My Heart

for my little pink Clover

She is seven
Little freckled nose, eyes that laugh
Behind the seriousness with which she surveys the world
Jack-o-latern grin,
Loud laugh and flinging arms and elbows
Into twirls and leaps
And one little heart pierced ear

She has patiently waited.
She's grown three times as old
With each addition to the family
She moved over, out of my arms
She moved over, out of my bed
Away from my feet
Out of my gaze
To make room

Tonight I gathered her into my arms
Dusted off my lap
Folded herself up to fit
She lay her head on me

I tucked a piece of wild, sweet curls
Behind an ear I hadn't seen in a while
This one is unpierced
Filled in smooth after the earring fell out

Heart pierced breathing
There she is
My first baby
I trace her ear, I look in her grey-blue eyes
Baby mine

I choked out, I miss you
She cried too
How have I forgotten to hold her?
Though I rage at time for carrying her away
She carries my pride, my joy,
My heart

Sunswept Waves

sunswept, salty
waves and curls

happy cries
of gulls and girls

shoreline sand
ebbs and flows

water dances,
splashing toes

snuggled skin
cooled and warmed

baby dozes,
memories form

children breaking
bread with birds

bend near sand
in earnest search

see the small
but mighty laugh'n 1

in the face
of mighty ocean

these finite moments
create space

so infinite love
can take it's place

1 loose reference to William Shakespeare's quote from A Midsummer Night's Dream, 
"Though she be but little, she is fierce!"

this long awaited rain, 1 & 2

1.
the young one asks
God make it rain?
the cloudburst
in response
the simple thanks
of answered want
faith and joy
intertwine

2.
the pitter patter
of little feet
in the pitter patter
of the rain

one and the other
that can't be made
without the Creator
God

I Will Give Thanks

November 9, 2014

I feel compelled to share this with you all, as I am so thankful that God has preserved our youngest daughter again.

Ember has had difficulty with swallowing and choking since she was born. Tonight during dinner, it happened again. There has only been one other time it was this severe, over a year ago, and both times I cried out to God for help and both times He heard my cry. In the blink of an eye, during the quiet mundane moments of life, everything can change. I am so thankful we have her still, and that she is sleeping peacefully in her bed. 

I will give thanks to You, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your Name, O Most High.