A little poem

To know peace

A little girl with a song in her heart

A melody in a forgotten slum

Rising over rooftops

and soaring

up

   up

      up

Free.

Anne-Kelly's Splendiferous Birthday Soiree

We were blessed, a few weeks ago, to celebrate our darling Anne-Kelly's fourth birthday.  She is currently really into all things pretty, dress-up, princess-related, and the like.  So, naturally, we took our inspiration for her party from her favorite book series, Fancy Nancy.  The prep nearly killed me, but it was worth all the effort!  The children seemed to have a wonderful time.  Following are some photographs from the soiree:

All photos courtesy of Ameroy Hunley and the Dot Photography

Cake by Jenni Meredith

a story

The month of May is Brain Cancer Awareness Month.  This means something to our family because it was this greedy disease that robbed our family of two amazing men, full of life and laughter and love for others.  

I can still hear Brent's dad's voice when he was telling a big tale.  Young or old, his listeners would nod and laugh at his amusing anecdotes and wide smile as he talked.  I know I could sit in a chair and while away an hour or more just listening.

Camp outs.

Day-long fishing trips.

A summer baseball game.  

Bluegrass and barbeque.

Always family.  Always friends.  

And always faith.  

And I am thankful; oh, I am so thankful for the stories my girls know by heart and ask for on a regular basis.  

"Daddy, tell me about my Grandpa Gary and his dirt bike...or that time on the lake...or when he took you camping..."  

How is it that they can love someone so much that they never met?  I do not know, but they do. 

But there is one thing I am more thankful for than the stories.  One part of him that I see living on in my husband, his firstborn.  You see, as tragic as it is that we no longer have Gary with us, he has left us with so much more than stories, though it is stories we love and many stories that we have.  Because the reality is, he was only a part of the story: the greatest story that there ever was.  It was so much a part of him and he was so much a part of it that it was just what he breathed in and out.  

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."

And not a Sunday morning Savior, but an in-your-life and in-your-messes Jesus.  Loving you just as you are and smiling at you like he doesn't just like you, but he loves you and delights in you. 

Through his actions: Jesus.

Through his words: Jesus. 

And, at the end, in his suffering: Jesus. 

It is that legacy for which I am thankful.  It is what makes my little ones love a grandfather who they never met--because they see it in their daddy, this incredible faith and devotion and sacrifice in the name of Jesus.  What a father he is because what a father he had.  

So today and every day, I honor you, Gary.  I miss you and your tales.  The struggle, the suffering, and the loss was not for nothing.  On the contrary: it was for everything.  

 For the Lord is good;

    his steadfast love endures forever,

    and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100: 5

A Meeting

In a dream I meet

my dead friend. He has,

I know, gone long and far,

and yet he is the same

for the dead are changeless.

They grow no older.

It is I who have changed,

grown strange to what I was.

Yet I, the changed one,

ask: "How you been?"

He grins and looks at me.

"I been eating peaches

off some mighty fine trees." 

Wendell Berry

And we're back!

Hello beautiful readers...if any of you are left!

I have decided to resurrect my blog since I recently decided to quit the Facebook world.  I had been feeling a tug to exit for a while now, and I have to say it is freeing to be a bit more unplugged.  Simplifying our life is what I'm all about now, and reducing my social media time was a part of that.  Who knows if it will be forever, but it is the right decision at the moment.

However, I know that so many of our friends and family enjoy seeing updates about our girls, so I decided that bringing back the blog would be the best way to do that.  So here I am!

To kick things off, a few photos of Anne-Kelly's dress rehearsal for her dance recital.  She has been in ballet classes for this entire school year, and she has had a ball!  They are dancing to "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from Cinderella, so AK is pumped since, of course, she thinks she is Cinderella.  Also, her recital costume, as you can see, is bright pink and scattered with sequins, so she is in her element!

They had an absolute ball!  As expected, Anne-Kelly wasn't shy in the least; she was right at home on the stage....surprise surprise! ;)  Cora watched the entire time and can't wait for her turn in the spotlight.