Heartland

~

On the very land my childhood was lived

Now nurtures and nests eleven of my cousins

One fine pair of parents

An Aunt and Uncle

To my heart

Kindred

For one week I parked my ‘home on wheels’ a few feet from the

warm rugged welcome of their front door,

hinged constant by my entering.

It has always been in the everyday life that this family’s story rings purest.

Early morning words slipping through the slight open of a kitchen door

A hushed holiness as a Father spoke in his kind, deliberate voice

The words of his heavenly father over a table full of children.

I cried silently behind that door,

Tears

Awash with the wonder of love.

It was a caught cuddle curled together in the cozy of the afternoon

While crazy wild ran with the others

A mother’s stroking hand along the falling tendrils of a blond babe.

Loves Poetry

written in patients,

perseverance,

purity.

Love made alive

Through the lives of others.

~

Cottage Charm

~

Nestled by grand green is a comfortable cottage

Charming with west coast warmth

Home to family

Home to friends

~

Celebration of Grandparents

~

An Eightieth

~

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A Ninetieth

~

 ~

Rejoice all, another Ninetieth

~

~

Three celebrations called us home.

Grandparents Galore!

Each one dearly loved and fully celebrated!

~

Marion

~

In the morning warmth of her garden, eating her hand baked love,

I reflected back to the beginning of a friendship that was to shape me so deeply

I would never be the same...

~

Sometime during the mid of those rough teen years I fell helplessly behind in Math.

Through the whole twelve years of learning numbers there was only one good thing that came from math.

And that was a friendship of the dearest sweetest type.

She was a math tutoring extraordinary.

Week after week as I laboured through hopelessness at her kitchen table I watched her do life

Making bread to sell to support missions,

Preparing meals for a family facing hard times,

Cookies for a bundle of kids she would care for after school,

Painting rooms so there was space for elderly family,

Long bike rides with her sons,

Always ~ always serving!

Always ~ always time for me!

It was watching Marion’s life as a teen I realized what true generosity was. It was giving sincerely to Every person. It was being the light of love in often very humble situations with no thought of personal gain.

This was Marion!

And I decided then that if I could be like any single person on earth, I would want to model her.

My first baby girl has her name and I pray often that my Baby Marion will know how to love like her ‘Aunty’ Marion.

Spending a year under Marion’s tutoring changed me; the example of her life altered my ambitions and led me closer to God and his desires for my future. Her friendship has been a true gift from heaven.

I will always esteem you Marion

Thank you

 ~ Thank you ~

~

'Little Trains'

 

~

The whole clan of 11 kids + In-laws + nieces and nephews + parents returned to our Island of childhood for one wondrous whirlwind celebration.

By wonderful chance we were able to relive a past tradition of celebrating Father’s Day at the ‘Little Trains’

One wild clan and a whole lot of other loved ones stormed the gates and played, enjoyed, laughed and relived the days before we all moved far away from a salty land wrapped by sea.

~

Home

~

Three weeks wondering around western Canada proved all the beauty we had hoped to experience.

We returned to a home without internet and lawns reaching knee high craziness!

After some repairs,Loads of Laundry and Lawn Mowing, I am back on line and very ready to touch base with all my dear friends beyond these pages.

In the days to come I will be pinning down our memories chronologically, happily sharing our sweetest times and most cherished moments.

Happy Summering Friends

~