Marie, Marie, Marie

Did I mention I was ready? 

Spring and her promises of new life are here ...according to the calendar. But seriously, I am still wearing a wool sweater. Inside! In case you are not aware, the main difference between the outside of my house and the inside, is that the wind doesn't blow (as hard) on the inside.

I was told that once the barn swallows arrive in N.W. Iowa that summer is "officially" here. Since I have, personally, witnessed them soaring about for the past few weeks, it must be so. I was also told that once they're here, it won't get really cold again till the Fall. Maybe this flock didn't get the memo about the record low 34 degree frigidness we experienced earlier this week. I too was out of the loop.

I hate it when that happens.

While we have felt a few warm, glorious days, most of them have been rather cool. It is one of my greatest joys to be outside working in my garden and around my yard. I am loathe to admit that I just won't go out there if it is too uncomfortable and chilly- I listen to the Cardinals literally calling my name from the flowering trees, they sing, "Ma-rie, Ma-rie, Ma-rie....

If I don't respond, it sounds like they sing, Bir-die, Bir-die, Bir-die and call in their bird troops, all calling my name, and I really long to bask in that late Spring warmth with them.

Seeing all of the Mamas nesting, preparing for their babies, heightens my own longing.

My paper pregnancy is eight and a half months along - the extra weight of my anxiousness and the swelling of my heart makes it hard to move sometimes. There are times when we are called out of our comfort zone - times when we experience the kind of new growth that can only be born of being uncomfortable.

It is estimated that there are 27 families ahead of us waiting to be matched.

And an estimated 143 million orphans in the world. 

We've been called by God to make it one less.

I'm ready.