Spring at Last!!

For those who still check in from time to time--we are still here and so thankful that things are green and warm (er) again. Our yard is exploding with daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and some unknown blossoming trees, made all the sweeter by the fact that everything was a surprise since we've never been here for a spring. The girls are spending longer and longer stretches of time outside, some days just playing on our deck in the soft sunshine. I've been reading Amy Carmichael's biography (finished after 10 years of starting and restarting--convinced some sort of spiritual warfare kept me away from me so long) and also a fabulous book by Susan Shaeffer McCauley (For the Family's Sake), two great books which are helping with perspective and reminding us to take pleasure in the simple routines of Christian family-ness. Something sacred and eternal is going on, even though it feels far away in the moment.

These kept me up till 1 a.m. all of Holy Week and resulted in a cranky mom. The kids played with them for about 10 minutes. Live and learn.



This child loves her swing. I send them out to try to get something done, but she just stands by the swing and pathetically tries to swing herself, and it's too much torture to watch, so I usually end up pushing her...
And she loves it!
Easter extravagance.
School time.
My dandelion girl--always out picking, examining, running, dancing. We love our field.

Happy dog.

Oh, and we had a perfect mother's day. Probably why I feel rested enough to blog! Beautiful presents and best of all, sweet voices saying "thanks mom!" This is such a precious time.