[/caption]Just got back from a week in sunny, warm, and green northern California. As Bobby mentioned in his last Sunday Summary, we spent a week with our good friends the Garners. They moved out there a year ago to take a job with Clorox and our family just hasn't been the same since. It was a real treat to get together again. I could give a day-to-day accounting of what we did, but that's not what I'm really going to remember about the trip. The following is what I don't want to forget:
They gave us Nathan's room and crib and dresser. I don't normally unpack my suitcase while traveling...it has always seemed like an unnecessary step. This time, though, I was eager to unpack like I was staying forever. Having a laundry basket was an unexpectedly delightful and comfortable perk. So much like home.
Home canned cherries, peaches, apricots, and jam. Rachel doesn't can much herself (yet!) but I have enjoyed many, many delicious homemade meals with her family that almost always included some form of home canned produce. Rachel and mushicots are inseparably connected in my memory. She also makes all her own bread these days, and you can't beat fresh bread.
Grocery shopping, walking to pick up Daniel from the bus stop, T-ball practices, kicking a soccer ball around the backyard, Chuck E Cheese, discussions on faith, playing Settlers of Catan, reading stories to the boys, Nathan's infectious smile, Joshua's boundless energy (and love), Daniel's eagerness to question, visiting the Oakland temple, Bobby showing so much love to all the kids, senseless knock-knock jokes, stake conference, fruit stand oranges, the smell of almond trees in bloom, heaps of food and fun and love at Holly and Drew and Ben's house, pythons terrifying natives at lightning fast speed, Alice murmuring in her sleep, late night discussions figuring out life and relationships and parenthood, and more laughter than I've felt in a long time. Just like old times.
Most of all, I don't want to forget that leaving again hurt almost as bad as it did the first time. I tend to forget those kinds of emotional things, which eventually leads me conclude that the whole situation was different...less meaningful, less important, less life-changing...than it really was. I don't want to forget that this time.
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I wish I was as concise as you are, but I'll try. To this I add my memories.
ReplyDeleteBobby & Dewain playing at the water table until the kids were all bored, making ravioli--- for hours, you beating Dewain at Settlers at the last minute, a Science Monday that gurgled but didn't fizz, Mexican food so good you have to go back for more, singing almonds and a puzzle, Mariokart and other Wii fun, adults outnumbering children, a quiet departure day, and big family dinners. Just like old times.
Amy Busey once called us "tight," she's right. Until next time, friend!
p.s.- we canned all the fruit you ate while you were here: cherries, apricots, peaches, and jam! We may not be good at it yet, but we have done large quantities.
ReplyDeleteSusan,
ReplyDeleteYou have such a gift for writing. Keep it up!
Loretta