, Myrtle Thorton, Pearl Barnes and Mary Gann).
Denise's sweet sister Glenda who was killed in a car accident a few weeks before Jonathan was born.
Baby Jonathan.
Jonathan again.
Denise (top right) and her sisters.
Denise (right) with her cousin Susan and sister Sandi.