For My Husband on His Birthday (or, of winter and waiting)

This winter lasts, but our time moves steadily from its first unfolding,
and we find ourselves in the already but not yet
of the journey.  Green plants push through dirt
beneath the frozen snow.  Sunlight shines through windows
covered with a long winter’s filmy grime.  We wait for warmth
and wait for wisdom.  We are in Easter’s Advent, praying, listening.
The cardinals have returned to the barren forsythia, looking, flitting
from branch to twig to ground, searching.

Perhaps we are a nesting pair, arriving, looking, searching,
putting all energy into choosing, collecting, building, and then,
hoping.  What will this next spring surprise us with?  A lush garden,
a field of wildflowers?  A new truth?

For now silence may fall with the snow
while we remain steadfast and full of hope.

Happy Birthday Blog

I used to loathe the word “blog.” Now I love it.

Love and Be Loved came to life one year ago, though it had been brewing, stewing, percolating long before that. This has been an excellent and amazing twelve months because “the blog” has helped keep me whole: it has given me an outlet, a reason, recourse, resource, audience (even if it’s only me (and my mom!)).

I’m thankful to everyone and everything that’s made this blog possible.

Happy, happy day!