Soul Carving

Emily Dickinson called hope " the thing with feathers ". This time of year, nearly every time I'm out for a walk, I can find empty eggshells. The bright turquoise of the robin's shells stand out against the dampened soil. I always feel a surge of excitement when I spot one. I like to collect them for our Nature Nook at home.  But lately, my delight has quickly turned to sorrow as I've discovered several eggs, cracked, but with baby birds still inside. Yesterday, I even found a dead baby bird on our driveway. It makes me heartsick, seeing these lifeless, tiny shapes. As the chatter and songs of a dozen other birds fill the air, my heart swells with a bittersweet ache. I relish the music that surrounds me, but I mourn for those voices that are lost.  Spring is a season of new beginnings. Witnessing death at this time seems like a cruel irony. Like a bird struck down in mid flight, it can cause you to question that budding optimism you felt only moments...

      Ever since my first child was born, I've harbored a secret wish. I wished to have a "Mama Chair". Over the years we've owned several second-hand rocking chairs. There was the antique wood and wicker rocker that had belonged to a friends grandma. Such a dainty thing, and though not very comfortable, I loved the idea of rocking on stories! We have an old padded, reclining rocker which, judging from its burnt-orange upholstery and shredded sides, must have once graced a 60's home where several cats made use of it. Its unseemly appearance is redeemed by its coziness and usefulness in late-night feedings and soothings. And there's also the traditional wooden glider with the blue cushions that Richard surprised me with to replace one that had broken right before baby # 3 was due to arrive.        Each of these chairs hold special meaning for me. But as the children have grown and moved into their ow...

   Buying your first home is a lot like getting married. There are the headaches of particulars to work out: packing, organizing, closing costs and interest rates may be analogous to arranging for the reception, paying for the ring and addressing all those invitations. Yet, in the end, it's still tremendously exciting and so devastatingly romantic! Our preparations for moving into our first home reminded me a lot of the dreamy anticipation that preceded our wedding. Some of our goals were quite lofty and would require a good amount of time to be realized. Others were simpler pleasures that required little more effort on our part than to just be enjoyed.    One dream I held, nestled deep in my heart. So small and simple, I hadn't even realized it was there until the tentative Spring sunshine began to thaw Winter's frosty grasp. Driving along a pasture road, or strolling past a neighbor's garden, I'd feel it: a strangely familiar longing. The fragrant breeze would en...