We love spontaneity around here. There is something about just putting a halt to everything you are doing at the moment an idea surfaces, leaving everything in it's current state and walking out the door. The adventure and enjoyment that spontaneity brings makes the sight of every scattered thing across the floor bearable and worth it upon arriving back at home. We don't always leave the house like this, but the times we do leave the house spotless somehow gives leeway to leave it spontaneously messy every now and then, for the sake of something random.
Valentines Day, 5:05pm.
BrettRyan calls me on his way home from work, "Ya got anything going for dinner?"
"Mmmm, nope. I was just getting ready to figure something out." (Confession: I had a little feeling he'd come up with something spontaneous, hence the lack of dinner preparation.)
"Well, do you think you could have yourself and Breck ready in ten minutes by the time I get home? I want to take you to the lake tonight."
(Insert big gasp/scream from my end of the phone.) "Are you serious!? Yes! Yes! I'll have both of us ready as soon as you walk in the door!"
A few puffs of hairspray, a diaper change, quick diaper bag inventory, and a lip gloss smeared attempt at a touch up we were ready to meet Daddy at the door.
And Daddy met us at the door with these:
My loves + gorgous roses + book + sweet card + the lake + sunset= Perfect Valentines Day.
With a quick Valentines Day gift exchange and a few kisses, we were out the door, buckled in the car, and headed West in a hurry.
Anytime we are spontaneous... Breck give us this look, like "What now!?"
We made it just in time... about 5 minutes before sundown, but that's all we needed to see the icy splendor.
(Photo taken by Daddy.)
(Photo taken by Daddy.)
Since moving to Michigan, I have heard rumors that the waves at the shore freeze in place in the winter... and ever since getting wind of that little piece of information, I've been dying to see it with my own eyes. And it was better than I had imagined. Pictures of the paused waves disappoint me, because they do no justice to how awe struck of God's creation it makes you feel. I've been challenged lately to "bloom where you're planted." (And this is opening up a whole lotta stuff for another post, but to sum up what I mean...) Even if you landed somewhere that you never expected... there is always beauty around you if you just look for it. And just because you were planted in a place you never would have imagined... doesn't mean it is a bad thing. One of the beauties of my new state is not being land-locked. Michigan is rather lake-locked. And I love it. Winter or summer - I love being lake-locked.
The beauty of the seasons... right here where we live, and the fact that the same beach that brings thousands of locals and tourists to bask in the summer sun, walk the pier, fly kites, ride the waves, and make sand castles in the summer...
(Grand Haven Beach in the Summer, waves rhythmically crashing on shore)
... Is the same beach that is snow covered for miles in the winter, no sand in sight, a frozen lake, waves frozen in place and on display for the duration of winter, and the only rippling water you can see is just under the horizon line... is so subtle you' d miss it if you weren't watching for the movement. It's such a sense of calm and surreality... like you can't take your eyes off the waves because at any moment you just expect that they'll move.
(Grand Haven Beach in the Winter, waves frozen still)
The channel to the lake was completely solid.
Close up of the ice in the channel.
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And on a different topic, and even more exciting... we met baby sibling for the first time yesterday!!!
It was so amazing to see your little form floating around in there. And we're looking forward to seeing you again on Tuesday for another ultrasound! Today you are 11 weeks old and about the size of a small lime! We love you already, little baby!
Ps. BrettRyan called me five minutes after he was was out the door for work this morning...
BR: "You need to step outside."
Me: "Why?!"
BR: "It smells like spring out here."
AMAZING. It really does smell like Spring today. Spring is right around the corner, I can feel it and I can barely stand it. Tulips, tree blooms, and plaid cut green grass will have never looked so good as it will this Spring!
-A
