About Shanda

wife, mom of seven, friend, child of God

victorian christmas

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Shanda

As promised, today I would like to show you the photos that I took at the Madrigal performance on Saturday. The group sang at this old house-turned-museum, which was decorated to the hilt for Christmas. The community had it open for the public to come in and enjoy, free of charge, with a donation box for those who could give a little. There was also a small craft table for children to enjoy, a gift shop with reasonably priced Christmas items for sale, and refreshments.

small table tree, covered in decorations

paper dolls under the tree, artificial fruit bowl, ginger bread man, fruit garland.

This was a cobweb Christmas game. The children would each have their own color yarn to follow and as they went along the string they would come across small gifts to keep.

the main Christmas tree, with examples of gifts all over the floor underneath.

The clothesline was hung in the house at Christmas so that the children could each hang their own pillowcase on it, which would have their name on it and be filled with gifts.

The dining room…I loved the wallpaper in this room.

Garland and bows hung all around the tops of the walls.

I have two fireplace mantles at my house so I love to see examples for how they can be beautified for the holidays.

Now this is something that I could handle….simply placing pinecones along the windows.

The day after we visited the museum Sarah and I went in the woods to find some.

Another lovely mantel. So beautiful. Sarah thought the oranges at the tops of the stockings looked funny.

This was a Christmas idea for Grandmother, called a wonder ball. The family would unwind a ball of yard and then wind it back up again with little gifts inside of it for her to discover as she used it up in her knitting.

This pie plate was full of little gifts which were then covered over in bran. Each person at the table on Christmas day would use the spoon to lift a surprise gift…

This is a variation of the bran pie. This one is covered in paper with strings to pull a gift out through a slit in the paper.

“Festival decorations are not designed for close inspection but for general effect, and simple materials may be used with the most satisfactory results.” Vicks Floral Guild 1879

Sarah and I had time to explore the house and then it was time to listen to the Madrigals sing their lovely old fashioned Christmas hymns and carols.

Grace signing “Silent Night”

The audience had to stand through all the songs and I did feel sorry for the elderly folks. The man standing by the mantel propped himself up by his fingertips on the mantel…..but he loved hearing the children sing and at each invitation from the director to “please join us in singing this song” his beautiful old baritone voice could be heard singing.

Grace and I have been listening to a beautiful Christmas album by Elizabeth Mitchell while we work on a Nativity puzzle. This is the song Grace wants to listen to over and over…….(the whole album is on youtube for you to enjoy)

I’m so homesick for Jesus and Heaven. Isn’t it wonderful that this world is not our home….we’re just a passing through. In the meantime, we can fix our eyes on Him and know He never leaves us alone. He loves us so much. At this time of year it’s comforting to snuggle up close to Him and thank Him for all He has done.

grace wants to show you her dress

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Shanda

She dresses up in this pretty gown for her school singing group.

The Madrigals travel our local towns, singing at Christmas time in centers, malls, clubs, and so on. Today they sang at a beautifully decorated old house, decorated in the Victorian style for Christmastime. Before we left, we crossed the road into the woods for a few portraits.

In my next blog post I will share photos of the house and the performance.

(very inspiring!)

sarah wants to show you her new pants

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Shanda

Aren’t they adorable? As soon as I saw them I had to get them for her. She LOVES big cats.

Praying for all my blog friends today. You are loved.

short and simple

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Shanda

There is snow falling in blog-land!

How are you, my friends? I hope you are well, and if you’re anything like me, not feeling your best and trying to be patient while your medication starts to kick in then I hope and pray for you. Be kind to yourself. If you’re staying at home too much, get out of the house and go shopping. That’s what I did today and it helped tremendously.

Everything is going to be okay.

“Let us always meet each other with a smile, because a smile is the beginning of love.” Mother Theresa

I bought a decorative plate holder and added a vintage yellow fiesta chop plate to the top of my cookbook shelf, right underneath Aunt Colleen’s painting. I like this little spot in my house. I put the stool there yesterday and Sarah promptly sat down to sing to herself and color. While she’s at school, Gentleman Gray sits there and tells me what to do.

He wanted me to put the camera down and pet him.

But I wanted to show you a picture of my new moccasins. Grace and I each got a pair this weekend. They are so comfy and just like wearing slippers. She said with a little laughter, “I love these shoes, why didn’t we get these sooner?”

Dave just got home from school.

“This would make a good picture, Mom.”

My little Christmas tree.

Aunt Amanda and Sarah made this paper chain. I helped a little, too. Every day we tear a chain off until Christmas comes.

the boys

Posted on November 28, 2015 by Shanda

had their hair cut today.

in which we decorate a wild evergreen tree

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Shanda

Last week I went for a walk in the sunshine and noticed a small evergreen tree growing just outside the state forest by the side of the road, not far from our house. I envisioned it decorated for Christmas and what a fun feeling it would be to drive by and see a tree that doesn’t belong to anyone, with holiday ornaments on it. I followed through with this vision and bought some large unbreakable ornaments today. When I got home, I gathered up my four happy youngest children plus their two friends and off we went on a exciting short walk to The Tree. As you can see, we had a nice warm weather day today. Several children were barefoot and Seth was shirtless, too.

I stood on the road to take this picture. I hope that once the snow falls the green ornaments will stand out more. I wonder if anyone will notice this little tree when they drive past? Even if they don’t, it will be a secret pleasure for the children and me.

thank-full heart

Posted on November 26, 2015 by Shanda

“The way to find God’s treasure-house of blessing is to climb the ladder of His divine promises. Those promises are the key that opens the door to the riches of God’s grace and favor.”

“He knows the way I take” Job 23:10

Jacob, Emily, Sarah, and Mitch are sitting on one side of the couch with me, Grace, Rich, and Caleb are on the other side. Ethan is on the loveseat with his legs stretched out, with bare feet. Seth is wearing his Halloween costume, on the floor with a football. The late afternoon football game is on TV.

We were supposed to have my entire family here for the Thanksgiving meal but I had to cancel a few days ago. I haven’t been feeling well (depression) and with my brother Dave’s help, we decided to try for a quieter weekend….the love and understanding of my family did so much to humble and soften my anxious heart.

The thing about low points is that the spirit is more desperate and eager to SEE God, feel Him, know Him, want Him. And he pops up everywhere, like even in the movie Sister Act 2 and Grace’s chorus performance at school, it’s a thrill. He is everything, the only Rock-solid truth and the giver of so many good things.

Like family, doctors, medicine, warmth, a friend when you need one, animals, fresh air, etc……

“The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the give of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”

Grace and Sarah tore up the bread for stuffing.

Jacob and Ethan caught up on mine craft pursuits.

The weather was so nice today. Caleb and Seth played catch a lot.

I did a little reading in the sun with Parker the dog– (too) close.

A favorite place to lay an egg.

Loving kitty at my feet wanting some attention.

Ice from the pond.

Grace and I played yahtzee.

Parker the dog snuggling with Grace.

Rich went for a run at the school with his little ones so I could finish up the meal.

The turkey was perfectly roasted within a Reynolds oven bag.

for reals.

So I bought this plastic silverware at Costco and it turned out to be see through. We are easily amused.

Ethan finally gets to sink into his favorite—-mashed potatoes.

Rich read us a Bible passage and Seth left his place at the table to get up close.

Our thanksgiving pies are on the piano bench. 😉

Jacob went and got his Emily.

watching the football game with Gentleman Gray

Jacob and Emily did a little art.

Grace, Mitch, Ethan, and David

Sarah’s lego creation

I hope you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

God knows, and provides our every need.

{this moment}

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Shanda

{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.

awesome recipe (macaroni and cheese with tomatoes)

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Shanda

(setting the table)

Last night’s dinner was exceptionally miraculous so I thought I better share. I use the word miraculous because even though the dish had tomatoes in it, all seven children still ate it with vigor and healthy appetites. They had nothing but good things to say.

Homemade macaroni and cheese is rather like a circus performance. You have the macaroni that needs to be boiled in salted water for exactly 6 minutes, then you need to find your colander and drain it, all the while stirring the butter, flour, and milk base for the cheese sauce so it doesn’t burn to the bottom of the pan. Cheese must be found in the fridge and grated, six cups. Canned diced tomatoes from the pantry, a can opener, whisk, rubber spatula, wooden spoons, measuring cups and so on…. it’s non stop action until the oven door slams shut, your arms go up in victory, and the baking begins.

IT WAS UTTERLY WORTH IT.

(This is Shanda’s blog so do I have to mention all seven kids running back and forth throughout the kitchen during the juggling act? Every time Dave came near me to tell me something I said, “stir the sauce!”, he was honestly offended by it.)

YUM YUM YUM

I made peas and broccoli as side dishes and the kids gobbled up their veggies, too!

My first of three helpings.

It’s truly satisfying to see your loved ones diving into a good plate of food that you made yourself.

Jacob and Ethan talked nonstop, it was so good to see and hear them together since Jacob has been so busy with college and work and girlfriend.

Caleb and Seth both gave me a thumbs up!

(I don’t have photos of David or Grace. Dave was grumpy because he had his braces tightened yesterday and his teeth were sore, and Grace was grumpy I think because she was exhausted and had a lot of homework to get done. However, this was the perfect comfort meal for both of them, I must say.)

Scarlet fiesta vase with berries from outdoors, and paprika vegetable bowl (now empty!)

Ethan’s eating off a rose plate and drinking ice water from an ivory tumbler.

Sarah ate like a horsey, with multiple servings of macaroni and cheese and her veggies.

recipe here!

this was a good idea

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Shanda

Last night four of our seven children were away. Two of them went to youth group and two of them went to see the movie “The Martian”. Rich and I found ourselves at home with the three youngest ones, and as we worked on putting them to bed I started looking forward to some peace and quiet with my husband watching TV. This thought naturally led to a craving for ice cream but alas, we didn’t have any. As we passed each other on the stairs I may or may not have batted my eyes at him. “Do you want to go downtown and get us some ice cream? You don’t have to, but we don’t have any in the freezer and wouldn’t it be nice…..?”

Although he did make eye contact and listen to my request, he didn’t reply, only sneezed violently. But as I tucked Sarah into bed and gave her a pillowcase with a soft tag, a drink of water, and a hug and kiss, I heard the front door open and shut and he was gone.

I didn’t have the chance to tell him exactly what kind of ice cream I was craving but I wasn’t worried, I assumed he would get a nice half gallon of whatever–cookie dough, maybe.

I tucked myself up into the corner of the couch with a blanket and the TV remote and in no time at all, in he walked with a weather report, “It’s COLD outside!” and his offerings. Bending over the back of the couch, he reached into his shopping bag and handed me……a bunch of bananas…..which I immediately rejected.

But wait, there was more. He next offered……..a container of Ben and Jerry’s, my favorite!

And then, another.

And another.