When Days are Long, and Years are Short

This past weekend the boys' and girls' bedrooms were filled -

grands tucked in with books, music and favorite blankets.

One thing we noticed during nighttime routines

is that they are growing up,

acquiring ways of settling in on their own. 

The reality felt just a little strange ...

as much as it was wonderful. 

 

Is it any wonder I contemplated this fleeting stage ...

so much so that it became more special,

the innocent, carefree, simplicity

still evident in the youngest one.

A time when there are never enough twirls, 

games of snakes and ladders 

or cups of apple juice and cookies.

I feel the changes come gradually -

watching her and then the older ones -

welcoming a new season,

one of mixed independence and teaching,

while climbing trees, texting cousins, 

racing each other on scooters,

playing pool or baking cookies
and going for seconds at mealtimes.

But one of my favorite moments, 

settled on couches around a big bowl of popcorn,

were the giggles coming from them all

while listening to Eeyore's complaints and

Winnie the Pooh's words of wisdom. 

A reminder that some things will never change.

♡♡♡

Flowers and Music for Mom

It was after lunch when my brother

 let me know he was coming out to see mom.

We ended up getting to the home at the same time

and it was precious to see her face when she

recognized him - more so his voice, I think.

He serenaded her with a favorite German song that tweaked a memory for her

and it was so beautiful to see her face light up.

I had a hard time fighting off tears.

 These moments are getting more rare, and as I ponder them,

I'm always wishing I could see inside her mind ...

see what she knows, when words fail her.

 My sister came later, due to an accident on the highway,

but again I see mom's joy comes from deep within. 

Even as her mind goes dim

and she cannot do a thing for herself,

on this day we thanked God for her 

with flowers and a song,

because we could. 

♡♡♡

Ten Recent Random Moments

My phone photo collection has become a place I enjoy scrolling through ..

mostly to see what I can delete ...

But always a reminder of the many random moments. 

The boys helping Papa with bark mulching.

 The girls playing with magnets on the fireplace screen doors

(because I don't want the fridge scratched) 

 and throwing walnuts outside for the squirrels.

 Jack picking dandelions 

 while Jade is learning soccer skills.

 Mini daffodils that started off as cute four or five inch plants,

shooting up like beanstalks.

 Lilacs that stayed nice for a long time.

 Sister shopping time at Hobby Lobby.

 A successful trip.

And a lemon zucchini Bundt cake that looked photogenic to me.

I look at such random moments and realize how blessed I am!
Bringing me back to the reason I started blogging more than ten years ago:
I didn't want the important nor the seemingly insignificant day to day
 to pass without acknowledgement.

Easter Joy

We got home on Saturday 

and that gave me time to get groceries

and work through the prep plan embedded in my mind.

 I set tables that night,

because on Easter morning it would be a nice greeting and start
to the afternoon family meal.

 It was fun to check out new blooms in the yard to bring inside.

 We went to church Sunday morning,

they were still dressed accordingly when they came.

And the smiles ... 

well, maybe it's because the hunt was about to begin.

I'm always torn between following them around the yard with my camera (phone)

or just leaving it alone, to fully take in the moments.

But then there are the firsts ...

the first time they recognize what is happening ...

 and the smiles that only pictures truly capture for keeps.

They looked for small treats under bushes, inside bushes, on ledges and everywhere.

Filled baskets were tucked into hedges

(to be fair) declared to be the neighbors hedges. 

Jade found hers under the low swirling branches of  the cedar tree ..

and what this photo conjures up is the memory of her voice 

as she reconized her name on it! 

I wish I could have been everywhere at once.

 Yuriko found hers inside the Camellia bush ...

her first Easter hunt.

 They gathered on the patio to check out their loot.

 In the end, it's like all good things anticipated and planned for -

moments that go by too quickly!

I savor the excitement around the meal,

the comments,

the grands growing older and appreciating time around the table -

telling their own stories and laughing.

I hold dear the spontaneous Easter play on the patio,

in which each child had a willing part ..

accompanied with giggles, forgetting of lines ...

and the biggest bow coming from the smallest person of the lot.

I may never know what parts they will remember one day,

things I may have missed,

but I hope they will always know the faith, hope and love 

we've shared through every season.

♡♡♡

To the Cross

 There's a cross on one of the local hills that gets lit up at night,

shining as a beacon into the valley.

I tried taking a picture at night but, 

even though we could clearly see it with our naked eye,

the phone camera only picked it up as a large light. 

The landscape in this area has a different beauty altogether.

 This is near the parking lot

from where you can see part of the trail heading up.

 A very dry path, winding itself up and across a ridge and then up again.

There could have been snakes,

 but I only saw pretty flowers

blooming in the most unexpected places.

 The view from the top had me contemplating a passage I recently read 

where Jesus looks out over Jerusalem and weeps, saying,

"If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace!" 

Luke 19:41.42

How deep the pain, that many of His own people did not recognize Him,
the One they had been waiting for.

May we, who know the whole story,
even like the thief on the cross who acknowledged his wrongs,
recognize our Savior today.
This is the peace that passes all understanding.

Downtown Palm Springs

 We've driven into the Old Palm Springs center a few times this week for dinner.

It's funny the landmarks or places along the way that hold memories ...

a drugstore, a motel, a movie theatre or restaurant now out of business.

We walked the cobbled stone streets

lined with shops, ice cream places and restaurants ...

 

 my eyes drawn to the way they trim the (bearded) palm trees.

Are they still the same trees?

We talk about times spent with our growing family,

from tots to teen-agers to college days,

never dreaming that one day

they would be taking their families here.

One can only think so far ahead.

But now we know.

We're more than a generation older -

we are the old -

sitting on a patio,

enjoying the peace - yet remembering -

 the days we thought would never end.