One more day

We were having such a great time on our beach weekend that we decided to stay another day. It's a good thing we did because we ended up leaving the beach with two new swimmers! 

R & R

What do you get when you have a girl car and a boy car, both heavy laden with all that is needed for 14 people headed for a weekend on the beach, a 10 hour road trip that begins at 3:30pm after all driving adults have put in a full day of work, and 10 kids, 13 and under? Surprisingly enough, you get the most relaxing vacation our family has had in a very, very long time. 

We packed a lot of fun into our two days. Meals were prepped assembly-line style, babies learned to boogie-board, beach gear was hauled by the young and the old, and freckles exploded on people's faces after a full day in the sun. Naps were taken in beds, on couches and even on porches. Cousins held hands and then piled into the trolley for a ride to dinner, where they shed their shoes and played in the sand until the food arrived. The attempt at a Cousin Pyramid even got some older ladies out onto the sand to try a pyramid of their own (their fancy umbrella drinks might have also had a hand in that as well). We traded dance partners to the music of our very own fiddler, took a moonlit walk on the beach and surprised jammied kids with a late night pool run. The moms kept "the Warsher" going continuously (but didn't even dream of taking it), and the dads kept the coffee flowing. 

A wise friend once taught me that there is a big difference between a vacation and a trip. Typically a vacation includes complete freedom and relaxation, while a trip is occurring any time you are traveling along with all of your normal responsibilities in tow. This adventure had all the makings of a trip. But perhaps there is another element to add to the equation and that is the one regarding expectations. When your destination finds you with schedules and appointments and must-do's, then you're probably on a trip. But Portifino welcomed us with only rest, fun and relaxation on the list. No schedule, no time table, nowhere to be except where we were. It was so restful, in fact, that we ended up staying for an extra day. Oh, and deciding to do it more often. 

Together is Best

Today marked sixteen years since that hot summer day on the beach when we made a promise to walk the rest of this life together. We began the day at a new little place here in town that we've been eagerly anticipating, and the crepes and delicious coffee at Tandem did not disappoint. Then later in the afternoon, our big kids shooed us away while they created a lovely summer bistro out on our own back porch. Not only was it such a precious surprise that they thought to celebrate our anniversary in such a big way, but I'll admit, it was pretty lovely to sit alone out on the porch and be waited on like royalty! The staff at Cunningham Burgers pulled out all the stops and their customer service was top notch. The burgers were pretty delicious, too. 

As if that weren't enough, Caroline had secretly been plotting and planning with Mary Anne to create a little family album to give to us as a gift. They sneakily got us together for a pool date, took lots of fun pictures, arranged a "last minute" visit with Caroline at their house and then showed up a week later with a custom photo book filled with all of my favorite faces. All of our kids are good gift givers and love any excuse to celebrate, but this idea was all Caroline's and I have to admit, I pretty much love the idea of her making it all happen and then telling them to cough up some cash if they wanted in on it. 

After sixteen years we understand those vows we took far better than we did on that summer day so long ago. We've seen the better and the worse. Our youthful dreaming and passion carried us into that day in 1998, but the wisdom that comes through real life, contentment that comes from a better understand of who we are and Whose we are, and a whole lot of grace is what will carry us through all the remaining years God will give us. We hope it's a lot.

Bass fishing

This catch made possible by our kind and generous neighbor, who graciously allows our kids to trek through her field, meander with her goats, and fish in her pond. To say that they're hooked on fishing would be an understatement (and a really bad pun). 

9 1/2

Since Caroline's birthday is on Christmas day and since it had been five years since she'd had a birthday party, we decided to try a half-birthday slumber party this year. It was a last-minute thing, but her favorite friends were all able to come and celebrate with her and it was a precious evening.

It was while I was MC'ing the late night dance party and observing the wild hilarity going on between these friends that I realized what a sweet gift they have in each other. These are likely to be the girls she grows up with. These will be the deep friendships that she develops and grows into and then maybe out of for a little while and then, hopefully, back into again. These are the sweet faces of wonderful girls that I'm very much looking forward to knowing as they all grow up together.

Their Shire

Tomcacs and Razings

Since we've had toddlers they have all taken their turn sitting on our bathroom counter in the mornings while Jimmy got ready for work. Caroline used to say that she loved watching daddy do his "tomcacs and razings" (or contacts and shaving). This morning it was Ben getting a little lesson on the fine art of manly grooming. He's eagerly anticipating his own future bearded days.

"naptime"

This is what happens when the five year old has outgrown his nap but his mother is behind the times. The circles? Buttons that turn them into robots, of course. 

Gracie

This precious lady is Gracie. She was celebrating her 99th birthday when this picture was taken but she looks exactly the same as she did 20 years ago when she came to my 16th birthday party and played hymns on her accordion (that's how cool I was). Yes, I took a little flack for that from my friends, but I adored Gracie and everywhere Gracie went her accordion (and her three-wheeled bicycle and her boogie board for riding the waves) went with her. Gracie is the spunkiest lady I've ever known. She overflows with life and joy, her words are always full of wisdom, she has never met a stranger (and was often reprimanded for bringing homeless people off of the beach and into her condo for a hot meal and a good night's sleep in a warm bed) and you are sure to walk away from time spent with her with a smile on your face and more love for Jesus in your heart. I haven't seen or spoken to Gracie in 13 years. I was expecting Travis at the time and it was too soon to know whether he was a boy or a girl, but she was thrilled for us and she confided that she hoped he'd be a boy because she'd had so much fun raising her own two sons. She conceded that girls were probably great too, but she knew for certain that boys were a blast so that's what she prayed for us.

Gracie is 101 years old now and in the hospital. My dad was on his way to visit her this morning when, knowing how much I've always loved her, he asked me if I'd like to talk with her once he got there. I'm embarrassed to admit that my first thought was that I wouldn't have time to make it work. I was scurrying around getting kids fed and dressed and packed up for a day out of the house and I was tempted to think that I should keep my focus on that task. Thankfully the Lord always knows what I actually need and He gives me that instead. Like the gift of this morning's phone conversation with Gracie.

If I was expecting to hear a tired, worn-out version of the old Gracie I knew and loved then I was wrong. Her voice was as full of life as it ever was. Her first sentence to me this morning was, "Judy Kay! Honey! You have FIVE boys! And even a GIRL!" And then she laughed. She said she was so happy for me that God had blessed us so greatly. She spoke a bit about motherhood and how quickly the time goes and reminded me to pray for my kids.

If I was expecting for her memory to be dull, then I was wrong on that count too. Because the next topic of conversation was in regard to a small piece of china that she had given me when I was about 15. I vaguely remembered her taking it from her china cabinet one afternoon when I was visiting with her in her condo, but my heart sank at the thought that I had absolutely no idea where in the world that special piece is right now. It sank even further when she described all the hands it had passed through in her family before it landed in my own. I'm holding out hope that Mom was a lot wiser than I was and that she put that away for me to find when I was responsible enough to know what a treasure I had.

And if I was expecting her to make me laugh? I was right on that one. I hardly talked at all during our conversation but I laughed a lot.

I knew Gracie well enough to assume that she would be nothing but totally pumped to die and meet Jesus in Heaven. I wasn't surprised to hear pure joy and delight in her voice as she said to me, "Well, I'm guessing this will be the last time I ever talk to you here on Earth!", like she was clapping her hands in anticipation of something better and waiting expectantly for it to come. The words that came next brought tears to my eyes as soon as I heard them and have continued to all day as I've thought back on our conversation. With so much earnestness in her voice, she ended our conversation by saying, "My dear, I hope you have a glorious life and I'll see you when you get up there!"

In that one sentence my busy, anxious, fretful heart that insists on worrying about this old broken-down world and all it's sadness felt 101 times lighter. Her words reminded me of the great hope that we have and of the glory that waits for those of us who trust in Jesus. Each day brings us one day closer and today Gracie reminded me to live them with joy. In fact, Gracie is a living illustration for me of one who is living out 1 Peter 3:1-9. Gracie has seen some suffering in her 101 years on this earth. But because she's confident that she was born again into a living hope, and even though she hasn't yet fully seen God's glory, she is able to "believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory." She knows what the outcome of her faith will be and she's been looking forward to it for a long time.

{A quick google search for a recent picture of her found this precious article written about her just after her 99th birthday.}

When it was determined a few months ago that our entire family would be available on the same day for a reunion I knew right then and there that July 6th would be my favorite day of the whole year. I mean, really. Look at these faces! They are every bit as dear as they appear to be in these photos. And that white-haired beauty in the middle? Any day that includes her is certain to be a good day. 

The Babington Family is a treasure that I am so grateful to have been born into. We're a messy bunch, dysfunctional just like every other family in the world. But that's a whole lot of people who love Jesus and love each other fiercely. Four generations who aren't afraid to enter into the troubles and love some more. And speaking of all that love, that's a lot of babies we've got there.