Biggest surprise

Little Peanut playing in the living room.

Each day holds a surprise.  But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us.  Let’s not be afraid to receive each day’s surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy.  It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity.

~ Henri Nouwen

A bowl is one of the best toys.

Today’s December Reflections 2018 prompt is:  Biggest Surprise in 2018.

There were a lot of surprises in 2018.  Most of them of the small, everyday variety.  All of them appreciated, no matter how small.  The biggest surprise was one we had hoped for but could in no way control or interfere in:  Little Peanut’s adoption into our family.  The expansion of our family by one new grandson was an expansion of love greater than I am able to put into words.  Because it’s an open adoption (like that of the Little Wookie), his mother has become a part of our family, too.  M the Younger and his wife truly are growing a village in which these children (and foster children) will be loved.

A little foot.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Another big thank you for all the wonderful birthday wishes.  I had a wonderful day although things didn’t work out quite as planned.  The Toddler Plague apparently comes with a relapse that left me feeling not-so-good, and M, who fought it valiantly, has finally succumbed to it.  Poor guy.  I know just how he’s feeling.  We did go out, soldiering on mostly because we needed to shop for a birthday gift for the Little Peanut.  His birthday is next weekend, and with it coming so soon, we couldn’t put off the shopping.  We found a wonderful toy store in Berlin (Maryland).  Berlin itself is a cool little town (in fact, it was named America’s Coolest Small Town in 2014).  The restaurant where we planned to have dinner was just across the street from the toy store so that part worked out in spite of how we were feeling.  The food was amazing, the service was wonderful, and I’d like to go back again when we’re both feeling better.

Evening reflections in the marsh.

Let’s meet out at the dock or the Point for sunset this evening.  Your choice.  There are enough clouds around today to make it interesting and even if the clouds end up blocking the sun, it’s always beautiful by the water.  Sunset is at 4:44 PM.  Wow.  Four days in a row.  You can tell we’re getting close to the Solstice.  It’s a little chillier today than yesterday, but not as windy.  Dress warmly anyway.  It’s almost always colder by the water.

Be good, be kind, be loving.  Just Be.  🙂

The Eagle Tree. There have been eagles out there, but I never seem to have the right lens with me to capture them.

A few of the 10,000 reasons to be happy:  971)  An amazing and beautiful sunrise this morning.  972)  Walking out to the dock to watch the sunrise.  It’s the opposite direction (west) but it’s where the color happened to be.  Sometimes you have to turn around to catch the best color when it comes to sunrises and sunsets.  (For example, the sunset pictures I posted above were taken facing east, not west.)  973)  Two river otters splashing at the edge of the creek this morning.  They looked like they were having a good time.  974)  A Great Blue Heron joining the river otters.  He didn’t seem to enjoy the splashing of the otters quite as much as I did and flew off in a huff without ever noticing me (if he had, he wouldn’t have flown in at all).  975)  The peaceful quiet of the woods at sunrise.

A walk on the beach at the Point.