Celebrations

Sunday, May 30, 2010

It was time to celebrate Rose’s graduation. And an early Memorial Day with family.

After church, Collette drove Puck over to the house to make three dozen deviled eggs.

The family was all over for church that morning: OLeif, Collette and Puck at the early service, Carrie-Bri with Lucia, Rose at Memorial, Dad, Mom, (OLeif again), Francis, and Linnea at the second service, and Joe off someplace in Philmont probably listening to a John Piper sermon, though no organized services would be available until the Scouts began to arrive at the camp in June…

After lunch, it was the usual congregation of everyone in the living room, except for the ‘nap-ees’, in between the girls watching A Letter to Three Wives, a product of the old silver screen.

These conversations included Rose’s reiteration of Dr. Wintershine’s sermon regarding conflict in the church where he referenced the history of Memorial back to the 1860’s, which was a mixed congregation even then, and their refusal to dismiss the Southerner congregants when ordered to do so by the Northern Presbytery.

Whenever the conversation grew too boisterous, Francis started playing tornado sirens on Collette’s laptop.

Shortly after three, the grandmas arrived. Followed later by Uncle Mo, Aunt Petunia, and Uncle Larry. Linus arrived after work. And Lucia was due at seven.

Soon there followed hot dogs and brats off the grill via Dad’s handy grillwork, mac ‘n cheese from Grandma, deviled eggs by Collette, potato salad, chips, and desserts from Aunt Petunia.

Frisbee, Trooper and Mila playing together in the yard, Puck marching around in Rose’s carpet shoes which she taught him to say were his ‘snazzy shoes’, etc., and etc.

Those family gatherings had always been some of the best memories growing up.