May Days

So often I feel overwhelmed with all the things that need to be done in a day, week, month. I wish there were more hours or that I had more hands or that everything would slow down just a little. I get frustrated at how little I'm able to mark off the to-do list everyday and how small my accomplishments are. But we keep moving around the sun and the moments pass by even as I'm trying so hard to hold on. It's too much, too fast.

And then I sit down to clear off the camera cards for the next round of pictures and I'm amazed at all we've done in just a few short weeks. It's fast, it's overwhelming sometimes, but really, what a beautiful life this is.

Here are a few postcards of our May Days:

There's been so much goodness this month after all. I'm in love with all the spinach, lettuce, peas, beets, and radishes coming out of the garden! And the fresh mint - I'm putting mint in everything. My baby turned 3, against my wishes of course, but he is going to be the sweetest three year old. We've spent so much time outdoors in the sunshine and the clouds. Really, it's been good. It's nice to remember that.

Not pictured: approximately 150 mosquito bites, way too much laundry, a really messy closet clean out that still isn't finished, and plenty of temper tantrums. So it goes.

But this past Saturday, we were sitting down to breakfast when a flurry of something on the patio caught my eye. I immediately called the kids over to the window when I realized that it was a cloud of butterflies. We stepped out into the garden while hundreds of butterflies swarmed around us. I've never seen anything like it. It was magical.

They were in the garden all morning, but I didn't really remember to snap any pictures because I was too busy enjoying such a strange and beautiful gift from mother nature. Before they all left though, I did manage to capture this beauty in one of the garden beds.

Afterwards, when the biggest swarms had passed through and we finally returned to our unfinished breakfasts, we did a little research. They were Painted Ladies and they migrate from Northern Mexico this time of year. Apparently, when there's been a lot of rain in the winter, there can be millions of them that make the spring journey north.

I guess our humble garden was on the way. Someone knew we could use a little magic in our ordinary day. Isn't life beautiful?