Heave-Ho
My dad passed down to me a love for nature. I am very moved by what goes on beyond my window, that natural world where life is teeming and the order of relationship is much the same as when God first spoke it all into existence (or at least how I imagine it was). Last night, the sky promised a spectacular sunset, and the air was mild and inviting. I set out on my own for a dusk walk through the property, and to embrace the quiet. I visited my favorite spot, a secluded area completely surrounded by old trees and brush which give it the feeling of a sanctuary. I snapped a bunch of pics of different wildflowers that are blooming now (their never-ending variety amazes me) and then I...
Love
I noticed them when I was going through the airport security line. They both seemed a little confused, but while his confusion seemed more related to the process of getting into the secured area of the airport, hers seemed thorough and complete. I admired that they were flying on their own, actually, with her condition, and the fact that they appeared to be in their late 80's to early 90's. When he felt confident that he understood what to do, he set about getting their things into tubs and onto the belt. She kept trying to pull away, distracted by other things, and he kept gently reeling her in. Love is patient, love is kind. Another older couple was in line behind them, both...
Intentionally Yours
I'm heading back home this morning. I've talked about the emotional quandary this puts me in, ad nauseum, so I won't go into that again. It is what it is. One thing I will say is that I've noticed myself doing something during this time with the kids that I realized I've done all along, but only subconsciously. I caught myself actually taking mental snapshots of them, trying to capture a specific feeling to store in my heart, or a picture to burn into my brain, never to be forgotten. I've studied hands and feet, and made mental notes of how the heft of their bodies at age 2.5 months and 2 years 11.5 months, feels in my arms. So many things can be captured on film, but some things...
Pure and Simple
I leave at O'dark-thirty in the morning for the airport and will be in the air (Lord willing) when I normally would be posting my morning thoughts. I have no idea what our travel day will look like; truly, with an almost-preschooler anything - ANYTHING - is possible. So, I sat down to write something tonight. There is a reason I do this in the morning. I have pretty well-rested brain cells in the a.m., my thoughts typically make sense and I'm as fresh as I'm likely to be in a given day. Not so, at night. Not so, right now. Lilli and I have spent the evening telling the ranch and all its people and animals goodbye. We've hugged and laughed and giggled, and while no one was looking,...
Embracing Royalty
Today is Lilli's last day out here on the ranch. We leave early tomorrow morning for her home and her little family who are all anxious to see her, and I have to say that she's pretty excited to see them, too! I had a hunch about what I thought her favorite things would be while she was here. Certainly, the horses were the clear favorite. Well, the horses OR her Aunt Maddie; that one may be too close to call! She's loved playing Play-doh, blocks and the dollhouse, and reading a bunch of new-to-her books has also been great fun. But there was a sleeper in the corner of the room that took me a bit by surprise: a little pink and purple princess dress-up dress and an old red hat. When she put...