Benny and I have been talking about what we want for our family for a long time - what values and traditions we want to carry on from our own childhoods and what things we would like to be different for our children. Obviously, these conversations are occurring more often now that there's actually a little on on the way.
Thinking of my childhood usually brings smiles - I was blessed with two wonderful parents and two awesome brothers (I didn't ALWAYS think they were awesome... that came later in life) who made life a lot of fun. Now that one of those people has chosen to no longer be a part of my life (or at least a healthy/positive part), sometimes these memories bring a few tears as well. Despite what emotions they bring, they are a part of who I am and a part of the mother/wife I will be. I could go on for days about everything I remember from my childhood, but instead I'll share something so relevant to today .. Sundays.
I remember Sundays growing up in two different ways - Football Sundays and Spring Sundays.
Fall Sundays meant waking up to dad on the couch with a cup of coffee in his favorite Bears shirt watching ESPN pregame shows. Mom would either be sitting on the couch with her bible, out in the garden, or putting the roast in the oven. I don't remember many Sundays we didn't have roast, carrots, and potatoes. We'd all hover around the TV for the BIG game - the Chicago Bears and whoever they were playing. When I was younger, I'd play with my mom's hair coming up with all sorts of new styles for her and sometimes even beg her to leave it that way. I always sat in the same oversized chair with her because we were both little enough to squeeze in. Sometimes we'd get bored of the game and go to Hy-Vee grocery shopping. To this day, I still miss grocery shopping with my mom - it was one of my favorite things to do. I think too often we only remember the BIG things, but it's really those little memories that mean the most. Sometime in the afternoon, my dad and his friends would have a big football game in our yard. It was the PERFECT yard for playing football. All the kids would run around the house doing whatever kids do or chase each other around the yard. I sure do miss that farm!
Sundays in the Spring were a little bit different... My parents weren't big church goers when I was growing up. As I went off to college, they became very involved with their church and bible study, but I usually had to convince them to go when I was younger. What I do remember about church Sundays was dad putting on a button up shirt (the only one he owned that wasn't HyVee white) and combing back his hair after he got back from doing a few things at work. Mom would get all dressed up, do her makeup and curl her hair. We'd head to church and then afterward we'd all pile in the van and head to Creston. The whole way we would listen to Casey Kasem's Top 40 on the radio - Jake would bring his headphones so he didn't have to listen, but he'd turn them up so loud that I'd complain to mom that I could only hear his music. Of course, I always won because I was the baby. We'd enjoy a meal at Happy Chef (which I don't think is even there anymore) - I'd always have chocolate milk. We'd conclude the day walking around Walmart picking up a few miscellaneous items. If we didn't go to church, we'd often all pile in the van and head to Des Moines or Omaha and spend the day shopping.
Most importantly, I remember Sundays being about family. We weren't worried about getting things done - those could wait until Monday. This Sunday was much like those I remember from my childhood. We got up and cooked a hearty breakfast of eggs and hashbrowns. Benny put on his button up shirt and combed his hair while I got all dressed up and curled mine. Off to church we went (where Poppy kicked/punched me through the entire service) and then it was to Walmart for him to get a haircut and me to pick up a few random things. We came home to the aroma of roast in the crockpot - my mouth was watering already. I made a pan of brownies, ate half the pan of brownies, and beat Benny in a few games of Ping Pong. We'll probably spend the rest of the day cuddling on the couch while the snow falls outside.
I feel truly blessed to be married to someone who will not only stand over the pan of brownies and eat them with me, cut the fat off my roast, drive me safely to church in the blizzard, and hold my hand while we're praying - but someone who shares the same values in life and truly appreciates all the little things. We are so blessed and I give all the credit to the man upstairs.
P.S. I encourage you to check out the song our praise band sang at church this morning - I'm in love with it! It's called "How You Live." Happy Sunday to you all!
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