Transparency

Transparency.

windows work both ways
can they see You through me?

I yearn to peer out
but sometimes I can't bring myself to open the shutters
can't pull back the drapes
there's too much that could be seen
last week's smudges were never wiped off
there's dust on the windowsill.

translucency...

there are days when life would be so much easier
with broken views from old shower doors
looking in from the outside
they know that I'm here
shape and movement
light and dark
I'll be myself
only diffused

one more try

for a moment all I see is wrinkled valance
tangled blinds
those same smudges

but there You are in the garden
tilling
sowing
watering
staking
pruning
reaping

I've forgotten how much I love to watch You work

we need just one thing:
company

the window might not be impressive
but because it's transparent
the view is
Divine

Graduation!

Finally! Jonathan graduated Friday night with his Masters of Theology degree!

He's not completely finished with classes yet, as he still has a June term class to take, but at least we know he's coming down the home stretch!

His mom traveled up from Texas for his graduation. They look like they're in serious conversation here, but really they were just waiting for the food to be ready!



Our niece Grace also traveled up for the ceremony. We only get to visit with her about once a year, and she is an absolute joy and delight.



Ben in a thoughtful moment:



Kate, on the railing outside the Student Activity Center on campus:



Lily was exhausted that day, but after some watermelon at the indoor picnic, she managed a smile for the camera:



And the proud graduate himself:

Things that make me smile

A few "thingish things" from the past couple of days:



A girl needs accessories, right?



Warm, made from scratch, strawberry-banana muffins. (And of course, "help" making them!)



A gift from a sweet friend! A little desk for Kate to do her "school" work at while the older two are doing theirs.



The breeze from the concussion- er.....merry-go-round...



Just living it up in the sunshine!



Sisterly love.

And, of course, certain boys that stay on the go so much that the only pictures their mothers can get are of various blurry arms and legs!

"Downshifting"

I'm sure it's no surprise to any of you that as I've been neglecting my own blog, I've been neglecting others' as well. Now that the kids can get outside and play in the sunshine, I'm taking some "playtime" of my own to get caught up on my favorite blogs, as well as some new ones. I was particularly motivated yesterday by this post on "Top 10 Ways to Downshift" from Becoming Domestic. In the process of packing up my maternity clothes and items my kids had outgrown to pass on to friends and family, I was...well, just plain downright ashamed of how many things we have accumulated over the years!

For me, I became so excited over getting a "good deal" on something that I picked it up without thinking about whether we truly needed it or not. And once I had found the places where I could pick up "good deals," I visited them regularly so that I wouldn't miss anything! But now I look at everything I'm giving away and I realize how much I've truly missed. I've missed time with my family that I've spent sorting and organizing all these items that I thought I needed. By spending this time out and about, I've missed the satisfaction of being at home, knowing that everything was running smoothly.

And, of course, I've missed the sanity that disappears whenever I begin dragging three young children in and out of the car...

So what to do? Well...for starters, you might notice the "I took the handmade pledge" button on the sidebar. I believe this will be a positive step for our family for a couple of reasons. The first is that buying homemade teaches us a new useful skill. (Or it supports someone else who can.) The other reason is that if I take the time to make something I am much more likely to need it and use it. I won't make yet another item of clothing if we aren't in need of any, I can make something we need instead!

Like a chocolate cake...

I love these moments!