Mother's Day Reflections

Our kids invited us over for pizza at the lake on Friday night.

I was blessed with togetherness ... the sound of laughter, beautiful smiles, 

heaps of homemade cards and flower bouquets.

Then today, I'm not sure what happened but, I just have to say ...

I missed my mom ... with tears flowing for all the moments that I wish I could hug her for! 

Going down memory lane of the Mother's Days we've shared with her,
strangely makes me aware of the seasons played out even in relationships.

I remember Mother's Day as a child, when the focus was on a special program at church.

Verses and songs were memorized. Each mother got a flower. 

Mothers  also cooked the family dinner.

As I child I never imagined any other way.

In later years, my dad took the whole family, including the grandchildren, 

out for a Mother's Day lunch. 

A splurge he never indulged in when we were young. 

It was truly our summer season as an extended family.

There were the years mom and I would plant flowers on this weekend ... 

for always now reminding me of her love for flower pots.

One year on Mother's Day weekend she flew down to Phoenix with me for a four generation visit.

Another Mother's Day was celebrated in a most unique way with her engagement to Abe.

My memory lane of actual photos has many of more recent years, 

when we realized that we were entering a new season. 

We took a photo on the bridge in 2015 and I noticed there was something different. 

She grabbed my hand in a way that was unusual and, as sweet as it sounds, 

I felt an inexplicable change about her. 

We began to spend a lot more time together, 

just to enjoy time around the table and listenting to her stories.

Two years ago, on Mother's Day was the first time I fed her. 

One year ago, I brought her a large bouquet of flowers, because I could.

This year she's been behind locked doors for two months.  No one has ventured to explain to her the reason for the changes ... and I wonder what she wonders when she cannot ask? It pains me not to be able imagine what's on her mind and heart ... in this her winter. A time when the warmth of presence and touch to communicate have all but been taken as well.

What I have come to know is, that no matter how long we have our loved ones with us, it will never be long enough. Going back to Ecclesiastes where my blog theme comes from, there is a verse that says,

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11

Is this why we do not want to say goodbye? Is this longing for life something in our very being, put there by the One who made us? It's a mystery we may not understand until that day when everything will be made right by the one who also holds eternity in His hands. 

I pray that God speaks to her and blesses her in ways we cannot imagine, strengthening  her in her inner being with sweet dreams and truths about the now and the not yet. Until then, I love you, Mom. 

♡♡♡

Welcome May

With the changes in how we do life, 

I've had some time to follow up on a few wall decor ideas I've seen -
for the house that we may finally move into this month! 

When I could not find a suitable window type picture frame online,

Kristal gave me a name of someone who 

ended up showing me around her barn full of old windows and furniture.

It actually felt like part of an HGTV set and

would have been a lot of fun to poke around in with a friend.

However, I knew what I was looking for and didn't linger too long.

I took the window home and scrubbed and scraped.

 It cleaned up nice. 

When we got married in 1975 

we would not have dreamed that one day we'd be able to scan our photos.

And since the photographer owned the negatives,

we thought we'd never get another chance to reproduce them.

In fact, we chose four copies of one of our photos,

so that we could pass them on to our kids one day.

(in case we'd have four kids!) 

It wasn't this one because I didn't like it at the time. 

This is a small glimpse of how time and perspective have changed things.

We have limitless possibilities with photos,

such as printing a regular poster of any photo. 

And, for the record, for some reason

the carefree and joyful moment caught in this scene

has become one of my favorite captures of that day.

New Kitchen Dreams

In the Fall I got together with a lovely design lady to draw up our kitchen.
It was good to get her suggestions and input in developing my dream.

For the most part I knew exactly what I wanted ... my age has earned it ...
and so her job was to clearly put in on paper.

The cabinet maker came to the house earlier this year and checked all of the measurements.

He went to the appliance place to check out specs. 

It's amazing, all of the things he has to consider in fitting cabinets around specific appliances,

sinks and plumbing.  

And then he got busy in his shop.
I can imagine him bending over in his apron, reading glasses perched on his nose
and a pencil tucked over his ear.
He's a craftsman.

At the end of March I came to the house and there was a big puzzle to put together! 

It was so much fun to see it take shape!

Every detail just right ... down to bins for trash and recycling. 

This week it was a highlight to be there when the countertops arrived.

Whoever was at the house was gathered to help carry in the island counter,
a short suspension, so to say, in social distancing.

Such a large space ...
almost intimidating to think of how much food

will have to go on there to even be noticed. =) 

I keep trying to imagine it finished,

with appliances in place and family and friends to share it with.

Today I popped in and the backsplash tile setters were busy at work. 

I just wanted to stand there and dream ...

They are not used to their boss's wife watching them

but they just have no idea how special of a space this will be,

my happy place.

The Year that we Were Together for Easter

Easter Sunday morning dawned into a bright and beautiful day.

As siblings we exchanged text greetings 

and shared favorite songs and memories.

Our screens have been, so to say, our lifeline 

to all who matter, our friends, family and church.

Everyone in their homes, yet somehow connected ...

connected to all that we have celebrated on this special day,

the sure hope we have, because Jesus conquered death

to win forgiveness and eternal life.

I prepared Easter dinner for the family.

Ham, potato salad, apple salad, roasted vegetables and Paska.

We packed up three separate picnics and drove to each home,

a progressive party of sorts.

 

In their back yards, we hid some treats.

and then we watched them as they looked for them.

As much as we wanted to,

we didn't go close like grandparents normally would.

I hope they never remember that part. 

This family was out while we snuck around

and it was fun to surprise the kids.

 

We watched them play with their toys

and then, off we were to the third place.

 This family hardly remembers an Easter together,

and they loved running in the wide open space. 

They are good at virtual hugs,

maybe we've practiced them enough. 

 After finding their treats in the most odd places,

we had dinner by the fire pit.

And then they came with their previously delivered Paskas ...

one family and then another ... and for a short time, we truly were all together ...

welcome home greetings shared in other ways than usual.

With a fire pit between us and beauty all around.

we sat in family units.

It was the very best of what we could do,

the littles snuggled into their parents' laps,

the bigger ones somehow accepting the circumstances,

as we laughed and shared stories.

And I can't help but say,

what a gift it is to be a family

through every circumstance -
supporting each other in any way we can.
For those who have health issues and
those who have health care workers in the family,
even this strange gathering would not be possible.
There are many sacrifices we do not know about,
and my thanks and prayers go out for them,
trusting ultimately in our heavenly Father.

May His love and grace hold us up in faith.

💛💜💙

The Drive By Birthday Party

 It was possibly the shortest Birthday party ever,

but the laughter and tears this surprise drive by parade brought

will be remembered long after we all recuperate from our isolation.

 

 

When friends and family take a given moment

to celebrate a special day and a special girl,

it's the thought that we're all in this together that counts.

I have never seen a happier street full of people and cars! 

Love finds a way!

♥️♥️♥️

A time to Refrain from Embracing

I read the note Kristal left in the vehicle for our Indonesia family ...

it included instructions about what mandatory isolation would mean for them ...

and for all of us.

Her note ended with, "this is crazy I'm writing this. 

I would never have imagined we would be welcoming you home ...

to greet you with a letter and telling you to stay away from everyone!!"

 In the meantime, we have all lived isolated from each other and

last weekend, when I could not stand it any longer  (to not have everyone see each other)

our kids set us up for a zoom meeting.

 It was so good to see everyone on one page,

even if not in the same room.

 This family has been not only isolated,

but uprooted and surprised by how life has changed here. 

We live with so much unknown 

yet we can know that God has a reason for allowing this.

During this time to not embrace,

I find myself embracing with my eyes,

loving the smiles that mean more than ever.

It's a time to realize that nothing can 

stop us from showing love

and that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

I'll end with this winning smile ...

my mom, still finding a reason to do just so.