a little brighter

I needed a day like this, where the sun shines through the grey and the air sparkles and the light is so bright it hurts, but it burns away the gloom. This last little stretch has been a tough one- we have been pulling late nights trying to get things done in the house after the babe is asleep, painting and cleaning drywall dust and moving things to be ready for the floors. This crunch time has coincided with my parents being away (they never go away. ever.) so childcare is out, which means we are trading off constantly trying to get the work done. So there are no breaks from childcare or working in the house, no time together as a couple or a family, and any moment we do have together is found talking over the baby's head trying to make decisions about construction. It is exhausting and unsustainable, but that is not what this post is about. This post is about this beautiful day that has made me feel better and helped me remember that I am blessed, even if I am busy and tired. I mean, look at these little feet in the snow! And this view. I feel so lucky to be here on this land with my beautiful loves, and I know that all this craziness will soon pass. And even as we are in the midst of it all, there is so many moments that make me catch my breath with their wonder and sweetness. Like Ari learning so much so fast, trying out so many words, saying "it's hea-by" (heavy) as he carries around the firewood, and "happy!" when he snuggles on my lap.
Or putting the last coat of paint on our soon-to-be-bedroom walls and looking out the dust-fogged window at a glorious pink sky and realizing that we now have a window we can watch the sunsets from, and imagining all the nights we will watch the sky change through that very window.
And the pond that has frozen smooth enough to skate on (but not so smooth that it is a hazard for toddlers in boots!) and the neighbours that spent the morning shovelling it off in preparation for their skating party tomorrow night (we will be celebrating American thanksgiving here too, with our American neighbour-friends,) and the cobbler baking in the oven made from the last of the local plums, and my sweet husband who notices things I've left over at the other house he thinks I've been missing- my hand cream, some clothing- and leaves them for me- better than any bouquet of flowers.
And our friends that called when they heard our flooring contractor had backed out of the job to say "How about we come this weekend and put in the floor together?" We really are blessed. And the forecast calls for more sun tomorrow.