Remembering

It was a wonderfully busy weekend.
It was a weekend of celebration.
A baby shower for my daughter-in-love, and a birthday celebration for my husband.
Everyone was coming home.

I love seeing all the bedrooms full.
I love seeing all the cars in the driveway.
Everyone was coming home at different times.
A big pot of meatballs and sauce was simmering.

I am used to cooking for a crowd.
I prefer it.
It is very hard to reduce recipes for just a few people.
When everyone is home, it is a matter of making enough.

My daughter-in-love was simply to relax.
She was not allowed to help in any way.
We had to decorate the family room while she sat in the living room.
It was impossible for her not to see what we were doing, but she tried her best.

All the cast iron pots that usually hang from the fireplace, were removed.
In their place hung an impromptu clothesline of baby clothes.
Sleepers, hats, socks, and onesies all hung from tiny clothespins.
Some gifts were already in front of the fireplace.

My daughter-in-love wants a Farmhouse theme nursery with greenery here and there.
A Farmhouse theme is easy to accommodate in our house, since we have similar tastes.
Signs that my youngest daughter designed were scattered in various places.
A table with flowers and the framed invitation welcomed guests.

My youngest daughter designed the invitations and made bookmarks to match.
The bookmarks were to remind everyone to pray for the baby and the mommy-to-be.
We also had lapel pins with the tiny feet of an 8 week old unborn baby.
There was a magnolia wreath and greenery hung in places.

My daughter who became a mom almost ten months ago, came up with some good ideas.
A basket of diapers and a small bucket of markers were on the dry sink.
Each guest was encouraged to write a message on a diaper for those late night changes.
Most of the women took the time to write something.

A fun game on a sheet of paper was handed out to each woman.
We were to guess the name of the children’s book simply by looking at emojis.
The well known Dr. Seuss book, for example, was easily recognized by a cat and a hat.
Other books were not so easy to guess; there was much laughter as we shared our answers.

It was a lovely afternoon.
The men had gone out for the afternoon and returned a little before the end of the shower.
It was a pizza night and an evening of board games.
When I was in the kitchen, I noticed it.

We have a key rack on which everyone hung their keys.
They each had a hook while they were home.
There are some keys still there, but the rack is not as full as it once was.
However, when I happened to look at the key rack, I smiled.

All the keys were hanging right where they used to be.
Even the ones who shared a hook when they were all home, shared a hook again.
It warmed my heart to see all the keys hanging there again.
Usually, they keep their keys upstairs with their things, but not this time.

They are grown.
They have lives of their own.
Yet, when they come home, they sit in the same place at the table.
They hang their keys on the same hook.

They can walk right in the house.
They know the garage code if the doors are closed.
They never have to knock.
This is home away from home and they have total access.

The day after the shower was my husband’s birthday.
It was a day of being together.
My husband wanted roast beef for his birthday dinner.
The Sunday dinner, that we had each week when everyone was home, was repeated.

My older son remembered that we used to always have this meal for our Sunday dinner.
He was right.
We had a roast beef dinner every Sunday.
They always looked forward to it; they remarked that the house smelled the same.

We were celebrating new life coming into our family.
We were celebrating a birthday of a life well lived.
We were looking back.
We were looking ahead.

It was sweet.
Slipping right back into the memories but not staying there.
Slipping right back into their place at the table but adding spouses as well.
Slipping right back into a familiar Sunday dinner but knowing that it is not every week now.

It was good.
The keys on the hook reminded me: you can always come home.
There is always total access for a child.
Always.

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:2,3)

Jesus is preparing a place for us in His Father’s house.
In Christ, there is total access to the Father.
If there was a key rack, your key would be on it.
You have a place at the Table.

The Wedding Supper of the Lamb will be served.
God the Father will love having His children all around Him.
Those who have come to faith in the Lord Jesus alone for salvation will be gathered there.
In Christ, there is total access to the Father.

It is good.

 

2 responses to “Remembering”

1. Amen amen and amen!! I have been doing a lot of reminiscing the last few yrs especially as our house has emptied out and all our elderly are gone now…apparently a common thing to do as we get older ourselves. Often the tendency to desire the past back again especially when it holds warm loving ‘homey’ memories for us. But I read something recently that helps to put this tendency in proper perspective when we cannot bring the past back again…’to be thankful for the past, embrace the present in God’s strength and face the future in faith remembering his faithfulness always.’ I am thankful for the treasured memories of my past and the new ones in the making…especially those that include our precious littles!
   So happy for your growing family, Gina, and the new memories being made with love as a result.
   ~Carolyn Hunt~

   Reply

   • Carolyn,
     Thank you for putting your sweet thoughts in words so beautifully.
     We have much to be thankful for and much to anticipate, as God allows.
     Blessings, friend.
     Gina

     Reply