Probably Just Sunday

Beads of dun spill out unseen 

While you walk laughing on the way. 

Heedless of what lands in dust, 

You have enough and more to spare. 

You string each one along coarse thread, 

A knobby line of common clay.

A line that lengthens as it must,

I try but can't avert my stare. 

And my hand aches 

From six bright stones, sharp-edged. 

The gems I grip are fine and rare, 

With colors fit for festal days, 

Yet I would trade with joy and haste 

For those you drop without a care.

Something New

**

**

*

Well, it's not exactly new, since Henry proposed last month, but as you can see from their flashing grins (and the flash of that lovely ring on Mildred's finger), our precious girl is moving toward life with someone she loves.

When she came home after meeting Henry for the first time, Millie told me, "He reminds me of the Terry boys!" Since she loves the Terry-boy cousins with her steadfast loyalty, we should have known. Last March, Henry called John to ask his permission to "get to know" Millie, and that's all it took. They got to know each other better, liked what they learned, and knew after 6 months that they'd like to marry each other. Henry was kind enough to my poor heart to delay the proposal until a few months after Annika left for life with Tim in VA, but when it arrived, their engagement was not a surprise

All of life is full of Big Things, but I'm at a loss when it comes to blogging this time with its potent mix of deep joy and deep heartache. Since she'll be getting married in three months and moving to NC, though, her engagement needs a marker on here so distant readers aren't surprised if I post wedding pictures someday. 

I guess all that needs to be said is that we are grateful that God saw fit to give Henry and Mildred the gift of each other, and we pray for them both as they approach the start of their life together. And that's the truth.

 

(All photos by Rebecca, except for the one with an *, which was taken at Annika's wedding by Danielle, and **, which are post-engagement selfies)