One Flesh

Most people assume it is hard to have a husband who travels a few days each week.  But for me, I think it is a blessing - not that I can get rid of him regularly, but that I can miss him.  And not just miss his help around the house or his help with Elsa.  Miss HIM.  The phrase, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," is cliche for a reason.  Because it's true.

When Justin and I were married we were united - symbolically and mystically.  And when he is away, a piece of me is gone too.  I don't always notice it, but I consider it a blessing when I do.  Today is one of those occasions.  It's not the first one, and it is certainly not the last.  The awareness always seems to come when I have had the opportunity to spend good time with my family, or good time with my friends, or good time with our daughter, who I truly cherish more than I can quite capture.  And yet I am left with a lingering sense of absence.  A void where that piece of my soul is missing.

I am coming to realize that each time I feel this way, I know, unmistakably, that it will continue to linger until he returns.  No family member, nor friend, nor child, no matter how meaningful to me, can do anything but temporarily distract me from the longing.  (Though I am completely content to indulge in such things, for the record!)

So I consider myself not UNfortunate but fortunate to have a husband who is not always here.  Because it gives me a chance to realize that it is more than his physical presence that is gone.  And it gives my heart a chance to grow fonder.





"Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, the Priest of mystical and pure marriage, and the Ordainer of the law of the marriage of the body, the Preserver of immortality, and the Provider of good things; do Thou the same Master, Who in the beginning made man and set him to be a King over Thy creation, and said:  'It is not good for man to be alone on the earth; let Us make a helpmeet for him'; and fashioned Woman, which when Adam beheld, he said:  'This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman; for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and the two shall be one flesh; and those whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder.'  Do Thou also, O Master, our Lord and our God, send down Thy heavenly grace upon these They servants and grant that this Thy handmaid may, in all things, be pleasing unto her husband; and that this Thy servant may love and cherish his wife; that they may live according to Thy will."

The Blessings of Family

Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New York, Illinois, (and wherever Pete and Ian happen to be at any given time ...)

Oh, if only hundreds of miles didn't separate us all, pictures like this could be captured all the time! Despite the distance, we are so fortunate to be able to spend time with family as much as we do.

JANUARY:

Mike, his girlfriend, Justine, and Pete came to stay with us in early January. The visit was marked by special story times, gorgeous weather, smoked meats, a visit to Jack Daniel's Distillery, episodes of Modern Family, and an amazing spread of sushi and Thai...with no leftovers.

FEBRUARY:

The Meeks swung by on their way to Louisiana to educate Elsa and I on the ways of Mardi Gras, New Orleans' style! We had a wonderful visit with Glenn's sister and her family, collected lots of loot, and topped off the weekend with fresh beignets and cafe au lait!

MARCH:

Nana and Grandpa came to visit in early March, taking advantage of a week-long class my dad had the privilege to teach at Middle Tennessee State University. We snuck in a bike ride, played at the park, took a trip to the zoo, and got to end the visit by saying, "See you later!" instead of "Goodbye." We'll get to exchange smooches and smiles in just another week!

We also traveled to Kentucky in January to see Uncle Pete perform Sylvester and the Magic Pebble with the Enchantment Theatre Company and welcomed Uncle Ian for a brief stay in March as he marketed a production of his own to a company here in Nashville. Regretfully, these two visits seem to have slipped by without proper photographic documentation....

Can't wait to have more pictures to fill pages on posts such as this. We love you guys!

Tennessee Aquarium

A couple weeks ago we stumbled upon a day with all three of us home and nothing on the schedule. Having a hankering for a little road trip, we headed out, on a whim, to Chattanooga to visit the Tennessee Aquarium. A great decision and a wonderfully well-spent day!

Quick snapshot outside the aquarium.

One of the touch tanks with sting(free)rays.

This posture occurred a lot! She loved it all.

Justin and Elsa surrounded by piranhas.

The two folks who bring out the best in me! Love 'em both.

Watching a pair of busy otters.

Justin was quite taken with the challenge of photographing the jellyfish.

Our little lady.

Check out the size of this thing compared to Elsa and I on the right! Massive.

Free Admission to the Zoo!

We have an odd assortment of animals at our zoo, but we thank you for coming.

Little Minds

This is what Elsa looks like when she roars like a lion:

She roars like a lion when she sees this:

and this....

and this...

and this.

Can you see the connection? Fascinating. Watching little minds grow will never cease to amaze me. The associations they make as they interpret the world around them are amusing, perceptive, and to some degree humbling. How quickly we grow up and overlook the details that surround us: simple smells, common sounds, ordinary sights, everyday objects. But to a little mind, piecing everything together day by day, the world is full of lions!

And snakes...

(True story.)

Elsa Has Turned to the Dark Side...

Though some cabinets in the kitchen are off limits to our busy little lady, she can explore, at will, others we deem to be harmless. But lately, some things have gone missing, including two of these brilliant Star Wars cookie cutters. So we looked in all her usual hiding spots...nothing. Seems unfortunately likely that someone has been disposing of said items in the garbage can... But the saddest thing about all this is not that we can now only bake with the 1/2 teaspoon measurer (as all his friends have mysteriously gone missing...) or that we are going through wash rags at an alarming rate. The saddest thing is that the two cookie cutters that have been eliminated are Yoda and Boba Fett, sparing Darth Vader and the Imperial Stormtrooper. Elsa has officially turned to the Dark Side.

May the Force be with us.

Military or Marching Band??

Not sure whether this natural marching talent is from her grandpa's military genes or her daddy's marching band prowess! Only time will tell.