Compassion Requested

Forty years, an old couple lived and cared
For a home where they raised four children.
They planned to sell.
Accepted our offer.
We hoped their history would become our future.
At inspection, they smiled at us.
A week later, leaving became reality.
He claimed heart problems.
We gave reassurance, time, financial forgiveness.
Real reasons surfaced:
They are terrified,
Want us to give up.
We're resisting.
Our offer won't die.
I envision their tears and wrinkled clinging arms.
I've wanted to be the answer to prayers, not the face of nightmares.

Kindness

My youngest daughter sprained her ankle on Monday while she was jumping rope at school.  She stayed home all day yesterday.  Today, she's feeling better, but she's using crutches.  Because of some extra homework, she stayed home from a church youth activity last night.  One of their leaders is a florist, so the girls learned about flower arranging.  After the activity, while my daughter was still working hard on her homework, the girls came over and presented her with this flower arrangement.  I was impressed by their thoughtfulness and kindness.

Midway Ice Castles

This was a good place to go today.  Here is a link with more info:  LINK

No House

Remember that home we were going to buy?  The one with the cool kitchen appliances, main floor bedrooms, and other awesomeness?  Turns out the sellers are backing out.  Very sad but true.

Feeling homeless.

The good news:  I'm headed to an ice castle.  Pictures later.

Time or Flowers

I often choose flowers when I choose bananas. Most grocery stores sell flowers near their produce sections.  Since I pick out produce while I'm fresh in the store and don't want to carry my flowers throughout, I often wait until the end of my visit to pick up the flowers.  

But sometimes, like today, I forget.  It wasn't until I'd been waiting in a very long line for several minutes that I remembered.  For several seconds, I debated whether or not it was worth it to get out of line.

Some things matter more than time and soggy frozen food, so I left the line for flowers.

Unlike many grocery store flowers, these are actually fragrant. Between the scent and the sunshine they emit, waiting in line for an extra ten minutes was worth it.

House!

We're in the process of buying this.  It's located in our ideal area, near where we lived for seven years before we moved to NY.  It will feel great to be home again.

Safety Flags

It has been a gorgeous, warm day here in SLC, UT.  I went on the first (definitely not last!) bike ride of 2011.  I'm still getting used to city biking.

These orange safety flags are a good idea.  They definitely help cars spot pedestrians as they walk cross those busy roads.  I guess they expect bikers to have their own safety equipment, because though I was on a bike route on 6th East, the flag receptacle is just across 6th, not across busy 17th South.  There is a school at this intersection on the north side of 17th. That's probably why. You can find these flags on busy streets all over SLC.

The tulips have opened up.  They are more beautiful than I imagined.  Perfect for Valentine's Day.

I like these pictures the kids took yesterday.  I hope they weren't actually looking at the sun!

Spring? Flowers

The bees are awake in February.  Click on the picture and you can see one hovering between  flowers.  There were many bees swarming around the yard this afternoon.

Syracuse is covered in snow.  We wouldn't have dreamed of outside flowers until maybe April, more likely May. Sometimes I forget we now live in the land of the mountain desert.

Here, it's a beautiful 55 degrees and my Mr. took the kids to the park.Yeah, we still have some lingering snow on the north faces of things, but I'm not going to complain.

I bought these flowers today.  It was tough to find not-roses with Valentine's Day around the corner.  These tulips remind me of the time twenty-two years ago when I was offered proposals by three different guys all within one year.  This one strange older guy said, "I want to marry you or go pick tulips in Holland."  I suggested he go pick tulips. Funny thing is, that's exactly what he did.

Some Things Do Get Better With Time

Tomorrow is our 22nd anniversary.  Today, I just feel like looking at us.