La vie en rose

Hold me close and hold me fast

This magic spell you cast

This is la vie en rose

When you kiss me heaven sighs

And when I close my eyes

I see la vie en rose

 When you press me to your heart

I'm in a world apart

A world where roses bloom

And when you speak angels sing from above

Everyday words seem to turn into love songs

Give your heart and soul to me

And life will always be

La vie en rose

This is your lullaby

Happy 2 months little rose!

All my love,
Mama

Twenty-nine

You were born at twenty-nine minutes past the hour on the twenty-ninth day of the month.

Now all too soon the twenty-ninth day has come again and you are one month old! 

Looking back at your precious yellow-tinted newborn skin, 

all six and one half pounds of you, 

how you nestled into our arms and home and lives so perfectly.

Your sweet, sleepy self settled right into any warm soft place I placed you 

and we marveled, though sleepy ourselves, but so in love we never cared.

  And then suddenly two weeks had flown by and you became curious of your new world, 

making noises and coming out of your womb-like shell of a personality.

 We marveled again.

We wanted you to know we were watching, listening, 

always attentive to your needs, always loving you.

 You grew and grew! 

Surpassing your birthweight you are now over 9 pounds

Each day it seems we could never love you more

and yet each day that passes the more in love we fall.

 You've captured our hearts little one!

And now the twenty-ninth day is special in so many ways.

Each month you will grow and change.

And we will try our very best not to blink.

Do try your best to never grow up my dear.

All our love,

Mommy + Daddy

Dear Nollie

Today we are the happiest we've ever been in life

You are born!

Our hearts never knew this kind of love

All teary-eyed, wonder-filled, awe-struck love

Our eyes never saw such beauty

All glowing in newness, soft and smooth and perfectly pink

Perfectly petite and oh so unique in every way

Our arms will never tire of holding you

Our lips will never cease their tender kisses

And our mothers will always be your greatest fans

Loving you fiercely as they have loved us

Our friends will know you and lovingly watch you grow

You are the first of many and that makes you quite special

Happiest of birthdays to you my dear

A life of love and wonder awaits you!

Love,

Mommy

Days

The long months have transformed into numbered weeks

and now mere days exist between me and my heart being laid bare

My world turned inside-out… literally!

It all comes down to a moment. 

A day that will be marked on my life's timeline forever

The day I meet the one who makes me a mama

Ending one journey to start another.

A day filled with promise and praise

Though not void of pain and purposed work.

It will be the work of grace.

For the joy set before me I will endure…

His grace made complete in me…

All-sufficient.

These last few weeks have shown me how weak I truly am.

How needful I am of His strength and patience 

His faith that all will be well

That all will come together for good.

And this gives me peace undeniable

Hope to anchor my soul

Dispelling lies and fear.

As my mother reminded me today,

He knows all her days, 

Especially the day of her birth!

And His ways are not our ways

But His ways are always good.

A long way home

We've come a long way from this day, nearly a year ago now...

We had no idea how far or how suddenly our lives would change.

It's been breath-taking, soul-shaking, raw and glorious and new.

So much wonder and venture and love all rushing over us like the great Columbia tide.

We've found comfort and friendship and simple pleasures amidst the ever-changing current of our course. Content, yet certain the road leads on...

He has been so steady, so unwaveringly true. 

So easy to follow, so pleasing to love.

We've actually had a lot of fun!

Despite the loneliness, the far-away feelings I sometimes get,

we've managed to splurge on adventure and romance and even make a few dreams come true.

We've explored beaches and mountain tops, searched our hearts and fathomed realities.

We've imagined things we never thought possible, never dared to hope.

Now it's been nearly a year and we're on the verge of a whole new season.

About to witness a miracle and experience a love neither of us can truly prepare for.

We'll take it all in stride like we've done thus far.

We may have taken the long road, but we've always enjoyed the view.

The farther we roam, the closer home seems to be.

Because home is a thing of the heart.

Growth...

The other night it thundered so hard we both woke startled and wondered if the window panes were still intact. Reassured we snuggled in close and morning came with this soft misty light and the first true green 2013 has ever seen. Wonderful, brilliant green. How we've missed you!

 And all of the sudden life just teems everywhere. Tender buds I hardly remember from the year before. Strange how seasons fold into one another so quickly, effortlessly, and yet so distinctly different from their predecessor. I've been struck with how my excitement for each one's coming also fades so quickly into a let's-move-on-to-the-next attitude. Why not enjoy each one, each day as if it were the first?

 So I challenged myself after a long workday to take my iphone out to the half mile gravel track near our apartment and breathe in this fresh spring air. The telephone poles and street lights marked my way in the dark and it was so invigorating. So worth it! 

I find that in these spontaneous free-spirit adventures, the choices seem easier and the rewards more sure. No matter my path or how far I run, I will have accomplished something worthwhile, if not to anyone else, at least to me. My mind will be refreshed, my body rejuvenated, my breath will be spent and full. Why not take this attitude into all my decisions? All our plans?

Take them as a brand new adventure 

with only good things to come and new paths to discover. Let our hearts be moved by each new 'season' of life and welcome them with open arms. Seasons come and go and that is the nature of life and every choice we make. I must learn to embrace them with open arms and an open heart. I must savor each one and take on the challenges as they come. Nothing lasts forever and change is inevitable. 

But so is growth...

In this moment...

"By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us - set us right with him, make us fit for him - we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand - out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. 

There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles  can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. 

In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary - we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"

Romans 5:1-5, The Message

welcome spring!

The birds have been singing in the early mornings for a few weeks now, stealing strips of straw from my flower basket on the deck rail. Undoubtedly, their nests will endure the storms to come.

Oh, come, spring, come! We are all ready to breathe you in again, to feel your warmth again.

You are the hope of all things green and bright and new...

For the past 21 days I've been re-training my taste buds to crave green over goodies. I do have an overwhelming love for sweets... And it gets the better of me sometimes :)

It's been such a good cleanse for me, experimenting with different flavor combinations, all raw and healing and life-giving. My energy and clarity are pristine.

(I gave up coffee too!)

Craving Vitamin D, I welcome the taste of California sunshine in pure white almond milk, creamy, nutty goodness soaked and strained.

 And pulsing those roasty nuts smooth with maple, cinnamon, and mocha flavors. So many options to play with and enjoy!

Or package up and give away.
(These are for you, Dad!)

So even though it snowed on the first day of this new season, I'll still say, "Welcome Spring!" Even if you are slow to show your colors and stingy on the sunshine, all good things come to those who wait, right? So I'll wait and enjoy my home-made goodies in the meantime!

Check out my inspiration at www.kriscarr.com/recipes
She's one crazy gal with a passion for health and wellness, loved her book!