Anniversary #17

So, last year we had a lot of flooding around here. The river that runs past our town was very high, and those who live along the river were struggling to keep their homes on the side of the river, rather than in it. We found out that a friend of ours was having this trouble, and my husband and I went and filled sandbags for an afternoon, then hauled them to her house and got them settled. It was hard, dirty, hot work, but you know, it was so much fun. There is something heavenly about working hard with people you love, and especially to help someone in need. You end up dead tired, and with sore muscles you never knew you had, but happier than you've been in a long time. So, her house stayed on the shore, she was very grateful (though she had done far more work than any of us), and she hoped to do something for us someday. Well, she has this little house that she rents out where we stayed a few years ago for our anniversary. It is along the river and is a beautiful, peaceful little place. With our financial woes being what they are this year, she has offered to let us stay again for our anniversary. Somehow seventeen years have passed since we got married, which seems unbelievable until I look around me and see these seven awesome children (and I do remember giving birth to each one). It will be lovely to spend some quiet time together. We hardly get to talk these days, and when we do it is over money. UGH. So, I am off to spend some time with the greatest mortal man I know.

Spring has...almost...sprung

I love Spring. I love the sunshine after the long, dark, cloudy days. I love seeing the dark circles of soil expand around the trees as the rain and sun do their work in warming the earth. I love walking outside to do some trivial little thing, and hearing the birds singing again. I love the prospect of planting delicate little things in the garden that will become beautiful, healthy plants that will help to feed my family. I love planting little seeds in soft, fluffy soil, and setting them in my windowsill, waiting for my little "babies" to come up. I could go on and on. It seems that the longing for Spring has to grow to the extent that I won't mind all the work that goes along with it. I could make a long and depressing list of all the things that need to be done, now that the snow is going away,

but for today, I want to relish the good. Luckily it is raining today, so I don't have to worry about all of those things. I had better go finish my mending pile before the mud goes away.