Of the photographs that were taken this weekend, this one is probably my favorite.
Not because I am completely vain, but because when I look at it, I see a content woman.
This is a picture of me, wife of a hard-workin’ man, mother of half a dozen young ones of various sizes.
Wife and mother are the roles that have almost completely taken over the *rest of me* at this time.
However, I’m so much more. Child of God, sister, daughter, friend.
I’m also just me, myself, apart from any human relationships, I’m an individual, unique, and created by God for His pleasure. A living soul that can deeply breath in and out, and smile with her eyes shut, while sitting cross-legged in her Grandpa’s fields. Because even though Grandpa is in a nursing home, and his land is now divided amongst family and strangers, in my mind they will always be my Grandpa’s fields. The same ones I ran in as a child with my long long hair,—just being a child, flying kites, turning cartwheels.
My cousin Elisha was playing with my camera when she took this snapshot. We had just gone on a long walk with my mom, my aunt, and my sister-in-law. I think part of the contentment I see here is the result of all that time with the women in my family, women that I feel secure being around, who love me. We take care of each other and want to do what we can for each other. My daily life is full of motherhood, and it satisfied something deep within me to leave that mothering back in the house with the men, and just be with the women I love the most in life.
It was the first walk I’ve been on in this pregnancy, and heard words like, “you okay?” “be careful!” “you better go up that way, it looks easier”. . . . .those words meant so much to me, because I’m the one usually saying them these days, to my children. It was *delicious* to be on the other side of that for a little bit, on the receiving end of care and concern.
We walked all over family property, land that is in our blood and memories, our hearts. The air was fresh and chilly, our talk filled the air and scared away any bear (or men, for that matter) that might have been hanging around the forest. We laughed. We picked apples. We noticed things in nature and collected colorful leaves. We reminisced. We took pictures. We enjoyed each other and came away happy. Content. Thankful.
Because you never know when this time might come again, if it ever does.
The family farm, my Grandpa’s barn, is quiet, except for the sound the wind makes through the empty buildings.
As for me, I’m now back home in CT, back to being wife and mommy. The walk is a memory and the precious women I walked with are in another state, hours away. . . . .
Time changes some things, but not the things that matter most–the parts of life we hold dear in our hearts and gently remember, like the love of family and friends. Distance may separate us, but the bond is never broken.
Good to be Home 
This brought tears to my eyes for reasons I can’t really put into words. Thank you for sharing your weekend with us. Much love, Trish
The walk sounds very special (simple things are sometimes the most special moments) I’m glad you had a weekend of treasured memories.
it was nice that you share something positive and uplifting… something about family… about looking back at what we should value the most – which are the memories…
Sweet, sweet lovely women. The pictures capture beautifully the love and wonder that each of you possess.
What a beautiful post, Shanda! It pulled my heart strings and astouonded me with the beauty of fall in that area. I’m so glad you had such a wonderful week-end.
Thanks for the pictures,
((((hugs))))
Jana
Gorgeous scenery and gorgeous sentiments! And . . . of all things, I thought you lived in PA for some reason! No wonder your pictures of trees are just this side of heaven. CT & VT are the two places I’d like to visit during the fall months before I die. Maybe we WILL meet before heaven! 🙂
Very sweet! I am sure your heart took lots of pictures.
You express exactly how I always felt when we went to my Mom’s family home and spent time with aunts and cousins.
Have a blessed week.
oooh, I like the picture of the old barn and the apple tree with not many leaves on it but a few red apples!
That picture Elisha took is amazing. It almost looks like the clouds are actually moving.Don’t you feel so much more complete with all your family around? I sure do. Not that I’m not happy and content here, with my little family, but it always makes me more so when I’m surrounded by the rest of my family.
What a nice family weekend you had, and what a beautiful portrait of contentment! This post sounds very refreshed!
What a nice weekend you had!
It sounds like a wonderful time. I’m glad you were able to spend such quality time with all of them. I felt like I was with you reading your posts. You do such a wonderful job blogging!
This was a great post
I just sighed. You said that you feel like sometimes you blog about the same things over and over Shan. But I am so grateful for meeting you here on xanga, for being a part of your life this way, for being able to read and hear your thoughts and get glimpses of things through your eyes. I love you. Lish
your posts always make me teary eye`d!!! They remind me not to take life and relationships for granted!
lovely, lovely….so happy to see the content woman in the beautiful field. What beauty surrounds you there….and what a wonderful place to be with the special women in your life. I love our church women here…when we go on retreat it is like you said…..we are all busy nuturing one another and it is nice! Praying you are filled up. It is good to see you seeing the beauty in life in all the seasons, and it is good to take the time to refresh. You are doing a very important job with those dear ones, and your body is busy busy growing that new little guy. Know it is all worth it. I can say that from the other end….so grateful for my young men. As I have said…..to see them walking with the Lord IS the biggest blessing. I dearly love the blessings of family and the beauty of life you share with us, Jenny
That almost makes me miss my sister, lol. Almost…
Women need other women.
I can never visit the “hill” without having so many memories of the childhood that we had there. I can watch the little movies playing in my mind of the stunts we used to pull…the talks we used to have…the plans we made that were so funny! It is like Anne says in one of the Green gables books – it is like meeting our childhood spirits again.
Loved the pictures to me looking back on past memories is alway a wonderful thing! Have a great day!
I love that first picture! it is yes, a contentment that is beautiful in more ways than one :)the colors are wonderful as always on your site there up north ~ looks like a wonderful time w/ friends~lys
I needed this post tonight, THANK YOU for sharing it.
I love that picture! You look sooo content at peace.I love nature backdrops. Beautiful!!
great post and beautiful photos. =)
Shanda, this post and the thoughts and pictures you shared here are soooo beautiful. I LOVE that first picture, and the colors in it are just amazing. I am so glad you had that time with your mom and “the girls;” that is so important and special. Oh my goodness, are those apples hanging from the tree in front of the old barn! How cool is that?!!
P.S. I love Elisha’s red curly hair!
Love how you wrote this! Makes me miss my Grandpa’s property, he had 100 acres like winnie-the-pooh and i used to love sititng on the hill. I can see what you mean in the picture, you look rested and content and well loved!!!
beautiful
I love reading your thoughts here. I can relate, for sure. It’s quite the balance playing so many roles; your contentment is evident throughout your blog here.:) The pictures are gorgeous.