My Faith and Joy… and Boys!

I never realized pulling out winter clothes could be so entertaining – for Jimmy or for me!

I know I’ve said it here before, but my Granddad’s house has always been my favorite place in the world.  I’m sure it was because it was always filled with fun cousins and loving grandparents, but there was also something special about the street and house itself.  The street is lined with tall, arching trees whose branches almost completely blocked out the sky.  The yard was huge, and filled with trees, a badminton court and a pool with a little waterfall.  The house has a wonderful smell that is something I can never quite put my finger on… it reminds me of the smell of a library (also one of my favorite places!).  So on my trip there last week, I took lots of pictures of everything.  I hope and pray I will return there soon, but I also wanted to have a photo record for my own enjoyment. 

A word of explanation…I took a picture of the shark figurine because it’s something at my grandparents’ house that has always fascinated me and I didn’t want to forget it!  And the nearby water tower made the cut because my uncle played a critical role in Charlie Brown’s sudden appearance on the tank back in his high school years, and it made me smile.  The last picture is of the beautiful hills surrounding their house.  This view is taken from the cemetery the morning of the service.

While I was taking photographs of the house, I came across some old photos and paperwork that I wanted to capture.  Here’s a photo of the whole family at our last reunion in 2008, just a month before I went into early labor with the girls:

Here’s my dad as a high schooler receiving a swimming award (he’s on the far left):

Here’s a sample of my Dad’s writing as an elementary school student:

And here’s his adorable signature:

And a portrait of someone I’m assuming to be his mom, my grandmother:

Speaking of my grandmother, I came across some beautiful old pictures of her from her college days (in the group photo, she’s in the middle with the large circular button):

At the funeral, my dad’s cousin gave a brief genealogy of my granddad’s family, and I was really struck by how important family pictures and family stories are, which is part of the reason I’m recording these thoughts and photos here.  I want my children to know where they came from, and how much they are loved by so many wonderful people.  And even when people pass out of our lives, their influence remains.  And I think of my granddad’s wife, Mary, who is now such an important part of our family and our history, and I’m thankful that family is not determined by blood, but by love.  All these people and places make us who we are.  

I got back late last night from a trip down memory lane.  I visited my old college town to attend my grandfather’s funeral.  It was a beautiful service, and I’m so thankful I was able to reconnect with family and friends while I was there.  I had left all the kids home with Jim and my mother-in-law, and I’m happy to report that the kids did wonderfully in my absence.  Jim and his parents even took all the kids out to a church conference, which is a childcare challenge even with all hands on deck.  I’m so impressed! 

My first day in town, I toured my old campus and visited with friends.  I forgot to get a picture with my friend Felicia, but here I am with Bonnie and Melissa:

My college, even though it had sprung up massive new academic buildings, still looked just as serene and lovely.  I have so many amazing memories there!

More pictures to come!

Jimmy is determined to be a baseball player like the ones his daddy watches on TV.  He even fashioned a “mitt” out of a hand towel.  He’s a resourceful little fella!

Susie loves gardening (at least, in theory).  There’s nothing in our yard growing other than weeds, so I bought her a potted mum for her to care for this fall.  She diligently checks it every day to make sure it’s thriving.  I’m hoping she can teach ME a thing or two about gardening!