Our dear Little Belles is 16 today!

I remember the day she was born. I remember gazing with awe at the baby sister for whom I'd waited and prayed so long. She was like a little cherub. I remember her as a toddler, always smiling and laughing and bringing joy into our lives. 

She's still like that. She has a positive outlook on life, an encouraging word for everybody, a cheerful countenance. And she is a marvelous companion. Five years between us doesn't slow us down a bit -- Ibs and I get along famously and I look up to her in so many ways. She has wisdom beyond her years, and I treasure the input she speaks into my life. I am so blessed to have a sister with whom to have super long talks, quote favorite books, finish each others' sentences, enjoy late-night laughing fits, share hopes and dreams, and spur each other on to follow God more fully every day.

Ibby is a rare gem, a girl who is fast growing into a young woman of strong character and beauty that is both inside and out. I look forward to seeing where God will lead her as she continues to mature and blossom in her sixteenth year. 

Happy Birthday, Isabella! I love you to bits!

Memory Shots

 The past few weeks have been wildly full! They've included twelve states, countless ministry stops, a few days of sweet fellowship, and the wonderful feeling of arriving home at last. Here in Vermont, the leaves are already beginning to change, and soon the mountainsides will be rich with the colors of the season. We took a hike on Sunday afternoon, and were finally able to conquer the "Hell Brook" trail, which was very difficult, but soooo worth it -- several miles of steep, rocky terrain which mostly felt like trying to walk up a cliff, and then we came out above the trees and the view of the surrounding country took our breath away. I'll post pictures of it soon.

In the meantime, here are a few recent and not-so-recent pictures...

Vermont woods

 

 best friends

almost heaven

wild games of blow-ping-pong. :)

enjoying a real kitchen!

some of Ike's nasturtiums

our faithful dog

Friendship

{walking with a friend}

"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away." - George Eliot