flowers under cloudy skies

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Shanda

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.

18157082_10155019632291343_8306482850258122446_n

17992348_10155019634151343_8612459611980238872_n

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

easter happenings

Posted on April 17, 2017 by Shanda

Happy Glorious Easter!

By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us–set us right with him, make us fit for him–we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand–out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.
There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary–we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t be so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to Him.
Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we’re at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in plodding prose. We sing and shoout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah!

*****

We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did.

*****

A whole, healed, put together life right now, with more and more of life on the way!

(from the book of Romans in “the Message” translation)

I could just keep typing and typing, copying out these rich and wonderful words! Even on the worse days, the Holy Spirit keeps ministering to God’s children. The bad days are a little better, the best days are a foretaste of Heaven!

One of those “best days” for me personally happened just yesterday. We visited Mom and Dad’s church and then I was able to ride along with them to the Otesaga Resort for our buffet Easter dinner. I felt like laughing all day, I was so happy. Even when we didn’t quite know where we were going for a little while there on the back roads……..

Our reservations were for 2 and we arrived with time to spare and were seated at two large round tables, side by side. We were in a nice open room with huge windows which opened out to the bluest lake. The weather was lovely, warm and spring like. The food was served buffet style and we all ate until we could eat no more, with laughter and fun conversations.

17904218_10154991749246343_7986507151216993409_n

18010264_10154993729931343_3580494217052212307_n

We were missing Ethan very much.

(My sister and her family also could not make it this year.)

CSC_0374

Cassandra’s dear parents joined us though, which was a fun treat; we love this family!

CSC_0377

17952971_10154991939251343_5653057694899521370_n

Dave was able to play a few songs on the grand piano!!! He was dying to get his hands on it.

LOVE IT!

And one last drive away photo from out the window! the parents! xo

Well then, it came out in the car that Rich was in a bad mood because of something a couple of our children did that I didn’t know about until we were driving down the road and he was able to fill me in on the details. I had wondered why he had sort of “deflated” toward the end of the meal. My poor husband, I always have complete confidence in how he handles the issues that arise in our family. Very thankful for that. However, as we drove along, his irritation was causing him to retreat inside of his own thoughts and problem solving so that he wasn’t paying attention to his driving….I did notice that he was going a little fast but what with the situation and all I decided to keep my mouth shut and not nag him about speed limits.

Instead, I took pictures out my window.

You can sort of tell by these photos that we were going 60 in a 45, right?

However, the officer was merciful and decided to only ticket us not for speeding but because our vehicle had tinted windows (I guess in NY you can only have a certain shade of tint)….and even that was eventually thrown out because after all that he wasn’t able to get his computer to work- so off we went again on our merry way and at a much slower pace, praise the Lord.

We still arrived home at just the right time; bedtime for the younger children to be exact!!! And heart to heart time for the ones who needed fatherly guidance and instruction.

All is well.

I took these photos just this morning; things are growing fast now that the snow has melted and the ground has warmed up.

April showers and all that.

I saw the first spring violet this morning when I walked Sarah to the bus; picture to follow!

You are loved, xo

~Shanda

What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. Romans 6

duck & bike & flowers

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Shanda

I love mornings. I rarely blog at night, if I did I’m sure all that would come out would be zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

It’s Thursday. 43 degrees. Sarah is outside riding her new bike and Seth is upstairs taking a bath. Caleb just woke up; everyone else is still sleeping. It’s 7:40.

Are the duck photos neat? I took them first thing yesterday morning. I stood stealthily behind a pine tree by the pond and watched this duck. It wasn’t so much concerned about anything but looking around and quacking. I guess he was looking for his female?

As I mentioned in the previous post, this is Spring Break Week for the children. Yesterday was “Buy Sarah a New Bike Day”. I left the house at 8 with her and Seth and we went to Target. On the way we stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts. Sarah wanted “a donut that was filled and it would be jelly inside.” She is quite wordy.

On the way there they explained to me that they were Odie and Garfield. Sarah was Odie and Seth was Garfield. I played along and they decided I was John.

“I’m going to be John the man?” I asked.

“OH, I know! You can be Liz! Liz is in love with John and John’s Dad!”

That didn’t sound right.

“Liz is in love with John AND his dad?” I asked.

“No, John IS Dad. And you love Dad.”

Oh. Okay. I get it now.

So we played pretend for a while until I got tired of getting yelled at for accidentally calling them Seth and Sarah.

They had their donuts and we proceeded to Target and found a nice bike for Sarah and a few shirts & ties for the boys for Easter.

What beautiful tulips!

On the way home there was a garden center, a nice small independently owned one, so I stopped to buy some pansies.

Here they are sitting on the floor of the passenger side…..aren’t they beautiful? They have little ruffled edges.

Guess what? I don’t have a photo of this but when we pulled in the driveway, the duck was in the other pond with his female! 🙂

Nice big brother Jacob did some work on Seth’s bike but ran out of time. He had to go to college and work. But Seth was okay; he still had the scooter to ride.

And Sarah was so cute riding around on her new wheels.

This bike is a bit taller and it took her a little practice and a few falls to comfortably get on and off of it. She could ride her new bike for hours at a time and unlike the boys, she’s content to ride the same path over and over again. She talks and sings to herself as she pedals.

Sarah even shared her bike with Seth until he ended up crashing it and said he wasn’t going to ride it anymore. “First it went in the garden and then it crashed!” he said, without taking any of the blame. It was all the bike’s fault.

I used to watch Jacob, Ethan, and Grace play EXACTLY the same way. It’s like deja vu.

One sad note: Before I could do anything to stop her, Sarah butchered the pretty streamers off her handle bars because “they were distracting her.”

My pansies at home. I also had 3 six packs that I planted in pots. Two of them are on the front steps and one is by the side steps in the garden. They are cold weather pansies so even if the temperature drops they should be okay.

The potted geranium on my windowsill bloomed!

RANDOM PHOTOS:

My friend Lea Ann texted me this picture of her Texas wildflower bouquet!

I saved it as my phone screensaver.

Seth in the dentist chair. I was reading my book but also watching and listening. Very entertaining. No cavities!

“Mike, will you show me your airsoft gun?”

“No.”

“I’ll give you a neck massage.”

“Okay.”

water and wine at the spa

*********

Quote for today: “Faith sees even the darkest deed of all history, the death of God’s Son, as a necessary prelude to the brightest.” Philip Yancey

stop trying!

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Shanda

Hello! I’m sitting in my bed with half my face numb. I had to go get a filling replaced this morning and I did so with Seth sitting in the corner of the room watching intently. After observing the big needle go in my mouth and half an hour of drilling and filling, he is now either traumatized or perhaps will be a dentist one day.

This week my husband is away on a business trip and the children are home from school on spring break. Yesterday was a bit of a challenge, as I was on edge about several things, and as a result I spent much of the day trying very very very hard to “be a good mom” instead of forgetting about myself and just living out the day in a mature fashion. It was an internal battle of sorts and I spent a great deal of energy trying to be as polite and kind as I could and I believe the children enjoyed being home from school, but as for my mental state by the end of the day let’s just say I was pretty exhausted and went to bed as soon as possible (9pm) after several hours (6-8:30 with a trip back home to get Sarah to bed) of being at the ball field for little league practice.

So far today is much better. I’m not trying anymore. I’m going with the flow.

Ahhh, adjustments. All is well.

One of the things “I tried” to do yesterday and sincerely thought it would be relaxing was sit in a chair by the driveway in order to watch the children happily play. Caleb took it upon himself to carry up to the driveway my “favorite orange chair” (his words–I had no idea what he was talking about.) It turns out that my “favorite orange chair” was my brown adirondack lawn chair from clear over by the chicken coop. It’s true, it’s my favorite chair, but only because it was right where I wanted it…..by the chicken coop. It is now by the driveway and the chair weighs about 85 pounds, I’m not even sure how he carried it up the hill to the house, to be honest, by the groans he was making I know it was quite difficult for him. So that put a damper on things within my mind; I had to pretend that I was touched and pleased with his thoughtfulness to deliver my favorite chair but also fight irritation that it was even moved in the first place, I could have just gotten a chair off the porch even though it wasn’t my favorite.

So I sat down with my bag of books and a pen and started to read. I looked up just in time to see Caleb run, jump up and off an upside down cooler, and try to dunk the basketball in the hoop. The cooler tipped over and I had a heart attack as I watched him try not to body slam himself on the pavement. I sighed with relief. He avoided injury this time but then I had to tell him not to do it again and answer the inevitable question, “Why not?” and all that followed in that conversation.

Seth wanted his bike but the tires were flat and that took a great deal of effort in explaining why I wasn’t the one to fix bikes…….

Then he and Caleb set up an old tire against the stone wall to practice throwing baseballs at it…well, in my mind I could see them throw it right into the road (which is behind the stone wall) and getting hit by a car. We had a long talk about where else we could put the tire and then I gave up so to speak when I realized they would probably be fine so we left it there. After all that, they decided not to practice throwing after all.

Sarah was happily riding her little two wheeler around the driveway and then (as I was reading and not watching), Seth, from over on the lawn, thought it would be a good idea to throw a tennis ball at His Sister the Moving Target. After he hit her once and was scolded, he did it again, and that time I had him sit in the penalty chair, which had been moved right next to me. “Don’t get up until I tell you,” I said and then went back to reading and became absorbed enough that the next time I looked up he was completely gone. So now I had a disobedient child to find and put back in the chair.

Then, Caleb approached me (and Seth back in the chair) with a piece of moist white skin, about the size of a dime. “Guess where this came from Mom?” he asked cheerfully. “My tongue! My tongue is peeling!”

Turns out he ate too many sour Warhead candies and his tongue was peeling, the entire tongue was sloughing off. I gazed at it in horror. I had Seth run inside for my phone so I could google this situation and sure enough, it’s a thing that happens, my friends.

I was done. I shut my book and put my stuff inside. I had too much adrenaline from “trying” so hard to relax that I had to power walk myself back into a zen state. But first I had to explain how far we were going to my son and just how far the stop sign was about 5 zillion times………

Caleb, instead of walking the normal way, walked up on the curb and would periodically fall, stumble, scrape and/or lurch head first off it until once again I had to be mean mom and tell him to quit it before he tore a hole in his good sneakers.

Caleb enjoys talking and didn’t stop the entire time.

I admired the birds and the sky and this pine tree with big lush pinecones way up on top.

On the neighbor’s lawn up the road…..

Another neighbor’s guinea hens. Funny birds.

17546789_10154972513861343_6221415109308564101_o

Well then at 10:50 Sarah had a dental appointment downtown so I dropped Grace off with the boys at the playground so they could run around while we attended to the appointment. Sarah is a rather nervous patient but did very well. We left the dentist and drove over to get the kids from the playground only to find their stuff everywhere (books, shoes, and jackets) but no children. It was like the rapture had occurred. However, in one of the best moments of the day, I honked my horn and only had to wait 45 seconds before the darlings appeared running as fast as they could from way around the other side of the school.

We headed to the grocery store where they all “helped” and the boys argued about who would get to push the button at the register to see if we would win a coupon.

Seth got a foot long loaf of crusty french bread and then only offered Caleb a one inch piece so I had to mediate that next because Caleb was very offended by Seth’s stingy ways in “only giving him a crumb of bread.”

Back at home I exclaimed, “Bring in the groceries and then outside until the salad is done!”

17855088_10154972514161343_7859892180335715169_o

We ate an entire big fiesta bowl of Dorito chip salad; one of my favorite ways to get the children to eat their vegetables (spinach, kale, and other dark green lettuces). YUM.

Now that I think about it, the next few hours are a blur…..oh wait, at one point I tried to relax again down by the stream but as soon as I started reading I heard the Schwans truck pull in the driveway so I ran to the house to purchase some frozen vegetables…..

At three o’clock, we headed to Rita’s for the first time this season. Caleb in particular has been begging and begging to go so I said yes, that would be a nice thing to do on our first day of spring break and I even set the time for 3PM so that he would stop asking when we were leaving. It was a big deal, I had that feeling of joy in giving them something they really wanted to do, as a special treat. We piled in the car and drove to Rita’s. Jacob followed in his car so he could go to work after.

17834933_10154972516336343_1500896500498856314_o

They had a new flavor ice, “Peeps”, no doubt for the Easter holiday. I had sugar free peach mango.

17855086_10154972518191343_8910155566099204236_o

She’s so lovely. And NEVER can finish her ice because it’s too cold. So one of the boys got to finish hers.

17854763_10154972515526343_834664439840129792_o

Sugar free ice makes my custard a tiny bit less caloric. 🙂

17834878_10154972515276343_5904385675748940809_o

I like to savor every mouthful, but very soon, too soon, the boys were finished and right on top of me begging to go to the playground.

17855293_10154972516616343_5079353682224664747_o

And even though I said, “not today” not once but thrice, they begged and begged, prompting internal hurt feelings on my part and yet another teaching opportunity about being thankful for the treat you did have instead of jumping straight into wanting MORE while the taste of the last one is still in your mouth!

Also yesterday, the girls planted peas and I planted radishes and spinach.

Grace was a huge help to me yesterday and she also had time to read almost an entire book.

David worked on clearing the bank over by the garage. He has this big job to do because he got in some trouble last week and is grounded off video games and electronic devices….so to fill his time his Dad gave him lots of chores to accomplish.

When he saw me taking his picture he lifted up his shirt to show me his impressive abs.

17758648_10154972514736343_9076621620564102315_o

Usually I’m looking for the first spring wild flowers WAY before they appear, so it was a sweet surprise to look down at my feet and see these little wonders already blooming.

Soon we’ll be seeing violets, too.

*****

And today? Today began with three loud honking geese visiting the pond.

Causing Parker the Dog to run around in circles, doing his own honking.

Happy National Pet day!

The side of my jaw and mouth is currently still numb but I’m shaking with hunger so I’m gently trying to eat a yogurt. Sarah’s upset because the tire is flat on her bike and wants macaroni and cheese for lunch–I just boiled up some water and poured in the noodles. Jacob is getting ready for school, Michael is here for the day and is helping with the children, (He took Grace to the library to get the next book in her series) We have two extra kids here visiting from up the road. Later on they are all having an airsoft battle outside but right now they are downstairs playing video games. Grace and Seth are shooting their bows outside.

I’m going to the spa at 2:30 to get my hair done and enjoy some quiet. (!!!!)

****

God’s grace abounds on every kind of day, as I was reminded as I read a book yesterday by Philip Yancey, “Grace, like water, flows to the lowest part.”

half an hour

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Shanda

On these small cares of daughter, wife, or friend,
The almost sacred joy of home depend. Hannah More

Grace and I were folding the latest load of laundry when I happened to see the boys playing basketball together through the window….made me smile….so I grabbed the camera and wandered around with it for half an hour.

Ethan leaves to go back to college tomorrow.

Seth’s joy as he plays with Ethan touches my heart.

Meanwhile, in the front yard, Sarah was making soup with pond water and various bits of grass and sticks.

I heard her say, “Thank you tree, for the pine needles,” quite sweetly.

When she got back to her pot, Parker the dog was carefully pulling sticks from the soup which she thought was very amusing as she was not able to get anyone else to try the soup.

Grace and David joined the game.

The chair under the basketball hoop was the “penalty box”. They used it, too.

Caleb was sitting in it for something he did that the rest of the kids agreed was a penalty.

Back inside….cooking shows were playing quietly on the television.

While Rich listened to loudly blaring 1970’s country music while fixing the upstairs toilet.

“Wait, take another picture!” he requested.

Making me laugh.

The only place the cat can eat his canned food without the dog stealing it.

“It’s kinda busy around here this morning, I think I’ll nap with my eyes open.”

thrifting finds

Posted on April 5, 2017 by Shanda

This picture doesn’t go with the rest of the post but I wanted to slip it in. I am enjoying the birds every day, and yes we had snow on April fool’s day. It’s all gone now.

*****

I drove to Vermont on Friday to get Ethan from college. He is home for the week. You may have seen the photo I put on instagram of all seven of the children. I’m glad the older ones are starting to do their own things but there is nothing like those moments when all the family is together again. It’s been even busier than ever at my house, hence not as much time to be on the computer.

This morning after getting the kids off to school and cleaning up spilled evaporated milk from all over the fridge, I had to go to the Post Office. I asked Ethan if he would like to go along with me. He insisted on waking up Jake and the three of us went.

17545325_10154952371166343_1996168428623030299_o

We went to the coffee shop first and I read them trivial pursuit questions while we enjoyed lattes and Jacob had a sandwich. It brought back good memories of homeschooling. I could sense myself slipping into that “mama teacher” feeling.

17834333_10154952371536343_749652197282972380_o

We walked to the Thrift store to see if I could find any treasures. The boys didn’t just walk, they jumped up on bridges and things……

17807544_10154952372156343_4266803479968924709_o

They can finally do what they wanted to do when they were five years old *but Mom would stop them so they didn’t kill themselves*. I kept having flashbacks. (By the way, Jacob is currently 20 and Ethan is 19).

BACK HOME after thrifting and mailing books out to my friends…..

…..and here are some photos I took of *some* of my thrifting finds from today. I was most excited about the framed needlework that I found, which I promptly added to my collection (after hunting house and garage for a nail.) I used a rock as a hammer.

The collection is growing slow because I am very particular. Not only does it have to look right, the price also needs to be right.

If you are observant, you can see the word “mom” written in red by my bedroom door. What you can’t see is the “X” next to it. When I asked little Seth why he wrote “X mom” by my door he said, “Because you weren’t in your room.” Made sense to me! I can’t tell you how many smiles I have gotten out of that simple red sharpie “X mom” scribble by Seth since he wrote it a few years ago.

Ceramic Bunnies!!! They say 1983 on the bottom and the woman’s name, Eve, who painted them. The lady at the thrift store said ceramics were a trend during that time period and there used to be a ceramics place in town. Aren’t they so cute and perfect for this time of year?

I didn’t even look in the book when I chose it, I just saw the words, “Holly Hobbie” and knew it was for me and added it to the books I already had in my hands…….here is a look inside at some of the illustrations;

I love them all so much. Holly Hobbie has been a favorite my entire life. This book was published when I was a year old. And I also love nursery rhymes. It will be fun to read this book out loud to Sarah and hopefully even the boys might listen and enjoy.

Lastly, a couple baseball books for Seth. I also bought two books for myself. The bunnies, the needlework, and the books cost me 3 dollars.

I bought potted hyacinths at Trader Joes last week and they bloomed. They smell of springtime.

Still watching the geranium buds…..

Kitchen window display of things that make me happy.

“I don’t really collect, I’m attracted to certain things, I get them, and they accumulate.” ~Natalie Gibson

I just cried a little

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Shanda

17626292_10154933480691343_2659208735809490452_n

Brother Dave sent me this text last night: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ !!!

We texted back and forth, playing “wheel of fortune” style but with only one letter guesses like every hour or so and none from 9pm-7am. He was very strict. If I tried to sneak in extra guesses I got a big huge red “X” back.

After all those hours, I finally ended up with this: happy _a_ _ !!! and then while I was down taking care of the chickens waiting for the time I could guess again, the answer popped right into my head.

So then the mail came and there was a package. I ran to the house, opened it up and saw a wrapped present, which revealed neatly folded yards of fabric: one of cherries and one of cats. Two things I ADORE.

This is from my brother. He’s turning 40 in a month. What 40 year old motorcycle riding manly man with a big beard and tattoos does this??? My brother that’s who.

He had driven our mom to the fabric store over the weekend and as she browsed, he selected and bought the fabric for me, took it back home with him, wrapped it in pretty paper, and mailed it.

I’m crying over the thoughtfulness and text him a big thank you.

He writes me back, “It’s the little things that mean the most.”

everything is this, now

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Shanda

I cannot tell you how happy I am

to see the sunshine this morning!

Dishwasher’s a hummin’, the dog’s a snoring’~

it’s going to be a nice day, I can tell already.

This picture is from a few days ago when it was raining. We had a squirrel come to ~~visit~~ stuff his little cheeks full of sunflower seeds.

I never realized how brown their heads are. I though they were all over gray.

A delegation of mourning doves.

“Hour one”

I took a few hours to admire our sleeping buddies yesterday. They were on this chair together for most of the day.

“hour two”

“hour three”

“hour four”

David arrived home from school.

“Dave, you’re wearing all black today”

“Yeah, but I wore my blue hoodie to school instead of this black one because I didn’t want them to send me to guidance thinking I was depressed.”

This boy thinks of everything.

And he made the middle school baseball team! We are all so proud of him and can’t wait to see him play.

Parker the Dog is flat on the couch snoring as I type–tired from the morning. He helps get the kids off to school, you know, by barking when the bus comes and stealing their breakfast bagels.

This morning’s gently clouded striped sky.

This morning I attempted to scrub a marker drawing off Seth’s arm, “It’s not coming off,” I muttered, “Put it under the water,” he tried. No such luck, but it is lighter at least. We stood in front of the mirror and I styled his hair with rosemary gel as he squirmed and groaned. He’s wearing his baseball shirt; ’tis the season. And this is truly his technique; he either misses entirely or it’s a good big hit. “Don’t over swing, Seth!” is the advice he gets from his coach repeatedly.

We finished The Children of Noisy Village, by Astrid Lindgren. It took us a very long time to get through it because we had misplaced it for about a month and forgot about it; such is life.

A very dear book, however.

On the last page.

“TEN IS MY STUDENT NUMBER!” she explained in a loud voice.

“OKAY, THAT’S FINE,” I answered in like manner.

Our next book? One Hundred and One Dalmatians

Hope is a geranium about to flower for the first time in a year.

I started a new book last night and LOVED this quote:

“Children don’t know the meaning of yesterday, of the day before yesterday, or even of tomorrow, everything is this, now: the street is this, the doorway is this, the stairs are this, this is Mamma, this is Papa, this is the day, this is the night.” My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante, page 29

blessed

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Shanda

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth…….
You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in this world.
God is not a secret to be kept.”

*****

We went to see Beauty and the Beast. We ate lots of candy and popcorn and sat in a long row on my sister’s birthday. Spectacular. My favorite part was at the end when all the castle inhabitants under the curse were brought back to life – the way it was supposed to be, through true love. I thought of how we are also born under a curse, but then, in time, Jesus makes us new again. “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature; old things are past, behold all things are made new.” Oh how He loves us.

*****

We took the children to their elementary school to watch a movie. We watched it among a restless sea of children, hardly able to hear, and then took home an extra one (friend of Caleb) to spend the night. After the movie we joined the crowd walking in the dark to their cars, carrying their blankets and pillows, and agreed it had been a nice event for the kids. A good small town treat. We appreciated the calm of the night sky.

*****

The children fished for the first time this year. Rich called me out to the porch to admire the cuteness.

*****

Church yesterday. Reminded me once again of the only thing that truly matters. Everything else (and there’s so much “everything else”) is icing on the cake.

*****

I made lots and lots of cookies.

*****

There was an epic nerf fight.

*****

I got happy mail!

*****

Matthew 5

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”

those “Jesus, take the wheel!” moments. When you finally let go.

“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.”

(dreams? expectations? a person? a home? a job? health? youth? )

“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are–no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.”

Contentment to me means peace inside.

Contentment to simply be.

“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.”

soul food–delicious and satisfying

“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full’, you find yourselves cared for.”

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world–your mind and heart–put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.”

ah, yes

“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.”

This is the number one job of a parent of more than one child. LOL

“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.”

*****

Sarah was the official bread runner to the house for bait. She stepped back when the fish appeared but Caleb’s friend Collin was able to get her to touch it….I could hear her from across the pond, “It’s slimy!” she laughed.

Lots of commentary about the poor fish who ate the hook all the way down and it’s poor eye and getting it free, and putting it back.

Seth was the most frustrated. He spent a great deal of time trying to get the bread to stay on his hook. He never did catch one. But it was good for him.

spring again

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Shanda

17390484_10154903732876343_3528994584830708622_o

“Listen to His voice, and cling to Him” Deuteronomy 30:20

Good morning! I’ve been contentedly puttering around the house. The children were sent off to school and I have been doing dishes, laundry, and general organizing and home keeping. There is always a lot to do around here to keep me busy. I also journaled and wrote a little letter to Marcia.

We were away all weekend and then Rich worked from home yesterday so I have not been on the computer…….

Uncle Roger’s funeral was on Saturday. I haven’t mentioned here that he passed away from cancer at the age of 44. He was a Christian man who loved his family most of all, spent his life devoted to the same church congregation, and quietly and contentedly lived. He and Aunt Colleen, along with the girls, visited us often through the years and it was always an Event for us and always blogged about. Such fun. He will be missed.

All of this has given me so much to think about. Things like being sincere, being quiet, being yourself, remembering what really matters in life, and the love of family. The way Aunt Colleen has handled this journey has made me respect and love her all the more. What a grace-filled woman. Never asking for attention. Just living life and letting God lead, open to His will, sad, yes, but full of hope in Jesus. And she took such good care of her husband……. I pray God’s richest blessings on her and the girls now as they continue on.

On Sunday we went to church at the place I went to all through my growing up years. (The same one Uncle Roger and Aunt Colleen have attended, too.) It was wonderful to see and hug many old familiar friends.

We were able to visit Mom and Dad after church (I posted a bunch of photos on instagram). And oh that was just the best…just to be together.

17426056_10154906645166343_5025832465083578948_n

Yesterday afternoon we went to Costco and then to the grocery store (because Costco doesn’t have cayenne pepper or organic apple cider vinegar). While we waited for Rich to come back out, Seth climbed a tree. Very fitting for the first day of Spring, right? Caleb and I were standing underneath him and this picture is of Seth looking down at his brother who was worried he might fall down and reminiscing of a time when Seth was showing off and consequently hurt himself. I said, “It’s only a tree, Caleb, quite safe.”

Look at the design of the branches against the blue sky.

17426240_10154906644921343_2001087524131910777_n

Who is Michael? At first glance, he is simply a Very Large Young Man. He’s over six feet tall, 27 years old, and weighs about 400 pounds. So when he’s in the room, his presence is hard to ignore, if not impossible, and you just don’t know what to make of him. Years and years ago (about 5) we met him at our *new to us at that time* church. He and Jacob became good enough friends that he started to come to our house on a constant basis. Although slightly awkward at first to have him always around, after I got to know him I realized that Michael is an extremely friendly, willing to help, people loving, witty, extroverted, goofy, Christ-loving, theology-curious, writer of epic letters, fun person who has carved a niche for himself into our family. He works at a home for troubled boys and is PERFECT for his job. He spends almost every Sunday night -Wednesday morning at our house and sleeps downstairs with Jacob, Caleb, and Seth, on his own blow up mattress. I have talked to him about everything from raising kids, church life, depression, to bodily functions (quite reluctantly on my part because I’m a lady). I can say anything to this guy without fear of judgment. Rich and I love him to death, and so do the kids. He went to Costco with Rich and me and the kids yesterday because he wanted to buy some seltzer water……..so to answer the question “Who is Michael” is kinda hard. He’s Jacob’s friend is the answer in a nut-shell. But so much more. He’s been such a gift to our family. A brother in Christ. I’m so glad Jacob has a friend in him.

“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” Mark Twain

Dumping the entire bag of sunflower seed on the driveway has continued to be a very wise decision on my part. We are getting so many more birds now. And I don’t have to keep track of the feeder!