5/31/10

Remembering and Goodbye's.







Yesterday was a hard day for me.  My son Josh and his wife Dawn were driving to Southern Wisconsin to visit with her parents.  And tomorrow, they hop a plane back to Phoenix.  They generally only get one trip a year home. And although we try to get out there once or twice a year,  it's still hard to have them so far away.
With that in mind, hubby suggested a drive to get me out of the house and to chase away the blues.
I'm not sure visiting cemeteries is a sure fire way to chase away the blues, but visit we did.
The church above is one of the many country churches we stopped by yesterday.  This little church, is one his parents still attend. 



Well, we drove and drove and drove.  Dan had a general idea where this church was located but it had been a very long time since he had been there.  This church, built in 1896 is situated in the most beautiful valley.  His Mother was baptized and confirmed here.  And his Great Grandparents, who passed away long before he was born are buried here along with numerous Great Aunt's and Uncles. 





It had been a beautiful sunny day but became quite overcast once we arrived.  No one but a lone caretaker was around and the church is no longer in regular use, although they do have one service and reunion in the summer.


 

The views of the valley below are just amazing! 




A little tiny country church with roots entwined in my husbands family.




You know it's a country church when you have views of  cows' grazing below.





It's  so green right now!!  My son and wife swear that we must have painted it before they arrived!
LOL.



Such a beautiful, peaceful place.




Well then we drove and drove and drove some more.  This last little church has roots in both of our families.

My Mom and Dad attended this church for awhile and this was before Dan and I had even met.  My Dad's funeral was here and Dan's paternal grandparents, along with various aunt's and uncles are buried here as well.
My parent's lived in this area for about 5 years while they restored an older home.  Later, after Dan and I started dating we found out that two of his great uncles had built the home my parent's were then restoring.
Sometimes our lives become entwined in ways we can't even imagine. 
I still feel great sadness when I see this church.  It was a gloomy and cold March day when we buried my Dad.   
But Dan was able to find his relatives markers.  His paternal grandmother passed away when Dan's Dad, who is now 84, was just 5 years old.  Sadly, it was shortly after the birth of her 7th child.  Life may have been simpler back then, but it certainly wasn't easier.
Now I hope I didn't make you all gloomy and down feeling.  I actually enjoyed our drive and feeling the history around me.
Thanks everyone for stopping by.
I hope you are all enjoying your Memorial Day Weekend.

Cindy  


32 comments:

  1. Dear Cindy~
    What an emotional, nostaglic and dear post about your day and your loved ones. It does always feel our hearts with sadness, warmth when thinking about our relatives. Looking at old photos with my mom last September brought me to tears..reading old cards, notes and of course the photos. Precious memories and aren't we so lucky to have them?

    Always remember and never forget our heroes.

    Hugs,
    Lynn♥

    ~Let FREEDOM Ring!~

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  2. Oh Cindy, such beautiful and peaceful churches. It's funny how many of you and Dan's family members are all around you every where. You must have been in that area for a very long time. Sorry the kids are leaving. They will be home just in time for our first lll degree weather this weekend. I am so not ready. Have a super day. Hugs, Marty

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  3. Oh Cindy, I am so happy I found my way to your blog, I'll continue to follow. Your post today was wonderful. The photographs were spectacular, I happen to love old churches and the ones you posted pictures of today are the most quaint, charming and beautiful ones I have ever seen! I hope you get your spirits up soon, I know that feeling, when kids leave it's so sad, ours all live out of town too.

    Thanks for sharing your lovely trip down memory lane.

    Nancy

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  4. Why, you didn't make me feel gloomy at all. In the past few years or so, I have been visiting the cemeteries where my ancestors are buried. My grandfather and great-grandparents are buried in the family cemetery on the farm my gg started back in the 1880s, still owned by my dad's cousin. My 2nd great-grandparents are buried just a few miles away. It gives me a sense of belonging to this area of Georgia that has become my new home.

    I was fascinated with how your history and your husband's are intertwined, so interesting!

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  5. Hi Cindy. Sorry your kids had to leave and live so far away! Mine do too and the one with my grandbaby! I have to visit with Skype and digital pictures!
    Well, these little olden churches are so peaceful looking! I do love to visit olden churches and cemeteries. They just tell a story, don't they?
    Hope you're a little more chipper today and Happy Memorial Day.
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  6. HI Cindy,
    Oh quite the opposite, I LOVE doing drives like that, your AREA is SO AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL, I loved every single bit of it!!!!I LOVE old churches and when ever I go on a vacation somewhere I am drawn to the churches. The one not used anymore is sooooo very pretty and how nice that they still keep it up, lawns so meticulously kept up, looks as if service was just ending and no one would ever guess it only happens twice a year.
    I love the cows grazing near by, if it were not for the darn cold weather I would love to live somewhere so Green!!!!!!
    Thank you for sharing.
    I so understand about a child living so far away, I have to pinch myself often and say she does not live close, so I call her and just talk often, but knowing how much SHE LOVES her job , makes me happy for her, she comes to AZ about 3 times a year and we go there at least 2 to 3 so we see her every few months, but still not the same, I so wish we all lived close so she does not miss out on one family thing. But we make the best of it as sad as it is.
    I know you miss him and his wife so much, but maybe one day you could retire in the desert!!!!!
    have a great day
    hugs and love,
    jamie

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  7. I enjoyed the tour very much. Reminded me of our years in Wisconsin. Gorgeous country. It does look painted!!

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  8. CIndy this was a wonderful post. How incredible that you and Dan are so entwined - it's like destiny!
    And the photos are just gorgeous! We don't have places like that around here. We have old churches, but they are all built around. those are gorgeous! And the cemeteries . . . I could spend hours in old, old cemeteries.
    And to have your family history right there - that is awesome. I know my maternal great grandparents are buried at the same cemetery that my folks and grandparents are buried at, but I've never been able to find them. I think it's time to visit the office and see if I can . . .
    Thanks for the inspiration.
    Hugs. Karen

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  9. Ahhh the green! The pictures are absolutely beautiful! How sentimental as well that both of you have roots in the same church! Great post!

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  10. Such beautiful, peaceful pictures. I also have some blues going on... Ashley seeing the docs tomorrow has me worried... your pictures helped me a lot, put things into perspective.

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  11. I hope you are feeling better today. Before you know it, it will be your turn to visit your son. Your pictures are so pretty...I sometimes forget how gorgeous those rolling hills of Wisconsin are!
    Coming home from NO tomorrow...it's raining so I thought I'd steal Al's laptop!!;-D

    xoxo
    Jane

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  12. Cindy, I think with your kids being so far away, your visit to familiar old places were a comfort to you. It certainly would be to me. I have a son who lives deep in Mexico and another one who lives in San Diego. Both places are too far away from us! We just have to enjoy the visits when we can get them. Glad you took the drive!
    Hugs,
    Karen
    Ladybug Creek

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  13. Very wonderful post! I believe God has his hands in all that entwining long before we ever start to figure it out! I enjoyed your photos and the history of these churchs to your family very much! Thanks for sharing!

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  14. Not sad at all - I enjoyed the tour. I know - it is hard to say Bye for a while, but like my daughter says - you live where the work is. That being said - if they can make a decent living and be happy, then I am happy.
    Have a great week.

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  15. What beautiful churches... thank you so much for sharing this with us! ♥

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  16. Cindy...hope your feeling better now....it must be hard to only see your kids a few times a year...I'm very fortunate to have mine close by....hope it stays that way....great photos..

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  17. Cindy, these little churches and cemeteries are beautiful. Your photos look like they should be a coffee table book. How interesting and amazing that your family histories were intertwined before you even met! laurie

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  18. Thank you for taking us along on your drive. We don't have any views like that around here. I wish we did. I'm sure it's hard to see your son and his wife head back home. Why do they grow up so fast?
    Blessings,
    Marcia

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  19. What a beautiful drive around the countryside! I love old churches and visit them every chance I get. These particular ones were filled with memories of milestone events in your families lives. Truly a special day.

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  20. What a breathtaking view, Cindy! Lucky cenetery for that beautiful location. Sorry your son and family had to leave and I know how you feel. My daughter and 2 sons are here right now and I know I will feel just like you when it is time for them to leave....Christine

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  21. Oh Cindy, you touched me on several levels with this post. First, I so understand about the distance thing with kids -- our older daughter Alida, 24, lives in California -- 3000 miles away. She's home now, but when she leaves in a week it's going to be awfully hard to say goodbye. She gets home usually twice a year; we try and get out but it's not easy.

    And I KNEW there were many reasons I liked you but I learned another one today --- we're both Lutheran!

    Lovely post -- not gloomy. The price we pay for loving and being loved is having to say goodbye and having it be sad, like your Dad's passing. Thank goodness we have known so much love.

    Blessings ... Cass

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  22. Dear Cindy,
    Hope you feel better today.My son is leaving France for Washington DC for a while , i know it's quite difficult sometimes, but i will be glad when he comes home!your pictures of the churches are very nice, i love the little white one! hugs catherine

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  23. SUch pretty churches...love them.
    I have already told my kids that they are not allowed to move away when they get older, LOL !
    Hugs ~ Kammy

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  24. Cindy, with what we have been through recently in the loss of my MIL, your post is particularly meaningful to me today. Even the little cemetary in Kentucky where she was laid to rest resembled some of the pics you showed. Thanks for a sweet post. Linda

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  25. Hi Cindy! Janie and I with our hubbies had a lovely time. It seems like all we did was eat, lol, in between relaxing in the backyard. I will post pictures soon, just have not had a time being so busy with visiting daughter and grandsons....Christine

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  26. I like visiting old cemeteries. My husband and I often take walks in one of the old ones here in town. We reminisce about some of the people. It is a strange and sometimes comforting or thought provoking thing to do.

    http://spindlecottage.blogspot.com/

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  27. Oh Lordy, I need a happy pill now!
    Those are beautiful country churches, Cindy.
    It is always hard to have the kids leave when you know you won't see them soon!
    VP Biden was at Mass Sunday here. Secret service all over..none of them put anything in the basket either, LOL!

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  28. I scrolled through your blog and am in love with your tablescapes. The tablecloth from today is really pretty. Do you make your own very often? I'm just starting to get into this and could use any advice, Thanks.
    Leslie

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  29. I love your big wonderful beautiful porch, the setting is perfect and I adore the heart dishes, I'll be right over to join you...

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  30. My husband has the same suggestion when he thinks I need to be cheered up...we take a drive somewhere. My daughter only gets home 1 week a year...actually, she has only been home twice in the 3 years she has been gone. I do go see her 2 or 3 times a year, but it isn't the same as having her home. This year, it was the week between my mother's death and her funeral. It was perfect timing and yet we certainly didn't have the crazy fun we had last year. We want them to fly...but we hate it when they go.

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  31. Cindy, thanks for sharing your tears with us along with your beautiful day trip...it's hard seeing children go back home.
    They must have headed in my direction to visit her parents....we are in the southeast corner of WI.

    Hugs, Karen

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  32. Cindy, I'm so sorry you're sad over your kids leaving. Sending you a warm hug over the miles.

    I loved seeing this church, and I clicked on the picture to get a better view of what was on the door, and it had the same scripture I have on my blog, "This is the day that the Lord hath made..."

    My husband grew up Episcopalian (I joined with him as an adult), and the liturgy seems so similar between that church and the Lutherans. My godchildren go to the Lutheran Church and a Lutheran school. They love it.

    XO,

    Sheila

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Welcome,
I would love to hear from you. Come back and visit anytime. Warmest Wishes, Cindy