eight years

Eight years ago today we stood in a field and vowed to belong to each other. We were total opposites in a lot of ways. I think that makes things hard sometimes but it has also helped us to soften each other's edges. I knew when I married Joshua Caleb Green that my life would not be short on laughter and adventure and it definitely has not been. So today I reflect on where we've been, the sweetness, the trials, the oceans we've seen, the cities we've walked,the people we've loved, the babies we've made and I thank God for this man whom I love with all of my heart.

lately

Naya is now three months old. She is the sweetest most laid back baby ever. She started sleeping through the night on her own at 8 weeks. She loves having her velvety little head rubbed. Nothing quite prepares you for the first time they smile back at you, amazing.




The smell of dirt and sunshine is making us look forward to summer.


Bathing suit season is kind of scary except when it's this cute.



Since Naya has been on the scene Ella has developed a feisty side.Lately they have been doing this puppy wrestling thing. I always feel like I should intervene but it is so funny to watch especially when Ella is the champion.

May 18, 1935-November 8, 2004

Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs
about the lilting house and happy as the grass was green,
The night above the dingle starry,
Time let me hail and climb
Golden in the heydays of his eyes,
And honoured among wagons I was prince of the apple towns
And once below a time I lordly had the trees and leaves
Trail with daisies and barley
Down the rivers of the windfall light.

And I was green and carefree, famous among the barns
About the happy yard and singing as the farm was home,
In the sun that is young once only,
Time let me play and be
Golden in the mercy of his means,
And green and golden I was huntsman and herdsman, the calves
Sang to my horn, the foxes on the hills barked clear and cold,
and the sabbath rang slowly
In the pebbles of the holy streams...

...Nothing I cared in the lamb white days, that time would take me
Up to the swallow thronged loft by the shadow of my hand,
In the moon that is always rising,
Nor that riding to sleep
I should hear him fly with the high fields
And wake to the farm forever fled from the childless land.
Oh as I was young and easy in the mercy of his means,
Time held me green and dying
Though I sang in my chains like the sea.

part of Fern Hill by Dylan Thomas,
because today instead of celebrating or writing a card I'm remembering.

to the birthday girl

If every family has a drama queen Heather is ours. She is the big sister who got me my very first shimmery pink lip gloss and mascara and showed me how to use them. There are seven years between us, so growing up we were always at pretty different stages, but I always loved my beautiful big sister. She seemed to always have to learn things the hard way which is probably why her compassion and understanding of people runs so deep. She is a wonderful listener and encourager. She's a mother to (soon to be) five children.
She's the only Riley sibling that still resides in New Jersey so we miss her lots. So cheers to you sweet sister.

just because