The mail man

When I was 19 and lived in Mankato, my address was still Box 455, Arlington, Mn. 55307.  My dad took care of getting the mail and he would save mine for when I came home.  There was a time when parking in Mankato was a tuff deal.  I parked in a no parking zone, everyone said "don't worry about the parking tickets in Mankato, they never follow through with them".  Well, they started following up on the parking tickets and sent my "bill" to Box 455!  I'll be if the big guy didn't open it, wondering what in the world his favorite daughter was getting from the Brown County Sherriff's department.  When I got home, he handed it to me and told me to "get it paid before my mother saw it".  I paid the bill, probably the most expensive parking I have ever had!
When I grew up and we got our own mail in Arlington...
we kept Box 455.
I remember after we moved to 407 West Baker, it was one of the things my dad always did for us.
He would take his daily trip to the post office,
talk to everyone that was there...
and pick up the mail.
He would hand deliver it to our house.  Often times he would bring Twinkies or an ice cream treat for the kids, and sense he tended to deliver these things when the kids were home, he would need to sit down with them and have a treat also.
I remember very well the last hand delivered mail.
It was cold outside and he had dropped it off and was leaving before I came up from the basement.  I ran out after him and he was standing by his car, he had the door open and I stood on the porch...
"hey, dad, thanks for the mail!  How are you feeling did you get to the Dr.?"
"I'm feeling better"
"Well, I hope so as I want you around for a long while yet"
he told me
"I'm not going anywhere!"
Soon it was Thanksgiving.
We spent that with many of dad family members at Rhonda and Dungs in the cities.
Much love was shared, and thanks given.
My dad continued to not feel well and his heart that was damaged at age 35, gave out on him at age 60.
I miss him like mad sometimes...
I wonder if there is mailmen in Heaven?

Dancin'

There is something about this picture that sets my heart to dancin'.
The soft echo of love providing the music.
As the melody takes over my soul and my rib cage can no longer hold the feet of my heart.
It opens up to the world of son in laws and grandchildren...
all the stuff I only thought about when my 3 girls were this age.
The wind silently takes all that is within me and spreads it over the dance floor.

Blessed

Brother bear the blesser...
making sure his little sister and cousin are feeling blessed!!

Dreamin'

On October 9th mom, lucy, and Jeff came to where I work.  I left early and we headed up Hiway 10 East to Blaine.  We plan on going to a party together and then spending the night with our middle baby girl.  As I am dreaming with my eyes open...
little Cassandra Grace sits on my lap, reaching her fingers into my mouth and showing me her toys.  She has no words yet to explain what she is feeling, but, when I set some sunglasses on her face that match her vivid blue outfit...
tears form and she makes the saddest sound -
I immediately take them off and tell her sweetly that gramma will NEVER put those on her again.  Her daddy assures her and finishing getting her dressed in her Sunday best...
off we go, all of us.
There is dancing and games, food and drinks.
There is a spirit of love as they move around the floor.
The DJ clearly loves this crowd...
they are so easy to please and they dance, their not so perfect bodies moving to the sound of the music. 
As I look around I do not see one sad face...
especially now that momma has her baby (no sunglasses).
Their eyes are open
as they dream of future dances and a place where all people come together in perfect harmony.
Wheelchairs move to the rhythm as another takes his red tie off and shows you how to move.
And I dream of the things they will do when they reach that place beyond physical and mental disabilities. 
Maybe it will be me who polishes the dance floor of Heaven for them?
When I close my eyes that night
I hear her breathing soft baby breaths
And I am thankful to be alive
I am thankful to be with people who can dream with their eyes open.

This story is a figment of my imagination - the story I dreamed up with my eyes open!

photo shoot

I think that the photographer caught exactly - behind the lens...
the emotions of a baby girl...
dressing her in a vivid blue, headband to match -
now snap and you have forever on film a smile,
a look of anticipation,
and the feeling of frustration as you look to your momma for an answer.

lavender fields

Momma hears her coughing during the night.
She gets out her "thieves oil" and some lavender and goes to get the little package from the crib.
Laying her little body out close to her on the bed, she rubs oil into her feet...
onto her back, her neck and arms...
momma is giving her little girl a massage (or a "rubsage" as Nola calls it).
Nola lays back and closes her eyes...
"oh momma, this is so alaxing!  I am getting so alaxed!  I think maybe it would be nice if I could lay down with you now and sleep, what do you think mom?"
Well,
what can momma say?
The little lavender smelling girl that is totally alaxed...
lays down by her momma -
smiling -
curls wrapping around her little cherub face.
They both close their eyes dreaming ...
the beauty of a lavender field,
laying beside you
alaxing
on a beautiful fall night in Minnesota.

two teeth!

It seems impossible when I try to wrap my mind around the fact that our baby Cassie Grace is already 8 months old!  She spent her 7 month birthday at our house...
then two weeks later came again!
Us moms all had movie night while the babies slept...
Nola Jean here with papa.
Cassie Grace at grandma Dorius's with us.
The movie was a netflix, grandma picked it out with love.
Popcorn and wine.
Now it seems the baby is having trouble sleeping the week past our house...
what could it be?
Up every couple of hours needing momma to sooth her.
She wakes up on the eve of her 8th month birthday...
and you can feel it with the pads of your pointer finger,
a little tooth has popped through the swollen gums...
white and perfect with another one right behind coming in second!
2 teeth for your 8th month birthday little angel -
may Jesus hold you close in the palm of His hand as you sleep through the night...
rolling on to your tummy and dreaming of all the years ahead.

I gotta wait a whole month yet for these teeth!!??