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.
family
The color white
The color white evokes so many feelings and emotions. For those on the east coast, white is the color of the snow that has enveloped their area. For brides it is the color of newness and purity. For funerals it is the color of new life and light. As we celebrated the life of a family member recently departed, we were surrounded by flowers and plants of many colors and scents. The white roses seemed to be strong and yet tender all at the same time. A symbol of hope and love, circling around and around as the petals unfold from the bud.
An approach to this new year
A new year — new ideas, new hopes, new resolutions. Or maybe not. As I look back on last year I realize that sometimes the most memorable times were the ones that were unplanned. They came about, perhaps with a seed of thought, but they developed into something wonderful. One grandson, then a second grandson, a marriage proposal, friends near and far, and family that came to visit. This year I have many things to look forward to: two family weddings (one which is my own!), a honeymoon, a nephew’s college graduation, followed by his brother’s high school graduation. Yesterday we took a drive through the Wisconsin countryside. We had a general idea where we were headed, but the route developed as we wandered. We found undulating hills and valleys in dairy country, fields of fresh snow, a creek where the hoarfrost was still evident in the late morning, and a military veteran who was brought to tears when we thanked him for his service in World War II. All these adventures came about because we were present in the day and 0pen to the discoveries that developed. My wish for the new year is to be open to all that each day offers, and embrace it fully – life, friends, family, adventures, and memories.
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.
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