Waiting. . .

Here we are: waiting. The past nine months have been full of activity, each week and month bringing with it a different aspect of preparation outwardly and inwardly. The first weeks of keeping our burning secret to ourselves and praying for her health. Then sharing our news and starting to have a bump-it's a girl! Then collecting stuff (lots of stuff) far and wide: craigslist, showers and from second hand from friends and family. With the change of seasons, summer to fall and the fall to winter, my body and mind have slowed each week, coming now to an almost stop. Past the warmth and fullness of Christmas, winter now brings a quiet, clean stillness. The new year feels fresh like the snow that fell last night. In the "deadness" outside, there is a life bursting to be born within. It is into this dead of winter that she, fully alive, will come.