If Only

If only my life were filled like this all the time, overflowing with people I love.

See those socks I'm wearing? My Stacy gave me those socks, and I wore them when Hallie was born, and I wore them when Hanna was born. I think it's safe to say that they are my favorite socks.
If I could have one wish it would be to pack my life with the people I love, all the time.  I would bring in all grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, my brothers and their lovely, beautiful wives, my sister and her (some complimentary adjective) husband, and of course, my friends.   I'd want friends from all parts of my life, those ones whose faces are a little blurry from having only seen them once or twice in the past decade, but whose names are like warm blankets, the memory of knowing that you were loved for the first time outside of your family. 

When I was in fourth grade, and preparing to move again, I used to dream of a neighborhood full of the people I had known and loved up to that point in my life.  I've since had this discussion with other friends of mine, how nice it would be to just congregate all in one place the people you hold dear and live out your lives feeling safe and secure.

And I truly can't believe it has taken me this long to figure it out, but it just now occurs to me that this is the appeal of heaven.  And while I hope I have another strong sixty, seventy years down here, I'm happy knowing that someday this vision of mine will come true.

 And, for no other reason than that it is just so funny, this is my niece Jill "closing her eyes."  I'm not kidding. She thinks her eyes are closed. It makes me laugh every single time. It really never gets old.  Never.
And this is Hallie, trying to mimic a face I had made earlier.  Also never gets old.  My sister told her this is what she should do if a boy tries to kiss her. Yikes.

Comments

  1. BobbokyMarch 16, 2011 at 3:16 PM

    love this post... I have had the same dream too Amy, though a bit less ambitious in scale.

    ReplyDelete
  2. momroseMarch 16, 2011 at 4:46 PM

    Such a blessing! To be surrounded by those we love, family and friends alike. It seems the daily challenge for me is to appreciate the ones who are always around, like husbands and children, home and visiting teachers, neighbors, etc. Even those darling Cub Scouts, which is where I am off too right now!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMarch 16, 2011 at 6:17 PM

    Love this post too!! Very well said. Also... love the couch!! :) Want to skype tomorrow?
    ~Crunchers~

    ReplyDelete
  4. AlisonMarch 16, 2011 at 7:16 PM

    So funny. I decided when i moved to Texas that if i had one wish from a genie it would be this very thing. That all the people i love could be close by all the time. I sure hope heaven will be like that. good thought. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. RigelMarch 17, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    I felt that way on Saturday, I loved hanging out with some of my family and friends and wished the rest of them would be here too! Enjoy your time with your sister and her kids! I love it when I get to see my sister!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Carrie WoodMarch 18, 2011 at 2:25 PM

    Such nice thoughts - I am excited for heaven like that, too!

    ReplyDelete

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