Oh how wonderful to wake up to a world of white!  I just can’t resist the outdoors after a heavy snowfall, would you like to go on a little walk with Ethan and me?  Get bundled up in your warmest winter clothes and boots, put someone in charge of the kids, and come along! 

The first thing we do is stop to look at the pond, all covered in a sheet of ice and snow.  The tall pine trees are so lovely, aren’t they?  I have snow down my boots already and stop to tuck my jeans in the tops to try to keep out the cold stuff.

Here we are, looking down at the stream.  There is a pretty picture everywhere we turn.

You and I will stay here while Ethan goes down to get a chunk of ice from the stream.  I would rather keep my feet dry, wouldn’t you?

Now we have made our way very very carefully *don’t slip!* down the bank to the stream below.  The water is running cold and smooth in it’s bed, and looks so refreshing that Ethan stops to take a drink from it. 

 When we lift our faces to look up at the treetops, soft and silent flakes of snow land on our cheeks.

Our walk takes us in a wide circle and we enjoy so many sights….including tracks of little animals across the top of the snow.  There is a silence in the snowy woods that you can’t find anywhere else.  After a while we get cold and tired so we make our way happily into the house to help the little ones bundle up warm for some sledding. 

Caleb loves to sled with his Papa.

They are all outside together, making winter memories.

This is the view off our front porch, later, as Rich is snow-blowing the lower driveway.

While they finish up their fun outside, we make some cornmeal muffins.

Soon the little ones come in hungry for a snack and asking for hot chocolate, too.

Caleb stuffed himself with about five muffins.  That sure hit the spot!

Since we ran out of mix, we’ll have to make the Hot Chocolate from scratch.  Thankfully there is a recipe printed on the Hershey’s cocoa container.

Favorite Hot Cocoa (serves 6, I had to tweak a little to make an extra 2 cups)

1/2 cup of sugar
1/4 cup Hershey’s cocoa
Dash salt
1/3 cup hot water
4 cups milk
3/4 tsp vanilla

Mix sugar, cocoa and salt in saucepan; stir in water.  Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils; boil and stir 2 minutes.  Stir in milk and heat.  Do not boil.  Remove from heat, stir in vanilla.  (* For an extra treat, I got out my immersion blender and blended it up to make it foamy on top*)  Scoop into mugs, pass around the bag of marshmallows and enjoy the love!

Thanks for spending time with me this morn
ing.  I think I’ll stay in the house now, and cozy up.  Guess what I was doing at 3:00 am this morning?  I was in the livingroom, sitting by the fire, munching toast and yogurt.  Yes, I had a powerful hunger in the night and couldn’t ignore it.  Needless to say, I’m sleepy today and after all the fresh air, I’m ready to find some blankets and a good book.  Maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to snooze.

Happy Saturday!

Love ~Shanda~

There as I made the cookies……..

and there to keep me company as I rested.

He found a cozy spot and stayed for a while, uninvited, but I didn’t mind.  He kept reassuring me, “I won’t hurt your baby belly!”

I kissed his foot a few times.  Ethan took the pictures.

As much as I love having new babies, there’s always something a little sad and sentimental that tugs at my heart when I prepare to say “good bye” to the “old” baby.  Caleb has been a constant, deep joy to me for the past 3 and a half years.  When his baby brother is born things will be different….better of course, but different.  I’m sure I’m not the only mom to go through these feelings.

I hope everyone “out there” is having a good day.  We’re doing fine here.  Jacob was sick all night and couldn’t sleep but seems to be getting better today, an encouraging sign was when he started talking again….as I made the cookies he talked and talked about outer space.  My back was turned to him and I was smiling as I twisted the dough for candy cane cookies, smiling to be a listening ear for him.

Grace and Jacob are both persuading Ethan, and claiming his allowance to “help” save up for the things THEY want….Jacob wants a lego set and Grace wants a new cat.  Ethan’s sweet temperament and willingness to help makes him an open wallet apparently?  I sense an opportunity for a life-lesson coming (for all three of them).

David had music class at school and came home wanting to sing to me.  He is banished from my room today, for making a mess in here yesterday and not cleaning it up.  My collection of art work from him keeps growing.  It’s getting quite funny.  (It’s the “MOM” written on each one that gets me, although one of them had the MOM crossed out and ETHAN written on it instead). 

We are expecting a winter storm tomorrow afternoon.  I think David’s teacher is anticipating a snow day because she sent his Friday homework folder home with him.  We’ll see if she’s right. 

Ethan memorized two poems today…both about trees.  He copied them down in his journal, and added a picture of himself, one that I took two years ago of him standing in the forest.

Oh!  And I ordered that Rosie train that Caleb had mentioned the other day…..I got an email from Barnes and Noble offering me 25% off any one item and free shipping in time for Christmas (if I spent a certain amount).  So I bought the train and a couple things for Jacob’s birthday, which is the 31st.

As for me, I am about to go make some hot tea and crash on the couch.  The children are all in their rooms.  Caleb still naps and the other ones know that this is quiet time.  I’ll have a good hour or so to recharge.  After rest time begins official “waiting impatiently ’til Daddy gets home time” during which I look at the clock way more than usual. 

One week ’til Christmas!

Love, Shanda

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.  ~John Ruskin

We woke up to some light, but icy snow.  It’s melting away already, but we had a brief window of time to sled ride before it was too late.  Rich decided to work for a little while from home, and David’s school was delayed, so it felt like a holiday.  After a breakfast of home made biscuits, bacon, and fried eggs, out we went, leaving Rich inside working (but enjoying his homecooked breakfast)…….

Caleb’s squeals and laughter were a joy to hear.  Oh, he had SO much fun!  He’s a good snow-boy.

It’s so nice to live on a hill!

And all that climbing back up…..such good exercise for little legs.

A happy smile from Grace, as she watches her brothers go down the hill.

This is Ethan…..

And here are Jacob and David.

Jacob is sick today, but still could not resist coming outside.  He’s got an upset stomach and a headache.  That’s all I have to say about that.  You can imagine the rest. 

Davy-do never did make it to school.  I waved his bus away….he can stay home today.

Ethan was Caleb’s special protector.  One time the sled (with him on it) ended up in shrubs.  I could hear Caleb all the way from the house, “OHHHH!  NOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO????????”, so dramatically.

We came inside just in time to kiss Rich good~bye…..it was such a treat to have him home for the morning.

Ethan took the pictures for me.

Always so safe and happy in his arms……

**happy sigh**

*******************************

Okay.  Now I have to clean up the kitchen (and see if there are any leftover biscuits).  David is at the table, stamping pictures on white paper with my rubber stamp collection.  He is very industrious and has already delivered to me several masterpieces, all with MOM carefully printed on in his best handwriting.  Jacob, Ethan, Caleb, and Grace are all snuggled up in the livingroom watching one of my most favorite movies~ Little Women~ I’ll be joining them after I clean up.  We’ll do schoolwork later!

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Love, Shanda

It’s been such a nice morning.  David had a good long night’s sleep, which he needed, and woke up calm and happy (somewhat unusual).  He ate breakfast, got dressed, and then sat with Caleb in the recliner to watch a Christmas video. . . .but what stopped me in my tracks was when I noticed that David has his arm around Caleb!  They were cuddling in the chair together like two bugs in a rug.  David is not one for open affection with his siblings and it just warmed my heart like you wouldn’t believe, to see them.

And Grace….she came downstairs, still in her long flannel nightgown, with a Bible and sat on the couch engrossed in Genesis!

Caleb’s been awake since about 5:30…but stayed in his room until wake-time, which is 7 sharp every day.  Now he’s been fed (pancakes AND cereal) and is dressed in green pants.  Very Festive.

Jacob also woke up happy and full of conversation (he actually talks more than any of the children lately).  He had a book in his hand and immediately wanted to read me a section of it….silliness from “The Series of Unfortunate Events”.

The first sound I heard when I stumbled sleepily out to the kitchen was sleet.  Then we had a little bit of rain.  And now, now there are gentle, quiet, random snowflakes falling.  “IS IT CHRISTMAS?”  Caleb squealed when he saw them….”when it’s Christmas I will open my presents and it will be Rosie…”  (Rosie is a train)  So, what will I do?  I didn’t buy him Rosie!

The living room floor is covered with bits and snippets of thin white paper.  Grace and I made some snowflakes and the best ones are getting taped to the window next to our kitchen table.

Ethan has been sitting at the table, carefully drawing a rabbit using a one inch grid.

Christmas music is playing.

And oh yes.  The picture at the top?  That’s to show you the two garlands that we made.  One is my yo-yo garland, which are sewn on a brown ribbon.  The other one is made from craft pompoms.  The children made it in all of about 10 minutes, it’s soft and pastel and pretty.  Neither one is very long, just long enough to lay across the top of my piano.  My Aunt Sharon crocheted the Christmas covering for the glass dish, I’ve managed to keep it in one piece all these years and it’s something that gives me pleasure every year. 

We also have about five candles lit, one of which is “Sparkling Pine” and smells so yummy.

Yesterday was a crazy day…I was uptight, tired, and thinking too much about things I didn’t need to think about, and I also had a doctor’s appointment to go to and a trip to Costco, with all five children.  This morning has been so nice, that I think I just might have it in me to actually relax by the fire with hot chocolate and a good read.  A most welcome gift from God…….PEACE in the heart…….mind, and soul.

((LOVE)) ~Shanda

We got our trees up this weekend!

Miss Grace, with her favorite Christmas ornament.  It’s always a special moment when we find her in the box.  We named her Charlotte this year (Grace might have guessed,  I chose the name with Laura Ingalls’ beloved rag doll in mind, those who have read the books know what I’m talking about)……

Here is a group photo of the gang, in front of their own tree.  We put it upstairs for them and let them hang whatever ornaments they have collected or made through the years.  I’m amazed by the strand of lights~ I’ve had them since I was a teenager….(my NY family might remember “Jamesway” which has been out of business for years, I bought them there and they are still working!)

Rich likes a neat and orderly Christmas tree and because he so rarely has an opinion about such things, I am more than happy to do things his way……he chose the colors, too….silver and blue with white lights.  I did ask for a big fat tree this year, and we love this one.  It’s a Douglas Fir and we bought it from the local fire department.

The tree is always magical in the dark.  I took this picture early this morning as I made Rich’s coffee and toast.

Can you believe it’s already December 15th? 

I hope you all have a blessed day,

full of the warmth of God’s love.

1 Timothy 2:2b

“…..that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty“

“Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide”  Genesis 24:63

“We should all know more, live nearer to God, and grow in grace, if we were more alone.  When Jesus is the theme, meditation is sweet indeed.”  ~C.H. Spurgeon

“This is an age of nerve tension, and the relaxation which comes from the comforting companionship found in woods and fields is, without doubt, the best remedy for this condition.”  ~Anna B. Comstock, 1911

“God is a geometrician.  He’s an artist!  How beautiful God is and how artistic and how poetic and how musical!”  ~A.W. Tozer

“Our real need is inward riches.  We need to learn to be still and know that God is God.  We need to ‘practice the presence of God’ till we take on something of the nobility of our divine Companion.  We need to cultivate silence and discover the riches of secret places.  We need to discover God in the deeps of our own souls.”  ~A.W. Tozer

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power:  for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”  Revelation 4:11

I have been able to spend the majority of this day alone.  These pictures, that I took today on a little walk by our stream,  represent to me the feelings of slowing down, and resting, that were given to me like a gift.  My mind feels peaceful again. 

That top verse, Mark 6:31, makes me chuckle a little, “for there were many people coming and going, and they (the disciples) did not even have time to eat”…..as a mother of five, I often feel that way.  Sometimes I don’t eat “lunch” until 2!

Anyway, it was a wonderful day….

Rich looks at me and says I’m cute.  I don’t know about that, but I am slowing down that’s for sure.  The couch is a happy place for me, when I can get there.  Cleaning is getting difficult–dropping things on the floor never made me more impatient, as I detest bending over to pick stuff up.  I’m quite uncomfortable and tired at times.  However, all things considered, I honestly feel much better than I thought I would at this point and am very happy and blessed to feel the baby growing and moving inside me.  I love it when he gets the hiccups.  He is more active in the evening and I love to put my hand on my tummy to enjoy the entertainment, and pray silent “thank you’s” over and over to God as I do.  My husband is starting to forget what it’s like for me NOT to be pregnant……Grace often comments in her dramatic way about how BIG my tummy’s getting, and we are all looking forward to seeing baby Seth.  Actually, I’m DYING to see him.  And sniff him, hold him, cuddle him, feed him, change his tiny diapers, wrap him in blankies, give him baths in the kitchen sink……..oh yes, all of that.  He won’t be out of my arms very much.  Nope.  Won’t share. 

Only 9 weeks until my due date.  And my own birthday, as a matter of fact.

Happy Friday to you!