Seasons

 I just want to say how I love this season of blooms in my garden. 

Every week as I go out to prune or dead head, 

I have the joy of collecting a bunch to put into vases.

It's June. 

We've watched Landon, Koen and Jack play their respective sports ...

 soccer, flag football and baseball.

And let's not forget Lacey playing vollleyball, 

Evy singing  in a spring choir concert, 

Teddy participating in track and field

and winning a speach contest.

Also, as the school year is ending, 

Natalie came home with a drafting award. 

It's a season to embrace as all of them find their place. 

As I'm writing, I'm also pondering the end of a specific season,

one that I have not been able to put in writing yet.

But know for sure that I've been treasuring it in my heart for a while.

Our Indonesia family has decided that living apart is not ideal,

and so Tehya and Paeton, who were babes when they left us, 

have now paved the way for all of them to return.

In just a few weeks, they will all be here ...

And there will be no goodbye to follow anytime soon. 

Somehow I just never imagined processing this. 

One day I may write about how this missionary life has impacted me

and how I can say it's been good!

What I find hard to believe is that, now that the time has come,

I tear up for them as I see them taking care of last things ...

last class taught, last day of school, last flight.

Letting go of their dreams, but having fulfilled them well.

 

Our jungle pilot is coming back. 

Our daughter is coming home.

All of our grands will be here! 

♡♡♡

A Precious Call from Indonesia

When Tehya finished her studies in mid May

she followed through on plans for a final visit to her home in Indonesia.

Her special friend, Rahul, whom she met at CBC in her first year here,

 decided to go with her, to see how she grew up

and to live her memories with her. 

Well, and for one more reason, 

to ask her parents the important question in person! 

When the call came, we were surprised at that exact moment, 

but not totally taken off guard.

Their smiles, together on the screen, 

we knew this was momentous even before she showed her hand.

I can't help but think how well he knows and wants to know her,

to be willing to travel to this remote place,

to live with her family for a month and to experience her happy place. 

These kinds of experiences are hard to understand unless you experience them!

Even for us, seeing this photo, takes me back 

to landing on that strip and being welcomed in a way that brought tears to my eyes! 

Tehya, our precious firstborn grandchild,

I think back to when you were born and 

how I was afraid to love you because I'd have to let you go.

But you never let go. 

From running toward us, ducking through airport guardrails

to secret conversations on the old fashioned phone

and, in these last years, making yourself at home here, like our fourth child,

how could I have ever dreamed that coming to this part of life

could be so rewarding and sweet! 

We love you both, Tehya and Rahul,

and wish you God's richest blessings 

as you enjoy this time of planning for married life. 

Papa and Grammy

♡♡♡

King David's Sentiments

Walking behind these skipping cousins, arm in arm, 

feelings of joy and gratefulness, hard to describe, flood my heart.

I've been reading in the Old Testament

and noticed that King David had similar feelings, describing them this way, 

"Who am I, O Lord God,

and what is my house that You have brought me this far?" 

1. Chronicles 17:16 

♡♡♡

Victoria Day Celebrations

This post is dedicated to our middle grands,

Lacey and Koen.

who had the honor of playing in the Victoria Day parade this past weekend.

It was the perfect excuse to find us sailing to the island on Sunday as well.

On a side note, it was 50 years this weekend that

the spark began between us, on a youth camping trip.

I kept thinking, 

there's no way we could have even begun to imagine

what life would look like this far down the road!

Some of the family left Saturday, some were on our sailing. 

It was Evy's first time on a ferry! 

We arrived at the Parliament Buildings just in time for our grandchildren's band performance

 in the Festival of Bands,

There was a lot of excitement in the air on this beautiful day

with photo opps etc. 

Shaun and Kristal's family, proud to cheer on Koen on his drum.

Ben and Kari's family, proud to cheer on Lacey with her trombone.

One of my highlights that afternoon was the battle of the drums concert

which included a university band from Washington, leading

what sounded like, a back and forth drum conversation between 

seven or eight bands spread out in front of the Parliament steps.

On Monday morning we joined the throngs of tens of thousands 

to watch the 123rd Victoria Day Parade.

Along with marching bands, community floats and cultural performances, 

every parade has to have their clowns and candy.

Our littles have missed out on these kinds of events the past few years,

so it was just a lot of fun to participate in some "firsts" with them. 

And finally, after about two and a half hours, 

our Screaming Eagles came along ...

I'll finish with just a glimpse of our cheering section, which was just enough to embarrass our middles, but also evoke a sideways grin as they marched along. 

It was a weekend to remember and be grateful for,

for so many reasons. 

 

Where it Began

I'm sharing these photos today because it's Mother's Day

and they are new to me,

recently sent by my cousin in Paraguay who's dad visited us in 1978.

 A new mom, almost 45 years ago.

And my mom and Omi too. 

Precious days,

reminding me to be thankful for the moments we have

and to make the most of today. 

I've been spoiled this weekend 

and today I'll be spending the afternoon with Tehya,

who is headed to Indonesia this week.

This is the cycle of love,

coming full circle. 

I hope you are all given the gift of a sweet memory today

and able to pass one on as well.

Happy Mother's Day! 

♡♡♡

 

For the Love of a Mother

Visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, I was cast into the realm of life in the ghetto. Just a glimpse into the cruel treatment and daily struggles of those who were rounded up, deprived of food and freedom of movement, leaves one touched to the core.  One article calls it Life in the Shadow of Death.

I came away from this museum with images of happy families and homes, looted and destroyed forever. It is a heartbreaking history that cannot be forgotten, lest it be repeated. I say that cautiously.  One poem that stood out, even  amongst the many I did not get to read for lack of time, is one I'd like to share because it depicts the innocence of a child who dearly loves his/her mother.  The author Henryka Łazowertówna was murdered at Treblinka extermination camp in August 1942.This is part of the poem and I'll leave it at that, because more words don't justify the deep feelings that come with it. 

Over the walls, through holes, through bricks,
At night, at dawn, and in day,
Cheeky, hungry, crafty,
I move as quietly as a shadow.

And if the hand of fate unexpectedly
Catches up with me one day in this game,
It is an ordinary trap of life.
Mother, don't wait for me anymore.
I will not be coming back to you again,
The voice will not be heard from afar;
The dust of the streets will bury
The fate of the lost child.

And I have only one request,
And the grimace is set on the lips:
Who, Mother, will bring you
Your bread tomorrow?

When the war ended, displaced persons searched throughout Europe for missing children. Many Jewish children fled eastern Europe to western Germany, and from there to settlements in Palestine. Thousands migrated in this way and then to the state of Israel after its establishment in 1948.