{a little treasure}

Today, on the way home with the boys, I took an unplanned detour to "The Mountain";

my grandpa's old farm homestead.  The house has collapsed but I was so hoping

I could at least salvage a good window frame to bring to my home. 

No such luck.  I spied a door in an area that was still standing but way too 

dangerous to ever attempt to remove without the house collasping around it. 

I will admit, I was suddenly very saddened that I wouldn't get to walk away with 

a piece of this house. A huge history to most of our family. 

  A home that housed a family of 6 children  through

some very lean, very difficult and very joyous times. 

If only those walls could talk.

Then I spotted my jar.  Cast aside at the back of the house were several

old bottles and jars.  So, I claimed my prize and was immediately overwhelmed.

Such a simple, simple thing, but one that was instantly very special to me.

You could not pry it out of my hands in exchange for the prettiest vase in the world.

As it sat in the kitchen a bit ago in all of his dusty glory,  Noah asked me what

I thought had been in it.  Well, I knew my grandpa very well.  So, that jar

had housed something that sprouted from the seeds he planted in the garden plot

I stood near today.  He had weeded and watered and harvested.   Then, he or a

family member had canned whatever fruit or vegetable they had washed and prepared.

And,  at some point it was opened and prepared for dinner.  I'd like to imagine

that they ate a family meal together in that kitchen that sat on a creaky, creaky floor. 

Or, he may have eaten it alone years later.   While sitting in his chair by the door

either looking out the window or watching Andy Griffith on his fuzzy black and

white television.  And, maybe, just maybe it held something that as I little girl

I helped him with in the garden.   I like that thought.

That jar absolutely captivates me.  A treasure I didn't expect to find! 

and, then... the tears became happy.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 12:34  

{the mountain}

I am literally running in circles right now.  Have so much to do, so many places to be and feel as though I am spinning my wheels.  After dropping the boys off, I needed to drop my things back off at storage that I had used for the bridal fest.  But, I've seemed to have hurt my back again and to avoid the last fiasco with it, made Scott go with me as I've placed myself on lifting restrictions. ;)  I can do that.  I am the family doctor afterall.  ha!

Well, we took a detour on the way home even though I did not have a minute to spare.  It was so needed and more than worth it.  I went to the Mountain which is also known as my grandpa's farm.  I usually stop by about once every six months as it is painfully bittersweet.  He grew up there as a little boy.  I grew up playing there and spending the night up until the homestead itself got so unsafe we made him move closer to us.  I was immediately in tears.  Everything has pretty much fallen over or completely deteriorated.  I walked through his huge garden plot that is still surrounded by the fence I remember so well.  The smokehouses are in heaps on the ground.  The well is actually perfect, just overgrown.  The house, only a small area is standing upright.    A lifetime of memories will always be there, even though he is not. 

It just broke my heart, but was so peaceful at the same time.  If that makes any sense at all?  However, I have big plans.  It will involve the remains that stand, my boys and my camera.  The last time I was there with a camera was with Grandpa, my mom, aunts and uncles.  It was two days before he went into the hospital.  There is no other place on earth he would have rather spent that time, I am positive.    So, although it is painful, his smile that day is definitely what I remember.   I miss you terribly sweet, sweet Grandpa!