Grateful Acres

She skipped and spun with her arms in the air, complete with little elbow-dimples. Her dress frilled out around her in little white layers as she spun. Beautiful green eyes peered out from wispy brown hair and chubby, round cheeks. Grinning, she danced unashamed. Joy, simplicity, and beauty surrounded her. On Sunday morning (Mother's Day!) I thanked God for the children He is letting me raise on earth, and asked Him to give little Evelyn a Mother's Day kiss for me. During a dancing song at church God answered me, and gave me a Mother's Day gift I will never forget! I had my eyes closed, and for just an instant, God let me see my beautiful Evelyn! My movement began to slow, and then stopped. My whole body felt like it was holding it's breath, hoping to hang on to the glimpse just for one moment more... I was a little in shock- I hadn't expected this amazing, unforgettable gift! Evelyn is two today! Happy Birthday, beautiful girl! I KNOW your day was filled with ...

I used to talk with older-wiser-more-seasoned Moms, and wonder at how they could forget some of the details of the early stages of parenting. Most remembered in vivid colors their birth stories, the night wakings, babies first words, their kids' comfort items, a few foods their toddler refused to eat, and one or two horror stories of crazy things their kids did. I wanted to know HOW they taught their children to be obedient, HOW LONG it took to train them to do certain things. I wanted to hear about their break-down moments, what they did on desperate days, I wanted to soak up their recounting of how God taught them along the way how to do such a marvelous job of raising wild little beasts into godly men and women. I would think, "HOW could they forget?? How is it possible to NOT remember the pain of childbirth, the stinging scratch of tiny fingernails on hot, sweaty summer skin while rocking and bouncing a frustrated, crying infant, HOW do they forget the feelings of "...

I've forgotten much of the terminology, but some of my best childhood memories took place on sailboats. My dad and one of my brothers built a small one a few handfuls of years ago, and we took several family vacations sailing a big, rented one around the San Juan Islands. I love being blasted by the wind, I love leaning out the side of a boat to keep the wind from flattening it to the water, I love the sound the water makes against the sides, I love the bobbing of a boat that is not "under weigh"... I love it. If you've sailed before, you'd know that it's not the most... direct form of travel. Sometimes you're out in the middle of a lake, and the wind totally disappears. Sometimes the current of a river is going the wrong direction in relationship to the wind, and you can't get where you'd like to. Sometimes you have great wind going TO your destination, and end up rowing (or drifting) the whole way back. It is a beautiful form of travel (and rec...