Bits: Waiting

Alysse waited two whole years before getting to attend her very own first ballet class, in her very own first pair of ballet slippers.  Last year she was sure it was her year to show off "the moves" at our little ballet co-op, but classes start at three years-old.

She was a sad girl.

But I watched her when I gave her the welcome letter from her first teacher, Miss Abby.  And again at the dance store, getting fitted for those pink leather shoes.  And yet again the afternoon when I could finally say, "Which tutu would YOU like to wear?"

You know, I noticed something.

There is joy in the waiting.  Sometimes, perhaps, the joy doesn't really feel in, but more like after, the waiting.  Although, in order for that to be possible, there had to be fragments of joy there all along.  The looking-forward-to slowly building to a beautiful crescendo.

Something you can really dance to.

Big sisters were totally stoked for her.  Once we arrived I stood outside the door watching her quietly take it all in, with her Leesie ways. Tears silently falling, which must have looked a little strange next to my perma-grin.

Joe and I have felt in a waiting period for some time now in certain ways, big ways, close to our heart ways.  In the last weeks and months, we have seen some of that waiting begin to pay off.

And, oh.

There's joy that I'm figuring out was there. Something good to remember for all the inevitable waiting that we have in store.


Some bits.

And loads of pictures.

A favorite combination.
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:: I love to throw a good shower, especially for someone I just love.
 
 
Topping the list of memories: My girls putting on a handmade puppet play behind the counter and ending with several songs including "Jesus Loves Me" and "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus."  Still makes my heart smile.

:: That shower was for a beloved cousin who finally married her high school sweetheart a couple of weekends ago.  Talk about a waiting crescendo... the tippity top of a mountain, in all the glory of fall.  In no small feat all three of my girls dropped fist fulls of wildflowers, picked by the bride herself, as I looked on from down the line of sweet women who were asked to stand alongside her that day.
 
Such a gorgeous bride.  A woman after my own heart! All of the DIY, touched by her loving hands. 

:: And more autumnal glory because, my, it's already mid-October y'all.

One of the many reasons a certain little miss will be putting on a monarch butterfly costume here in a few weeks. 

Waiting with Wonder,
~Katrina

Happy Nuggets

Hugs for my tuckered out girl.

Nuggets, bits.

Same diff.

No big words tonight.  Pulling out a synonym for my weekly (monthly, whenever-ly I can get to writing them) bits was enough of a challenge.  I feel a little like Leesie in that above picture, her legs worn out from joyfully running and climbing.  Around me sits a half emptied mop bucket, piles of laundry, lesson plans, phone lists, and more.  Lots more.

And it's after midnight.

Naturally, I'm stopping to do this.

All I want tonight are slices of happiness dropped in a row, smiling back at me as I cut and paste.

In 3...

2...

1...

Ahhh (exhale).
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Apple orchard'ing.  Play writing, directing, performing. Mama's shoes wearing.  Soccer playing. Downtown festival going. Homeschooling. 

Something accomplished.

Now, off to fold many piles of little unmentionables.

With a smile on my face.
~Katrina