An Intertwining of Firsts and Lasts

It’s been an emotional week. Julene came and joined me at Kristal’s house for Thursday and Friday last week. It was the first time Jules was able to see one of Kristal’s babies as a newborn and I enjoyed watching her in her older sister and auntie role of encouraging and helping where she could.

After saying goodbye to Natalie, Landon, Koen and their mom and dad, we flew to Seattle late at night and came home in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

On Saturday we attended a family wedding . . . a beautiful reminder of how it all begins . . . so new . . . so vibrant . . . this making of a commitment that can grow through every stage in life when nurtured and appreciated.

Tuesday, after school, we took the kids on a last date which I will likely post about yet for their sake.

Yesterday, after some time with Julene in the morning, I took Makenna on some errands and then home for a nap, during which time I packed the Christmas suitcase. This is a suitcase filled with Christmas gifts from both sides of the family and kind of tricky to pack because the gifts are wrapped . . . but I managed to get it all in, with about ½ lb to spare. Now . . . for the curious, I would mention what is in there . . . but I can’t, since the ones who are going to open it at Christmas, will be reading this too! We’ve done this before, and it’s a fun way to anticipate that special day in the near future.

Once that suitcase was packed, I prepared a roasted hen with all the trimmings and bread pudding for dessert for our last dinner.

There was some last playing and then some stories to be read.

The kids always gravitate toward uncle Ben and auntie Kari. (This was a random shot taken after dinner.)

Late in the evening we headed to the airport, Ben’s truck loaded with suitcases . . . the young ones all tucked into our vehicle with their treat bags for the airplane.

And that is where they are now . . . heading to new beginnings once again.