Happy Anniversary Kayla and Daniel!

Eight years ago today a beautiful wedding was held at Dimnent Chapel on the campus of Hope College where my daughter graduated three weeks prior.  The wedding plans had been thoroughly thought through and everything was perfect, even the tulips were in bloom on that warm sunny day in Holland. 

For twenty-two years the beautiful bride gracing the Chapel that day had exceeded all my wildest dreams.  I watched a passionate little baby girl, crying one minute and laughing the next, grow into a young woman with that same deep passion for life.  Her whole heart joined her young man's that day and a marriage was born that I know she will honor for the rest of her life.  As a mother, her heart holds each child separately and tenderly.  Knowing they are all little individuals she studies them and yearns to be the best mom that she can be to each one.  Kayla, I've been sitting here on the sidelines of your life watching, praying, and cheering you on for a while now and though the long blond pony-tail that used to race around the soccer field is now all neatly tied up and out of the reach of small children, I am still in total amazement at your passion, spirit and love for the Lord and the life he has blessed you with.  Happy Anniversary!  I love you!

If the world had a front porch....

"The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch swing with, never say a word, then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation that you ever had." author unknown

A large front porch is attached to the home of two of my favorite people.  It is big enough for swings, chairs, toys, cats, plants, bird-feeders and visitors like me.  I have been blessed to be a visitor of Sue-Sue's and Shari's on several occasions since my daughter married their son and grandson eight years ago tomorrow.  Each time my suitcase and I enter their home I am greeted with a warm, heartfelt welcome that stepping onto the front porch just seems to put an exclamation mark on, Welcome! 

A cat is usually sleeping on the floor while a soft shaded breeze whispers and birds chirp and sing.  I'm always drawn to just scan the country-side for a few minutes as the cow's graze in the "holler" beyond the flower garden which is wildly beautiful, with flowers blooming and vines twisting and toppling over the large stone path.  Not manicured, contained and boring.  An old rusty watering can that belonged to Sue-Sue's mother has been recycled and a constant stream of water pours from it into a small pond that Shari dug herself; the sound is very relaxing. Slate rocks surround the little pond and were found on the land that Sue-Sue's family homesteaded in the late 1800's and where the house, built in 1990, stands today.

Shari and Sue-Sue enjoy having their coffee on the porch every morning, and I am blessed to join them.  We talk about our grandchildren, mostly, three of whom we share.  We usually have too much catching up to do to sit quietly, but our conversations are some of my most memorable. Life just seems to slow down enough to be thoroughly enjoyable as we gently swing and talk on the porch and I love that!

The journey begins...

While visiting my daughter and her family, I read with great delight her blog about my grandson's third birthday party yesterday. The subject of my having a blog surfaced again and my daughter proceeded to sign me up. Amidst the laughter, tears, and potty calls of two of my dear little grandsons, she diligently completed my site and my journey begins. Thank you Kayla!

Here I am, upon my arrival on Tuesday, with Zion and Bright.