beauty trumped my doubt

"But if we hope for what we do not see,
with perseverence we wait eagerly for it."

ohhh weekend. in which we recover from colds, watch tv, and drink tea. brett helps sandbag one of the city wells after 10" of rain causes much flooding. norah joins the trees in donning fall colors. i read books and tidy around the house and whisper to brett, "all i want for christmas is a house. wrapped in snow."

our little girl grows so assertive. she craves attention & interaction. her babyhood was fleeting, i had hardly said hello and it was gone. how i love to watch her legs stretch out and see her mind put things together and the words come out in full sentences, newly-born into the dazzling light of day.

sometimes the past feels like a dream. most has faded away, except for brief vivid memories, like postcards. the ache will remain. the happiest, highest moments are but a taste of heaven.

ah but i have the sweetest friend to share life with.

mmtf (much more than friend)

My beloved is dazzling and ruddy
His eyes are like doves

His mouth is full of sweetness

And he is wholly desirable

This is my Beloved and this is my Friend

O daughters of Jerusalem

~from SoS five~

Apron/Heart Strings

Norah helps make peanut butter cookies. A little baker in the making.

Dreary? Not At All.

On bicycle and in burley carrier, we rode to Target on a drizzly morning and found a new rain jacket for Norah. On the way home through the park we paused to dampen our bottoms on a wet slide and quack at the ducks. At home we cozied up with hot chocolate. We are quite in love with rainy fall days.

Irresistable

Helping "Ryott" walk on the ledge as we stroll by Pillsbury. Her hair is growing longer and it is September and I get to spend such luxurious, undistracted time with her. *joy*

Stewardship

"The rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other, great or small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?"

-Gandalf the White

...Affordable
...Near Brett's work
...DIY fixer-upper
...Built pre-1950
...On a gravel road

These are our considerations as we explore the possibility of buying a house. Will we resell it in a few years or raise our children and live out our days upon its threshold? Will it compliment our daily lifestyle and not deter us in our hospitality? Does it feel like a home? Is buying the right house a good investment, or ought we rent for a while longer as we continue to practice tranquility and saving as God allows? For how much longer?

Certainly several things have fallen into place that make the option possible at all. And our desire is there. With hope, we wait, and prepare, and dream.

Raggamuffin

Brett and I were settled in bed watching Star Trek. Our current set up is having all of our belongings in one room (the rest stored in the garage), and Norah sleeps on the other side of our wall, in Brian and Andrea's library/craftroom. She goes to bed at eight o'clock. It was about 10, and we heard thumping noises.

"Like it..."
*THUMP*
"Move it..."
*THUMP*
"Like it..."
*THUMP*
"Move it move it"
*THUMP*
*THUMP*
"I like move-it move-it"

Brett hit pause and I whispered, "Where did she hear that?!" We concluded that she must have seen it on tv. We tried to muffle our giggles. What a precious, hilarious little girl.

This past Labor Day weekend was full and fun. The usual, grieving my impatience, rejoicing over wind and rain, church and house considerations, kitchen remodelling progress, farmer's market, reading, games. Hoodies. Bonfires. Coffee and hot chocolate. I am SO reveling at the prospect of the mosquitoes dying.

Caterpillar Butterfly

five black swallowtails munch on parsley

a chrysalis and a fat cat

emerging wings

from below the empty chamber is transparent

Without change there would be no butterflies!