The kids always remember the little things.........

Okay, I am now way beyond "parenting" and well into "grand parenting", but I am still surprised at what the kids remember and treasure from their growing up years.  Sometimes as parents, we make decisions for our vacations, for outings and just for fun - but then wonder if we are doing the right thing.  This week I watched (through pictures) Gwen recreate with her own children, many wonderful memories from times spent with my mom in Minnesota.  I started bringing the kids to see my mom during the summers beginning in 1986 (after my dad died and when Doug was finally getting better).  My memories always centered around Lake Maud, which included swimming and spending time by a lake.  So I found the closest lake to my mom's house that had a public swimming beach and that became a regular destination of our trips to Minnesota.  This lovely public park is on Weaver Lake.  It has a wonderful picnic area, an amazing playground and climber, and a really long slide down to the beach.  It also has a really nice swimming beach.  For someone from Illinois this park was simply unbelievable.  You can't find anywhere to swim around here, let alone for FREE!   Here are a few pictures from one of our first outings to Weaver Lake...

And here is the climber.......

You might need to squint really hard but that is Doug on the top of the climber and Gwen is down near the bottom.    I remember my mom being really surprised that the kids would be so excited to swim.  From that year onward, Weaver Lake was part of our regular routine while we were visiting Grandma.  Often my sister Julie would bring her girls over to spend the day with us while she worked, and we would all go swimming.  In the later years we had many picnics with all of Julies family that had grown to include many grandchildren.  On one of my last visits with my mom, she talked about these times at Weaver Lake and how much she missed going there.  She also recounted one time when Doug was a middle schooler when our trip to Weaver Lake was a comedy scene.  The wind was so strong that you could barely stand up!  But Doug insisted on swimming.  Mom and I spent the time hanging on for dear life and laughing on the deck overlooking the beach!  Yes we had a great laugh again, in the remembering.  

This week, Gwen and Tim and their kids met up with my sister Julie and three of her four kids - and their kids for a day at Weaver Lake!  And boy did they have fun.  And quite surprisingly, this park looks pretty much the same now as it did in 1986!  There are several pictures from yesterday posted on facebook pages that look just like the pictures above!  Only its a new generation of kids enjoying this beach!

Isn't it interesting that this very little thing - finding a swimming beach and playground for the kids- became a lasting memory for them?  There is a message in this.  These days so many parents think that kids need the "BIG" vacations (think major theme parks that are a plane ride away).  But take my advice, all the kids need is a body of water, some sand and a few pails or bowls, possibly some rocks (to throw into the water), and some playground equipment.  It really is the little things that they will remember!  

Once again I am stuck on the way that memories and events move seamlessly from one generation to another.  Now I am the grandma, seeing my grandchildren enjoying that park and making those lasting memories.  I am so thankful that the Spiritual things we share also make that same transition down the family tree.  The prayers and the traditions of our faith are learned and practiced by the children, as they see their parents and grandparents and even great grandparents in worship.  Even in this, it is the little things.  For me, I remember the smell of the candles being extinguished at he end of the service.  Isn't that crazy?  Anytime that I encountered that smell, I thought of church.  I love seeing all of the little children in church. Those weekly times, gathering with families and hearing the Word of God may seem like little things, but because little things are remembered, they become BIG things.

Take my advice.  Think back on your own childhood.  Find that very special "little thing" and then recreate it with your own family.  Visit a playground, park or beach that holds memories for you.  Gather with cousins you haven't seen in a long time.  Talk about the "good old days".  Most importantly, take a moment the next time you are in church, to find a child and say hello.  Engage them in conversation. If you are a parent, bring your kids to church!  Make a memory!

Jesus, thank you for the reminder today that sometimes the little things can be the big things!  Holy Spirit, help us all to share the little, but important things with those around us.  Keep us mindful of the importance of sharing our traditions, our faith, with our children and grandchildren.  Thank you for memories.  Amen

Those important little things.....

This picture is one of my very all time favorite pictures.  There is an entire series of multiple blog posts about this picture, but for tonight, lets just say, "It is the little things that are so important"!   You see, this picture was taken at a point when Gwen and I were entering into a new season.  She was moving out of the house and going away to college.  It was a scary and uncertain time for both of us.  At the last minute, (literally the week before her classes were to begin) it was determined that she needed to live on campus.  So, suddenly, she was going to be gone.  I can tell you that I wasn't really ready for this change. To just add to the unsettled time, I was starting a new full time job, after working part time for the previous 7 years.  I love this picture because it reminds me of this special time that Gwen and I had together before all these changes.  The very important little thing about this was WHERE this picture was taken.  It was truly a "God thing" that we ended up, on a mission trip, to Bemidji Minnesota and Lake Itasca.  This was my mom's childhood home and a very special place for her.  I thought about this connection so very often.  It was as if I was just beginning to understand that "shift" taking place in the generational tree. 

On Monday, when I was at Gwen's house, we were talking about a wonderful special little thing.  Gwen and Tim moved to a new home about a year ago.  It was very difficult for them to leave their first home and all the memories that were made in that house.  One of the hardest things for Gwen, was leaving the beautiful Lilac bush near their front door.  They had also planted some very special tulips around their mailbox.  Gwen loves tulips!   When they moved into their current home, it was June and it was hot.  I do remember Gwen calling me, very excited to tell me there were rose bushes near their back deck.  What a great surprise!  But the REALLY special thing happened this spring.  First, we noticed that there were daffodils popping up in the front landscape.  Then, there were the tulips.  Lots of them.  It made me smile to see how Jesus was providing a very important little thing for Gwen.  This week, the bush by their front door broke out in wonderful blooms!  Its a lilac bush!  Amazing!  Right by the front door.  It was certainly another evidence of just how caring and loving Jesus is toward us.  Now Gwen would tell you that a lilac bush was not a big thing.  There are so many really BIG things about this new house that are such a blessing.  But I could tell that Jesus had seen a special place in Gwen's heart that would have really missed that Lilac bush.  So, there it was.  Just outside the door.  

I love that we all can be assured that Jesus is looking out for us.  He knows us and he knows exactly what we need.  Whether it is a really BIG thing or something that seems so small.  There is so much comfort in this!   I love that I was reminded of this picture after talking about the Lilacs!  The best thing about this picture, is looking back, I can really see that NOTHING changed for Gwen and I.  We stayed close during her college years.  And, as you can tell by these blogs, we are still very close.   I am so blessed by Gwen!  I had a wonderful relationship with my mom and I am thankful for exactly where I am today.  Somehow it makes it so much easier to look ahead and see the changes that will be coming.  They don't seem so big or scary after this. 

Jesus, thank you for tulips and lilacs and special times together with those we love.  Thank you for all the ways that you care for us and show us your love.  Holy Spirit, help us all to see and appreciate the many, many little things in our life.   Thank you for family and flowers and fun.  Amen

Slowing down to notice the little things....

I just love how the Holy Spirit will bring something into my thoughts, so that I can blog about it!  Just now I was remembering something that happened yesterday morning.  I was in the car line at school to drop off two of the children that I nanny.  As I approached the drop off place, I noticed a very small boy - he had to be a new kindergartner - standing, crying right by the road.  I saw him watching a car drive out of the parking lot and knew that it was his mom.  The sad thing was that no one seemed to be paying any attention to that little boy!  So as soon as my two charges had left the car, I swung out of line and parked my car.  I made my way over to the now sobbing little boy and knelt down by him.  I told him my name and asked his - Jeff!  And yes, he was in Kindergarten and he wanted him mommy.  I asked him if he would show me where his room was and he took one last look towards the road in search of mommy, and then agreed.  So I led him down to the kindergarten rooms and found his teacher.  I explained what had happened and wished him a great day and left. 

When I was driving away, I was remembering the day of the picture above.  This was Doug's first day of Kindergarten.  I was working full time during these years and my kids went to a home daycare.  This was also a new day care provider and a different bus stop.  So, after I took this photo, I got into my car to go to work, and Doug had a major breakdown!  He began to cry and begged me to stay.  But I needed to get to work.  I remember well, driving away with Doug running after my car. I can still see him in my rearview mirror.   I cried all the way to work!   Later I found out that Doug was fine the minute the car was out of sight and happily got on the bus.   I am sure that Jeff's mom was in the same situation.  I am just thankful that I was there to repay the kindness that our daycare provider (and big sister Gwen) gave to Doug that morning. 

Today I have been thinking about all of the adults and children who just walked right by that crying little boy.  I understand that everyone is very busy and that the car line is a well-oiled machine that doesn't give anyone much time to notice anything.  But still, I wonder how long he would have stood there.  Or even worse, tried to follow his mom's car.  Isn't it sad that most of the time we are so self absorbed that we miss the things that are happening around us?  I am going to make it a point to slow down and notice the little things.  This event was such a blessing to me.  I paid a lot more attention for the rest of the day, as I was going through my usual routine. 

1. I noticed a lady crossing a very busy street with a walker near a Jewel store.  I prayed for her safety.
2. There was a worker putting marks on the street that dropped a tool from his pocket.  I was able to open my window and tell him about this.  He was very thankful!
3. I saw some really beautiful flowers that must have been in that yard I passed every day - and I had never noticed them.
4. I noticed that there was a new store opening, and again, I hadn't even noticed before.
5. During my morning walk, I found an amazing walkway that connects to a park.   It is shaded by wonderful large trees and has neat little bridges.  Great for my 20 month old buddy!

This is just a sample of the little things that I saw and experienced yesterday.  I needed to slow down.  And I needed to pay attention.  Just as I have been reflecting upon over the last days - I need to listen to that whisper of the Holy Spirit.  And I need to listen to Jesus.  So today, I have been moving a little more slowly.  I actually took an extra 10 minutes in bed this morning, listening to the rain.  It was very soothing!  And the best thing about this, is the peace that is filling my spirit.  So take a moment right now to just close your eyes and listen to whatever is around you.  Breathe in and reflect on the aroma.  Then open your eyes and look around and notice the little things.  And be blessed.

Thank you Jesus for these reminders to us to be your eyes and ears here on earth.  Help us to be aware of those around us who might need to see or hear you through our words or actions.  Give us courage and boldness to step out when we notice things that you bring to us.  Fill us with your peace Jesus as we walk through our days.  Guide and direct us Holy Spirit.  Thank you Jesus, for your great love.  Fill us with your life and your love.  Help us to effect our world - one small action at a time. 
Amen