that is all

i saw a bumper sticker
25 years ago
that i still think about today.

it said:
what if the hokey pokey
is what it’s all about?

does the smell of new pool floaties
remind you of
swimming in the pond
at your grandparents’ llama ranch?

no?

well, it does for me.
and it is nothing short of glorious.

and if i listen hard enough,
i can hear the llama food
being rattled around in a big folgers can.

i’ve got one that is already in college
and the second one has a foot out the door
and i have had the harsh realization
that all of my recipes are doubled
and that is no longer my life.

it is impossible to escape God’s goodness.
that is all.

i just made our flights
to drop her off at college.

so now there is this
flood of sadness
that has settled
deep within my heart.
i am so excited for her and so sad for us.

because the dreams
are getting mixed with reality
and this next chapter
is right around the corner.
that is all.

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Psalm 27:14

it is beyond
an honor and a privilege to be her mother
and
to take her senior portraits.

the sun came out for our session.
for our sunshine girl.
and she’s still that same bright and shining and wild girl
as she was when she was four years old.

the ping-pongy thoughts have turned into white noise.
and it’s absolutely lovely.