Dancing and Leaping in the Cemetery

It all began innocently enough. My mom asked us to meet her for lunch but first, she needed to tidy up my grandparents' grave site and water the flowers hanging there. Since the cemetery is such a beautiful location, we decided to picnic in the lovely grassy area nearby. Oliver and Emily helped water the flowers and didn't mind dripping a little on themselves as it was a scorcher of a day. Of course, our conversation held memories of my precious Mama and Grampie--memories that brought happiness, in spite of the missing. However, we found more joy than we expected as we chatted in the heat that day.

Oliver had noticed that someone had set up a sprinkler over their family grave stones and we thought that was clever since we'd just traveled with jugs of water from the tap several sites away. He and Emily were sweating from running with the dog and he asked if they could dip their toes in it. No one was around to ask and we figured there was no disrespect in a little cooling off. "Just don't step on the graves themselves--please walk around them," I warned. 

Mom and I were deep in conversation, when we suddenly began to hear squeals of delight and turned toward the sight of Oliver leaping through the sprinkler in his bathing suit! For a moment I wondered how on earth he'd even brought it, but remembered we had the suit in the truck from an earlier swimming visit at a friend's the day before. Somehow, in a minute or two, he'd gotten changed and plunged into that oscillating water! We laughed so hard at that boy! Thankfully, he danced and leaped through the sites and not on them. Bravely, Emily finally joined him and then, my mom :) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting back into that truck dripping cool water instead of sticky sweat meant I drove the half an hour home with happy children. I took photos because my camera is usually with me and I remember things best visually. And this? I needed to lock this one tight in my heart's file of joyful moments. It was a reminder that although there may be sadness in the cemetery for a time, a believer truly finds their hope in the fact that their loved ones are with Jesus and will be met again one day. And for that? Fountains of glee spilling all over those grave stones--especially the one marked: "We are not here, we are with our Saviour." 

Saying Goodbye at the Edge of the World

We collected smooth, flat rocks from the beach at the edge of the world--or, at least, the edge of our country. We collected them because we brought crayons to write messages about Aunt Linda in memory of her. I received the phone call that morning that my sister-in-law had finally been taken home by God and I had no way of packing up camp quickly and driving three hours to comfort my husband and family right at that moment. Since three of my kids were with me, we decided to make a memorial right there at the tip of Canada by throwing the stones in the Lake and praying for comfort and peace for all of us who loved Linda. We knew she was made whole and healthy and full of inexpressible joy the second she entered heaven, but we were sad for those of us who were left behind to go on without her. 

We did pack up and leave a day early to be with our family but, the two days at Point Pelee on Lake Erie were memorable. We camped with my mom and step-dad, roasted marshmallows, desperately searched for any birds who were stragglers from the many flocks who'd recently migrated all over Canada after landing in that very spot only a couple weeks before. We'd postponed the trip twice and so we knew we were a little late. Nature wonders to behold everywhere anyway.

Gratitude:

1809. opportunity to travel

1810. how he still holds my hand as we walk

1811. how she trained my sisters and I to take our cameras wherever we go

1812. spotting this black-headed tern--new for me!

1813. turtles, turtles everywhere at the marsh--love them!

1814. this creepy little bird which I admire and dislike at the same time (barn swallow)

1815. for swamp sparrows

1816. the way that butterfly net amused him for hours

1817. how he'll jump into a selfie without a complaint

1818. how she must walk Mama and Papa's dog every time she sees her

1819. sleeping in the back of the truck with Molly for two nights--painful but adventurous!

1820. narrowly escaping the wrath of the red-wing blackbird (he attacked and slammed his body into my head three times before I knew what had hit me! defending his territory)

1821. loving the s'mores, avoiding the smoke

1822. how they can't wait till this time of the evening

1823. reminiscing about this one at a year and a half with sticky "washmellows" all over her

1824. how she always cooks the perfect toasty brown one for the adults before she makes her own

1825. finding a skink

1826. stretching without complaining on the very long walk

1827. how God has healed her! three years ago she had her accident and, although, still in pain, she walked all day with us on the trails

1828. how that magnifying glass opened his eyes to new things

1829. fascinated by everything

1830. how she pointed out countless things to me, then... dropped

1831. the way coming late to Pelee has its benefits... solitude... no crowds

1832. the song of the Common Yellowthroat (look it up and listen, if you get the chance)

1833. how resting still results in exploring

1834. the marsh boardwalk and how it seemed to go on forever

1835. how happy he was that he could put three new stickers in his bird book

1836. being 42 years old at the 42nd parallel :)

 

1837. knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will see my sister-in-law again

1838. tossing in our rocks and saying our earthly goodbyes at the edge of our little piece of the world

Taking The Stage

In grande finale style, our three girls demonstrated a year's worth of hard work and exhilarating joy as they took the stage at the dance recital.

waiting for her turn

hallway hair-do

tiny ballerina

She loves every minute.

something new for Molly

 

Hip-hop brings out a whole new energy!

Only stopping that smile for a second to concentrate.

glowing in her final performance

More than dancers, they are friends.

lyrical emotions

more ballet

posing with cousins after the show

Grandma comes to support her grandkiddos.

Mama watches with pride.

Oliver has his own moves.

Praising God for health and strength and opportunity to enjoy His gift of dance!