Hope buried in white Paralyzed. Waiting. Longing. Spring breathes gentle green. *** For my husband’s take on winter, please read his guest post last week, Grace In Winter. (He made me cry, the good kind of tears.) *** Repost from the archives for today’s One Word Blog Carnival on Winter. Don’t forget to check out…

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(This post linked to the One-Word Blog Carnival on Empty.) 2am bright hospital lights behind shadowed road before hollow womb so recently tight with baby infant car seat yawns empty white coats wrap rumpled scrubs breathing machine’s beepBOOP breast pump’s swoosh-swoosh pulls liquid hope into a bottle dust settles onto home’s crib sitting empty cans…

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Most days this spring, at least one of my children races into the house, clutching a warm squished fistful of blooms from the yard:   already brown, wilted dandelions   stubs of orange and surprisingly fragrant pansies    the first petal from a rose bush   balls of flowers the size of oranges The first few (or several)…

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Joy is my middle name. No, I mean it. I go by my middle name. Most people who meet me say it fits perfectly. I say that’s debatable. Except that maybe, just maybe, it’s easier to find and revel in everyday joy when you’ve languished in grief, loss, fear, and long long labor with little…

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The congregation sang, “You saved me, the sinner; with crimson red you washed me white as snow; how I love you Lord. You loved me, the mocker; with kindness you won my heart forever. How I love you Lord. And as I behold this mercy, I’m undone.” I couldn’t sing. Guilt choked my throat, tightening…

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Scene  Three children are galloping from one end of the house to the other, shrieking and giggling and springing onto the couch and then off again.  Boy: I won! Girl: [whining] I never win. Readysetgo! Toddler: I win I win I win I win!!!!!! [thunderous feet pounding and more screaming] [Thud.] [Silence.] [Sobbing.] Girl: I’m…

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