Rich is very busy this week, with a conference for work.  He will be home late (after 9pm) every night and as you can imagine, it is quite the strain on me as I deal with homelife on my own.  I was a big grump all morning but after breakfast and a little cleaning up, things are looking slightly brighter.  I’m being “mean mom” and  “making” the children do what I want them to do….the little whippersnappers will not run wild….and right now they are playing “Shut the Box” at the kitchen table and listening to good music on the ipod.  The little boys are trying to find all the pieces to David’s marble run game so they can put that together.

I’m on edge this morning and want to say that we are all frail and sinfully human. I was irritated by some websites (not yours ) today that are a little too goody-goody spiritual for my taste, it makes me frustrated when I get all the good of someone’s life and not see any of the struggles.  I don’t want to do that here.  So brace yourself for some confessin’………

I was stern and grumpy at my kids this morning.  I think I may have given a few of them the “evil eye”.

I cried this morning, because I wanted my own way.

I wanted to give up on it all.  I wanted to not be a mother, I wanted to shut down my blog, I wanted to let the house fall to pieces, and I wanted to give up on training the children and doing my devotions.

I got mad at my poor husband, and resentful. 

I wished I could snap my fingers and make the children disappear for a while.

I haven’t showered or dressed yet and I look like a FRIGHT.

I don’t like the dog. 

I’m feeling selfish.

I lost my patience with Caleb….when will he learn to obey right away???

(Although, I admit, Seth is an attitude-saver.  I can’t stay grumpy with him in the room.)

Even though I didn’t kneel down and pray in a holy attitude, the Lord heard the prayers in my heart and accepted them for what they were…..little temper tantrums….and He still loves me and will help me get over this bad attitude.  Now, that totally amazes me.

Even though I wasn’t sweet to the children, they are still accepting of me, still want to be around me, and are still happy and laughing.  They don’t expect me to “be perfect” and I’m not going to try to be perfect in front of them.  Ever.  I’m about to go say “sorry that I was so grumpy this morning” and get on with my day.

“God is a sun ever-shining; He is manna always falling round the camp; He is a rock in the desert, ever sending out streams of life from His smitten side; the rain of His grace is always dropping; the river of His bounty is ever-flowing, and the well-spring of his love is constantly overflowing.”  Spurgeon

We were blessed yesterday afternoon by being a part of an event of nature.  I had just settled the children into their rooms for quiet time (that time of day I use the quiet to re-charge myself)…..I was puttering around with Seth, cleaning up a little, and I opened the front door and wondered…..what was that sound?  It took me a few seconds to realize that the air was filled, absolutely filled, with the sound of birds like I had never heard before.  I looked and found them in the near distance, in the tops of the trees of the forest.  There must have been thousands of them.

We figured out later that they were grackles.

Caleb was already sleeping, so I called the older children to come and see.

I grabbed my camera, Ethan grabbed Seth, and we tried to get a closer look.  We looked up and up the whole time, walking briskly up into the woods……..

It was a spectacle.  Birds were singing, moving, and flying constantly all above us, way up high.

Ethan and Grace climbed a big tall pine tree to get a bird’s eye view.

We ended up in a part of the woods that we don’t visit very often.  Looking down, I noticed baby Seth practically swimming in the dried oak leaves that were carpeting the forest floor.

“He who is a stranger to wonder is a stranger to God, for God is wonderful everyway,
and everywhere, and everyhow.”
*Charles Spurgeon

The air was mild and smelled sweet of autumn perfumes……….and I found myself praying, thanking God for the beautiful day, and His beautiful creation.  We were all happy and lighthearted.

“One of the purest and most innocent of joys, apart from spiritual things, in which a
man can indulge, is a joy in the works of God.”
*Charles Spurgeon

It was really really nice.

Another event of the day was a challenge for us.  Could we look all around and gather enough materials to make our very own wreaths using just treasures and bits from God’s nature, and some yarn?

Yes, we could!  We sat on a blanket on a far corner of the yard and worked together and yet separately, on our own creations.

Here is Jacob’s wreath.  We liked his because it smelled so good.  Like pine.  When we came back to the house, I added a ribbon.  It needed a ribbon.

And, here is the one I made.  I ransacked the chicken coop to get some choice feathers.  I used red leafed prickly vine from the ground, red rose hips, little pine cones, feathers, and brown yarn.

Friendship with my children, small little wreaths, birds, autumn leaves……and so much more besides,  to be thankful for.  I wonder what He’ll show us today?

Have a blessed day, friends!

I am currently reading a book titled Life in Jesus.  It is a book about a Christian woman, written after her death, by her son, Octavious.  He wrote his own thoughts about his mother, but he mostly used material from her correspondence and diary.   The book is not about Mary Winslow (who was born in 1774 and died in 1854) so much as it is about a personal relationship between a woman and her Savior, Jesus Christ.  For that, I am extremely thankful and encouraged.  It is a blessing to see such a biography, and by reading her private thoughts and letters, written by her without the slightest notion of “being published”, I am being taught by the example of another one’s humble life in Christ.  An abundant and deeply satisfying life in Him is available to all, and should be the desire of everyone who has accepted Him as Savior and Lord.

Gratitude

Yesterday Caleb woke up for the third morning in a row with yucky red eyes so I finally took him to the doctors.  He wore a bright red shiny super hero cape.

He was all stuffed up with a terrible sinus infection so he is on antibiotics now.

When we were waiting for the prescription to be done I took him to Panera.  He was still wearing his cape but I never thought anything of it except for now and then when I noticed some smiling looks from other people.

When he ate his cookie, he lifted his plate to lick it.

I held myself back from reprimanding him, he’s only four; and I actually, thank you Lord, felt honored when he held his plate out to me and said, “Taste my crumbs.”

I did.

I had left Seth home with Jacob.  He slept the entire time I was away.  As soon as I got home, I threw my coat on the couch and went in my room, where I had left him two hours earlier in his playpen, sleeping.  He was sitting up, silently.  Oh how my heart melted when he smiled at me and I scooped him up. 

Yesterday afternoon all the kids had dentist appointments.  Even though Caleb had his sick eyes, I still went so that the four other children could have their cleanings.  As we were waiting, I happened to notice David, with a chunk of hair missing, about the size of a silver dollar, off the top of his head.

“What happened?  Why did you do that?”

“I did it at school, with a pair of scissors.  No one noticed.  It was sticky, so I cut it off.”

When he came out from his teeth cleaning, the dental hygienist congratulated me on my pregnancy, she found out from David.  “When is she going to have the baby?”, she asked him.  “In two years.”  “Is she having a girl or a boy?”  “A girl.”  Bless his heart.

Ethan made a pillow this week.  He embroidered a house and a sun on a piece of felt, and then I sewed it into a pillow for him.  He is dying to crochet a blanket.  I am worried about what all this time spent with me is doing to my boys.  But then, after about a gazzillion swords made from all sorts of sticks and tin foil and cardboard, and lots of fighting and battling, I don’t worry anymore.

Last week,  I was hugging Caleb on the floor and I wasn’t going to stop until he said something.  He finally said, “Let. me. be. free.”  I chuckled over that one for days.

Grace has been busy cutting paper snow flakes and taping them all over every wall of her room.  She is also hanging paper chains across her windows.  She’s getting ready for Christmas.

Jacob is excited to help cook Thanksgiving dinner.  “You can sit on the couch, Mom.” 

Yesterday I gave Seth a frosted sugar cookie (store bought) in his car seat and he loved it, but when he was done he was absolutely covered everywhere with thousands of crumbs.

We watched the movie “Babe” the other day and when it was over, the kids all clapped and clapped.

I’m really sleepy today but I’m happy.  I love my life and am so grateful for each day.

My great Grandma made this sweater for ETHAN, 11 years ago.  She has since passed away but her handiwork continues to make my heart happy.  I have three of these sweaters for the little ones, and they’re so nice.  They have a zipper up the back.

Freezing orange juice in cups, with a spoon, was all the rage here lately.  Caleb made his own and said, “Mom!  I can spill my own juice in a cup now!”  Every time I turned around, he was checking to see if it had frozen yet. 

We found an empty bee’s nest on a low branch and I took pictures of it.  The next day, Ethan brought it to me, branch and all, so we hung it in the office.

I found Seth picking garbage.  This is the reason why the can is up on the counter most of the time now.

I took this picture last week when I was too tired to make dinner and Ethan made it.  He still needed my coaching though (he made homemade sausage and gravy) so I brought my rocking chair and sat while he cooked.  At one point all the boys were around me so I snapped their picture.

One morning Seth woke up early and after breakfast, he fell back to sleep with his Papa.

It’s sunny but chilly outside today.  I’ve been cozy in the house, spending time with the children.  We are looking forward to a lovely weekend and tomorrow we have a special outing planned, which is Grace’s birthday gift from us this year.  The days are flying by so quickly and so many things happen that it’s hard to keep track of it all.  I just wanted to sit and type some little things out today, to help me remember.

Gratitude ought to be, and I believe it is, in the heart the most powerful force in
human motive.  ~Charles Spurgeon

{Today Grace, my only daughter amongst five sons, turns 10 years old.  As I thought about this milestone day, I decided I would write up a blog for her using words and quotes from a book (by Carol Fiddler) that I bought a while ago, a book that I plan on going through and studying with her over and over.  I also took some pictures of her, and of a few of her favorite things.  This blog is dedicated to my 10 year old daughter, and anyone else who may read this.  We all remember what it was like, how exciting it was, to turn 10.}

Character Building

Good character is something you build.  It is not given to you in the same way as, say, a new pair of shoes is given to you to wear.  Character is developed by the decisions and choices you make each day.  Godly character is pure and is a treasure to be desired, sought after with determination and worked at with all your energy.  The best result of having good character is that your life brings glory to God.

Sunshine-Makers

A girl who is a sunshine maker–quick to smile, quick to find good in any situation and quick to ignore hurtful things–is a blessing to many people.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Sincerity

Everyone wants friends they can trust to be honest and true.  A true friend does not treat you nicely and then say hurtful things about you when you are not there.  To be sincere is to be real.  This means you must be honest with yourself and with others not just in the things you say, but also in the things you do.  When you help another person, it should come from pure motives.  To be sincere is to be straightforward, not pretending to be something you are not.

Careful Words

You will be known by the words that you speak, whether they are kind, thoughtful and caring, or proud, self-seeking and drawing attention to yourself.  More than the stylish clothes you wear, more than the fancy way your hair is done, you will be remembered by the words you have spoken.  The words you speak tell others what kind of girl you are.

“Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”  Proverbs 16:23-24

Keeping Confidences

Often a girl who busies herself to find out lots of information about other people is one who breaks confidences–that is, she shares what one girl has told her with another girl or group of girls.  That is not right.  When a friend shares her ideas, hopes or dreams with you, she is trusting you with something very special to her.  Your friend would be hurt to find out that you told other people what she told you.  

“A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.”  Proverbs 11:13 

A Sense of Purpose

A strong sense of purpose, or reason for living, is what motivates and keeps you going toward your goals.  The highest goal or purpose is to live for Jesus and have Him show through your life.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  Proverbs 31:30

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”  Hebrews 10:24

Meditation

You will begin to see that you will benefit from time alone with God every day.  You grow in wisdom as you spend more time with God.  There also will be times when you need to pull away for additional reflection and comfort, such as when you feel uncertain, angry, frustrated, jealous or depressed.  These will become great times of closeness with Jesus, times of sensing His heart of love and purpose for your life. 

“Grow

in the

grace

and knowledge

of our Lord”

Happy Birthday, Grace Lillian!

My baby boy Seth turned nine months old yesterday and so I decided to take a *nice* portrait of him.  It ended up being a pretty funny experience, because the little guy would not sit still!  He’s busy, so very busy, and can’t be bothered to look at mama hiding behind that familiar but off limits “black thing”.

I sat him on the couch and he kept instantaneously leaning forward and I would gently push him back up to sitting position, which would make him lose his balance and backward he would go;

IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED………..

TRY TRY AGAIN………..(he is actually SINGING in this picture, the stinker!)

And this next picture was the best one.  I think I was making ridiculous sounds or something (to get him to freeze for a moment).

I like this picture not only because of Seth’s adorable cuteness, but because of the onesie.  It was made by Grandma Leslie, for baby Caleb.  And now Seth wears it.  Is the free hand embroidered bear SWEET or what? 

I specifically wanted Seth’s bare hands and feet in the picture, too.

He was sitting in my rocking chair for this one, and quickly figured out how to move it back and forth, to rock himself.

Seth had his nine month check up today.  He has gained 2 pounds and grown 2 inches since his six month appointment…..he is in the 25% for his height and (drum roll please) the 3rd % for his weight.

He’s a little bitty busy boy! 

He can open and shut drawers and cupboards now.  Today he was caught in the kitchen with the big plastic jug of vinegar.  Thankfully it did not spill.  Sometimes he ends up IN a cupboard, and has to cry for help.

He can wriggle and inch his way backward off the couch.  The look on his face as he does it is SO precious, “is the floor there?  is the floor there?  It IS!!!!  I’m DOWN!!!”

When he sits in my lap or in the high chair, he deliberately drops things to see them fall.  It’s so funny to see him peer down at his lost objects.

He crawls very fast.  He fell down the stairs last week.

He stands up everywhere.  Like in shopping carts.  So I always have to buckle him in tightly.

He loves sharing people’s ice cream and pudding and yogurt. 

He can suck from a straw.

He is now nursing and drinking artificial mama’s milk (my funny way of saying “formula”) from a bottle.  He is just starting to accept the bottle, and his protests against it were quite sad.  He loves to nurse but I’m afraid I simply don’t have enough for him and I’m hoping that I won’t be quite as tired and hungry (I’m about 8 weeks pregnant now) if I’m not nursing as much.  I am content because I did the best I could and we still nurse morning and night.

He eats all kinds of table and baby foods.

Favorite things:  bathtime, fooling around and playing with siblings, music, going for walks outside, the kitty, and putting small objects like legos into his mouth.  Also, he loves the dishwasher.  Whenever he hears someone loading or unloading it, he comes crawling to try to get in it and pull out the knives, forks, and spoons (of course we keep him away from the sharp things, but he does try).  Oh, and he’s also discovered the water in the toilet.  He keeps me hoppin’.

After his doctor’s appointment, I ran to Costco and then came home.  My friend Kathy came over with her five children and we had a good time visiting and catching up with each other.

I made a big spaghetti lunch.  The visiting children were fascinated with my grinding Seth’s up for him. 

The kids mostly played outside.  It was a beautiful day, a sunny cool fall day.  They jumped on the trampoline and played on the swingset.  Emily strung pretty leaves on a needle and thread and Kaitlyn tied long pieces of wide grass together to make a garland (it was SO pretty, I wish I had taken a picture of it)…..they also collected berries and other bits from nature.  Grace found a mushroom.  The boys played “sword fight” with sticks and played near the stream.

Jacob is the oldest of the happy gang, 12 years old, Ethan is 11, Kevin is 9.

They’ve grown together and are such good buddies.

Kathy and I went for a short walk with our babies.  Bethany Grace and Seth William both fell sound asleep, to the tune of their mama’s voices and the movement of our walking………we both enjoyed sniffing and kissing our baby’s heads.  We both agreed, it’s so lovely to have babies.

When we got back, we sat on the porch and talked and looked at books and magazines.  Soon five year old Emily wandered over to us…she’s as cute as can be, and Davy-do’s side kick.  They even have similar expressions.

David confessed to me that he and Emily got in trouble at church together on Sunday.

How can this girl EVER get in trouble, I ask you?

(can’t you see a little bit of Davy’s look in her eyes?????)

She was collecting pretty leaves for her garland.  She was a beautiful sight as she walked around, in her own little world.

I’ve been enjoying Sethie’s little outfit all day…it used to be Davy’s.  I love the baby blue and the white onesie underneath.

It’s so fun to dress our real dolls, isn’t it girls?

And my little lady Grace…I plan on having fun with her tomorrow, it is her 10th birthday.  Be prepared for more pictures comin’ from my way………..

Prayers for much love, peace, and grace to you all (because God gives GENEROUSLY)~

Love, Shanda

(Caleb was spinning around in the chair next to me and being a pickle at the hair salon, but it was still worth it I feel cute!)

Jacob, who recently had braces put on, had to have six teeth pulled this morning at 10:30, with novocaine.  I have been dreading this day but we got through it.

The first thing I decided to do this morning, to make things easier, was to go for a special quick trip to Barnes and Noble.

Oh, yeah, and I also took my camera along to make myself happier.  Sometimes if you take your camera places (like a morning out to the dentist) it makes the event seem more party-like, rather than scary.

So here we are at the bookstore.  I was holding Seth in my other arm (and David was at school.)

The first thing Caleb and I did was check out the new magazines.

This was the first trip to the bookstore that Seth was old enough to play.  It was a proud and strange (how did this baby grow so fast!) moment for me.  He loved playing at the train table!

I let Jacob pick out a book, to comfort himself in the dentist chair.

I’m much bigger than he is.  I don’t know what’s up with this picture.

After the bookstore, we drove a couple miles down the road to the tooth extractor man.  I was happy to have the children with me, so that I had people to talk to while I waited for Jacob.  Talking and reading to the children kept my mind off imagining Jacob suffering in the back room.

Ethan;

Funny boy Caleb;

After I took his picture, he said, “Now I want you to take a picture of my chin blood.”

So, I did.

(Caleb got chin blood the other day, when he fell out of a chair.)

How about these baby browns?

Waiting and waiting;

Finally the doctor came out and said we could go see Jake.  He said that he did fine for the novocaine, but the actual tooth-pulling made him nervous.  I could completely understand that.  I did not take a picture of Jacob and what he looked like in that little back room.  I respected his privacy.  He looked shell-shocked and his mouth was as full of gauze as a chipmunk with nuts in his cheeks.

I was handed a surprise prescription for Tylenol with codeine and so (even though I was starving and wanted to go home) off we went to Target.  Jacob insisted, with grunts and gestures, that he could go, and sit in the vehicle to wait.

Besides, I told him I would buy him a Lego set.  That’s how bad I felt for my poor boy.

We also stopped by the grocery store and I bought a lot of Soft Foods for him.

We finally got home.  I managed to get a couple pictures of Jacob, for my blog.

Here’s one:

And, here’s the other.  (Ethan is the one standing up);

As you can see, he is still camera shy.  I would be, too, if my mouth was completely numb and I couldn’t control the drool and blood from oozing between my lips. 

He loved his new Lego set.

And while he was putting it together, I went outdoors with Seth, because it’s SUCH a gorgeous day.

I looked at my new book (I ordered it days ago and it came in the mail today)….and my new magazine, “Artful Blogging.”

The magazine inspired me, so I took a couple artful pictures for you what do you think?

After Davy-do got home from school, I grabbed my camera and took a picture of him, so that he would not be completely absent from my blog today.  We must have full representation of the busy mama’s six children.

David LOVES riding his bike, lately.  I think this picture is perfect for the fall day we are having.  Can you smell those crunchy leaves?

That’s my day so far! 

Have a good afternoon, dear friends!  I think I will ignore all the wretched housework and go back outside until Seth wakes up from his nap.

A couple weeks ago, I was on the couch watching Paula Deen’s cooking show.  She made the most incredible looking brownies I had ever seen.  I called the children over to watch with me and we were all like this:

I tried “very hard” not to, but the next day, when I was at the grocery store I found myself in front of the BIG CANDY BARS and, I bought two of them (I used Hershey’s Milk Chocolate), so I could try Paula’s creation.

When I got home, I mixed up my favorite homemade brownie recipe.  Instead of putting the batter in a 9 by 13 pan, I used an 11 by 7, and I lined it with a big sheet of foil (the bottom and up the sides).  I spread half the batter on the bottom of the pan, and then arranged the chocolate bars on top of it.  Then, I spread the rest of the batter on top and baked it.

We let the brownies cool a little (boy was it hard to wait)…and when they were ready to eat, I just lifted the whole rectangle of gooey goodness out of the pan and started cutting them.

Paula Deen served her brownies with a big dollop of whipped cream, and nuts, but we just ate ours the way they were, good enough without the cream, so tasty, delicious, chocolaty and satisfying.  A chocolate dream.

(By the way, I think these would taste great with dark chocolate in the middle, too.)