Thursday, May 23, 2013

Theme Thursday: Bodies

I don't have a new photo to share today for the Thursday-riffic link-up with Cari Donaldson et.al.  And although I wanted to play along, I wasn't quite sure what kind of picture I could post that would illustrate the very interesting theme for this week: bodies!

I thought, hmmm, should I show you some bathing suit shots of my fifty-something husband and my fifty-something self from our recent trip to San Juan?  No, I decided...no, not a good idea at all.  Because while we do have bodies, they're not exactly--well, never mind about that.

Then I thought, hmmm, what bodies do I know of that actually look cute with little fat rolls on them--and of course, that made me think of my three soft, pink, positively edible little granddaughters.  But I'm trying to keep pictures of them off this blog, for the most part, for privacy's sake.

So I'm posting an old photo of my boys and me from way back in 2007--when aside from the oldest, who had graduated from college the year before and begun his military career, these bodies still spent a good bit of time hanging out in their childhood home...near their mommy, who has always been happiest when they're no more than an arm's length away.  I was always the family picture-taker; but during this Notre Dame football weekend get-together, my husband grabbed my camera and told all the boys to huddle around me and show me some love.  All those bodies squished together, those happy smiles...it made for this great photo, which is to this day my husband's very favorite.
 Where are these bodies right now, you ask?

The oldest is out in CO, where he is stationed in the Army; he's a husband and a father to three little girls under the age of two.  The second oldest lives about an hour away from his dad and me, where he teaches high school math and coaches football.  The third one in line lives and works down in VA, is newly engaged, and will become a married man in December.  Number four is not quite a third of the way through a six-month deployment in Afghanistan.  And the baby left two nights ago for a six-week internship in France (which I wrote about yesterday).  Sometimes, I get panicky at the thought of how scattered about and far apart we all are--at least physically.

What I wouldn't give to have all those bodies--and the beloved souls that reside in them--a whole lot closer to mine.  What I wouldn't give to be able to hug and kiss each one of those "temples of the Holy Spirit" every single day!

[Sigh...]  But you know what they say: If you love somebody, set them free.  If they come back, they're yours.  And these somebodies do keep coming back...so I guess that means that these somebodies are mine.

Now go over to Clan Donaldson and check out some other bodies...or other somebodies...or whatever!

17 comments:

  1. What a sweet photo. They will all be thankful for it someday, and I can see why it's your Husband's favorite!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your life is like a glimpse into my future, and you're making it look really good!

    (And yes, I am from Cape Cod and that's where we were married!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You'll love your future! I can honestly say that as wonderful as the growing up years were with the boys, and as much as I miss them, I wouldn't trade the grown-up years for anything.

      Delete
  3. I love hearing about your family, and they are do good looking! Look at your tiny self in there! So cute. You are right to give them wings, what a great mama.

    And my dad is a Notre Dame prof! Go ND!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's so neat--my hubby, his dad, all four of his brothers, and all five of our boys went to ND (although our second oldest transferred after two years and finished up here in New England). What does your dad teach? (We've had boys in engineering, physics, and business.)

      Delete
    2. Oh, gosh, none of those. Political Science, specializing in East Asia. He is actually just retired after this graduation, after teaching there for 42 years. Peter Moody, an extremely quiet but brilliant guy.

      Delete
  4. Awwwwww, that was so sweet! You are so pretty--and those handsome boys you have, fine young men!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your kind comments! I'm having one of those weeks where when people say or do something nice, it makes tears come to my eyes. :)

      Delete
  5. Love this picture ... and you ... and your boys!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can always count on you! [picture a heart emoticon here]

      Delete
  6. best part of all those bodies are the smiles! love'em

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful! What a lucky mama you are :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I know, I am so lucky. I miss having these boys about me, but they're all thriving and doing well out there on their own. And that's the goal, right?

      Delete
  8. I love how happy you look and how much they dwarf you! I have a feeling John Paul will be taller than me not too long from now...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was very, very happy when my husband took this picture. I couldn't stop laughing. And yes, I like having these big old guys around me, because they make me feel tiny! When they're all standing up straight, they totally dwarf me. You're going to blink, and your JP will do the same!

      Delete