Here, and then gone.

The busy season is in full swing.  These are the days when I start to question a lot of things.  Why do I let my kids play sports?  What am I supposed to be doing again?  Does it really matter if they read well?  Who cares if they are good spellers, when we live in a world where your phone spells for you?  Why even desire to plant a garden when you only have a six week growing season?  The list goes on and on.

At the end of the day I find that I am drowning in blessings.  My cup is running over and spilling all over my floor.  Why do I find that so frustrating?  I am trying to rejoice in the fullness, and not expect it to get easier anytime soon.  I am very thankful for our family that was so good to us over Easter.  I am thankful for my wonderful teenager who is going to keep the family running for a few days while I am off supervising other teenagers.  I am thankful for my husband that is willing to let me go supervise our kids.  I am thankful for my many friends who have been flexible in making my crazy schedule work.  I am VERY thankful that God has given us breaks in the weather for almost every track meet.  I am thankful for my kids, who are all amazing people that I love being around every, single, day.  I am thankful for my Ethiopian kids.  Who knew that I had such strong children waiting for me in Africa.  I am so blessed to be their Mom.

The next four weeks are going to FLY by and then I will be adjusting to our new schedule.  It is hard to imagine that summer vacation is almost upon us.  I think the occasional snow storms are keeping that reality at bay.  I know it will come, and the transition is always interesting.  I am not going to worry about tomorrow, today has more than enough for me to think about.

#352-379

Fresh Strawberries, well sort of fresh, if I lived in California.

Nesradine's Ethiopia kisses.

Martha's smile.

70 degree days.

Oily forehead prints on windows from kids watching the snow fall in April.

Broken in jeans

Learning to read - hard stuff sometimes.

Eating too much food, because it is so good you can't stop.

Parents serving children, giving themselves for other parents.

Girls in pretty dresses.

Brooklyn sketching

Paul bringing Soren birthday cake.

Fat red robins

Chartreuse glow on barren tree branches, giving us hope of leaves in the future.

Creeks breaking out of banks, running free across fields, caressing trees usually beyond their reach.

Naps on the grass, in the sun.

Boys digging in the dirt, just for the joy of it.

Walks in the woods, over carpets of golden larch needles.

Teammates hugging each other.

Hometown visits, Colville will always be home.

Bumping into classmates at track meets, watching their kids run and jump.

Eden decorating pretend houses.

Grandmothers always serving, giving rest.

God opening our eyes to little epiphanies in our lives, giving assurance of provision in our lives and hope for our future.

White clouds in blue sky

Fresh, clean fields all set to burst forth with new life.

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed.