For the Birds?

I find lately that I'm living with a lot of bird language in my head. Imagery, idiom, analogy—even this former English teacher isn't completely sure. 

My baby has flown the coop.

To become an owl.

In one fell swoop, I've been rendered an empty-nester AND had to quit this hands-on mothering thing cold turkey. 

Thankfully, I'm surrounded by a number of friends in a similar position, some birds of a feather with whom I can flock together (and drink coffee, a little teary-eyed). When things get tough, we remind one another to go to God's Word where we find in the Psalms that He will shelter us with His feathers and hide us under His wings. 

This season has its challenges, but, as is so often the case, it is also revealing sweet blessings. One of the greatest is the confirmation that I'm truly still happy as a lark in my nest with my lovebird. We may be missing our chick, but we're doing it together!

Talk about Time Travel (formerly titled: Doctor Who!)

Well, it's like this blog is my own personal time capsule. I came here thinking it was time to resurrect the 'ol blog once again ('cause I've got big plans!) and found this lovely post from three years ago, drafted but never published. Wow, does time ever fly! The girl looks so little—she's now a freshman in college. She's outgrown the shirts featured in that draft, and the premiere we were so excited about was, unbeknownst to us, the beginning of our disillusioning with Doctor Who. We really tried, but we just never developed an affection for 12. Plus, the girl got busier and busier, and we were rarely all able to assemble to watch the show. Ah, time! I can add a picture taken the year after the ones below, taken on a "dress like a character" day at the school where she was taking classes . . . or, as she likes to think of it, "cosplay day at school." Of course, even it is two years old. <sigh>

So . . . if you're still with me . . . here's that post written three years ago:

Our daughter got us hooked on watching the BBC's Doctor Who. We diligently watched episodes on Netflix until we finished the current season. Then we were left to wait a few weeks on the new season AND the new doctor. Our local movie theater was playing the season premiere along with some extras for movie-goers, so we by-passed watching on TV Saturday night and held out for the big screen last night. It did not disappoint. Since every episode is like a mini movie, viewing on the big screen was perfect. Not only has Doctor Who dominated our television lately, he has made his way into our craft room too.

Thanks to some awesome inspiration from Doodlecraft and the cutting power of my beloved Silhouette, my daughter is the proud owner of two custom Doctor Who shirts. The first, she's had for a while.

The second, we made just for the premiere. While we were at it, we whipped up Doodlecraft's fantastic "Doctor's Name" pendant. My daughter then used an online translator to create name pendants for her favorite companions, Rose and River Song. 

Eleven and River . . .