Henry and Bumpkin

It's hard to believe, and time's flown so fast, but Henry and Mildred have been man and wife for nearly six months. 

(All photos above taken by Miss Danielle B.-- friend and photographer extraordinaire.)

(Cue small violin.) While we are so thankful God has joined them with fine, godly (kind! smart! talented! handsome!) husbands, Mildred and Annika living ten hours away has not become easier. In some ways, it's become harder.

Part of the reason it's become harder, however, is simultaneously somethingone we rejoice over!

You guessed it-- Tim and Annika's baby Glory-Girl has been joined by a little cousin! We couldn't be happier to welcome this little life into the world.

Sweetpea's presence is finally becoming obvious on this beautiful woman, and a post is long past due. 

We praise God for this little one, and we pray for Henry, Mildred, and their wee baby, whom we love so much already, sight unseen. <3

We Want a King

Well, Dad-- 

If old habits die hard,
you bear some blame 
when I take the bait, 
open my mouth,
and let hounds race
baying from my lips.

But tonight, it's mine.

I chased those hounds down
driving home in the dark,
as rain-slick shapes made me start.

Ten years today
since you were gone.
In blue-moon light,
I still send dogs barking, 
but there's no thrill to this hunt. 

What did we seek
past the gleam of sharp wit
and sharp words?
Each solid hit is empty 
if it lands on one you love.

Time and loss taught me 
what nothing else did.
Peel back pride, and
only love remains.

--  We miss you, still and until. 

Real Time

Overheard upstairs this morning while Cadence and Skylark were cleaning the room five children share:

Cadence, frustrated with her little sister's lukewarm work ethic, "Skylark! You are so lazy! You're the laziest person in the whole United States! Even THE PRESIDENT does more work than you!!!"

(I have no idea where she gets the idea that the President twiddles his thumbs all day, but, apparently, she thinks it's a pretty cushy job.)

Aunt Karen!

This one's for  you. I haven't even posted LAST year's Hallowe'en costumes, but here's this year's Hallowe'en gif (current! real-time! up-to-date!) to tide you over until I stop wasting time in other ways and start wasting time blogging again.