Monday, February 26, 2007

A Day Off Explained

I'm taking the day off. Blame it on cupcakes and daffodils and...


... Well, I had an insanely busy weekend. Did you? On top of all the activity, an enormous, angry storm blew through early Saturday, littering the place with dry, spindly pecan branches and lengths of roof shingles. I returned home late Saturday to find a charming little stream... in the hallway. Not. Cool. Being the DIY woman that I am, I figured I could trace this devil of a leak back to its source and... I don't know... stick a bucket under it or stuff some wine corks in it or chew tons of bubble gum and plug it. Ha! (Such a girl, I am.) So this morning I'm awaiting help (which is always an adventure), cleaning, and doing laundry.

Or... er... I will be. Right now I'm drinking iced mint tea, putting my latest daffodil bouquet in water and dreaming of making Martha Stewart's spring cupcakes this afternoon. Don't hate me.


Besides, I picked these daffodils just for you. I even stuck sprigs of fresh rosemary from the garden among them, and they're sitting all beautiful and fragrant, I suppose, on my desk.

It's unfortunate you can't stop by right now. If we looked at Freeman House from outer space, no doubt we'd see a carpet of sunny greens and yellows. It's beautiful here. It's spring-like. Why do we all wait for a number on a calendar to tell us when spring begins, anyway? My garden is shooting up, everything's abloom, and the high today is a forecasted 75 degrees. Winter? I think not!


Yep, as I sat here and considered spring this morning, I began replaying some breathtaking March/April/May memories: blooming dogwood in Arkansas; apple and cherry blossoms in Virginia; rainy puddles in Oklahoma; sunrises in New Mexico; melting snow in North Dakota; St. Patty's Day parade in New York City; my Dad's new potatoes here in Texas... and suddenly I thought of the Bible verse that says something about beauty, and how God sets the world in our hearts....

... And somehow, as I waited for the plumber from the chair in my backyard, I felt it: I felt like I held spring's beauty and the world in my heart... if even for a moment.

You see now why I had to take the day off. (Plumber aside.) I must make cupcakes and celebrate. Sometimes beauty and holding the world in your heart can be too much for a girl.


He hath made every thing beautiful in His time:
also He hath set the world in their heart…
-Ecclesiastes 3:11

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

you do this, write these sweet posts, and i want to drive immediately to your world and stay the day. how it is that you make even a day with plumbing issues sound ok? miss you! connie

Anonymous said...

oh and have a great day off!! c

Ann said...

Hi Brin! Thanks for your comment. Yes, that assurance that Jesus is ours (and us His) is wonderful! I wish I could drop by for a visit today on your day off. Oh, and those daffodils were beautiful! They reminded me of the daffodils at my grandparent's house. And hearing you talk about iced mint tea made me want to go make myself some. Do you make it from mint leaves, tea bags...? Pass on the recipe, if there is one! :)

Anonymous said...

yep, i would love love love to see your beautiful backyard. wish i could stop by. it would be great fun to have you near enough to 'stop by'. happy spring! love ya! auntie m (min)

cammy said...

Oh, I just love everything about this post! Your daffodils are lovely and remind me that spring will eventually makes its way to me. cammy