Keeping body and soul together

I burned my hand this winter. Not a particularly painful burn, but a nasty-looking and prominent one on the back of my right hand. In the days that followed, many friends noticed and asked about it. One friend immediately broke off a piece of her aloe plant and covered my hand with its healing salve. Another friend covered my hand with hers and prayed for healing. I felt anointed with blessing both times.

This week, the memories of those occasions, though weeks apart, converged into a picture of what my network of friends do for me. Through hugs and small touches, good meals and conversations, gifts of food and thoughtfulness; they nourish me, soul and body.

I've grown accustomed to her face

After our lovely and relaxing weekend, which included the first bonfire of the season, the first (and second and third) s'mores of the season, and a lazy afternoon out at Casey and Katie's place
(well, lazy for the girls and me...Bryan helped drywall the workroom below their new house) we have had quite the exciting morning. (pause for drum roll)

Hannah lost her first tooth today!

She first noticed a loose tooth during "corn season" last summer and had begun to wonder if it would ever fall out. But her patience was rewarded this morning and she is happily calling everyone she can think of to share her good news. Between the gap in her mouth and the fact that she is back to wearing her glasses (thanks to a sharp-eyed sister who located the long-lost lens), I am going to have to get reacquainted with my little girl; she looks so different!