The Art of Relaxing

I knew there was a reason we have furniture in this house...

Flocks

This past Sunday evening my cigar man and I were both in the living room working on separate projects when he turned down the TV and asked, "Do you hear that?" I barely heard him ask the question, much less whatever he was actually talking about. I continued to stitch away as he went to open the front door and couldn't even utter for me to come look before I heard exactly what he was referring too. It literally sounded like distant helicopters coming in for a landing right outside our house.

Well...so it wasn't a herd of choppers. But a flock (times 1000 at least) of little birds squawking and flapping their wings and hovering from tree to tree as one giant movement of tiny black creatures. As soon as I stepped outside, I suddenly remembered seeing this very thing a year ago. It's really made me curious as to what kind of birds they are and what their yearly performance means. I will continue my research and let you know...

It was pretty amazing.

Walks With Papa

So a recent writing assignment was to practice making a place become real by showing the reader things instead of just telling them. I feel like this was accomplished because my own words just took me to a time and place that doesn't exist yet. It was after it was written, as I read it for the first time, I felt I was catching a glimpse of the father that Steven will be...


WALKS WITH PAPA

It’s still quiet. Even though the slightest hint of yellow light is peering through the tiny holes of my white eyelet curtains, making them glow and announce the morning’s arrival. I crawl out of bed and peek through the curtains. He’s already there, waiting. I decide to stay in my cotton night gown with the little purple and blue flowers, then finish tying my shoes, grab the yellow knit cardigan and tip toe down the old wooden stairs, not ready for the squeaky boards to break the morning silence.

Standing at the screen door, I stop and count to 5 as I close my eyes and inhale the sweet scent of peaches, black cherry and just a hint of that earthy cedar, his morning pipe. Sitting on the top step, he pretends to not hear the creak and clang of the screen door as I come up behind him and wrap my arms around his neck, encompassing his back like a turtle shell. I nuzzle my cheek against his, still smelling of Irish Spring, and giggle as the stubble of his beard tickle me. Sliding around him, I’m now sitting in his lap with his arm around my belly and he leans in like he’s going to tell me a secret. He whispers that it’s going to be a good and perfect day. And I believe him. Even without looking, I can hear the smile in his voice. Then we sit quiet for a few moments and I follow his eyes, wanting to see what he sees.

The sun is still brightening the morning sky, so it won’t be true blue for another couple of hours. Right now it’s like God colored this morning using one of the giant boxes of crayons with over 100 options, where you can’t find just a plain old “blue.” I used this color just the other day; I think it was called Moonstone or maybe Malachite. No, definitely Moonstone. Not many clouds this morning, but a few low ones, the whipped and creamy kind that reminds me of cake batter. That same light through my curtains is reaching through and around the branches of the old Water Oak and the army of Poplars across the field. Besides being the stage for a chirping orchestra of early rising crickets, the stretch of pasture is a sea of sparkling, limp strands of grass trying to shake off the dew and stand at attention for the start of the day. Scattered throughout like a path to the hardwoods, I see patches of dandelion snow ready for me to send dancing into the breeze along with my wishes. We’re ready.

Without breaking the trance or uttering a word, we both stand and take a deep breath and head down the front porch steps. I reach my hand up and take hold of familiar warmth. With his large, rough, protective hand firmly wrapped around mine, I meet his eyes and with a wink he smiles, "Shall we?"

Southern Snow...I'll take what I can get!

So it's a far cry from my Togo, MN days when I was working here.

And I had to dress like this.

And woke up like this.

And had to build shelters like this.


But whoo boy, can you still have fun in a 1 inch accumulation of snow!!



Look what I found...






What? You don't keep a keg on your front porch?


Thanks for our boots Santa. How'd he know? Weird.


Ahhh! Don't jump!


Just kidding. The little guy's fine.

Go play...

Overflowing

I know we're already 4 days into the new year, but I don't have Internet at our cabin, so here it goes…

2009. On one hand I'd say, definitely my year. At the top of the list would be, well I don't know, maybe that day of perfection that exceeded any and all fairytale dreams I had about what it would be like to be joined as one with the love of my life, a man I do not deserve, a man who makes me a better person. That day when before God and my loved ones, I made promises that are only possible to obtain because I was first loved by God and then unconditionally by my family.


But it doesn't stop there.

My strong, beautiful mother turned 50 and it's been a year of a continued realization of how much I rely on her advice and support

My little brother became a husband.

My niece calls me by name, and we carry on conversations.

My sister's been growing my future little nephew.

And I continue to admire their love and commitment to each other.

My father, well, he's still a rock in my life.

I was accepted into a writing program that's challenging and exciting. My path crossed with someone willing to invest their time and teaching in my photography.

I listened, full of joy, to my closest friends tell me about new mile stones they will soon be approaching; travels, opportunities and growing families. And I am more thankful then ever to be a part of their lives. And I have made new friends that have blessed me beyond words. Friends who may not realize just what an answer to prayer they have been.

I have stumbled and struggled in my faith, only to be reminded what gifts grace and mercy and forgiveness actually are.

I have a home I am building and decorating and creating, a home filled with my family. Filled with one good hearted man and 3 loyal, affectionate four-legged little girls.

It's been a good year. Overflowing.

But Oh, 2010! I am ready for you. Holding hands with my husband and desiring more than anything, to become a better person. A more loving, more forgiving, more patient, more optimistic, more encouraging, more supportive, more selfless, a more GRATEFUL wife, daughter, sister, and friend.