WayfaringStrangers

The wind bore down harshly Friday night. It was the worst kind of wind, strong and from the North, bringing with it frigid temperatures and a loud howl. Our house is on a hill, our road a bit of a valley; the wind pushes hard against both our bedroom and the boys bedroom windows. I'm always awake at night now. I'm uncomfortable most of the time, and every time I use the bathroom, turn over in bed, or wake up to heartburn, I sigh and look at the clock. This time the wind woke me, though. 3:30 a.m. Two minutes later the boys come in. "The wind is scary. Can we sleep with you?" Behn and I divide and conquer. I go in with Graham and Patrick snuggles with Behn in our room. Graham is tired and tries to fall back asleep. We lay in the dark, listening to the wind pound the house. My stomach growls. After 15 minutes, Graham whispers, "Mom, if a billion is bigger than a million, what is bigger than a billion?" "A trillion," I mutter. I'm always s...

Last weekend, we slipped off to Virginia. We were overdue for a Lexington visit, so away we went. Autumn leaves were in peak season. As we drove through the hills and mountains, the sun hit the curves in the landscape and torched the vibrant colors. It was breathtaking. I wish I'd pulled over for some pictures. Behn and I lived in Lexington for 3 years, and have since lived in Maryland 3 years. It's odd sometimes, how memories I hold so dear can seem to fade...and then we go back and it's a rush because I remember it all. I have been feeling all the feels. Lexington bricks: So, the weekend: We decided to stay in a (cheap) hotel this time. When we got to Lex, we settled in and grabbed pizza at a place downtown. Then we let the boys romp around Hopkins Green and through the campuses (Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute). We kept hearing helicopters, and when we realized they were landing on the marching grounds at VMI, we scooted o...

I've been thinking much about Grandpa. When we got the call that he had unexpectedly passed away, we were in the beginning of our host month and getting through the challenges that came with that. Thankfully, our great host organization sent a chaperone to come be with V for the weekend of the funeral so we could participate in everything. I'm so glad we could focus on that day with family, saying goodbye. I'm glad that years ago, my grandparents moved to be near us as we grew up. I'm glad that when I graduated from college, I lived with them for a year. I'm glad that the past 2+ years we have lived near Grandma and Grandpa and been able to spend time with them. I'm especially glad that the boys knew their GP. I'm glad we named Patrick Wilford after Grandpa (Wilford was his first name). I'm glad I shared my love of gardening with Grandpa. He always shared tips and had good advice. I'm glad I asked Grandpa to share stories ...

If you read my last post, you saw that we are busy and happy here in Maryland. We have friends and activities and family here. But this time of year, the spring, always brings out the nostalgia in me. I miss Lexington. I miss walking around the cute downtown...the coffee and shops and art studios and little street fairs and walking through the campuses of W&L and VMI. I miss the Maury River and swimming or throwing rocks in it. I miss the Chessie Trail. I miss the Appalachian Trail. And that anywhere you were, there were mountains all around. That fresh mountain air... I miss all the great parks, especially Boxerwood Garden. It's such a gem. And I miss our friends and church family. It was such an incredible experience living in Lexington for 3 years. Maybe what I really miss- and can't get back- is being 26 and having more energy and being pregnant and Graham being a baby and then Patrick being a baby. Both of our kids were bor...