easter.

the weather in portland can be moody. especially this time of year.

i know because i've lived here for one year and three days.

and because i can be moody~ so i recognize another like me.

people say that the winter can be rough~ with weeks of no sun breaks.

our first winter seemed mild compared to what i was bracing myself for.

and then february hit. 

it was beautiful.

with glimpses of spring bursting forth.

and my pregnant friend came to visit.

and all i could think about was new life.
and hope.
and redemption.

like new life growing from tired weary soil.

like a neighbor playing their music for the sidewalks to hear.

beauty in all of the unlikely places.

on one glorious day in particular (one of the first of the season), 

a neighbor was walking down the street and we shared our joy over the weather.

and she said something like this:

"days like today make me believe that spring really will come."

and i thought about that. 

a lot.

maybe that is exactly what god is saying to all of us.

as he brings new life forth right before our eyes...

SPRING will come. 

SPRING will come.

i think i heard that today.

easter.

and even though it wasn't the most sunny beautiful spring-y easter,

i have hope.

the rains will cease.

death will be dead.

pain will end.

alone will never be again.

we live in a messy world~

and things often aren't the way they are supposed to be.

one day that will change.

i've also been encouraged by reading this:

Not the Way It's Supposed to Be : A Breviary of Sin

sorry i didn't put up pictures of plastic eggs and my cute children.

i'm not sure if you all will survive without it. ;)