The Circle of Life

A lot has happened in our family in the past 2 months. Sadly, my beautiful, creative, funny, generous, kind-hearted grandma Connie passed away of cancer on September 14th. We were so fortunate to have been able to get back to Hamiota to see her before she passed away, and even more fortunate to have had so many wonderful years of memories with her, all through our childhood and into our adult years. My mom stayed in Hamiota for a month in total, before and after she passed, while the rest of the family was able to travel both to visit her before she passed away, and then again for the funeral and to support my grandpa. At her funeral, all of her grandchildren sang "Wind Beneath My Wings" (a song that she requested) while I played the piano and Brent played guitar. The service was a beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman and a wonderful life, and we miss her dearly.

On a much happier note, the twins turned one year old last Tuesday, and we had a great little birthday party at Karyn and Nook's house. Family on both sides traveled from 4 different cities/towns to attend the party, and we had lots of opportunity to visit, eat, take pictures, and just spend quality time together. The ladies got lots of new toys for their birthday, and the older cousins had a great time opening the presents for them, since they're still too little to do it themselves. Avery and Emily, in their pointy part hats, got their own individual birthday cakes to feed themselves in their fancy helium-balloon-adorned birthday highchairs. Nook gave them both a scoop of ice cream as well, and Emily loved it, although she discovered quite quickly how cold it was when she picked it up in both hands to feed herself. Overall the Thanksgiving/"beanday" party weekend was a wonderful family-filled time where we celebrated all that we are so thankful for: health, happiness, extended family, Karyn and Nook's beautiful new home, healthy and adorable little birthday babies, and a whole lot of love.

So, in our family, it has been an emotional few months. We are continuing to heal from the loss of Connie, and we are so thankful for the years of memories we have shared. Next month will mark the one-year anniversary of Nook's youngest sister Bunzy's car accident that took her life, and I think of her often and miss her so much, especially at family gatherings like the birthday party for her twin nieces, whom she only got to know until they were 6 weeks old. And yet somehow, in the midst of the hurt that life deals us (however unfair it may seem whether you were 22 or 70), life also has a way of providing us with many wonderful gifts to celebrate... and sometimes they come two at a time. :o) It's kind of like the circle of life, I guess.

From the day we arrive on the planet

And blinking, step into the sun

There's more to see than can ever be seen,

More to do than can ever be done.

There's far too much to take in here,

More to find than can ever be found.

But the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky

Keeps great and small on the endless round.

It's the circle of life, and it moves us all

Through despair and hope, through faith and love

Til we find our place on the path unwinding

In the circle, the circle of life.