It’s been five months since my daughter, son-in-law and the two grandkids moved into their own home after a seven month stay with Jimmy and me. They’re still nearby, but it’s not the same.
There’s no happy chatter in the house anymore. There’s the usual banal stuff from the television on occasion, but that’s hardly engaging. Jimmy and I are at a point in our relationship where chatter hardly begins to describe the comfort (and sometimes banality) that comes with being able to finish one another’s sentences.
I miss Grant’s fifty questions, Grace’s little hand in mine leading me to a quiet corner for some personal play time; I even miss the occasional tears that came with sibling rivalry. It was my life on rewind, watching my daughter as a young mother and wife. It was a blessing I never expected, the gift of a lifetime. We rarely seem to truly appreciate what we have until it’s gone.
Perhaps the fleeting nature of the gift is part of the blessing. We were two families living in a single family home. Some days were crazy; most days, if truth be told. Privacy wasn’t the commodity it is now. It was a fun crazy, an adventure because it was new and bold and full of change and challenges. It was life lived to the fullest. I think that’s what I miss the most.
In that vein, today’s Fun Fotos represent some of those fun, crazy, challenging and beautiful moments that only kids can deliver. This week's Starved Rock just couldn't deliver the chuckles that kids can. Enjoy!