potter's marsh: spring and summer

we headed out to potter's marsh this spring(in april) to stretch our legs. it was beautiful in a very stark and rustic way. i was dying for the green to return and the sun was just starting to gain some strength. the wind was chilly and whipped around us without out ceasing.

it was so lovely .  good to find beauty in the brown and crunchy grass of break-up. good to the feel the sun's strength returning. zander, asher, and tiernan ran up and down the boardwalk only stopping to hang over the side and point in wonder as they discovered their world waking up from winter.

then in july we met aunt becky and andrew there. the contrast was startling and wonderful. i loved how much it had changed in just a few short months. lovely now in a completely different way.

still windy. but now green and alive in so many ways. alive with tiny fish and water fowl. alive with a moving, waving sea of grass. alive with people out striding across the familiar boards.  we were almost alone out there in april, and now the parking lot was almost full.

the sun reflecting off the water and lighting up the eyes of people i love filled me with such gratitude. gratitude for a sister and nephew sharing in the beauty of our home. gratitude for the love between cousins. love that persevered even through stick fights and differences of opinion about the finer points of light saber battles. gratitude for bigger boys being patient and kind with smaller boys and for the mutual admiration in their eyes. gratitude for the easy exchange of thoughts and friendship between sisters. good times, too soon over, but captured for all time in our minds for winters to come.