Life is hard and also, there are so many miracles sprinkled throughout everyday life, just for the finding. I love to ponder and notice how bitter and sweet, brutal and beautiful are most always woven together. Life is good and We can do hard things are two of my very favorite sayings and they are rarely independent of each other. It is just the way of things.
With my camera I love to capture the life-is-good parts....its one of the ways that I express gratitude. But that doesn't mean that the pretty, easy parts are good and the hard, uncomfortable parts are bad. I have found (and I reminding myself again) that some of the most beautiful and holy moments are in the suffering and pain (which can usually only see when you look back). And a really good time to be wowed by a sunrise and other daily miracles is in the middle of a pandemic. Or sickness, or relationship trouble, or financial hardship.
May 11
May in Connecticut is absolutely enchanting. The green is so fresh, the flowering trees are in full bloom. The memory of short days is still fresh and as such, the early-rising and late-setting sun is still a novelty not taken for granted. I'm often stopped in my tracks by the beauty and majesty of it all.
May 12
He's up and at school early. Less because he's a diligent student and more because he wants to get it out of the way. Though his teacher offers an optional video meeting twice a day, he usually opts to just work on his own.
May 13
A stunning start to the day.
Post-family fun run in the Chick-Fil-A parking lot. We've gotten pretty good with the order ahead app and curbside pickup. However, this time my sandwich didn't make it in the bag, something we discovered too far down the road. I sent them an email and they credited me, but it made me realize that I haven't given them any positive feedback, even though a visit to them has become a highlight of our weekly lives. Thank you, Chick-Fil-A for the important role you play in our family. :)
I love watching/listening to my kids Facetime with little cousins.
May 14
Start a fire in the afternoon, wearing pajamas? I mean, why not?
I discovered a robin's nest, right next to our front walkway, at waist height.
May 15
Since we were going through our old town to get the pickup truck, we stopped for a little treat, for old times sake.
We also took a little detour to go by one of my favorite spots during this time of year. I love that quarantine affords us the time to stop and smell the roses.
Several days this week the conditions were prime for a rainbow and finally, we spotted one!
May 16
Bright and early Avery and I hit the Farmer's Market. She's a good company girl.
Then we spent quite a few hours filling containers and making our yard look pretty. Its happy work that pays off over and over all summer long.
We were particularly amazed by these.
How do I know God loves me? Because everything is more beautiful than it needs to be.
May 17
All three babies hatched!! We're trying to leave Mama Robin alone so she can do her thing but we are so enthralled by this up-close viewing of nature in action.
A good sign! The game we spend hours and hours a week playing has been moved out to the porch!! :)
My neighbor sent this photo. Lots of boys!
While the other three went golfing, Amanda and I took a road trip to get ice cream for some much needed connection time. Life is hard, particularly when you are 13.
Shaun's patience and steadiness are astounding, even in times of adversity and suffering...like teaching a resistant, math-challenged middle schooler. ;) Oy!
I love phlox! Ours came and went a month ago, so it's fun to have a 2nd spring on your blog.
ReplyDeleteAnd Amanda is NOT 13. I refuse. Ha!
That robin’s nest with tiny baby birds is pretty spectacular! I agree—one of the ways I feel God’s love is in the fact that there’s so much beauty around us. He is generous with His creativity and abundant love.
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