Thank you for blue skies and pink trees.
I needed that.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Onward and upward...
I love the ending of the Chronicles of Narnia. I shant spoil it, but there's this wonderful part where all of the loved ones from the series appear, one by one, and start running towards this mountain of unfathomable size. As the run, the go faster and faster and higher and higher...all heading for turns out to be Heaven. One of them (Maybe Reepicheep?) keeps saying "Onward and Upward".
That's the kind of mood I'm in today. It's been a weekend of sorrows for our family. First, we had to put Spooky to sleep. We couldn't bring Spooky with us, Abby's so allergic to him, and I couldn't find a home for him. So it came to that. I loved Spooky. Sure, he wasn't nice to the girls, and yes, he was kind of a grumpy cat, but I did love him. I'll never forget when Melanie brought him home, how little and sweet he was. How he'd perch on my shoulder and chase lasers and just in every way be a cat. Towards the end it was hard to have him. But I think about the beginning too, and miss that little kitty. I believe that when this life is over, all of the good things of life will be there in their pure form. And I believe Spooky will be there, and I look forward to holding him again.
Tomorrow the movers come to take away our stuff. The house we left today will never be the same...someone else will be the new owners. They'll make it their own, paint it their colors, make it their own. And they should, it's their right.
But me, I'll always remember it as the house that we built. It has all of us in it...everything about that house reflects us as a family.
Homes aren't just walls and roofs - it was a reflection of us. It was humble, but pretty. It was perfectly practical! It was always better than you expected. And it was comfortable and nice. Kinda like us Kennedys! Not the showiest, or flashiest, but consistent, reliable, practical and pretty. It was a great place to live.
I'll never ever forget playing with Abby and Maddie downstairs. You could be perfectly content and comfortable sitting on the floor - something I've always wanted (wink wink). And because the room was long and wide, you could play till your hearts content. We played Space Ship (think blankets, pillows, swords, and a doctor bag in case you got bit by a big spider). We played Treasure Maps (homemade of course...and with me playing several parts like Peter Pan and Captain Hook at the same time). We played soccer. And we made up games (like the one where I'd throw the huge exercise ball at them down the hallway at the girls. If it hit the door I got a point; if they stopped it they'd get one. It was a funny little game for funny little girls).
Outside living was nice too. I loved watching Abby and Maddie play next door with their little friend Sydney. They'd just walk over and play...easy peasy Japanesey as Abby would say.
I loved watching Melanie take such excellent care of the yard. She cared for every bed, weeded faithfully, planted trees, flowers, and shrubs that she thought would make it pretty. And it was beautiful thanks to her.
I'll even miss weedwacking. Only after five years did I learn how to do it so that it didn't wack the crap out of the grass. It's easy, I learned. Just a little pressure will cut it - no need to go full throttle when just a little did the trick.
I taught Abby to ride a bike out on that perfectly level sidewalk. I always wanted a sidewalk that was level when I was a kid. The only place I could ever ride my bike was on the scary Stony Creek road - not kid friendly at all! So I was thrilled to have that perfect sidewalk for my kids where I could teach them to safely ride their bikes. I'll never forget (thanks to the videos) watching her learn, then go go go.
There are too many memories to list. But that house was a tremendous blessing to our family, was the place where little Maddie grew up, and where we blossomed as a family. We will miss it. But he future is bright, and there are other happy times coming for the Kennedys.
So I think I'll end where I began. Onward and upward.
That's the kind of mood I'm in today. It's been a weekend of sorrows for our family. First, we had to put Spooky to sleep. We couldn't bring Spooky with us, Abby's so allergic to him, and I couldn't find a home for him. So it came to that. I loved Spooky. Sure, he wasn't nice to the girls, and yes, he was kind of a grumpy cat, but I did love him. I'll never forget when Melanie brought him home, how little and sweet he was. How he'd perch on my shoulder and chase lasers and just in every way be a cat. Towards the end it was hard to have him. But I think about the beginning too, and miss that little kitty. I believe that when this life is over, all of the good things of life will be there in their pure form. And I believe Spooky will be there, and I look forward to holding him again.
Tomorrow the movers come to take away our stuff. The house we left today will never be the same...someone else will be the new owners. They'll make it their own, paint it their colors, make it their own. And they should, it's their right.
But me, I'll always remember it as the house that we built. It has all of us in it...everything about that house reflects us as a family.
Homes aren't just walls and roofs - it was a reflection of us. It was humble, but pretty. It was perfectly practical! It was always better than you expected. And it was comfortable and nice. Kinda like us Kennedys! Not the showiest, or flashiest, but consistent, reliable, practical and pretty. It was a great place to live.
I'll never ever forget playing with Abby and Maddie downstairs. You could be perfectly content and comfortable sitting on the floor - something I've always wanted (wink wink). And because the room was long and wide, you could play till your hearts content. We played Space Ship (think blankets, pillows, swords, and a doctor bag in case you got bit by a big spider). We played Treasure Maps (homemade of course...and with me playing several parts like Peter Pan and Captain Hook at the same time). We played soccer. And we made up games (like the one where I'd throw the huge exercise ball at them down the hallway at the girls. If it hit the door I got a point; if they stopped it they'd get one. It was a funny little game for funny little girls).
Outside living was nice too. I loved watching Abby and Maddie play next door with their little friend Sydney. They'd just walk over and play...easy peasy Japanesey as Abby would say.
I loved watching Melanie take such excellent care of the yard. She cared for every bed, weeded faithfully, planted trees, flowers, and shrubs that she thought would make it pretty. And it was beautiful thanks to her.
I'll even miss weedwacking. Only after five years did I learn how to do it so that it didn't wack the crap out of the grass. It's easy, I learned. Just a little pressure will cut it - no need to go full throttle when just a little did the trick.
I taught Abby to ride a bike out on that perfectly level sidewalk. I always wanted a sidewalk that was level when I was a kid. The only place I could ever ride my bike was on the scary Stony Creek road - not kid friendly at all! So I was thrilled to have that perfect sidewalk for my kids where I could teach them to safely ride their bikes. I'll never forget (thanks to the videos) watching her learn, then go go go.
There are too many memories to list. But that house was a tremendous blessing to our family, was the place where little Maddie grew up, and where we blossomed as a family. We will miss it. But he future is bright, and there are other happy times coming for the Kennedys.
So I think I'll end where I began. Onward and upward.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Open letter to my bros and sisters...
For some reason I really long to be with my brothers and sisters doing stuff like when we were kids, like:
I'd love to go to Bill Knapps and have dinner together. We could all look at those kids meals...the old ones, the lion, the tiger, the chicken. We could share bean soup and share a chocolate cake for dessert.
I'd love to ride home together after church, a ridiculous sight of all 8 of us crunched into that small Ford Escort. We'd all make fun of other people's funny church faces, recognizing that we were as grungy and backwards as we absolutely looked.
I'd love to go to a Stake dance with John, Mike, Jake, or Nate. We could do an award-winning lip synch, or flirt with the ladies. No one stood out like the Kennedys...in a good way.
I'd love to fight over a place to sit in front of the TV. I'd love to hear Mom say "Allah", her magical power that saved our seats so we could go to the bathroom.
I'd love love love to go to bed upstairs together as a family. I'd love to hear the stories, hear the songs, talk, make jokes, and slowly fade to sleep together.
I'd love to play G.I. Joe with Nate or Jake. I'd love to be Snake Eyes one more time. When I hold the figure in my hands as an adult, I know exactly what he can and should do. And I would love that feeling of escapism and creativity.
I'd love to sit around and hear a newly returned missionary (insert any ones name here) tell us about their mission. I'd love to see what gifts they brought us. I'd love to hear strong, powerful testimonies.
I'd love to hear Mom read a scripture or say a prayer. In those moments, rare as they might be, I felt the spirit and knew that she knew it was all true.
Those are some of the things I'd miss. I miss the sweet bond of having brothers and sisters who fight and argue but who also love each other deeply and sweetly. I'm lucky to have had that...and I miss it tonight.
I'd love to go to Bill Knapps and have dinner together. We could all look at those kids meals...the old ones, the lion, the tiger, the chicken. We could share bean soup and share a chocolate cake for dessert.
I'd love to ride home together after church, a ridiculous sight of all 8 of us crunched into that small Ford Escort. We'd all make fun of other people's funny church faces, recognizing that we were as grungy and backwards as we absolutely looked.
I'd love to go to a Stake dance with John, Mike, Jake, or Nate. We could do an award-winning lip synch, or flirt with the ladies. No one stood out like the Kennedys...in a good way.
I'd love to fight over a place to sit in front of the TV. I'd love to hear Mom say "Allah", her magical power that saved our seats so we could go to the bathroom.
I'd love love love to go to bed upstairs together as a family. I'd love to hear the stories, hear the songs, talk, make jokes, and slowly fade to sleep together.
I'd love to play G.I. Joe with Nate or Jake. I'd love to be Snake Eyes one more time. When I hold the figure in my hands as an adult, I know exactly what he can and should do. And I would love that feeling of escapism and creativity.
I'd love to sit around and hear a newly returned missionary (insert any ones name here) tell us about their mission. I'd love to see what gifts they brought us. I'd love to hear strong, powerful testimonies.
I'd love to hear Mom read a scripture or say a prayer. In those moments, rare as they might be, I felt the spirit and knew that she knew it was all true.
Those are some of the things I'd miss. I miss the sweet bond of having brothers and sisters who fight and argue but who also love each other deeply and sweetly. I'm lucky to have had that...and I miss it tonight.
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