God's creation

On Wednesday night our Bible study was on Genesis 1, where we read about God creating the heavens and the earth. On the way home, the sky was exploding into such a brilliant riot of color, I could hardly take it in. I've carried on a million times before about the sunsets in this valley, but I really feel like this was the most breathtaking display I've ever seen. (I wish you could have seen it. Words and pictures can't possibly do justice to what was happening up there.)

Even more awe-inspiring is that 'through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.' (Hebrews 11:3) He spoke all that we see around us into existence; His words are that powerful. I can't fully comprehend that kind of power; my feeble mind isn't able. But I'm so thankful to have witnessed such a beautiful, majestic example of God's creation right after reading about it all happening, and so thankful that what He has done is able to affect my (often hard, often stubborn) human heart.

Genesis 1:14-15 And God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

Genesis 1:17-18 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

Hot time, summer in the city

First of all, we don't live in the city, but The Lovin' Spoonful didn't write a song about summer in a tiny town so we'll make due with what we have.

Our friend Charity has been writing lately about the super fun plans she and her family have for the summer, and I'm going to copy her. (I think everyone is calling this their summer bucket list, but that term makes me squirm, so I'm changing the name.) Anyway, here we go!

The JM & H Show Making Summer Awesome List:
- Berry picking! Strawberries & raspberries & marionberries, piles and piles of them!
- Freezer jam making!
- Hiking! Here and there and everywhere, thank you very much.
- Camping! At a lake, near the ocean, in the mountains & in our own backyard, too!
- Cobbler eating! With ice cream, of course!
- Frozen yogurt dates! There's a new shop opening on Main Street at the end of the month & I think we might become regulars.
- Thursday night running dates at the track! Lots of times I have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, into running, but once we're there,  I'm so glad to to be under the sun with Jan Michael sailing along ahead of me. Besides, running dates help make cobbler & frozen yogurt less dangerous :)
- A bunch of being outside, whatever that ends up looking like. Naps on the deck, for one thing, and chasing sunsets, for another..

What else? I think I'll leave it at that for now. The handy thing about lists is that you can always add to them, right? :)

And one last thing: I'm very taken with this picture lately; somehow it captures just what June has felt like to me, in all of its green, bright, sunny glory. If July mimics what we've had this month, I might spend more time outside than in!

A good start

June is halfway over already, which makes me want to sit down and have a good cry. But no! I'll resist and keep cramming the good stuff into the days we have left :)

And now it's time for what is certainly the most adorable part of the entire month, a Greyson update! 

Before he was born, our sis would send me 'Good morning!' texts with pictures of the dogs, which of course I loved, but these days she sends 'Good morning, Auntie!' texts and when you hear shrieks of delight carried on the wind, that would be me. 

He is here ♥

We met our newest nephew yesterday. Since words can't even begin to describe what it means to have another little one in our family to love on, I'll just share the vital statistics and let the pictures tell the story:

Greyson Zachary
born on June 4 at 10:45 p.m
7 lbs 3 ounces
20.5 inches long
Completely perfect in every way :)

Our sister and brother-in-law were able to take him home yesterday and according to her latest report, they are 'running on empty and loving it!' :)

                  

Tomorrow is summer!

Technically, no. Summer doesn't officially start until June 21st, but why in the world should we wait that long to jump into such a happy, fun season?

We should not, and we will not!

But first, in order to give spring a proper send-off, let's have a display of handsome husbands - one husband, actually, and more specifically, mine :) - and beautiful flowers. And maybe a glimpse or two of the clouds and sky, just for good measure.

Halcyon and Hilary go on a hike

Maple the puppy was with us, too, but her name is struck from the title because it's not alliterative enough :)

We tackled Rattlesnake Ridge this morning, which was terrific fun, and if we know what's good for us, we'll do it again soon!

The Pacific Northwest gets the stink eye because of all the rain, but when it equals so much green, I'll take it.

I'd like to go again on a sunnier day when we'll be able to see for miles, but the fog and the mist were awfully enchanting. Not a shabby way at all to kick off Memorial Day weekend!

15 + (37 x 2)

May is a month of serious numbers around here!

On the 9th we celebrated our 15th anniversary. I'll spare you the mushy details (except to say that we're so thankful to spend another milestone together) but I will share a picture of the (handsome!) husband of my youth on our 15-year sushi date:

(And if all goes according to plan, we'll be eating sushi next year at the Tsukiji Market in the middle of Tokyo on our belated anniversary trip!) 

And now, about our birthdays: I hit 37 on the 18th, and Jan Michael followed just yesterday. 

This year I decided I wanted to hit the ground running on the 17th (treat every day like it's your birthday, I say!), and so my birthday eve began with Lori and Tonya on a coffee date. They bought me a latte and gave me beautiful handmade cards (card-making wonders, those two) and Tonya made me a sign to hang in our Seabrook bedroom, which made me cry ('You're such a girl!' said Jan Michael with a smile).

I went directly from coffee to lunch with Jan Michael (at Taco Time. So fancy, I know. But I have a thing for fish tacos and refillable Coke Zero.) And later, because I'd also decided I wanted to do something fun when the clock struck midnight on the 18th (don't waste a second on your birthday, I say!), we had a late-night donut party with Steve, Lori and Karissa at a 24-hour bakery across the valley. 

Apple fritters and bacon maple bars are a fantastic way to begin another year, but even more than that, I love the memories we made. Friends that are willing to hop on board with this kind of silliness are priceless!

And then yesterday Jan Michael was the star! He would be perfectly content to let his birthday slip away quietly without any fuss, but he's married to me, so that's out of the question. 

Earlier I said no mush, but I can't help it! His smiles light up my heart :)

And oh, his poor cake. I meant it to be much more grandiose than this, but sometimes what I see in my mind doesn't quite translate into real life. It tasted just like a birthday cake should, though, so it wasn't a complete flop :)

Now, if you have a birthday coming up, your mission is to celebrate! Find something, big or little, that makes you smile and reminds you of what you have to be thankful about, and do it! That's an order!

So mayst thou live, dear! many years,

In all the bliss that life endears,...

~Thomas Hood, "To My Daughter, On Her Birthday"

With my head in the clouds

I've spent a good chunk of the month wandering around with the camera pointed up; the sky is like a magnet to my eyes and I can't resist the pull! It's a wonder I haven't ended up in a ditch or something, what with not bothering to pay attention to where I'm putting my feet :) 

And here's a sweet P.S. from our day with Todd, Jenny, A & B at the end of April, all courtesy of Jenny:

Oh, this makes me laugh! I love that we don't need words to know what A thought of of a grown-up messing around on the toys :)

Each time we're together, it becomes clearer and clearer that Miss B and I are cut from the same cloth. I smile just thinking about her!

And this is why it's a good idea to hold tight to some of your favorite things from when you were small :)

April send-off

 Do you know what makes a really lovely end to April? Merry-go-rounds and jungle gyms and creeks that beg to be explored and two darling little people who jump up and down when they hear that roasted cauliflower is on the menu for dinner. Todd, Jenny, A and B, please come back soon!!