Twenty Years Ago

With three grands here these past few days,

my mind has gone back to this day, 20 years ago,

when their parents made their vows 

and pledged their love to each other.

If twenty years ago I could have looked into the future

I still would never have been able to grasp

the significance, the meaning and the 

cup runneth over type of feeling that reality has poured out on me.

 Becoming a mother of the bride was the beginning of a new journey.

A journey filled  joy, anticipation, apprehesion ... a new season.

That morning she went for her last run with her dad,

tucking a flower picked along the way

into her bouquet.

And then he walked her down the aisle. 

Pictures will never tell the last minute venue change due to rain.

They made the most of it ...

in the same way they have faced every other changed circumstance

in their married life.

Chris and Julene,

It is an honor to observe you on your journey together

and we wish you nothing but continued showers of blessings 

on the road ahead. 

Love, Mom and Dad

The Help

 

As you can see, 

our landscape changed quite a bit today

but what was most enjoyable to see were the eager beavers,

so happy to help make it happen.

We've Moved

There is so much I could share ...

but for lack of time I'll make this short,

just to say that it's been an amazing and fun experience 

to build a house at this point in our lives.

We moved a week ago, however the anticipation and excitement continues

even in the midst of unpacking.

I've loved it when friends have dropped by

and this is how this photo came about. 

  

It was a happy day was when the plants started coming in.

We had gone to the nursery to choose trees and

give the landscaper an idea of what we like.

It was fun to see those trees arrive

and decide where to place them.

Pretty well any date we've had this year has

had to do with choosing things for the house

and it kept us busy during a time when we couldn't do much else. 

A drive to a Garden Center to get a fountain, was one such date

that will long be remembered.

As we've moved in, I'm observing the surprisingly long process

of preparing for the lawn ...

and then I'll feel like everything is done.

Well, almost. =)

So, in short, this is us as we set up our home,

so very grateful for continuing hopes and dreams.

May God be blessed in whatever time He gives us here.

♡♡♡

Mimi Day Thursdays

 

This past Thursday, after a two month Covid break, Evy came over for one final Thursday with Mimi in this house. It was cherished time for all the obvious reasons and felt like we had to do certain things just for the sake of tradition. There was nothing sad about this, rather an appreciation for some things returning to normall in her mind, and a gratefulness for the memories in mine.

When she first came, she had her soother and blanket in tow, often still in her pjs. Weeks turned to months and months became years that somehow turned my baby visitor into a girl. Maybe I just had a better look this time, because I suddenly saw how grown up she was, as she rang the doorbell and came in, starting to take off her sandals. 

She's been my little side kick, my helper and sweet companion playing games, going to the park, making the bed, doing the laundry, organizing my grocery cart, baking buns and visiting Oma. There's not much she doesn't know about my habits. 

I love this girl and I'm so thankful for the memories she's given me. I know she's only five, but I hope that she will always remember some things about Mimi Thursdays long after these days are over. 

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.