The children continue to improve and are almost 100% better, so I can’t complain that I have a sore throat, a headache, and am tired and discouraged. I look around at the many things that I wish I could do but can’t. Now is the time to cut the “to do list” to the bare essentials and just make sure the children are cared for properly.
I sit and sip my morning cup of coffee with Seth here with me.
I am posting pictures on my blog today of the last weekend in July, when we were in NY. Rich and I had to stay in two separate hotel rooms that weekend and even though we missed each other that night, it was fun to tease each other by “visiting” at each other’s door now and then. Rich would NOT let me in which made us both laugh and laugh. I went to borrow his toothbrush, “Don’t let her in, Jake! Don’t let her in!” Rich would only open the door a crack to see what I wanted and to pass the toothbrush out.
In the morning, when he came to my room (I was with Grace, Sarah, and Ethan) to get us for breakfast, at 9am, he found us all still sleeping in the dark. He had lots of funny, sarcastic comments to say about that…..I had to go to breakfast in my pj’s (windpants and his big long sleeved shirt). Picture a groggy, half asleep mama carrying a bundle of blanket with a baby inside, and six other children with a big tall fast walking Papa and you get the idea. It was hilarious.
And I have to say, those hotel scrambled eggs were weak. Sad. The lightest shade of yellow imaginable. How thankful I am that we have our own chickens that lay us rich, golden eggs!
When we were getting ready to check out of the hotel that morning, since Rich wouldn’t let us in their room, I took advantage of the brick wall outside our rooms to take some pictures…….
People have asked if baby Sarah looks like baby Grace….well, Grace was a darker baby, with dark eyes, hair and skin. Sarah is light and blond. Sarah is bigger than Grace was. Grace’s little ears stuck out more. I don’t think Grace was as bald. I’ll have to dig out some pictures soon to refresh my memory.
Anyway, they are both bright and beautiful.
I “borrowed Rich’s boys” and got a group picture.
David says, “Mom, do you think Sarah knows how much I love her?” And I say, yes, she does.
By all those kisses you give her.
Maybe it’s because I’m a little run down, but I’m sitting here with a thankful heart and teary eyes.
And this is one of the reasons why I love to blog….it makes me sit and pause a little, remembering the moments I had the camera in my hands to snap some memories…moments that belong to days, that belong to the years, that God gives us as a gift, to enjoy.
Good to be Home 
what beautiful moments for your family. glad to hear that you are on the mend…i hope that you will continue to have some down time with your kids and with your hubby. glad to hear that he made it safely home…and that he was able to take care of the situation at the hospital. I can’t imagine how hard that was on you. Glad to hear that people are recovering.
You have such a beautiful family, such a blessed life. =)
So glad everyone’s feeling better!!! I hope you are resting well…and I totally understand about your reason for loving to blog. Sometimes putting our own lives into words helps us prioritize and reflect on all the good there truely is in our lives and surroundings! :)Hugs and Love,Cass
I just LOVE that first picture of Grace ~ beautiful!!
Your kids are SO beautiful! Your quiver is full of such nice little arrows. 😉
What a beautiful smile on Grace’s face! Such a pretty girl. Adorable pictures of the kids – love David’s question about his love for Sara – how adorable!!
i think sarah looks like seth the day they were on the couch together i see it in the mouth and eyes, same coloring. and seth is growing out of his baby stage he seems more grown up now.
I enjoy your blogs and your sharing your days and thoughts here. I pray you feel better soon.
Thanks for the mental picture of you all going to breakfast at the hotel. Made me smile! 🙂 I’m thankful that the kids are doing so much better. Praying for you that you get back to 100% soon! Love ya, Hannah
Glad to hear that everyone’s on the mend! Great pictures — Grace is getting so mature looking and lovely!
Such sweet kids. I hope you get some rest today. Bare essentials are fine! I feel like that’s my life! 🙂 Much love to you today, sweet Shanda.
Taking time to “sit and pause a little” is such a good thing! If we don’t do this, we miss so much…the good things get caught up in the routine.So glad that you are all on the mend!
that`s why I blog too..it does something amazing to me…helps me see the value of my life!Such beautiful children you have! I think baby Sarah looks like Seth and the boys.
My eyes were full of tears too just looking at them all. They are beautiful indeed. So thankful you are all on the mend. Rest, rest, sweet Shanda and get all well. I smiled at your hotel adventures.
You amaze me. I don’t know you in person, yet I still love you all the same. You inspire me.
Praise God that the kiddies are over the worst of that bug. Praying you feel better and get your strength back. Your hotel stay sounded like a lot of laughs and fun. Thank you for sharing special moments of your family, I too had tears in my eyes as I read your post today. You have a wonderful family hun! Keep on capturing those special times together.{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}
Praying for your health! Glad you recognize your need for rest and hoping you are getting it.
Glad to hear the kids are all well now and praying you are feeling well too. You are wise knowing your limits. The brick wall made a wonderful background for your photos.
Well I’m glad you did sit and pause and blog . . . Love you, Lish
Shanda, What beautiful pictures you got of the children. Sarah is so delicate looking. All the children have a radiant smile~
What sweet memories to record of loving, living and laughing~~Cinnamon
Glad everyone is feeling better! Your pictures are wonderful as usual:)
Can I see your sister Amanda in those pictures of Grace, or is it just my imagination? Very pretty, either way.Thinking of you . . .
I am a scrapbooker and I remember when I first came on here a few years ago I was entranced by your pictures, how they captured your children and the simple things in life and my pictures didn’t look like that…but as I kept coming by your site, I have seen my own photos change, they are much better and I capture that things that are important to me. So I just wanted to say thank you, photography classes didn’t help me as much as you have!
PTL! I’m glad that y’all are on the mend! 🙂 Praying for you guys. Congrats on one of your hens having babies!! they look soooo cute!! 😀
@ajoyfulnusiance – What a sweet thing to say! Thank you so much, lots of love being sent your way, friend. Blessings~ Shanda
Turn off the flash and take photos from your heart of people and things you really care about….those are the two biggest things I’ve learned along the way. Isn’t it a joy? I’m so glad you are having fun with your scrapbooking and thank you so much for the note, it was one of the nicest ever. Much love~ Shanda
Happy to hear all are well and you are so right about taking time to just sit read and post. Sometimes I feel a little guilty but after reading your comment it made me feel differently about taking the time to be here. Thank you so much for sharing your family with all of us. It is beautiful to sit and read thank you JESUS!
Beautiful smiles…..and love, love, love that little book you’re reading!
I was flipping through the comments to see if doesn’tcostanythingtosmile left a comment after seeing what you are reading, because she reads that to her children EVERY SINGLE night and I think of her when I see that title now.You always have such great family portraits, I drop your name now when my kids are groaning about more pictures “Aunt Shanda’s kids LIKE to get their pictures taken and look at how great they are all smiling in them!” LOL!!!! Caleb cracks me up his chin is so tucked!