Savored Joys

The first daffodil buds, brought into their new home on the kitchen windowsill with bated breath on March 1. They opened into rays of sunshine a few hours later and their magnificent beauty brought me serious joy! They portend of a coming spring, of winter drawing to an eventual close.

All the new words and sounds Annie is making at 18 months. "Say, 'thank you!'" I invited her today after serving her the "cwackers"she asked for "Dank ooo" she happily replied. So sweet!

Daylight savings time embraced with ardor. When seven o'clock catches you by surprise because the sky is a nice dusty pink, instead of dark. Off to bed, all of you!

Annie making her way into the 'big kid room,' and the delight with which all three kids haven taken to sleeping together, snuggled up around Annie's crib, like birds in a nest.

Seeing Ruth in her leotard and ballet slippers and whispy hair pinned into a bun just a month shy of three, finding her way into a girl's world of choreographed motion and sound, friendship and beauty, twirls and leaps, giggles and grins.

Seven purple candles, stationed across our dinner table like a cross, reminding us in these weeks of how Jesus set his face towards Jerusalem, set his face towards the cross.

Ever throwing my feet on the floor in the dark mornings for that first sip of hot coffee topped with foamy cream and a chance to wake up slowly on my own while my eyes scan the horizon for darts of light. 'When morning gilds the sky, my heart, awakening cries, may Jesus Christ be praised.'

The immense hope of early spring, just when you've ceased to believe the sun will ever make your skin feel warm again and things will ever grow bright and green, the crocuses poke up, squat but mighty, and promise that things won't be so bleak forever.

Finding quiet, meditative, sweaty rest in the sauna.

Reliving my Russia travels, which now feels like a distant dream from another life, as I've read A Father's Tale.