The Pain of Loss

Recently, a friend moved away. As I was saying the last goodbye, she said as good as the move was, she just kept realizing a different level of loss and grief in leaving. It brought to mind a moment last June when our family said goodbye to my husband's grandma, when my father-in-law said something like "loss hurts so much, because we love so much." If we didn't love, didn't feel connection, it wouldn't hurt to say goodbye. I shared this with my friend and thanked her for the love, friendship and connection that we have built. In this instance, I know I can talk to her, write her and go visit...our talks and visits just won't be as frequent anymore.

But another friend of mine is facing a tough anniversary next week, a death in the family, a loss that doesn't span miles...but a lifetime. I grieve with her and for her and I pray...I pray that she feels the love and connection she had was worth the pain of this loss. I pray that everyone walking through this hurt right now will find a way to keep reaching out for connection. We were created for connection, for love, to belong, and I believe with all my heart that it is worth risking for, worth being brave for.

May Excitement

May brings flowers...but also birthdays and holidays and family fun! Here are a few of the highlights!

We got the bikes all up and working, including the new-to-us bike trailer for the littles to ride in. My oldest really enjoyed pulling little sister and cousin around the driveway. We have since taken two rather long family bike rides and Daddy plans to take the older two on a few miles of Ragbri in July.

Ben went out of town for a few days with some friends, so I took the opportunity to get some major projects done (I don't sleep well when he's not here anyway). My favorite is the transformation to the flower bed out front. I wish I had a "before" so you could fully appreciate how amazing this "after" is!

Mother's Day was combined with three family birthdays for a lovely Sunday brunch at our home. We had eggs, potatoes, corned beef hash, sausage, biscuits, gravy, pancakes, waffles, muffins, gluten-free muffins, fruit, and a few other items I'm sure I'm forgetting. We all ate and visited and taught grandpa and grandma to play Qbits.

 

As we near the four year anniversary of losing our home, we still have an exhaustive list to be done...including tree clean up. Ben took down the last two "widow makers" this month, cut them into sections and the kids helped stack it. We have a lot more to do, but it feels really good to have the dangerous ones taken care of.

The week before Memorial Day last year, I had this great idea to display military flags along with our US flag...but with little time and no budget, it didn't happen. This year, I started planning in March and was successful in pulling it off. I found 2x3 foot flags for each branch: Army, Marine, US, POW/MIA, Navy, Air Force on Amazon. I attached eye bolts through the grommets on the flags and inserted into holes I had pre-drilled on sections of pvc pipe. I placed large fence posts in the ground (the one for the US flag a bit higher than the others) and slid the pipes over the top. It was a bit more expensive then I had planned and I will probably make changes in future years. We plan to display them for Flag Day, Independence Day and Veteran's Day, too.

 

Costumes and Dutch Letters and Tulips, oh my!

After living in Iowa for more than twenty years, I finally made it to a Tulip Festival in Pella. While the tulips were past their prime, it was quite a sight to see. We were able to spend the day with friends (the ones I made the costumes for) and get our own special tour of Pella, including some interesting history. For instance, did you know the tulip originated in Turkey and was transported to Holland?

 

I was unable to get a good photo of the large windmill in town, which was actually built in Holland, disassembled, shipped to Pella and reassembled. At the foot of the windmill is a large pair of wooden shoes that a couple of the kids decided to try on. And I am including this photo of the glockenspiel, one of few working in the country. Every hour it plays music and little figures "dance."

There are many displays and shops and touristy things to do. The wagon tours are fun and the dutch letters (a light pastry available at any of the many bakeries in town) are quite tasty. But my favorite attraction was the quilt show. I had hoped it would display older, period and historic quilts, but the variety and craftsmanship made for a delightful show. Here are just a few of my favorites...each so unique!

We ended our tour with the street washing and parade. Our friends put on their costumes and joined in the fun. It was especially affirming to hear the comments from others about how nice their costumes were. The parade included the Tulip Queen, cheese cart, shoe carving, Holland's Santa and more bands than I could count!

 

 

 The parade included many families with baby buggies and carts and all the local schools, too! I really enjoyed all the variety in costumes and community involvement.