new beginnings and fresh hope

So today I finally got out of the house for a bit, and breathed deep the sunshiny air, and hugged babies, and talked to some other actual people.

There has been some loss, and we've been sick, and it's flat-out been a rough few weeks around these parts, but I'm thankful to report that life is still glorious even in the hard, and sooner or later the miseries abate even just the littlest bit...and before we even know it we're again standing upright, laughing in the sun :)

Feeling especially thankful this Monday afternoon for...


her solemn explanation that she isn't "here to stay" & they're just "givin' me a ride"

fresh hope

my very first "let's get coffee sometime" since moving

her utter determination in transporting her beach paraphernalia to the sandbox, pulling shovel after bucket after rake out of her frilly pinkalicious backpack

his eyes all lit up when he sees me

that chunky little arm resting casually on my leg as he sits close-as-can-be, dunking his chicken nuggets

that oh-so-yummy way she says "Chik-i-lay" every. single. time.

catching up and hearing good things

baby talk

hints of wellness

soft, WARM breezes

new beginnings, on new days, right in front of new weeks

(A Thousand Gifts 1242-1254)

why we smile straight through the tears...

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,

His kingdom is forever!

*Martin Luther

 

 

I hate to say she lied, but well, she did

So it is entirely possible that I only have about one minute to lollygag here on the worldwideweb before I'm summoned to refill Owo's sippy cup and/or help him lose his drawers so he can make another potty run...or in the off chance he actually passes out and falls asleep and gives me two minutes to myself I imagine our very feverish Audrey will awaken and pitifully declare her dire need for, well, me.  (Go figure.)
 
 
Be that as it may, I just had to hop on to say hey! and how are y'all doing? and I hope things are going okay in your respective neighborhoods.  We've had kind of a lot of hard around here over the last couple of weeks, and right now I have the littles for a few days while Katie & Jeremy are out of town.  To say the babies had different plans for this weekend would be an undestatement, but they're as sweet and funny and delightful as ever (excepting Audrey's feverish state, of course!)
 
 
 
Anyhoo, I-miss-you blah, blah, blahs aside, I mainly wanted to share something that's been weighing heavy, and it only feels right to use my personal platform here at AB! to share my deep resentment for the way Spring lied to me. 

There's just no other way to look at it.  She lied to my face.  (Kinda literally, what with all the sneezing and coughing and stuffy-headedness endured...)  Was it just last week I was waxing all thankful for things like headaches and runny noses because it was accompanying the glorious return of all things warm and delightful?
 
Whatever.
 
 
A driving rain for a sweet forever with the temp maxing out at 37 degrees is all I"m saying.
 
 
Well that and NO SNOW.


I don't want to be all bitter and unforgiving, but all I know is she has some serious damage control to do if she wants me to trust her again... 
 
 
 
Y'all stay warm out there!