for my friends

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Shanda

thank you

for calling me
thank you for praying with me
for sharing the things that hurt you,

because then I remember that I can be brave with my hurt, too.
thank you for laughing with me so much
Thank you for those journal bits you send in the mail.

thank you for traveling so far to spend time with me

thank you for loving my children

thank you for understanding

for being gentle

for the blanket you crocheted for me

the scarf you crocheted

the potholder you crocheted

For watching Mr. Rogers with me.

for teaching my daughter sign language

thank you for letting your children visit my family

for the letters

for the gifts

for spoiling me

for being yourself around me

snickerdoodles

for being warm and friendly so I know you truly care

making me forget about my phone

for not noticing my faults

for noticing my faults and being amused by them

for noticing things I didn’t think anyone saw

for leaving a comment on my blog every single time

hugs

giving my daughter essential oils for her headaches

forgiving me when I cancel our coffee date, again

talking nonstop

letting me cry it out

making me pee my pants

memories

thank you for the fabric napkins you made me

thank you for the quilts you made my babies

for being faithful

for telling me your morbid stories

for telling me when you wear the earrings I gave you

Thank you for teasing me.

Thank you for not pushing me too hard.
for knowing I love cherries, and owls, and cats.

for those pins you send me on pinterest

for the encouraging texts

being real

inspiring me

letting me in

inviting me over

letting me hold your baby

being quiet with me

singing with me

thank you for the vintage cookbooks

all those emails when I needed your guidance and experience

sharing your favorite people with me

sharing your favorite books with me

for saying yes

for being the one to pay for dinner

for making apple pies with me

for making my daughter that purse and filling it with goodies

for thinking of my son when you see something about snakes

the lilac disc pitcher

for all those long walks outside up on the hill

for all the random information about Norway because you know I want to go there

for finding me on Facebook so we can reconnect

Thank you for continuing to love me, and for not treating me any differently, even though I started going to another church.

Thank you for the poem, drawing and bag of truffles you left on my doorknob when I was away.

for the meals you cooked when I had a baby

for the recipes and tips for depression because you know I get that way sometimes.

***

Thank you for showing me GRACE

I don’t deserve you.

I can’t ever repay you.

But I want to love you back.

And be your friend, too.

This post is for all my friends,

and the pictures are from a day this summer when Joanna drove miles and miles to meet me at a park.

i see fire

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Shanda

It’s raining this morning, I love the sound and the smell! Caleb just got on the bus. Seth and Sarah are playing together for about 20 more minutes before Seth’s bus comes to get him for school.

The trees are colorful, I wonder if we are at peak fall beauty? God’s creation never ceases to amaze and delight!

I am leaving here soon for Community Bible Study. Our group is studying Romans and this morning we also have a brunch. I look forward to getting to know my ladies better today.

Last night the High School had a Variety show. Ethan and Grace sang a duet together. I was so proud of them! All the kids did so well, it made us smile no matter what the quality of performance is. As Jacob said afterwards, we clapped because they did awesome or we clapped because they were brave enough to perform.

They sang a rather dark song that had the phrase “I see fire” repeating in it enough that it also keeps going through my head all day, everyday (from hearing them practice). The song was from the Desolation of Smaug. I just looked it up, the title is not surprising, “I See Fire”.

Here’s the official music video from the movie:

Jacob taped their performance, and if i can figure out how to load it I will do so. They were so cute together up there.

At the end of the song, Grace gave E a cute look, like, “Wasn’t that fun?”

Our church youth group and leadership came out to support them, making the night even more fun! Thanks, guys!!

Want to hear something neat? Two of the Youth Group leaders are brother and sister…..and their names are Seth and Sara! So this is a picture of the four of them, big Seth with little Seth, and big Sara with little Sarah.

It was a great night.

a beautiful day, part 3

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Shanda

“My love is deep,
the more I give to thee,
The more I have, both are infinite.”
William Shakespeare

Isaac and Cassandra’s reception was held up on the hill at our parent’s house, across the road at the blueberry patch. A white tent was set up with decorated tables and we had a delicious chicken dinner, served buffet style. Cousin Erika made the wedding cake, and my cousins gave me their extra frosting. In the midst of food and fun, we took many family photos to document the occasion. The sun was shining and it was a warm, bright afternoon. The happy couple drove off in their blue mustang with waves, smiles, and blessings, at the end of a beautiful day.

A slideshow by Smilebox

stay

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Shanda

“Stay is a charming word in a friend’s vocabulary.” Louisa May Alcott

I drove alone to her house on a Friday morning and stayed until Sunday.

We’ve been friends for 20 years, through Bible college, snail mail letters (fat was good), emails, phone calls, visits few and far between.

There is something special about long distance friendships….the heart comes through so much easier in letters and emails, a closeness is gained when hiding behind a pen.

Oh but the visits are the icing on the cake.

God is so good to give us our people. The ones to share a life with.

Joanna is a beautiful soul. She is creative and her home oozes with her ideas. She and her husband Steve have a relationship of closeness and understanding; he cleared up time for her, by taking on household chores, caring for the children, making meals, so that the two of us could visit.

a few memories::

We played games as a family with so much laughter.

Eti on his pogo stick.

Coco with the shower cap that I gave her from my hotel bathroom.

browsing beautiful shops (we found an old Gladys Taber book)

Dunkin donuts

bic macs

opening gifts

that strange bug

monkey man

Because of Winn Dixie

the bluebird of happiness

herbs from the garden

pinky ring

smell of skunk

a lived in home

recipes

a lost My Little Pony book

race to the bathroom, with a shoulder injury

she let me take her picture

She has a five month old baby boy. He was good natured and sweet.

we did each other’s nails

She did the coolest thing with me on Saturday. Steve came up with the idea that she do a “Tour of Joanna”, inspired by an old Seinfeld episode where Kramer drives a bus around and does his crazy Peterman reality tours.

Jo has lived in the same area her whole life so I got to hear fabulous stories and see places from her whole life.

***

back home again……..

I gave the kids pixie sticks.

We worked on scrapbook pages at the outside table. She let me look through old illustration books to cut and use.

she gave me her drawing and I glued it in my book

selfie in the bird room

church on Sunday

After church we went back to the house for lunch.

Eti (12 years old) made this grenade out of an empty lemon juice bottle.

While waiting for dinner I sat on the couch, looking at one of Jo’s library books, with Tsega at the other end.

After delicious African chicken stew, we played a few rounds of a fun game together before I had to leave for the long drive back home.

It hurt to leave. I had a lovely time with my friend.

Friendship

isn’t about who came first

or who you’ve known the longest.

It’s about who came

and never left.

~anonymous

now I see

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Shanda

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound

that saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now am found

was blind but now I see.

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.

first friday picnic, baptism, and bible study at our place

Image

Mat 18:20 “For wherever two or three people have come together in my name, I am there, right among them!”

We had about fifty people from our church family, and neighbors, come to our house on Friday for a church cook out, baptism, and Bible study. As the hostess, I was happily busy trying to make sure the little details of the night came together (with lots of help from friends), but still made sure to take some pictures. Rich and I hope to continue these “First Friday” (of the month) bible studies as much as we are able. This was our very first one.

(The picture up there ^^ was when Rich was giving general information and the prayer from the front porch)

We put the food on the kitchen island. My plan was to keep the meal simple, making sure that we had a good amount for the crowd. I made hamburgers (meat from Costco, mixed with plenty of salt and pepper, onion and garlic powder, finely chopped onion and red pepper). Rich grilled them on our new charcoal grill. We put hotdogs down at the fire pit for people to roast. We also served tossed salad and chips, a bowl of olives, and whatever else people brought to share (potato salad, quinoa salad, coleslaw, fruit, etc). Our guests provided the drink and dessert.

PICTURES:

Our son Jacob, with his “second parents” Chris and Caroline who live just a few miles from us. They have two teenagers who have grown up with my older kids.

Anna and her friend.

Anna’s (family) dog

Six children on the plane; there were kids swarming everywhere. These church gatherings are great for them, because they can run wild.

Boys on trampoline.

dear sweet Shannon ~

David’s best friend from school came with his parents. Dave thought he would be funny and photobomb this one.

Ryan spent the night.

Alex and Jacob

Alex and his wife Sara

We were all down at the pond getting ready for the baptism when I took these.

crazy teenage boys (except Michael; not a teenage boy, still crazy though)

Allie, with my daughter Grace, Alysha, and baby Asher

Shannon, Sue, Naomi (whose daughter was baptized), and Bev

Lydia, Barb, Tina, and Fran

Hope and her baby girl

They set up the sound system on the dock and we sang hymns along with John’s fabulous guitar playing.

During one hymn I ran up to the house to get Vanessa a juice box and took this picture on the way back.

Gary in the pond, with Stacia, who gave a lovely testimony of her salvation.

We were all so happy to share in Stacia’s special night.

Rich gave a bible study down on the patio (I was on the porch looking down)….

I stayed in the house to help watch babies and after the study was over the house filled back up again. People ate dessert and visited while the children (and some of us adults, too) tried their best to hear The Lego Movie playing on TV. The night ended about about 10. Rich and I were wide awake from the excitement of the night so we buzzed around cleaning up the house together, and Jacob took this picture of us.

It ended up being one of those nights that we stayed up talking until after midnight. It was a great.

Thank you to all who came out, and hope to see you (and more) next time!

Sarah’s 4th Birthday

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Shanda

The baby of our family just turned four years old. My friend Heather and I were trying to get together and that morning (of Sarah’s birthday) was the time that worked best for us both, so I turned the visit into a little playdate for Sarah and some of her (my) friends. We had 8 little ones amongst us four mamas and only two of the children were girls. Sarah was thankful to have one little girlfriend attend, but with five brothers of her own she felt quite comfortable with the boys, too.

We played for a couple of hours outside, and then we had lunch together which consisted of pasta with butter, cut up hot dogs, applesauce cups, and juice boxes.

The mamas had turkey burgers.

What a gift it was to have little babies in the house. I so love to watch a woman with her baby, it’s a beautiful thing to see and brings back so many wonderful memories of those days, for me. This friend of mine loves her babies passionately (she & her husband have four sons)…..

And this friend thoughtfully bounced her baby’s seat with her foot as she ate. So darling.

Grace calls this baby boy HER baby, because I took her with me to see him in the hospital when he was born. We both got to hold him when he was just a day or so old. I met his mama at Community Bible Study, she lives the next town over, we are the same age and have become friends. (so thankful!)

So yeah, this was a crazy attempt at a group picture. I laugh every time I look at it.

This was the best we did…..I think a few of us were shrieking to get them to look forward. They were all so good that day, and I loved watching them explore the ponds, see the chickens, chase cats, jump on the trampoline, blow bubbles, and dig in the sand. So busy, so energetic, such a zest for all of life, and no one got hurt!

After our group photo we had cupcakes and ice cream. (I only wish I had planned ahead to order the cupcakes from Nicole, our town’s lovely c.cake baker!)

As soon as we began singing, Sarah looked at her brother with the most thrilled expression. She was waiting and waiting for this birthday and it was really and truly here!

Such a good mama…..she delights in her new son. I thought it was cute that they sort of dressed alike.

After Heather and Michal left, Alysha and I sat down by the stream to chat and let the children play some more…..isn’t she so adorable? We met last February when she skidded her van into our stream and we rescued her and the boys. True story. (God does things so interestingly). I was telling her son (not the baby) as he got wet, “You’ve been IN this stream before!” ‘Cause we can laugh about it, now that it’s been over a year.

*****

(hours later)

There are times now when the whole family cannot gather around to watch the birthday child open gifts and blow out the candles. For Sarah’s birthday this year we were all home except Ethan. We missed him. He was at a baseball game.

She opened her gifts with Caleb on one side and Seth on the other.

Grace wrapped the gifts in blue paper tape because of course we didn’t find the regular tape until the next day.

It was so nice of Caleb to immediately offer to hold Sarah’s money, wasn’t it? Such a good big brother. With her money, Sarah has been trying to bribe Seth into playing what SHE wants to play. I hear her saying, “I’ll GIVE YOU A DOLLLLAAAR” in a sing-song voice. (but I do not allow bribing, although I am known to give a dollar to the child who finds me the remote to the TV). I don’t know how I get on these topics.

I just love the way Caleb and Seth were so happy for Sarah to receive this princess dress. “rejoice with those who rejoice”

Opening the tea set *that face*

I think she was telling him that don’t worry, she would let him use it with her. He can’t wait.

Then, oh joy, it was strawberry cake time. I let Sarah place the jelly beans on it herself. It was a new, buttery, fussy, for-real a recipe from a legitimate bake shop down south….the flavor was great but I didn’t let it bake long enough so it was gummy. (so disappointed=take it from me, in life’s perfection there is much more to go wrong, so say these little words with me, “OH WELL”–and learn the art of letting go.) What matters is the love, my friends. It’s the thought that counts most of all.

I am determined to try again with the recipe!

Smiling through another (the second, what a lucky little girl) rendition of the birthday song. My darling blond baby who is now “big”, it’s true.

she was born on a sunday morning

loving others

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Shanda

“When life is a weariness and escape impossible, it is wonderful to have a friend who can bring us peace with the touch of a hand.”

“Those were the good days. They were serene days and quite undemonstrative, like the best days in one’s life; the boy never forgot them. Nothing happens; one simply lives and breathes and wishes for nothing more, and nothing more.”

Independent People by Halldor Laxness

new dress

striking a pose but has a wedgie

“what are those brothers up to now?”

two toy cats, one in each hand, named Stacey and Jessica

I held her cats as she crossed the stream.

how I love this daughter of mine

with her big brother, they look so much alike

What a blessing it is to have older children to help arrange days of fun with loved friends. As parents, we desire and delight that the children *want to bring their friends* to our home. It lifts the soul to talk and laugh together with a house full of happy people, comfortable and relaxed in our relationships.

Today is the delicious feeling of a good healthy TIRED, the result of yesterday’s full day of fun, and memories. Oh how we need one another, our friends, our community, our families. I watched with contentment in my heart as children from multiple families ran in and out of doors, ate their treats, teased, laughed, got dirty, and had a wonderful time of freedom and beautiful wildness. All the children had dirty feet by the end of the day.

Kathy, Caroline, and I went for a little walk, talked, and discovered wildflowers; two simple activities which are like therapy for the woman’s heart. A good talk about all of life’s happenings, and the eyes to see and notice the beauty of the world around us.

“Come in the evening, or come in the morning:
Come when you’re look’d for, or come without warning.
Kisses and welcome you’ll find before you,
And the oftener you come here the more I’ll adore you!”

Thomas Osborne Davis

“The more I think about it,
the more I realize there is
nothing
more artistic than
to love others.”

Vincent Van Gogh

Saturday to Tuesday

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Shanda

I cleaned the entire house all day on Friday.

On Saturday morning I woke up and we had four extra people in the house; our wonderful friend GB, with his three children. (Rich had stayed up to welcome them).

I made baked oatmeal and roasted sausages drizzled with maple syrup for breakfast.

Big Mike (Jacob’s buddy and our “8th child”) arrived with Cardell and Jimmy. Ethan S. arrived.

The kitchen and living room was filled with boys checking airsoft guns and ammo.

Trying on safety gear.

LOTS of teasing, talking, and laughing.

The 8 of them ran off into the woods, including Rich and Seth.

I saw Cardell and Seth, after a while, team up …. Cardell even picked him up in order to run faster into the woods. So cute.

I went to go get Davy from his friend’s house, to take him to baseball practice. I left him there to go back home.

In due time, I went back to the field to get him (15 minutes away) and took Seth with me.

Came back home…..for lunch that day we had sandwiches.

I put dinner in the crock pot; 2 pork tenderloins, a sliced onion, a sliced green pepper, and BBQ sauce.

Left at 1:30 with 8 year old Caleb. He was going to a birthday party. We went to the mall to get a gift and I dropped him off at the party.

I GOT TO SPEND ALMOST 2 HOURS ALONE AT THE BOOKSTORE….

While I was gone, the girls joined the guys for another airsoft battle.

GB left to take Myriah to her friend’s house.

I picked up Caleb, went to grocery store, went back home.

Meanwhile, Rich left to take Davy to a second ball practice.

I finished up dinner. We had bbq pork sandwiches, cole slaw, and I can’t remember what else.

Mike made gallons of lemonade. Jimmy took out the garbage.

GB got back in time for leftover dinner and then he got to work in the kitchen. He made 2 lasagnas and a pan of ziti for us to eat after church on Sunday.

Billy-Cat kept trying to jump on the counter.

GB talked to me all about his new girlfriend. (they are both christians) He has a great testimony.

All the kids hung out together…Dave was home again and in his pj’s in the rocking chair.

Everyone colored with little Sarah, including me. I love coloring. We had like six hands working on the same page.

Happy music was playing, we hummed or sang or whistled along.

I went to bed at about 9:30 and that was Saturday.

*****

On Sunday we all got up and got ready for church.

GB sang a solo (what an amazing voice he has!!) and gave his testimony.

After church we came home to warm up dinner and tidy up the house.

Rich left to take Seth to his little league meet and greet.

Mike was here for dinner.

GB’s salad was made extra special with avocado, strawberries, and goat cheese. It was delicious.

He had a job as a cook in his younger days.

He was in the Coast Guard, too. This guy has lots of great stories.

The kids adore him from their camp in the summer. Rich met him last year and they became good friends.

Sunday evening we had bible study. I made a pan of brownies, a crumb cake, and a spinach-dip bread bowl.

The dog ran through the study and then Billy Cat jumped up on Gary’s lap (the pastor leading the study).

David and Daniel had made a big triple batch of Davy’s special pretzels and he begged to bake them up.

It was about 8:00 pm when we got started, everyone around made a pretzel. I just had to laugh.

You roll out a gob of dough into a three foot long rope and then twist it into a big pretzel. Then, you dip the raw pretzel into a baking soda bath, and bake it in the oven. When they come out you brush melted butter on top. YUM, SO SO GOOD!!! The triple batch was entirely gone in no time.

GB played the camp video from last year.

Kids made a fire outside in the fire pit.

They had music playing outside and all the fellowship between them was so precious to hear….so much fun.

I went to bed around 10:30. Ethan S and Caleb S spent the night; the kids all stayed up really really late. I heard stories of Grace and Ethan S jumping in the pond at 10:30……and Myriah fell over wood while running in the dark and hurt her leg. They were playing manhunt.

Yesterday, (MONDAY) GB left to go stay with Gary (our pastor and his good friend of 18 years) and his kids stayed here. My own children have spring break.

They all spent a lot of time outside; the weather was GORGEOUS. Davy caught tadpoles, crawfish, frog eggs.

I did my nails on the porch with kids surrounding me. It was fun to have them here….we love to talk and laugh.

I feel like my brain is fried. In a good way. (I truly love these days)

Jacob had a track meet at 1.

I went grocery shopping, sipping an iced coffee as I shopped; the sugar and caffeine pepped me up.

Ethan had practice at 2:30. His first after recovering from his yucky bronchitis/pneumonia type sickness (whatever it was)….

Grace had music at 1.

I took Emily with me to watch the meet and Myriah watched the other kids. (thank you, m!!)

Rich came home at 5 to take Caleb and Seth to practice.

We had leftover pasta for dinner.

There was a lot of jumping on the trampoline.

I love this picture of Emily and the dog…..she was so good to him and he adored her.

Grace and I had to take Sammie to the vet’s this morning (TUESDAY) for her surgery. She was supposed to go last week but we could not find her. Rich has nicknamed her “Slinkie” for a reason-this morning she ran away from us AGAIN and got into her favorite hiding spot; the drop ceiling downstairs. Jacob had to wake up and help us. We disarranged the ceiling until we grabbed her. We drove through the rain with tired eyes to the vet……..I got Grace a sandwich at McDonalds and we had a sweet time together first thing in the morning.

When we got back home I made scrambled eggs with cheese, ham, and toast for breakfast for the rest of us.

It’s been raining all day and the kids have watched two movies. We watched Secondhand Lion while I folded socks, and they watched Spiderman while I finished up my bible study lesson and took a catnap in my room.

Myriah slept until 12 today….she was exhausted….the sweet girl needed some good sleep.

We had mozzarella sticks and melon for lunch, some of us had pb and j.

In a few hours our guests will be going to Youth Group with Jacob and Ethan and our visit with these delightful kids will be over.

Tonight another guest arrives; Erinn is spending the night with Grace here at our place.

I have to pick up the cat at 6:30.

*****

THEIR FAVORITE THINGS:

GRACE: it was either airsoft or watching our movie. that movie was fun.
JACOB: it was probably airsoft. either airsoft or manhunt
DAVE: shrugs shoulders. has nothing to say.
ETHAN: taking a walk at 3 in the morning. playing apples to apples.
CALEB: when we got to play airsoft
SETH: my first baseball practice
DANIEL: playing airsoft
EMILY: playing manhunt
SARAH: playing in the bath with my ponies and these.
MYRIAH: playing airsoft. when i was president, that was the best. people were trying to assassinate me. and other people were trying to protect me. staying up until 2:30

*****

“I don’t wanna leave! I don’t wanna go to NY!!” Myriah

“I hate how when we get down to the last couple of hours we get desperate when we don’t know what to do.” Jacob

“This game is addicting.” Jacob, playing a new app

“Did someone say they had an addiction?” Mother

“I’m addicted to breathing. Every time I try to stop my head gets really light.” Grace offered.

*****

I had to write all this down so that someday when my life is slow again I can look back on it and laugh.

breakfast with friends

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Shanda

We got to visit with old friends this morning.

Karen moved away over a year ago. She was traveling back through the state this morning and asked if Kathy and I could meet her for breakfast.

It felt just like old times.

Leo and David have been friends since birth! I let David skip school this morning so he could see his friend.

They folded paper airplanes at the table. After they ate their yummy breakfasts they played checkers.

I had Sarah Joy with me, too, and she got to be friends with Karen’s son Charlie. They both wore striped shirts.

Karen has a 3 month old baby girl now. Her name is Audrey.

She was a doll! She smiled a lot and never cried.

She was absolutely delicious.

She fell asleep on me as her mama chatted away. We sat and talked for a long time, our waitress was thoughtful enough to bring us fresh ice waters so we wouldn’t get parched. She got a really good tip. 🙂

After a while, we headed into the gift shop so the children could pick out some candy.

Charlie and Sarah played with the magic sand together while David and Leo shared a bag of gummy worms.

Karen and Kathy~

One last picture before we had to part ways again, which was bittersweet.

I’m glad to have friends that are forever.

***

I took David to school late and stood in the office pondering the tardy slip that I had to fill out. “REASON FOR BEING TARDY” What do I write? I was hesitant to tell the truth and almost wrote “He had an appointment”. But I didn’t want to lie. I was thinking, “Is it okay for him to miss school for a fun activity?” “Will he get into trouble?” “Will they reprimand me?” So, I asked Dave, “Why are you late to school?” and he laughed and whispered back, “Because I was at Crackerbarrel?” So, that is what I wrote; “He was at Crackerbarrel.” When I was done, the secretary came around to rip out the slip and sign her name on it so David could take it to his teacher. She read what I wrote and made an offended noise. My heart stopped.

“What?” she exclaimed to Dave, “You went to Crackerbarrel? Did you bring me back anything? Did you tell your Mom thank you? You’re a lucky little boy!”

All was well.

How about you? Do you have special friends that continue to come back to visit you through the years? Or, maybe you go and visit them from time to time?

Do you tell the detailed truth on your children’s excuse notes?

Happy Monday!

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