A Time to Let Go

Chris and Julene and family ...
By now you are back in your sweet little home in Indonesia.
You have unpacked your suitcases of little treasures from here,
but more important,
we all have a store of wonderful memories to hold in our hearts
until we meet again.

May the Lord bless you

    and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you.

Numbers 6: 24,25

Sent off with love and prayers.

♡♡♡

A Time to Hold On

It was to be a quick stop before heading somewhere else. As she stopped at different displays, she carefully considered each doll outfit ... some other fun doll accessories ... on to Beanie Babies and a small gift for her sister.  At one point she suddenly looked at me with those clear light blue, questioning eyes and thoughtfully asked if she was taking too long ... when the significance of the moment hit me.  I did not let her see the tears that welled up, noticing that she was using this last chance, the day before going back to Indonesia, to choose her favorites very carefully. Of course other things could wait!

This moment of  seeing her as a girl 

enjoying her childhood 

could not be rushed. 

When one sees a child all the time, one does not notice the subtle changes as they grow, but seeing small pockets  of time, I realized I may just be seeing the last day of this stage ... watching her, following her, as she busily thought through all of the beautiful options before her, with a sense of urgency, grasping at time, she and I, both in our own way.

Makenna Sage,

we sure do love you!

Sixteen Years ago and Now

From the first four-generation photo to the one we took this month ...

Mom, Oma and great-Oma has been such an integral part of our lives.

We miss who she was, but we love her the same - maybe more -

as we remind her of the influence she has had on us.

She may not remember, but we do.

The Grand Sleepover

When you do something for the second time in two years ... 

does it become a tradition?

 One photo of a party with no regrets ... 

hamburgers

old fashioned hide and seek

s'mores

movie and popcorn

twirling

waffle breakfast

sandbox 

tire swing

bocce ball

finished off with Rollkuchen and watermelon.

A Garden Party

Kristal sent out the invitation to celebrate with appies and dessert

on the evening of her sister's party.

She also created this beautiful chalk art.

 Tehya helped me set up and scattered rose petals along the walk to the back yard ...

She poofed pom poms and we set the table under the tree.

 Kari and Kristal helped me fill up the menu:

sangria / berry punch

a charcuterie plate

a Greek veggie platter

watermelon/basil skewers drizzled with balsamic

hot pepper jelly tarts

Mexican spirals

peanut butter/chocolate cupcakes

blueberry and lemon meringue tarts

 and a vanilla Blaettertorte

It was a perfect evening outside with a beautiful combination 

of cousins, a few aunts and long time friends ...

a night to let her know how much she is loved.

 Of course I could not help but remember how I prepared for my

baby girl's first birthday ...

how my mom came to help me all day ...

and both sides of the (then small) family that came to that party.

Tehya took on the fun job using a Polaroid camera

so that everyone could participate in creating an instant memory album.

It was a night that lingered on ...

as will the memories of this day.

Happy Birthday, Julene

Forty years ago you were laid on my chest,

innocence laid bare in a tiny bundle ...

you had no idea how unprepared I felt.

Then love took over 

and filled my heart and life forever.

It was me that had no idea ...

how precious motherhood would be.

Thank you!

♡♡♡