The Shear Family: Manna Monday

Back again.

Manna Monday.

And so it is complete: our 3 weeks of block leave are over but oh how delightful they were! Oh how needed, and oh how restorative.

They began with the 9 days Daniel and I had alone while Tirzah was with her Grandma and Grandpa in Colorado. Reflecting upon those first days, I think upon the first afternoon. That feeling of absolute rest, of nothing hanging over our heads, of a respite from responsibility. Daniel was off at noon and we came back to make lunch, then went to the library for a bundle of books, went to a State Parks for a gorgeous walk, and then went to downtown Olympia to enjoy the best meal we have ever had from a restaurant. If you are in Washington state, or if you ever come and visit, we will have to go to The Mark. Local, sustainable food. . . truly it was delicious!

Tirzah returned home and we celebrated Easter and then headed to Canada to meet up with Michael and Danae on Galiano Island. As I reflect upon those days, I cherish the time we spent outside in the sunshine together: exploring nature's best out on the beach. Daniel and Tirzah especially spent hours and hours lifting up a rock here and delighting in starfish, hermit crabs, and fish there. I cherish the slow moments over tea and a snack, talking or simply all being together reading quietly. I cherish the meals cooked together and the conversations that went late into the night.

We returned from Canada and drove to visit our dear friends the Nease family. I cherish the time spent around their family table.

To complete our block leave, we traveled to Wheaton to celebrate my dear friend Brooke and her baby. Daniel and Tirzah decided last minute to join me on this trip, and what a wonderful decision it was! We spent the days playing and catching up at Lisa's house: what a joy it was to see her two children! Friday evening we had the husbands and children join us (meaning the college girlfriends) for a meal and then us girls left the babes and the men to go begin our girls weekend over at Sarah's house. The time began with red wine and, yes, puppy chow. We talked late into the night and slept in late in the morning. We love our babies. . . but oh how wonderful that morning was. . . waking up at 10 (for me at least!) and spending long moments laughing over coffee and french toast. The 6 of us all get ready together, just like our old college days, and then we went to Brooke's baby shower and what a joy it was to celebrate this new life! This little one is the 8th baby of our group and we couldn't be more happy for Brooke and James. After the shower, we drove to Geneva and talked even more over chai tea and San Pelegrino and then went to the best taco place: Bien Trucha. I would have to say this was my favorite part of our time together: enjoying to the utmost a night out with my best friends in all the world, sharing both avocado and strawberry margaritas. . . it couldn't have been better!

Our little family made it back to Washington early yesterday morning and we culminated block leave with a 4 hour Sabbath rest. We look back upon these weeks and can't believe how quickly they have gone by, but we also look back with such gratitude at the moments, the experiences, and the time. Such time to rest and to read, to laugh and to linger, to delight and to dream.

And so block leave is complete, but we begin again today with hope and with joy and with thankful hearts for as Daniel continues to say: "we have nothing big hanging over our heads." Oh. To think back upon this time last year and to think that at this time, Daniel would be deploying in less than 10 days. . . we are so incredibly grateful for the provision of the Lord during that season. And how we rejoice in His deliverance!