How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's 

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with a passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints, --I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life! --and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

--Elizabeth Barrett Browning (Sonnet XLIII, Sonnets from the Portuguese)

"Grandma has this sweetness awesome spoon!" (Peter, with his ultra-enthusiastic, you-won't-believe-it voice. Who knew you could be so excited about a spoon?)

"Jiminy Crickets! It's warmer turning off the shower!" (Lane, on getting out of the shower on a Sunday morning when 4 people had showered right before him)

"It's always other people's birthdays and not mine!" (Peter, around Nate's recent birthday)

"I call Dad the "Big Thinker" 'cause he's so good at thinking!"(Peter)

When I'm a mom, I'm going to make dessert for ALL the people[Insert here=children. Too bad you don't live at Aunt Becca's.] And I'm going to drive a Cinderella car with my two little children in the back. (Anna)

A new year is at hand. We cannot tell what it will bring. If it brings peace, how thankful we shall all be. If it brings us continued struggle, we shall remain undaunted.

In the meantime, I...would like to say to you: "I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.' And he replied, 'Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be better than light, and safer than a known way.'"

King George VI, December 25, 1939 (This link is to the audio clip of the original speech. For the transcript, go here.)