Here comes the sun

After two days of rain, the washed skies seemed bluer than blue today; the sun sang it's brightness and the wind blew over the earth, drying it off.
It was a beautiful day.
I am up to my ears in boxes and messes, packing, sorting through our tangible life and deciding what stays and what is expendable.
It is quite a chore, and today, I wanted to go outside to play.
The boys called up a friend to spend the day with, and we were off.
Isaac and Jo had coupons for free happy meals from a reading program they participate in, so we stopped at McD's to pick up lunch and went to the park.
We sat on benches under a canopy of trees and watched the geese and ducks meandering around, or sleeping in the sunlight, feathers fluffed up, beaks buried under wings.

The boys had a quick romp on the playground after lunch, and then we went to the tennis courts so they could practice. They have a tournament in April.

It was pretty windy, and I walked Daniel around in his stroller while Isaac and Colton played a bit of tennis. Josiah was an excellent ball boy.

After a ride out to check on the new house, we stopped at Tropical Sno, the first trip of the season.

Daniel had his first small taste of Tropical Sno ever! It think he liked it : ).

It was warmer by the time we got there, so we sat on the benches, watching the people come and go, all craving the sweet, cold ices that are a part of spring/summer life here.

We ordered a Wolverine, Pink Pixi, and Volcano. Guess which one was mom's.

When we got home, the boys played some hoops with their friend and I cleaned a bit and ordered pizza.
Grandpa stopped in for a few minutes to drop off some paper goods he picked up for us (bless him) and he chatted and played with the kids a while.

Mom brought tulips after work to brighten up what has become a cardboard jungle (bless her).

We had a smaller homegroup than usual tonight, but it was good. We talked about what God is doing in each of us, recapped Sunday's sermon, which was excellent, and our friend Nancy shared stories from her life. Amazing, how God has his hand on each of us. We all have such stories to tell.
Before we knew it, it was almost 10 p.m., and then the phone rang.
It was Joe!
I hadn't heard his voice in over a week! It was so good to hear him.
Tomorrow, he will be home, and we will tell him all the things that happened here, and we will listen to all the stories he has to tell.
We are quite excited to see him.
I look around now, and the boxes are all where I left them this afternoon, still waiting to be packed or stacked. There is a pile of laundry that would put Mt. Everest to shame. The boys room looks like a small tornado spontaneously whipped up in there.
I sigh.
If we stayed in this afternoon, it would have all been done.
But today was not a day for boxes, or laundry, or messes.
Today was for playgrounds and fresh air and Tropical Sno and laughter in little boy's eyes.
The boxes will be here tomorrow . . .