July 29th, 2010
I am having major gloom ‘tude right now. We just had the most wonderful rainstorm, and it actually lasted a good amount of time. Now my view out the window makes me long for Fall.
The rain has left a bright gray sky and fat drops that cling to the panes of glass. It is the still after the storm and the outside air looks peaceful and cool.
If I were to step out my door I’d be abruptly thrown back into late July with a blast of sticky heat.
So I will stay inside and imagine it is Fall.
I will think of beverages in paper cups that will keep my hands warm and belly happy.
I will imagine snuggling under a blanket with my loves while we watch that lovable Grinch steal Christmas and give it back.
I will anticipate pulling the Christmas tree out of the garage, then out of the too-tiny box it is stashed in, then adorning it with sparkling heirloom baubles.
I will imagine the cool crispness of Autumn air and think about all of the warm yarn hats I will pull over Ella Faye’s hair to keep her snug and cozy.
The drizzle has picked up again. Maybe it’s a good night to turn down the air and bury deep beneath my favorite blanket. Maybe put some hot cocoa on the stove and put those finishing touches on our Christmas stockings.
After all, the ability to imagine is something never to lose.
I thought this was a party...LET’S DANCE!
July 28th, 2010
It’s someone’s birthday here at Verga House. This someone’s sweet, funny, smokin’, and oh, everything else good.
And it’s a He. And it’s not the cat. Can you guess?
Baby’s first birthday, 25 years ago…
Happy Birthday, Anthony!
Here’s to the most supportive husband and loving father two girls could have. (And those are among many, many other top-notch attributes, which I intend to remind you of throughout the day.) We love you so much!
Really really love this capture. I need to find a frame.
Ant’s grandma recently sent us some old photos and I have fallen in love with Baby Anthony. Who’da thunk that would happen?
I can’t believe how much Ella looks like her daddy. I had assumed she got most of her chubby baby features from me, but browsing through these pictures, I can see she’s a little spitting image. Lucky girl.
So I’ve been planning to share these photographs and I thought what better day than today, my love’s birthday.
He was so cute then, and he’s just gotten better with age.
Love that he’s dressed in the same outfit in these two. Maybe around 1 year, then close to 3? His face changed so much! Picture that little boy on the left in a dress and I’d say he’s Ella Faye. Exact smile.
With his grandpa Vito.
A hint at the birthday boy’s gift this year.
Three years old and cute as ever. Look at those ears…oh man oh man.
A P.S. from Ella: Happy Day to You! Happy Day to You!! Ah-loo. (You know what that means…)
I thought this was a party...LET’S DANCE!
July 26th, 2010
Ella Faye is turning into quite the budding artist.
On our last trip around Target I frantically buzzed up and down the back-to-school supply aisles looking for a few things to add to her drawing table. We came home with a new box of crayons, a pencil box, and a yellow composition book (50 cents! I should go back and stock up on these!)
Well the book is nearly full. (I guess I should do that stocking up soon.)
A couple of my favorites
She likes to get a little coloring time in before breakfast, mid-morning, after lunch, and before bath. Any time is a good time for coloring, according to this little artist. It has swiftly become her new favorite thing.
It’s been fun to watch Ella’s lines go from straight scratches across paper to more fluid, roundy swirls.
She’s also begun to name everything she draws. She even takes requests, lucky us.
Tonight she drew a montage of food: cereal, cake, milk, pizza. Then I requested that she color beans and she kindly obliged.
There’s a pink five-pointed star in that one there! Can you see it??
This one here is a portrait of Yaya, Papa, a kitty, and Daddy.
She’s taken a liking to drawing in the nude. She says it’s something about being fully-expressed.
Doing her best work
I thought this was a party...LET’S DANCE!
July 24th, 2010
Our Saturday started early and a little tearful. We attended a memorial service for a friend we’d made over the years at church. Smiles and comments every Sunday morning coupled with frequent run-ins on errands around town made for a sort of unspoken friendship between our family and hers. I have been surprised by how much the loss has affected me. Realizing I won’t be seeing that bright welcoming face every week brings tears to my eyes. Although we never had lengthy conversations with her, I know she is that type of mother, wife, and servant of God that I hope to grow into. I wonder if she knew her warmth could be felt so easily, that her openness would have such an influence on others. She was so inspiring, and I will miss her very much.
I have only been to a few other services for lost loved ones, my grandma’s funeral being the most vivid when I was about ten years old. I didn’t know how this service would be, if I would be able to contain myself, if it would be uncomfortable. (Because being there among her close friends and family, I didn’t know if we would feel out of place.) But I am so glad we were there. We joined a row of our other 9am Sunday mass friends in one of the back pews and paid our respects to her and support to her beautiful family. She touched our blooming family greatly, every week, and I’m happy we were there to say goodbye and celebrate her uniting with God in heaven. And I am so so thankful for the community we have found ourselves in through our church.
(Thank you, Mom and Dad, for making me go to my weekly religious ed. classes {even though I dreaded it every week, I am grateful now, that I was there}, and for raising me in that very same church I will raise my family in. It is like a safe home for me, and I can’t imagine not having that relationship with God and our community.)
Mid-post-dinner-cleanup this evening I decided to venture out back among the bugs and weeds for a few glimpses of the sky. The air looked purple and ultra constrast-y. It was a nice calmness to round out a meaningful day.
sky to the west…and to the east
This day has reminded me to thankful for what we have and who we have
and to be present to what to hold onto.
To remember that we are blessed, in more ways than we can constantly be aware of.
straight above me
I thought this was a party...LET’S DANCE!
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