animals, brownies, & liberty fabric

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Shanda

Ideally, my blog posts should be nicely organized by single topics. But I have all these pictures that I’m anxious to share, plus a brownie recipe, so we will have a post devoted to three topics today:

Animals
Brownies
Liberty Fabric

It would be a crime NOT to have chickens on this property. Every morning, I let them out of their coop and the entire flock spends the day making rounds to all their favorite places; the pond, the nice dry leaves under the trees, soft dirt in order to take dust baths, under the wild berry bushes, the bank behind the house.

Whenever the urge to lay an egg happens to a hen, she makes her way back to the coop for a nesting box or the garbage barrel. Sometimes there are a few eggs in the box when a chicken arrives, and I find them kicked out later on…..at least I imagine that must be how they end up on the floor amongst the wood shavings?

I’m happy to gather the eggs in my shirt, some of them still warm, and bring them back to the kitchen like treasures.

Gentleman Gray took an all-day nap in the sock basket. He dreamed he was back in his litter, curled up with his brothers and sisters.

Sherlock the big and handsome bright orange cat, sleeps on my bed all day.

Ethan with his dog. Or shall I say Dog with his Ethan?

Emily our neighbor friend, with her big beautiful boy dog, Benji. Benji comes for playdates with Parker.

The day after playdates always leaves Parker and me kinda tired. So we took naps on the couch yesterday when everyone was back to school. (they had the day off on Wednesday).

So, what to do with all those delightful eggs? The #1 thing to do is make a big batch of brownies.

2 cups vegetable oil
3 1/2 cups sugar
4 tsp vanilla
8 eggs
2 cups flour
1 1/3 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Blend oil, sugar and vanilla, then add eggs and mix well. Add dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Pour into a greased 11 by 13 inch pan and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. All brownies are best slightly under baked.

I first fell in love with Liberty Fabrics after seeing the blog Posie Gets Cozy. The lady on that blog (Alicia) has made so many beautiful things with that fabric line and I only dreamed of doing the same. Alas, that dream has still not come to fruition, because I did not MAKE Sarah’s little blouse, I bought it on super-duper clearance and I was so happy to do so!

It’s thin and light and perfect for her because she gets too hot at school sometimes. It makes a nice layering piece and it’s so pretty.

Yes, I have a lot of fun with my little girl. Rich teases me.

We think the kitten is saying “help me”.

today, I will be grateful

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Shanda

Reading to the kids…always and forever because maybe by the time my own children don’t want a story read, I’ll be a grandma.

Ethan sick and snuggling with his dog.

Thankfully this was taken by my husband last week and no one is sick anymore.

I found Sarah measuring her doll just like I measure her.

She loved playing with the new Madeline dollhouse….for hours.

We finished up with football season this weekend. Our boys are superstars.

Rich made me leave the house and go on a date. 😉

I found perfect fitting flare jeans at GAP.

I read this book and recommended it on the blog years ago. I just picked it up and read it again. It’s called The Light on the Island, by Helene Gliddon and was just as good the second time around. Helene was the seventh born of 13 children and spent the majority of her growing up years with her family on an island. Her parents were the lighthouse keepers.

She wrote about the trees and animals that the children loved and visited, and I took a picture of the description of Puffy the toad to send to my friend Joanna.

I want a pet toad, too. But in the meantime, I’m going to adopt a tree for my very own. We have a lot of trees. Did you know it’s very comforting to hug a nice solid tree? There’s life inside of it that seems to refresh a person….trees are such nice plant-companions. With all the appeal of electronics inside, I never want to forsake good old nature, or have my children miss out on the wonders that are outdoors.

Grace’s embroidery.

Right before I got off my butt and cleaned off the coffee table.

Oh, wait, I think it was Ethan who got off his butt because I told him to.

This evening I am making pasta for dinner and taking 13 year old David for a check up at 5:30. I was supposed to take him at 10 this morning but somehow missed the reminder call. They had to call me to tell me I missed it. Thankfully, the Doc allowed me to bring him later and not have to pay the missed-appointment fee.

Tomorrow Caleb has an appointment at 8:30 in the morning and then Sarah at 3:45.

The appointment for Sarah is in regards to a surgery she has to have soon.

I had some anxiety this morning but after praying and working on cleaning, writing snail mail and watching TV with Michael, I took a 2 hour nap which helped a great deal.

Happy Monday, friends! tell me all your happenings.

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumblebee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” Ashley Smith

sweet and simple sixteenth birthday at home

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Shanda

My daughters are reading these books: Emily Climbs by L.M. Montgomery, and Lucy Steps Through the Wardrobe. Good, wholesome, soul-full, beautiful books. There’s nothing like pre-internet literature, in my opinion.

As I mentioned yesterday, dear daughter Grace turned 16.

She’s a confident, takes -her- responsibilities -seriously, friend -to -all type of young woman.

She gets ideas and she follows through.

Last week she came home and told me she taught an elective (one time) class with another teacher and she enjoyed it. The kids who signed up for the class enjoyed it, too.

She might be a teacher one day, and if she is….she’ll be a great one.

She’s working on ASL fluency. She has so many ideas about that, too.

I have this photo of her when she was seven.

Larissa delivered the cakes yesterday and helped get the room ready for a simple family dinner and cake night.

Grace requested shrimp scampi for dinner. Costco sells it frozen, and it’s very easy to prepare. While the noodles are boiling, all you need to do is dump the scampi in another skillet and heat.

We also had fresh fruit (grapes, raspberries, blackberries), a dish of diced tomatoes as a topper to the pasta for those who wished, and broccoli. There was apple cider to drink.

While I was busy getting the last things on the table, I found Caleb giving his sister a hug.

We had an early dinner because Seth and Caleb had football practice. So we ate and then let Grace open her bag of gifts.

There was an uproar about finding the football gear but I finally got out the door with the boys…only to discover once we got to the field that Seth had forgotten his helmet and Caleb didn’t have practice, he had a movie night with the team at the Coach’s house.

On the way back home I listened to the radio.

Rich came home and we had some snuggle time on the couch until he went to pick up the boys.

8pm — delicious cake and ice cream to celebrate our beautiful Grace Lillian.

She was born around 3 a.m. in the morning. She was the first labor and delivery I smiled through, thanks to a first-time epidural.

Our precious baby daughter had arrived, after two boys. Oh how fun it was to dress her up in little girl clothes and to see her brothers fall in love with their tiny sister. She was 5 pounds and 13 ounces when she was born….my smallest baby.

We have had 16 blessed years with our girl and we are forever grateful for the opportunity to raise her and love her.

There is no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day. ~Alexander Woollcott

To finish the moment, to find the journey’s end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Jacob and Emily weren’t able to join us for cake because they were working.

(individual ice cream cups made serving so much easier)

waving the smoke away

The cake had raspberry filling.

(If you’re reading this an you’re a local friend please stop by for a piece of cake. There is a lot left over.)

Rich and his daughter have a date planned to go and get her set up with her first bow. It’s what she has wanted for a long time now. She will add “archery” to her list of accomplishments very soon.

Be deeply satisfied and ready for more. ~Abraham–Hicks

when I taste your goodness, I shall not want

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Shanda

“Though the fig tree may not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines;
though the labor of the olive may fail,
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock be cut off from the fold,
and there be no herd in the stalls–
yet I will rejoice in my Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
Habakkuk 3:17-18

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-6

“Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.” John 14:27

“But now, this is what the Lord says…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

“….Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

“Tell everyone who is discouraged, Be strong and don’t be afraid! God is coming to your rescue.” Isaiah 35:4

“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Mark 4:39 (He does this to the storms in our souls, too)

Unless the Lord has judged our fears to be a great evil, He would not so often have forbidden them, or have prepared such a heavenly quietus for them. Charles Spurgeon

“Permit me to say there is nothing in the Bible to make any man fear who puts his trust in Jesus. Nothing in the Bible did I say? There is nothing in heaven, nothing on earth, nothing in hell, that need make you fear who trust in Jesus.” Spurgeon

“The Lord may be very close to thee, dear child, when thou canst not see Him, perhaps closer than ever he was when thou couldst see Him. The presence of God is not to be measured by the realization of it.” Spurgeon

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, the weapons we fight with have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

******

You see, dear friends, I have a daily struggle with anxiety and have very unwisely held on to fears and allowed them to grow. I have allowed exhaustion to grow, too, until life itself seemed too much to bear. And indeed, it was too much to bear. How very thankful I am for Mother, who called me during her work day to simply listen to me cry and cry and talk it all out, and the wisdom she spoke to me. “You’re exhausted. You need to rest. Don’t do anything during your free times but rest. And then when quiet time is over, get up and bake something for your family.”

I am ashamed of my weakness when I think of many others in the past and present that have a life much more difficult than mine. But the truth is, God is almost certainly going to gently allow EACH ONE OF US to sink to our lowest, our breaking point, to show us the comfort and delights to be found in Himself. No matter what your life situation, there will be times of difficulty, and if you are a believer and a lover of Jesus, it is during those times when you will find yourself on your knees and know that your faith is not in vain. It is a true faith, a simple childlike faith, in a God so big and loving that it truly does bring a peace that passes all understanding.

I pray my most desperate prayers in the bathroom. I lock the door and turn on the ventilation fan so no one can hear me, and I kneel down by the bathtub and pray. I tell Jesus exactly what is making me fearful or anxious. I tell Him that I cannot control the anxiety and that I need Him to take over and do the work inside of me. I tell Him of the verses I know that command me not to worry and that I trust Him. How grateful I am when I pray it all out and find my spirit restored once again. It truly does work, and not because of anything I have done, but because of Christ and His provision.

It’s been AMAZING.

AMAZING.

In between the prayer times, life has been relatively peaceful again…..true, the children are all getting sick over and over….but, ONLY BECAUSE I’m learning to let go and get through it the best I can without freaking out inside!!! Life is not an emergency.

I’m trying to be more like my cat.

Grace and Jenna taking tickets at the play we went to a few weeks ago.

David

Jacob and David, I think they were playing smashy road….Dave is using my phone.

“This home is a shelter for those we hold dear, wishing peace to all who enter here.”

David followed a youtube instructional video last night and made gummy candy out of jello.

Here it is before he cut it.

Sarah’s library book which was not intended for the highly observant child (the kittens were slightly different throughout the book but supposed to be the same three and she kept asking me who was who.)

I colored her hair slightly with hair chalk, as per her request. There is a small green streak on the left and a small purple streak on the right.

Seth showed me his tricks while waiting for the bus. He was kicking the football and then trying to catch it with one hand. Hilarious

Thank you for the beautiful plants, Amy!!!!

If you’re anxious about anything today, find a quiet time to pray and let your burdens go to His capable hands. Jesus is more than conqueror of all our fears and no one understands what men and women go through like He does. We all have such unique and challenging lives, but in Him we can live them peacefully and calmly, with thanksgiving. He will take those worries and destroy them!

And gosh darn it, slow down and get your rest.

Eat properly, too.

Drink water.

Get some sunshine.

Onward and upward.

You are loved.

go easy

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Shanda

David’s little kitty, whose name is Gentleman Gray, isn’t allowed to go outside very often.

But when he does, he returns as soon as possible with an old dead mouse.

The mouse was caught by one of Gentleman Gray’s housemates….he himself hasn’t caught any of them, he doesn’t have the opportunity, so he just enjoys playing with them.

Typically, I take the mouse by the ice cold tip of it’s tail and fling it right back outside into the bushes as far as I can fling. But the other day I let him have it for a few minutes because his antics were making me laugh.

He has several very nice fabric mice filled with catnip, but there’s just nothing like sinking your teeth into a real live dead one.

The poor thing had such adorable ears.

If the children or I find one of our cats in the act of killing a mouse we ALWAYS save the mouse’s life.

My husband on the other hand……..is thrilled with every dead mouse he sees.

There have been a few times when I threw a dead mouse outside (without him seeing me do it) only to have him bring it right back in! What an amazing sense of smell cats must have.

*****

Sarah was so so sick last night. She must have thrown up seven times in the matter of just a few hours. She was distraught, pale, crying…it was terrible. What a mercy that her body finally settled down and she was able to eat some animal crackers and keep them down at around 9:30-10. But then Caleb got sick, and then David. Pepto- Bismol was the key to helping their tummies. They all made it through the night quietly so we had some sleep. Today they have been on the couches all day long but able to eat more and more, starting with crackers in the morning and ending at 5:00pm with all three eating bowls of cooked broccoli! If you can crave broccoli at a time like this I would say things aren’t so bad.

God has surprised me several times today with unexpected blessings. One was a phone call from the kid’s doctor, wanting to apologize to me for being very distracted at the last appointment I went to, he even mentioned CHRISTIANITY, LOVE, CHRIST, and the HOLY SPIRIT in the conversation (!!) and other blessing was having Michael come to visit Jacob just in time to go pick up Ethan from school after practice.

Yet another time was much earlier in the day, when I went to drop off lunch money at the school. The office lady asked how I was and as I spoke to her she could tell I was stressed out. As I left she encouraged me by simply saying, “go easy.” Those two little words became my mantra of the day. Go easy on myself, go easy on my day, go easy with my family, go easy on the housework, etc……..

I visited my hens. I gave them fresh water and food.

And then some of them followed me. I was about to take a very easy and short walk, close to home.

I saw a chipmunk on a rock in the stream. It froze when it saw me and then as quick as lightening, vanished under some old sticks and leaves.

I wasn’t going anywhere in particular….so I wandered down to Ethan’s fort that he made this summer.

It’s an interesting feeling to be all alone, looking at your son’s hard work. Imagining him building it, seeing his thoughts and ideas on how to make it work. I stood under the roof. I saw the clippers and a garden tool.

I admired the way he put together the low walls.

And when I turned around, I saw that one of my hens had crossed the stream to follow me to the fort! It was an unexpected laugh.

We talked for a few minutes and then she went back home. It was a good thing because I really don’t want a lonely lost hen in the forest.

I would love to know what this shrub or sapling is. The stem is green but there is brown stiff paper-like bark sticking out around it. It’s so pretty and orderly.

The best part of my walk was discovering witch hazel in bloom.

This is the very same plant that witch hazel astringent is made from, which has many uses and has been around for a very long time.

It comes into flower just as everything else around us is dying from frosts.

Such a cheerful yellow.

In the upper left you can see the brown seed pods. The seeds within them open up on a sunny day and shoot out for a great distance. Fun!

I broke a branch off one of the bushes to carry it back to the house so I could admire it. I’m hoping the seed pods open up and shoot.

I did all my walking and came back home with my pockets looking like this. Guess what’s in them?

I feel pretty!

Posted on October 16, 2015 by Shanda

First a couple of photos of my babies…not really babies at all…they are five and six now.

But they are the closest thing to babies I have. Well, besides my kitty.

We were waiting for the bus at 7:40 am this morning.

I feel pretty! (do you know the song from West Side Story? Grace and I sing the phrase “I feel pretty” whenever we feel especially pretty. And I’m singing it today because of my tunic.

My friend Hannah made it for me. She lives in Alaska and we have been pen pals for a long time now, and she came to visit me for a week a few years ago. I think I owe her a visit, don’t you? I’ve never been to Alaska before. I love learning about her life and her days.

I met her when we were both blogging on xanga. The first thing I read on her site that made me think she was possibly a kindred spirit was that she was currently reading through the James Herriot books. Eventually we learned that we had a lot more than that in common. We were homeschooling moms, the same age, loved the same books, and each had a bunch of children that were all about the same ages. We both got married in the same year, too. She and her husband have 6 children, four girls and two boys.

Our temperaments are a lot alike, as well. For example, we both have suffered from depression and have been able to help each other through dark days.

We both love Jesus.

Hannah is a very talented seamstress, she made Seth and Sarah each a baby blanket when they were born. She’s been sewing her own clothes and asked if she could have my measurements and if she could sew me a shirt.

Jacob and I went out to run errands all morning and as soon as we got home I ran to the mailbox and it had arrived!!

For you ladies who sew, here are some of the details: The pattern is the Schoolhouse Tunic from Sew Liberated. She ordered the fabric, which is voile, from fabric.com. The fabric is by Art Gallery Fabric and designed by Katy Jones. Maybe Hannah could answer questions in the comments if you have any.

She also made a tank to go underneath. It’s a soft, thick stretchy fabric with a nice wide band around the hem. She did a quality job and I’m thankful and humbled by her generosity.

She also sent these little goodies. I especially like the mushroom earrings. Her mom made the scrubbies and the earrings so you can see that amazing talents have been passed along from mother to daughter.

Today has been so unusual. Not only did Hannah’s package come, I also got a letter from Gina, and Wilma! The cardinal is a postcard that Dawn sent me a few weeks ago and I never did tell her I received it which is really sad…so hopefully she’ll see this post…and I’ll be writing to you four ladies ASAP, I can’t wait, and I bought some Halloween stickers today to decorate the envelopes.

Last but not least, here is a picture of Ethan (my senior 17 year old son) right after he got off the bus this afternoon. He dressed up for school because he has an away game tonight for soccer.

Happy Friday!

trust me :: you’re lovely

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Shanda

It was a long weekend and this will be a long post full of photos!

First of all, the colors this weekend were stunning. We had plenty of sunshine, which made them seem even brighter.

We went to Target.

And the next morning Sarah was on a leash….

My Mom and Dad said “you have to watch the Great British Baking show” so I finally turned it on Saturday morning–we ended up watching four episodes throughout the day. It’s included on amazon prime. The first episode was “cake” and my little ones got VERY inspired.

They came up with this on their own after watching it with me.

Seth got points for rolling his up, just like the people did with their swiss rolls on the show. After I took the pictures they got out the whipped cream, too.

They spilled so many bright white sprinkle balls on the floor that the kitten started chasing them around.

Rich and I took four of the children to a corn maze. I think it was the first time that we took 2 boys and 2 girls with us anywhere, an even match-up.

Two girls

There was a playground in a deep bed of feed corn.

two boys

There was a hay bale maze for little ones to run through (or over the top which is what our kids did).

And fun places to take goofy picture of your kids.

We went through the corn maze but didn’t complete it 100% of the way…it got too confusing. I don’t think we stopped laughing though.

There was a “pillow” to bounce on.

Before we left, we each picked out a pumpkin.

After a while he asked someone else to pull the wagon because his “legs were too tired.”

We got to the car and he said that I forgot his jacket so Rich had to go find it. Then, while we were waiting he said he had to go to the bathroom so Grace had to go take him. It’s amazing what you remember when you have to sit still.

On Sunday Rich went to church and I took the little boys to their game. Caleb is number 54. Both teams won. It was a great morning to spend outside. Rich and Grace were able to join me after a while. Ethan dropped them off after church and went on home by himself (he drives now and it was great when I ran out of creamer for my coffee the other day and I could just throw him the car keys).

I could sit and stare at this picture forever:

My man and my girl.

As soon as we got home I didn’t go inside…..I wandered around in the gorgeous outdoors.

I love the faded pinkish red leaves in the background in this picture of glowing yellow.

And how the fall colors blend and mix and stand out. I see the brown and gray of tree bark, plus several different shades of red, orange, yellow, and green.

I call Sam my halloween cat. She followed me around, begging to get her fur stroked.

The Osprey was in our dead tree again and this time it had a fish. I was able to lay down in the grass under the branch it sat upon, which was way up high above me. The bird held the fish in its feet and lowered its head down to twist pieces off it to eat. The twisting action was a quick back and forth motion, similar to a person testing a doorknob to see if the door is locked. It was fascinating to watch this interesting bird.

But Rich wasn’t very pleased with it eating HIS fish from HIS pond.

But luckily, David ran over to look with us, and the two of them used my camera to zoom in on the fish. They decided that it wasn’t from our pond, it was a trout.

(I found Dave’s “life is good” t shirt at the thrift store for 25 cents!)

Kids played football together on Sunday afternoon, until Emily had to go to work.

On Monday, Seth put clips all over his face!

Rich had to work but everyone else had no school or work, so a trip to Salem, MA was planned.

Michael, Jacob, Zak, Grace, and Emily went for the day. This picture was taken before they left to go get Emily.

Ethan stayed home because he wanted to visit with his friend Tessa, also he had soccer practice.

The funniest thing happened while I was taking the picture of Tessa and Ethan. We were at the bottom of the hill and our house sits at the top. Sarah was playing with the pumpkins on the front steps and let one go….all we heard was her little voice “Here comes a pumpkin” and it rolled all the way down, off the dock, into kersplash! into the pond!

Caleb waded into the cold water to get it after it floated close enough to the edge.

Thank you Caleb!

Caleb pointed out these mushrooms to me.

I’m going to dig up this little pink-leaved bush to put in my flower garden. It’s growing at the edge of the woods. I love how the leaves turned dark pink for fall. It’s beautiful!

Last but not least, I took a this photo this morning while Seth read me his assigned 1st grade reading. It was a variation of “Jack and Jill” that made me die of laughter…,,,,

he’s home again

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Shanda

Last night I woke up at 12:30 a.m. to my husband getting into bed after being gone on a business trip. He wasn’t away for very long – Monday through Thursday – but it felt much longer to me, I missed him terribly and welcomed him with open arms.

This morning we slept until 8…the children didn’t have school…I regretted teaching Seth my cell phone number because he kept calling it from the living room, basically right outside our door.

“What is taking too long for you to come out?” he asked in his wee small voice.

We eventually emerged and I got to work making sausage and pancakes for Ethan and his friend Mitch, and Grace, David, Caleb, Seth, Sarah, and Rich. Jacob was already up and out of the house. Did I tell you that he has his FIRST REAL JOB? He’s working at Dick’s Clothing and Sporting Goods as a shoe person. He’s going to be great.

I made blueberry pancakes and fried some eggs. Mitch ate his first fried egg from a family chicken rather than a grocery store carton.

By the time our slow relaxing morning and breakfast was over, it was 10. I needed to get some things at Costco so I asked “who wants to go with me” and soon we were leaving….me, Grace, Caleb, Seth, and Sarah.

I bought our needed supplies plus a big pumpkin for the front porch. David needed some duct tape in order to make a sheath for his new cold steel sword so after Costco we went to Target and Grace and I got matching flannel shirts.

It’s a PERFECT fall day, there is a touch of warmth and humidity in the air, it’s windy and the leaves look so pretty swirling down.

We gathered five eggs from the coop. Soon we will have too many to use up ourselves and I will give some away to my friends.

bible study with a chicken!

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Shanda

As soon as the children left for school yesterday, and I had a good start on the household chores, I looked outside and thought, “What a gorgeous fall morning.”

I decided to go out in it and sit with the hens to have my Bible study time. As soon as I opened my Bible, my favorite chicken hopped up on my knee to join me. You might notice that I thought it was October 6th at first. “This all seems familiar,” I thought, and then realized it was now the 7th. Already!

Hi Chicken!

I had a notebook with me and a pencil stuck in my ponytail. The pencil didn’t stay there long, because very soon there were good things to scribble down to save and think about. The air was fresh and cool, the sounds of contented hens charming.

I want and long to read the Bible every day. I have found that for me, the best way to do this is to use a “One Year Bible”. (click here to see the one I use) In this Bible, there is a reading for each day of the year. I’ve used it for several years now. There are times when I miss a few days, maybe even a week or more, but I have found that if I try to catch up I get overwhelmed. So, I always skip those days because very soon (next year) I WILL get to those verses again. There is a portion of Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. Even though it is a structured, assigned portion of reading, there are ALWAYS words and truths that my heart and soul needed to hear again and again–never boring or dry. I usually keep paper nearby so that I can write down the verses that spoke to me that day. You see, the Bible is ALIVE for those who believe and love it. The words within it are useful in so many ways, and for Christians, it is like medicine for the soul. It’s like a food-craving you might get for, say, chocolate. You find yourself thinking about the Word during the day and wanting it. And when you get it, you are filled and satisfied.

Yesterday, I wrote these things down in my notebook (verses in quotes, my thoughts *not* in quotes)

~”An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.”

Always be honest in your questions and answers. Don’t “play games”, don’t pretend. Be sincere. It’s a beautiful way to live–so beautiful that your honest, truthful ways are just like friendship’s kisses.

~”This is what the Lord says: Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken.”

~”Your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”

~”Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshipping the things of this world.”

Teach the children about greed.

Greed-intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food. A selfish and excessive desire for more of something than is needed.

~”Christ is all that matters and He lives in all of us.”
~”Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all richness, fill your lives.”

This is a wonderful set of verses to apply to my FAMILY.

~”Despite God’s wonders, they refused to trust Him.” —The next time you have some difficulty trusting God, think of as many of His wonders as you possibly can.

*****

I had no idea there was an app on my iPhone that shows all the steps I take in one day. I make sure I have it in my pocket now when I take my walks….it’s fun to see just how much I walk in a day as I go about my business. My mom does the same thing with her phone, and she is the one who taught me about the app. It came already installed on my phone and dummy me never knew it until last weekend.

I had it in my pocket when I went for a walk yesterday all alone because my children all go to school now (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I find myself MAKING REMARKS TO MYSELF OUT LOUD. I really need to stop because it’s starting to happen at the grocery store, too.

The birds are quite active at this time of year. This morning when I let out the dog I saw a cardinal and a blue jay right outside my house in the bushes. They were busy eating berries in the early morning sunshine. A blue jay scolded me yesterday from the treetops and I got this fun picture of it stretching to reach some food.

The colors of autumn dazzle the eye.

Adorable mushroom. I want to draw it. I like to imagine them slowly growing up through the sweet smelling leaves and eventually poking their heads up to the day.

Dappled sunlight in the woods.

Hickory nuts are dropping off the trees and oh how I wish I could get to them!! I want to climb and gather! But the tree is so very tall. I have an old schoolbook primer that has a story in it about a nutting party. (this blog post is similar) The neighborhood people would go gather nuts together. Why did that stop happening?? My mom and her family used to get nuts in the fall on their farm land. I need to ask her to tell me the stories again. I know of two hickory trees nearby. One is by the stream and one is up the road just a little ways on the right and it’s nuts drop on the edge of the street.

I walked toward the stream…..a golfball caught my eye so I went to pick it up and saw this sight-

“What in the world are they doing?”, I asked myself (out loud) and when I realized what was happening, I blushed deeply and hid my eyes.

A worm saw them and wriggled away fast.

Or was it me he was squirming from? Regardless, I once again spoke out loud, “That was a BIG worm!” I said.

I think I miss my children. I’m not used to having no one near.

It didn’t help that there were signs of them down by the stream.

I also found a sock.

This is not the sky, but a reflection of it in a still pool of water in the stream.

*****

Well, eventually the children DID come back home. I went for another little walk with David and Sarah. We collected acorns and more hickory nuts (just a couple). I wanted them all (greedy again?) David told me that HE could climb the tree. Humph.

I did all the talking I wanted to without feeling weird.

Soon it was time for Caleb and Seth to go to football practice. Grace had a variety show at the High School so we made an outing of it. Ethan, David, and Sarah came along as I dropped off the boys at the field. We had extra time so Ethan suggested the coffee shop downtown. Sarah had an apple juice and a bag of chips that she didn’t like (they had pepper on them.) David had a diet soda, Ethan and I had coffee. Ethan snap-chatted his friend who is a girl. (um)

We looked out the window and saw that in the park across the street a band was setting up. The concert was to start in 15 minutes and we still had time so Sarah and I went over to enjoy some great jazz music…

Is this quaint or what?? I loved every moment…there were people all around us, and more gathered in as time went on. I would love to go again with Rich. People had their lawn chairs, picnic foods, sweaters and blankets to keep warm, and a musical spirit…toe tapping, a little dancing, smiles on the faces…it was great.

The boys played down by the water and railroad tracks and could still hear all the songs.

We may not have nutting parties but we do have outdoor concerts!

After a quick trip to the library we headed to the HS. Grace was in the color guard Flag routine (she’s on the far left on the floor). She’s been twirling the flag for just a few months and did very well. It was fun to see all the kids do their various routines…dance, music, and what have you. Sarah ate two chocolate candy bars while she watched and we didn’t get home until 9:00pm.

It was a wonderful night being filled up with my children again after a lonesome-like afternoon.

Tonight Rich comes home. He’s been gone since Monday. It’s a long weekend for the kids–no school tomorrow or Monday!

football mama

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Shanda

My two youngest sons play football and they are both rookies this year.

Seth is 6 and Caleb is 10. They are both determined players but Caleb has a little extra advantage: PASSION….total and complete passion for anything that has to do with football. He collects the cards and organizes them carefully in binders, studies NFL teams and trivia using magazines and books, watches any football game on TV, and will happily talk nonstop to anyone who will listen to endless football conversation. This passion he has for the sport gives him an extra desire to play….to play hard with body AND heart.

Whoever gets to take Caleb to his first real college or NFL football game is one lucky person.

Rich gets excited watching Caleb play because he sees the potential. Rich loved playing football in school.

I don’t want to make it seem like Seth doesn’t have talent, because he does..he just misses that outside interest in the sport. He plays and then goes home to do other stuff. Caleb plays football and then goes home to play some more.

I even secretly think that he’s longing for a sports injury, just so he can be like all the other tough guys. Not anything major, mind you, but a nice little injury that doesn’t slow him down but gives him something to brag about. A little blood would be nice, and a few good bruises.

A couple weeks ago I took along my SLR to take some photos of the boys in action.

SETH’s team played first:

Okay, so the coaches are all awesome. I LOVE to see men working with boys, teaching them, yelling at them, caring for them.

Here is Seth (number 3) getting his helmet snapped in place by one of his coaches.

team talk before the game.

Seth is on the line.

A team mate running for a touchdown.

Our team won the game and afterwards celebrated with a bag of lollipops, which is what they are doing in the following picture: (grabbing lollipops) Seth is number three with his back to me.

Seth made his Dad buy him a FLAVORED mouth guard AND special gloves. He has to have the stuff to be cool, you know. Nothing gets by him.

Seth has gotten the “tuff guy” ball three times this year, which is awarded to the toughest boy after each practice.

CALEB’s team was next to play::

Here he is, number 54, getting ready to kick. He does great as kicker…and guess what? His dad was kicker on his team, too! Caleb was thrilled to make his dad proud of him by being chosen team kicker.

Caleb in action, running through two kids from the other team. He is the one running left in the photo. Caleb plays both defense and offense so he never comes off the field the whole game which makes me laugh. He gets good and sweaty but doesn’t tire out at all because he loves it.

They had their first win! Caleb took his helmet off, cheering with joy while the coaches clapped.

Caleb is a great motivator and never shuts up during the games (he is like that in baseball, too), he helps the team by using kind and encouraging words….what a gift he has! He was ready to pat everyone on the back and tell them how good they did after the win, too.

It was after this game that I went out and bought cowbells, to the annoyance of the whole family. They are soooo loud! After spending a few days in the house I put them in the back of my car to live.

This past weekend Rich went to the game without me so I could take the other kids to church (we hate that most of the games are on Sunday morning). Their teams both won again and Caleb played very well, sacking the quarterback twice causing him to fumble the ball, getting interceptions, and tackling people right and left. Rich texted me throughout to keep me posted.

I asked him if he was ringing the (annoying) bells for Caleb and he said, “No, they are all yours. I wouldn’t do that without you.”

This weekend Rich is teaching Sunday School so I will be taking the boys myself. It’s fun being a football mama.