I love this Psalm. It’s been on my mind today, and I felt impressed to share it. Enjoy!

PSALMS 23
A Psalm of David

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I
shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down
in green pastures: he leadeth
me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he
leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for his name’s
sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil: for
thou art with me; thy rod and
thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table
before me in the presence
of mine enemies: thou
anointest my head with oil; my
cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of
my life: and I will dwell in the
house of the Lord for ever.

I also love Temple Passmore’s rendition of Psalms 23. You can buy the recorded version here.

What I love about summer…

…eating cold watermelon and watching my kids let it drip down their chins
…all the summer fruits to eat and preserve
…watching the kids run through the sprinklers
…hearing my kids’ squeals of absolute joy
…long summer nights where the sun finally goes down after nine
…watching the plants in my garden thrive
…picking raspberries from my own bushes
…making trips to the library with my kids for books to keep us occupied on really hot days
…my a/c that keeps us cool and comfortable
…day trips with my family to enjoy places outside of home
…walking in my home after being on one of those day trips and lounging around until dinner time
…learning new things with the children and not being on a schedule imposed by others
…holding hands and watching the sun set with my sweetheart
…relaxing under the stars and enjoying a quiet evening after the kids go to bed
…seeing my kids asleep after an exhaustingly fun day and know they’ll be ready for it all again tomorrow

Sprinkles of rain
Fluffy clouds
Songbirds
Windows wide open
Gentle breeze
Little ones laughter
Joy-filled faces
Gratitude for blessings
Perfect

mamas gather

glowing faces

round bellies and bright-eyed babies

smiles and laughter

light hearts

loving midwives

delectable food

enlightened conversation

birth stories shared

gifts given

bonds and friendships forged

a perfect afternoon

Why I LOVE my baby boy:

His face is like a ray of sunshine.
He wants to be with me all the time.
He still loves to nurse and reconnect.
His babbles make me smile.
He depends on me, rain or shine.
He gives the best “lovies” in the world.
His laughter and smiles fill a room with joy.
He always gives more than he takes.
He is very laid back and mellow.
His curiosity is contagious.
He has the sweetest voice.
He loves me, unconditionally.

Brandi and baby Peter, 03/31/2009, 15 months