'Tis the Season

 Sometimes life is really hard.  Sometimes you feel exhausted and lonely and defeated before your feet even hit the floor in the morning.  Sometimes the only prayer you can quietly muster is "Help, Help, Help" over and over again and you're hard pressed to remember the last time you smiled.

This is not one of those times for our little family in our little corner of the world.  

This is a belly laugh until you can hardly breathe time.  A blast Taylor Swift in the living room and dance around like fools with the curtains wide open time.  A treat ourselves to Ruby Jewel Ice Cream on a warm Spring Thursday evening time.  A "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You" as your heart swells with gratitude time.

I live under the same roof with my three favorite people.  My husband knows how to make me laugh and knows how to make my coffee.  My children draw me pictures and cover me with sticky kisses.  We are healthy.  Our bellies are full and our bodies are warm.  Our hearts are regularly nurtured and our spirits lifted by our beloved family, friends, and neighbors.  

We attribute these blessings to the Lord whom we love and serve and know that in experiencing His love for us, our lives shift from black and white to vivid technicolor.  I don't at all expect that all of the seasons of my life will be easy and abundant, and I hope when our next trial comes, my song is still fundamentally one of gratitude.  But for now, we are basking in this season of joy and rest and praying that we have ample opportunities to let our cups runneth over onto each of you.

Here are a couple of random photos that somehow never got posted:

Our sweet kiddos in their Christmas duds.

Madelyn with her lovely Nana and lovely Mimi at the Heathman for New Year's Eve tea, a new tradition.

Sibling affection.

Just like Daddy.