Subtitled: Dakota-Bound and Back Again
Last Thursday evening, I was talking to my mom and dad on the phone. (My mom and dad, in case you didn’t know, are possibly the cutest little couple ever.) “We sure do miss you,” my father said. “I miss you, too,” I told him. “I wish that we lived closer!”
On Friday morning, my husband found me camped outside his shower. “Can I help you?” he inquired. “Yes,” I said. “I need to go see my family.”
And so we did.
My mom turns 85 on All Hallows’ Eve and is not, as they say, getting any younger. Who is? She hadn’t seen her youngest grandson since June and it was time.
He was thrilled to (re)make her acquaintance.
The rest of the kids were just as thrilled, especially when we told them that we were staying in a hotel overnight. (When you show up at your mom & dad’s house unannounced—barbarians at the gate, as it were—it’s best not to overwhelm them.)
My kids did not mind that the pool was the size of a postage stamp.
It was water. They could splash.
Quick, everyone! How can you tell that we were staying in North Dakota? Hint: it’s outside the windows. It’s a landscape. It’s flat.
I just love North Dakota. I can breathe in North Dakota.
And would you believe that our timing was such that every one of my five siblings was home? Can you say group photo, everyone?!
Why is it that the youngest child in every family is always the one that craves the most attention? I’m not going to answer that.
My sister Renee craves attention, too.
Actually, she commands it.
Renee is one of those people that lights up a room with her anecdotes and her laughter.
(She brings the wine. There’s lots of laughter.)
These are my sisters Mary and Yvonne. I squealed with delight when I saw Mary, who was a blond at our last get-together and has been for many years.
I welcomed her back to the dark side.
[evil chuckle]
This is my brother-in-law, Jim. He’s married to my sister Renee.
Uncle Jim is one of my favorite people—congenial as all get-out and always willing to grab a baby. That’s my kind of uncle.
He’s seen a lot, though, my Uncle Jim. Say a prayer for their family, will you please? His son’s father-in-law was killed in a terrible farm accident last Thursday.
I knew this man—he was my nephew’s wife’s father—and I have been thinking a lot about his passing. He was only 58 years old, and to be taken from this world so unexpectedly and so tragically…
Moving on.
This is Linda, my sweet older sis. Linda has a son in Iraq and a daughter who leaves for Afghanistan in December.
It’s good for her to be laughing like this.
It’s good for all of us.
Do you ever feel as if you’re living your life in snatches? Most days are busy and rather mundane—those are the days that (if you’re not careful) you can almost take for granted.
And then come those moments of pure intensity, where life is raucous and loud and joy-filled and tragic, seemingly all at the same time.
It is all I can do to try and be present. I can try to be present to the moment that I have right now….and I can take pictures.
Lots of pictures.
The ties that bind us can get tight, do you not find?
They are knotted fast around my heart.
AMDG,
Beautiful!
That's the stuff that we live for. Good stuff.
Looks like a wonderful time; you are very blessed to be so close with your family even if you are far away in distance. God bless, Meredith
I'm in tears. That was beautiful.
Margaret:
Now I am missing my family–even more. We are supposed to travel in two weeks for a family reunion of sorts and I was already dreading the packing-the rush-the travel-unpacking. Your post reminded me that it is worth it. Blessings, Kelly
Great that everyone was home during your visit! I love big family get-togethers … and I so agree about the hotel. The kids look like they had a blast – ours generally don't care about size either.
Sorry to hear about the death of an extended family member. My husband and others in his industry knew him. Farm accidents are always hard.
You are so very blessed to have your parents alive and together, especially being the youngest and all. Doubly blessed to have siblings you love and enjoy. I am so glad you took off for a visit. Your husband is a dear to oblige.
Oh, what a blessing! I come from a "broken" home, but this is the gift I hope to give my children someday… a big, happy, loving family with joyful reunions and hopefully many grandchildren (not quite there yet :-)! Loved all the pictures!
JMJ
A small thought … if the youngest child in the family craves the most attention … and you already have Angela … what on earth do you have in store from that butter-wouldn't-melt gorgeous baby?
Those pictures say it all! What love you see in that family gathering.
Praying for your sister's children. I cannot imagine sending my children off to Iraq or Afghanistan. It's difficult sending dh but my child? Unthinkable.
thanks for that up-lifter! those kinds of days we don't get very often anymore, do we? with our busy adult lives and kids and work and school and activities fuilling up our calendars! sometimes we get those days on Christmas and Easter, when the whole family comes together and we can again see how great of a gfamily we are! how blessed you are to have gotten one of those great big days with family! prayers for Linda whose two children are serving our country. tell her thank you!, and prayers too for your nephew's wife's dad and family. your mom and dad look like two peas in a pod, as they say.
Just beautiful! I had to blink back tears several times.
I miss my family too!
Love this post!
Our family had plans to go see my Grandma this week-end and stay at that exact same hotel!!! Plans changed because of a child sick with the flu But, had everyone been healthy, it would have been soooo fun to see you and have our kids swim together in that small pool!! We will still try to get up there soon as Baby #6 is due around Thanksgiving and traveling will become somewhat more limited after that! I love when my extended family gets together at Grandma's. We usually use the hospitality room at the hotel for our gatherings!!!
I'm happy for you that you could make the drive……the memories of such a trip are so wonderful and worth all the "extra work" in getting there! So glad for you!
Sara in South Dakota
I love reading your family stories. I must add that you and your siblings have FABULOUS SMILES … so much joy in them!
I just love this post Margaret-it's beautiful. Love saves us on so many levels.
Your hubby is one heck of a good sport!! Those SMILES, and can those kids get any cuter? You are blessed with such rich treasures.
signed
Theresa in Alberta
Oh, how wonderful Margaret! Makes me want to find a way to go see my family in Florida.
peace,
amy