I thought I’d done a pretty decent job of cleaning up after Carrie and her crew left Saturday, but apparently I didn’t. Early this morning I had to walk around a pink baby doll stroller filled with fake food that Emma had been pushing around on Saturday morning. I found myself chuckling as I remembered how she stopped every few minutes to pretend to gobble up some food. She also spent some time on a plastic cell phone, her animated “conversations” made even more dramatic by much gesturing. Wonder who she got that from??!
Just so no one will charge me with favoritism, I feel that little mixture of pleasure and pain as I look around and see evidence of my other recent guests as well. There’s the big stack of books that Braden and Brooke brought back to the guestroom for me to read. There are the two remaining muffins out of the 24 that Brooke helped (?) me bake for breakfast. Oh, and there are the juice glasses with yellow palm trees that I need to put away, the ones that Braden always enjoys drinking from. I haven’t made the bed upstairs yet; I kind of like looking at the still unmade sofa bed and recall the people who slept there, including baby Colton. What a precocious baby! While I left the room for 30 seconds, he somehow managed to get off of his mat and under a chair. Amazing. Before I go back to work, I’ll need to put away the four rolls of paper towels that Elizabeth left here. Sweet girl.
Yes, it was a busy, crazy weekend with two of my three children and all of the grandchildren here. It sounds a little corny perhaps, but I always feel that they leave behind some of their spirit with them when they go home. I’d like to think I have their laughter, their very breath, securely trapped within the walls of my home.
The only people missing were Amanda and Paul. Although I didn’t get to see Amanda at all, I did have the pleasure of dining with my handsome son on Friday. The Wendy’s on Assembly Street was quite a happening place that noon, and I’m glad we got to share some fries and small talk there. One particular memory I have is of an older couple who were sitting across from each other, and at one point the man reached across the table and gently dabbed a little ketchup from her chin. I commented that we all need to look after one another just like the elderly gentleman was doing, and Paul nodded.
So what’s the point of this post? Just to say that the most powerful force in the world is love and that we’re all in this together. People need people, young ones and old ones, and when you’re fortunate enough to have family and friend connections, you’re blessed indeed.
mom's musings 
I love to read about your granddarlings. I have no doubt that they love you dearly. You’re right, people need people. One of my fave Streisand songs, btw! 😉
They all look so happy!
I just got very “teary eyed” reading this! I so agree with you…have been enjoying my “special ones” all weekend…going back to Garden City tomorrow!