My Cup Runneth Over

(For those of you who commented on the pictures of Joy and Gracie, you were all right. And I'm glad to note that it's not just me, as their mother, who thinks their eyes are different. Their smiles are different too, even though their mouths are similar shapes, but as Dad says, smiles are connected to eyes as much as mouth.)

So many, many things to thank God for this week. My heart sang praise to him all weekend. After last weekend, we didn't possibly think we could have as good weather for our second apple-picking bout--but we did. It was another day of liquid turquoise sky, sunshine (Gracie and I both got a wee sunburn on our faces--at the end of September in upstate NY!!!!), crisp apples, eye-achingly bright colors in the trees, and family love bubbling over. Carl and I held hands as often as we could through the orchard (not always easy when he is carrying a full bag of apples and I'm wearing the baby) and smiled at each other all day.

Joy loved having Oma and Grandpa ('ma and Gumpa) here, just as she did having Grandma and Aunt Ruth (Gamma and Roop) here last weekend. Gracie decided Grandpa was her new favorite toy and burst into giggles every time she saw him.

Dad and I left Mom and the girls napping and Carl studying Hebrew and went to the library Saturday afternoon, my first trip since Gracie's birth without one or more of the girls. Every time I heard a baby cry or a little girl voice my head whipped around looking for my girls--and then I smiled as I remembered that they were safe at home with Papa, and I could spend as much time as I wanted browsing through the shelves.

Mom trimmed both Joy's and my hair, so I now have an adorable bob instead of bad seventies hair, and Joy looks a little less shaggy. She also brought a huge bag of clothes from Lis, so I now have half a dozen or so more outfit options, including some perfectly adorable striped shirts that are So Frenchy.

I started The Beekeeper's Apprentice after Mom and Dad left yesterday and could hardly put it down for bed last night. It's not so much suspenseful as intriguing and stimulating. I love it. As usual, Laura and Andrea (both, independently) were spot on in their recommendations. It's amazing enough having one friend who likes the same sorts of books I do ... having two blows my mind.

Mom and Dad bought a children's CD from the Susquehanna String Band at their recent concert up north, and not only do Joy and Grace love it, but Carl and I thoroughly enjoy it. Joy dances to it all over the house (and asks for "more songs" when it finishes). I think I will encourage one of the girls to take up either hammered or lap dulcimer when they're older.

Mom, Carl, and Joy went to church yesterday morning, and Dad kept Gracie and me company. We had a wonderful chat, the kind that we like to get in at least once during a visit but haven't been able to the last few times we've seen each other.

I also have a possible tentative maybe opening for some of my work. I can't say more than that now--not that it's any big secret, but I don't want to build up my own hopes, so I'm trying not to dwell on it too much.

Ten years ago, if you had told me that today I would be here, in this place, I would have laughed at you with all the naive confidence of seventeen. Now I am here, and I am so glad I am. Aren't you glad that God is sovereign? I know I am. Not that there was anything wrong with Seventeen Louise's future plans, but this is so much better.

Will you join me and the rest of the gratitude community in thanking our Lord for his mercies, grace, and unutterable goodness?



(I obviously deviated slightly today from my usual bullet point format ... but where's the fun is always sticking rigidly to one particular style?)