The morning Elisha, my cousin, was driving three hours to come see me, Seth and Sarah both woke up terribly sick with the stomach bug. Elisha, because she loves us and we love her, came anyway. We had been planning on going to the Brimfield Antique show, but with the little ones so sick we didn’t know if it would work out.
However, later that day at about 1pm, as I was giving poor Seth yet another bath, I turned around in the midst of my washing, and found my husband standing in the bathroom watching me. He came home early from work so we could go!
Despite the worry I had for my babies, Elisha and I had a great time. We took Ethan and Grace with us, too.
Ethan enjoyed looking at sharp tools (like hatchets) and sharp weapons (like swords).
Grace enjoyed looking at anything that had to do with animals.
Elisha bought a big decorative tin tile mounted on a frame, very “pottery barn”, to use in decorating her home.
And I came away with a shabby chic (a nice way of saying old and grubby, with paint half gone) children’s rocker.
A week later, when the “everlasting” rain stopped for fifteen minutes, and the children were finally healthy again, I took the three of them (rocker, baby, and toddler), outside to take their picture.
And here is Miss Sarah, sitting pretty in her cherry smock, on her new *old* rocking chair. Spot, the cat, came to investigate but, as he has no interest in photo shoots or very small children, soon turned tail and walked off….
I am happy to report that Sarah only fell off the rocker once during our photo shoot. No harm done.
“There is so much in the world for us all if we only have the eyes to see it, and the heart to love it, and the hand to gather it to ourselves-so much in men and women, so much in art and literature, so much everywhere in which to delight and for which to be thankful.” Anne of the Island, by L.M. Montgomery (And, thank you to the xanga *kindred spirit* who posted this quote a few years ago, it’s now one of my very favorites.)
Good to be Home 
Gorgeous pictures of Seth and Sarah. You chose the perfect outfits and the perfect setting for the rocking chair, but the two little ones are the stars.
Ooo, what a sweet surprise from your husband. And the pictures are precious!! AND you look so cute in that jacket!! 🙂
The pictures of Seth, Sarah and the rocking chair are just Adorable! Grace is getting so tall and pretty. Her hair is very long, it looks nice.What a sweet husband you have. Glad you had a chance to go to the Antique show…how fun that must have been.Have a great day. =)
I forgot to mention….the rocking chair is soooo cute! If I would’ve seen it, I definitely would have bought it!
This post again reminds me of how our lives are such a beautiful weaving of the old and new, the unexpected that is both dismaying (the children’s stomach flu) and delightful (your husband’s sacrificial love) and the way God shows us so much to capture of beauty when we allow him to open our eyes to the possibilities. Once again, Shanda, you’ve blessed me this morning, and it is a “feed my soul some beauty” kind of blessing. THANKS! Love you!
Love the chair. What a great find!! The pictures are beautifully, adorable! 🙂
Shanda Thank You for warming my heart each morning with blogs that are so wonderful……Wonderful Children….Wonderful Husband….Wonderful Values….Wonderful Simplicity of Life….WONDERFUL SHANDA……Thank You for being there…..Brenda
Awwww… that was so sweet of your husband to come home for you. 🙂 The pictures are so cute, I really like the one of you 3 in the mirror.
What a wonderful thing for your hubby to do!
Somehow….I feel such a sense of God’s holy love in your post. You bless me…you find such joy in little things. Your children are so precious. Oh, I know there are times, don’t we all know that? But, there is such joy in allowing God to show us the little things that are from HIM. Bless you day!
SOOO SWEET! I love the rocking chair photo’s!
I would just be repeating all the above comments!
I love the shot of Sarah and the kitty — and the first one of Seth and Sarah!
Ohh, some sweet day I want to come up for Brimfield. Sounds like so much fun! Your lil sweethearts look adorable on the new rocking chair! (btw, love Sarah’s frock!) Have a blessed day! 😉 Janeen
Loved all the pictures and happy that you and Elisha had a great time together. Wow Grace and Ethan look so BIG nest to you its weird! LOL I dont think she was that tall last fall when we went was she? Hope you are having a lovley day…..SISSY
When clicked on this post I told myself, “April, show some restraint. You don’t HAVE to comment on every one of Shanda’s posts. She’s going to think you’re a crazy stalker lady.” But then you go and do (yet another) delightful post and I just can’t help myself. Love the rocker, love your jacket, love Sarah and Seth looking so sweet together,love your sense of humor, and I love that your husband is so good to you. I was reading through all the comments and I can only say a hearty “Amen”. I know you’re not perfect Shanda, you have your strengths and weaknesses, your dark times and shining moments… just like the rest of us. But what I see and feel every time I visit your blog is God’s goodness, His joy, His peace, and His faithfulness that pours through your life.P.S. please don’t think I’m a crazy stalker lady
Came by on a break from Geometry…WE ARE GOING TO FINISH THIS BOOK! Anyway, what a lovely breath of fresh air to come by and go to the antique fair with you, and see your adorable littles in the forest on their new rocker. Sounds like the soft forest floor was a good choice, besides being so pretty. I always wish I was really there when you go to the antique fair, well, lots of days your posts strike me that way. You do have a way of so sweetly sharing the joy of the moments in your life! Thankful Rich surprised you and came home.Your children are growing so. Grace looks so lovely
oh my goshhh, your babies are sooo adorable! 🙂
Glad your children are better now. Sarah has the sweetest expressions on her face!
Beautiful!
April is so funny! It’s hard not to comment on your posts! Another delightful read and more gorgeous color-rich and sweet pictures. Your husband is a doll – what a sweet and caring thing for him to do. 🙂
@Buckeyegirlie – Love you, too!
@Brenda – Brenda, Thank you sweet friend. Have a blessed weekend. Much love, Shanda
@houseintheprairie – Thank you. Yes, give God the glory, it is Him, the same spirit in you and me and all other believers. It’s so wonderful to share with one another, the little things He gives as gifts, each day. Have a wonderful weekend!
@inanorchard – I don’t think you are a crazy stalker lady–I love your comments and I’m so happy to be developing a friendship with you through xanga. We have lots in common and it’s exciting for me, too! Happy Friday to you, sweet April.
*gasp* little sarah’s standing! I think this is the first photo of her standing?
Beautiful !!
@purpleamethyst76 – I’m smiling super big right now!