:. carnation lily lily rose .:

I love this John Singer Sargent painting: it is a breath of June as we sit at the tail-end of winter. Spring is coming . . . and roses . . . and lilies . . . oh, and Baby Girl!
(Im)patiently waiting!

:. thirty-seven .:

Yesterday the high hit 37°. With the winter we've had, that 37 felt like 77. Forget doing dishes, forget folding laundry, forget getting ready for family dinner! I naturally headed out to the garden to soak up some much-needed vitamin D. Hhhhmmm . . . where to sit?

Definitely not HERE. Notice where the ice chunk CRASHED off the roof and SPLINTERED my adirondack chair! Yikes!

Oh, there's a dry little seat . . if I can climb over mountains of snow in my chucks. [Note to self: buy snow boots for next winter.] I tell you, the 20 minutes I spent with that wonderfully warm sun on my face was HEAVEN. I would've stayed out longer, but I really did need to get ready for the birthday buddies.

Oh, and here's what spring-time looks like on the inside of my house:

I can't wait for the real thing!

:. oh, suburbia .:

I overheard an interesting conversation today at my neighborhood Walmart. (Yes, I was at Walmart.)

Two youngish moms were chatting about kids and schools, and one said, "We open-enrolled our daughter because we live in Johnston, and we wanted a school system with more diversity. I grew up in a small town, and there were only white people there. We didn't want our kids to grow up that way!"

Um. Then why are you living in the suburbs??!?!?

(Don't get me started on that rant!)

:. open wide your mouth .:

I love this photo. I shot it quite a few years ago in my backyard. I enjoy it for so many reasons:

☼ robins are terrible nest-builders. Just look how untidy that mess o' twigs is!

☼ they also don't choose nesting sites very wisely. This nest was built on my rose-arbor, about head-high, in a high-traffic area. Duh, robin.

☼ baby birds are dang cute. Look at those egg-yolk mouths! Cheep, cheep, cheep!

☼ mmmm . . . can't you just smell the light but glorious fragrance of that climbing New Dawn rose?!

☼ there is no better reminder that spring is coming than photos such as this. I'd like to make a new motto, right here and now:

SPRING HAPPENS

(feel free to quote me.)

But the number one reason I love this photo is because it reminds me of something God said in Psalm 81:

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt.

Open wide your mouth and I will fill it."

Have you ever watched a nest of hatchlings? They pretty much expect mom and dad to take care of them. When they're hungry, they open their mouths. They expect food to be dropped in. They don't fret, they don't question, they don't wonder. They instinctively know their needs will be provided.

They just open.

:. 1 + 1 = 1 .:

Benny and I celebrated 34 years of wedded bliss yesterday. Of course, anyone who's been married for any length of time knows it's not always bliss exactly. But wedded we've been, for a pretty big chunk of years.
It struck me the other night, how companionable your mate becomes after such a long time together. You know each other so well, the slightest arch of the eyebrow or set of the jaw speaks volumes, words unnecessary. It's comforting, and safe, and lovely to know just one other person so deeply. To have one person be the one you turn to, talk to, listen to, share life with.
God tells us that in marriage, two people become one. One heart, one purpose, one Master. I can tell you: after 34 years, it's a wonderful thing.

Our children honored us quite nicely, foregoing the Super Bowl to share the evening with us. After a favorite family dinner at the Hulling manor, we sat in the living room, and Josh pulled out his guitar. Liam immediately ran to get his, and Gav grabbed the microphone.

And then we sang worship songs.

I can't even describe how amazing/humbling/beautiful/funny that was.
Amazing because this, THIS is what Benny and I began, unknowingly, 34 years ago. This amazing family is the product of two very human people who have made a lot of mistakes along the way.
Humbling because my daughters are wonderful, godly women who chose wonderful, godly men to spend their lives with. They are now raising their children to know and love the Lord Jesus Christ.
Beautiful because watching my grands is always beautiful! The way Liam imitates his daddy while playing guitar like a rock star is beautiful. The way Gav smiles as he's singing at the top of his angel voice is beautiful. The way Tate squeals with delight the louder the room gets is beautiful.
And funny because Liam can't play the guitar at all. But he sure thinks he can. It's hilarious to watch.

I can't think of a better way to celebrate than with all 9.7 of us gathered together, praising the One responsible for it all.
Thanks, kids!