When our children are babies we dream of them sleeping all through the night. Yet even after a long day and an even longer night, when they have finally fallen asleep, we stand there in awe and watch them sleep. We hold our breath and we hope this moment doesn’t have to end. And years later when they are grown, we remember watching them sleep.
“Sleep my child and peace attend thee,
All through the night
Guardian angels God will send thee,
All through the night”
“Baby mine…
Rest your head close to my heart
Never to part, baby of mine.”
There is something so touching about a mother holding her child close to her heart. These two pictures were taken three years apart, first her son and then her daughter. But the way a mother holds her children doesn’t change.
The dictionary defines everything as
1. every thing; all things; all
2. something extremely important
It was a beautiful fall day when a little red headed boy walked his Mom down the path. At the other end of the path, his Dad was waiting as were his little brother, family and friends. For Bruce and Erin and those of us that has been waiting for this day, it was everything we had dreamed it would be.
If I had to pick a word to describe what I saw in Bruce and Erin’s eyes as they joined hands, it would be “everything.” They are everything to each other. And when they hold their children close and look into their eyes, you see that their boys are everything to them.
Something extremely important: I think Bruce and Erin would define their family as everything!
“And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It’s you, it’s you, You make me sing.
You’re every line, you’re every word, you’re my everything.”
“How wonderful life is while you’re in the world.”
And the world was a wonderful place that afternoon. It was warm but not too warm. We were sitting outside in a natural amphitheatre surrounded by trees, blue sky, friends and family.
Donna walked down the path to “Pachelbel’s Canon” being played on the marimba by Evan’s parents. And they walked out together to “All You Need Is Love.” And in between they joined hands and promised to take care of and love each other. Holding hands keeps two people together as they navigate the world around them.
In the art of marriage the little things are the big things…it is never being to old to hold hands.
I hope you keep holding hands!
In a symbolic way, hands are really what take us through life. We hold babies in our hands. We hold their hands when they are scared or when we cross the busy road. Our children cry to be hugged or to be held. We hold the hands of a sick friend. We join hands when we get married. The touch of a friend or loved one has so much power.
“You carry the power to love and to heal right there, in your own two hands.”
Here are the hands of Sophie’s Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma. They are some of the hands that will love and guide Sophie through her life.
Though you’re not here with me, I’ve got your memories.
You’ll always be in my heart. Merry Christmas, wherever you are.
Okay, so maybe it isn’t Christmas yet. But there’s snow and its cold enough to curl up in front of a cozy fire. And whenever I sit by a fire it reminds me of Christmas. Just the other night Matt grabbed an old photo album and we started to look at pictures. So many memories. In among the pictures we found Christmas photo cards from friends we hadn’t seen in years. Which got me thinking about Christmas cards… And then I was asked to design some Christmas cards.
Everyone likes getting Christmas cards. It’s a great way to keep in touch. Christmas cards are tangible and create a real connection between you and the person you are sending them too. Many people keep your card as a keepsake. Ours are in our photo albums. And I love displaying the Christmas cards I get.
Is there someone you want to keep in touch with this Christmas?
“I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day.
When it’s cold outside, I’ve got the month of May.”
Amanda lives in Ottawa and she came home for several weeks in July. She brought the sunshine with her.
These two girls were pure sunshine.
And then out came the lollipops….Isn’t life great!
“Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,
Everything that’s wonderful is what I feel when we’re together.”
“Whenever you remember times gone by
Remember how we held our heads so high
When all this world was there for us
And we believed that we could touch the sky
Whenever you remember.”
When you all look back on these moments…I hope you smile.
Congratulations!
Today was the day… going home to be with family. It was Vanessa and Katelyn’s Graduation Day. We had found the place to take their pictures several weeks earlier. I waited out at the old farm yard for Vanessa and her family to arrive.
It is a beautiful June afternoon. They park under the shade of an old tree and Vanessa gets out… You can hear Vanessa laughing as she walks down the trail with her brother and sister. I think about how her mom and dad must be feeling. They are all so very proud of her. She reminds me of a ballerina as she gracefully moves towards the old house. It’s her Graduation Day!
“I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance.”
