Some of This and That

Landon loves his cars!

He can sit and entertain himself for a long time just checking out the wheels as they turn.

This photo just shows some of the organizing efforts. It got a bit overwhelming.

Meanwhile, Koen just hung out in his seat . . . swinging, rocking or just sitting and quietly watching the commotion. I cannot believe how content he is. As long as I just kept moving him to a new location every once in a while . . . he was fine ... so fine that it was easy to forget about him.

 

And here . . . one last photo just before we headed back to the airport . . . for the last time. This time there were no tears.

Natalie's Room

After the bedmaking tutorial, Natalie and I continued to take some photos of her room . . . the room that is now dismantled and being packed up.  She loved trying out my point and shoot camera.

I've always admired how Kristal decorates her home. On the wall along the foot of the bed hangs one of Natalie's baby quilts . . . amongst some pretty wall stickers.



 
The dresser that stands under the quilt displays a cute baby picture and special mementos from her grandparents who live close to Disneyland.
 

 
On that same dresser . . . also a set of Peter Rabbit books.
 

On the opposite wall, above the headboard, hangs a painted plaque, also framed with wall stickers . . .

and on either side of that . . .  baby dresses sent by auntie Julene

from Indonesia.

On another wall . . . a framed Bessie Gutmann print that used to hang in our home.

And to end this little visit  . . . a peek into the closet.  You can tell she is proud to show off her special room.

Natalie's Hotel Service

It felt strange landing at the airport in Durango and realize that this was possibly the end of this kind of a visit. The kind of visit that begins with disembarking the plane as quickly as possible in anticipation of the kids running into my arms . . . warm hugs all around ... with a mixture of shy and excited smiles on their faces, as we head to the baggage claim.

It's not every Grammy that gets to sleep in her granddaughter's bedroom . . . a bed made ready just for her.

On my first morning there . . . I started making the bed . . . like I would at home . . . and then she came in and said, "No, Mimi, I will make your bed!" She unmade what I had done and proceeded to make the bed. I said, "You know how to do that?" She said, "I do it every day!"

The second morning she came again ... to make my bed. I was quite liking this service! Never had that in this house before!

On the third morning . . . I asked her if she would make my bed again, and she said, "No, not today." Oh ... but by this time I had a certain plan ... so I asked her if she would show me how to make it . . . and she gladly did that.  Good thing!

Special Day

one ...

 

two . . .

three!!!

Bright blue eyes

Just like the skies

 your smiles full of fun

like the brilliance of the sun.

Inviting laughter with a tease,

a little jig or "which hand?" please.

You're a little brother

when bossed by your sister -

asked to enter worlds of make believe.

But eyes full of stars

with tender looks for your brother -

when in the real world of things such as cars.

You're Mommy's little man

You carry Daddy's name

And you are our sweet grandson -

Happy Birthday, Landon Shaun!

Love, from Papa and Mimi

We Gave Her Wings

When Kristal was in her late teens, she gave me a magnet that I had on my fridge until a few years ago. I wish I could find it now, because I don’t remember the exact words . . . only that they had something to do with giving her wings . . . and the whole idea of letting go.

The test came when we dropped her off at Bible College in Portland. On the way down she was sitting in the back, with her legs stretched out and resting between our two front seats. I took her feet and held them for a while, remembering the tiny imprints the nurse made in her baby book. What happened to the girl who used to scream when we dropped her off at the church nursery?  In spite of the fact that, at seventeen, she was quite sure of herself, I could not help but still see her as our little girl. We helped set her up as comfortably as possible and then got back in our car ... where I let my tears flow.

A few years later, unsure of where her life was heading, she expressed her longtime desire to attend Azusa Pacific University. Realizing how strong this desire was, we encouraged her to try out for a scholarship and see how we could make it work. The next Fall the three of us were headed down the I-5 again. This time a little farther south. It was no easier than the trips before had been, but we knew it was a wonderful school for her.

As the story goes . . . it did not take long for a certain American boy to notice that she was different and special, of course. He wooed himself into our lives too and before they graduated they were married.

I’m sighing big-time. Somehow I was blindsided. It was Julene who was making plans to go overseas and the reality that both daughters would be living out of country was hitting hard. I cried lots . . . fighting with the Lord for allowing this to happen. . . . but in the end He gave me enough happiness and sadness to allow me to see His grace at work.

In the past thirteen years, including our first trip to Oregon, we got into a nice pattern of small visits. Holidays, weddings, a funeral, a baptism, babies, vacations . . . there were lots of reasons to go down . . . and for Kristal or the family to come up. Never did I feel like she lost interest in family here . . . and Shaun always encouraged her to go, if she needed to. Her heart was here with us in many ways, for which I’ve been grateful, even though, numerous times, she said that she would likely never move back.

That is, until a couple of months ago. It would seem that the place they loved was not to become their forever place after all. And after the number of moves they have made because of the nature of Shaun’s job, they began to talk about wanting this to end and not to keep moving further away from family. The locations they talked about kept moving closer to Abbotsford, and finally . . .

. . . here we are. Awaiting her return . . . the girl that left as one . . . coming home with a husband and three kids. I’ve been mulling it over for a few months now and it still seems so surreal!

No one knows the number of times I’ve dreamed of picking up grandchildren at their school and taking them home for cookies and milk, or the times I’ve watched the children sing at church and imagined a certain little girl or boy in the group. No one knows the times my daughter called, crying, because a child was sick . . . and she was tired . . . and I could not help.

A place is ready for them and hopefully a job soon too. Our lives will change, I know, and I pray for grace for all of us in this learning curve that begins a new season.

I’ll be in Colorado this week, helping with whatever I can do to help and in a few weeks, the Lord willing, we’ll be picking them up at the airport in Vancouver.

Happy Birthday Ellen!

Yesterday we drove south, past Bellingham, to a have dinner at the Chuckanut Manor Seafood Bar and Grill.The old manor is situated along the scenic Chuckanut Drive, overlooking the Samish Bay and the San Juan Islands.

It was a welcome sight with its ocean view table settings . . .

and wonderful friends waiting.  The reason for this 'out of the ordinary' Sunday afternoon destination...

Ellen's 60th Birthday!

The food was amazing! I'll let everyone else tell what they had . . .

 . . . but I enjoyed my beef tenderloin and vegetable pave. Not only was it a beautiful presentation... but oh so tasty!

 . . . and this creme brulee topped off the meal perfectly.

During our dinner, amidst the laughter and the chatter, the train went by our window several times . . .

and before the sun set

Ellen blew out one single candle on her berry crisp. Ellen, It was a special afternoon spent around the table with you. I have been blessed to get to know you this past year. Your faith and joy continually inspire me. Wishing you God's blessings for your Birthday today and always.