when yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang...

"That time of year thou mayst in me behold

When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang

Upon those boughs which shake against the cold"

william shakespeare

We spent the weekend with Josh's family at Indian Point, overlooking Table Rock Lake. We survived Silver Dollar City, and I relished in Annie's laughs and pure delight. Traveling with kids is not easy, and sometimes the pictures and the poetry on this blog can romanticize the very things that we had to fight for. The moments of delight sometimes are fleeting, like the Fall leaves, but they are good and I am thankful for whatever glimpses of glory come my way.

Millie (20 months)

Oh Millie. Sometimes I don't have words.

for your love for being without clothes.

your love for shoes.

your sassy walk.

the way you say, "byeeeee", so, so sweetly.

for your legs, which have been cloned from mine. I apologize in advance, for the way those cute knee high boots may never fit. 

you'll make up for it in other ways.

you are hilarious and witty, I can already tell.

You sleep pretty well. You LOVE your paci. I don't know how we'll ever get rid of that thing. It seems every day you add to your attachments. Paci, lovie, blankie, and cup. All 4 must go all places.

you love your loves, what can I say.

We are blessed to know you. and love you.

and girl, you do have some moves.

making soup. snapshots.

sometimes I don't know how to capture my thoughts, other than snapshots. Those moments in the day, when the clarity comes.

A friend on Facebook recently said something that stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Sometimes you have a night where the Fall seems totally restrained and you remember a fresh the truth you have staked your life on"

Working all night to be home with my girls. Homemade soup. Trying to make my home beautiful. Turning the stones, over and over- hoping the truth is still there, and smiling when God shows up.

Admitting the sadness that comes, when the same people irritate you, when your relationships disappoint, when anger wins, again.

You wonder, will I ever be saved? Will I ever be free?

Sometimes I get lost in the new heavens and the new earth. I think of years unhindered, our beat up souls, free.

I think of the people, I'll enjoy, when it's all made right.

Am I crazy to stake my life on this?

Maybe.

I  do not share many things with the Saints.

But I stand with Peter, To whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life. (I say in my heart.)

Until then?

I make soup. Share a table. stake my life on Jesus.