13 years married to this gem of a human being. 
I had minor surgery at the beginning of spring, and the recovery was longer than expected. I was supposed to be back at work the next day but, instead, spent multiple days in bed with Katy and our girls bringing me meals, couldn’t hold Tessa for weeks, and just went running for the first time.
It’s been a fragile couple of months. I feel like our lilac bush, which cracked in two when a large maple limb fell on it during the last ice storm. Once spring came, we pruned off about 1/3 of it and supported the rest with a ratchet strap attached to our garden shed and hoped it would still bloom this year.
It did, kicking off a spring that has been more emotionally and physically healing than any I remember. The daffodils my sister planted throughout our woods in memory of my dad dotted the base of our hill with dozens of little bursts of yellow before the walnut tree leaves had fully sprung. Now, they’ve given way to a carpet of white, purple, and pink wild phlox that makes our meadow a fairy haven (as well as our kitchen island, which the girls fill with vases of pink phlox at every opportunity). Still to come, our rose vines will bloom this summer, but we’re watching them now, because a pair of cardinals built a nest there and baby birds are chirping right outside our kitchen window.
Yesterday, we went grocery shopping, and a stranger shouted from across the parking lot that she was sorry we had all girls. Not me. I love watching them grow and this spring has been awesome. Makayla can skateboard now, Emma has fallen in love with climbing trees, and Kelsey, who is both our most stubborn and most flexible child, said the other day that she didn’t care which cupcake she got, they all looked equally delicious (I know—I’m more emotional than I should be that my children are learning to share 
). Tessa has started pointing, walks everywhere, and is particularly fond of eating the dirt in the garden, but most of all, she started sleeping till 7:00, and I don’t miss our 5 am coffee dates at all.
). Tessa has started pointing, walks everywhere, and is particularly fond of eating the dirt in the garden, but most of all, she started sleeping till 7:00, and I don’t miss our 5 am coffee dates at all.The Portsmouth Farmers Market also started, and it has been so good to be back in person. As small business owners, you’re a big part of what carries us through hard months and makes seasons like spring that much more enjoyable. Thank you all for the wonderful notes, emails, and dropping by the market to catch us up on what’s going on in your life.
We hope you’re enjoying every blossom of spring! 
Joel and Katy#LiveJoyfullyDoGreatThingsCelebrateFamily