Cat in My Lap

Cat in my lap
Baby in my belly

Rain in the trees
Tomatoes in the ground

There will come a time
when you need all my
attention, baby, even
more than the tomatoes.

But this morning we sit
breathing in unison,
quiet and content.

April Dedications

I have done this before, dedicated each day to something. It's a way I like to mark the passage of time, especially times when I make gratitude a practice for some reason... like being isolated in our house away from friends and family. But a few days I let get past me with no recollections whatsoever. I know that nothing is lost on the breath of God: not a day here or there, not a month of being in my head, not one single worry.

Wednesday, 1

Thursday, 2
Today is dedicated to Shelby, who told me her birth story, and still has the courage to go through it again.

Friday, 3
Today is dedicated to Pine View Dairy and their wonderful creamline milk.

Saturday, 4
Today is dedicated to all health care workers, including mental health care workers. Our anxieties soar, and you somehow make room to keep doing your job.

Sunday, 5
Today is dedicated to my family: birth, nuclear, extended, in-lawed, outlawed, and Church.

Monday, 6
Today is dedicated to women who have been pregnant before, for any period of time. I love you and respect you and need you to keep telling me it's alright.

Tuesday, 7
Today is dedicated to Isaac, who makes small group a priority and leads with grace.

Wednesday, 8
Today is dedicated to leftovers.

Thursday, 9
Today is dedicated to fresh bread.

Friday, 10
Today is dedicated to our betrayed Lord, who understands darkness.

Saturday, 11


Sunday, 12
Today is dedicated to our risen Lord!

Monday, 13
Today is dedicated to the man I've been married to for precisely nine months.

Tuesday, 14
Today is dedicated to coffee. I bet it still tastes great.

Wednesday, 15
Today is dedicated to this baby growing in me, who causes us to re-think everything and upsets our comforts.

Thursday, 16
Today is dedicated to Maggie, who made our lives extra beautiful for the two weeks she stayed with us.

Friday, 17
Today is dedicated to the student who kept working on the yearbook long after everyone else had lost interest.

Saturday, 18
Today is dedicated to the responsiveness of the earth to cultivation, as shown by the care of my in-laws, whose garden is shaping up to be magnificent.

Sunday, 19
Today is dedicated to the practice of Lectio Divina.

Monday, 20
Today is dedicated to the "Harry Potter and the Sacred Text" podcast.

Tuesday, 21
Today is dedicated to the thousands of children flying thousands of kites from the rooftops of Amman, Jordan.

Wednesday, 22
Today is dedicated to my very thoughtful book club, who so gently shows me my prejudices.

Thursday, 23
Today is dedicated to Murphy's Oil Soap: good for wooden floors.

Friday, 24
Today is dedicated to the winding country roads of Northern Lancaster County.

Saturday, 25
Today is dedicated to grilled hamburgers with tomatoes, onions, and pickles.

Sunday, 26
Today is dedicated to Sabbath rest.

Monday, 27
Today is dedicated to Jim Dale, narrator of the U.S.-English Harry Potter books.

Tuesday, 28
Today is dedicated to acrylic paint and unexpected company.

Wednesday, 29
Today is dedicated to the promise of summer. You hang in the air, waiting to join us, and I can tell you're on your way. 

Thursday, 30
Today is dedicated to the first cup of coffee I have enjoyed in 20 weeks.

Friday, 31
Today is dedicated to ultrasound technicians and OB/GYNs.