By the Decades ...

Now there's a lot left unsaid on my list of six decades of life, if you will,

and since I happen to focus on seasons of life,

I think I might just delve a little deeper into 

the stages of my life.

It all began in Uruguay.
Mom and dad met at the MCC headquarters.
Both came from different parts of Paraguay, having spread their wings
as young adults to begin a new life in Montevideo.
Mom worked in the kitchen and dad as a bookkeeper.
It was a beautiful, European-like city where we lived
away from the Mennonite communities that they both came from.
Eventually dad moved on to work in the office of a leather factory
and we lived just down the busy street from there.
We spoke German at home, but I learned some Spanish from the neighbors.
When it was time for me to begin school,
our family of five moved across the border to Brazil
where I could attend a Mennonite School.
We literally moved from the city to the country,
living among dairy farmers and people who were easy to befriend.
The girl next door became my best friend
and it felt like mom and dad knew everyone,
even though, when I think about it now,
it was just the connections of like faith and background.
I learned Portuguese at school
and was highly motivated to be perfect in all of my school work.

I didn't know it then, but even though it was an ideal place to 

ride our bikes on dirt roads, wherever we wanted, till the sun set,

this was just a stepping stone for my dad.

His aspiration was to get a sponsor to get us to Canada,

namely the West Coast, near the mountains. 

The picture above was taken just before we left in 1967.

I'm wearing my school uniform.

When I think about the next decade, 

I think about being put on a fast track
from a timid 10-year-old girl, 

taking two city buses across Vancouver to New Canadian school,

to an acne faced teenager, meeting my H

and marriage.

A decade of adjustments in so many ways,

as I tried to fit into the Canadian way of life.

Our family had never had a TV, a phone or a car ...

and every new thing was a novelty, 

from ordering clothes out of the Sears catalogue to

trying my best to fit in with my wardrobe and language.

I quickly found out that using the wrong word,

not having any background in North American literature or movies,

and dealing with an accent, were set ups for embarrassment.

When I think back to those early experiences 

and later the days as a homesick teen bride,

I don't want my grandchildren to experience them, 

but I also realize how they have helped me to become who I am.

My twenties were about having babies ...

Julene, Kristal and Benji

and letting them go off to the big world of Kindergarten and on.

Each of our kids started Suzuki violin or piano at age 4 or 5

so that meant being with them at each lesson and keeping

the younger one/ones occupied.

This is also about the time we began to

serve in helping young families feel welcome at our church

and I learned a little about hospitality.

The summer that I turned thirty we built the house we are still in.

My thirties were busy - but also the best years of motherhood.

Days included helping out at the public school,

taking each child to their extra curricular activities ...

violin, piano, drums and music theory, 

choir, art, drama and /or sports practises and games.

 I lived in the car ... with dinner in the oven,

but oh the opportunies to be with and talk with my kids!

We were able to travel three different continents and do an overseas assignment.

This family photo was taken just prior to

the "three teens" stage in 1995

I think the smiles came from trying to beat the timer.

For my 40th Birthday my family tried surprising me with a party in our back yard.

Oh the forties! They were the best and the worst of times.

I say that because I do not accept changes well and 

these years were loaded with them ...

our business had its challenges

I lost my dad

each child left the country to study or serve

and we had three weddings.

The empty nest syndrome took its toll on me

and I did a lot of soul searching about what to do with my life.

For the first time I wished I had a career to go back to.

It was teaching immigrants that appealed to me and 

I took TESOL classes to prepare for that.

For a number of years I did some tutoring and volunteering.

I also became a Grammy! 

A new identity that gave me a taste of its beauty before 

those babies headed to Indonesia. 

My connection to missions also gave me an enjoyable outlet

as a hostess for our church missionary home.

I thought I was maybe getting settled in my new stage of life ...

but not totally feeling it.

My 50th Birthday was a real surprise

and this success made everyone happy!

This decade ...
how can I even explain the path to the desires of my heart
when I could not put my finger on what they were?

I was not yet 51 when a friend from way back

encouraged me to post recipes on a blog

she had not yet named ... and the rest is history.

I had no idea how much I would enjoy 

all of the aspects of blogging,

making online friends

publishing

book related invitations and trips.

I got over my fear of being judged and

my fear of using the wrong words.

It has been like the experiences from childhood to empty nest

prepared me to be able to share something

in the way I have always enjoyed, right from home.

And, with it, to find myself in a new way.

During these years ...

my mom got remarried

Julene and family came and went

Kristal moved back to Canada with her family

Ben moved away with his family

They also came back

We travelled far and wide

We welcomed one or two grandchildren every other year

and one in-between

and then laughed and cried with joy over number eleven!

And now I'm 60!
Where this decade will lead, I don't know.
I see an empty page waiting to be written
and I know two things.
I know who I want to spend it with

and I know Who holds my life.

Precious as it is!