An Intertwining of Firsts and Lasts

It’s been an emotional week. Julene came and joined me at Kristal’s house for Thursday and Friday last week. It was the first time Jules was able to see one of Kristal’s babies as a newborn and I enjoyed watching her in her older sister and auntie role of encouraging and helping where she could.

After saying goodbye to Natalie, Landon, Koen and their mom and dad, we flew to Seattle late at night and came home in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

On Saturday we attended a family wedding . . . a beautiful reminder of how it all begins . . . so new . . . so vibrant . . . this making of a commitment that can grow through every stage in life when nurtured and appreciated.

Tuesday, after school, we took the kids on a last date which I will likely post about yet for their sake.

Yesterday, after some time with Julene in the morning, I took Makenna on some errands and then home for a nap, during which time I packed the Christmas suitcase. This is a suitcase filled with Christmas gifts from both sides of the family and kind of tricky to pack because the gifts are wrapped . . . but I managed to get it all in, with about ½ lb to spare. Now . . . for the curious, I would mention what is in there . . . but I can’t, since the ones who are going to open it at Christmas, will be reading this too! We’ve done this before, and it’s a fun way to anticipate that special day in the near future.

Once that suitcase was packed, I prepared a roasted hen with all the trimmings and bread pudding for dessert for our last dinner.

There was some last playing and then some stories to be read.

The kids always gravitate toward uncle Ben and auntie Kari. (This was a random shot taken after dinner.)

Late in the evening we headed to the airport, Ben’s truck loaded with suitcases . . . the young ones all tucked into our vehicle with their treat bags for the airplane.

And that is where they are now . . . heading to new beginnings once again.

Be Still My Soul

These are wonderful days and though my heart is filled to the brim and overflowing with joy and thankfulness . . . there is a silent river running just beneath the surface, reminding me of the brevity of time.
Paging through a Hymnal this weekend, brought me to the beautiful words of an old hymn written in the 17th Century . . . words that still bring comfort and strength today.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to your God to order and provide;
in every change God faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
to guide the future, as in ages past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
the Christ who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

(written in German by Katharina von Schlegel
and translated into English by Jane Borthwick)

What I wish to take with me this week is that
although I do not know what the future holds,
I know the One who holds the future . . .
and that is enough.

Natalie

Natalie is a girl who knows what she wants. Her pjs need to be in a certain place in her drawer and her toast cut to specific measurements. She can multitask . . . you think she's busy with something, but she's listening to conversations around her, so you have to be ready to answer her questions. And, as previously eluded to, she is a planner.

Sometimes I wonder whom she goes after. Smile. There is one area I've realized she's a lot like me. She's a girl after my heart when it comes to baking and . . . for a four-year-old she can be a big help already. As she plans, she lets me know, "Mimi, I was thinking we should make apple pies."

When I finally got around to it, she pulled up her stool and figured out what we should do. Without being asked, she dug into the recipe drawer, pulled out her mom's favorite recipe binder and paged through it until she found the fruit pie recipe, recognizing it by a pie sticker.

She sampled apples while I was cutting and soon we were both rolling.

We made five pies and she did not tire of her kitchen duties. In fact, she had seen a picture of donuts on the cover of a magazine and thought we should still make donuts.

So, after a lunch break, we tried our hand at something new to me. I think I will be making these again . . . and always remember the first time I made donuts.

Landon

Landon is at that age where he waffles between being a baby and a big boy. Sometimes he looks at his Mommy with those begging, big blue eyes wonders if she will ever pick him up and carry him again. Other times, when she wants to help him with something, he insists on, "I do it!"

Last night after baths, I asked him if he wanted me to read him some stories. He replied with a "What?" that sounded like he had not been asked that question in 12 years! So Kristal tried to confirm with him by also asking him if he wanted Mimi to read a story, to which he replied, "No, thank you." Of course, then Kristal told him it was time for bed and he promptly came up with, "I think it's time for books."

His Hands

Baby Koen . . . 

you open one eye . . . 

then maybe the other, 

listening to the sounds 

of your sister and brother. 

I'm mesmerized as I watch 

the varied expressions 

that cross your face. 

I love how your legs 

tuck up against you 

to make you ever so small, 

and how your arms flail 

when you realize there's no wall. 

I love your quick little breaths

and sounds coming forth 

like blissful sighs. 

But, funny thing, 

most I marvel when 

your outstretched hands I see. 

Hands that make me wonder 

what one day you will be . . . 

And I whisper a prayer 

that you will use them 

to show a heart just as big. 

With love, your Mimi

Grandparenting in Colorado

We landed in Durango just about the same time as Kristal was being released at the hospital, so we ended up meeting on their driveway.

Excitement was spilling over, not only because we were meeting our newest grandson, but we all had not seen each other since June.

Visiting with suitcases in hand, lends itself to a completely different kind of visit. It's a time of complete immersion into the real life of our little family. This time it was a special treat to share in the firsts of Koen's homecoming ... such as first baths and bedtime snuggles. Then, of course, the usual games, stories and visits to our room to cuddle or jump on the bed.

Natalie reminded me about the "baking cupcakes while Landon is napping" scheme

and we fit that in right away so that we have some more chances later in the week yet too. This time around she also planned what we would do "while the cupcakes are baking". Sometimes I wonder whom she takes after.

We've had several walks along the beautiful river close by. I could hardly put my camera away, it was so beautiful!

We've all taken turns with snuggles and playing and I get to stay and enjoy a lot more of this but, sadly, I'm on my own now as work has beckonned my H back home, however, even just two days have been well worth the trip and the special memories made once again.