See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
In church on Sunday Seth walked past his seated siblings in the pew to get to me. He had his fidget spinner in his hand and looked at me with intense eyes. “Will you put this in your purse Mom, or I’m going to play with it,” he confessed. I gave him a little hug, “You can fidget for now, Seth! Really, it’s okay!” and he went back to his place, Sarah and Caleb between us.
I thought about how easy it was to say “it’s okay” this time instead of “give me that!” and how it softened my own heart as well as his. I know it softened his because very soon he came back and sat himself between me and his sister, snuggling up close to me with his small hands holding the spinner. Eventually during the sermon the fidget spinner did end up in my purse, but even that was okay, because Seth knew that sometimes it’s okay to spin and sometimes it’s not okay to spin, but his Mom loved him and understood his thoughts and ways. He knew he was a good boy.
We listened to his Dad preach and I thanked God over and over for the small son next to me, leaning into me, playing with my hair, my hands, the rings on my fingers. I scribbled sermon notes on a piece of paper and meanwhile Seth was thinking about Mama and wondering and thinking thoughts so he leaned over and whispered, “Are you going to be sad when we’re all grown up?” and I looked at him and nodded a sincere “yes”.
He smiled as he sat back in his seat because it reinforced what he knew was true, “My mom loves me.”
I want to shout it from the rooftops:
BEING A MOM HAS BEEN THE MOST WONDERFUL BECAUSE the CHILDREN HAVE BEEN THE MOST WONDERFUL.
It’s not so much that I myself am a “good mom”, it’s that I know children are gifts from above and I have deep appreciation for the opportunity to love and be loved by them. Wow, what a blessing. So often I have this in mind as I bend down to hug, or reach over to pat any one of my children next to me in the front seat of the car.
WHY DID GOD GIVE me CHILDREN?
One of the reasons is, not only that they need me, but BECAUSE HE KNEW I NEEDED THEM. They, without even knowing it, have served and ministered to my heart in countless ways.
I need their love, I need their childlike wonder to show me what really matters.
We all do….teachers, bus drivers, coaches, aunts, uncles, dads; we are all enriched by the little people in our worlds. We can learn so much from them.
****
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.
He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
And he took the children in his arms,
placed his hands on them and blessed them
“Real love creates a generous openness. Have you ever been so caught up in something that you just had to share it? When you are walking alone in the woods, something takes your breath away–a sunset, a waterfall, the simple song of a bird–and you think, ‘If only my beloved were here’. The best things in life were meant to be shared.” The Sacred Romance, by John Eldredge
I do so love to share life with you here. We had a full and happy weekend and I know you did, too. Isn’t it grand? Air to breath, faces to smile, good food to enjoy, family, friends, sports, hometown plays, children, grown ups, secrets?
beautiful things don’t ask for attention
open your eyes and notice (be on the look out!)
often life brings me to tears
lovely things are silent
Lovely things are silent…. Rosebuds waxing bloom, Shadows stealing softly In a darkened room; Dragonflies on rushes, Stars in dark blue skies; Hatching, fuzzy birdlets, Love in sweethearts’ eyes.
Lovely things are silent. . . Rainbows in the sky, Violets shedding fragrance, A soft breeze waltzing by; An apple tree in blossom, Sunsets all aglow; Moonlight on the water, Falling soft white snow.
Lovely things are silent. . . Foam clouds in the sky, Hummingbirds at flowers, Butterflies gliding by, A spider’s dainty spinning, Wild flowers on a hill. I bow my head in silence And in my heart I’m still. ~Betty Fox Solberg
It’s 44 degrees at our place this morning and there is a cheerful fire going in our wood pellet stove. I’m still in my comfortable clothes, with thick socks and slippers on, too. Jacob is getting ready for college and work, our chocolate lab is snoring at my feet. Cat snoozing on the windowsill behind me. The house is quiet and peaceful.
Outside purple and white violets are still in bloom. Some of our town has lilacs open, but mine are not flowered yet. I worry about the trees because last year’s gypsy moth eggs have hatched, there are tiny baby caterpillars everywhere. Baby turtles were found on the bank of the pond this weekend, a miracle in miniature.
‘Tis the season of shivering as we watch our boys play little league baseball.
My husband preached yesterday in church. The whole service did something to my heart; softened it. Love was in the air.
Our daughter Grace is a senior in High school. There is nervousness in the family because we know “last times” are happening and happening fast. In the fall, our three oldest children will be going away to college.
This weekend was “the last school drama production”. I cried and so did she. Oh how she has loved being part of it all. . . .
Grandma and Grandpa came to watch her. We had time for a ramble in the woods and a trip to town, too. Ice cream cones, laughter, games of catch for the boys.
* * * *
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory.”
“. . . .this happened (life itself?) so that the work of God might be displayed.”
girls visiting before getting ready for the play on Saturday; Brittany and Grace
our family pianist
Grandma’s here!
my mom, my friend
we enjoy the same things; home decorating, kitchen life, family, and nature, birding. . .
I ran the baby turtle back to the house to show the children. A wonder and a marvel.
thick grapevine growing up and into a tree
marsh marigold, ferns growing
crossing the stream with a handful of apple blossoms
garden flowers
granddaughter and her grandma
the brothers were practicing baseball and grandpa couldn’t resist joining in
I think ofttimes as the night draws nigh Of an old house on the hill, Of a yard all wide and blossom-starred Where children played at will. ~Author Unknown
coffeeshop
street bench
little lady with her grandpa, eating chocolate
ice cream
Grace’s last high school drama production: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
dancing in the middle of the stage with the boy in white shirt
“Old bamboo” number
scene at the beach song and dance
very old inventors “The Roses of Success” song and dance (Grace is in the middle)
teamwork song (second to end, next to her friend Jenna)
“The Bombie Samba”
final bows
finale
a touching tribute to their beloved director, as this was her last musical
after the show on Saturday night
lots of hugs
with her proud Grandpa and Dad
after the show on Sunday
many tears were shed
Dad with his precious daughter; we are so proud of you, Grace.
Happy Monday friends!
thankful for:
friendship
love notes on the counter from an older brother
little hands touching my hair
questions from curious minds
my husband’s embrace
my husband going to the gas station to get me cream for my coffee this morning
a caring school nurse calling to tell me Sarah has a sore throat
purring cats
warmth inside when outside is shivery
guitar clips via text from Ethan, who is coming home this week
the start of a fresh new week; may God bless us everyone!
“And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water.” Isaiah 35:7
{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
American Goldfinch; in the trees at the dam by the stream
Eastern Phoebe; wire fence by stream
Black and White Warbler; high in treetops
Ovenbird; in the woods (next pic shows the stripes on the top):
Tufted Titmouse; tree by my house
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher; bushes by the driveway (first sighting) It’s a small and very pretty bird.
Sparrow; very common, however I loved him because he threw and stiffened his whole body into his singing.
It takes a powerful amount of energy to be a song bird.
This bird was in the woods this morning, I identified it as a Veery using the Merlin ID app on my phone.
Chipmunk frozen in fear in the woods because he saw me.
Warbling Vireo; bushes on the edge of the field
(not positive about the identification)
Catbird; I love the way they sing
This unidentified hawk (?) made several passes over us all (myself and the little birds) which put a damper on things because he (I’m sure) likes eating little birds. But maybe he was looking for mice?
Common Yellowthroat; isn’t it’s black mask and yellow bib pretty?
I think this is a Female Eastern Towhee but it was difficult to get a photo. It was on the ground the whole time, scratching into the leaves finding food. As soon as I found it in the camera frame it would hop out of it again. The bird book shows a female looking like this with a white breast (which this one may have but I couldn’t see it). A male Towhee was singing up in the branches which also led me to believe it was it’s mate.
Male Eastern Towhee
Mallard Duck; I sat on a boulder with him in the distance but close enough that I could still hear him quacking now and then. Very companionable.
Cardinal; isn’t it pretty with all the gray background and spots of red buds?
Apple blossoms
and Marsh Marigolds
The gypsy moth egg casings are hatching out which means that there are tiny caterpillars EVERYWHERE, it’s rather like a plague. It’s a nature phenomena that I have never seen before in the 10 years we’ve lived here. WAY too many. So I’m hoping that all the birds (and chipmunk) photographed in this blog post like to eat them.
I brought home a branch of apple blossoms and put them in a blue vase by the sink. I picked some white and purple violets, too.
Time to be, time to dream, time to do nothing but wander in outside, free, in nature.
It’s invaluable for young and old.
Doesn’t the red winged black bird remind you of an English Guard?
There is beauty abundant in each ordinary day……and it often stops me in my tracks.
Tom the Turkey.
We wanted to see a Tom with his feathers all fluffed out but it didn’t happen during my visit at Mom and Dad’s until I was on the highway leaving Albany and I saw one on the side of the road with a hen.
*****
“Then there were long, lazy summer afternoons when there was nothing to do but read. And dream. And watch the town go by to supper. I think that is why our great men and women so often have sprung from small towns, or villages. They have had time to dream in their adolescence. No cars to catch, no matinees, no city streets, none of the teeming, empty, energy-consuming occupations of the city child. Little that is competitive, much that is unconsciously absorbed at the most impressionable period, long evenings for reading, long afternoons in the fields or woods.” Edna Ferber
Today is a “catch up day” on the ol’ blog of all the photos I want to share from the last week and a half. I have 46 photos in this post. Life is good, full, beautiful, cherished.
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” — Willie Nelson
I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 1:9
Mom, as she always does, made homemade meals when I was visiting; soup on Friday.
pumpkin bread on Friday evening; I grated the nutmeg and ground the cloves.
pizza on Saturday night
with homemade sauce preserved last fall from her own garden tomatoes
It was so good I was almost crying as I ate it. Tears of joy and of sadness because I can’t make pizza like she does and I have been trying for years. Mostly joy though, I ate three pieces.
She showed me how to make breadsticks using leftover pizza dough. She divided it into pieces and we rolled it out thin (like a snake), drizzled lightly with olive oil, and then twisted it and pressed it through a sprinkling of spice mix of mom’s own choosing on the counter. I remember smoked paprika, fennel, sesame seeds, pepper, poppy seeds. We put them on a cookie sheet to bake and they ended up delicious and fragrant. The next day Mom and I each took one and used it as croutons on salad by crumbling it on top of the greens.
I went with Dad to his drumming lessons with Kubla the dog.
And for several walks with my parents.
And a nice long walk by myself on a sunny Sunday.
Sunday morning we woke up to frost and a pileated woodpecker! God knew what would get us outdoors in that kind of weather…Mom and I quickly pulled on our coats and boots and had a lovely walk before church, birdwatching. In fact, come to think of it, I do have more photos of that morning but they are on another memory card so I’ll have to share those maybe tomorrow, if ever.
It was a thrill to see the pileated woodpecker; they are the largest woodpeckers in our area and so pretty with the red hat on top.
Mom and Dad’s cat Asian.
Mom’s vegetables started at the window. She uses cut down milk cartons to transplant the tomato seedlings into as they grow bigger.
Dad keeps busy doing wood and keeping the fire going. Even this is picturesque with the wood sheds and rock path, wood smoke, forest in the background, and Dad in his pop of orange.
Sunday afternoon was fun. The frost had melted and the temperature had risen enough to make being outdoors the very best place to be. We worked in the flower bed by the driveway. Mom has a “Rusty Garden” with a collection of old rusty things that she uses as decoration. It’s a fun theme. We took everything out and threw it behind us on the grass.
You can see the different objects she has, most of which came from her Dad’s farm and land years ago before they sold the property.
We cleaned up the edge of the bed and thoughtfully replaced everything in new spots. By the end of summer the plants will fill in among the decorations and be so pretty.
Back at my own home; last week was The Week of the New Lens. The first day it came it was raining outside. (sobs) But then the weather cooperated and I was able to try it out. (cheers)
I was quite far away from these birds and I am thrilled with the photos.
Baltimore Oriole! I stood and listened to it’s beautiful voice before I finally saw it. It was hard to take a photo through all the tree branches–my camera didn’t know what to focus on.
It’s too bad that the roof of the car was in the way but nonetheless, I was so happy to get this photo of a female cardinal and her mate. In my peach tree.
And then on Friday there were four ducks on the pond! I sat on the bench and snapped bout 50 pictures with perfect ease. 🙂
I texted Rich “this lens is awesome!”
He texted back, “I love you, too.”
It’s so funny when they go “bottoms up”.
quacking!
Rich was on a business trip and sent me this selfie! 🙂
Thursday was “take your child to work day” and Seth was the chosen child this year. He went to work wearing clothes just like his Dad wears and with his hair slicked back all handsome. By bedtime he was asking/begging me (and not Dad) to tuck him in and I understood he had had a huge dose of Dad that day. His little love tank was full to overflowing.
Which leaves us with photos from Saturday; Little League Opening Day! It was hot and bright all day long. I went to Home Depot before the game and to my sister’s house. I picked up Naomi and Weston so they could watch the games, too.
The photo of Seth is from the National Anthem. Rich took it with my new lens.
Caleb at bat.
I was sitting on the bleachers!!! So happy with my camera!
After making a double play!
This boy is very verbal and keeps his attention on EVERYTHING, encouraging his teammates and getting them ready and watching for the next plays. He gets VERY into the game, even at home it’s all about baseball with this boy now.
(By the way, he’s a Yankees fan) LOL
I’m going to get him that black stuff that you smudge on your cheeks.
POOR SETH!!!!!!!! He gets TERRIBLE allergic reaction to the dust; his eyes were so red and swollen by the end of the day. Bless his heart. I’m giving him allergy medicine and eye drops now. He’s a good ball player, too, and got to pitch for a few innings.
And that dumb string was dangling all day long. I never did get close enough to tell him to put in inside his pants where it belonged. 🙂
Isn’t he so cute!?!?!
Last, but not least; DAVE! He is 14 and on Juniors this year. He’s known for his speed around the bases, he runs around them just as fast as his dad did when he played. He’s like the Flash (his favorite show on TV).
LOOK at that face of intensity!
I’m so proud of my baseball players. There is practice and/or a game every evening but it’s all worth it. We get outdoors, talk to friends, and watch our boys do great things. In every game there are impressive catches, scores, etc. The moms laugh and try to keep track of everything. Even when the team loses it’s fun simply because they are working together and learning so much. Pastor says baseball is a spiritual sport because “you’re trying to get home”.
ALSO: in pond news: the toads came and mated and then left again (leaving their long strings of eggs behind to hatch and grow on their own)
I had a moment of peace on Saturday evening down by the pond with the toads.
Well, part of the reason why I went to Mom and Dads was to help Mom out with some spring cleaning. We ate eggs and the homemade pumpkin bread that we had made the night before for breakfast and made a list of what our Saturday would entail. Could we do it all?
We cleaned for hours and hours and then when we decided we had done enough we headed out to visit some of our favorite places and one new place. Dad had plans with Uncle Brian so it was ::girl time::. (whenever Sarah and I end up alone we sing to each other “GIRL TIME” and give high fives.)
(“vintage” grocery store, LOL) Just like when I was a little, it was so small! Why are grocery stores so big these days is what I want to know.
Perry’s ice cream is the best because it’s what I grew up on.
Perfect way to end the day.
It was A-MAZE-ING how much we accomplished!
*****
Things I bought, in their new home:
Over the master bed I’ve been collecting flower prints that I love. The second one from the right is the one I purchased with mom for only 8 dollars. It’s an old framed print of Irises.
wire egg holder shaped like a pig! Perfect for me in many ways. 5 dollars
(filled with eggs from my flock)
Mom had told me once that her Grandma suggested brown glass bottles for rooting plants. So I bought this old one with the paper label charmingly almost gone for 6 dollars. She sent me home with a begonia stem to root. It’s on my kitchen windowsill and I can’t wait to see the roots start to grow.
Striped fiesta round platter (bigger than a dinner plate)
Fiesta salt and pepper shakers, and a small souvenir plate from the factory. I can’t remember the exact prices of the fiestaware but it was very good because it was half off.
Last but not least, all that cleaning inspired me to come home and clean my own house. I’ve been itching to deep clean the pantry (one of my favorite little rooms) and I tackled it this morning. I wiped down all the shelving with yummy smelling Method cleaner, pulled the freezer away from the wall and cleaned the filthy floor under it, washed the dusty windows, and rearranged the foods and other items on the shelves.
I wiped down the glass doors on the hutch and moved it away from the wall, too.
You know that feeling when you clean one room spotlessly and then realize how messy every other room in your house feels? That’s the feeling I have now, but Jacob told me to get over it because it’s not a very nice one. And the house is clean enough. 😉
I hit the road Friday morning and drove to my parent’s house to spend a long weekend. Although I felt a little sad leaving all the children home with Rich, I knew that it was important for me to get away for a *body mind and soul* rest away from the endless rewarding yet sometimes quite stressful jobs of parent and housekeeper.
A retreat to Mom and Dad’s house was just the place of peace and relaxation for me.
***
We had a chilly but invigorating walk on Saturday morning. But before we went up the road, Mom and I put on our necessary rubber boots and meandered about the gardens to see what was coming up.
Mom has extensive flower beds; she absolutely LOVES gardening and has over 45 years of experience growing things. She knows where everything is and where everything came from and delights in the many surprises gardening holds, too. Volunteer plants show up all over the place. She knows when she weeds she has to be careful, but not too terribly careful, because then in one of those fun surprises, the flowers will transplant down the bank where she throws the weeds. And that’s a smile just waiting to happen.
pink and salmon hyacinths
The only one we saw.
(I have a small patch of them in my garden, too; does anyone know the name? I forgot.)
Daffodils
Aunt Rita started planting them here years and years ago and Mom continues. Daffodils are very obliging when it comes to multiplying each year.
“I hope to have them go all the way down the stone fence eventually!”
darling mini daffies
Mom planted Tasha Tudor foxgloves by the house but now they’re gone; they reappeared at the edge of the woods.
I gave her the seeds from Tasha Tudors website years ago when Tasha was still alive. She also has a signed print from “The Secret Garden”. We are fans.
There are things all over the place in the beds to make things interesting. For example, this roundish rock has been in the garden in various locations since I was a kid. Her brother Chris (they were less than one year apart in age) found it on the farm and asked her if she wanted it. We call it the Fred Flintstone bowling ball and mom believes that perhaps the groves were made so that Indians could crack Hickory nuts in them (you can see the tool marks on the rock).
Besides the flower gardens, Mom and Dad work on a big rustically fenced vegetable garden and maintain trails through the wild blueberry patch and into the woods. There is a crick, mature trees and forest, wildlife abundant, places for summertime campfires, benches, and healthy moist lawn perfect for barefeet. In my opinion, all of their well-tended 16 acres could be featured in any issue of Country Living magazine.
After the garden tour we headed up the road together to take ourselves and the dog for a walk.
Uncle Brian and his dogs were out; we stopped for a chat. He had recently seen two big Tom turkeys both trying to impress a hen in all their feathered glory. We told him he should have had a camera and he said he had enough to keep his hands full with the dogs.
He and Dad do a lot together throughout the week working in the woodlot.
The land on both sides of the road used to belong to Mom’s parents. It’s old farmland. Much of it is still in the family; the parts than aren’t still feel like “ours” deep down inside. It’s quiet and peaceful here; hardly a car goes by and you can’t even hear the sounds of distant traffic, only nature and maybe some of the far away neighbors target practicing.
This day was cloudy and overcast but the sky made all the photos beautiful.
When we arrived back home we had some visitors.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.” –Robert Louis Stevenson
We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves. ~Henry Ward Beecher
Who loves a garden still his Eden keeps; Perennial pleasures plants, and wholesome harvest reaps. ~A. Bronson Alcott, “The Garden,” Tablets, 1868
I hope blogger soulemama doesn’t mind! She was the original mastermind behind these posts and a whole bunch of us were following along and had great fun. Alas, she discontinued her “this moment” Friday posts a while back now. However, I missed the opportunity and the fun it was to be on the look out for that “something sweet” to photograph and put on the blog~with no words. She intended it for sharing so I don’t think she’ll mind if I once again take advantage of her generosity, so without further ado;
{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Good to be Home 
