Four is a Good Number

My almost-daily walking is a good time to think about family and remember all those child-rearing years, the special times we've had, and the blessings we share.  It sure doesn't seem very long ago when I watched four little people come into the world, take their first breaths, and cry their first cry.  I cried too—great big tears of pure joy—my heart overwhelmed with love.  Our firstborn was forty years ago, and last-born, twenty-six years.   

We couldn't have predicted back then what life would be like right now with four children in four different states.  Even before we were married, Juanita and I thought four would be a good number.  Two boys and two girls.  Had it all planned out.

After one boy and one girl, we were pretty certain that we had been over-estimating our child-rearing abilities, and thought one of each was a good place to stop.

The second boy came along several years later.  We loved them all dearly, and were satisfied that our family was now complete.   

Not so quick...

Nine years after boy number two, along comes girl number two.  I was thrilled—super thrilled.  Little girls are the best!  We were back to our original number.  As they grew and developed their gifts and interests, we began thinking about their future, about what they would be when they grew up, and where they might live.  It was all speculation, and it seemed to be a long, long way off.

As young parents, it was difficult to think of fulfilling our own dreams, doing all the things that filled our imaginations when we were children, things like living in the mountains or near the ocean.  We knew it would be impossible to move with our family to all the places that we enjoyed visiting, but planting our children in these places could be the next best thing.  Of course, having all our children near us would be great we thought, but that doesn't seem to be today’s reality.  So if they’re going to live other places, where would we want that to be?

For starters, we thought it would be good if our oldest son would stay nearby.  He would  morph from right-hand-boy to right-hand-man.  Instead of him holding the flashlight for me, I would now hold it for him.  He would be a handyman, hard-working, loyal, always willing to help anyone.  He would marry and have children who looked like him—children who would hug old G-Pa and G-Ma at church on Sunday mornings, and bring us lots of joy.  It was a good plan.

Then, remembering how much fun our childhood vacations to Michigan had been,  and how we had even gone back there a couple of times for vacations when our two oldest were small, it was pretty much a given that we should have a child locate there.  This would be a great place for our dear sweet oldest daughter to share her life with a husband and a passel of children, being all that she ever wanted to be—a wife and Mom.  She would live near water of course, and offer free lodging to aging parents.  Somewhere near the shores of Lake Michigan.

But we loved the Mountains too.  Our honeymoon was spent traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway through North Carolina.  We've traveled it several times since then, and still love the mountains, waterfalls, hiking trails, Rhododendrons and Azaleas.  We would want a child to locate there so we’d have a place to visit in May just like we did those many years ago when we were so lost in love that we hardly noticed the flowers anyway.  This would be the ideal place for a creative son who plays guitars and loves mountain music.  He will settle there and prepare a place for us.

Then there was the boyhood dream of real mountains.  Lewis and Clark expedition comes to mind.  Indians and horses.  Elk, Mule deer, and Grizzly bears.  Pikes Peak.  Wouldn't it be awesome to visit the majestic Rocky Mountains on occasion.  Perhaps one of our children should settle there.  With only one left, that would need to be the adventurous daughter who loves the sun and big blue skies.  What better place than the western side of the mile high city—Denver, Colorado.

So we set about, strategically planning their future.  They were totally oblivious to this of course.  Though there were many baffling twists and turns in the journey, and many fearful moments where we thought our best-laid plans were failing,  it all worked out in the end.  As of this month, the deal is sealed.  Our children are all homeowners in each of the places we “foreordained”.  (Using the word quite loosely.)

These are some of the things that occupy my wandering mind as my legs pump rapidly up and down the hills of Jericho and Zuercher.  These walks are an opportunity to be thankful for children who are responsible and caring.  And they love each other!  This is huge!  There was a time...nah, let’s not get into that.  

In each of the places where they are planted, they are developing lives independent from ol’ Mom and Pop—creating and enjoying new circles of friends.  We’re proud of them, and thank God for them.  The truth is, they landed at each of these places through circumstances that had nothing at all to do with any of our thoughts or wishes.  But it is nice that our vacation spots are planned for us.  Kids—please expect that call any day now.  Keep the bed made.  We’ll see you soon.

From thirty-seven thousand feet in the air—seat 24A of an Airbus A320—these words are being tapped out on my laptop.  We’re winging our way back home from Denver, Co, where we just helped our youngest and her husband move into their newly purchased home.  Denver is a nice place to visit, but there is no place like our little hometown of Kidron, Ohio—where the hard-working men are hopeful, the women are comely and pleasant, and the children love to come back home, where the porch light is always on.