(Re) Living memories

Sometimes it is a smell, or a sound – and suddenly a memory comes flooding back of times long ago. A snippet of a song, the waft of a special meal can all trigger fond feelings of almost forgotten times. But to be able to share those memories in person, and to be able to live new memories in the making is a true blessing.

We enjoyed our time in Colorado with Scott’s family and our church family in both Colorado Springs and Denver. In the Springs we stayed with Scott’s brother, John, and his wife, Yumiko. A walk around the neighborhood, a quick game of basketball, good talks while preparing meals – that’s what we enjoy so much. And of course being able to see Pike’s Peak at every turn. Some things you just can’t get enough of.

We enjoyed visiting and worshipping with the congregation at Pike’s Peak avenue, seeing old friends – brothers and sisters. John took Scott on a tour of the old neighborhoods: Palmer High School, Horace Mann, and the house on Illinois. On Tuesday we got together as family at Fargo’s Pizza – a memory in itself – and met some new people, ready for new memories.

Scott’s mom was able to come over from New York to spend time with the children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. So we also got to spend a day up at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – at least until the afternoon storms and fatigue settled in. But it was a great time together – remembering and experiencing new sounds and smells for future memories.

Halfway through our Colorado time we moved up to Denver to stay with Scott’s brother, Chris, and his wife, Lynette. From this point we were able to visit good friends and christian family in Denver, including Karsten en Sandi Rog (and Kirsten, Aaron and Chelsea). So glad for very good conversations and encouragement with and from this family.

We were also blessed to see Scott’s ‘other’ brother, Bret, and spend time with he and his wife, Sarah and of course meet their newest addition, Ippi. Ippi has a radar for cameras and knows immediately if one is pointing at here – the smile brightens on her face! And what a smile, what a cutie. Bret and Scott were able to strum a few tunes and join their voices with Julie Carter as well – as in days past when a Summer Breeze blew (couldn’t resist that line).

Preaching at the congregation in Wheat Ridge meant meeting new people as well as old. We had a great visit for lunch afterwards – lots of memories. Back at Chris and Lynette;s we enjoyed good conversations in the kitchen (which felt like being home). That evening Scott’s sister, Barb, dropped in to share some time and good laughs – introducing us to crazy faces on snapchat, among other things.

All along the way we were cared for immensely: John and Yumiko, Chris and Lynette made sure that our visit was comfortable and that we were definitely loved. It is good to have a place of peace and rest. And we were so thankful to be able to spend time with Scott’s Mom in each of these places.

As we move on to the next stop – in Texas – we are so thankful for how God makes family. Fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters – it is God’s design. Sometimes things get a bit different, there are struggles, but we belong to each other. And that is how it is in God’s family as well. We are so thankful for the memories we were able to follow and for the moments we were part of. You can see some of our memories here.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.                         Philippians 4:8-9