i have had a week rich with the presence of women. yoga and lunch at mr.spots chai house with mj. a surprise visit from shelli and leslie and thier new babies. the joy of jennifer b. phone calls to my sister-in-law, rachel. catching up with liz. one last long distance chat with wendy before she leaves for two years in thailand.

in the words of sarah mclaughlan…’your love is better than chocolate.’

There is no way to capture the deadening sadness that comes with being a tomb. To travel through your days with a stillborn child residing in your womb is a sorrow that defies description. I have made this journey, with Simeon warm, then cold, under my ribs. Now my sister-in-law walks the same path, her unborn child curled beneath her heart, his own heart ominously still and black on the sonogram screen.

“She lost the baby,” people will say. But Rachel and I both know that there was no misplacement of this child. We knew exactly where he was. We felt his birth, held his still frame. We have –or will– scatter … {read more…}

When all you had was God

O my Beloved,
I searched both worlds
but never found joy without you.
I have seen many wonders
but never a wonder like you.

I pressed my soul’s ear
against countless doors,
but never heard words as sweet as yours.
O what grace you power upon your servants!
From our view the ocean looks so small!

O Spirit, sweet sight of my eyes,
I’ve never seen one like you
in all of Persia or Arabia
Pour the wine that takes me beyond myself,
for this petty existence
brings nothings but fatigue.

You are the endless love.
You are the heavenly … {read more…}

Okay, I wrote this really fast at 10:30pm without re-reading it, spell checking it, or adding links. (Bad blogger, bad!) But hopefully it well help out Mike (see below.)

Nighty Night!

Rachelle

__________________________________________________________

Mike,

Kid’s and the Abbey…well, for instance, our night started out with Emily and Israel (adults) showing everyone thier new pet corn snake. (A big hit with the kids…it lived in Emily’s shirt sleeve, pocket, and under her bandana all night. Josh and Tonya came in, our neighbors from up the street, and the girls climbed all over Josh who they call “thier human jungle gym.” (We set boundaries with the kids about who they can climb on and such. They have two or three adults who are close to thier … {read more…}

The mini monk at work in the children’s room at Mecca.