Sunrise, Sunset

The fear grandparents have when their grandchildren move away 

is that those sweet little souls will never know them. 

I have heard this and experienced this fear myself, so I understand. 

That is why, when our grands come to visit, it brings us so much joy

 to see them accept us with such love. 

It's like they just instinctively know that we are family. 

How does this happen?

Again, as we began to plan our trip this past spring, I was apprehensive. 

Even with today's many modes of communication, 

it doesn't easily happen with the looming time change and space separating us. 

But once we got there in person, it was like we had never been apart!

I still can't get over how that connection happens

but you know it's there when you walk down the street

and feel a hand slip into your own.

 It truly was the best gift to us ... to know we are known!

Julene shared this photo with me 

and it reminded me of the one that she took eight years earlier.

It encouraged me that, except for the fact that 

one, five and seven have turned to 

nine, thirteen and fifteen,

nothing has really changed.

With this we want to wish our dear Tehya and Paeton

a very happy 15th and 13th Birthday!

Tehya, you're beautiful ...

caring, courageous and confident.

Paeton you're handsome ...

sympathetic, sweet and sincere ...

both growing into beautiful young teenagers 

whom we are so proud of!

May God bless you

and keep you in His care.

One season has followed another, and it's all good.

Love, Papa and Grammy

Gangly at Nine

I don't know if it's because he's not been around during the day 

while I've had my eyes on chubby little pre-schooler hands ...

or if it's just that the camera caught something 

that had me stop and look!

Who is this tall person with large hands playing with bun dough?

Looking at this now, 

I think I need to give him a full sized sheet next time.

No more dragging a stool to the counter,

he jumps up ... legs and arms taking up space ...

my whole sink, blocked off.

And when I see him run like the wind,

I feel something I can't describe.

Growing pains and joys

all mixed into precious moments.

Celebrating with a Blast from the Past

A while back I sat at Kristal's kitchen island, sharing my thoughts with the girls about a possible joint birthday party, since it is a big year for both of us.  After some talk about it, they came up with the idea that I should  not be planning my own party! "What is your budget?" they laughingly wanted to know and, "How do you envision it? Do you want it beautiful? Or Fun? ..." I know ... I felt celebrated already.

So, while we were in Indonesia, there was a meeting without me at home 

and individual duties were laid out; even the boys each had a job to do.  

All I had to do was to think about the food. 

This photo was used for the Polaroid style invitation 

sent out for his 65th and my 60th,

 asking our guests to come in their grooviest 70's fashion.

With Ben involved, of course there would be vintage cars lined up for the occasion.

And with his outfit and big smile he was also the perfect greeter! 

He was ready with his Polaroid camera to take a photo of each guest as they came.

Kari, knowing how important photos are to me, 

freed me up by asking her sister, Jen Giesbrecht, to do candid photography. 

She captured the scenes beautifully and I hardly knew how to narrow this post down 

to what it is. Most of these photos are taken by her. 

As our friends each got their Polaroid developed, it went into a memory book on the table. 

Retro photos had been sent in and were part of the vintage display table. 

I had planned to quickly get the appies out, but was totally distracted 

when I saw how the yard had been transformed, using retro furnishings, 

yet making it look so beautiful!

Those chairs ... just like the ones we grew up with for Sunday School and weddings!

While I had gathered 70's serving dishes, 

unknown to me, Kari had also stopped at every thrift store, gathering plates and glasses ...
oh, and vases that I really want to keep now. 

Even her mom, Elma, got involved by making all of the macrame hangers . . .

 a  number of them hanging over the tables, looking like chandeliers.

I loved that they were so excited with us to dream, collect and transport a trailer full of stuff,

then clean up again.

Shaun made my dream of music blasting  playing, a reality.

He took a lot of time to listen to and choose music that took us

right back to our dating years.

He took his DJ responsibilities in stride, setting up a sound system and

making it all look super easy. It was perfect.

(Those chairs are still being used at the lake house.

Mom and Dad bought them new . . . a long time ago.)

Kristal had brought  numerous pails filled with a variety of daisies and

put bunches everywhere.  She was also in charge of the "program"

including games.

Okay, I finally got the appies out with some help:

carved watermelon basket with fruit

ham ball with Ritz crackers

Nalley's chips with sour cream and onion dip

celery with Cheez Whiz

And Monika was happy to serve the coke and root beer floats

as guests arrived.

We reminisced with friends we have not seen for a while.

Heidi is now my step sister, but she became my friend as a ten year old,

teaching me English and later practically introducing me to her brother's friend, Herb.

Looking at scenes like this, makes me realize again what great friends we have!

And how fun to share an evening with them and our kids!

The intermingling of friendships that connect us all make me smile . . . 

 those from our first years of marriage, to those whom we have only gotten to know 

in the past few years . . .

ever adding to our blessings.

While us "girls" suddenly realized how many of us had thought to get out our old charm bracelets . . .

the guys enjoyed checking out the cars.

Just before dinner Kristal announced the limbo bar game . . .

which brought about some laughs ...

especially when I should have asked for the rules before 

crouching down and thinking, this is easy.

Following the rules, I flopped right back on my haunches.

That's what sticking your nose too far in the air can do!

The candles were lit, but had a hard time staying lit with the slight breeze.

It was so pretty! 

Ben said grace for the meal.

glazed ham

KFC chicken

apricot glazed meatballs

potato salad

spinach salad with bacon, eggs and mushrooms

layered salad

coleslaw

Jello salads

homemade rolls

Hawaiian punch

Most of the main meal was prepared by Common Place Cafe

affiliated with MCC

Many reasons to smile ...
especially when people were called up by name as volunteers!
You know what I mean.

We got called to the hot seat for the not-so-newlywed game.

Lovella shared some humorous and thoughtful words 

giving away some secrets that had us all laughing.

Kristal read a sweet note from Julene and Chris.

We missed them, knowing they would have loved to be part of this night.

And dessert was served:

Lovella's carrot cake daisy and sunflower cupcakes

almond puff

Bundt pan sour cream coffee cake 

brownies

mini cream puffs

strawberries

chocolate fondue sauce

A dream-come-true party for us,

giving thanks for family and friends to celebrate with.

PS ... Take home gifts were (wrapped) sugar cookies made by Sweet Pea.
Shaun and Kristal, Ben and Kari ... thank you for everything!!

Mom in the Mirror

As mom continues her decline in her mental and physical abilities, I find the changes less and less surprising and we actually get into this routine, if you will, of not knowing what to expect.  While at first, I was more shocked at every turn, trying to bring her back or trying to teach her how to cope, I find myself more accepting of the changes.  I'm realizing that you can't teach at this stage. She can say, "thank you, for helping me" and  "I'll do that," but she does not retain the memory.  What I do find surprising is that she remembers how we keep telling her that pictures are paper.  But it does not change how she thinks about them. She'll say, "I'm tired of hearing that," and keep treating them as visitors.

There are times I just have to give myself the freedom to laugh. Last week, after spending half a day with her, convincing her to get dressed, doing laundry, cleaning her fridge and secretly taking care of or disposing of food she had gathered under the couch, I started imagining a film crew following us around and I laughed until I cried. 

She called me into the bathroom where she was supposedly getting dressed, pointing at the mirror, she said to me, "I can't tell who it is, if it's your daughter or your granddaughter, but she is always greeting me when I come in here, and smiles at me." I patiently told her it's a mirror and that she was looking at herself.  (I digress ... I am still trying to teach her.) She ignored what I said and went on to tell me in animated fashion that they always wear the same thing and that they then laugh at each other. 

One of her physical weaknesses is that she is getting unsteady on her feet and easily loses her balance. A few weeks ago we asked them to come join our family for a picnic at the park across the street from where they live.  With some help, they made it to the picnic site. When we got there with the food, she was on the blanket face to face with Jack. At 82, other healthy women would say they cannot get down on a blanket but mom does not realize this, and she was down on all fours, trying to get low enough to talk to him. It ended up being a highlight of their week, seeing the children and eating chicken and Rollkuchen.

While it sometimes is easy to focus on the handicaps, things we can't comprehend and hard decisions to be made, it is our simple spontaneous drop in visits and plans to include them that still bring delight to both mom and Abe. They are the things that keep relationships as open as possible and are helping me learn to walk a care giving role that I never would have seen myself as being able to do. 

For now I see a bitter sweet lesson in how the deception in the mirror smiles at her and gives her joy, because she chooses to smile. 

Another Side

This week we celebrated my H's 65th Birthday 

and I mention it because of the milestone it is!

As it turns out, 

we will be celebrating our birthdays together yet

so I may be posting more then.

For now, as I was looking through photos,

it was the simplicity of this photo

that made me stop and smile.

How often have I seen this same scene...

father and son 

walking side by side in their own world, and now

grandfather and grandson...

sometimes in deep conversation,

sometimes quiet.

I love how he attracts their camaraderie,

how they can tease him

yet respect him

and trust him.

I love that seeing him turn 65 means I can

know him as not only my husband

and the father of my children

but as a Papa who is dearly loved by his grandchildren.

Our Youngest

  

So while the girls stayed with us, their little brother went with mom and dad. 

When they returned I tried to get a photo of just him.

Somehow, with more going on, I have failed in doing this 

and it completely defies the truth of how special he is

and how much in love we are with him!

Well ... I tried.

Jade was so happy to see him, 

she had to get into the photo too.

I clicked one photo after another and she kept posing

for the two of them.

Jack and Jade

I think they will be two peas in a pod. 

Sweet peas.