“God wants us to fill our homes with happiness. He made childhood joyous, full of life, bubbling over with laughter, playful, bright and sunny.”
“It is a crime to repress the mirth and the gladness and to try to make children grave and stately. Life’s burdens will come soon enough to lie upon their shoulders.”
“Life will soon enough bring care and anxiety and hardship and a weight of responsibility. We should let them be young and free from care just as long as possible.”
“We should put into their childhood days just as much sunshine and gladness, just as much cheerful pleasure as possible. Human lives will never grow into their best in gloom.”
“Pour the sunshine about them in youth; let them be happy; encourage all innocent joy; provide pleasant games for them; romp and play with them; be a child again among them.”
“Then God’s blessing will come upon your home, and your children will grow up sunny-hearted, gentle, affectionate, joyous themselves and joy-bearers to the world.”
“The young must have amusements. The only question is, What shall be the character of the amusements?”
“If there is clover at the home they will not care to fly abroad.”
“There is no parent of ordinary intelligence who may not make his home-live so bright and sunny that no one will ever care to go outside to see amusement amid the senseless frivolities or the debasing pleasures that the world has to offer.”
“There is no need for argument to prove the influence of the home memories in the formation of character. When one’s childhood home has been true and sweet, its memories never can be effaced.”
“But the memory of the early home lives on like a solitary star, burning in the gloom of night.”
“Will the memory be tender, restraining, refining and inspiring?”
“It would seem worthwhile for every mother to try to weave such memories into the early years of her children’s lives. There is no surer way to bind them with chains of gold to God’s throne. Where is the busy mother who cannot find ti
me enough to spend thus a few moments every night with each child before it falls asleep, in sweet, loving talk and tender, earnest prayer? Far down into the years the memory of such sacred moments will go.”
“So the life of the true home flows on. It shelters us in the day of storm. Its friendships remain true and loyal. It lays holy hands of benediction upon our heads as we go out to meet life’s struggles and duties. It’s sacred influences keep us from many a sin. Its memories are our richest inheritance. Its inspirations are the secret strength of our lives in days of toil and care. Then it teaches us to look toward heaven as the great Home in which all our hearts, hopes, and dreams shall be realized, and where the broken ties of earth shall be reunited.”
All quotes from Home-making, by J.R. Miller
This is why we do what we do. It is so worth it.
Good to be Home 
Absolutely awesome! It makes me long again for the days when my children were small. I think they all came through unscathed, but it would be nice to have a second chance.
That last photo had me chuckling out loud ~ love the frog pics ~ what WONDERFUL memories you are making ~ family life is such a blessing when the Lord dwells within a home. Thanks for sharing ~
You guys are doing such a great job with your kids. I know they will grow up and love the many memories you helped cultivate!!! I am taking notes!
That’s one big frog! I love the how the hotdog is bending that one stick lol!! And Caleb sitting in the wagon!! Making wonderful memories!!
Have a blessed day!
What awesome memories and I really enjoyed the quotes – I don’t know the book or the author, but will be looking it up! God bless you as you raise your kids for Him…how fast the time goes. ~Colleen~
Wonderful post!!
I wanna come hang out at your house! 🙂
Great post! Looks like a lot of fun 🙂
What a wonderful day to capture in your photos. I love that last shot of the wagon/boat. I really am praying for good weather next week so that we can enjoy your wonderful piece of God’s world. However, if the weather does not cooperate I’m sure we will still have a great time making childhood memories for our children.
Love You – and I’m glad that we were able to make childhood memories together.
Col
Absolutely beautiful… I love how carefree your kiddos always look… and how much that their mother is allowing them to enjoy being kiddos!!!! ***hugs*** ❤ Jami
I have that book and love it!!! Thanks for sharing your cool family memories!
Beautiful photos and quotes!
Hi Shanda! Thank you for the return visit, and the invite to join your blogring! What a precious post here today! So many stop their children from being children these days, and it’s so refreshing to see yours in the sun, playing and having fun, and making those forever memories! Keep encouraging that innocent joy in them…and taking those beautiful pictures! Great book too! You have a blessed day, Shanda!! Stop in anytime, and I’ll do the same! ~ Deborah <><
Oh, and thank you for the information on your camera…we are going shopping for one either today or tomorrow, and we do have Costco here too! Blessings, ~ Deborah <><
great post! Thanks for sharing it, I needed this reminder to make my home a happy one. Had to laugh at the picture of your son feeding his frog…=)
great post, love the last pic
What an awesome post Shan! I love the qoutes and the photo’s!
Beautiful post! You are such a wonderful mommy! Your children are truly blessed to grow up in your home.
Oh, you should see my smile right now!! You picked the best quotes to go with your pictures. Did you cringe when your son was sharing his hot dog with the frog? I did. ; )
It looks like you had a wonderful day. David’s face in those pictures is absolutely precious. He’s just a love!
Oh I just love all of the quotes… and the priceless pictures! You guys are creating such an amazing life for you beautiful children!And just so you know… I haven’t forgotten about you! Things have been really crazy around here. I will get a letter off to you SOON! I’m sorry it’s taking so long!Much love to you!!!
Saw you on my footprints log and wanted to see who you were. Hope you weren’t discouraged. Your post pictures and words were lovely. Reminded me of when my girls were little and life was grand and perfect. Those words were words I could have written myself and believed with all my heart. God bless and keep you and your family as you all grow.
What an amazing message, and one I sorely needed to hear today. Ouch, but in a good way. Thanks.
Shanda, how I wish I had been there with you, with my kids. What fun you had. You are such a great mom and I know your kids will remember and treasure all these wonderful memories you are making. I loved the quotes too. You inspire me!
Shanda,
What a lovely day. Thank you for sharing your day in photographs with us. (Though I wouldn’t want to put my hands in that water with the frog etc!)
Gina
You just flooded my mind with warm childhood memories.THANK YOU!
The boat is hilarious! My question is did he eat the hot dog after he let the frog touch it? I need to look through my bks. and see if I own this one, the quotes are so good!
its wonderful to see children enjoying themselves with the simple things of life.
You made me cry thinking of the floating memories of cookouts and laughter, frog and sweet faces now grown with beards. Thank you for the sensitivity to place it so delicately here. Blessings and thanks. M in SC
PS I just e-mailed this to my darling daughter/mother of three.
What a fantastic set of pictures and quotes! I absolutely loved this and it greatly encouraged me with my little ones. You are a terrific mother!!! Can I ask how you started that bucket with frogs? Did you plant something to make them come or just put water in it and they did the rest? I’m curious because I’d love to start something like that!
It look like you have fun life! God bless you!
we talked about our favorite xanga sites at the gathering this weekend…we all agreed yours gives us hope for the future…sort of little house on the praire in the 21st century!