Tuesday 1 April 2008

No - we are not flower children!

Ain't she pretty?!! This is mama in June 2003 on the island of Öland which is just off the coast of southern Sweden near the town of Kalmar. The island is about 9 miles wide at its widest point and is about 85 miles long. We were there visiting family, my family. I had discovered my mothers father had come from the island and I wanted to see my roots. We never knew we had family in Sweden until 2001. In 2002 four of them came and visited us and 2003 four of us went there. What a fabulous two weeks we had!


Anna-Lena, has become my Swedish daughter - It was after I met her that I started using the term "papa". I was her USA Papa! During our tip to Sweden they celebrated "Mid Summer" - the longest day of the summer, June 21st. Part of that festival time people pick fresh flowers in the fields, any field you want, including your neighbors if you want. Note: In Sweden the law states that you can go on your neighbors property and hike, even pitch a tent as long as you leave it as you found it! Anna-Lena took us looking for flowers and then helped us make our crowns!

The crowns? What happened to them? We hung them outside our cottage on sides of the cottage when we left to come home. Over the years they have faded and are probably gone but they remained there several years, no one wanted to take them down.

Friends - family is so precious! We worked hard, spent thousands of dollars to make this part of the family whole again. How precious is your family? What are you willing to do to restore broken / missing relationships? Some relationships cannot be mended perhaps but fix those that you can. This part of our family was separated physically from 1891 until 2002, 111 years! We never knew!!! Please - tell someone you love them tonight! Anna-Lena, I love you!

23 comments:

CrossView said...

I love the crowns! But I have to admit that they do look more *ahem* "natural" on a female.

If you find family in Hawaii are you going to wear a hula skirt??!!

Anonymous said...

Oh, please! Thinking of Jim in a hula skirt just made my heart skip a beat....not in anticipation, but in like it was going to be my last heartbeat!!

Janis

Anonymous said...

Whoops! Forgot to call him Papa. Heart skipping a beat messes up the brain as well!! What brain you say??? I heard that!

Janis

Darla said...

I love the crowns of flowers! said a prayer for you and mama today, haven't heard much about the center you are helping at..but we all need a prayer,huh? Love you Papa and Mama

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - I know one thing, if I find family in the deep south I'll go barefoot, wear a straw hat, suck on straw and say "Howdy!" :o)

Janis - Huka skirt for Jammies - now theres a thought!

Darla - good point - Maybe I can highlight a day - we go to the shelter again on Friday AM. Is that what you are referring to?

Darla said...

yes, I am praying for that day for you ... I love the posts you are making..just wondering how those fridays are going, and how we can better pray for you and mama!

CrossView said...

Howdy!
Better watch where you step with those bare feet! =P

CrossView said...

Poor Janis- those heart palpitations can be scary! =D

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - someday maybe you and I with Mama can run barefoot through the fresh, warm, cowpies!!

Don't worry about Janis, she can handle herself just fine. She is a sweet ( :o) ) gentle lady. Always so kind to me.

Darla - several ways you can pray.
1) Pray that we are good reps of Jesus.
2) That we can be of encouragement.
3) Pray that they find jobs.

Thanks Darla

Robin said...

How cool :) Great pictures too! I love your challenge at the end. It's so important because we don't know what changes a day or even a moment can bring. Love 'em now!

Anonymous said...

Flowerhead papa said something nice about me?????? That I am a sweet, gentle lady????? Did I read that right???? His crown must be too tight. But he is right....I am sweet, kind, compassionate, loving and humble too!! Just ask me!

Janis

Anonymous said...

I love those crowns of flowers.

Sweden is the country I would pick to live in of I had to move from the US. Don't know if I could take those month long winter days and nights of darkness.

Papa, I would pay for a picture of you in a hula skirt. Do you have the legs for it? :)

You do seem to find pretty girls where ever you go. :)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Ed - I do find the pretty girls - It must be the legs plus the loin cloth! In Sweden the summer days are long! Daylight until 11PM & daylight again by 2AM! Thats Southern Sweden!

Tanya said...

I would love to see sweden. Jeff and I were in Germany and Denmark. I never really thought about family until I got married and had one of my own. Family is so important to me now. I feel so blessed to have the in laws that I have. They are so wonderful. I wonder if I have family out there? Beautiful post. Love Tanya

Indian Lake Papa said...

Tanya - when I started researching my family roots in 1997 I had no idea where it would take me. Discovering the stories have been been touching. Lives of early settlers losing lives trying to survive have taken hold in my heart. Each of us must be willing to sacrifice.

Anonymous said...

Papa- please send me an e-mail. My computer messed up last night and when I finally got it going again everything seemed ok except that my address book has been completely erased. I lost everybody! I need your address again to put back in. Thanks

Janis

CrossView said...

And isn't it time for a new post from you? =P

1. How long have you been going south for the winter?
2. How did you discover/decide to do that?
3. How often do you get to see your kids and grandkids?
4. How often do you go to the tattoo parlor?

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - I will work on a new post now!! Give me a break!! I am finding most of my time is spent posting or checking mama for new tattoo's!

CrossView said...

You're just too popular! =P

Indian Lake Papa said...

But he is mine even though he is popular. I love my man MAMA

Robin said...

How sweet Mama :)

cory said...

this is splendid. thank you for writing!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Cory - thanks for the comment!