This is a picture of the room I got at a local Hampton Inn on Friday. I got up that morning tired to tears, Rich had taken the day off and I told him that I needed to go to bed and stay there….life seemed too hard, too overwhelming. He was pleased to let me get away and told me I could even go to NY to my parent’s house. I was too tired to drive that far, I settled for Sturbridge, MA….one of my favorite little towns ever. Sarah and I crashed and rested all afternoon on Friday.
Saturday morning, after a good night’s sleep, Rich and the children met me at Crackerbarrel. I walked in to find them all sitting at a table, waiting for me, and I felt such love as I looked at all their dear little faces. We had a nice breakfast together, talking and laughing. I was surprised to see that my 7 year old, Davy, showed up with bare feet. They couldn’t find his shoes and thought maybe I had them in my vehicle (I didn’t). After breakfast we went and got him some new sneakers (he needed some anyway).
Rich encouraged me to stay out on Saturday, to recharge. I kept my girl, Gracie, with me. She was a blessing, a friend, to me all day. We shopped and walked and enjoyed each other’s company. We went to a bakery.
We went to a bird store. Mom, have you been here? I have to take you!!
We went to a coffee shop and we both had an iced mocha (her’s was decaf). YUM.
It was the best memory-making day with my daughters…Sarah-dear was with us, too, of course.
We were back home by late Saturday afternoon.
We have a lion in the family now.
And a dream come true for me, a PINK PIGGIE~the cutest pink pig you ever saw.
My friend Hannah sent Sarah the most beautiful quilt.
Caleb laughed and laughed at Sarah this weekend. I had left her sitting up on the couch, propped against the cushions, so I could get Caleb a drink. When we came back, Sarah was flopped on her tummy. The surprise of it tickled his funny bone.
I had such fun on Sunday, talking to my older lady friends and showing them my doll baby with her new blue shoes. How I love those encouraging ladies…..they adored my baby and held her and talked to her and made me feel so good. One of our older men in the church even asked to hold her.
Sunday afternoon:
Rich wasn’t feeling well after church on Sunday and Seth had ruined his own nap by sleeping on the drive back home….so, I went for a walk with all seven children. I got hot and tired out, but it was fun to watch them play and explore the peaceful shaded woods. We stayed away for a while, and Rich took a nice long nap in the hammock on the porch.
They were trying and trying to break off “swords” from this fallen down tree. It was hard but they finally got a couple.
Whenever I find a fungus growing on a dead log, I break it off and draw a picture on it.
The boys broke open a log and found an ant mansion. The ants had tunneled and completely populated this log. We felt terrible for disturbing them. There were thousands of ants, we could hear them buzz around, working to recover from the calamity…..
The wood was sort of like swiss cheese. Jacob chose a couple of chunks to bring home and then we turned the logs back over, hoping that the ants could salvage their home.
Caleb has been asking me to make him badges. He tells me exactly what to write, and then tapes them on his shirt. I get so much amusement from him.
Rich and I ate fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and herbs…drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
We ate outside in the cool evening air, on a blanket. Fought off chickens, who kept coming over to try to see what we were eating. Laughed at the children playing and wrestling around on the grass.
We all ate watermelon together outside. It was fresh from Mr. G’s garden, and the juicest melon ever. The chickens ate the seeds and the rinds. Seth was drenched with water from pressing his face into his slice, to eat it.
Rich took me on a ride on the four wheeler. My first time ever. I sat behind him and put my arms around his waist. It was QUITE romantic, to say the least. We went around and around the pond while the children jumped on the trampoline. When the ride was over, we kissed. 
We had a lovely long holiday weekend together and I miss him today.
“I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name forever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is UNSEARCHABLE. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.” Psalms 145:1-5 (the rest of the chapter is wonderful, as well…..)
Good to be Home 
Sounds like a lovely weekend. Time to recharge, time to bond with the girls, time to explore with the kids and time with everyone together just having fun.Have a wonderful week.{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}Oh what was the bird shop like inside? It looks like it is a very interesting shop.
I really really like tomatoes, cheese & basil prepared like that as well. However, I’m the only one in my family that will eat it (my husband says he doesn’t eat grass) so I don’t fix it very often for myself. I so much enjoy your pictures and updates! Bless your husband for allowing you that time over the weekend to regroup after such a rough month past. Praying that this fall will be a BETTER season for your family physically!! (o:
@Donna7 – I should have taken pictures! I didn’t even think of it. It is full of nature stuff…mostly for birds. Feeders galore, seed, books. Garden ornaments, bird baths. They have a cool bee’s nest. The bees come in and out of the shop through a tube and you can watch them work through their clear walls. Cards, stuffed animals, and all sorts of other nature things. Grace talked to the lady about our chickens. 😉
OH MY, what a lovely weekend. Just a bit of everything in there. So great that you got away when you were so tired, and were able to recharge. Then in the midst you got to meet up with your lovely family. I know when my boys were small I used to get away with Bob on a business trip once a year, leaving the boys with family. I so enjoyed the rest, but wanted a window to peek at their cute little faces because I missed them!Looks like a wonderful outing with Grace. Was that bird place as fun as it looks? I like the name Sarah-dear. Sarah was one of my “girl names”. Your little lion and piggy are too cute for words…no wonder I always fall in love with your babies. I really like that quilt too. Look at Sarah just looking and looking at it. Caleb has turned into a little boy! Oh my, how did he get so big? What did you decide with him and school?And Seth…standing on a log! Your woods is so green and lovely. Just soothing and beautiful. Wonderful you could give Rich time for a nap. And then you also had time together…eating yummy tomato salad and riding on the 4-wheeler. I love seeing pics of both of you. Bob and I had some time together over the long weekend too as David stayed over at a friends. I was happy to just spend quiet time together, eat dinner, watch a movie, and be romantic. I’ve commented enough Have a blessed week! I am driving to Colorado on Thursday to see my kids! Jenny
@sep1 – It’s funny you mention the “grass” Rich thought I added WAY too many herbs. LOL
Such a lovely weekend! How nice to have some time away. =) Love your new profile picture too.
@ABAHM – Jenny, I love your comments. I am homeschooling Caleb along with the rest. So exciting. I went to Target this morning to get them all supplies. I am going to do a post on my homeschooling blog later on. Have fun in Colorado, a state I will always love….Rich and I went there last year for our 14th anniversary. And Sarah-dear came 9 months later. 🙂
@purpleamethyst76 – Oh I would have loved it in there! Watching the bee’s would have been very interesting. Maybe another time you’ll be able to go back and take pictures. :)Blessings and {{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}}}
Shanda, such a lovely post to read. I took the children to the post office this morning. Then we went to the library to get books about spiders (we have a large garden spider by our front window who just laid her eggs last night). Then, we went to the bank, and the kids got suckers (except for Lucy–I don’t trust her with a sucker just yet…especially while I’m driving). We came home, and the neighbor’s rooster was on our porch trying to stay out of the pouring rain. I forged ahead and scared him with the umbrella. 🙂 I got all the kids inside and then had to change my clothes; I was so wet! I had some leftover chili for lunch and felt all cozy. Your post made me want to snuggle in with the kiddos. Now it is time for naps! Have a lovely day.
I’m starving and your tomato meal sounds WONDERFUL!!! We all enjoy eating that at our house!Good for you – getting one night away and some deep sleep. Isn’t sleep amazing? It can totally make or break my day!
Glad you were able to get some re-charging time. Makes total sense to me to have those times. I have seen mothers not recognize this is what they were needing and pay for it later.Love your grey shirt and you look beautiful as always.
so happy for you that you got away and rested…sometimes us weary-in-well-doing-mothers just need time ALONE! and, you, have certainly had an overwhelming last several weeks, and a quiet resting time must have been just the ticket! what fun!! to spend the day with your beautiful daughters! such precious moments!as always, your pictures of nature and the children playing outdoors just make me want to come there! it looks so beautiful!hoping your week is blessed!♥~
I was exited to see an update from you! Glad you had the chance to recharge and can face daily life with a refreshed mind and body! Your little lion and piggy ar adorable:)
Loooove that quilt. And the mushroom picture. And the fun with your girls. And the post-it note boy. Lol. 🙂 Looks like a wonderful weekend – so glad you could get away for some sleep!!
Shanda, I am so happy that you were able to get away and REST!! Much needed rest after such a long time of sickness and hospital stays. I know exactly how you feel- the need to get away and recharge, but then be so excited to see them all again. You piggie is so precious, and perfect for you! Have you ever read any of the Toot and Puddle books with your kids? I always think about you when we read them (Toot and Puddle are pigs). Four-wheeler rides are fun, aren’t they?? Sarah’s blue outfit with the shoes is SO CUTE!! Love it! Great picture of all five boys in the woods. What is Caleb pointing at? Thanks so much for the picture of Sarah on her quilt. Looks like she likes it! Love ya, Hannah
@alaskahannah – Sarah does like her beautiful quilt, we all do. You are very talented! Yes the four wheeler ride was so much fun, I smiled the whole time. I hope you are having the best visit with your Mom! I’m pretty sure we read Toot and Puddle, but I will be sure to get one or two of them when we go to the library tonight. 🙂
The quilt is beautiful! And the animal/children are so cute! Isn’t it just wonderful when a daughter suddenly is old enough to be a mom’s friend, too? Enjoying the same things….there will never ever be anything like that! It’s just too wonderful for words, the sharing that you two will enjoy (and eventually you three, when Sarah gets just a teeny bit bigger.) Hope your little break left you refreshed and ready for your big, busy family again.
I’m glad you had a wonderful weekend!!! You deserve to take breaks if you need 🙂 The quilt is beautiful!! AWWW Sarah is soooo cute!!!! God bless y’all! have a good week!
wow what a wonderful break, that gives me a good idea!!!
You sound like you had a much needed renewal weekend :). How cute is your Sarah!
Sounds like a good weekend.
What an adorable little “farm” you have with the cutest pink piggie and a handsome lion A sweet meandering wknd filled with rest and loved ones, smiles, kisses and spending moments together. I enjoyed every beautiful picture~ Cinnamon
Looks like a beautiful weekend for your family. It is a wonderful thing to get refreshed! Glad you had the opportunity to recharge. It is so important to do that, so you can continue to give out to all those precious blessings in your life. Pray for me over the next few days! 🙂 My husband is headed out of town tomorrow and won’t be back until Sunday evening. My kiddos have sports practices every night this week, and Saturday morning their first games in four different locations at almost the same time. UGH! I think I will need to recharge soon. I keep telling myself I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!!! 🙂 Praying it is a blessed week and that your school year is going great! Blessings~ Deborah
Those lil lion and pig outfits are darling! Couldn’t be cuter! 🙂
Beautiful family pictures and Bible verses. Have you heard of Family Radio? http://www.familyradio.com. I’ve been listening for about 30 years and now we will see if the Rapture is next May 21, as Harold Camping proclaims from his study of the Bible.
Shanda…so glad you were able to get that time to rest and recharge. The family looks great and Sarah is just beautiful!
I’m glad you had some good rest Shan! I loved all the photo’s. I loved loved loved the quilt. Love you, Lish
@ElishaDecker – Thanks sweet cousin!!! love you, too!
Sounds like a lovely weekend!
oh my goodness! those animals outfits are too cute~
Your little lion and pig are adorable! Glad you were able to get a night of really good sleep!
I love your new picture! So cute! I also love the fact that you got to get away and I love your little lion and pig and your baby’s blue shoes. 🙂
Another fantastic post filled with fantastic pictures!! SO much fun!! I loved the 4 wheeler part…I will try to make this story short. We just moved 2 weeks ago. It was kinda last minute so the 2 weeks before were INSANE and the week during/after was crazy busy. It was very stressful, my husband was extra busy, the kids were extra needy, I was extra hormonal… We moved to a large property (caretaking, my husband is responsible for mowing A LOT), but the perks is a 4 wheeler in the barn. Finally last weekend my husband took me for a ride on it all around the property, with the kids running around, chasing us. It was the most romantic wonderful 10 minutes of my crazy month. It soo helped fill my (very empty) “love bank” Just having my arms wrapped around my honey, feeling the sun and breeze, fresh air… it was fantastic!!Hope you get another ride soon!!
I’m in a sad place today, I’ve felt an un-named sadness for days now. Yet coming by your site has lifted my spirits…all the many photos of place and moment and child have filled my heart with a quiet smile. The green forest filled with your children was a balm to my soul
I LOVE that quilt and those costumes!