My dear Father requested and helped me choose the photos contained within this beautiful slideshow, for the occasion of his 39th wedding anniversary. Yes, on a beautiful summer day long ago, my young parents were married, surrounded by singing birds and all of their loved ones. It was a lovely outdoor wedding, located on the family farmland of upstate New York.
Through the years, the family has grown, and more importantly, so has their love for one another.
Gather moments while you may
Collect the dreams you dream today
Remember, will you remember
The times of your life
“….if ever families needed warmth, advice, nurturing, ideas, and inspiration, it is today.” ~Victorian Family Celebrations, by Sarah Ban Breathnach
I bought a big stack of books from our recent town library book sale and the above mentioned book was one that I discovered. I was already familiar with Breathnach’s work in Simple Abundance, a Daybook of Comfort and Joy, and was eager to learn more of her gentle and wise advise.
Victorian Family Celebrations is “a month to month guide to creating seasonal feasts, traditional crafts, and the little daily rituals that make a house a home.” I turned to the chapter of ideas for the month of July, thinking the author would probably have ideas for a “Christmas in July” type of party for the children. I assumed it would take place on the 25th (the six month mark for the real Christmas) but was surprised to read that July 15th was also an option, as it is the birthday of the poet who wrote “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Planning a little party was just the thing for Grace and I to do together — we promptly sent the little ones to their rooms for rest time.
We did a little bit of decorating, made a cake, went on a quick trip to the Dollar Store and in just over an hour we had everything ready for the children.
“Observing Christmas in July was the custom of resourceful Victorian mothers who started thinking about Christmas long before Thanksgiving. This is because a century ago we made the majority of our gifts. By the end of the summer, Victorian families were almost done with their holiday gift making……”
~Sarah Ban Breathnach, page 144
Caleb was surprised and delighted with the tree, and the star on top that he said he remembered.
We lit the candles on the cake and turned off the lights.
It was Grace’s idea to sing “Silent Night” and as soon as the song was over, all five of the children helped to blow out the candles.
While we ate our cake and drank our milk, Grace read aloud the poem, “Twas the Night Before Christmas” in honor of the Reverend Clement Clark Moore’s birthday.
The cake was a boxed mix, using melted butter instead of oil, and frosted with a simple thin layer of homemade green icing. I decorated it with red sugar sprinkles and snowflakes (leftover from last Christmas).
While I threw away the napkins and plastic silverware, Caleb and Sarah made snow angels. (note:Dave isn’t feeling well this afternoon).
We passed out the small gifts and watched each other open them.
Sarah got flip flops
Caleb got army men
Seth got a whoopee cushion
Grace got a rabbit figurine
I got a framed Bible verse
and David got a flashlight, all from the dollar store.
My heart is so full that tears are ever ready today, after a weekend back home in my hometown. I saw old familiar faces, felt their arms of love around me, heard words of encouragement and truth, celebrated young love, sung to favorite songs on the radio played loud, attended church, ate Country Store subs made by someone who knew who I was “back then”, travelled those old roads that lead back home, to the farm land, the parents, the aunts, the cousins, the friends.
Sadly, I was without my Rich, my companion and friend, lover, bed mate, and The One who has put me by his side for the last 21 years. He was here at home with the little ones, but never far from my thoughts as I drove Grace, Sarah, Jacob, and Emily to NY for Cassandra’s bridal shower. I sat behind the wheel and away we went on Saturday morning….driving around three hours to the church for the shower. Emily said, she loved road trips. And when she said that, it reminded me to enjoy it, too!
Once we arrived, Jacob and Emily walked on foot to the pizza place that Rich and I used to go to on dates, for lunch, and to the High School to explore the playground and stream (the school I attended, and Rich, too). So crazy fun to see Jacob doing just the things we used to enjoy. With his girlfriend. (!!)
Grace, Sarah, and I had a wonderful time at the bridal shower, held for my future sister in law, who is marrying my youngest brother, Isaac.
“to love another person is to see the face of God” ~ Les miserables
Isaac and Cassandra are so sweet together!!
After the shower, we picked up J and E and went to my mom and dad’s house for the rest of the day.
Jacob stayed the night with them while I took the girls to the Comfort Inn to sleep.
Sunday morning we checked out of the motel and went to church, meeting Jacob there.
It was so wonderful to sit next to Colleen, Jacob, Emily, Sarah, Grace, and Madeline for the service. Church was a beautiful experience, to be back in my original church family made me remember so many things, and a wave of nostalgia swept over me.
After church we picked up subs and went back to mom and dad’s where we sat on the front porch and ate our food, while the rain poured down. Emily and Sarah jumped in warm puddles in their bare feet.
We stayed until 6pm, and drove back home Sunday night, arriving safe and sound (and with a gorgeous golden sunset) at 10:30pm.
I saw a very cool fly from the blueberry patch at my parent’s house. It was actually holding a tiny green bug in it’s jaws. I’ve come to learn that if an insect stays still, and lets me get close, it’s usually because it doesn’t want to let go of it’s latest catch.
My mom with her little Granddaughter~
We all wore yellow shirts.
Sarah was so precious. When she was tired she simply curled up with someone and slept. Here she is on my lap. Watching your own sleeping little one is one of the many “grace moments” in life.
Dad and Jacob played drums on Sunday afternoon. OH HOW I LOVE MY DAD…….
JACOB NEVER WANTS TO LEAVE GRANDMA’S HOUSE!
We helped mom and dad with the gravel entry to the blueberry patch, in preparation for the wedding reception next month.
We also helped them get their bedroom ready for a remodel, looked through a lot of family photos, and did the things we always love to do; go for walks, talk, listen to music. Oh, and Jacob showed his grandparents all of his card tricks and they were a very satisfying audience.
Thankful for:
a safe trip
a son learning to grow, and be a good example
creativity (he made a new recipe for pancakes by adding a tablespoon of cocoa powder to his Grandma’s recipe, and chocolate chips)
my husband coming home early from work and the time we were able to spend together, in quiet, in each other’s arms
the sight of sleeping pets (make the house so cozy)
rain (I went out and walked in it, why are we so afraid to get wet?) the pond was jumping with water drops
it curled my hair
watching Les Mis with Grace, and being awed once again by law and grace (without that taskmaster-law, we would never be overwhelmed with beautiful grace)!! I realized that this life is full of little law/grace pictures….that point to Jesus.
my five year old learning to ride his two wheeler and being so thoughtful in asking me to watch him, a lot
fresh peas in the garden
bachelor buttons beginning to bloom
a little girlie who wakes from her nap and immediately finds her mama
Mike taking Jacob, Grace, and Emily to VBS and saving us the trip
Ethan on vacation with Chris and Caroline and their children (his best friends)
and most of all……
God’s grace and salvation through Jesus Christ, Who miraculously opens blind eyes and turns cold hearts into hearts bursting with adoration for HIM, and this abundant life He gives.
One last picture before we got into the car to head home.
Yesterday was a lovely day to go to the beach. Rich didn’t have to work, so as soon as we got out of bed we began getting ready to go. This year we gave the children each their own bag to carry and it made things much easier. Our youngest child is four years old now and what a difference it makes to do things (we’ve never had a four year old “baby”….another one has always come along by that time). As a mother hen personality *without any babies to care for*, I was almost able to relax yesterday. ALMOST.
We drove about an hour to get to the beach, with one stop to Dunkin Donuts. When we arrived, we parked the vehicle and all walked along the shore to find a place to set up. Rich went to go change, but the rest of us had worn our suits under our clothes and were able to get directly into the water.
Sarah took her life jacket but as she is afraid of getting water in her face, I let her spend some time without it, digging in the sand and sitting in the water on the very edge. She had a great time which was a delight to see. She didn’t rest or stop once all day, except to eat lunch.
Jacob did some walking with Ethan, and spent some time in our tent playing solitaire. Toward the end of the day he played again like I haven’t seen him do in a while….he’s growing up….but I saw him dunking and throwing his little brothers, getting into a sand fight, and building a sand castle.
Seth had to wear his life jacket more often than Sarah did, because he had no fear of the water and wanting to swim and do everything his big brothers did.
We had a small tragedy with Seth. Ethan, David, and had disappeared down the beach and I was nervous so I told Rich I would walk down to locate them. I took little Seth with me and we went all the way down to the rock-formed fishing pier. Caleb was playing on the other side in warm shallow water, but Dave and Ethan had swam out to a small “island” and were sitting on it, resting. I decided to sit and wait for them, and keep an eye on them, since it was far from the shore and I was nervous about them swimming that distance without supervision. Seth climbed down to play with Caleb but just as I sat down he slipped and cut his foot on something. He made his way back up to me and his foot was dripping rapidly with blood. I carried him down to the water’s edge to rinse it off and realized that he had sliced a deep one inch gash on the inside ball of his foot.
My own leg was wet and red with his blood and I had to wash myself off, too. He was so brave and hardly cried, just made some distress noises as I told Caleb to run back to get Dad, so we could carry Seth back to our tent. Thankfully, his foot stopped bleeding, which was a relief…but it was open and sore for the rest of the day. We put him in the tent and he rested with me by his side, and Jacob and Grace were with us, too. Rich went down to make sure Ethan and Dave came back okay. I was upset for a little while (on the inside), shaking and so sad about Seth’s foot. I was upset with E and D for going off like that, but I knew that they were safe and just having an adventure and it was fine. I just hate that vulnerable feeling that my children could get hurt badly at any time, or we could lose one.
I didn’t say anything to the boys when they walked back with their Dad, they were fine and I didn’t want to ruin the joy they had in their experience. But I did tell Ethan later on, when he was about to go off and do it again, to stay around with us.
“I’m sixteen why won’t mom let me swim a quarter of a mile out into the ocean!” (he’s not really saying that but it makes a good caption)
We left Grace and Dave and went to get some lunch at a seafood place. We stopped off at CVS so I could run in and get a bandage for Seth’s foot. My stress dissipated when I was back in the car and realized that I had bought the largest bandages they had, because in my mommy mind Seth’s cut was HUGE and TERRIBLE, and needed a five inch square bandaid. I wish you could have heard the things Jacob was mumbling when I asked him to put it on him. I laughed to tears. In order to use it, he had to put it up around Seth’s toes! It never worked right, by the time we got back and he took his shoes back off the whole bandage came off with it.
Rich and I had a buttery lobster rolls for lunch, and whole red boiled potatoes. Jacob had a mixed basket of fried seafood, and Ethan had crab legs. We took back fried shrimp for Grace and Dave, who were happy and having fun together when we got back.
I like this picture because all seven children are in it. Seth was tired of sitting on a towel so he swam some more, running with a pronounced limp.
Rich went for a nice beach run. He also played catch with the football with Ethan and Seth.
Sarah had sand in every nook and cranny. She found a pink pony tail holder in the water and kept it with so much happiness. She also got to play with a little girl just her size, named Chloe. Grace and I watched them play and they were so cute that Grace remarked that Sarah would have made a good twin.
Big brother Jacob threw sand at David and Caleb.
We left the beach at 5:30, which was a process in itself since we all had to rinse off and get changed into clean underthings. I was in charge of Sarah and honestly, the sand didn’t come off until this morning’s bath.
After we left the ocean, we went to a bookstore. It was an independent bookseller, and I like those shops the best because they are always so unique. The bad part is you pay full price for books, unless you can find something on the clearance table. I love this picture of the children waiting for Dad to finish buying Mom’s books. David’s turning red with sunburn and yawning, Caleb and Ethan are looking at a “where’s waldo” book, and Sarah Joy is itching the sand out of her hair.
We went to a pizza place for dinner, just down the road from the bookstore.
David’s face seemed to get redder and redder. He used to suffer from mild eczema as a child and even now sunburns and rashes bother him more than the other children.
We sat at three tables. The big kids played cards and Sarah dragged her chair over to be by Grace. Rich was showing something to Jacob on his phone. They had a pepperoni and meatball pizza at their table.
David, Seth, and Caleb sat at their own table with a cheese pizza.
Rich and I had clam pizza at our table.
At the end of a fun day. It was about 8pm when Grace took this picture of the tired but happy parents.
We drove home in the rain, listening to Winnie the Pooh.
*******
What We Did:
Hammonasset State Park; Connecticut residents pay 9 dollars a car on the weekdays to get in.
Lenny & Joes Fish Tale for lunch. A casual fish fry place, with a small carousel in the back, and a creamy soft serve ice cream stand.
RJ Julia Booksellers; an independently owned bookstore with great books.
Bradley and Wall Gourmet Foods, for pizza. When we were there last night the place was fully staffed by young college aged kids — they were busy, happy, and energetic. The pizza was delicious, we ordered three large and came home with about half a pizza leftover.
It’s a beautiful Saturday. The door keeps opening and slamming shut again as the children take turns running in and out for what specific reasons I don’t always know. What I do know is that they’re busy, it’s summer, and these are perfect days to enjoy their childhood. The windows are open and I can hear wind chimes blowing musically in the breeze. When my husband comes in I will ask him to make me a cup of coffee (he likes to). My eyes are sleepy from reading this afternoon, outside in the sun by the pond, with friend/daughter Grace contentedly by my side. Our little boys Seth and Caleb swam for a while and then ate popsicles. It’s good to sit and type, thinking about my family and how thankful I am for these days.
Yesterday was a very rainy fourth of July and we did NOTHING patriotic. (Wait, is grilling hot dogs patriotic?) I was exhausted and filled with determination to reorganize the downstairs boys’ room, and we did it. Ahh, it feels so good. I threw away several bags of garbage and old toys. I also weeded through their bookshelves and added another couple of bags to the pile to donate. The boys now have a lovely clean room.
Ironically, today was the annual library book sale. We all went, in two vehicles because Rich had to take our old broken freezer to the dump. After leaving behind three bags, and taking a new box of books, we went to the diner for lunch, and then I read outside on a blanket with Grace.
NEW BOOKS!! HAPPY DAY!!
My children will have memories of coming home with bags of used books, carefully chosen from the laden tables at our local library.
I was so happy to find another old C.W. Anderson “Blaze” book, the children love them.
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people
who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~Anna Quindlen
(my personal stack)
(playing a card game) I love seeing the siblings pair off and do things together. They are forming such wonderful bonds for life. Grace and Jacob get along so well, and of course Jacob and Ethan are practically like twins with the way they’ve grown up together. David does well with Ethan, too. Caleb, Seth, and Sarah play together all day long, riding bikes and swimming. This is probably the best part of having lots of children, there’s always someone to spend time with and someone else to spend time with when the first person gets boring. 🙂
(clawing another’s face)
(spying)
(wondering)
(reading) That red book is my journal in which I write the titles and reactions to the books I read, along with dates and sometimes a quote or two.
(sunning)
I was looking down into my flower beds from the porch and spotted Billy sleeping.
He didn’t come. I sent Caleb out with a message for his dad that I would like a cup of coffee please. Two minutes later Rich stomped serenely through the house to get ice and a towel for his hand….”what did you do?!?”……. “oh, I burned my hand on that motor what kind of coffee am I making?”
My youngest brother is getting married in August to a beautiful Christian woman. He is ready and eager for marriage, living single for the last few years has never seemed natural, and praise God he has found his love of a lifetime. They are incredibly happy, to be around them is to be lifted up in their joy, it’s contagious.
I met my friend Joanna in college and almost 20 years down the road we are knit together in close friendship. Both of us would say that *we would be a different person if we didn’t have the other in our life*. She has grown me, loved me, taught me, inspired me. She is a busy mom of five, and a talented photographer, too…
Isaac and Cassandra needed a photographer for their wedding and Joanna was so gracious to say yes to the opportunity. It’s been a dream come true for us as friends, having her involved in a sweet family moment in the town and home-place that I grew up in. I plan on helping her on the wedding day, and we can’t wait to work together.
Last Saturday, Joanna did an engagement shoot for them, in order to get to know them better before their big day. I was here at home in Connecticut, but a piece of my heart was in rural New York with Isaac, Cassandra, and Joanna, since I knew exactly when they were taking these pictures. I couldn’t wait to see the final outcome, and when Cass posted them all on Facebook yesterday I asked her if I could please share them here, with my blogging friends.
Who isn’t touched by young love, and the promise of a new beginning? What will the years hold?
When I look at these photos, tears come to my eyes. I love Joanna’s photography here; she worked like an angel in the background, making some magic in capturing images that Isaac and Cassandra will cherish forever.
There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart. ~Celia Thaxter
Jacob and Ethan were invited to go with Zachary to Six Flags and yesterday, while they were getting ready to go, my sister Amanda called and asked if I would *go to Six Flags with her*. She had season passes for her and her children, and they could each bring a friend free that day. When Caroline came to pick up the boys I told her I was going, too, and she asked if I would take Allie with me as she had no room in her car for her daughter to go with the boys and Allie wanted to go.
IT WAS SUCH A FUN DAY!
We’ve lived in this area for about 14 years and I finally went to Six Flags for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of rides that Seth and Sarah could ride, and I could go on the majority of them with them.
It was a hot day, but dry rather than humid, so we kept spraying on the sunscreen and away we went from one ride to another, to the water park, to more rides, and over priced soda and food, with which to sustain us. I also brought juice and fruit, and Amanda brought crackers and peanut butter.
We saw the older boys once and they were having a great time. Amanda couldn’t get over how Jacob and Ethan had grown into men over the last few months she had not seen them.
Surprisingly, little Sarah LOVED all the rides. To hear her giggle and see her bright eyes was such a delight. As soon as we got off a ride she asked to go on another.
Seth was tired but perked up after soda and after the sun went down at dusk. He scared us at one point by taking himself to the bathroom. He said that he told us he was going, but we didn’t hear him. Praise the Lord he got himself back to us (there were crowds of people).
Caleb cried when his beloved championship baseball hat flew off on a fast ride.
The only ride Sarah didn’t like at all was the white water rapids, she explained that she hates waterfalls (falling on her face).
In total, it was Amanda and myself, plus Grace, Abbie, Allie, David, Caleb, Seth, and Sarah.
Amanda left with her three at dinner time and since it was my first time there I stayed another couple of hours to get a full day in.
Oh and did I mention, that along with Amanda’s guest passes, the people in front of us in line also shared their 3 guest passes so that I did not have pay for a single entrance fee! I love Random Acts of Kindness, they do happen and I always take note!! People are lovely.
the little kids’ swing ride
sitting in a tea cup with Sarah Joy (we rode this twice…we rode a lot of things twice!)
David my little boy who loves to fly, and wants to fly, got to fly…..on the ZOOM JETS
My fun children (plus Allie, who is only “sort of” mine) I love these people.
“hot air balloon ride” -not the one his hat blew away on-
Sarah and me, with giggles of joy
Seth got to ride on a wild ride which Sarah was too short for. He sat with Grace, and when it was over he ran back and waved his arms around to show me how the ride went. Isn’t he handsome? A favorite memory is watching him dance to some of the songs that played in the park, “I like to move it-move it” was his favorite.
It was the ride the hat blew away on….Caleb was told by the workers that he could get his hat back after the park closed for the night at 11pm. When I told Rich on the phone later, he said that maybe I could drive back the next morning to get it, to which I replied sarcastically, “Oh, yes!” And he said, “Thank you, that’s so nice of you Shan.” LOL I figured it would be easier to see if Coach has an extra? Pandemonium was the name of that ride which is exactly what it caused in Caleb’s life.
I was admiring Grace’s eyes, which were bloodshot at this point, but still pretty. She was a wonderful helper, so were Allie and Abbie, they made a happy threesome, and were SO good to the younger ones (they don’t take any shenanigans, either, which also helps maintain order!).
I think one of the best parts of the day was getting funnel cakes, cheese fries, soda, and slushies with the older kids while Amanda went on a couple rides with the little ones. Such fun, with an instant energy boost from the junk food.
One last ride on the merry-go-round. After it started, Grace put her hands down and rode holding the horse with her knees, I could tell she was pretending it was real.
My school children had their last day of it, yesterday. I had a light hearted feeling in the morning, looking forward to their return, knowing how happy they were to finish up a good year. Four of them came home on the buses, but I had drive to get Grace, who had to stay after for music. On the way up to the school I saw the sign that wished the elementary principal good luck on his retirement and I got to thinking…….
I liked that principal. He was thoughtful and didn’t rush through programs, he was efficient but took the time to care. I didn’t want him to leave.
Sometimes all of a sudden, the constant moving and shifting of life HURTS.
Caleb sat me down and showed me everything in his backpack from the school year and I was sad because I liked his teacher and now third grade is over.
David’s teacher gave him an old lego set from the classroom and I was sad because he figured David out and saw his gifts, he was another great teacher and now for Dave, elementary school is behind him and middle school is coming in a few short months.
By the time Rich got home from work, I was sitting cross legged on the porch with Jacob and we were listening to melancholy songs and playing war. He came over to talk to us and noticed I was trying not to let the tears spill over…….(Jacob immediately changed the music to the NFL theme song to make me laugh) and I did— through the tears, as I listed off all the things making me gloomy. “Women crying make men feel awkward.” Jacob remarked 10 minutes later when I told him that I noticed his Dad got inside as soon as he could and probably wouldn’t come back out.
I feel like the roller coaster of living is taking me to the tippy top and is about to speed-race me back down to the bottom.
This summer vacation will get me slowly to the crest and then — THE DROP.
At this point I’m crying because, like a child who has second thoughts at Six Flags, I don’t want to go down so fast and scary.
Graduation for the seniors was last night. Rich had to take Grace up and drop her off to sing and usher. “That place is packed, Shan, cars all over the place.”
I was thinking, “Next year we will be there, because Jacob will be graduating.”
Yes, Jacob will be a Senior, then the next year Ethan will be a Senior, then the very next year Grace will be a Senior.
And my two last babies:: Seth will be entering Kindergarten in the fall, and the very next year Sarah Joy will go, too.
So you can see, with all these changes at the door how this mama heart hurts a little.
It’s a possibility and I hope this is what happens:
When I do get to the top, maybe I’ll throw my hands up in the air and enjoy the excitement of the ride.
Five or so years ago, one of Rich’s coworkers gave him two used basketball hoops that he didn’t want any longer. They were the kind that were free standing and had to be held down in place with a sand filled bottom. Eventually we found that they needed small boulders around the bottoms, too. These basketball hoops were great fun for the family, but over the years the backboards broke, and the nets ripped off. The children didn’t complain (that I know of) but when they went out to play, or had friends over, it was sort of sad to see them shooting hoops with this less than ideal set up.
There came a day, two weeks ago, when Rich had the time and energy to do something about the basketball hoops. He took Ethan with him and drove to the nearest sporting goods store, only to discover than there were none in stock. Nothing daunted, he got back in the truck with E and they drove another hour away to the only store that stocked what they needed.
For the rest of the day, Rich dug and dug, with Ethan by his side the entire time. The hole needed to be a certain depth and width to properly sink the pole for the new hoop. He did most of the digging, but after a while, when it was time to mix and pour the cement, Jacob and Ethan worked just as hard. They ran out of cement and without a word to me, Rich drove back out to Home Depot (it was dark by this time) to buy some more…….leaving the boys to work by themselves until he returned.
Rich had Jacob take a picture of Caleb in the hole before they started pouring cement.
After getting the cement poured, and the beginnings of the base inserted, they had to wait for it to thoroughly dry. They were excited, and would have finished the project sooner, but Rich was away for four days last week on a business trip. He returned on Thursday night, and on Saturday morning he went outside to finish the job, with all the boys around him. They played loud music and worked, reading the instructions carefully, and doing each step the best they could possibly do, under Rich’s leadership.
He’s a leader first and foremost, in the home.
Jacob and Ethan had a party to go to and were gone most of the day, but Rich had plenty of children left to shoot hoops with.
Here he is, with Grace:
The pole can adjust up and down so that the little boys can play, too.
When Rich played with the boys yesterday he played (as Ethan said) PHYSICAL. He has no mercy on the older ones. He plays rough on the teens, but in gentleness with the five year old (Seth was on his team) *when he remembered that Seth was there*. After they were all tired out, Jacob went to change his shirt because it was covered in his Dad’s sweat. They had a great time.
Especially the Dad.
When Rich takes his shirt off outside, Seth immediately takes his off, too.
It stopped me in my tracks to see their two shirts left behind: Rich threw his up on the side of his truck, so Seth put his there, too.
It’s important to marry a good man, because the children will almost certainly, and naturally, follow his lead.
That truth wasn’t in my head when I said yes to Rich’s marriage proposal, so I am all the more thankful on my knees to God, for giving me this good man for my husband and for the father of our children.
Often, the thing we are most gifted at is also the thing that gets annoying to our loved ones. Rich always has to have things to do, and rarely just sits around. After being gone all week it was hard for him to just stop and sit by the wife on the couch. On Saturday evening, after all that basketball playing, he had the nerve to say (right next to me!) that he was BORED. (I’m smiling as I type). Personally, I was tired, and with little Sarah sick with the stomach bug I was not going anywhere. It was my suggestion that he take the children out to pizza (in this way, I didn’t have to think about what to serve for dinner) and he did. At 7:00 pm, when I would have been thinking “It’s almost bedtime for the youngsters!” he loaded them up and headed to the pizza place.
He sent me the picture. I look at it and think, “KIDS WITH THEIR DAD”. I love it. Rich loves pizza and so do all the children.
It’s easy to be a good dad. Just do what you want to do, what you enjoy doing, and, with a loving heart, take the kids along for the ride.
The loving heart part is the key. Rich doesn’t TALK about his love as much as he shows it, and he shows it in ways that I remember and hold close in my heart. Like when he gets sad because the older ones are almost grown up and will leave him soon. Like when it bothers him more that it bother me, that Jacob has a girlfriend, because it’s another sign that his children are getting older………
Sarah was sick yesterday, and Grace was at Baccalaureate, so I took a few pictures in honor of Father’s day, of just Rich and his sons. I like pictures in which the children wear what they like to wear….my only requirement was that the boys turn their shirts around because they each had words on the front. Jacob is wearing socks because he hates going barefoot. It might look funny in the photo, but to me it is beautiful because that’s the way he is.
“To be honest, to be kind–to earn
a little and to spend a little less, to make upon the whole a family happier for his presence…….”
Good morning friends, a beautiful day has dawned bright and fair. I am putting my feet up after cleaning the kitchen. This morning I made a pancake breakfast for David, Caleb, Seth, and Sarah Joy. David said, as he ate his second big ‘cake, that I made The Best Pancakes and I said, “I used your Grandma’s recipe, you know”.
(Thanks, mama.)
There are candles flickering yellow, and the dishwasher is humming.
Little Seth is climbing up into the recliner to snuggle up close.
Today Grace has a follow up appointment for her fractured finger, and this afternoon the boys have dentist appointments, so I thought I would use some time this morning to post some pictures from the weekend (and yesterday)….these early summer days are utterly inspiring with their beauty. It’s so good to be outdoors with the trees, flowers, and grasses turning brilliant green.
I draped the camera with a kitchen towel to take a picture of the children’s melting chalk drawings, in a pouring rain, the colors swirled and Sarah was sad.
joys of childhood (watching with a mama’s heart, content)
playing jacks (with fresh, new chalk drawings)
an old wooden crate planted to bachelor buttons~
David was silently mouthing “help” to me. He is at the age when any display of affection toward himself is embarrassing.
Jacob and Ethan
muffin lunch
under the pine trees
I was thrilled to discover this pink flowering bush hiding behind the other trees down at the pond. It is about 10 feet tall and must have bloomed every summer since we moved here without me ever noticing…….(how?)…..a happy surprise.
I recognized the blossoms from Grandma’s garden but looked it up in a flower book just to be sure; it’s a PINXTER FLOWER; pink azalea
“This much-branched shrub is especially showy in flower. It is relatively tolerant of dry sites and can be transplanted into wild shrub gardens.”
Jack-in-the-pulpit, or Indian Turnip
These aremgrowing in the forest. I’ve always been amused by them, probably because they have such a personality as preacher-men.
See? Here is “Jack” in his pulpit. Is anyone listening? All the other flowers in the forest, perhaps?
“Because of needle-like calcium oxalate crystals and perhaps other acrid substances in the swollen, underground stem, it is peppery to the taste and causes a strong burning reaction if eaten raw; this unpleasant property can be eliminated by cooking. Native Americans gathered the fleshy corms for food.”
This was growing up straight and tall in the middle of a group of ferns. When I touched it I was surprised by how dry and “scrubby” it felt.
Seth has been spending a lot of time silently walking around and around the ponds, trying to catch bull frogs. When he caught this one he brought it to show us, holding it high over his head with a grin and yelling, “Praise the Lord!”
God smiles.
Millions of toad tadpoles in our pond.
My beautiful son all tired out from the very best of activities; running wild in the great outdoors.
Our window-shelf of nature books.
“I wonder if anything will be–can be–any more beautiful than this,” murmured Anne, looking around her with the loving, enraptured eyes of those to whom “home” must always be the loveliest spot in the world, no matter what fairer lands may lie under alien stars.” Anne of the Island, LM Montgomery
Have a wonderful day, my friends. Look around you at all the interesting things in this world, there is much to see.
Good to be Home 