Missing My Mary!

This is the picture  of cuteness that came bouncing down the hallway every morning with hugs and smiles, that pulled on her snow clothes and helped her aunties do chores every chance she had. Mary especially loved gathering the eggs for uncle Nathan! 

    I miss her hugs, her cheery singing at 7am as she trotted down the snow covered path to the barn, or held my hand so she wouldn't slip on the ice. She was my Florida buddy too for 10 whole days! And with four aunties all the same size, and your only five and live in Alaska.... sometimes she forget who was who. She remembers who Aunt Amy is. All those m&m's did the trick. Love and miss you Mary girl!

Winter

 

    On a freezing January afternoon we bundled up in countless layers, remembering our scarves and hit the trail with Treasure. We needed to get out of the house and she needed the exercise. The temperatures have been steady single digits, the snow crunches almost a squeaking crunch under our boots, fingers turn to ice in our gloves and too deep of a breath freezes all the way down. It's winter at its best!

 

    The path to the woods was filled with almost 12 inches of powder, white fluff that billowed merrily in our faces as we laughed and sang,  sailing along behind tiny flying hooves. Trees branches smacked our heads, briars reached out like fingers to snag off our hats and Treasure decided a few times to turn a fast circle and head for home. In the end we made it all the way back to where the trail narrows, where we finally turned toward home. The woods were beautiful all snow laden and quiet. We didn't even mind the snow in our mittens and boots, the freezing temps, rosy red cheeks, and snow blowing, we had such a time!  We were together, making memories and that was awesome!

Laurel

 On a snowy, zero degree winter day this

 adorable girlie has the right idea....  sipping warm chai tea.

And very happily too I might add!
 We all sipped tea that day, chatting with our best friend while enjoying
a house full of kids and cuteness.

Someone made my day....

 

... goodies found under my pillow :)

 

Always out for an adventure, I miss this guy!

  It's a Sunday afternoon, from oldest in pink to three year old in orange (who moments before was jumping off the couch screaming with delight) they love to have you take time for them, to be on their level, to do kid stuff, and for the day it was coloring. I love spending time with these guys, some of my very favorite kids in the world. I love the way they squeal when I come in the door, the way the smother me with hugs (smears of chocolate on the side), and hug my neck, their grins broad and some toothless, and they all chatter at once to fill me in on their latest tale, adventure, or discovery.

Faces of Nicaragua...

~In a month's time we took hundreds of pictures, but this is my favorite. These little boys. I loved them at first sight there in their dirty little town of Cofradi, and I wonder if their young hearts will turn to Jesus or be lost in religion and who will touch their lives?  Something about kids, about little boys eyes, innocence, wonder, energy, adventure seeking, mischief loving, clear yet- untainted perspectives, they laugh, forgive and give so much better than big people. Isn't this why Jesus said  "suffer little children to come unto ME... for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

and " ...Except ye be converted and

become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."   

The faith of a child is a simplistic confidence. Lord give me such faith!