"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Happy 10th Birthday, Landon


These days, there's hardly a time goes by when I see you 
and don't marvel at how tall you are getting! 
Energetic, usually a ball in your hand or at your feet,
I think back to the day we got the call and flew to Phoenix
to welcome you, just weeks after Makenna was born here.
Such an exciting time!


Then came the first year of your life when you flew up to Canada
several times, because there were just way too many reasons to.


I remember visiting you when you were two,
growing into the character that you are ...
smiling blue eyes, teasing us
and having us in stitches
as you held your casted and good arm behind you
asking us to guess "which one is holding something?"
Your one-leg-up dance, had me as well!


You moved to Canada
and we enjoyed daily life here, such as washing Papa's car
 raking leaves and weekly play dates.


Your tender heart is something that has warmed my heart.


I loved watching your fascination with cars.
You could examine the workings of wheels
and moving parts for a long time.


You started school and what I noticed
in your discussions with your sister in the back seat,
is how you cared about the feelings of anyone who may be different.


One of my favorite memories is meeting
as a family in Hawaii,
flying in from two sides of the Pacific,
and the shiny eyes ... between you, our twin grands ...



In the kitchen, your gangly legs hang off the counter or not,
as you've learned to flip crepes just right.


And how can I not think of the balls
 that have been kicked or thrown around our yard,
 knowing that you could always count on Papa to join you
while others sat at the table still.


Landon,
these thoughts just skim the surface
of the privilege of sharing life with you -
a grandson whom we are so proud of!
We wish you a very happy birthday
and pray you share the love of God
through the gifts he has given you.

Love,
Papa and Mimi






Wednesday, March 14, 2018

A Mini Piano Concert Today




On Sunday afternoons, Abe has sometimes been asked to play the piano for the little church service at the home. They hand out hymn books with no music and he accompanies them by ear. At 86 he is quite amazing!
A few Sundays ago, they asked him to play something just for fun after the service and he played a favorite Spanish melody called Cielito Lindo. I will share a segment here, because if you listen carefully, you  can hear my mom humming or singing in the background.
I was not trying to get her voice in there, but when I heard her ever so faintly here, the sound reminded me of how she used to sing in the kitchen as she worked. A beautiful memory!

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Photo Sharing

My H sent me some photos he captured recently
and it struck me how different the scenarios ...
sharing with the oldest in the family
to sharing with the youngest.

 I brought mom an old album of hers
in which she had photos of  a holiday spent with
siblings in South America. 
It gave us a little bit of something to do 
and she enjoyed it
even though the concept of pictures confuses her.


Then comes our littlest one ... intrigued with the photos on my phone.


 Again and again he leaned back to see if I was liking them
as much as he was!


I have no idea of his concept of photos,
but at this point it's the interaction,
whether old or young, 
that's special.

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Happy 10th Birthday, Makenna!

Dear Makenna ... 
as I've been going through memories of February 29th, ten years ago 
and all the years since, 
I cannot believe what a treasure chest, overflowing full, of times 
we've had with you on both sides of the world.

You were the tiniest of all our grand babies, cute as a button!


My thoughts go back to visiting you on your first birthday 
and how you decided to start walking while we were there! 
Your smile has always come easy, feeling loved and secure in who you are.

Today, I want to share some of those times, some being
just baby steps to a relationship that began before you even remember:
the gift of you falling asleep in my arms
story reading, time and again
swinging, racing, twirling, eating in our back yard
patio picnics with cousins
swimming in a pool in Jakarta



baking together 
a river cruise - checking out the orangutans
dressing up to greet us at the airport
baking buns in a hot humid kitchen, a cookbook photo
warming up by the fireplace 
cereal and real milk in Canada



cousin time
pretend dress up play and dressing up for real to be a flower girl
play times, barbeques, swim time, overnights, 
marshmallow roasts and boat rides at the Lakehouse
water slides at Lake Chelan and camping


more cousin time
matching pj's at Christmas with all the girl cousins
birthday parties
Build-a-Bear date
book signing with Grammy
dates, to the park, to the corn maze, to the zoo, 
hiking, mini golfing
Papa's stories


playing in the leaves
decorating sugar cookies
hiking the desert
Disneyland with cousins
sharing Popsicles


Easter egg hunts and twirling in a pretty dress
picnic at Fishtrap Creek
bridal and baby showers for aunties
American Girl store shopping with Papa
tea parties


Cousin sleepovers at the Lakehouse
extended family gatherings
gondola rides

cartwheels where ever possible
fancy shoes from Canada
exotic beaches and lake shores adorned with water lilies,
and so much more!


How we would all love to be at the table with you to celebrate you today
but from here, we thank God for the gift of you 
and for the way you so easily adapt to any and every circumstance. 
You take life as it comes and reach out to make friends. 
May the Lord keep and  protect your whole being ...
and continue to give you many more reasons to smile. 
Sending love and hugs,
Papa and Grammy

♡♡♡


Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Beauty in Imperfection


I did not take a photo of this bouquet when my cousin brought it over ...
beautiful in its perfection, all standing straight, barely opening.

But, these last few days, whenever I walk through the family room
and see this array of blooms stretching out  ...
portraying a bit of an attitude ...
I smile inside. 
There is a beauty even in this, right?

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Seeing Double

Since I posted the pictures I was going to post here
on the recipe blog,
I'll share a bit more of that day ...
when just the three-year-olds came to play.







Oh, and maybe I just have to go back to these ...



I think this container was about three quarter full when we started.
Now check it out in the next photo ..


... the inside scoop, is what you get here.



Evy decided a baby spoon would help.


Wishing you all a Happy Valentines!