(first tooth)
(beautiful)
(handsome)
(Davy’s last game)
(waiting for his name to be announced, for his 2nd place team trophy)
(the pretty pants I made)
(swimming with forever friends)
One of our very best walks (swims?) ever, in our woods, in our stream…..a gift of a memory…..
The only loss was a bright blue croc, belonging to David.
(a picture in the middle of a lecture) (for vanishing into the woods without telling me!)
I took this picture just this morning. We have a little playhouse now, that the neighbors a mile up were giving away. So we have a new favorite place, in the yard, for the little ones (and big ones).
It’s always good to end with a dessert. Tonight it was homemade (by Dave, Caleb, and me) cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Entirely, 100 % G O N E. Yum.
I’m thankful for some many wonderful blessings in every day life. Little things; the smiles of sweet children. Singing to my favorite songs. Dancing with Sethie. Teaching my children new things. Baking cakes. A clean room. Early bedtimes. Days so fun that the sleep at the end of them is so heavy and lovely. Big things; My husband, his smile, his texts, his phone calls, his body home with mine. My family, my brothers and sister. My friend Kathy. Christie. Karen. Joanna. Forever and ever. Jesus, the way He is God and Man, both….to worship and love, long for, as the bread and water that always satisfies.
Today is the first day that Sarah Joy has taken off, in her walking. Just this evening she just started walking around For Real. Pat, pat, step, tap, tap, step, up and down went her little bare feet, and she was charming about it all, sneaking looks at us to make sure she was being watched and admired. Since she is 13 months old now she has done a lot of preliminary practicing. She can already pivot, changing directions. She senses when she’s off balance and just gently lowers herself down. When seated, she can put her hands down to lift her bottom and then herself, back up to her feet, to go again. It made Rich and I laugh, and me get teary eyed. What a joy, to watch these milestones happening.
And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in droughts, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isaiah 58:11
Let us therefore follow after the things that make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Romans 14:19
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13
For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone. Psalm 86:10
I will praise Thee O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name forevermore. For great is Thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. Ps. 86:12, 13
My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Ps. 57:7
Good to be Home 
I get to make the first comment? Lucky me I finally got my long delicious Shanda post [happy sigh} Your pictures are such a pleasure to look at. I seriously spend so much time looking at each one. The beautiful fresh faces, the deep greens, all the homey goodness… it’s all so lovely. Oh and the homemade pants for Sarah? So darling!There were several pictures of you and no “beautiful” captions next to them… there should have been, because you are.
I’ve missed your posts and I loved seeing all these pictures and your growing family. I like Sarah’s little teeth and her foot up on the rail like her brother!! I’m seeing your children grow and change with each post — such a lovely family!
i can’t believe how big Seth is now!! such a little cutielove all the little moments you have, especially that decadent dessert 😉
I sure have missed you while you were gone! Glad the computer is back, and the days are being chronicled again! Blessings to you and ALL your blessings!
What a wonderful and happy post. 🙂
Shanda, What a blessing to come visit and see all your beautiful pictures. I love seeing your children’s smiling faces. Loved the getting a lecture faces Sarah’s first tooth!!! Very cute~You look wonderful. Green is your color ~Cinnamon
The pictures are beautiful!!! Your children are growing and changing so much, especially Davey, I think. Beautiful family!! The one picture where one of your older sons is sitting next your husband shows just how fast they are growing up. It looks like he is as tall as his father. Good night! Blessings to your all!!
Great pictures!!! My Rebekah didn’t walk until she was almost 14 months old….and when she did take off- it was like she had been secretly practicing behind our backs! She just decided one day that she was a big girl- and off she went. It was a good thing too- because Sarah was well on her way into the world…my girls are only 17 months apart. 🙂 The strawberry shortcake looks yummo. Your summer seems to be very happy and full of activities!PS I love the stained glass window in your kitchen window!!!
I love seeing the beautiful work of the hand of God in your children…they are so precious, and probably Grace is taller than me…lol…(I am 5 feet tall)yay for catching up on the last few weeks of your life…
You’re Back, You’re Back!!! =) Yay!I absolutely love the picture of Sarah trying to climb the fence in that pretty yellow sundress. And she has her first tooth!The picture of the eggs in the cobalt and peacock fietsa look so….bed and breakfast-ish. And that stain glassed window, Love it! Did you buy that at the flea market you went to with your cousin, or am I remembering wrong???Your strawberry shortcake look delicious! Wish I had one right now to eat for breakfast! I do have lots of strawberries from the farmer’s market, maybe I’ll make some today. =)Have a lovely day enjoying that family of yours. You are a very blessed woman.*I love the song by Laura Story….I think it’s so pretty. Everytime I hear it I get convicted about the things I complain about.
A few things: Glad you are BACK! Love the picture of the baseball players all lined up from behind, you look FABULOUS, Grace is looking like such a young lady! I also LOVE the picture of your open window with the bowl of eggs and onion hanging….I can almost smell the breeze coming in your windows 🙂
I spy my family picture on your window sill!!!!!!!!!!! warms my heart! I need to write to you!Loved all the pictures and the scriptures you shared! Your posts encourage me!
Yeah!!! Shanda and her WONDERFUL family are back….Your photos inspire me to take better photographs and reaffirm that the simple out of the rat race life I lead is best…..Staying home and keeping house and cooking wonderful meals for my Hubby when he comes home from his hard day at work…..We might not have the cash flow that others have having just one pay packet coming in a week but the quality of our life is priceless….simple things like watering the wonderful plants that God allows me to grow…Having time to bake and cook meals from scratch using fresh produce ….keeping a wonderfully clean comfortable home and mowing the grass so that my loved one doesn’t have to do it at the weekends…..We are so blessed with an abundance of love for each other ALWAYS knowing we will be there for each other….You can’t buy those things can you…..Hurrah!….Sarah has her first tooth …how wonderful…hope she isn’t suffering too muchAllowing your family to get wet and dirty and enjoying every minute of exploring is a blessing too….My first husband wouldn’t let the children get dirty and even carried around a face cloth in case they got food on their mouths whilst we were out…..isn’t that sad…..It would be different if I could do it over againSo happy your are backHave you ever listened to Bella’s Lullaby from the Twilight Movie…..it’s a piano solo….I think you would love itHave a blessed and wonderful dayBrenda
Fun fun pictures! Thanks for catching us up!
Love the pictures. I love the one of Seth & Sarah climbing over the fence. That is to cute.
Such great pictures. All of them, really! The pictures of the boys in the stream are so adorable! You always take such clear beautiful pictures, what kind of camera do you use? Love the fiesta at the end 🙂
Hello again my beautiful friend! These are wonderful pictures of sweet memories. I just adore your family. My favorite picture is the one of you with all the children and little Sarah is right in the middle. It’s a beautiful picture. Enjoy your weekend!
@fourkidsonemom – Hi, thank you! I use a Nikon D3100. I use the editing disc that came with my camera but all the ones you see here are straight out of the camera; no editing at all. @onehappymomma – Thank you, sweet Eli! Guess what? That was my favorite picture of the bunch, too. 🙂
Oh, blessings abound in this catchup photo post…eggs, butterflies, first tooth, swimming, hiking, awards, stream in the woods, strawberries, children, BIG children so like Dad. I so miss your sweet ways when you are gone Shanda. Sarah looks like a little ballerina in that pose in the yellow dress. Loved seeing your beautiful face in several pictures.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE all you pictures… and I desperately want my chickens to give me eggs… and I am horribly disappointed that one of my chickens turned out to be a rooster!!
Looks like some ‘good eggs’ you have there. 🙂 I found you on Orchard’s rec
@jamekablue – Hi and welcome!
LOVE that photo of the 2 littles trying to get over the railing ~ tooooo cute! It’s a framer, for sure ~
love your pics Shanda… lovely.. just lovely