Today was one of those days. After a day punctuated, even dominated, by discord, the melody of our lives found a peaceful way to resolve by the end of the last measure.
By 3pm everyone was angry, bitter and tired. Especially me. So we snuggled upstairs and finished reading a book. It was actually the first book that I've read in pieces to the girls. Over three nights we read _A Water Snake's Year_ and it was such a treasure. To close the book and tell them they'd find out what happened next was magical. Even more magical was how quickly they hopped into bed to find out what the next page would bring! I'm so proud of my little chickens - even the littlest ones happily sit through a long book where there aren't many pictures.
In the last hour before Mike got home, I frantically cleaned the disaster that was our house while the girls splashed in the pool. Somehow dinner was going and the kitchen and mud room were orderly by the time he arrived. The four of them road bikes and skateboards outside while I finished up dinner.
After such a wild day, I decided that dinner should be almost an apology - well, rather, it should be a reminder that things aren't always so bad. So the table was set with many treasures - the 3rd and 4th lilies blooming from our Asiatic lilies, candle and the following loves from my grandparents' house after they moved into their new retirement community - crystal coasters for our drinks, lace doily to adorn the table, sugar bowl and spoon, dessert plates that were the perfect size for the girls. Dinner was meatloaf made from ground beef from our "meat man" at the Farmers' Market, brown rice and broccoli from our favorite family farm, Creekside Nursery.
Here they are just arriving to the table. We often now put the food on the table, because they love "serving themselves".
We had a fun blessing of our food, then while everyone was serving themselves (generous helpings!) I lead them in a discussion of where everything had come from.
ground beef from Mr. White's cow
spring onions from Mr. Wilfong
brown rice from Earth Fare
broccoli from Jenny (at Creekside Nursery)
water from the Catawba River (Mt. Island Lake) by way of the City of Gastonia
After that a special thing happened. While they were finishing up their food, Mike told them their birth stories. It was so spontaneous and beautiful - he is so sweet and loving to all his girls.
Here's what they were, briefly:
Laurel was at the bottom of a basket of rotten potatoes he bought at the Farmers' Market. He picked the roots off her feet so she couldn't turn back into a potato. But that's the reason she loves to dig in the dirt so much. If she digs a hole deep enough, she may crawl right in to be with her potato family.
Liv was a monkey he caught at the zoo. He shaved her, and taught her how to talk. This is why she is so wild. And if she is every near a tree, she may try to climb it and become a monkey again.
Lela was a little fish that had washed up from the bottom of the sea. He found her while picking up seashells. He cut her tail to make legs and taught her how to talk. This is why she loves the water so much. However, if she is ever near the ocean, she might try to jump in and change into a fish again.
Here they are enjoying the stories. (Lela says "Daddy, we all came from Momma's belly!")
Lela listening to her "birth story".
Liv making a monkey face.
Liv deciding she needs another helping of ketchup.
The view from my lap. Laurel finally decided that she needed to sit with me to finish her meal.
It was a beautiful meal together!
