Smells like Country.

So this week began with a 14(ish) hour car trip from Massachusetts to North Carolina. Between two cars we had 3 adults and 5 small children. We managed, with as much grace as possible, all the pooping and peeing accidents, the rainy weather, the faulty gps directions, the endless request for treats or something different to listen to. And we made it to our first break in the trip--a quick few hours of sleep at my brother's apartment just outside of DC. The first day was so draining, it actually became comical after a few hours of sleep.

Day two started much better. The skies were blue, there were no complicated roads to navigate. We were doing well. My favorite (read: funny and unnerving at the same time)  moment of the entire trip came when we stopped for gas a few hours into the second leg. I was coming out of the bathroom at the gas station all by myself and had to walk through a group of people talking at the counter. As I started to try and sneak by without bothering anyone, a big black woman stepped directly in front of me, blocking my path, and in a too-sugary-to-be-sweet voice said, "well, heeeeeeeeeyyyy!" I wanted to think she was being kind, so I smiled back and said hello. Then she looked around at her friends and straight back at me, finishing her sentence with a menacing, "Little House on the Prairie." I actually was laughing about it as I quickly pushed my way through the group and made it back outside. It only occurred to me a little while later that it actually was a little scary! I kind of wish I had engaged the comment and told her about our recent addition of a pony at the farm and what vegetables are coming up in the garden. Apparently I exude country more than I thought. Must have been the home haircut and corduroy pants that gave me away:)

But now we are safe and sound in North Carolina. The days of summer sun and swimming, fresh fruit and vegetables out our ears, late bedtimes, and extra treats has begun. And we love it.

Minutes.

Just for the record, here are a few things that happened in the last few months of our lives:

* Dot turned 4!
* Marty and I celebrated 5 wonderful years of marriage.
* I turned 29. What?! Where did my twenties go?
* Lucy turned 3!
* I cut bangs into my own hair. Still wondering if this was a good idea...
*We cut bangs into Dot's hair because she wanted to look like mommy.
* I sheared my first sheep--and lost part of my left thumb in the process. Luckily not too much.
* We tore apart and remodeled our kitchen pantry.
*We moved around our garden plots to make room for a cow--and maybe a pony.
*Asparagus and radish season has come and gone. Lettuce is about to bolt. Summer must be around the corner.
*Ezra became the cutest boy known to man. Oh, wait. That is always.
*Almost lost the goat in a freak fence falling accident. She is pretty much recovered.
*Bought a fourth child...I mean sourdough starter. Seriously, I have to feed that thing almost as often as my children. 

There you go. Now you know what life has brought us:)

Sleeping beauties.

Don't you just love when you find your children sleeping in positions like this?

Just takin' a break, folks.

I could not stop laughing at how this bear was sitting when we went to the zoo earlier this week. Seriously! Look at that hunkered down, old man pose. It must be good being a bear:)

Life and Death

Well, it has been a while....again.

Springtime gets a tad bit frantic around here. Spare time is suddenly all spent planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, and cooking lovely vegetables. No complaints. Just busy!

Yesterday, I had the privilege to attend both a funeral and a baby shower. Both were wonderful celebrations: one of a life well-spent, the other of a life yet to come. My mind is still churning over all that I took in. I was able to hear stories of adventure, love, heartache, and fulfillment of one woman's life. I was able to hear the excitement, planning, and preparations from another woman for the life inside of her.

Through both events I was simply touched by the beauty of life. I feel so blessed to see incredible examples around me of people living life with joy and purpose and doing good unto others. I feel equally blessed to watch sweet couples around me find joy and purpose in fulfilling their divine ability to create and nurture life.

I believe in a loving Heavenly Father that sent our spirits here to this Earth to learn and grow and gain a physical body. I believe that when we die it is not the end, but that our spirits carry on in learning and growth.

To be so close to life and death brought both tears and laughter. Opposition is beautiful. We learn from the good and bad, the easy-peasy and the difficult. I am grateful for this earthly experience which gives us the chance to be a part of life and death. But mostly, I am grateful to know that birth was not the beginning, and death is not the end. It is all part of one eternal journey.

Courage

Well, he did it.

My baby boy went and turned ONE on me. 

I still don't know how it happened. 

I'm convinced that he will never grow up, 

but I'm pretty sure that life has different plans:)

We celebrated with a butternut and buttermilk pie, 

lots o' boy toys,

and ridiculous amounts of kisses and cuddles. 

Life doesn't get much sweeter than that. 

Happy Birthday, my sweet baby boy!