My family and I just spent 3 weeks back home where my
husband and I grew up in Northern Minnesota. The Iron Range. Where the mining
industry has been the main source of living for families of many generations
and everyone knows who you are in the small towns of about 3000 people. Not
much changes and you can always stop by your neighbors house unannounced, feel
welcomed everywhere you go and people rarely lock their doors. Where kids still
play outside, getting dirty till the street lights come on. Where I love
hearing, “Supper will be ready soon, go wash up and grab some pop out of the
fridge if you’re thirsty.” I used to hate my Minnesota accent so much when I
moved to California that I trained myself to stop saying words that would give
a way where I was a transplant from. I fought against the grain of my
upbringing and now I wish more than ever I still had it (the accent usually
comes back thick as molasses after a few days back home).
My husband and I try
to make it home atleast twice a year, but it can be very expensive (especially
with 2 kids.) My husband and I were apart most of the trip and spent time with our own
families after we spent the 4th of July festivities together, which is a huge celebration in our small town! Its amazing how many thousands of people come from all over the states just to experience it! My family is very spread out,
so I had a more challenging time having to travel a lot more and spending hours
driving all over the state seeing family in different areas, whereas my husband
just stayed at his parents, helping out on the farm. So, with 3 weeks,
I was able to see family I haven’t seen in about 10 years and visit everyone on
my list for a few days each, before I was on to the next house. Living out of my
suitcase in my trunk for 3 weeks isn’t what I would call relaxing at all, but
the moments I got to share with my loved ones was well worth it!
I found that even when I wasn’t having a conversation with someone,
just being in the same room with them, brought a certain sense of grounding and
centeredness. Being able to spend quality time with my best friend, filling each other in on one another's lives, laughing and reminiscing about our travels and high school stories. I was finally able to watch my 3yr.old son playing and bonding
with cousins he’s never met and growing in his relationships with his family he rarely ever gets to see. It’s something as a child I always took for
granted, to have my cousins around and we all grew up close, but as we got
older, life got busy and we all parted in different directions. I’m able to
relive those moments of my childhood through my son. Moments of sitting at the dining room table having late
night conversations over coffee (Minnesotans drink it at all times of the day/night there) about life, family, and advice. Pouring out our frustrations, sorrows and life
lessons. I learned more about my families history and was reminded over and
over again how truly important it is to stay connected to the only thing we
will ever have in this life…our families love. We will disagree, argue, bicker,
disconnect, laugh, share and get on each others nerves, but we will always love
one another and come back to each other.
I had a few moments
where I stopped and I was actually taken back and had to let the importance of
the moment that I witnessed stay fresh in my memory as long as I could. To
record it in my mind. Moments that most
wouldn’t even capture as “note-worthy”, it’s just normalcy and everyday
behavior, but to me it was rare moments of love and life long
companionship. Watching my Grandparents
serving one another with little things the other likes and kissing each other
goodnight. Listening to them reminiscing about us kids when we were younger and
laughing, completing each others day from the moment they wake up till their
day is done. Camping with them and having my Grandpa make his infamous pancakes
on the grill for all us kids! They taste the same
as when we were little kids, smothered with peanut butter and REAL maple syrup!
My Grandpas pancakes have always been something ALL of us kids look forward to,
even as adults. It’s nothing fancy, it’s just the morning ritual of all of us sitting
around the picnic tables, waiting for our turn to get breakfast. The
act of just being together and it’s like nothing ever changed from when we were
younger (except there’s a few more kids now). Also, listening to the way my Aunt
and Uncle pray together, complimenting one another and sharing in their amazing
love for God. Retelling of stories of troubled times and how they wouldn’t
still be married if it wasn’t for their complete surrender to God’s path for
each of them and their marriage and seeing the light in both their eyes as they
talk to one another, enjoying every new day and embracing the new changes that
are happening in their lives at the moment.
Being able to be there when my brother brought his son camping for the
first time ever and showing him “the ropes” on how to do everything. Instilling lessons in him that he will carry into adulthood.
I was able to spend a very special weekend at my Moms house out in the
country with my brother and sister. It was the first time in about 6 years that she had all her kids home
(plus 2 grandsons) at the same time. It was definitely a fun, busy 3 days! We
had a lot of laughs and great home cooked meals! Making S’mores watching the kids run, laugh and play the same way we did when we were little.
So many memories have been made there over the years, it’s like you just pick up where you left off, no matter how much time has gone by.
I have so many memories and special moments with people that
I will cherish from this trip. Our lives get so busy and our kids grow so fast! We forget how
important it is to make these moments a reality. We all work hard and life gets busy. It’s so easy to forget that the reason we work so hard is to
enhance our happiness and feel fulfilled. Looking at these pictures and remembering that the
effort to get there is all worth it and always remembering to create the life you love with the people you love!
-A
