week. 21.
Welcome to my parents backyard. A field of dreams.
My family and I moved many times during my childhood, but if you asked me where home is, it is this property. Pick a childhood pastime and it has been done in this field or the woods beyond it. Soccer. Football. Baseball. Paintball. Forts. Snowboarding. Manhunt (hide and seek for kids who are clearly way to old and cool to play it). Christmas tree hunting. Tree climbing. Sappy hands. Broken bones. Even a failed attempt at spin-the-bottle. Our motley crew shaped this land with our hands, minds, and hacksaws. It was whatever we needed it to be. Best of all, we were always a short walk away from all the water we could drink and a fridge that was always ready to be raided by our grubby hands.
In more recent history, all of us kids have grown up and moved away. The House is much too empty these days. The Field is left to bristle in the wind with the echos of my past fading as each new year comes and goes.
But, as I sit here to write this, I realize that it was not the land that made it my home. It was not the field or all the time we spent in the woods that made it my home. It was Mom and Dad.
They have always supported us crazy kids and our dreams. They treated our friends like family. Mom stocked that fridge to keep up with our constantly crowed house and our hungry teenage stomachs. She made everyone that came into that house feel at home. Dad played football with us. And he would brim with pride at the site of our hideous forts.
I guess what I want to say is thank you Mom and Dad. This is all I could ever want for my child. You guys are awesome. And you are gonna kick some serious “butt” as grandparents, wherever you live!
Do you hear that babyjedi? You are one lucky kid. This family you are being born into is one of the #bestofalltime.
Speaking of the baby, they have been kicking/punching/flipping up a storm. You can see it now too… its so cool. I am starting to wonder if BabyAlien would have been a more fitting nickname… just playin babyjedi… love you!
Anyways, that is all for now.
thanks for looking,
daniel. kate. babyjedi/alien
:EDIT: I have once again proven that I am an idiot. Kate and I also got married in this field!!!! Thanks for throwing me under the bus Uncle Doug :P
Aunt E
June 3, 2011 at 9:35 am
I love this!! When I read this it made me want to cry…so amazingly true!! So does babyjedi/alien like butter? :]
Jeff
June 3, 2011 at 9:37 am
The Sprague parents at one point were like a second set of parents to me. i spent so much time at their house in one summer hanging out with paul that my own parents questioned who my parents were. i have the greatest respect for them and i know they will make amazing grandparents:)
Mom T
June 3, 2011 at 9:47 am
this brought a lump to my throat. You shared so many wonderful memories, which my boys (now men) were also a part of. And I agree…your Mom and Dad are awesome!
Sarah
June 3, 2011 at 10:35 am
Love the second to last one!! you should frame it- so pretty!
UncDug
June 3, 2011 at 12:15 pm
A great stuff… and I agree your parents rock! But back to that field of dreams for a second. Didn’t you leave out 1 famous events that occurred in that field that involved a cake and a while dance party ha ha :-)
Jp
June 3, 2011 at 4:09 pm
I agree with the house being too empty, which is why I vote for all of us moving back in together :P
Tammy & Don
June 4, 2011 at 9:07 am
Great thoughts and pictures!
Nick Soapdish
June 4, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Yeah your parents rock and your Dad is like the
Coolest person I know! (No this is not him! )
shannon Smith (antonis)
June 4, 2011 at 9:34 pm
Such great memories in that field…and your family was like my second family. Especially during a difficult transition between churchs. Thank you for sharing such beautiful pictures of that field , your wife, and baby.
Chris Brown
June 6, 2011 at 5:48 am
Excellent piece, Daniel. I love the way you think and see things and remember things. Enjoy your days with Kate and babyjedi.
Allan
June 6, 2011 at 3:32 pm
i just want to *like* the edit… ;)
Jacquie
June 10, 2011 at 4:29 pm
I love you guys! (all 3 of you!!)