Were They Really Here?

I keep going back to the pictures. There are moments that tell a story because I caught them and moments that were captured by someone else - which I only saw once they were on my computer. So much has happened in two weeks, it is really hard to know where to begin. I wonder . . . do families who live in close proximity to each other do this much in a year? Do they take pictures? Or do they think that they will take the picture next time . . . because next time isn’t a year away?

It was a busy time. Sometimes it felt like I didn’t have time to think. I realized this after everyone left, as I was vacuuming - since that is when I tend to think. As I was striping beds I came across a story book lying on the nightstand where I last tucked a little girl into bed. I smiled to myself, seeing the title.

Yes, there’s evidence all over the house . . . a felt pen here, a carefully drawn picture there. Old toys resurrected . . . I will never again look at the old Fisher Price binoculars in the same way. It seems like they were always dangling from one or the other’s neck, sometimes with a little voice exclaiming, “I see something!” French doors and stainless steel appliances are not kid friendly . . . Should I really wipe off all the fingerprints? I open a closet door in our bedroom retreat and find a little parking lot set up by a boy who was smart to hide these little things from the babies. It’s still there.

I remember cute things spoken by a three-year-old . . . such as, “Mommy, Tehya is not my cousin any more, she’s my best friend!” Oh, and how attentively she listened to her older cousin (as they are eating sandwiches) tell of a character in a story who said, “If I eat one more cheese sandwich, I will turn into a mouse.” I didn’t realize she “got it” until their lunch was done and with twinkling eyes she countered with, “And you didn’t turn into a mouse!”
On another occasion three kids were chatting in the backseat, talking about Michael Jackson of all people! One mentioned that Michael Jackson is dead, but Michael W. Smith is not dead! The conversation ended up with something like, “I know he’s not dead, because I heard him on Grammy’s blog.” I think Papa almost drove off the road at that point.

My heart is full of precious memories as I’ve watched relationships grow within our family. Relationships between cousins, in-law brothers, sisters who live in opposite cultures, a new sister-in-law with a baby on the way . . . in some ways we are still a family getting to know each other and obviously there are some growing pains involved, but today I count my blessings – all thirteen of them. Each individually created and a part of our family – truly a gift by the grace of God.