Dear Mom

"Mother's Day weekend," you always said 

"is the best time to get the flower pots done."

... and it became a date, 

precious time spent watching and doing.

Reasons why I cannot help but think of you now 

as I move soil around to stuff a geranium 

or

as I roll pastry, chop apples, peel peaches,

pour hot jam into jars

and cook frosting just like yours.

How is it that I can miss you so - while you're still here?

That sparkle in your eyes, the energy,

the sympathetic ear,

the call to come for supper - or just to talk.

It's a mystery enshrouded in hindsight,

the last time you cut dough patches,

pinched a Perishky,

or glazed a cookie.

The last time you set the table,

poured a cup of coffee

and dished out blueberry pie.

The last time you left a message,
words spilling over each other, starting with
"Anneliese, this is mom ..."

The last time you fixed your hair,

put on a necklace, chose your shoes

and walked out the door.

Days gone by, remembered now

with pride for the Mom you've been,

reminding me of who you are

and to cherish the hug I can give you ...

still knowing your warm embrace

and the feeling of being loved. 

I love you, Mom.

♡♡♡

This Wonderful Life

Last week I attended an evening flower arranging class along with Lovella and Bonnie.

The new to me item was the coated chicken wire that we were 

shown how to use. I like it so much better than the green foam.

We were shown how to begin with a base of greenery

and then how to add to that.

All of the beautiful flowers were available at each

one's spot, so it really was impossible not to create something pretty.

When some of the flowers wilted, I removed them,

and added new ones from my garden that is just coming into bloom.

Creating ... 

done in so many ways.

I went to the home where mom is and,

as I entered, a resident was playing her accordion in the lounge.

I got mom and we sat down close by.

Frieda played and mom sang ..

using their gifts in their twilight years.

And as I looked through my photos of this past week

I couldn't help but notice the fullness of what I've been given.

Little girls who don't just walk home from the playground ...

but stop to pick dandelions,
walk on top of retaining walls,

skip sideways ...

and this one ...

who came dressed in her apron and favorite cookbook,

to bake cupcakes.

She mixed and stirred and did a lot of licking because

"you're supposed to have fun at Mimi's"

she said. 

Teddy is a very capable baker and 

she even washed the dishes when she was done.

With all the possibilities,

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Mary Oliver

Our Late Easter

School Spring Break was a good time for the families to go south

but it meant getting together a little late this year.

 We were the last to come home ...

with the little ones still waiting to look for

Easter eggs.
We had not been forgotten.

 From the second youngest 

 to the oldest (living here) ...

  seeing the looks on their faces,

made for another memory to unpack and enjoy.

 With these postings getting repetitive, 

I focus on these younger ones ...

cousins in bunny aprons

kicking Jack's soccer ball around.

 and Jack all smiles sitting securely

 but not sure he wants to show off his walking skills yet. 

 Our quickly prepared meal was simple

with the smiles all around being the true treasure ...

the one I will delight in,

even as we wait for another gathering soon, 

when all will be together. 

Leaving our Nest

Did you know this is what a baby owl looks like?

We found him one morning after a strong windstorm,

seemingly having been blown right out of its nest.

I must admit I feel a little bit like him today ...

maybe a tad grumpy.

It's always hard to leave a place that's been so comfortable.

But just like this owl, 

if I have not been totally forgotten,

I'll be just fine.

Rendezvous in the Desert

I'm checking in from one of our favorite vacation spots, a rented condo near a pool, surrounded by palm trees - our oasis in the desert. 

The kids have taken their turns here and now we are following on their heels.

The day we arrived I was texting with some of the MGCC

to let them know we are here etc.

One had already settled in at another condo,

but one had no plans to come.

As we chatted, I said that we had extra rooms because of the space our kids needed.

"You should come!" is what I said.

And "come"  they did!

We chalked it up to one of the privileges of getting to this age

and had a wonderful three days to show them our favorite spots.

One day we met up with Kathy and her hubby at the Painted Canyon.

My H and I were there in 2016, but found out when we got to the

bottom that we had not actually seen the view from the very top.

We found the starting place.

I guess some visitors thought it needed clarification.

The guys carried our lunch. One backpack was shared.

We entered the tunneled pathways through the rock formations,

sometimes barely seeing the sky.

Ladders actually made it easier at times.

And this time we found the view!

It was amazing! 

So different than what we would see at home, but still so beautiful! 

In the background is the Salton Sea.

We came down ...

and down some more!

As I said before, it really felt like a playground.

We walked, we shopped and we ate delicios food,
but one of our favorite things to do here still is the relaxing
by the poolside with a good book.

I was glad our company was good with that too.

And for me it was special to be able to share this time with Lovella.

Friendship is one of our best gifts!

Another Peek Into My Family (From Russia to Paraguay)

I just finished reading The Last Train to Leningrad  by David Funk, who lives in Abbotsford. I found it interesting because he tells of the hardship that our grandparents faced in Russia before they were miraculously given permission to leave. The story he tells is of his own family (who happened to go through Leningrad before moving on to Prussia and to Canada) but they intertwine with other families in such a way that my own family history comes alive. 

When David Funk's grandparents and family left on November 1, 1929 there were thousands still left behind in Moscow, waiting and hoping for emigration papers, many being sent away and never heard from again. My great-grandparents were given permission to leave at the end of the same month as did my H's grandparents along with their children. By that time South America had opened its doors for these refugees and that is where they went after a short stay in Germany. 

This book gave me a glimpse of how this event in history has determined the course of my life, the fact that I'm here, and makes me ever so grateful!

My aunt recently sent me a photo she found while trying to find out more about our past. It was one that I had never seen before and sums up so much of what I have written about earlier.

Study it a bit with me here:

It is 1930 - and the inscription reads that the Neufelds are celebrating their 25th Wedding Anniversary. I went to check my own records and saw that they were married in 1905 in Russia, so it made sense.
What I am intrigued with is all the rest that this photo tells ...

It's the year that my Oma (my maternal grandmother, age 16, siblings and parents) immigrated as refuges from Russia to Paraguay. They came by ship and went by river boat, train and then by ox-drawn carriage to this barren wilderness where they set up camp with many others in the same boat, literally. The makeshift shelter shows that they have not been there long. Yet, they have made tables, and stools and decorated for this occasion. The table has a white tablecloth and everyone is dressed in their best.

Great grandma and grandpa Neufeld are sitting at the head of the table. My grandmother is standing closest to her father, leaning against the shelter. Some siblings are married, others are younger. Friends have also joined them, the older ones dressed in their dark warm clothing from Russia. I was able to zoom in and see that they have Zwieback on the table! It amazes me that everything they needed to celebrate was taken care of.

One of Oma's brothers became interested in photography while still in Russia and did his own photo processing. Photo credit goes to Jakob Neufeld.

For more background you can read  http://foreverythingaseason.blogspot.ca/2009/11/from-russia-to-paraguay.html