miscellaneous Loves

There are so many things to love, and so many people to love. Sometimes I miss out on the things and people because I allow myself to be limited by the fact that I have 3 small children who require a lot of attention. Now I realize that it is realistic to accept some limits, as I am not a super hero with super speed or strength or the ability to stretch like a kneaded eraser. And these kids do actually need me to invest the majority of my time with them. However, I need to open myself up and take the opportunities presented to me, and maybe seek them out more than I do.

This week I have enjoyed a few things and people.

First. Andrew.

Our next door neighbor is 5, almost 6 and seriously adorable. He likes to drop in on us at random times, riding his bike (with training wheels that he doesn't actually need, but he likes to relax) up the drive to see us. He tells his parents that he's just gonna take his bike out, but they know where to look for him... he has a shock of red hair that he sweats through every few minutes, then it dries, then it sweats through again 1o minutes later. His translucent skin makes my Irish babes look positively tanned. He's like a tornado with a soft spoken lisp, and he has a ready-made fan club here in my two little girls who adore him. He is sweet and just completely cracks me up.

Second. Christie.

Christie is from China, and has a beautiful chinese name, but has adopted the name Christie as a reasonable American facsimile... do other cultures encourage this easy-to-pronounce-name-changing business, or is it just us? Anyway, she is 18 and an intern at the frame shop. No, we've never had an intern before, but she asked, and we couldn't be happier to have her. She is so delightful. She asks intelligent questions, is very open and learns really quickly. I'm not generally super talkative with new people, but I just found it so fun to talk to her about her life and family and experiences over the last 2 years in the US. I hope I get to see her next week, it was refreshing to have some new blood in the shop.

Third. Eyes.

There are some (2 pair) blue green eyes edged with a bit of grey and surrounded with thick black lashes. When they look up at me in a certain way, I am pretty much melted. So melted in fact, that liquid proof of it can slide down my cheeks for no apparent reason. The eyes on these girls are like miracles to me, and they are so expressive. There is another pair of eyes, longer of lash, darker of hue. At first glance they look brown, but if you look closely, there is only a small bit of brown around the pupil, and the rest is a mysterious mix of grey, green, and umber that I guess would be a dark hazel. These eyes are stormy and changeable, and staring at them generally results in the cheeks of a certain boy being munched on to break the spell of those eyes.

Fourth. Headband.

I made a tiny simple headband that I am in love with. I twisted a bit of sterling wire into a basic bow shape and wrapped the center of the bow with the wire ends to a thin stainless steel band. It is so very sweet, I don't want to ever take it off. If my computer were not so overloaded with photos and music, I could maybe show it to you, but alas, I can't bring myself to delete anything until they are all backed up twice. So far they are all on my extra hard drive, but I need to back up the backup. Maybe I'm paranoid, but oh well! my disc is full.

Fifth. Dan.

My husband is in the midst of a stressful situation. When is he not, really? But lately the stresses have been coming by the wagonload, and he is amazing me. He has all this peace and grace and resourcefulness that just lifts me to a better place. I don't know how he handles all that he handles.