2022 in Review

 Another year has come to an end and here I sit reflecting on the growth and changes, revelations and joys.

It was a year of so many new things for the kiddos.  All three kids became more confident swimmers and skiers this year! Thriving in third grade, Ian is 9. Owen is enjoyng a fantastic first grade year, and Liesl is in her final year of preschool. Hard to believe these kids are all so old, so soundly comfortable in their respective classrooms and communities.

Ian LOVES the Medieval Wilderness and the campfire Dungeons & Dungeons after school activities he is involved in. He's a sound defender on the soccer field, a formidable opponent in any board or card game, and remains an avid reader. At any one time you'll likely find him with a novel from a few different series running (each with between 200 to 500 pages). Books with bookmarks, Playmobiles, Legos, and birds' eye view drawings he makes of villages and kingdoms can be found wherever he is. Still our earliest riser, he lets Leif out first thing in the morning and enjoys reading in the peace and quiet, before the rest of the house bustles and the day begins. He is a good friend and enjoys many different connections throughout his days.

Owen LOVES art and creating. It's more often than not that he gets off the bus with a new idea of something he wants to make, either something he's seen or come up with himself. And, usually, it's quite clever! He's a huge fan of Calvin & Hobbes, telling us stories of how something in our lives relates to one of the cartoons he so enjoys. He has one of the best giggles and loves a good joke! Owen played soccer this fall and enjoyed attending a few Lego clubs at the library-- something he cannot wait to start again in the new year! Scissors, paper, drawing utensils, a stuffy, the marble run, and Mad Libs or Calvin & Hobbes can often be found within his reach. He enjoys playing with many different friends and one parent told me, "We need more Owen in our life!" We feel the same-- how lucky we are to have him in our every day!" 

Liesl is exuberant and determined, strong in every sense of the word! She is somehow in her last year of preschool and very eager to get on that bus with her brothers after she turns 5 this year! She's bold and thoughtful, daring and careful, and LOVES singing along earnestly to familiar songs in the car or around the house! Anything her brothers can do is what she wants to do too-- and usually she does just that! She's usually found with her "Baby" (a bear from Mama's childhood) and loves to snuggle in bed with Mama first thing in the morning. She's definitely seeming more a kid than a little one, but our babe she'll always be.

Jim had the best garden we've ever had this year! The broccoli alone would have made the garden a success-- best we've ever tasted, without a doubt! This year brought a new round of bees, an expanded compost system, and an asparagus patch! He also started venturing into cocktail-making, much to the enjoyment of our family and friends :) Surfing continues to be a source of joy for him, outside of home and office. He has a great group of guys who go out together and a running text thread of laughs and life shared. 

It was a year of growth & pursuits for me too. I joined a choir that has brought song and joy into my life each week, once more! It's a group of about 150 women from all walks of life-- a source of strength and connection. I surprised myself by auditioning for & getting two solos in each of our concerts this year.  I also started hiking and checking off the 48 4k footers in New Hampshire's White Mountains this year, with two down, 46 to go (Whiteface & Osceola)! With a few dear friends, I started doing long swims in the bay this summer and now cold dips in the winter, and hopefully throughout the year. Surfing, xc skiing, baking sourdough, walks, hikes, fires, time with friends-- all brought such warmth.

Our home had some changes too, with 19 trees taken down, a new roof, and new siding on a few sides of the outside. During a recent & intense storm, we are so grateful to have had these added measures in place!

We've enjoyed many a potluck, game, ski day, beach day, many a fire, many a laugh. With everyone in our family fully vaxxed now, we are feeling more comfortable and look forward to connecting and reuniting in the coming year.

Here's to a new year of new growth and joy and navigating the path together <3

love,

Käthe

Photo taken by Ama this past week

Comfort

 A cart full of groceries, I make my way to the registers. A cashier waves me over to her empty line and I apologize for not bringing my own bags. She encourages me that it’s no problem as she  crinkles open the paper ones and double bags them. 

“Have any plans for Easter?,” she asks.

“We’re going to do an egg hunt, keep it pretty simple,” I say. There's more but I do not want to overwhelm with my answer. “What about you?”

“I’m going to go see my grandparents.”

Immediately my heart floods with a sense of comfort, “Enjoy those moments for as long as you can.” It comes out of my mouth before I can hold it in.

She nods with a gentle knowing and says that she will. She tells me about how close she is with her grandma, that they love to paint together. That her grandparents are just returning from Florida for the year, so she’s excited to see them. She just got into an art school in St. Augustine and her grandma was so thrilled that she made sure to go to the campus and take pictures for her granddaughter. She will be able to visit them on the weekends during school, while they are down South. She’s really looking forward to it.

I listened and smiled with my own gentle knowing, fading in and out of full comprehension, with a long away sense of that kind of comfort. 

My mind swirled with the feeling of being in my grandparents’ home, of hearing Grandma giggle, how she said my name, her warm welcome hugs. Walks on the trails my grandpa carved through their woods and my grandma clearing every stick that had fallen as we moved. Blueberry picking in my aunt and uncle’s field up the hill, and her unable to pass a good bush when it was time to go home. Sitting around her table with the lazy Susan in the center. Making my way through every photo album on their shelves and asking for stories about certain pictures. How she loved dirty jokes and swimming and her family.

As she spoke, the bags filled and were returned to my cart. My trance and dream-like state ended as I realized it was time to pay, “Enjoy and give your grandma an extra hug.”

Eyes wet, but not brimming. Throat tight, but not choked. I gave thanks for the connection of that moment & the shared beauty of having grandmas who give the feeling of warmth, just by thinking of them.