Darlings,
A week off of school and so much has happened. This fall has been full of changes: some marvelous and thrilling and some….not so much. Now that you both are in school your father and I have joined the ranks of those who must find childcare during school breaks or stay home. So my first “staycation” was born – I have not done something like this since I was on maternity leave for Bekah 2 years ago. I, of course, planned tons of activities and had plenty of ideas. You both, of course, reminded me to stop taking photos and have fun.
First we went to Nona and Papa’s for the Sukkot holiday and we went Sukkah hopping…For those readers who do not know, this is the festival that celebrates the sheltering of the Isrealites in the wilderness or more archaically, the feast of the tabernacles.The Sukkah is the shelter on constructs outside your home and take all your meals in for the week of Sukkot. (Yes, rain or shine). And Sukkah hopping is visiting neighbors, checking out their Sukkah and its decorations and collecting candy. Yes, candy. (And now my darlings, you are saying – we know all this, who is your real audience!?)
Rebekah – you ate more candy in 2 days than I have given you in your life. Of course I cannot account for what Nona does when I am not looking. We really enjoyed friends and family. It is so amazing to unplug from TV and iPads and just be with each other as a family for a few days.
Marcella – you and I went on a pirate ship and suffered the challenges of your imagination and fear…After 2 weeks of planning you did not want to go the day of. I prayed on it after I was more than indignant with you (sorry again about that) and we went up there and took a chance to see what you thought once you were actually there. You loved it and I learned (again) it cannot matter so much to me that you do or not – just that we have this time together. You also, Ella, have been a bit obsessed with cooking and so far this week have made soup, apple pie, apple sauce and many batches of lemonade. This you have done with mama, daddy and Nona as well as Aunt Danielle.
Yesterday we went apple picking at a farm – Nona and Papa came too! I took 84 pictures and finally realized I needed to stop watching you have fun and have fun with you. You both were playing in the hay stacks and I jumped in. We piled hay on my head, rolled in it, fell down on purpose an laughed until it hurt. I could see the delight in both of your eyes that I was letting my hair get messed up and laughing along with you.
In the meantime, some other changes have been occurring in the background. Changes that you both probably will not remember and that we have been careful to shelter you from. One of your papas, Papa Craig, mama’s daddy, has been getting sick. It has been happening for several months – but as in everything in life one is closest too, it is hard to see until your nose is right up against the glass. It is not sick like the convenient story line of a well choreographed film either. It is inconvenient, sad, aggravating and hard. I am telling this because I want you to know one of life’s great lessons for mama. I can plan plans but results are up to outside forces and somethings in life are difficult. Somethings make you cry and lose sleep and will even break your heart. But guess what – the Power of Hashem is that I can gush and cuddle and love you both on raining days and sunny days. We can have the best staycation ever because of the Power of G-d and His Love.
People have told me, He will provide to those that have faith. You both will have to find your own path with this. For my understanding, that does not mean so much that He will work it out in a way to my liking or not my liking. My experience has been that life is impersonal sometimes and nature will take its course. We all have a beginning and an end. But because of Hashem – the middle is filled with hay fights, pirates, candy and smiles. To me it is like the jelly in a doughnut – the apple with the honey.
I love you both to pieces,
Mama
