Until We Meet Again

The washing machine, dryer and dishwasher are all humming in the background. The sky is blue, the breeze is blowing, the dogs are lounging. The family is in varying stages of regrouping. The kids are moving back into their rooms after having moved out for their grandparents and their Aunt and Uncle and niece. We are taking down the temporary beds, folding clothes, putting away laundry and dishes, putting the house back together, returning to normalcy and calm. It is the hush after the family has left. It is quiet, calm, and a bit empty.

There is the sweet echo of our time together co-mingled with the melancholy awareness that we won't get to see one another again for some time. It is easy to get swept up into our day to day lives and allow time to slip away from us. We have been consumed by the activities of our lives, our children's lives and their interests as well as the demands of Karl's work and the various priorities, the comings and goings of our friends, local family, the maintenance of our home, my work and, and, and... the list goes on. All this is not an excuse, rather an awareness of the fleeting nature of time, and the limits placed upon us with family that live so many miles apart. All that said, the times we do come together are made that much more precious and these past two weeks were no exception. In fact, these past two weeks brought us all closer, with more understanding of who we are and how important we are to one another and of course the affirmation that we would like to make our visits more regular.

We are all in major transition. Krista is done with high school and heading off to school in the Fall. Ryan and Dakota are a relatively new couple and negotiating college life out in the world by themselves. My brother-in-law, sister-in-law and Niece are learning how to be a new family and getting ready to move, my Father-in-law and his wife will be adjusting to retired life, and Karl and I will be empty nesters so fast our heads will spin. Much change ahead for all of us. It seems a fitting time to come together and remind one another what is truly important in life: to love and be loved, to follow our path and purpose, to treat one another with kindness, love and respect, to be present for one another, to remember all we are grateful for. We cracked hearts wide open, shared hopes, dreams, laughter, even hurts and always love. I am deeply grateful to each and every person for their willing spirit, time and attention, as well as love, honor and respect for one and all. This is no small thing. Thank you all. My heart is filled to overflowing. Until we meet again.

This is a "we" thing. So long as "we" are willing participants, miracles will abound as "we" come together in love. Any "we" will do! In-joy your "we" time, we sure are!

Pomp and Circumstance

I wrote this on Krista's graduation day, last Monday before the ceremony. Congratulations to our sweet, amazing, beautiful, accomplished daughter. We are so proud:

Today is the day. Our daughter is graduating from High School. She will be valedictorian of her class. We are so impressed by her. Both our children continue to amaze us. To complete high school is an accomplishment, to do so with honors is impressive, to be valedictorian in a population of peers all attending high school and college concurrently, fulfilling internship requirements in their future fields of study, along with community service is extra-ordinary. This is a proud day. We are watching our baby grow up. Don her cap and gown and receive her diploma. She is heading into her bright future and it is a joy to behold.

We have family in town for this momentous occasion, as I wrote about last week. It has been a blessing. Watching our adorable little niece, nearly 9 months old, and the awe and wonder, joys and duties surrounding a wee human remind me of just how fleeting it all is. It reminds me that the next generation are already knocking on the door waiting to come in, and will be here in the blink of an eye. Our children are both in loving relationships with wonderful partners. We couldn't imagine better matches for them. It touches me deep in the heart to see our grown children doting on their partners and being doted upon, and all getting together and enjoying one another.

It is the season of graduations. It is time to be moving on into newer landscapes, into the next phase. It is normal I suppose to be nostalgic about the past, and understandable to be excited about the future, but for right now, this moment, I am breathing this in. Our youngest is graduating today. Most of our family will be here to bear witness. Breathe in. Smile through the tears. She is an amazing young woman. We are filled with joy at all she has accomplished thus far, the woman she is inside as well as outside is beautiful, her future is bright and shining with possibilities. This is what it is all about. Joy, re-union, connectedness, love, evolving, growing. Breathe it in, let it move through your heart, breathe it out with gratitude. Pass it on.