Ready. Set. Ride.

So what that we lost the game again and this time only by one run. Tonight the training wheels finally came off the bike, and there was pure joy for one little seven-year-old boy. "Watch out Mom!" he cried out, laughing in sheer delight of his accomplishment and relishing in his new found freedom. Watch out indeed: He nearly ran me over as I attempted to take his picture. Congratulations Thomas. Oh how we love you.

The people that you meet each day

Because of you I now know that the young man who recently replaced our mail carrier is named Curtis; that the gentleman that works the check out counter at Aldi is named John; that Grandma Swanson's friend, Miss Helen, does indeed have a gold tooth. Because of you I have become acquainted with nearly every aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa, mother, father, and friend attending Thomas's baseball games; that Miss MaryAnn is Wyatt and Rider's grandmother and that their mother, Miss Mindy received a lovely necklace from her husband, Coach Chad, for Mother's Day. Because of you I know that Thomas's teammates Denison and Drake have a grandmother named Miss Deanna and that she has plenty of room to hold two growing boys on her lap, in spite of her own twin grandchildren also in attendance; that Miss Melanie, Mel for short, whom we met while hiking at Blackhawk State Park on Monday, will be celebrating her birthday tomorrow, on May 24th. (Happy birthday to her!) Because of you our neighbors Buddy and Nicole are greeted vigorously multiple times a day, often from inside our house; our other neighbor Miss Dolores is routinely and sincerely asked, "How are you today?"; and Peggy and Greg who live two houses down are given the gift of being shown every scratch, scrape, and scab that plagues your tiny bodies. Because of you and your overabundant joy, matched only by your zeal to spread love, my life is richer, brighter, friendlier, more wonderful, as are those of the people you meet around our home, at the park, in the store, or at the baseball field. In five days my little boys born 7,000 miles from me in Daejon City, South Korea, you will turn five. It is an honor to be your mother. And I am so terribly proud of you. 

Webshooters!

Charleston!

Brothers!

PS - Elliot is on the left and Russell is on the right. I mean, I know that you know, but just in case...

And thanks Grandma Swanson for the new jammies. Thomas has a matching set too!

Contentment

Because there is a time to disregard cleaning the house in order to spend the day hiking and spelunking with your family.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

I was born a weak, defenseless child, but Thine angel spread his wings over my cradle to defend me. From birth until now Thy love has illumined my path, and has wondrously guided me towards the light of eternity; from birth until now the generous gifts of Thy providence have been marvelously showered upon me. 

Glory to Thee for calling me into being. Glory to Thee, showing me the beauty of the universe. Glory to Thee spreading out before me heaven and earth, like pages in a book of eternal wisdom. Glory to Thee for Thine eternity in this fleeting world. Glory to Thee for Thy mercies, seen and unseen. Glory to Thee through every sigh of my sorrow. Glory to Thee for every step of my life's journey, for every moment of glory, glory to Thee, O God, from age to age.

O Lord, how lovely it is to be Thy guest. Breezes full of scents; mountains reaching to the skies; waters like boundless mirrors, reflecting the sun's golden rays and scudding clouds; all nature murmurs mysteriously, breathing the depth of Thy tenderness. Birds and beasts of the forest bear the imprint of Thy love. Blessed art thou, mother earth, in thy fleeting loveliness, which wakens our yearning for happiness that will last for ever, in the land where, amid beauty that grows not old, the cry rings out: Alleluia! 

Thou has brought me into life as into an enchanted paradise. We have seen the sky like a chalice of deepest blue, where in the azure heights the birds are singing. We have listened to the soothing murmur of the forest and the melodious music of the streams. We have tasted fruit of fine flavor and the sweet-scented honey. Very well can we live on Thine earth: it is a pleasure to be Thy guest.

Glory to Thee for the Feast Day of life. Glory to Thee for the perfume of lilies and roses. Glory to Thee for each different taste of berry and fruit. Glory to Thee for the sparkling silver of early morning dew. Glory to Thee for the joy of dawn's awakening. Glory to Thee for the new life each day brings. Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age.

It is the Holy Spirit who makes us find joy in each flower, the exquisite scent, the delicate color, the beauty of the Most High in the tiniest of things. Glory and honor to the Spirit, the Giver of Life, who covers the fields with their carpet of flowers, crowns the harvest with gold, and gives to us the joy of gazing at it with our eyes. O be joyful and sing unto Him: Alleluia!

How glorious are Thou in the springtime, when every creature awakens to new life and joyfully sings Thy praises with a thousand tongues. Thou art the Source of Life and Destroyer of Death. By the light of the moon, nightingales sing, and the valleys and hills lie like wedding garments, white as snow. All the earth is Thy promised bride awaiting her spotless husband. If the grass of the field is like this in glory, how gloriously shall we be transfigured in the Second Coming after the Resurrection! How splendid our bodies, how spotless our souls!

Glory to Thee, bringing from the depth of the earth an endless variety of colors, tastes, and scents. Glory to Thee for the warmth and tenderness of the world of nature. Glory to Thee for the numberless creatures around us. Glory to Thee for the depths of Thy wisdom, the whole world a living sign of it. Glory to Thee on my knees, I kiss the traces of Thine unseen hand. Glory to Thee for enlightening us with the clearness of eternal life. Glory to Thee for the hope of the unutterable, imperishable beauty of immortality. Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age.

At the setting of the sun, when quietness falls like the peace of eternal sleep, and the silence of the passing day reigns, then in the splendor of its declining rays, filtering through the clouds, I see Thy dwelling-place: fiery and purple, gold and blue, they speak prophet-like of the ineffable beauty of Thy presence: calling to us in their majesty, we turn to the Father.

Glory to Thee at the hushed hour of nightfall. Glory to Thee, covering the earth with peace. Glory to Thee for the last ray of the sun as it sets. Glory to Thee for sleep's repose which restores us. Glory to Thee for Thy goodness even in the time of darkness, when all the world is hidden from our eyes. Glory to Thee for the prayers offered by a trembling soul. Glory to Thee for the pledge of our reawakening, on that glorious last day, that day which has no evening. Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age.

I see Thy heavens resplendent with stars. Radiant with light, how glorious Thou art! Eternity watches me by the rays of the distant stars. I am small, insignificant, but the Lord is at my side. Thy right arm guides me wherever I go.

Glory to Thee, ceaselessly watching over me. Glory to Thee for the encounters Thou dost arrange for me. Glory to Thee for the love of parents, for the faithfulness of friends. Glory to Thee for the humbleness of the animals which serve me. Glory to Thee for the unforgettable moments of life. Glory to Thee for the heart's innocent joy. Glory to Thee for the joy of living, and moving, and being able to return Thy love. Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age.

In the wondrous blending of sounds it is Thy call that we hear. In the harmony of many voices, in the sublime beauty of music, in the glory of the works of great composers Thou leadest us to the threshold of paradise to come, and the choirs of the angels. All true beauty has the power to draw the soul towards Thee, and to make it sing in ecstasy: Alleluia!

Glory to Thee, showing Thine unsurpassable power in the laws of the universe. Glory to Thee, for all nature is filled with Thy laws. Glory to Thee for what Thou hast revealed to us in Thy mercy. Glory to Thee for what Thou hast hidden from us in Thy wisdom. Glory to Thee for the inventiveness of the human mind. Glory to Thee for the dignity of man's labor. Glory to Thee for the tongues of fire that bring inspiration. Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age.

When in my childhood I called upon Thee consciously for the first time, Thou didst hear my prayer, and Thou didst fill my heart with the blessing of peace. At that moment I knew Thy goodness and knew how blessed are those who turn to Thee. I started to call upon Thee night and day; and now even now, I call upon Thy name.

Glory to Thee, satisfying my desires with good things. Glory to Thee, watching over me day and night. Glory to Thee, curing affliction and emptiness with the healing flow of time. Glory to Thee, for no loss is irreparable in Thee, O Giver of eternal life to all. Glory to Thee, making immortal all that is lofty and good. Glory to Thee, promising us the longed-for meeting with our loved ones who have died. Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age.

-from the akathist "Glory to God for All Things"

composed by Protopresbyter Gregory Petrov shortly before his death in a Soviet prison camp in 1940

What a wonderful world

"The only way to be happy is to love. Unless you love, your life will flash by. Do good to them. Wonder. Hope. Help each other. Love everyone. Every leaf. Every ray of light. Forgive."  

-The Tree of Life