{pretty, happy, funny, real}

{pretty}

My dear friend Mary brought us over a dinner last night, as well as these flowers.  They are very pretty and lighten the mood around here just a little bit.  What is it about flowers that just seem to remind us that everything is really going to be ok?

 {happy}

Happy is a relative term.  Not much has taken me out of my fog.  One thing that has served to make me less sad is working on Ladybug's quilt. I have decided to hand quilt it, and though I've gone back and forth about whether that was a good idea, I think it is serving it's purpose.  My hands get to be busy creating something pretty and useful, and my mind can be blank.  The perfect combination.

When I just can't come up with my own words to pray, I have been falling back on these three books.  They say everything I'd like to say but can't and some things I don't want to say but should.  They are keeping me grounded.

 {funny}

My dear children never fail to bring about a few laughs. 

Especially when I'm watching a three year old try to sweep the sand she dumped off the porch.  How did she get in this jam?

 {real}

This plant is the perfect picture for how I am feeling.  Maybe I should give it water instead of just taking a picture of it?  Poor thing...

Visit Like Mother, Like Daughter to see all the other entries in contentment this week.

Thy Will Be Done

It was an unexpected flood
That came to me today
Sometimes bad news follows good
And it's really hard to say
Thy will be done

So there's been a change in plans
What am I supposed to do?
When it is out of my hands
And I can't see my way through
When I can't say
Thy will be done
Thy will be done

Well I will go to the altar
And I'll say "Amen"
And I'll open my mouth
And I'll try again
Thy will be done
Thy will be done

Well it scares me so to think
What You can take away
But I know that if I ask
I'll have the grace to say
Thy will be done

Oh, the flesh and blood of life are yours for the taking
And my helpless human heart is yours for the breaking
Thy will be done
Thy will be done

It was an unexpected flood
That came to me today
Sometimes bad news follows good and it's really hard to say
Thy will be done
Thy will be done
Thy will be done

~Marie Bellet

The Angelus According to Fritter

"and the world became flushed and dwelted among us."
.
Is there a such thing as cute blasphemy?

Nothing Compares

...to desert rain.

We spent the morning in our pajamas quietly watching the rain.  Rather, the children spent the morning in their pajamas playing in the rain, while I quietly watched.  Either way, it was a beautiful morning.

Ladybug's fishies.

What better way to celebrate a rainy day than by baking bread?  At the end of the day, I should have three warm, wonderful smelling loaves of bread. 

My idea of a good day.  :)

Touched My Heart Today

A Future Couch Potato?

Fritter this morning: "Mom, Dad is doing some exercises."

Me: "Oh?  Are you going to exercise with him?"

Fritter:  "No.  I don't do exercises."

Me:  "Why not?"

Fritter:  "Well, it's like eating.  Eating is kind of like doing exercises."

If only it were that simple.

In Congress, July 4, 1776

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. --And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor.       ~From the Declaration of Independence
Read the whole thing here...

Poor Kitty

Every summer we take our long haired cat (who gets a long haired cat in Arizona?  We do I guess.) to the groomers to get shaved.  It's either that or she goes back to the animal shelter, I just can't take all the shedding.  So today was the day, and I'll admit, we waited a little longer this year, in the hopes that we wouldn't have to do it.  She is just a cat, you know, and that money could probably go to some better use. But with temperatures climbing above 110, she cannot keep up with grooming herself, and I can't keep up with all the extra vacuuming.

I picked her up this afternoon, and a man was there picking up his dog from the vet portion of the office.  "Sounds like a diva cat to me," he snarked (is that a word?  It seems to go so well here).  If he only knew how undiva-ish our cat was.  That's the nice thing about cats.  I can feed her and give her water, change her litter box now and then (she mostly goes outside) and give her attention when I want to and when she wants to.  In the hot summers here, that attention on both of our parts amounts to not much. 

But still.  I couldn't help but feel bad for her as I opened the kennel and she ran to hide.  I know from past experience we won't see her at all for the rest of the day.  And she looks ridiculous.  If I was her, I wouldn't want any of the neighbor cats to see me until my fur grew back in.