Grace got sick in her bed in the night Friday night and when I went up to strip her bed on Saturday morning (in the middle of celebrating David’s birthday, making pancakes, and needing to wrap his gifts). . . . .anyway, when I was in her room I got all frustrated by the M E S S she was living in (poor girl). I had to wash (in hot water) everything on her bed and why go to all that trouble when there was stuff scattered everywhere else? We might as well do a complete job! Needless to say, her room started us off on a weekend of cleaning the whole house.
So, that’s what we did this weekend. Cleaned. A lot. And I kid you not, I had that washer and drying going nonstop on Saturday!
The kids helped and when they weren’t helping they basically ran wild, playing with David’s new birthday toys.
I was surprised by myself when I was working in Grace’s room. It was the first time I had been in there for a while, and as we were organizing her little toys, hair-things, books, clothes, I got all sad about not having another girl. I had been excited about maybe having a new daughter and now that I know I’m having a boy, even though I’m thankful, I had a time on Saturday of letting go. . . .seeing all of Grace’s girl things that she will grow out of, with no little sister to pass them down to, made me sad. I did a little crying, even! Grace has so much, so many pretty things. Her birthday is in November but I can’t think of much that I could buy her, so my idea is to maybe go on a little day trip together.
Of course today I am ashamed of myself, for being sad like that. I have so many blessings, I can just imagine how ungrateful I seem in crying just because I’m not having another daughter!
Caleb’s room needed work, as well. We had moved him into his own bedroom and a few months ago I had so much fun picking out new bedding and getting Rich to hang nice new curtain rods and curtains. Caleb was in that room for maybe a week before he somehow pulled the curtains right off the walls and they’ve been draped over the back of a chair all this time, waiting for Rich to hang them back up (he needed to buy new anchors). So we played music, Grace and I worked in her room, and Rich worked in Caleb’s room with Jacob and Ethan. David got a new webkinz for his birthday so he played the computer.
Rich noticed that Caleb needs some extra training over the next few days, mainly because he’s not obeying right away. He is also doing a lot of whining/crying/dramatics over very little things (like a bug bite or a spot of marker on his hand or his cracker breaking in half). Thankfully, dealing with Caleb is pretty easy because he is so tenderhearted. If I happen to say a sharp word, he melts and needs a big hug (that’s what he says every time, “I need a big hug”). I love how Rich is able to see where the kids need some extra teaching, because as a mom I do sometimes have a tendency to overlook their faults and sympathize with them, rather than seeing areas that I need to train them so that they (we) don’t develop deep-rooted problems.
We did take a break from cleaning in the middle of the day on Saturday. Rich took us to a local diner and then we went to Kmart so that David could spend his birthday money from Uncle David and his Great Grandma. He bought a nerf gun, a small Buzz Lightyear toy, and a horn for his bike.
I bought some yummy smelling baby detergent, because Grace wants to find all of Caleb’s old baby clothes and wash them up. This is something I typically do when I’m about 8 months pregnant, but Grace is getting excited so I don’t see the harm in getting organized a few months earlier than usual!
After we got home from shopping, in the late afternoon on Saturday, Grace and I went for a walk and I took these photos. I thought you might like to see some of the fall colors we have around here. Everything was wet from a rainy day, there was no bright sunshine, so the colors look even deeper and richer than usual.
During our walk I told Grace that I was feeling a little sad about not having another girl. She immediately said, “I’m not.”
“You’re not?” I replied, surprised.
“No, I’m not. IF I can have a pony.”
I was standing on the front porch when I took this picture. I’m continually thankful that all I can see out the majority of the windows of my house are trees! They are a feast for my eyes.
We had David’s birthday cake at the end of the day. It was really yummy (no, I didn’t make it, it was a Carvel ice cream cake) and as soon as it was consumed, the children were all put in bed. It had been a busy day. Sunday (yesterday) was nice, we went to church and continued a study about church history in S.S. and heard an excellent sermon about God’s glory during the morning service. After church we came home and spent the rest of the day relaxing and resting.
Today I am back to a normal routine of homeschooling the older three. David left for Kindergarten at 8. It feels nice to start the week with a clean house!
Quote from Sunday School that I loved:
“The well-spring of youth is Christianity” ~St. Augustine
Also, I thought I would share a verse that has been running in my mind for over a week now. The children and I have been studying ancient Egypt and as a Christian, I had to notice that they had all the wrong ideas about religion and worship. The ancient Egyptians did not know the true God. This concept got me thinking and when I came across this verse in Acts, it meant even more to me:
(this account is from the time when the people of Lystra attempted to worship Paul and Barnabus. These verses are Paul and Barnabus’ response to the people)
“Sirs, why do ye these things? We are also men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” Acts 14:15-17
Those verses just amaze me! They show me so much about my heavenly Father, and the common graces that He gives to everyone. Even during the worse times, God still FILLS OUR HEARTS with food and gladness, in many ways, and according to this verse, through his creation. This is why I am a HUGE advocate of spending a lot of time in NATURE. Pastor talked about meditating on God’s glory and letting His glory transform our hearts and I could think of two basic ways that God’s glory fills my own heart in a real and personal way:
1. Through reading the Bible and coming to an understanding that God loves me as His own precious child.
2. Through spending lots of time in His creation, going for walks, taking deep breathes, collecting and studying bits from the woods–acorns, mushrooms, flowers, plants, leaves, etc. After all, Jesus Himself prayed on the mountains and in the gardens!
Okay, I’ve written a lot this morning and I better get moving on my day. I hope everyone who reads this has a wonderful day.
Love,
~Shanda~
Good to be Home 
I guess a kitten isn’t quite enough for Miss Grace–only a pony will do! 🙂 She’s a doll. I love how you cherish each of your children. I wish you could come to speak at our Bible study tomorrow. Our topic is “Loving Your Children”. Should be a delightful and convicting lesson!
I must say I wish I enjoyed nature more. I don’t like bugs that bite (and we have LOTS of those kind) and I live in the city…so my backyard is about as wild as I get…but even then, I hate to go out b/c of the mosquitos. This is something I hope to cultivate more when we move out to the country next summer. I want that for my children too. Thanks for the great thoughts this morning.
If we could live each day overwhelmed by His glory……….! Beautiful Fall colors at your place! We have some of that here, but mostly in shades of dull orange and yellow. Fall colors in Denmark are different because many of the trees are different.~~ SO, when is Grace getting her pony? Blessings on your day!
Oh thank you for the fall color! Our’s hasn’t started yet and then it’s all shades of colorblindess.
What glorious fall colors. How awesome is our God. He has given us such a beautiful place to worship Him. Can’t wait to see the colors here! Don’t beat yourself up too much over the tears for another daughter. I think that that is normal. Be honest with your feelings and then move on:). Your daughters request for the pony was funny. (don’t they just wait for the most opportune times to plant their requests Hee Hee).
have a blessed day….you blessed mine.
I understand the sadness of not having another girl. I went through that too, even still have a bit of sadness for Anna at times, that she doesn’t have a sister, thinking more of when she’s older, the bond I have with my sisters. Maybe she’ll have some wonderful sister in laws to chat with when they’re “raising families”…And you’re right, when we take our focus off of that, we can see just how much we really are blessed!!
Have a great week!
Your trees are so pretty ours haven’t changed yet!
Such lovely pictures. And don’t you worry, there is still time for another girl if the Lord wills.
oh the BEAUTY of the earth oh the glory of the skies! ~ I can’t imagine such color changes and such – ! 🙂 what wonderful fall you have! thank you for sharing them with me! :)your header is wonderful – simplicity. I love simplicity – I love seeing that baby just that tiny bit too– :)I can imagine the feels you felt when cleaning your daughters room – I am grateful for your honesty. and that at the same time, see so clearly that you trust and rest in the Lord and are of course delighted with this son coming ~I smiled when I read about Grace wanting a pony 🙂 my brother is the only boy in our family – my mom had hoped to have more — a brother for him, but only repeatedly miscarried after my youngest sister. you know, I’ve never heard him say he wished he’d had a brother – in fact, though surrounded by girls, he is so very manly and not a bit like us 😉 – it’s because my dad and him got very close because there wasn’t a brother… my dad is now not only a father, but like a brother – they go out to lunch, have such a super relationship, and always have. I think that was a plus that was unexpected to him being the only boy. Also, because there were no brothers, I, being the one right older than he, got very close to him growing up – we did so much together – I think if he’d had a brother, that wouldn’t have happened much. I think if Grace is the only daughter you have, there will be things about that that don’t happen when you do have a sister, etc. I am sure there will be, as there is now, such a closeness and tenderness between to two of you – that doesn’t even have to be shared w/ any one else (at this point~:) …anyway, that just came to my mind – remembering how my brother being the only boy, actually has such wonderful qualities because of it and I have been blessed :)alyssa
I too think that time in nature is so so important for our kids. Therefore it’s hard not to be envious of where you live! 🙂 How wonderful that your kids have those ponds and woods to explore and play and dream in. You might like the book Last Child in the Woods. The educational philosophy that I’ve chosen for our homeschooling, Charlotte Mason, is big on the nature study, which I love. I LOVE the pictures….the colors are AMAZING. I love the one of Grace by the fence. And the one of both of you by the green and brown fence.
Dear Shanda…you are so transparent. That is what draws people to you and this place. The wonderful photos tug at my heart to go to my daughter’s in the Hudson Valley…the color, the stone fencing..the autumn richness. Then your sweet Grace makes me long to see my grands. Soon my sweet Moriah Victoria will be thirteen…and I cannot imagine where all those years have gone.It was, after all, only “yesterday” that I held that sweet little mint green bundle in my arms..with the realization that I was now a grandmother. I understand the brief feelings of melancholy regarding your wish for a girl..and yet, you rejoice at the thought of another son!God is GOOD!Grace is a blessed girl to have adoring brothers. Your relationship with her will continue to be unique as well.Enjoy this day…relishing in God’s goodness and faithfulness to you.Dawnxo
Ohhh, how beautiful those colors are. We are leaving for Maryland and North Carolina on Friday and we’re hoping to catch some of those colors through the mountains.
Looks like you had a lovely day with your daughter.
Beautiful Girls…Beautiful Trees…Beautiful Photos!:)
I have been thinking of you all weekend, Shanda- mostly because I owe you a long-overdue letter!! I was wondering if you were having any saddness over not having another girl this time. I know you are so happy for your baby boy, but I kind of knew that part of you was hoping for another girl. Grace seems to be okay with another brother- IF…. LOL!! So, is she getting a pony or a day-trip with mama for her birthday??? I know what you mean about not knowing what to get Grace for her birthday. Everytime I help Bekah clean up her room, I think, “What could I possibly get her for her birthday??” I better figure it out- she will be 6 in less than two weeks. Have a wonderful week!
Lol….I am sure my girls would be just fine with another brother, if they thought a pony was in the trade off….I am hoping that they will be able to find out tomorrow when I have my appointment how soon we can have an ultrasound.
Oh such beautiful colors….it makes us long for them too. David and I agreed that your posts make us think it would be fun to live in the seasons! Thank you for brightening up our day with them.
I am so glad your cleaning weekend went so well. I could so relate….going in to accomplish one task and diving into doing the whole room. I don’t think God ever wants us to ignore all our feelings about something….like not having a girl. You did right to think on it and give it over….bless you!
What a wonderful thing to see you and Rich working together to bring your children up….I too have learned the balance and see how so many times…esp. with boys….my husband was right on! blessings on your day, Jenny
looks like you better start building a barn and a fenced in area for a pony for Grace. 🙂
What a fun weekend… cleaning! I’m sure you feel better now that it’s done, though. I always do.I hope the rest of your day is going well. Mine is… interesting. I’ll try to post later.
Good Morning Shanda!
I’m blessed with my 8 children. But when my husband and I decided that we should not have anymore for health reasons. I was alright with that decision. Just today I was walking through Sears (after paying a bill), I walked past all the baby stuff and I felt a pang of not having any more babies. So I felt sad too.
I tease my husband and tell him every once in awhile. Well, we’d be on baby #11!
I have a cousin he and his wife had 7 boys before they had a girl!! Large families are common on my mothers side of the family….:) I can see you with lots and lots of children around you and you just loving them and cherishing them.
God Bless You Shanda! Jesus Loves You! HE knows your hearts desire!
Unless you are definitely not planning on any more children after this new baby, I wouldn’t get rid of those girlie things just yet. You never know . . . !!!So, are you giving birth to a boy pony for Grace? LOL! If so, Wow! What an amazing mother!
Shanda, I am just amazed at the brilliancy of the colors there; we’re not far from you, but our leaves still have a long way to go before reaching color such as what you have.I love reading about your cleaning sprees! I am the same way; sometimes I start cleaning one area and it just keeps going and GOING…. Feels SO good afterward, doesn’t it?!About the baby…I know how excited you are about another boy, but I can imagine your feelings for another daughter as well. Hey, the story may not be over yet… lol My sister always said she wanted to have a “bunch of boys, and a token girl.” Ha! Well, whatever God’s design is for your family, it’s unfolding beautifully so far, and I know you and Grace enjoy a special relationship. I’m interested to hear how you end up celebrating her birthday…
Don’t feel ashamed for being disappointed, I can understand that feeling completely. I haven’t been in your shoes, but I have been longing for another baby for a long time, and it’s been hard for me to see my friends (and now my sister) all around me having babies. I know God has His timing, but that doesn’t mean we’re not human and don’t feel sad from time to time when we don’t get exactly what we want. I have no problem admitting this to you, because you are my friend and you know I’m not perfect. I do, however, want to come over soon, so I can take some pictures in your lovely yard (of course, I’d love to sit and visit with you, too.) so hopefully we can set up a time for me to do that. I hope you’re having a great day. Love you.
Thankful for you today! Thans for your honesty!
Those fall colors! Wow! Thanks for sharing them. After living most of my life in IN, the one thing I REALLY miss in the south is all the brilliant colors of fall. They just don’t get as brilliant down here with little frost.
We miss New England here esp the colors. My husband probably the most. Thank you for sharing your pictures. We live in suburbia and lack in the nature department. I can totally relate to you about the girl. Don’t feel ashamed you feel that way. It is natural. I must admit, I wailed when I found out Ryan was a boy and not a girl. It was natural for me. And it is ok now. He is still my sweet blessing. Wish I still had some little baby clothes to ship up there to you. I love giving away clothes! Have a great day.
You have such a beautiful family. I especially loved the photography:) You have quite an eye.
Thank you for sharing. Your post brought imense peace to me. I may be back just to listen to the music:)
God bless you.
Danielle
Oh my goodness! MORE stunning photos! I’m so happy that you are blessed to live there and that you can share all of that beauty with your readers! And by beauty, I don’t only mean the pictures, I mean the way you write, too! Thanks for helping me to start my week off right! love, Gail
I’m definitely taking a fall trip to New England one of these days. Thanks for sharing your weekend with us 🙂
Shanda….you know that I had the same feelings when I found out that Naomi was a girl I was happy yet still sometimes still wishing for a baby boy. Don’t feel sad just slow down and enjoy it! Little did I know at that time that Naomi would be my very last little girl and now looking back I wish someone had told me this then….this little baby might be your last son or even last baby so enjoy every movement..and pounds gained( hahah). You are so special to me and so are all the children and …. if this was a girl you might be just as emotional to think Caleb was the last boy. It is normal I guess is what I am trying to say… unless you and I are not normal ha ha ha !!!!! Love ya sissy
Has she got a name for that pony ~ like Lydia?
Your pictures are beautiful. I had 4 girls and 3 boys. When they were teenagers, my boys were much easier to handle than the girls, so you may be glad later on to have more boys.
You have been busy Mama!! Glad your weekend went well! I noticed that Grace takes pictures just like her Mom…the pic of you and Rich in your sidebar…Grace’s head is angled in the same way yours is…hehehe Like Mother like Daughter huh? Have a great week! thanks so much for posting pics of your colors!!! I love fall…
You all look so beautiful! the photos are fabulous. =D XOXO
Your honesty made me cry with you about not having another girl. I would so love a girl for our first child but wonder if God will give us in the end. I know that I will be so very very blessed and be very thankful for a boy though. I can identify with you is what I’m saying. I loved your pictures! They are beautiful! If you got a pony Grace could take it for walks up to the field and let it graze where the good grass is! I used to do that with Abby–take her for walks and groom her. I think I might have a saddle to give you if you decide to get her a pony! Anyway, I hope you have a great day Shan! Love you! lish
I love your autumn posts for all their color and beauty. That’s one thing we don’t get much of down here in the Deep South; usually we have three or maybe four weeks of changing colors and they’re just gone. I really appreciate your sharing that verse with us. I am feeling so hesitant and anxious these days, and it’s good for me to remember that God has allowed nations to go their own way for some time, but He is always there for us, loving us and providing for needs (physical, emotional, social, spiritual.)I have been making a conscious effort to spend more time outside, particularly since we’re not sweltering anymore. I think you just gave me inspiration for a post of my own, by the by.I hope you know how very glad I am that for whatever reason God led me to Xanga last year, and then led me back earlier this year, because I really am glad to be able to get to know you and your family. Thank you for letting God use you to bless me.
I just love the colors in your autumn photos!!! And your new header is beautiful…you with your new baby…so precious.
I really appreciate your honesty about your tears. I can identify with all that. I have one little girl which means that my Sarah doesn’t have a sister either. She still has that longing…I want to be a safe place for her to tell me how she feels… and careful NOT to tell her HOW to feel and NOT to accuse her of ungratefulness…I know that God is the one that truly sees our hearts, but so much heart is shared with your posts :)…I really doubt that your tears were because of ungratefulness!!!
Celebrating alot of boys and 1 little girl with you!!! Blessings today!
What gorgeous fall pictures! Happy day to you and your family!! Love, Marcialee
Oh, my, what beautiful colors! Our trees generally either stay green or simply turn brown without the colorful segue and the leaves fall.
Wow you were busy!! Happy Belated Birthday to David. That is wonderful that you & Rich can be so understanding to know your kids like that. I hope Caleb’s training goes easily for you:) I hope you have a wonderful day! What beautiful pictures of the outside to!
Thank you for the fall colors…amazing to seem them against all the lush greenery.Thank you for your continued blogging…I don’t know how you manage, but I’m so gratedful God Bless and a Hug to you all
I think the day trip with Grace is a good idea. Time is more precious than “stuff.” Maybe you’d find a little something on your trip that would commemorate the day. Hope Caleb has be behaving better for you.
I really love the autumn color in these pictures. And you have a very beautiful daughter. Am I annoying you already? I know I have left so many comments and footprints on your site as if I’m stalking you. Lol. Don’t get me wrong. I’m really hooked by your beautiful pictures, and I couldn’t stop browsing. I really hope you don’t mind.