James’ family came to visit today. His sister had flown from Arkansas to Ohio where his brother lives and the two of them had traveled to Michigan together, picked up their mom across the state and then they all drove here to see us. We had a very nice visit together, but true of everything right now, there were moments where we all struggled due to the circumstances. His mom has survived the death of two husbands and the loss of one of her children already. His sister, whom he sees annually, left knowing she might not get the chance to hug her brother again. His brother, who took all of this on himself to make happen, wishes he could do far more to help his little brother. And James, exhausted long before he should have been, tried to keep his game face on and join in the usual familial antics, but wasn’t able to fool anyone. Our hearts all ached for him.

His mom wanted to see the garden and we happily obliged, knowing how many times we talked with her and Henry about what was working and what was not each year. She was amazed at the peaches growing down the lane and we promised to pick some to send home with her. There were several everbearing strawberries waiting for her arrival in the garden. The tomato plants have grown a foot in the last week and are overshooting their supports, much to her delight. While there are weeds aplenty, she was only focused on all the things that were growing and the abundance the garden contained; we smelled the basil, admired the carrots and even spotted the start of a pumpkin growing. We showed off the grapevines, abundant with fruit and talked about the gamble of gardening and how you just never know what will grow or how well. She left for home a few hours later with eggs, peaches and a belly full from cobbler made with our first ever homegrown peaches.

Tonight, despite an afternoon nap, James headed to bed early, in need of extra rest. I left Trudy in the house and went to collect eggs, noticing how green the farm looks with all the rain we’ve had. I rounded the corner to the coop when movement caught my eye. A doe and her two fawns were racing across in front of me. She and I both froze in our tracks and stood watching each other. The fawns raced into the woods, but the doe took a step towards me and stood for a good long glance before snorting and snuffing and racing after her precious babes. I smiled and treasured the encounter, savoring the motherly moment shared with something wild.

Inside the coop, I had hens and eggs waiting for me. My broody hen clucked quietly to me as I removed her once again from the nest and shoo’d her out the door. I filled the feed tubes and collected a bounty of eggs all while Gabby, my aptly named hen clucked and clucked at me, before latching the door for the night and heading back to the house. On the porch, Charlotte lay curled up on a chair, content as a cat can be to watch the rainy evening in front of her.

While we pray daily, hourly, for miracles, today I was reminded of the small beauties and blessings that surround us. Family, a home, a bounty of flowers, fruits and vegetables as well as creatures of all kinds filled our hearts day today. We will both sleep well tonight knowing that we are surrounded by beauty and love and the blessings of a summer afternoon spent together.