a gift for you:
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for my brother Nathan
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Category Archives: family
3 little stories from the past 24 hours
Blue Sweater
There is just something extra special about a handmade sweater, especially if it’s made by an old white haired lady. After receiving it, the young mama puts it on her little one with thoughts of the granny who made it, and it’s like wrapping up that child up in a hug. Yes, years ago, when my firstborn was a little boy, his Great-Great Grandma made him and his little brother both warm sweaters. These sweaters, everyone agreed, were special, because they zipped up the back. Through the years of putting the sweaters on the children, I would get a little thrill as I told them to *turn around* so I could zip them (up the back). The oldest wore his light blue sweater, then the second oldest wore it, then the third oldest, then the fourth oldest, then the fifth oldest, then the sixth oldest, and last but never ever least, it was Sarah Joy’s turn. (she’s the youngest)
This sweater is one of the only articles of clothing that was worn by all seven children.
(Unrelated: “Why are we Still Wearing Sweaters at the End of May?”)
Morning Milk Delivery
You know how some mornings you wake up just ready? Ready to pleasantly tackle any ol’ problem that comes your way? You’re full of optimism, you have a song in your heart, and can’t wait to wrap your arms around your loved ones? I don’t either, but some mornings are definitely better than others. The first thing I do when I wake up is stumble out of my bedroom, say good morning to the teenagers, and make my way over to the coffee pot. This morning, I was extra and beyond tired. When I made my way to the coffee pot, I discovered to my horror that Jacob had beaten me to the remainder of the half and half. He thought he had the right to finish it! I said, “If this ever happens again, and the carton is almost gone, DON’T USE IT UP, DON’T TOUCH IT, LEAVE IT FOR ME!” Jacob was offended, “Then I won’t get any!” he cried. “Yes, yes, that’s right.” I nodded. To make matters even more discouraging we were completely out of milk (and we had been, for days). We have the $ to buy milk, rest assured, it was just one of those things that I hadn’t taken care of yet. It would ruin my morning to drink coffee without cream or milk. I ran into my bedroom to whine to my husband, who laughed at me and said “You’ll have to go out this morning and buy some!” I whined some more about not wanting to go, I couldn’t go, I just couldn’t handle going shopping with Seth and Sarah and………..” He left for work still laughing! I thought and thought about what to do, and I had no gumption. Should I put the kids in the car and go through a drive through for coffee? But, that wouldn’t help with the milk situation. Should I buzz down to the grocery store? It was only 6:30! I went downstairs to wake up the boys for school and then went to my room to get dressed. I was downcast and my spirit was low within me. I could hear the boys in the kitchen. I went out to put cream cheese on their bagels and saw …… my husband was back home, and at the coffee maker. It took me a few seconds (did he forget something?) before I realized that he had indeed BOUGHT MILK and BROUGHT IT HOME to MEEEEEE!!!!!!!! I squealed and ran toward him. He took off running around the kitchen and I chased him around the island saying thank you! thank you so much! As I hugged him around the neck I could hear Caleb saying, “Does this mean I can have cereal now?” Rich pointed dramatically at Caleb like I was choking him and he couldn’t get away, “Your son wants some cereal.”
Sometimes milk is even better than a bouquet of flowers.
This is Such a Weird Coincidence
So, as I drank my wonderful coffee this morning, I got on the computer. I went to the blog and clicked into the archives, looking at and reading about what we were doing as a family last year. I could hear Seth and Sarah rummaging in my room but I was pretty much just telling myself that surely they were being good and not making a mess (uh-huh, yeah). Presently, Sarah came to me and got in the chair. She had a pretty little bejeweled fabric box in her hands. Interestingly enough, I myself had come across the box this past weekend, in another box in my room, so I knew that she had done some serious rummaging to find it. To me it was just another thing in the house, but she was agog over it and wanted to know if she could have it. “No,” I answered, “that’s mama’s box.” It was filled with embroidery floss and I told her to leave it alone. She remained compliantly by my side and glanced at the computer screen. I scrolled down, talking to her and showing her the pictures. “Mom, wait!” She pointed at a picture. “See? This IS my box!” “What?” I said, astounded. Because, there before my eyes was a picture of Rich last year, passing out gifts to the children from their Grandma Leslie, and there was Sarah, with bright eyes, holding on to the very same box she had found this morning in my room!
I immediately and humbly returned it to her, as I can’t argue with concrete evidence.
It was just too weird!! What are the chances of 1) her actually FINDING the box 2) at the exact time that I came across the picture I took when she first received it! 3) Honestly, I really didn’t remember where the thing had come from! I just thought it was my own pretty embroidery floss container.
She carried it around all morning.
last night
a simply lovely life
Caleb, our eight year old, had his chorus concert last night so I made him take a shower. I slicked his hair back good and used gel to make it hold.
Doesn’t he look handsome?
Even more than his Dad’s good looks, it’s what I see coming from his eyes….his gentle, sweet soul…..
Rich was at Jacob’s track meet (J got fourth in Javelin) and Grace was at youth group. Ethan sat in the back of the auditorium (he had baseball practice so I brought him dinner on a paper plate) with Dave and I sat up toward the front, with Seth on one side and Sarah on the other.
During the performance, Sarah whispered into my ear, “Caleb was being a good singing.” I immediately sent that one to Rich. (kid quotes)
During the performance, Seth whispered into my ear, “I’m so so hungry!” Come to find out, I had completely missed giving Seth his dinner. (large family problems).
When we were leaving the school he asked, “Mom? Can we go someplace to eat?” I said, “Sure! Home!”, to which he replied indignantly, “That’s NOT A PLACE! IT’S A HOME!”
It began to rain and we saw a big rainbow.
Rich was in the kitchen loading the dishwasher when I stepped in the house. We hugged for a long time.
for dave
His birthday is tomorrow.
He is a steady support in my life.
We text almost daily. We talk often.
He’s the the type that will fight for you, support you, do anything for you if you have a need.
I am beyond grateful for my family, and this brother has been there every step of the way.
Dave, I hope you enjoy this little slideshow I put together for you.
catch up day
“Hold my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” Psalms 17:5
I am feeling somewhat more human this afternoon since I decided to cancel the plans I had this morning in favor of staying home to catch up with things around the home-place. It has been days and days of activity and I needed a catch-up day for my soul. I am much more at peace now that I put new sugar water in the hummingbird feeder, took the time to hang the loads of laundry on the clothesline rather than throw them in the dryer, watered the houseplants, caught up on the dishes, washed the fronts of the ovens and dishwashers, cleaned the upstairs bathroom, gave my darlings Seth and Sarah baths, washed my hair, spent a lot of time outside, admired ducks and toad tadpoles, put dinner in the crock pot, and took a cat nap.
I discovered this morning that one of my hens was consumed yesterday by what Seth believes was a FOX. All that remains are some lovely gray feathers in the green green grass and a firm belief that life is easier when one does not become to attached to one’s hens.
I read some Dr. Laura Schlessinger this morning and came away with these quotes:
“If you determine to SEE value and feel gratitude for what you have, you will not be consumed by envy and disappointment.”
(praying for eyes that SEE the real and true!)
“LOVE is about awe, admiration, respect and appreciation.”
(thinking of my dear husband and these feelings I have for him.)
“If you’re looking for true happiness with another person, you first need to be reasonably mature, psychologically sound, and able to deal with truth and reality.”
(thankful that although we married young, much grace was given for our immature years, growing along together.)
Things are by no means excellent around here, but the reality of the matter is, when raising seven children you must lower your standards of cleanliness unless you can hire a full time housekeeper. All we need is love and understanding to cover over the messy parts.
Seth is currently standing on the counter throwing bacon dog treats to Parker, it makes him so happy to be nice to the dog.
Wind chimes are singing.
Sarah is napping.
My mom started these green pepper plants seeds from a pepper she ate and liked the taste of! My mom is awesome and an ever-source of inspiration to me.
My dad is awesome, too. He has a drum set in my old bedroom, right where my little sister Amanda’s bed used to be. He takes drum lessons every other Saturday! He practices every day! He loves it. How wonderful it is to do something for YOU, no matter who you are or how old you are.
His arms were flying so fast that I told him to freeze so I could take a picture.
In the living room, by the window, he has a practice drum and a music stand. He listens to the metronome through his ear phones and practices technique.
It’s a challenge. Mom says she loves to listen to him drum, she also loves this song:
“Like a drum my heart never stops beating for you.”
David asked me if he could make a chocolate cake and whenever it is possible, I say YES because I used to make the same recipe when I was 11 years old like him.
Wacky Cocoa Cake
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups water
3/4 cup oil
2 Tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla.
In a mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients like a mountain, with baking soda on the tippy top. Pour water and oil carefully around the bottom of the mountain. Pour vinegar on top of the baking soda to watch the bubbles! Add vanilla, beat until smooth. Pour batter into 9 by 13 pan, bake at 350, 35-40 minutes. Lick out the bowl.
His confidence grows and grows with each baking.
Well I hate to tell ya, our cat caught and ate an entire butterfly this weekend.
While Davy-do caught a fish.
(seth is in the other room and I called out to him, “are you getting into mischief?” “NO!” “What are you doing, then?” “Oh, I’m just sitting in a chair. holding a guitar pick. and thinking about God.” I laughed my way to him and gave him a hug. “Really, Seth?” “Oh, I don’t know what I’m doing.” Kiss kiss on the cheek, back to blogging.)
This young dragonfly landed on my shirt, Sarah was worried it would bite and asked me if she could kill it, and we put it gently on a bush. “No-No! Don’t ever kill the dragonflies, they eat mosquitoes!”
The mallard ducks came back. One of the boys came to get me and I snuck down with my camera. They were in the stream, and the stream was overflowing and fast. It was fun to watch them in the rushing water, I wonder if they enjoyed themselves as they dipped and bobbed along?
It was hard for Sarah to keep her eyes on the female duck; she blends right into the stream!
I think he was trying to keep his balance.
He was about to go down the “rapids”.
****
Her face, when I came home from a date with her Daddy:
“Sarah, Sarah, where are you? I have a surprise for you!”
“You do? I hardly believe it.”
“Well, what is it? What is it, Mom?”
“NEW SHOES!!!” (this was her wondrous face as I said the word “shoes”) :::
“For reals? You’re awesome-sauce, Mom!”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“May I just get to the end of my road and say, I have done this important thing in my life, and I have done it well.” ~Tessa Kiros
“When love and duty are one, then grace is in you and you will enjoy a happiness which passes all understanding.” ~The Painted Veil
“Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (If you are a believer than you are pleasing to him because YOU HAVE the FAITH that He has given you!!)
Grace just came home from school smiling and singing because she is learning sign language with Larissa at 3:00.
mom’s night out
It’s good to be home but everyone needs a night out now and then!
My aunt’s 40th birthday was last Friday (the 9th). I took my daughter Grace and we drove four hours “back home” (where I grew up) so we could meet Colleen and the others at the movies to watch “Mom’s Night Out”.
There were beautiful tulips in bloom outside the theatre so Mom and I had Grace take a picture of us. Mom is Colleen’s big sister, they are 17 years apart.
Colleen has four daughters, she brought Molly and Maddie to the movie, her two oldest girls.
Colleen had nieces, sisters, daughters, and friends join her for her birthday movie.
We sat in our big comfy seats, ate candy and popcorn, laughed and cried……the movie was awesome!
Take yourself and some friends out for a night you will remember. I would like to see it again, so invite me, ‘K? xo
PS. I love Trace Adkins.
outside
Sarah’s been doing this bothersome thing for days now where she wakes up in the night and turns her light on to look at books. If we hear her feet (her room is above ours) we get up and put her back to bed but mostly she gets away with it. I know she does it because she sleeps in until about 9 the next morning. Last night she came in my room at 3:30am and said, “My room is too noisy!” I was so tired that I asked her to get into bed with me, which was a terrible decision because she had insomnia in my bed….after about half an hour she asked for a drink and I put her back to bed upstairs. Her window was open so I shut it for her. (she didn’t like hearing the nighttime sounds).
This morning after the big kids went to school, Seth and I had an hour and a half to ourselves before I went upstairs to wake up sleepy head (night owl). She woke up with her hair wild and a sleepy smile…what a way for her to greet the day, with a look at mama’s funny face peeking into her room and a smile appearing on her own. My heart melted as I walked over to her bed, “Sarah! Aren’t you hungry?” She nodded “yes” and let me pick her up.
I forgot to mention that she fell asleep in my arms last night. I was gone from 5 to 8:30 with little league games and Sarah stayed home with her big brothers, so I went in to check on her at 9 (after showering Seth) and she was still wide awake. I got in bed with her (no covers, it was stuffy in her room after a warm day) and gathered her up…..I felt myself relax with contentment after the busy night, Sarah drifted to sleep and I tiptoed back out of her room.
Davy hit a triple last night. 🙂
Sarah had eggs for breakfast and Seth sat next to her for a snack of applesauce. I brushed her hair back into a ponytail.
They currently have the dollhouse on the floor and are making up stories with all the My Little Ponies, the upstairs of the house is standing room only with them.
I cleaned the living room this morning, it feels so good to sit here in a clean room.
Rich didn’t do laundry while I was away so I got caught up yesterday with about 7 HUGE loads. I hung two of them out to dry on the clothesline. One of which is still there.
While I was down on my hands and knees vacuuming the edge of the room this morning, Seth asked me what was wrong with my feet. They are wrinkled, and yesterday when I was barefoot, dirt became embedded in the cracks…he was concerned. “Oh they’re just dirty, ” I explained.
“MAYBE YOU’RE TURNING INTO A GRANDMA,” he offered, innocently (still concerned.)
After my shower I got dressed and put socks and sneakers on, after rubbing thick lotion into my feet.
*******
On Saturday morning Grace went out for breakfast with her Uncle Dave, Uncle Isaac, and Cassandra. While they were gone, Mom and I ate oatmeal outside and then walked around the lawn.
Here are the photos from that morning outside:
Mom and Dad have several feeders hanging on the porch; the orioles enjoy the hummingbird feeder (goldfinch glowing in the bush behind.)
Mom’s asparagus in the garden. When we went to church the next day, someone tried giving Dad a couple pounds of it from his garden, and when Dad explained that they had their own, he gave it to me.
Basket and Gourd (gourd grown by mom) hung up in the trees by the creek.
a purple flower ground cover that I forgot the name of…..
There were tender bunches of dandelion greens all over the place, I told Mom she could be eating it in her salads but she said no thanks. I bent down to gather some as we walked around, and nibbled on it. They are highly nutritious. Nature’s spring restorative vitamins.
Giant willow tree
She’s already tidied up the iris garden.
A lilac died so she had Dad move it out back and later on discovered some of Tasha Tudor’s foxgloves had transplanted with it.
There were white violets all over the place.
Bluets: a lovely delicate flower.
David and Isaac arrived back home with Grace, and Isaac’s fiancé Cassandra, and we walked with them in the blueberry patch and woods.
Grace went barefoot in the blueberry patch, the ground was soaked with water……
Dave has been making stacked rock sculptures all over the place and he names each one “Ruby”.
It’s amazing how he gets them balanced just right.
He lifted up a rock and found a community of ants underneath so he settled it back into place, not to disturb them.
Grace re-injured her fractured finger by climbing this tree. She couldn’t resist.
Dave set up my camera with a timer so we could get a group picture. I love it. As you can see, Isaac also had his big camera and he took a great many pictures of his bride-to-be. So sweet.
Trout Lily: “Recognized by it’s mottled leaves, this is one of our most common spring wildflowers; it is found in sizable colonies. The name refers to the similarity between the leaf markings and those of Brown and Brook trout.” National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers
I was most excited to find Purple Trilliums because we don’t see them in our woods here in Connecticut. I’m sure we have them, I just don’t know where they are. We found these in the woods behind my parent’s house. See the happy bug on top of this one?
They sort of droop down, and it had rained the night before so they were wet. Their poor heads were tired.
We found close to 20 of them growing around in the woods.
“This common eastern trillium has foul smelling flowers, which attract carrion flies that act as pollinators. As the genus name suggests, the flower parts and leaves of trilliums are arranged in multiples of 3, typical of the lily family.”
Can you believe that? FOUL SMELLING!! I knew this from trying to pick one as a child. I brought hit home and it stunk so bad!
Grace, in Aunt Maria’s rubber boots now, lifted up the head of a Trillium for it’s portrait session.
“It would be well for the designer of tapestries to study the carpets of our forests for his patterns, for he would find there a new carpet every month, quite different in plan and design from the one spread there earlier or later. One of the most beautiful designs from Nature’s looms is a trillium carpet……..It is a fine study of the artistic possibilities of the triangle when reduced to terms of leaves, petals, and sepals.” Anna Comstock, in her highly recommended Handbook of Nature Study.
Brother Dave was hoping to see an orange Newt, and he found two!
These Eastern Newts begin their lives in the water, then grow air breathing lungs and leave water for land (they are orange at this point and called efts). When they become fully mature they go back to the water to lay eggs and live.
After we put it down on a rotten log, it was fun to watch it push it’s way between tree and bark to get away from us big scary monsters.
Grace looking sweet.
One last picture of the lovebirds who are getting married in August.
*******
“This is my Father’s world
the birds their carols raise;
the morning light,
the lily white,
declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world!
He shines in all that’s fair,
in the rustling grass
I hear Him pass
He speaks to me everywhere.”
Maltbie D. Babcock, 1858-1901
Thanks for going for a walk with us!
You are loved, friends.
time for the yearly mother’s day portrait
Grace and I were out to New York this weekend visiting family. We stayed two nights with Mom and Dad. Dad took this picture of us before church this morning of me and my mom, and Grace and her mom.
After church, we drove four hours home and I got to put my arms around all my children again.
so blessed.
a few of my own thoughts about motherhood, for what they are worth:
Motherhood doesn’t need to be put up on a pedestal. Motherhood doesn’t need to be glorified. It is a special work, but it is what it is because of our heavenly Father. He alone provides what a woman needs to be a beautiful mother to her children: HE GETS THE GLORY. I know I am in a sorry place when I begin thinking too much of myself. I want to feel weak and helpless, because in this way I will run to Jesus and his Word for help and guidance.
I love to have friendships with other mothers and be inspired by them, so I hope this blog does a little bit of that for you, my friends. But always remember that we are all children of God, working in the positions God has placed us.
Practically speaking, there is no set of perfect advice or rules for motherhood. What works for us will not work for other families. You need to work on knowing yourself, knowing your husband, knowing your own children. Do what is best for your own family and you will develop fun, priceless, “weird and strange” habits and jokes that no one else will understand. You will develop a love for one another that is not distracted by trying to follow a book, blog, or some other person’s ideas. Follow the Bible and God’s leading always, but never follow a certain man/philosophy/book unless the advice you learn goes along with your own convictions. Bravely live your own interesting and priceless life in the Lord. Be unique!! Life is an adventure!
Any old “fool” can make a baby, but it takes a lot of hard work and mistakes to raise them up in the Lord. Pray for me and I will pray for you.
It’s all grace, my loves.
I truly love and thank God for my children. I enjoy them all very much. I’m so proud of them I could bust. 🙂
a smile throughout
I took Grace to get her finger x-rayed and while I was there I continued reading my book, Kristin Lavransdatter. I got to the part when the black plague struck and I took out my phone to look up “black plague” and read all about it, never saying a word to Grace about what I was researching.
HOURS LATER, we were home and I was cleaning the sink in the kitchen as Grace was reading in the recliner. All of a sudden she piped up and commented on the book SHE was reading, “Oh. How sad. Her friend just died. Of the black plague.” I stopped what I was doing and stared at her. “Did you know I was researching the black plague today?” She laughed and said no. She was telepathic. (she said) We laughed that we were both reading books that contained information about black death. Of all things!
Her finger is fractured. Sprained and fractured. She feels much better knowing exactly what condition her finger is in. It’s all wrapped up in a splint. The doctor said it is such small injury that it will heal on it’s own.
I finished my 1108 (approximately) page book and I feel lost. I’ll tell you more about it in another post.
Grace and I took Seth and Sarah on a walk in the woods this morning and I picked a tiny bouquet of sweet white violets. They were tiny and beautiful, if I had time I would try to paint them. I cooed over them in the forest, they were growing in a community together, and thanked God for small blessings like violets.
When I put Seth and Sarah to bed for naps I left and went to get my hair done. A color and cut.
Grace and Ethan just left for youth group.
David is folding an origami boomerang.
I want to post pictures from Saturday, when my Mom and Dad were here.
That morning, while we were waiting for them to arrive, we went to the ball field for Caleb’s game. Rich and Jacob were throwing a football back and forth, they like to throw it hard and fast at each other and Grace jumped in to intercept. She jammed her finger and almost passed out. We settled her down with her head in my lap while her Dad left to get food and drink for her. Although I was sad she was hurt, it was a sweet time to baby my teenager. As I stated earlier, it turns out the finger was fractured. We are tired of the finger now. It’s been the main attraction in Grace’s life for too many days. 🙂
A picture of the girls after Grace started perking up: Oh dear, I’m noticing that Sarah Joy was in bare feet again, Nicole.
Jacob:
Caleb looked smart out there in the field. Later on, I received a text from his coach asking me if it was okay to put Caleb’s name in the little local paper for being a good hitter. 🙂
I began feeling anxious that mom and dad would get to the house before we got home but praise the Lord we got there with 10 minutes to spare. They brought Christmas presents because would you believe we haven’t gotten together with the family since Thanksgiving? I was spoiled with new fiestaware and an adorable Vera Bradley apron.
I was mainly feeling spoiled just because THEY WERE THERE.
Mom painted Grace’s fingernails red and then I did Mom’s toes out on the porch.
Dad and Rich talked in the kitchen. The curtain you see was given to me by Joanna.
Ethan is the blur. I’m feeling terrible right now because I didn’t get a good picture of them (J and E) with their beloved grandparents.
The new apron is hanging of a cabinet knob on the bottom left edge of the picture:
Then, Dad and Ethan played guitar together. I love this picture.
Dear Dad.
When I was in Jekyll with my parents this spring I admired my Mom’s Vera Bradley bag. I kept my eyes open and as soon as I saw one I liked just as much, I bought it…..this was the first time they got together (our purses)…mine is the one in the back. Isn’t it funny that they are so alike, yet different, just like Mother and Daughter?
Mom and I amused ourselves by going outside with the children…..Sarah never wanted Mom to stop swinging her.
Dear Mom:
With her little Sarah friend. (frameworthy)
And, with the Caleb, too. (another beautiful photo) I love seeing LOVE.
Back inside, Dad got a dose of Charlie and Lola, as Sarah relaxed in his arms. I guess the sun was in his eyes by the window. 🙂
At 6 we had to leave to get to the High School for Grace’s play. Jacob, Ethan and David went with the grandparents while Rich and I went to get Grace’s flowers from the store.
I sat in the auditorium with my parents on one side of me.
And Rich (not pictured) and the kids on the other side of me.
Seth and Sarah, of course, were pretty much ON ME the entire time. (slight exaggeration but true).
I don’t really like the lighting in this picture and also it was one of those moments where I felt cute but when I saw the photo I was like “oh, so that’s how it is”. (not cute)
But it’s the only one of Rich and I with Grace, so it’s a keeper!
A cool cloud. Thank you, God.
This was all on Saturday! It was a full and glorious day!
PS, here is some good advice for you moms out there: don’t buy toys. just give them scotch tape and bandaids and the freedom to use them liberally.
phone pics; little snapshots of life
Caleb, Seth, Ethan, and David were inspired by the Duck boys.
Seth was so cute on a Sunday morning that I asked to take his picture; he struck a pose.
Oh Grace! Why do you want to read that??? (sister of five brothers)
David caught a bullfrog out of the pond.
Seth had a tick on him; I was able to pull it off but it was a sobering reminder of the problem we have around here with ticks. If they are in your area, be diligent in keeping them off your pets and children (and self). But don’t let them keep you out of the woods!
With my littlest love.
Sarah thought the artificial flowers in the dentist office were real, she smelled them and said they smelled “like chocolate”.
Something got this catfish out of our pond and killed it. Rich and Ethan stocked them a couple years ago so we are sad about it.
At the end of the day I used to hold babies in my arms, now I have no babies. However, I do have cats and a handsome husband ready to snuggle.
Boys on couch. Ethan and Jacob have been sleeping in the living room every night, they think it’s cozier than their own bedroom.
Ethan ready for church on Sunday morning.
Billy cat
I finally put pictures in the locket Hannah gave me for my birthday.
We went to the diner for breakfast yesterday.
We had no milk in the house and the boys had dentist appointments anyway. So we ate and then went to the dentist. It was fun.
Sarah and I had a little walk around the ponds together yesterday afternoon; my darling chatterbox. I picked her up several times for a squeeze.
Chickens in the forest sunshine.
I saw this Carl Larsson painting this weekend and immediately wanted to repot my plants into unifying terra-cotta planters.
So satisfying!
Sometimes my heart hurts because life is so beautiful and short. Sometimes I wish I could freeze time. I never want these days to end and yet I know they must someday. Whenever I feel this way (overwhelmed) I think of how grateful I am to have Jesus….and I am not without comfort for the days to come.
“Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:25a
Good to be Home 