Forever Love

"...but this is what lasts, this is what goes on forever and ever and will endure times and winds and all the ages. Heaven and love and Jesus.

And there is such a thing as too much money

and too much sun

and too much of a good thing,

but this world has only one thing that there can never be enough of:

there is no such thing as too much love.

And they may not etch it on memorial stone, but granite erodes and quiet people know it so we get up every day and we make the porridge and wash the underwear and pay the bills and tend to the hurting and we etch the love on the hearts, that which beats on without end and we pulse throughout the universe.

There's a way to do work that lasts forever.

Just do everything with love."

~Ann Voskamp

15 Months Old

Rain falls steadily outside the window,
puddles dot the yard and fill ruts in the drive.

She bundles close on my lap,
head finding rest in the crook of my arm.
Her fingers scratch my back and arm as she nurses,
and I look and look into her eyes.

She loves me.
She really loves me.

So much so that I gaze away in disbelief and wonder.

My eyes trace her pupils, notice the shades of blue,

the lines of light that seem living, changing.

Where, oh where did such a creature come from?

She is all gift.

And I hope her joy is always so full.

And oh, I see my reflection in the tiny black circles gazing my way...

and I whisper low,

"I love you too."

I am whispering to her,

but seeing my reflection I am caught off guard,

knowing that I don't say those kind words to myself.

But I like what I see for once...

and feel like I am good at something...

that maybe I am a good...

Milky smile completes thought and says, "Mom." And then continues nursing again.
She reaches and points to my nose, eyes, mouth, hair. Always.

And always in that order. It is her way.

And I lean, and kiss her forehead,wipe hair away from face.
Massage little feet.

And give thanks.

Always give thanks.

Creative Space

When Sweet Pea takes her morning nap, the boys and I gather books together and arrange ourselves just-so. Their growing elbows always accidently poke my lap as they lean close to listen, one on each side of me.


Last week we read The Story of the Alamo, and Andy and I woke before dawn to hear a complete reinactment already taking place in the playroom!


And after we read The Story of Old Ironsides, these two boys went searching for materials to build their own great ship.

Two boys + empty laundry-soap box + limbs we pruned off peach trees +scrap of fabric + a few toy cannons = a good deal of fun!