Spring is in the Air

You know winter is on the way out when you see vehicles parked carefully at the end of every driveway… There’s so much slop and wet clay, it’s impossible to get through without getting stuck or at the very least, downright covered in mud.

I took a prayer walk this afternoon to give the Lord some of my heavier thoughts, and found myself standing over a rushing little creek, created by the melting snow running through a culvert under the road. I’ve always been fascinated by flowing water, the sound it makes and mostly the peace it brings; be it a trickling creek or a rushing river, the water has an uncanny knack for drowning out my own thoughts and replacing them with a peaceful contentment.

Oh Jesus, I surrender myself to You. Take care of everything! Especially…

This was my prayer, over and over until the worries began to fade. Especially… My family. Especially… My marriage. Especially… My grandpa. Especially… My dear friend D. Especially… Those longing in the pain of infertility. Especially… My inadequacies as wife and mother and mentor. Especially… especially…

Until I had given it all up. A Scripture was whispered into my heart, a simple instruction not to worry, but to focus on being faithful in the small things.

His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord. {Mt 25:23}

Be faithful in the small things. I thought of what that meant.

Like being a homemaker in my small one-bedroom + kitchenette home. That’s a good start.

Like making the most of my very part-time hours as a mentor to the boys.

Like raising my son, small as he is right now, before his needs and our family get bigger.

Have I been faithful in these things? I’m trying, but at times, definitely, not giving my best.

It’s lent though, so in my opinion, this is exactly the season to take a deeper look at what my interior life looks like and turn back to God for his {much needed} strength to press on with renewed fervor.

One of my favorite hymns came to me as I realized again, how pitiful my efforts to love really are. Do you know it?

Come back to me with

all your heart
Don’t let fear keep us apart
Trees do bend though straight and tall
So must we to others’ call

Long have I waited for
Your coming home to me
And living deeply our new lives

The wilderness will lead you
To the place where I will speak
Integrity and justice
With tenderness
You shall know.

Long have I waited for
Your coming home to me
And living deeply our new lives

“Hosea”

Maverick is coming up on 3 months, and he has been so much fun. I have found myself laughing out loud in unabashed joy at his quirky faces and the way he talks to us. Lately he’s started to prefer Rex to me (except if he’s hungry, so I still have some leverage). I can’t begrudge either of them, it is such a gift to be loved by this family. Last week Maverick surprised me by rolling onto his back when I wasn’t looking! I laid him on his tummy in front of the mirror we have set up, went into the kitchen to tidy up and came back to Maverick on his back- looking quite pleased with himself, I might add. I can’t describe the feeling at that moment. Pride? Love? Amazement? It seems so small and simple, but the newborn we met three months ago is now a person we can’t imagine life without. Our little BABY is growing up quickly! We’re doing our best to soak up each moment and to give Maverick the freedom to meet challenges as they come.

We are very hopeful to fly to Minnesota and visit family in mid-May. My sister Evelynn is receiving the sacrament of confirmation, and Caycee Jo is graduating from college! I’m so proud of my sisters, and the women they have, and are, becoming.

We are running out of space in our little room, which I would easily solve by giving everything away that we aren’t using right now, but my logical husband is building a storage shed instead. This is much better, because my idea usually means we have to find things a second or third time when we actually need them again, which is expensive at best and extremely inconvenient at worst. If you’ve lived in a tiny space, how did you manage to stay uncluttered and organized? I would really like to restore a sense of order around here! 😂

I am hoping to write about Maverick’s birth sometime soon. It was… Wow. God is good, and birth is a miracle. (Shout out to every mom, EVER).

We love you, family, and dear friends. We think of you often, we welcome your prayers and prayer requests, and letters and calls. It’s been what feels like a looong year, but we’ve made it this far! God has more in store.