not dark yet

i was sorting through some papers the other day when i found these two fantastic prints that i had ordered almost 2 years ago from betsy thompson.  and then i got three swallowfield prints for mother’s day…prints i’ve been admiring for 2-3 years.  i love them.  

i think i want to start a tradition: give mom art for mother’s day.  it’s easy on the kids when they get older & it’s something i love!  

anyhow, i ran some errands tonight & forked out a small amount of dough for some frames (that hobby lobby knows how to have a 50% off sale, don’t they?! ten bucks?).  and today i visited pekin, IL twice: once with the kids to walmart & the park.  the second time to retrieve my wallet that i left in the cart when i visited with the kids in the a.m.  thankfully all cards & cash were still in place.  phew.  praise to the lord!  the betsy thompson rediscovery, “no more goodbyes”:

and swallowfield’s “remember spring”

and “i like the trees outside my window”

watch this video of my friend daphne…help her out if you can!!! (it’s her husband in the background, shocked at this contest)

after a long day of mothering-while-sleep-deprived, jay took the kids in the backyard to play while i did some studying.  when i emerged from reading & started fixing some supper, i saw this obstacle course he’d set up with them.  they saw me through the kitchen window & made me come out to give it a try.  

i’m so excited for the summer.  i’m taking the summer off from a few activities & enjoying respite & play with my family.  i’m gonna read a lot of inspiring biographies, learn how to smoke meat, get up early every day & stay up til my eyes won’t stay cracked open any longer.  i wanna see my mom & dad as much as i can, go swimming with the kids ’til the money runs out, make sun tea most days, sit on the front porch glider with my man, & play games ’til he can’t handle bein’ beat no more!  here’s to the end of the school year & the beginning of vacation!

this mother’s day morning i am at home with a sick little boy.  we spent yesterday afternoon in the ER having him checked out after high fever caused a febrile seizure. ugh. and though i wish i could be at church with the rest of the clan, i’m sure you can imagine the gift it is to be able to stay home & comfort the little one that needs it…and to nurse my own sleepy, weary self, too.

after reading books & falling asleep together on the couch, i put henry in his bed and finished watching “i’ve loved you so long“. and cried my eyes out.  i thought the neti pot would help my allergy-head to clear up, but i think the tears were the real solvent.

ali came to visit for a few days and reminded me what it’s like to have easy, caring, mutual friendship…the kind that doesn’t run away from but runs to another.  consistently.  considerately.  (also: we recorded some music, if you care to listen.)  reminders are so good.  a drink in the desert.

anyhow, i’m here in the aftermath, missing my family and friends and sizing up the reality of it all.  ”i’ve loved you so long” helped.  clarified.  untangled some of the lines that i was trying to lay straight.  the fact that: you show people you love them. not with silence or absence…and not just words.