Spring Child

This cold, wet spring glowed bright
with you, our golden glint in all the gray.

A small span falls short of seasons

but sprawls large enough to learn a life,
long enough to love unseen,
and deep enough to mourn
while warmth again rightly rises from green,
and tight buds swell toward flower and fruit.

RWBB

For today, a day undeniably SPRING, I offer this one, perfect song for you, thanks to my daughter Mildred-- who knew I would love it-- and my husband, who canceled our music streaming service months ago but bought me a used c.d. for my birthday so I could listen to this one, perfect song on repeat for a week straight. <3

(Remember, it's the red-winged blackbird, not the robin, that has my heart.)

Birding 101: A Red Wren

I'll shift this around to the proper chronology post-catch-up, but since Susannah's currently ten hours away at Poiema, I figured it was safe to slap forty pictures of her on Shotsnaps when she's not around to forbid me. Brilliance.

I should have learned my lesson from Annika's senior pictures-- that planning will probably make things easier-- but we did the same thing. She came home from work on a day that was sunny instead of gray, and we haphazardly rushed out to snatch the last pockets of daylight.  The two evenings were sprinkled with twirling (lots of twirling), woodsy walks, and goofiness. (I offer apologies that without permission I don't dare post the pictures of her gobbling flowers and posing like a parody of a teenaged instagrammer; plus, I'm doubtful she'd give it, more's the pity).

It's strange to have this girl officially done with h'learning, though she's still dipping into the books here at home to fill in the gaps of our Year of Weddings. It's stranger yet to have our insatiably curious, lively, introspective, interesting little Birdie looking (and acting!) like a young adult...because, you know, she is one. 

She's smart, sarcastic, and kind. She's a seeker of beauty and a maker of beauty; she's still curious and lively and introspective and interesting. I'm thankful for the grace and strength God's giving her to walk all the bends in the road. We love you. Susannah! Three cheers for reaching the end of quarterly reports!!! ;) 

I think it's okay to post one teenaged-instagrammer picture. Look at those deformed feet! 

A Winter Sweetpea Redundancy

 

I'm posting these pictures now because I want them on shotsnaps before Sweetpea arrives in 7 weeks or so! And, yes, my OCD self will move this post to proper chronological order once I finally catch the fake, electronic version of real life up to the present. (Only 17 and a half months to go! Groan.)

Millie's Northern bridal  baby shower was the first week of February, and since we won't see her again until early May or so after Baby arrives, she asked if I could take a few pictures in the snow. She's having a friend take maternity pictures in NC, but, alas, there is no snow to speak of there.  It was cold and windy when we headed out for pictures before church, but Millie has always loved winter, and she braved the cold and wind like a coatless champ. (Posed photography is not in my skill set, but it helps when your subject is gorgeous and looks like Rose Red even when she's freezing.)  Henry was a good sport and stuck it out for Millie's sake; his eye crinkles didn't even waver!  ;)

No commentary is needed, really. 

WE CANNOT WAIT TO MEET THIS LITTLE BABY. <3