5 years ago

Five years ago today, I delivered a beautiful baby girl. She was the smallest person I had ever seen. She healed my heart and changed me forever. Happy birthday, Cecilia. You're perfect.

Everything

she sees she says she wants.

Everything

she wants I see she gets.

Everything

I say she takes to heart.

Everything

she takes she takes apart.

Every time

she blinks she strikes somebody blind.

Everything

she thinks blows her tiny mind.

That's my daughter in the water.

Everything she owns I bought her.

Everything she owns.

That's my daughter in the water.

Everything she knows I taught her.

Everything she knows.

That's my daughter in the water

I lost every time I fought her.

I lost every time.

Who'd have ever thought?

Who'd have ever thought?

Hoppy Eastah! (also, the post in which I fail at youth religious education)

The scene: A crowded restaurant, jam packed with senior citizens during the early lunch rush. I am sitting with The Hubbin'; Cecilia, 4; and Lucas, 2.

Cecilia: It's almost Easter!

Saki: I know! Are you excited?

Cecilia: Mommy, why do we have Easter?

Saki: Because of Jesus. Do you know who Jesus is?

Cecilia: *deer in headlights*

Saki: Jesus was a very, very, very kind man, who lived a long time ago --

Cecilia: Oh, that's nice.

Saki: ...But he died.

Cecilia: That's terrible! How did he die?

The Hubbin', as he runs away: I'm just going to get up and go somewhere that isn't here

Saki: *nervously looking around* Well, there were people who didn't like Jesus, so they put him on a big cross, and he died there.

Cecilia: That was fresh of them.

Saki: But it's okay, because three days later, he came back to life!

Cecilia: What? How?

Saki: Because Jesus is God's son. And God is magical, and because people believed in him, he helped bring Jesus back to life.

Cecilia: So God is magical?

Saki: Uh....yes. Sort of. Yes.

Cecilia: OH! I get it -- God is magic like Harry Potter!

Nine.

In western lands beneath the Sun

The flowers may rise in Spring,

The trees may bud, the waters run,

The merry finches sing.

Or there maybe 'tis cloudless night,

And swaying branches bear

The Elven-stars as jewels white

Amid their branching hair.

Though here at journey's end I lie

In darkness buried deep,

Beyond all towers strong and high,

Beyond all mountains steep,

Above all shadows rides the Sun

And Stars for ever dwell:

I will not say the Day is done,

Nor bid the Stars farewell.