one stream. one direction. and revolving doors.

marriage. this rough and beautiful business of lives merging, creating one mountain stream- fluidly moving from one place to the next.

so when you look at your partner and feel so far, so unable to understand to their way of thinking... well, i can get dramatic. and 'conversation' ensues.

we stop. both looking at the ceiling as we rest our heads on pillows. we remember a bit in the silence and space who we are (children of the Father of love and peace) and who we are next to (a child precious to the Father- Who gave it all up to grasp and love him/her).

it's in the remembering that we come back. we don't always resolve. i feel like we figure less out as the weeks, months, years pass. but we come back. see each other. and the mercies are new.

we sat with a couple recently who has a couple of decades on us in the marriage department. they talked about how they still struggle to communicate- they still don't get it right. how they have to ask each other for grace and mercy. a hand extended to a knee, a glance of repentance, a small/huge request: "grace and mercy...?"

a revolving door. we will never get it all right. this must become an easier pattern for me. me doing wrong/feeling wronged-- confession/repentance-- grace and mercy.

making a home together. merging into one life. one home. warm, imperfect and awake.

away

oh yes. we went away this weekend. just for one night. but it was so nice. to be... away. from the responsibility, the questions, the dirt.

we sat at a local hotel with earth fare treats and talked.

we read, did nothing, watched stupid tv, went to sonic for ice cream at 11pm because we could. we woke up leisurely and spent time in the word.

we read some more. laughed at silly things. we just played. it was so so nice. and we were able to look at one another and see what the Lord has done. He has done so much good between us this year. miles of good. and our marriage continues to be His and He will continue to strengthen, grow and stretch.

what a relief to just be goofy together.

______________

then we came home. and i got my feet rained on alongside my little rain lover:

and then back to, what feels like, my permanent chair these days. and in the rain that fell yesterday, i did not complain. what a joy.

what a blessed weekend. so thankful for His many gifts in my life.

oh and i finished those log cabin squares. i'll show them soon.

the blessings

oh the food. the food and the babes. and the many many good gifts that He gives.





a gorgeous arboretum. oh so beautiful. God makes such amazing stuff!



erica and i did cartwheels. in this huge green lawn. something about being together, with your parents- we were girls again.



did i mention that erica was there?



oh it was so good to be with her. we went on a couple of errands just the two of us and talked about our hearts and lives. we did crosswords on the porch with the sunrise and early coffee. and we went to Central Market. oh Central Market. it is so pretty there.







jason and i got to go out on a little date to Jamba Juice. and it was one of those dates where it takes you the whole date to really come together. we argued and misunderstood each other the whole time. and we pulled into my parent's garage and finally really saw each other. and finally really actually shared our hearts. we really needed the whole process, but it was so hard. but i'm grateful. praying that God continues to teach us about honesty in difficult times. i so badly want us to truly be one person. but we're frequently two. marriage is so mysterious, though. God does mighty things.

we also got to sit down with mom and dad and have a great chat about our future and plans. so good to get some wisdom and help. and just talk things out with other people. i'm sure i'll say it hundreds of times in this space, but it doesn't stop being true: community rocks.

so here are a few more bits of cuteness from our trip:







jason and dad took samuel to Forth Worth- otherwise known as Cow Town. lil cowboy cutie.



best shot of the trip:



my sweet little man. looking just like his sweet daddy. so good to be together as a foursome. behind my back, God does mighty things. i turn around and it's done- we're changed. just a little bit different. He does it. He wound us more tightly together this trip, through ways i still can't quite see. He takes such good care.