Happy 95th Birthday, Grandpa

In Honor of My Grandpa, Jerome J. Einck

On His 95^th Birthday

June 6, 2014

As our country honors veterans

Each year on June the 6th,

I raise my flag to a special man

Who has my heart transfixed.

With many men in '44

He took the beach by storm.

Defending his country with all that he had

On the day that he was born.

He turned 25 on the beach that day.

He left his mark on the world.

As a very, young man with a long life ahead,

The war around him unfurled.

At night, so I hear, by candlelight,

He wrote letters to Grandma back home.

While holding her photograph close to his heart,

He signed them "with my love, Jerome."

After the war, with my Grandmother's hand,

He lived his life with ambition.

Farming and working and building a life

And watching it come to fruition.

With a gentle hand and a tender heart,

Along with discipline,

He raised four daughters (one was my mom).

His love was genuine.

The man that I know, is much more than that -

I know him as "Grandpa Einck".

He's a man who is humble (and likes to play "Tic")

And is very gentleman-like.

I find I relate to some of his ways

As I aim to fill his shoes -

With his quiet disposition

And his love for all things blue.

As time goes on his family, now

Spreads generations - four!

With grandkids – eight, great grandkids – twelve,

And someday maybe more.

My hope is that our family

Can fulfill his legacy -

To each be the type of person

That my Grandpa is to me!

Autumn Miracles 10/10/2010

Any ordinary autumn day tends to fill my heart with emotion and has the potential to bring tears to my eyes simply with the colors of the trees, the crisp smelling air, and the tenderness of knowing that summer has ended and winter is on its’ way.  I am one who has always seen the miracles in the simple things – an autumn day such as this and any moment spent with family.  However, in 2010, my spirit was severely tested as I searched for miracles of the dramatic kind to heal my brother, Adam, who was stricken with cancer at a very young age.  In previous years, my prayers had consisted only of countless displays of gratitude, wanting to show my appreciation, but not wanting to waste God’s time on trivial desires.  In 2010, my prayers turned desperate, and I continuously begged God for a miracle cure for Adam.  If anyone deserved it, I know he did!  At times throughout that year, I thought for sure God was answering my prayers; but by October, it became evident that He had other plans as we came to realize that Adam had little time left to live.    

Still my search for the miracles continued.  They were there as always in the simple things – time spent together, words expressed, positive attitudes, glimpses of hope, peace and grace, and in all the hugs that we shared.  One particular day, the calendar read "10/10/10". Somehow the date itself seemed a bit of a miracle.   That day we experienced heartfelt family moments on one of the most gorgeous autumn days I could imagine, as autumn leaves reluctantly let go of the trees they had been clinging to all season, the warm summer air timidly turned cooler, and the days grew shorter with each turn of the globe.

It was a joyful day in some regards.  My whole family was there – both my brothers (Adam and Rob), my mother and step-father, my husband and children, my future sister-in-law, aging grandparents, and even my father, in spirit.  My baby brother, Rob, was embarking on the happiest moment of his life as he was marrying his soul mate.  Countless hours had been spent planning an extravagant wedding celebration near their home in Arizona for the end of October.  We had expected to have our entire family present in Arizona and Rob continued to dream of having his older brother beside him as his best man.  Plans were made throughout a year that consisted of one emotional roller coaster after another, with Rob and his fiancé making several trips home to be at Adam’s side to support him during his illness. 

When October drew near, it became evident that Adam would not be physically able to make the long trip to Arizona despite his strong desire to do so.   My youngest brother insisted there could never be a replacement for his “best man” and was persistent in wanting Adam to be with him on his wedding day.  So he and his soon-to-be-wife hurried to make the trip home once again suddenly making plans to say their vows back home so Adam could attend.  My mother worked quickly to help them plan a private, family ceremony.  The setting for the ceremony was the deck in my brother’s back yard with a special family priest officiating.  My daughter scattered rose petals, my son shared a reading and we all watched and listened as the couple exchanged vows and their marriage was blessed.  Adam was there by Rob’s side with dignity and loyalty despite his pain and discomfort, never uttering a negative word. We were all filled with so many mixed emotions that the flood gates of our hearts were bursting at the seams and we couldn't bear to open our hearts too widely.  We put up shields in the form of forced smiles, and our tears were held back with each shortened breath.

   

 Adam’s special friend shared her talents in song and her words tugged at my heartstrings as she sang of green trees, red roses too, the colors of rainbows, and skies of blue.  While unity rituals were shared between my brother and his wife, the lyrics rang out amid the melodies.  Tiny miracles danced along with each word as she sang “… and I think to myself, what a wonderful world…”

Typically, I am one to experience every moment, inhaling the miracles, basking in the simple things and soaking up the emotion found in every detail.  But that day I couldn't allow myself to dive in for fear I would drown.  I could only wade shallowly along the shore of my emotions, timidly gathering the details like fragile sea shells allowing only glimpses to touch my heart, careful not to shatter each one.  I tucked each detail deep inside my heart with the hope that someday I could set them free to be seen as the miracles they were meant to be.      

If I learned anything that day (or that year for that matter) it was the power of a positive attitude, the value of experiencing each present moment, and the importance of letting our loved ones know how much we love them.  I was proud of both my brothers that day, as they touched me with their heartfelt words, strength of character and stories that only a sister could understand.  I felt a deep respect for my mother for all that she had to endure.  I was honored that my grandparents were able to attend and grateful for the comfort that Father Krapfl’s voice always offered.  We shared hugs that we hoped would say "I love you" in a way that could suffice an eternity and embraces that we prayed would take away the pain, fear and even illness if they could.  We did share a few laughs, some real smiles and even glasses of champagne.  We didn’t take many pictures for a variety of reasons.  We later learned that we didn’t need them anyway, for it was a day that will be engraved in each of our hearts for all eternity…    

Today, as years have passed and spring has sprung, I head out on a walk as I often love to do.  I still can't help but wonder why things are the way they are.  We may never understand why God did not give us the miracle we so desired.  I guess some things are just meant to be, and sometimes the miracles we pray for are not the miracles we are supposed to receive.  But as the memories and emotions of that day make their way to the surface of my heart, I am grateful for that simple, miraculous October day.   As he often does in recent years, my favorite butterfly eagerly nudges me on my path, luring my attention to the miracles of the simple things. I notice green trees, the soft sounds of nature and red roses too.   As he flutters off into the blue sky, I smile a truly joyful smile and think to myself, "Although I will always miss my brother, I've got joy in my heart once again, and it truly is a wonderful world!”

What Will You Remember?

Whew!!  The year started out in a rush as always.  Like many of you, I could probably write a novel on how busy our schedules can be.  Unfortunately, it seems to be the chronic state of the world these days. 

In January, with our 2014 calendar freshly hung on the wall, it was back to work and school and the fast pace of life for our family.  Suddenly, we were thrust back into the rat race of running to sporting events and practices, dance classes, appointments, workouts, the grocery store, etc.  Meanwhile, we managed to find time for homework, household chores, “to-do” lists, vacation plans, and some family time, as we skidded through the first couple months of the year on an iceberg of cold weather.  Now, as March is upon us, dangling spring from melting icicles just beyond our reach, the schedules of the Kleve family have slowed to a more manageable pace (for now.) 

Lately, we have been finding ourselves home shortly after school and work let out.  Family suppers are once again on the menu most nights and family games of pool can be found on most evening agendas.  Although the homework and household chores still remain, we have found a little time to sit back and appreciate the simple things in life once again.  As I ponder tonight's supper menu, I realize I have not written a blog post since early January.  As my breathing slows, my muscles relax, and my heart fills with the memory of a recent weekend filled with good old fashioned family time, I realize how much I appreciate this slower pace ...

It is during these calmer times that we find more quality in every moment.  For argument's sake, busy people often refer to the fact that it is not the quantity of time a family spends together, it is the quality of that time.  Well, in reality, when we are so caught up in being busy and running from here to there, we aren't in the correct state of mind to appreciate those quality moments whether they are few or many.  It is during the slower moments, that we make memories out of random, common things – a silly comment, goofy reaction, lyrics sung incorrectly or a bit off key, the outcome of a game, a story told, plans made, and moments of laughter or tears.  As my family and I have found more of these moments, our stressed-out minds have been calmed, and the babies I once knew are peaking out of the teenage bodies they have grown into. 

Often, I have found, that people use busy-ness as a crutch, an excuse to escape from problems or tasks they don't want to face.  Once in a while, this can be healthy - if we are waiting for something such as results from a doctor or other important news - something we can't do anything about but wait.  It is helpful to keep busy in these moments in order to pass the time.  But yet other times, people may dive into the next big task rather than face a personal problem that could be fixed.  Some people may also use busy-ness as simple procrastination.  If they sweep the kitchen floor five more times, they will legitimately not have time to tackle that larger, more important task they have been putting off.  Some people may stay at the office so they don't have to notice that their son is not finishing his homework, their daughter has been staying out too late, or their spouse hasn't reached for their hand in months.  It would be a shame to find ourselves five years down the road, looking back at a blur of memories of shouting matches as we rushed out the door, buzzing alarm clocks, waving hello or goodbye as we meet in the driveway or on the road, eating on the fly, and passing in the night.  Sometimes (in fact frequently) we need to take a step back from our busy tasks and let life take us in - let our hearts fill up with the emotions of life (both good and bad) lest someday we look back and find that we missed our own lives for the sake of the race.

Please join me today in remembering what life is all about.  Lay aside your cell phones, laptops, calendars and clocks.  Let go of your fears, excuses, and to-do lists.  Reach out to your loved ones, play a game, share a snack, watch a movie, take a walk or simply stand in the kitchen and talk.  It is in these moments that memories are made.  Take the time to experience today, breathe it all in, soak it all up, and let each fleeting moment become a memory to cherish for years to come.  

When today becomes a memory -- what will YOU (and your loved ones) remember?