I first met Beth 20 years ago, when she was six years old. I've enjoyed watching her change from a timid girl to a vibrant, confident young woman. She's quite a world traveler, loves acting in the theater, graduated from Asbury College, and is a leader in her hip, edgy church. During this Thanksgiving weekend she made one of our living room chairs her vacation spot...reading, visiting, and playing Nintendo DS. It was great having her around. I went with her to paint pottery, she shared some craft ideas, she made me laugh, and she wins my affection when she says, "nobody makes pumpkin pies like Aunt Sarah."

Seeing their eye color sometimes makes me catch my breath. I remember describing Abe's girlfriend as having 'sparkly eyes'. Then he marries her and they have five kids. Three of the kids have blue eyes and 2 have (my brother's) green.

Two cousins vying to catch the ball. So much pushing, strangling, yelling, laughing. So much energy.