This has been a week of reflection for me. Those of you that have followed my blog the past few years know that my parents passed away within a few months of each other two years ago. The house that they moved into when I was three years old was the house that they shared until their deaths. The first owners of this house and the first house built on the block, they moved in with the dreams of their life together and the dreams of building a family. The house was the shell that was filled with the shared experiences of my parents, my two brothers, and myself as we all grew up. This home expanded to include grandparents, in-laws, grandchildren, and friends way too numerous to count. As the family grew, so too the house grew with additions designed by my father the architect. And with each addition and change, the new rooms were filled to the brim with more memories and love. The once new “stick-tree” in the front yard has matured and extends over the entire yard and house, its arms having held so many of us as we climbed up its branches. Each person who passed over the threshold knew they were welcomed with the large arms my parents opened. The house has now been passed on to the second owner in its 58 years. But I know that the house is only a structure; the people are the ones that made it a home. The memories and stories of the family and friends that have been a part of the structure will continue in our family throughout the generations that follow.
Kansas
Spring is a mere 450 miles away
I made a quick trip to the Kansas City area this weekend. A one-way flight on Friday late afternoon took me 450 miles south of Minnesota. The sunset was stunning and the landscape below is always interesting. A pattern of fields and rivers, valleys and hills, and eventually roads with car lights that dot the lines from horizon to horizon. But what was more noticeable to me this time, was the difference in the seasons. Leaving Minnesota, our grass is brown and our lakes still have some ice on them. Snow is still visible in protected areas. But once I was in Kansas City I realized what a difference 450 miles makes in the seasons. The magnolia trees were in bloom, the bright yellow of the forsythia was glowing, and daffodils were showing their golden faces. Even the grass was no longer brown, and fields of winter wheat were a beautiful green. The drive home made the seasonal difference even more noticeable. Throughout northern Iowa and southern Minnesota grasses in the fields were visibly packed down from the weight of the recently melted snow, and there was a demarcation line that the red-winged blackbirds had not crossed yet in their journey to the north. Green grass will take-over in Minnesota, and flowers will bloom, and the blackbirds will be in our neighborhood, but nature hasn’t stretched her warm hands this far north yet.
A Christmas pause
The weeks leading up to the Christmas holiday have been hectic. Filled with things to do, people to see, places to go, packages to get, and the usual commotion of the season. The tree sat unadorned in the house for a week, asking for my attention. Then family came to visit from Kansas, and I was reminded of what the holiday is really about. My niece helped me decorate the tree; it now sparkles with lights, and the ornaments are carefully chosen in honor of people, places, or times of our lives. The packages got wrapped and wait to be given to those we care about. We filled the days of family with sharing, remembering, laughing, and new adventures — all those things that are familiar and special. And now that Christmas Eve is here, I pause and appreciate the family and friends that are important to me. May your holidays be merry and filled with love, and may good memories stay dear in your heart.
Fall, family, and football
This past weekend was a celebration of fall, family, and football. A weekend trip to Kansas was filled to the brim with all three items. My nephew, Nathan is a senior at Paola High School. His game on Friday night gave us plenty to cheer for as he ran for over 200 yards and scored two touchdowns. The town turned out for the festivities on a brisk fall evening (and the announcer made sure to give updates to the Kansas City Royals game score as the football game progressed). That winning game was followed by a second football game on Saturday. Nathan’s brother, Tanner is a senior at Ottawa University, and under a fall sky we got to enjoy his game. Not to be outdone, he also ran for over 200 yards and scored two touchdowns. I couldn’t be more proud of both of them. They have excelled at football, and at school, and I know that great things lie ahead in both of their futures. It was a special treat to be able to watch them play and enjoy all the festivities of the weekend.
Summer sunset
While in the Kansas City area last weekend, I marveled in a summer sunset over a field of wildflowers. I stole away from the busy activities of a picnic and walked across the acreage that my parents had purchased years ago for the family’s enjoyment. This evening I wanted to drink in the peace and beauty of the hayfield that hadn’t been cleared yet and the plethora of wildflowers that were blooming. The rains and lack of heat had allowed the flowers to bloom in profusion. The rudbeckia covered the hillside and seemed to glow in the golden light of the sunset. As I sat beside the pond at the close of day I was filled with a sense of gratitude for the beauty before me, my parents, my family, and for this lovely bit of property.
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