Family

The last month has been so full of life, of renewal, of hope that I have not known where to begin to put letter to experiences that cannot be contained in black and white… but taking a lesson from Homer in the Odyssey, I will begin where I can… right in the middle.

Tuesday my parents left in their 88 Corvette for South Dakota leaving me home alone. They had planned their vacation a year ago not knowing, of course, that I would be visiting from Guatemala. We had a week together before they left, including time with my sister and her husband—also very important. I am very glad that my parents have found this group of friends and an activity that they can do together now that they are empty nesters. It was still hard to say goodbye for all of us when they left, but they will return the evening before I fly back to Guatemala.

That same night my godparents, Bryan and Laura, invited myself, Bill and Sandy, Marvin and Margaret over for the evening. We all got together for the evening… my family on this side of the river. The original idea was to have dessert but when they found out that my parents had left, we had a delicious dinner. I was well cared for! It was so wonderful to spend some time with my aunts and uncles. They are all such phenomenal people. I am thankful that we took time to sit down around a dinning room table and share life with each other.

My living in Guatemala makes it even more apparent how much they mean to me, and this is a positive of being away, for if I was closer I could easily take for granted that I could stop by or spend my time waiting for them to stop by and see me. By living far away, I can return and just call up and see who I can catch. I went out to the farm one evening with my mom last week and was lucky to find everyone at home. The only aunt and uncle from my mom’s family that I have not been able to see is Kathy and Bob due to distance… but today I received an email! I even got to see Sandy and Greg from my dad’s family while I was visiting Maren… called up and they were able to drop what they were doing to come over. It is important to try and a true gift to reconnect.

My roots… my family has been in Northfield for generations… and my roots are very deep and very strong. Because of these roots, I am able to go and experience the world. While it is hard not be here when someone is in the hospital, or when my two youngest cousins were baptized, and I do not like missing weddings and graduations… but I know that my family cares and that they support me. A gift that is priceless.