It has been a busy weekend, preparing for our guests.  I enjoyed cleaning, and adding pretty touches here and there~lighted candles, flowers~freshly washed bedding~and making small repairs that had been put off too long.  Rich arrived home on Friday evening, earlier than I expected, and we had a nice day on Saturday, spending a quiet morning together and working for a few hours on last minute details, around the house.

I took this picture on Thursday, after I noticed small Caleb had fallen asleep while watching a Thomas video.  I thought he looked so peaceful.

Then, on Friday morning, I had to find my camera to take a picture of my little puppies, all piled up together on the couch.  Ethan is the one who is holding Caleb. . . .

It was late Friday afternoon when I got so sleepy, and curled up on the couch to rest.  I asked Grace to watch Caleb for me, on the porch.  After a while, I went outside to check on them, and found Grace giving Caleb a ride on a bike, and talking to him nonstop.  Caleb looked so precious with his baggy gray underpants, and dangling legs.  Grace was sweet, and I was proud of her for taking good care of her brother.  She’s strong, she pushed him around for a while!

Caleb, having a bath in mommy’s big tub, on Friday night. 

Grace Lillian, photos from Friday evening.  She had a new skirt on, which never fully made it into the pictures, I was so attracted by her eyes, and hair, and smile.

Our pretty, happy girl~

My parents came on Saturday morning.  We visited for a little while, and then Dad took the boys to the grocery store so they could return their soda cans (they’ve been collecting them from the sides of the road, taking long walks together).  Mom and I puttered around in the kitchen.  She cleaned out my baking cupboard, and lined the shelf with pretty scrapbooking paper.  We enjoyed the time together, and made a nice corn chowder for lunch, using fresh corn.  Rich grilled some hamburgers for the guys, while mom and I had fresh cucumber sandwiches with our soup.  The porch was so relaxing, we talked and enjoyed the breeze.

Mom and I went downtown after lunch, with Grace.  We visited two antique stores and I bought a wooden crate, a wooden truck with a lid for Jacob, and a flat wooden storage box with a lid for Ethan.  Ethan’s box was divided into compartments on the inside, and he had such fun finding things from outside to put in each one~ feathers, acorns, pinecones, berries.  And, he saved one compartment for C A N D Y.  

After the antique stores, we went into a little French bakery, where Mom and I split a pastry.  Then, we walked down the road to the ice cream stand.  Grace ordered an ice cream float, Mom and I each ordered a small strawberry sundae.  We walked to a small park and ate our ice creams while sitting on a bench, in the shade.

It was special, spending girl time together.  While we were gone from the house, Rich and my Dad took the boys to a driving range to hit golf balls.  When we got back, we found that they had already returned and were back in the rocking chairs again, talking on the porch.

My parents left at 4 and my friend Christie arrived shortly before 6.  We had such a nice time together, it was good to see her again, and her husband and four children.  The kids quickly ran off together and had all sorts of adventures outside.  Christie and I had a good time talking, sitting on the porch, and walking together in the evening. 

They left this morning around 9 or so, the visit was way too short, but very sweet. 

I met Christie when we lived in PA.  We only lived there, in a small townhouse apartment with three preschoolers, for about 8 months, but I was blessed to make a lifelong friend, in her.  God is good, to give us such friendships.

And so now, our busy weekend is over.  It’s Sunday and I’m thinking about rest.  Caleb has a cold, and David is tired out, so I am home from church with them.  I am tired, but it’s a contented tired, a time when, rather than tears, I have a smile on my face, and memories in my heart of a special, lovely weekend with family and dear friends.  I can’t tell you how happy I am, thinking about the fun times we had.  It’s been a perfect weekend.

It’s time for cuddling small boys on a blanket.  Maybe we will do some reading.  It’s time for this Mama to slow down, and have a lazy afternoon.

My God, I thank Thee, who hast made
The earth so bright,
So full of spendour and of joy,
Beauty and light;
So many glorious things are here,
Noble and right.

I thank Thee, too, that Thou hast made
Joy to abound,
So many gentle thoughts and deeds
Circling us round,
That in the darkest spot of earth
Some love is found.

I thank Thee more, that all our joy
Is touched with pain,
That shadows fall on brightest hours,
That thorns remain;
So that earth’s bliss may be our guide,
And not our chain.

For Thou, who knowest, Lord, how soon
Our week heart clings,
Hast given us joys, tender and true,
Yet all with wings,
So that we see, gleaming on high,
Diviner things.

I thank Thee, Lord, that Thou hast kept
The best in store:
We have enough, but not too much
To long for more–
A yearning for a deeper peace
Not known before.

I thank Thee, Lord, that here our souls,
Though amply blest,
Can never find, although they seek,
A perfect rest,
Nor ever shall, until they lean
On Jesus’ breast.

~Adelaide Anne Procter, 1825-64

I hope and pray that all of you dear ones have a blessed Lord’s day, full of sweet rest and peace.

As Caleb called out, while waving, when our friends left this morning, “Bye!  Come back again later!”

Love,  ~Shanda~

Lots of things going on around here, but all typical family moments. 

Rich left today to go to Atlanta, Georgia (for business) so I’ll be missing him.  He will be back, Lord willing, late tomorrow night. 

The children and I went for a walk today and found one more monarch caterpillar.  This brings the total to 10.  One caterpillar has turned into a chrysalis (it happened overnight) and today there is one beginning to spin it’s web to the top of the jar so he can hang down, too.  The rest are eating a lot.

Today Jacob, Ethan, and Grace went to my friend Carolines’s house (who has two children) for their first Art class of the school year.  Our families are paying a tudor to teach them once a week.  Caroline just called and said it went very very well.  I’m thrilled about this opportunity, my children all love Art and this will be one less thing for me to be responsible for.  While the older ones were busy with that, I took the younger ones to the library.

I ordered some homeschool materials today online. . .I ordered their math books and also a bunch of books that we needed,  from half.com.  I also threw away an entire garbage bag full of last years papers and stuff from our homeschool cupboard.  It looks nice and neat and empty again, waiting for the beginning of another year.   I plan on starting school next week, using David’s public school schedule to keep us all on track.

We have also been. . . . . . .

chasing butterflies

making peach jam

swinging on our tire swing

and, playing in mud

Oh yes, a bubble bath and clean clothes were a must after that episode!

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

another quote to encourage us all;

“You demonstrate your love to your child less by presents, than by the mother’s language of love–by caressing words and looks.  Love, in order to appear visibly and undisturbed, should be embodied in nothing but the tender mimicry bestowed by nature itself.  A look, a tone of voice, expresses it immediately; but a gift only by the medium of translation.

“Parents, teach your children how to love, then you will not find it necessary to enforce any ten commandments.  Inculcate love, and your child will have a rich ever-gaining or acquiring life.  Teach how to love now, in this cold world, which is the January of time. . . . teach how to love.”

~Jean Paul Richter

The first thing I thought this morning when I woke up was, “Wow, is it cold!”

At night we have clear skies, full moon, chilly air.  The bright sun in the morning to heat the earth, all reminds me that fall is coming.

The colors outside are more intense.  Several of the children have slight colds.  A couple of trees are showing signs of putting on their fall colors. . . . .

Caleb woke up shivering and I had a contented-mama feeling as I pulled a warm sweatshirt out of his dresser and slipped it on over his head.  And he gives such appreciative big hugs and big kisses. 

The first thing he said to me this morning, “I need to go poo-poo’s”  . . .  made me smile.  ‘Cause I’m a mom.

I also smiled when he said, “I’m thirsty” ~ when I served him his juice, what noise he made!  All the slurps, sighs, smacks, and gulps, nonstop, to the end of the glass.  Then, “uh-oh” when he reached bottom and handed it back.

Also, “I need Thomas” he whispered.  “Go get him then”.  “You carry me.”  “No, I’m not carrying you upstairs, you go get Thomas yourself.”  “Daddy!  Daddy!  Daddy!  Daddy. . . put him on bookcase!!!”  Oh.  He couldn’t reach.  Okay then, up we go to his bedroom.  Smiles, delight.  We have Thomas.

~Just my morning, so far~

I’m wearing my thick warm robe with a pair of Rich’s socks on my feet.  My hot coffee is especially nice on this chilly morning.

The ponds are steaming like big bowls of hot soup, and the sun is bright.  It’s going to be a beautiful day.

(David is up now, bothering Caleb.  Caleb just called my way, in that certain sing-song tattle-tale way, “Mommy!  He’s making me mad!”)

David has such an interest in our new “family members”.  Yes, we have collected, so far, a total of seven monarch caterpillars.  The children found two here at home, and last night in the field by their music building, we found five more in various sizes.  I put them all in a glass jar and it sits on the table.  The jar sits and the children sit to observe.

Yesterday I went out and worked in my itty bitty veggie patch.  There are quite a few weeds and I didn’t even end up planting the whole patch, but my two itty bitty rows of beans actually produced more than I expected.  We munched them raw yesterday and I still have enough for tonight’s dinner.  I know this is laughable to some of you freezers and canners, but it’s something to me!  I think, maybe, my gardens will grow, as my children grow.  Because, then they can help.  Or take it over.  *smile*

Zinnias are so hardy, dependable, solid. . . . .lovable because they aren’t dainty and perishable. . .although those kinds of flowers are special, too. 

Today is Wednesday and I am trying to spread out my housecleaning through to the weekend for our expected houseguests.  My parents are coming on Saturday morning to spend half the day with us, and then my friend Christie is stopping by with her husband and four children, on their way home from Canada.  They plan to spend the night and leave Sunday morning.

The fun never stops!  Neither does the mess.  I content myself with small amounts of beauty in the home, mixed in with the toys, papers, clutter, piles of laundry, dirty kitchen floors, books, and seemingly endless work to do.

A bowl of apples, a few cinnamon sticks, and a candle, all sitting in an evergreen fiesta presentation bowl.  The bowl is sitting on a beige crocheted doily, with bright red trim.

There now, something pretty to look at.

Ethan just woke up and has sleepy eyes.  The first thing he said to me was, “Mom, one of the caterpillars is hanging upside down.”

Rich left for work with love, too, and I stood and waved him down the road.  “I wish you didn’t have to go” said my heart, as I waved with a smile.

All this to say, I love my life, I love my family. . . . .I want to glorify God as I serve them today.  The time spent, meals prepared, cleaning together, laughter shared, hugs, music, tears to dry, prayers offered, candles to light, nature to enjoy, all of it. . . . . . . .the small irritations of the day are nothing compared to these.

This following quote encouraged me this morning, encouraged me to be really sure I am looking into my children’s eyes as they talk to me and share their little stories, encouraged me to take the time to slow down and show them all that mama truly and sincerely cares for them:

“Before you can teach children, you must get the silver key of kindness to unlock their hearts and so secure their attention.  It is of no avail to attempt teaching those who do not love you.  So, try and make them love you, and then they will learn anything from you.”  ~Spurgeon

Love.  The most important ingredient in mothering, and every part of life.

 Good afternoon!

It’s such a nice, relaxing Sunday.  We went to church this morning and are now having a quiet afternoon at home.  Rich is working outside and the children are all playing so I have a few minute to sit and write a little bit about our weekend.

Caleb woke up Saturday morning craving pancakes but had to settle for scrambled eggs.  He walked sleepily into my room, shivering, so I wrapped him in a little quilt.  A cute little man, I just had to give him lots of big hugs.  He likes those.  What a blessing to have a small yawning toddler in my life. . . . . .

I wrote a post a few weeks ago about David learning to scramble eggs.  Well, I’m happy to report he is still practicing his new skill.  It’s so fun to have a five year old who can make his own hot breakfast.

How to keep a three year old out of the way for a few minutes?  Perch him on the bottom end of an upside down garbage can.  The major project of this weekend was painting the garage doors and Rich was up and working at it early Saturday morning.  He is the person Caleb was looking at through the window in the first picture.  The first thing Rich had to do was powerwash the garage doors.  After I got Caleb dressed, he went out to watch for a little while, and then Daddy let him try spraying the water.

In the afternoon, after the doors were dry, the painting began.

The sky has been so brilliantly blue lately, scattered with the whitest, puffiest clouds.  Because of all the rain God has blessed us with this summer, the green things are still fresh and lush.   

Grace has been our gifted painter. . . .and a big help to her Daddy this weekend.

And, here she is again, with her new cat.  His name is Tiger.

After lunch today, I went for a little walk around in the sunshine and forest.  The sound of the stream is always a delight to me, and today a squirrel was scolding me from the tops of the trees.

 A quote that encouraged me today:

“The full flood of my life is not in bodily health, not in external happenings, not in seeing God’s work succeed, but in the perfect understanding of God, and in the communion with Him that Jesus Himself had.  The first thing that will hinder this joy is the captious irritation of thinking out circumstances.  The cares of this world, said Jesus, will choke God’s word.

“Be rightly related to God, find your joy there, and out of you will flow rivers of living water.  Be a center for Jesus Christ to pour living water through.  Stop being self-conscious, stop being a sanctif
ied prig, and live the life hid with Christ.  The life that is rightly related to God is as natural as breathing wherever it goes.  The lives that have been of most blessing to you are those who were unconscious of it.”

–Oswald Chambers

I hope you are all having a blessed Lord’s day.  ~Shanda~

By the end of the day yesterday I felt out of sorts, blah, disjointed, etc.  Rich came home from work and there was still some remaining rays of sun, so out the door I went with my camera, hoping to “find myself” somewhere outside.  I just needed the air to be cleared in my head. . . . .take deep breaths, stretch my legs.  Get away.

The boys were supposed to be walking the dog and I hadn’t gotten too far when he (the dog) tore up behind me.  Jacob and Ethan soon caught up and I eventually started feeling better as I took picture after picture of them having fun in the goldenrod.

It was such a lovely half hour.  The sun was going down, we were on the edge of a big open field.  The boys were having fun and I was soaking in God’s beautiful creation.

Seeing gold all around me . . . .enjoying my boys.

Psalm 96:11-12

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

Let the sea roar, and all it contains;

Let the field exult, and all that is in it.

Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord, for He is coming,

For He is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the earth in righteousness

And the peoples in His faithfulness.”

(“He is coming”. . . .oh, I just can’t wait!!!!)

I asked Rich to take the children out for ice cream last night so I could have some quiet time alone at home, but the boys said pleadingly, “Mom, you’re coming with us to get ice cream, aren’t you?” 

 “It wouldn’t be as fun without you!”

I had to smile.  It felt so nice to be wanted.  So I went.  I’m sure I did not need that small peanut butter cup ice cream cone but it sure was nice to sit around the picnic table at the ice cream place in town with my husband and five happy youngsters.

(we took this picture right before we left to go)

Speaking of GOLD. . .congratulations to American gymnast Nastia Lukin for winning the gold medal in the women’s’ all around competition last night.   Those of you on the east coast also deserve gold if you stayed up to watch the whole thing live.  I believe it was over at about 1:00 am.  I fell asleep on the couch at 9:30, hours before the competition began.  Thankfully, Rich taped it on our computer, so at 6:15 this morning I woke him up by turning it on to see what happened.  He said I was like a little kid on Christmas morning.  I was absolutely thrilled with Nastia’s performance and so proud of her!  All of her routines were breathtaking.  She is coached by her Dad, who was also a gold medal winner in gymnastics so I think their story is extra special.  They both had happy tears in their eyes when they realized she had won.  It was incredible.

Happy Friday!  It looks to be a beautiful day.

“The queen that sits upon the throne of home, crowned and sceptered as none other ever can be, is mother.  Her enthronement is complete, her reign unrivaled, and the moral issues of her empire are eternal.  ‘Her children rise up, and call her blessed.’  Rebellious, at times, as the subjects of her government may be, she rules them with marvelous patience, winning tenderness and undying love.”

“Scotland, with her well-known reverence for motherhood, insists that ‘An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy.'”

“Napoleon cherished a high conception of a mother’s power, and believed that the mothers of the land could shape the destinies of his beloved France.  Hence he said, ‘The great need of France is mothers.'”

“Who can think of the influence that a mother wields in the home, and not be impressed with its far-reaching results?”

“There is one vision that never fades from the soul, and that is the vision of mother and home.”

“John Randolph was once heard to say that only one thing saved him from atheism, and that was the tender remembrance of the hour when a devout mother, kneeling by his side, took his little hand in hers, and taught him to say ‘Our Father, who art in Heaven.'”

“Fathers, mothers, let the home go with your children to Jesus, let it go with them at every step, to cheer them in every struggle, until from the very crest of the cold wave that bears them from you forever, they shout back their joy over a home on earth, that helped them rise to a home in heaven.”

All quotes, H.H. Birkins

“Are you a mother?  Then your position is one of the most favorable on the face of the earth for carrying out this noble principle.  Dignity and power are given to you; responsibility is laid upon you; for you are intrusted with the dependent little immortals.”  ~Christian Treasury

“The queen that sits upon the throne of home, crowned and sceptered as none other ever can be, is mother.  Her enthronement is complete, her reign unrivaled, and the moral issues of her empire are eternal.  ‘Her children rise up, and call her blessed.’  Rebellious, at times, as the subjects of her government may be, she rules them with marvelous patience, winning tenderness and undying love.”

“Scotland, with her well-known reverence for motherhood, insists that ‘An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy.'”

“Napoleon cherished a high conception of a mother’s power, and believed that the mothers of the land could shape the destinies of his beloved France.  Hence he said, ‘The great need of France is mothers.'”

“Who can think of the influence that a mother wields in the home, and not be impressed with its far-reaching results?”

“There is one vision that never fades from the soul, and that is the vision of mother and home.”

“John Randolph was once heard to say that only one thing saved him from atheism, and that was the tender remembrance of the hour when a devout mother, kneeling by his side, took his little hand in hers, and taught him to say ‘Our Father, who art in Heaven.'”

“Fathers, mothers, let the home go with your children to Jesus, let it go with them at every step, to cheer them in every struggle, until from the very crest of the cold wave that bears them from you forever, they shout back their joy over a home on earth, that helped them rise to a home in heaven.”

All quotes, H.H. Birkins

“Are you a mother?  Then your position is one of the most favorable on the face of the earth for carrying out this noble principle.  Dignity and power are given to you; responsibility is laid upon you; for you are intrusted with the dependent little immortals.”  ~Christian Treasury

There is definitely some kind of belly goin’ on. . and not all of it is baby, I’m sure!   

My due date is February 12, and since today is August 13, I have approximately 6 months to go.  I should have posted the pictures yesterday but I didn’t get a chance.

So far this pregnancy has been almost easy in the physical sense.  Sure I have my bouts of queasiness, but only one time was I really sick.  I get very tired if I do too much in a day, but my biggest struggle right now is the bad moods I get in *can I blame the hormones?*.  I get so much more impatient with the kids, mainly all the nonstop talking and questions and issues that arise with them.  There is always so much going on around me and most of the time I’m so tired I just want to curl up on the couch with a blanket and say, “go away and leave me alone!”  Ha!

I was thinking about this last night when I went to bed at 8:30 (!!!I taped the gymnastics, and have no idea right now who won the women’s team comp. so no fair spoiling it for me!!!).  I think I just need to be careful right now not to do too much and to try to be wise about sending the children outside as much as possible to get their energy out.  I need to slow down.  I’m convinced of this because I did a lot yesterday and I ended up a weepy mess at bedtime.  But I had gone out with the kids to several stores in the morning (and I carried Caleb a bit), and then music lessons and the grocery store at night with the five of them, and I had gone on two long walks.  No pregnant woman can match the energy of five healthy children!!  Along with the typical stuff going on in a day (children, unexpected phone calls and even Mr. Inspector came to look at the basement and garage work) it was enough to show me WHY GOD HAS BEEN MAKING ME SO TIRED. . . .I need to take care of myself or I will crash.

So, today I do have several things going on.  Our old neighbors are coming over at 10 this morning to bring us their cat.  See, a couple of years ago we gave them Patches’ brother, Tiger M.  (Patches is our cat that got hit and killed in the road a few months ago).  They have had the cat for 2 years but now have to give it away.  Since we gave him to them, they called us first.  Grace has been begging us for a new cat ever since Patches died so IMO this was an answer to prayer.  Tiger M the cat is coming back and Mrs. L will be here with her 4 children to drop him off.  Her kids are all heartbroken and I’m not looking forward to witnessing the emotional goodbye, poor things.

The other thing going on is that I was “completely shocked” yesterday to have a neighbor up the road call me to invite me and the kids to her house!!!  We have lived here for 2 years and haven’t had anyone invite us over.  We live in the country so we rarely even see anyone but this lady’s granddaughters must have noticed my kids playing outside and begged her to call us so they could play with them.  Lucille (sp?) is her name and she sounded SO nice on the phone.  We are all set to go over there at 1:00 this afternoon to meet her 8 and 12 year old grand daughters and go swimming in their pool.  I can’t believe I might be making a friend!  Lucille even told me that she has an in-law apartment that she made into a scrapbooking studio for herself and her daughters and that I could join them anytime I wanted to.   She babysits her grand daughters and makes them do school work every morning of the summer so she was very interested that I homeschool.  Also, her parents used to own the land that my house is on!

Despite the fact that I have these “dates” with friends, I still plan on taking it easy today so that when Rich comes home I’m not a blubbering mess!  LOL

I have probably written too much this morning.  Thanks for “listening”.  This post was supposed to be just the simple fact that God has brought me through the first three months of pregnancy and I am so grateful.

I’m also grateful for a new cat for Grace.

And grateful for new friends.

And grateful for the energy of my five children, even though I cannot keep up.  LOL

Thanks for the encouragement and prayers!

My niece, Makayla Lynn

Isn’t she a cutie?