Happy Easter

Trust me the kids looked cute for Easter. You are going to have to trust me because just as we had the kids lined up the kids in front of the cherry blossoms, the battery on the camera died. Fail.

So here's the more accurate picture of our Easter celebration. Miri and Reuben gnawing with dogged determination on their "cocoa bunnies" We are cruel parents and only give them the bunnies frozen solid out of the freezer. It's cleaner and slows down the sugar insanity. Builds character.

On introspection

My new motto- Life takes time.

I mean that in the way that to live, to really be alive means being open to timing and seasons and events that are natural. Natural in the unpredictable, unknowable sort of way that is much grander and larger than day to day existence or finite individual awareness or understanding.

Adopting this belief is a bit of a radical departure from my usual modi operandi. I keep a schedule. But I think it is True, you know, capitol T and all.

Beware my dark introspective self, I have a penchant for a low muttering type of philisophying. I blame Good Friday. Is there a sadder day in all the year? It seems to call up all our lost loves. It calls to my mind the scripture from Jeremiah:

A voice was heard on high of lamentation, of mourning, and bitter weeping, Rachel mourning for her children and she would not be comforted for they were not.

That sort of mourning is my feeling of Good Friday.

Resistance is Futile

When the kids start drawing I can't resist trying out their crayons. My conclusion: Most kid art stuff (like crayola) is awful. Pale waxy crayons, crumbly chalk, goopy paint - ick. No wonder they only scribble.

Water Babies

We tried going to the lake the other night. When we arrived we were met by some violent thunderstorms. While watching the turbulent cells rumble across the water was awe inspiring, being exposed on the shore didn't seem very safe. So we went home with a car full of angrily disappointed kids.

We went back the next afternoon and mother nature was in a better mood. All the kids loved splashing in the water. More than hour later it took a lot of work dragging them out even though they were all purple lipped and shivering.

Oh Black Water

We played in the Congaree swamp yesterday. The kids loved the black water.
Reuben was so impressed, he tried pretty hard to fall into it. Miri wiggled out of her shoes and sprinted laughing and barefoot for a good mile of path. She looked like a wild swamp sprite.

I told Amy if I believed in air freshners, which I don't, I'd want one that smelled like deep swamp forest. I love that smell of dark, damp, ancient primeval forest. Ahhh.

Creeking

A cool muddy creek filled with soggy cousins, who could ask for anything more?

Among the Trees

When I am among the trees,

especially the willows and the honey locust, 

equally the beech, the oaks,

and the pines,

they give off such hints of gladness.

I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,

in which I have goodness, and discernment,

and never hurry through the world

but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves

and call out, “Stay awhile.”

The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,

“and you too have come 

into the world to do this,

to go easy, to be filled

with light, and to shine.”

by Mary Oliver

 Reuben and Miri enjoy taking everything one step farther.