quiet house

“NONNY” AND GRANDPA SAID GOOD-BYE TO OUR OTHER VANCOUVER FAMILY EARLY THIS MORNING. THEY HAVE A LONG DRIVE AHEAD OF THEM. 

ON OUR VERY LAST DAY TOGETHER WE LOOKED OUTSIDE AND OUR KIDDIE POOL WAS DEFLATING. FUNNY. IT LASTED EXACTLY ENOUGH TIME FOR 4 WEEKS OF GRANDCHILDREN TO ENJOY ITS USE.

THE UPSTAIRS AREA OF OUR HOME IS ONCE AGAIN BACK TO ‘GRANDPARENT PERFECTION’ ….TOYS PACKED UP FOR NOW,  BREAKABLE DECORATIONS RETURNED, KITCHEN PLAY TABLE PUT AWAY AND HOUSE DUSTED.

(THE BASEMENT JUST THE OPPOSITE …THE ONE SIDE OF OUR HOME CLEARED OUT TO MAKE WAY FOR FLOOD DAMAGE REPAIR IN THE FORM OF NEW SUMP PUMP INSTALLATION AND RUG REATTACHMENT.)

QUIET HOUSE.  NO SOUNDS OF CHILDREN GIGGLING, JUMPING, OR TINY FEET POUNDING A PATH TO THE BACKYARD. 

NO SOUNDS OF PARENTS SOFTLY READING, OF BABIES GURGLING , OR TIMERS DINGING TO SAY THAT FRESHLY MADE SOURDOUGH IS READY TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE OVEN. (THANK YOU TO OUR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.)

A ROCKING HORSE SITS STILL , STARTING TO MARK TIME UNTIL THE NEXT VISIT. 

THERE HAS BEEN LOVE IN THIS HOUSE.  THERE STILL IS. 

NONNY AND GRANDPA AREN’T USED TO THE CONSTANT ACTIVITY.  OLD BONES TELL THE STORY OF A FEW MORE ACHES AND PAINS FOR NONNY AND EXHAUSTION FOR BOTH.

BUT OLD EYES WELL WITH TEARS WHEN THINKING ABOUT THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR OUR FAMILY : OUR SON, HIS BRIDE, THEIR THREE SONS… OUR GRANDCHILDREN.

IT HAS BEEN A BUSY MONTH OF SUMMER VISITS WITH ALL OF OUR GRANDSONS AND THEIR PARENTS. LAUGHTER, PROJECTS, ADVENTURES, CUDDLES, POOL PLAY, GOOD FOOD, BOOKS, AND EVEN OLD HOME MOVIES TO WATCH ADDED TO THE JOY. 

THIS QUIET HOUSE HAS ITS STORIES.  IT WILL REMEMBER THIS BUSY TIME.  AND IT WILL HELP US HOLD ON TO THE MEMORIES UNTIL WE MEET UP AGAIN. WILL COVID KEEP ALL OF US APART THIS CHRISTMAS?  IT MIGHT.  AND WE TRY TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT OUR WHOLE FAMILY TOGETHER. 

THESE EMPTY ARMS HELD LITTLE ONES THIS SUMMER. SO OUR HEARTS ARE FULL…

…IN THIS QUIET HOUSE.