Something Beautiful Wednesday

Today's something beautiful is a photograph of one of my favorite places on earth: The Arch in Antigua, Guatemala. I've spent some time there studying Spanish and for debriefing after several mission projects. That city has a piece of my heart, and I wanted to share it with you.



http://juan-arita.deviantart.com/art/Arch-in-Antigua-Guatemala-64131113

Camping Weekend

This is where we spent our weekend:


It was just an absolutely beautiful place. Caleb was thrilled to camp on the "beach," and made the most of the giant sandbox.




Eric enjoyed fishing.


And we saw a deer!


We attended a good friend's wedding, enjoyed good food and drinks, caught up with friends I haven't seen since high school, and relaxed by the river. And despite the migraine I had Saturday night (and we'd forgotten to bring up ibuprofen or anything), it was an excellent, beautiful time in the mountains.

Something Beautiful Wednesday

I'm going to give this a try: Every Wednesday will be a post about something beautiful, be it a poem, a photo, or anything else that touches my soul.

For this week, a poem by Rumi.



"BIRDWINGS"

Your grief for what you've lost lifts a mirror
up to where you're bravely working.

Expecting the worst, you look, and instead,
here's the joyful face you've been wanting to see.

Your hand opens and closes and opens and closes.
If it were always a fist or always stretched open,
you would be paralyzed.

Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding,
the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated
as birdwings.

Quote

"The pages are still blank, but there is a miraculous feeling of the words being there, written in invisible ink and clamoring to become visible." —Vladimir Nabakov

Caleb Loves Bugs

Which is wonderful, I think, for a two and a half-year-old boy. He's fascinated by all the bugs we come across. Now, for a mommy that is generally really creeped out by those creepy-crawlies, it's been a bit of a challenge. I'm trying to overcome my squeamish reaction, so I can teach him better, and show him not to be afraid of exploring the world around him. I can hold ladybugs and rolly-polies, but that's about it. Worms and earwigs are still way too much for me to handle; so we just observe them from where we sit, or stand, in my case.

The other night when leaving a restaurant after dinner, I found a ladybug on the car door while Eric was buckling Caleb into his car seat. So I put it in my palm, and showed Caleb. He was so thrilled! "Look! A bug! So tiny!" Though he refused to hold it himself, I love the fascination his face expresses.

And yesterday while weeding our one finished planter in the back yard, Caleb found the bees in the salvia. I love that he's not afraid of them (yet?), and we can talk about pollination while observing it first hand. (I also love that after watching them for about ten minutes, he decided to run around the back yard buzzing like a little bee, too.)

My little scientist... I can't wait to see what we explore next.

I Win!

I know, it's silly, but still. After MONTHS of trying, I finally beat the expert setting of Minesweeper.



So that's my big new for today.
But.
I'm working on a post regarding BIG news, and it will be great. I think so, anyway. Stay tuned!

It is FINALLY summer!

And this is why:

Last night we pulled out Caleb's pool and slide, and let him go a little crazy. This boy would have stayed out there all night if we hadn't brought his shivering, blue-lipped body inside.

I finished a wonderful little book called Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh this afternoon. It is rich with insight and wisdom into daily life and relationships. I checked this copy out of the library, but must add it to my personal library; there are quite a few passages that deserve highlighting.



My library, by the way, is nearly complete! One entire wall is bookcases now, and I only have a few more boxes to take care of before my happy place is officially finished. Excitement!

I'm Back! and An Award!

So... After a LONG absence due to a two-plus lack of internet access, I am back! It'll take me a while to catch up on all I've missed, but I am absolutely looking forward to it.

Also, Nikki over at The Lunatic Cafe gave me this award!

Totally unexpected, and absolutely appreciated!