We can't reclaim those spacious hours, any more than we can turn back the hands of time and return to that more innocent era, but in my mind I go back to a time of tranquil hours, leisurely afternoons and laughter-filled evenings. On this particular day that my mind has drifted back to, there is a bike ride and hours spent in the park. Memories of swings, slides, and pink peppermint-flavored ice cream with colorful chunks of bubble gum.
Michael and I have taken a long bike ride from our home out in the country, into town, to the park. The bike ride is long, over 10 miles each way, but it is one of our favorite ways to spend a summer day. Sheridan has the most amazing park, and it is worth the effort to get there. Once there we spend our time on the swings, seeing who can swing highest, and going down the slide, the highest slide I had ever seen. The park has a small river running along one side, and a hill with steps going up it on the other side. At the far end of the park is the public swimming pool, and one of the coolest things I have yet to see in a town park. Our park had buffalo and elk! However, on this day, we don't venture down that far. When we do take a break we head to the ice cream stand. To bubble gum ice cream in sugar cones. Pink, shiny ice cream with chunks of gum, the coloring from the pieces have tinted the ice cream in shades of yellow, red, blue and green. Sitting underneath a shade tree we finish our cones and head for the merry-go-round.
After our hours spent in the park we head for home, down the back roads that run from Sheridan to Parker Draw. When we reach the creek near our house we drop our bikes on the ground and dip our toes in the icy cold water. The perfect break, the perfect refreshing break on our long trip home. Not much longer and we are home, another summer day is drawing to an end, but before the sun is completely gone there will be a game played on the front yard. What will it be tonight? Mother may I? Red light, Green light? Duck, Duck, Goose? or perhaps a game of softball played with the neighborhood children?
I have been blessed with the most amazing memories from my childhood. There were times that were not pleasant, but when I go back, I go back to the times with my family. Camping. Sledding. Games. Trips. A garden. Playing pool. Sleeping under the stars. My childhood is a tapestry so richly made that even the most wealthy man could not purchase something so wonderful. I pray that when my boys look back at their childhood that they will feel as blessed as I, to have had a childhood full of experiences, of slow days, and getting to see life at a more simple, more basic level. I pray that we offer them the experiences in life that truly matter. If we, as parents, cannot slow down and enjoy life then we cannot teach our children to slow down and enjoy life. Life should not be about going from one activity to the next as quickly as possible, it should be about savoring the life God has given us.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
wow
Oh my goodness. It has been over a year since I have last posted on this site. Honestly, it has been so long, when I went to log in I was afraid that it would no longer be available. But, thankfully, after about a zillion attempts with different e-mail accounts and passwords, I finally hit the jackpot. (think I will write it down this time)
A lot has changed in the past 15 months. My parents are back on the mission field, this time in Poland, and my brother is on the field as well, serving our Lord in East Asia. It has been nearly a year since we have seen grandpa and Uncle Mikey, but grandma came home for a short visit this spring. Yep, she had to come to Michigan... to have her taxes done. Hey, that's as good a reason as any!
This week my baby, okay, he isnt a baby any more but still... anyway, my precious little Ryan is on his very first mission trip. He went with our youth group to work with a church outside of Albany, NY. This fall Ry will be starting high school and has some major goals for his career, and he knows it will be hard work. This past year he has started attending CAP (civil air patrol) and he has decided that he wants to go to a college like West Point or the Air Force Academy when he graduates. He looks adorable when he puts on his BDU's (or camies, as I call them) but the other day he put on his dress blues for the first time and my heart just skipped a beat. He looked so handsome! I just cannot believe that my little Ryan is growing up so quickly.
Ian and Zane will be starting middle school this year. Yippeeee! They are 6th graders now. This fall they will be moving into our Sunday School class. Poor Jim, he is going to have 6 very rowdy boys to deal with, while I will have 6 girls in my class. Anyway, the twins are growing up so fast, and are becoming little men. Ian has his first little girlfriend. I told him they cant date until much later because I want him to still like her when he is old enough to marry. (yep, I have already picked out his future wife. Ryan's too)
Well, I think this is enough for now. After all these months, I think we will start slow, and who knows. I might even post again sometime soon.
Lora
A lot has changed in the past 15 months. My parents are back on the mission field, this time in Poland, and my brother is on the field as well, serving our Lord in East Asia. It has been nearly a year since we have seen grandpa and Uncle Mikey, but grandma came home for a short visit this spring. Yep, she had to come to Michigan... to have her taxes done. Hey, that's as good a reason as any!
This week my baby, okay, he isnt a baby any more but still... anyway, my precious little Ryan is on his very first mission trip. He went with our youth group to work with a church outside of Albany, NY. This fall Ry will be starting high school and has some major goals for his career, and he knows it will be hard work. This past year he has started attending CAP (civil air patrol) and he has decided that he wants to go to a college like West Point or the Air Force Academy when he graduates. He looks adorable when he puts on his BDU's (or camies, as I call them) but the other day he put on his dress blues for the first time and my heart just skipped a beat. He looked so handsome! I just cannot believe that my little Ryan is growing up so quickly.
Ian and Zane will be starting middle school this year. Yippeeee! They are 6th graders now. This fall they will be moving into our Sunday School class. Poor Jim, he is going to have 6 very rowdy boys to deal with, while I will have 6 girls in my class. Anyway, the twins are growing up so fast, and are becoming little men. Ian has his first little girlfriend. I told him they cant date until much later because I want him to still like her when he is old enough to marry. (yep, I have already picked out his future wife. Ryan's too)
Well, I think this is enough for now. After all these months, I think we will start slow, and who knows. I might even post again sometime soon.
Lora
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