About Shanda

wife, mom of seven, friend, child of God

Update from Naples

Posted on April 24, 2007 by Shanda

I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to be here. We are in our room at the resort right now, a gorgeous room with a balcony. We’ve all just come in from a day at the beach. The water is so clear and calm, the kids just play all day long while Rich and I read, walk, or swim with the kids. The weather has been so beautiful.

I finished my book: Anne’s House of Dreams and it was better than I remembered. I’ve probably read it 10 or more times but it’s been a while. . . .I read most of it today with the sound of the ocean as the perfect background noice. Here is a quote for you about friendship:

“‘I am your friend and you are mine, for always,” Anne said. ‘Such a friend as I never had before. I have had many dear and beloved friends–but there is a something in you, Leslie, that I never found in anyone else. You have more to offer me in that rich nature of yours, and I have more to give you than I had in my careless girlhood. We are both women—and friends forever.’ They clasped hands and smiled at each other through the tears that filled the gray eyes and the blue.”

I love my friends and think of friendship as a wonderful gift from God.

Well, Rich and I are taking the kids out to dinner tonight. We’ve all had a light lunch so we would be good and hungry. We are going to a seafood place.

Love from Naples!

“Purpleamethyst”

PS I typed this on Rich’s laptop. I couldn’t resist asking him if I could spend some time checking up on things here in xanga-land! Also, we decided not to go to Disney. I took the kids to the zoo yesterday and they did not like walking around in the heat.

Posted on April 21, 2007 by Shanda

Jump
for
Joy!

Laugh
Shout
Squeal!

It’s time!
It’s time!
For our VACATION!

Happy Happy Happy
is how we feel!

Laughter is an instant vacation. ~Milton Berle

We’re leaving in a few hours. . . .will you miss me?. . .and won’t be back until next weekend.

I’ll miss you guys! Have a wonderful week and I’ll catch up with all your sites when I return. In His Love, “Purpleamethyst76”

One of my favorite verses: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask Him? Matthew 7:11

Where we Live:

Posted on April 20, 2007 by Shanda

(I took this picture on Monday when we had all that rain, I was standing on the access road for the State Land that our land borders)

Home, the spot of earth supremely blest,
A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.
~Robert Montgomery

The history of our homes:

1. 3 bedroom ranch–our first home in NY
2. Apartment in Albany, NY
3. rented Townhouse in Seven Fields, PA
4. Apartment in CT
5. 3 bedroom cape in town in CT

Then, last July we found this house in the country here in CT. Hubby and I were tired of living in town with neighbors all around us. It was a little difficult for us to feel at home in a neighborhood setting because we are both from the country. But, the biggest reason is because of our children. We felt a need to live in a house with a big yard, with enough room for the children to roam around and have adventures. We started our search by looking for land in order to build. But then, Husband saw this house in a “for sale by owner” booklet–the ones you pick up in gas stations. He went and looked at it by himself and LOVED it. Then he took me and I loved it too, but because it was a 1/2 hour drive to church I said, “NO”. To make a long story short, God changed my heart and I came to my senses! We moved in and ever since I’ve been pinching myself to make sure it is not a dream. We have 3.8 acres of our own land, with 2 ponds and a stream. Not only that but we border state land. There is a big field nearby in the state land with an access road and trails so we can walk and hike. It is beautiful here. You know that song, “Showers of Blessing”. . .the Lord truly showered us with this dream place. So much so that I say, “Stop Lord! I don’t deserve this, I don’t want anything else!”

I cannot tell you the tears of happiness I have had in my eyes since moving here. It makes me so happy to see the kids come back in the house, dirty and loud, after hours of exploration and play. . .with wide awake happy eyes and lots to tell me. We’ve seen snakes, turtles, all kinds of birds, they caught a tiny mouse once (her name was Lydia), one of my sons managed to catch a mole once and it went right down the back of his coat.

I hope and pray that we are able to raise our children here and use our home to encourage others. We don’t ever want to move again, that’s how happy we are! I love going outside with my camera and the pictures I put on my blog are ones that I’ve taken here at home.

Anyway, to God be all the glory!

This is a picture I took yesterday of little one picking up a rock to throw in the pond:

And the sun is shining! Trott was in a sunbeam and when Son woke up this morning,he stumbled his way over to join him:

My boy and his dog. Yet another blessing!

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

More pictures (updated this afternoon):

Today’s catch! Tadpoles, a frog, and a turtle from the pond.

just a very small part of an extremely crazy and busy day

Posted on April 18, 2007 by Shanda

Do you want to see his eyes?

While the 3 older kids were doing school, I took the little boys outside.

There they are!

a very wet plant/lost hindquarters/dinner review

Posted on April 17, 2007 by Shanda

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read and all the friends I want to see. ~John Burroughs

someone I noticed on my walk today, it looks like this plant is covered in ice, but it’s actually water droplets!

Is this not the wettest plant? I bet if I wrung it out I would get a glass of water!

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

I just had to laugh when I saw this on my rug:

Poor Bessie and her lost hind quarters

Dinner Reviews:

I made a new dinner tonight. It was a rice, broccoli, and chicken casserole. Here is what the family had to say about it:

“It was a little good and a little bad. It was medium. Actually, Mom? It was disgusting.”

“It was good. Make it again!”

“Well, you know I don’t like broccoli, Mom. So. . .next time you make it would you leave it out?”

“It’s great! Don’t change a thing!”

Me: ???!!!!!!!?????!!!!!!???

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

Well, I’m on my way to bed with some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream!

Good night!

strange but true

Posted on April 14, 2007 by Shanda

We all went for a walk this evening and when 10 year old noticed that his little brother had a rock in his hand, he took it and said, “Can I see your rock?” To our surprise, he proceeded to smell it with an audible and quick “sniff, sniff, sniff”. Then he sighed and said, “Nope. . .oh well” as he tossed it back. He then explained to us,

“I like the smell of certain rocks. . . and gasoline.”

I just asked Husband to read this and he said that the gasoline part was a little wierd, but wouldn’t let me delete because, “I don’t believe in that. Once you put something down in your blog it should be there forever.”

Okay then!

PS. Don’t worry. Our son does not have a problem with sniffing gasoline!

Posted on April 13, 2007 by Shanda

Waiting. . . .

Posted on April 11, 2007 by Shanda

Happy 1st Birthday

happy boys!

Posted on April 10, 2007 by Shanda

Posted on April 7, 2007 by Shanda

Happy Easter!

He is not here; for He is risen-Matthew 28:6

He lives!
He lives!
Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me
and talks with me
along life’s narrow way.
He lives,
He lives,
salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart!
~A. Ackley

Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection,
not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.
Martin Luther