“God wants us to fill our homes
with happiness. “ ~J.R. Miller
Yesterday was a beautiful, warm day so Ethan and I went for a walk together. Ethan walked the dog, and I had darling baby Sarah in my arms.
As we walked, we talked about things effortlessly. It’s easy to talk to a true friend and that is what Ethan is to me. My son, but also my friend.
“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.” J.R. Miller
Sarah was wearing the reversable smock that I made while I was pregnant with her. It gave me such a happy feeling to see her wearing it for the first time that I now have the sewing bug again. I want to make another one, in a darker color, for fall.
I put her down by the roots of a tree and she looked up at me while her little hand scratched around and found a dry leaf. As soon as she had it, she had to investigate it with her wondering eyes. She kept trying to taste it, too.
Then I sat her up and took a picture. The stream is reflecting behind her.
I love this picture. She’s looking at the running, gurgling water in the stream, with her little paws in soft green moss.
She’s growing and learning.
Ethan and I walked back to the house and came across Rich and Jacob, walking together with fast, long strides from the garage, and talking. It gave me a start at first, I didn’t know who Rich was talking to. I didn’t recognize Jacob because he’s getting to be as tall as his dad.
We went to house and sat together on the porch. Ethan got me a blanket for Sarah (the blanket that the children and I made for baby Seth, two years ago) and I sat and rocked her.
I asked Ethan, “E, if I was going to bake something today, what would you want it to be?”
He said, “Cherry pie. I love cherry pie.”
“I don’t have any cherries, how about blueberry?”
“Yeah!”
“And we better make an apple, too.” I said, “That way there will be enough for all of us. Do you want to help me?”
“Yes!”
I handed a sleepy Sarah to Rich on the couch and covered them up with a quilt. Soon they were both asleep, Jacob was reading a book, the little boys were playing outside, Grace was in bed reading. It was so peaceful.
Ethan and I were in the kitchen together. He peeled apples while I mixed up a bowl of pie crust.
I told him about his Great Grandma. I always think of her when I make a pie because she gave me a great tip years ago. Here it is: To keep a baked fruit pie from running, sprinkle some cornflakes on the uncooked crust before you add the fruit. I was so surprised when she told me that, I would have never guessed they were there.
Hours later, after they had baked and cooled just enough, Rich and I ate pie and ice cream around the table with the children.
It was fun.
When I went to bed last night, I pulled out my copy of the always encouraging book, Home-Making by J. R. Miller.
I put a couple of quotes in my journal with a pencil……
“To bring them(the children) up in the nurture of the Lord is to bring them up as Christ himself would, and surely that would be with infinite gentleness.”
“Conversations in the home should be loving and thoughtful.”
An opportunity for good conversation comes three times a day, during meals. “Spend lots of time together in bright, cheerful, sparkling conversations.” Table-talk should vary to suit all ages….an idea for conversation would be to introduce some interesting new fact per meal. You could even make a scrapbook of these daily talks. For instance, if you talk about dinosaurs, have one of the children color or cut out a picture of a dinosaur, briefly write the fact you talked about, and date the page.
It’s after 8:00 am, and all of the children are awake now. Grace just set the table for breakfast and we have a candle burning. It’s time for me to put the babies in fresh diapers and go enjoy my children around the table.
Have a good day, all!
Good to be Home 
I love the pic of father and son,that is a perfect photo,and the fall colors in the background reminds us that he is growing up and will soon be a man himself.
I’ll have to try the cornflakes next time I bake a pie. Your children (and your trees) are beautiful.
You are so domestic. It makes me so happy to read your posts…and you are a great photographer, also.
What awesome pictures, so beautiful
What a cute little bundle wrapped in her brother’s blanket!! I’m going to have to try that corn flakes trick — don’t like sticky apple pie dishes — they always seem to run over!!
I look forward to these kinds of conversations with my children. We are still in the comical conversation age. 🙂 It has a fun all its own!!! I hope your day is relaxing and calm, friend.
first of all, Ethan and Jacob are getting so big and “older’ looking. wow. time goes by fast. Sarah is so beautiful. The best time is just being with the family and doing those things together like cooking, baking, talking, walking… precious moments
Love your posts so much!! They are so filled with “togetherness” and love. Thanks for blessing my day!
Have a wonderful day enjoying the family!
Yesterday afternoon I baked three apple pies. I so wish I had known of your cornflake tip, as one of my pies was a bit watery! I will definitely try that out. your woods look so pretty. Such a cozy Sunday afternoon you had. =) Hope your Monday is a great one.
No kidding about Jacob! What a tall boy/man you have, Shanda! Happy week to you.
Your boys are growing at an ALARMING rate!!! They are both taller than their mom now arent they?the pie looks scruptuous!
Lovely Shan. Love you. Lish
Such a good reminder to me, that conversations in the house should be loving and thoughtful. I’m so busy sometimes that I catch myself barking out orders. That is not how I want my children to remember me. *sigh* Thanks for the reminder! Lovely pictures as always!
Love the falls colors and the pie! May I come visit? lol 🙂
Sounds like you had a lovely Sunday. I like the picture of Sarah all bundled up on your lap after the trek through the woods and to the creek.
your pie crust looks so good..do you share your recipe??
Yummy pies! I have never made one myself! I need a lesson~ But Whats even more yummy to proud Auntie??? BABY SARAH! She is getting so alert what a dolly. The boys are growing fast right out of there boyhood and turning into young men! Love you and miss you ~ SISSY
Wow those pies look good 🙂 Sarah is such a dolly, but all of your children are. ❤
I got curious about the Miller book and looked it up on swagbucks. I found the full text (I think) online here: http://home-making.jr-miller.com/ Just thought I’d share that if there were other readers of yours who are interested.
Thank you for sharing from that wonderful book! And for sharing such beautiful photos with your family. You truly are a wonderful cook – those pies had my mouth watering. 🙂
Just thank you all over again.
Shanda the pies are so beautiful. I was so discouraged the other day trying to make pie crust. Would you be so kind as to share your recipe?
hi shanda…….what wonderful quotes. thanks for sharing. that sarah is just too cute – and what a chunky monkey!! my boys and i will be baking a flat apple pie this afternoon. we’ve all been craving it! your pie looks simply yummy, too. i love the longer hair on ethan and jacob. it makes them look more grown up (or is that a bad thing?!) time does go by fast. glad you do your best to make the time be the best it can be.
Your posts always warm my heart!
It was so nice to come back to your place for a visit, Shanda….I’ve missed seeing pictures of your dear family and reading your thoughtful, loving comments. I’ve been having fits with Xanga and have considered abandoning this for another blogging site, but the reason I haven’t is because I’d lose touch with special friends like you. Your sons are truly turning into young men, so handsome and strong-looking. And I loved the picture of Grace holding her stuffed animal (in an earlier post about your vacation.) Your babies are both so sweet…I just want to cuddle and smell them. Hope your day today is pleasant and peaceful and happy!
I’ve been away from my computer for a month so I’m just now going through your posts in my feed reader. I hope you get this message.Sarah is beautiful. I can’t believe how much your children have grown and changed in a months time. Those pies look gorgeous! Pretty enough to be in a magazine. I also wanted to thank you for posting a book suggestion one time on your blog. I purchased it at that time, but only recently got a chance to read it…”The Hidden Art of Homemaking.” I thoroughly enjoyed that book! It really gave me an extra added boost of oomph to my daily tasks around the house here. 🙂 I’ve found some hidden areas of creativity I never would have thought about. The book taught me that it really is fulfilling to use the creativity God gifted us with…even in the smallest of things. What a neat find!Blessings!