We’ve safely returned to Seattle.  We were able to make it back in time from our flight yesterday to sail into church and then head home for a nap before Brenda’s birthday party. Jonathan has taken photos from everything, which I’m sure he’ll post soonish.

Here are some highlights:
Dining at the Mondovi Inn and having beer cheddar soup, complete with popcorn (why?). It was a good laugh though.
We were also able to spend a few days relaxing at a slower pace.
We got to meet Chara in person! (To be fair, Chara, you did give a pretty nice kick when prompted during your visit here for our wedding) It was really wonderful to spend time with Zach and Amy too. Sometimes I wish we had houses all over the U.S. so we could have fun nights and games with our friends as much as we wanted. I guess that would also require our own plane or helicopter. Hm.
We were able to spend a great amount of time with my family. I hadn’t seen many of them in 14 years and Jonathan had never met them, so it was really special to be there for the memorial service and to just see each other.
I got to wear flip flops. I love flip flops but I don’t like having cold feet. This means I don’t wear flip flops often around here, but I ALWAYS pack them if I’m going anywhere that may offer the slightest opportunity to put them on my feet!

We’re heading out in the morning and as I wait for my little MP3 player to load some favorites, Jonathan has been playing piano and I’m thinking of the last time we (the family) all got together. It’s sort of sad, isn’t it, that sometimes the only things that bring us together in such a radical way are funerals or weddings? We all want to be there for each other, don’t we? I can’t imagine what it would be like if I didn’t call my sister pretty much anytime I thought about something she might like or my brother when I think of something funny I just have to share. Where’s the line? When does family get to be too big and we’re not really that close anymore? I’m not sure I want to know. I certainly have friends with whom I feel close like a sister and family members that seem like strangers. In some ways I envy Jonathan this weekend. He’ll get to ask all the questions to which I should already know the answer and it won’t be awkward; it will be caring. That’s just the sort of guy he is. I’m really glad for that.

Is it weird that I’m sort of looking forward to the memorial service for Aunt Mernie? She lived a long, wonderful, full life. She had adventures. She loved BIG. She hugged so hard she cracked ribs. That’s how I want to live. I’m excited to sit in the old Central Lutheran Church, where my grandma was baptized and confirmed and grew and lived and sing the hymns we both sang growing up. Yes I will cry, but they’ll be tears of thankfulness. I’m not sure if that happens much to other people, but sometimes I’m so struck by the beauty of something or how full my heart is that I just cry. I’ll cry if we sing “In the Garden” and I’ll cry if we sing “How Great Thou Art” and I’ll really cry if we sing some others, but I’d rather cry than not. I’m ever grateful for a family who taught me to sing-sing while washing the dishes, sing while folding the laundry or weeding the vegetable garden or mowing or just about anything. Sing because it’s in your soul. Sing because life is too beautiful to have anything but a song.

And now I sound like my sister (love you, Rache) and there’s only room for one contemplative heart in this great big amazing family of mine. (By the way, I’m totally amazed by you and proud of all you’re doing right now, Rachel.)

On Thursday morning, Jonathan and I are heading out with my parents to the airport where we will board a plane headed for the midwest! We’ll be in Wisconsin for a quick trip to visit the family. Sadly, the reason for our trip is a memorial service for my grandma’s last surviving sibling. It will be bittersweet to say good-bye to Aunt Mernie and introduce them to Jonathan and show him around the farm at the same time. We’ll post more upon our return!