We didn’t go to church this morning because several of our children are still coughing a lot, and Rich has a lingering headache and fatigue, recovering from pneumonia.  It’s been a cozy day.  The sun is shining, the wind is blowing, it’s chilly but we opened the windows of the house for a little while, hoping to let some nice fresh air in.  The leaves that are left on the trees are the dark orange, rusty deep reds, and mustard yellow.  All my favorites and so pretty against the bright blue sky.

Rich and I went on a short gentle walk, holding hands, with sweet Grace with us, and baby Seth on Rich’s back in the Ergo carrier, where he promptly fell sound asleep.  After our walk, Rich ended up sitting on the porch steps, reading a book, and I went down below the house to a chair by the pond with my journal, my Bible, and a book of hymn stories.

Do you ever read hymn stories?  Most of the little stories behind my favorite hymns are so dear and humble.  I love the hymn, “What a Friend we Have in Jesus”….the author wrote the poem and mailed it to his mother, who in turn passed it along to someone else who had it published anonymously…and it became a popular hymn.  Eventually the writer’s identity was discovered, Joseph M. Scriven, who said that he wrote it for his mother to comfort her, never intending for anyone else to see it.  He said, “The Lord and I did it between us.”

I have a biography about Elizabeth Prentiss, who wrote many lovely hymns, including one of my personal favorites, “More Love to Thee, O God”.  She was quoted in saying these works, “To love Christ more, is the deepest need, the constant cry of my soul….out in the woods and on my bed and out driving, when I am happy and busy, and when I am sad and idle, the whisper keeps going up for more love, more love, more love!”

“My Jesus I love Thee” was written by a sixteen year old boy, William Ralph Featherston.

“Now the Day is Over” was written by a father of 15 children.

“Sweet by and by” was written in less than 30 minutes in a drugstore.

And some hymns were written by homemakers.

I’ve recently been struck by the fact that Jesus is very near and dear to stay at home mothers.  As you know, I am a stay at home mom of six little ones, with another baby coming this spring.  I feel overwhelmed and privileged with the fact that God does not leave me to myself during these years in which I mother my children, in fact I am growing closer to Him every day.  We homemakers have the privilege and freedom of keeping our Bibles open on our kitchen counters to read when we get a chance, to leave index cards all over the place, of our favorite verses and quotes, to drop down on our knees at any time of the day or night, to pray, and to let our minds soar up above, to Him, as our hands our busy with our house chores.  We can speak of Jesus to our little ones, and teach them to love Him, too.  We can balance our Bibles on our knees as we nurse the baby.  Someone reminded me once to read the Bible OUT LOUD as I nurse, because it’s never to early for the little ones to hear those precious Words.  Jesus is very real and near to me…..and these ideas are just something I thought of recently, as another blessing of being a mother, at home.

So, I was touched by the little story about another hymn titled, “Face to Face”.  It was written by Carrie Elizabeth Breck, who “was a homemaker and mother of five in Portland, Oregon, who wrote hymns in the midst of housework.  ‘I penciled verses under all conditions,’ she once explained, ‘over a mending basket, with a baby on my arm, and sometimes even when sweeping or washing dishes, my mind moved in poetic meter.’  Frail in health, however, she often recorded her poems in a notebook while resting in her favorite rocking chair.”  ~Then Sings my Soul, Robert J. Morgan

(wouldn’t you like to see pictures of her, scribbling down her hymns in the midst of her chores and children?)

Here’s another story of another hymnwriter-mother:

“‘I Need Thee Every Hour’ was written on a bright June morning in 1872 by Annie Hawks, who later wrote, ‘One day as a young wife and mother of 37 years of age, I was busy with my regular household tasks.  Suddenly, I became so filled with a sense of nearness to the Master that, wondering how one could live without Him, either in joy or pain, these words, ‘I Need Thee Every Hour’, were ushered into my mind, the thought taking full possession of me.”

How very very inspiring.  I love it. 

On Friday, Davy-do arrived home to a quiet house.  Seth must have been napping, and the others must have been playing, because he and I had a rare time alone together and I think it was probably my favorite little time of the whole week.  Often these simple unexpected times are what stay in my mind, and bring a smile on my face long after…..

Davy was hungry and he took off his backpack and got right to work on frying himself an egg.  I stayed right by him, very impressed and amused by his efficiency and confidence.  As he worked we talked, and he made me laugh when he opened up our little conversation by saying, “Mom.  I don’t want you to be afraid about bats.”  (He said it like he was gently teaching a young child.)  “Bats are good for the earth.  They eat mosquitoes. And I want to hang up our bat house.  We have one in the garage.”  It turns out that he learned all about them in school and so BATS are what we talked about as he fried his egg. 

And he was talking so nicely and thoughtfully.  It was such a precious time with him.

The perfect fried egg, prepared by seven year old Davy-do. 

When his egg was done, I carried it to the table for him and was tickled pink when he opened the linen drawer to get himself a placemat.  (He learned that from me.  I like to serve him a pretty snack now and then after school.  Now I know he notices.)

He said with big wide eyes, “Sometimes I add a secret ingredient to my eggs.”  “What’s that, Dave?”  “Sometimes after I flip my egg over, I put more butter on top.” “Mmmmm, sounds so good!”, I replied.

Is he cute or what?!

After he ate his egg slowly, he decided it was so good he would make himself another.  This time I didn’t pay quite so much attention to him, until I heard him say to himself, “I’ll have to clean that up when I’m all done.”

Have a blessed Sunday, friends!

Shanda

Rich has had a cold for a couple weeks, which ended up turning into pneumonia.  Thankfully, after two days of being on a strong antibiotic, he seems to be perking up today.  He is home but is able to work on his laptop and take phone calls. 

As his wife, it bothered me to see him so very sick (on Wednesday and Thursday).  It has reminded me to be extra thankful that he is normally a very healthy man.  I became his nursemaid, and it was gratifying to make him nice little meals arranged nicely on fiestaware, buy him special juices (he hated the carrot juice) and medicines (lots of Vitamin C, thanks to Jenny’s advice) and make him as comfortable as possible (with warmed up corn bags for his feet).  I think it’s harder, emotionally, on a wife to have a sick husband, than to have sick children.  Rich is the love of my life and my number one priority and I was concerned about him, and quite relieved that he’s starting to get better.  Oh how I love my husband.

I have three boys who are coughing all the time (we are all taking extra Vitamin C) and Grace is laying low today, she says she has a sore throat.  We’ve got some kind of sickie bug going around.  Nothing really new for this time of year.  Caleb is still as energetic as ever.  I like to give him baths, to keep him happy and in one spot.

I am tired out and feel like I’m functioning in a daze.  Things seem harder than they really are on this day.

Rich is on the phone in the other room.  I think I’ll go sit by him and put my head on his lap or shoulder for a few minutes.  That always makes me feel better and stronger.  

Then, Caleb gets a bath.    And maybe, hopefully, I can stomach some coffee (I haven’t been drinking my second cup for the last few days, it’s been making me sick, which I am sure *the lack of caffeine* is partly to blame for my lack of energy).

Jacob, Ethan, and Grace sing in a children’s chorus.  They have practice every Monday, except for this week, when they had their practice last night in a different location (stressful for me to drive to, an entirely new place to visit, in a city).  The choir is smaller this year so we are combining with another group of children for the December concert.  Last night the two groups rehearsed together for the first time, in a huge, old (interesting, beautiful) church.  (I must take pictures of the stained glass windows at some point, they are amazing).

I would much prefer to sit and listen to their rehearsals.  I’ve sung in many choirs through the years.  I love to sing with a group and it makes me so happy to see and hear the children enjoy singing under a talented director, interesting songs with great parts and harmony.  They are even learning sign language for one piece.

I can’t just sit and listen though, because I’ve got baby Seth, 4 year old Caleb, and 7 year old David to keep busy.  Yesterday we spent some time out on the church lawn, (getting dirty knees and diving into shrubbery) but since I had my camera with me, I decided to make them sit for a minute, and take a few pictures of them. 

After the children were all done for the evening, I took one (just one) of the six of them:

I don’t feel well……I’m not sure how much blogging I will be doing, because I have no energy at all.  It was hard for me to muster up enough motivation to sit here and post these pictures, but I miss hearing from my xanga friends and I wanted to let you know what’s going on.  I’m starting to feel nauseous, but also hungry, and very tired.  The being tired is probably the most challenging of pregnancy symptoms, because I’m trying to mother six children.  Wow, I do wonder how I will do it, but I know the Lord will give me the strength to continue.  Anything that makes me utterly needful and dependant on Christ is a GOOD THING. 

“But one thing is needful:  and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:42 

I’ve had this verse running through my mind for days, it’s been a favorite of mine for years.  Two woman are spoken of in this Bible passage.  Martha loved Jesus, and was busy serving Him in the kitchen (“careful and troubled about many things”).  Mary loved Jesus, and was sitting at His feet, totally absorbed in His every word.  Poor Martha, she was trying so hard, and began to be resentful of Mary, *doing nothing to help*, but Jesus gently spoke to her, helping her to see that the most needful activity is simply resting at His feet, singlemindedly loving Him, resting in His love, and listening. That’s how I want to be.  I have so many activities to do each day, and I do them because I love Jesus, but I never want to forget that the most important part of my life is that beautiful personal relationship I have with my Savior and Friend.

Another quote (this one makes me weepy);

O what a Savior is Jesus Christ! He is the chief among ten thousand! Look at His sinless, yet real humanity—without a single taint, yet sympathizing with us in all our various conditions—our afflictions—our temptations—our infirmities—our griefs. Now that He is in glory, He is still cherishing a brother’s heart, bending down His ear to our petitions—ever standing near to catch our sighs—to dry our tears—to provide for our needs—to guide us by His counsel—and afterwards to receive us to glory!

O what a Savior is Jesus Christ! When He is known, all other beings are eclipsed. When His beauty is seen, all other beauty fades. When His love is felt, He becomes supremely enthroned in the affections. To know Him more, becomes the one desire of the renewed mind, and to make Him more known, is the one aim of the Christian life. O what a Savior is Jesus Christ!  Octavius Winslow (1808-1878)

(My dad is currently teaching a Sunday School class at his church from a book written by Octavius Winslow, and that is how I first learned about his writings.  There are more wonderful quotes here.)

So many thousands upon thousands of blessings are ours because of Christ!  How thankful we all must be, as we live such abundant lives, and happy and hopeful for what is to come, a perfect HOME in heaven!

Much love to you all on this day…the sun is just breaking through the clouds here, and we’re looking forward to a warm day.  I plan on getting outside for a walk at some point, hopefully that will help me feel better. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Love, Shanda

Happy Saturday to you!  I wanted to put a quick post up with the link that a few of you requested, for the baby shoes.

Cloth Baby Shoes

I followed the pattern, but with a few minor changes.  I didn’t use interfacing because I didn’t have any and the flannel I used was nice and thick.  If you are using a light, thin fabric you should probably use the interfacing.  Also, the pattern calls for 1/8″ elastic.  I only had 1/4″ and it worked just fine.  In fact, I probably wouldn’t want the elastic any thinner than 1/4″.  I decided to make Seth’s shoes with just one style of material, but it also would be fun to use different pieces for the heel, toe, and sole.  If you make a pair, I would love to see a picture of them!   

Okay, and I want to apologize for not announcing the winner of the cd drawing.  I did do the drawing on Monday, and contacted the winner.  To those of you who are curious, it was HolySmoke4. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

Love, Shanda

It’s a little chilly here now.  Seth crawls around on the floor and gets cold hands and cold toes, so I think that’s why I got the urge this morning to make crocheted booties for him.  However, I don’t know how to crochet baby booties, so I looked on ebay in order to buy some.  But those were hard to imagine in real life.  Would they fit?  Would they look good?  (Getting in the car and going out shopping was never a consideration, I didn’t want to leave the house.)  Then, I thought, maybe I don’t have to buy booties, maybe I could make some.  I looked online and found a free pattern for cloth baby shoes.  It looked manageable.  I resurrected my sewing machine out of the closet, found some felt, some elastic, my straight pins, my good scissors that I hide from the children, some material, and got to work, little by little, step by step.

I was so excited and proud when I turned the first shoe right side out and realized that I had done it!  I had actually made a little itty bitty shoe.

The second shoe was easier than the first, but I did have to push myself a little to finish it right away.  “Come on, Shanda, just do it.  Then you can take pictures and put them on your blog!”

Yes, I used my blog (and my mother…I sent her the pictures already) to motivate myself.

And now our precious Settie has new shoes, made by his mama the shoemaker!  *sigh of contentment*

“It doesn’t matter where you go~

what you do, or how much you have~

it’s who you have beside you.”

My friend Joanna came for a visit this weekend.  We’ve been friends since college but rarely get to see each other and it’s been almost 10 years since we had a visit this long.  She arrived on Sunday and left this morning.  What a treat it was!

We had a wonderful time, drinking tea and coffee on the porch, talking almost nonstop, working in the kitchen together, enjoying the children, watching a movie while snuggling up in blankets on the couch, walking outside, admiring the chickens, looking at books and magazines.

How I thank God for my friendship with this dear girl.  We love each other, trust each other, and enjoy each other’s company.

We had really nice weather, too, which was something we were hoping and praying for. 

We played Pictionary with the kids…..

And we went on a picnic.  Joanna and I packed a couple baskets of food but kept things as simple as possible.  We took two tablecloths, a pile of small china plates, a platter of deviled eggs, leftover pizza wrapped in foil, and a container of cupcakes.

Then we gathered up the kids and set off on a little walk, to find a good spot for a picnic.

We brought frosting in a ziploc baggie, and I brought a little pair of scissors.  When it was time for dessert, I snipped a corner off the baggie and piped a generous swirl of frosting on top.  I brought a mixture of candies in a small canning jar and the children had fun decorating the tops of their cupcakes with their choice of candy.

This is my cupcake.  Imagine about 10 or more candies and that’s what the children’s creations looked like.

When we got home, I asked Caleb what his favorite part of the picnic was and he said, “those muffins!”.

“Aunt Joanna” was so good to the children and gave them lots of loving attention.  Caleb, in all his honest little boy friendliness, joined her in bed both mornings she was here.  None of the kids wanted her to leave this morning.  Jacob said, “I hope she comes back soon.”

It’s really special to see how God can use relationships to encourage us and show us His love.  I’ve learned so much about myself and about friendship from Joanna and all the many ways she’s encouraged me through the years. 

Like anything worthwhile, friendships take time and sacrifice.  It’s all worth it.  The rewards are a delight.  A longtime, faithful friend is as comfortable as an old shoe.  cozy blanket?  broken-in jeans?  sweatpants?  a hammock?  warm soup? 

(Speaking of soup, Joanna and I made soup together last night, for dinner.  Rich took the three older kids to their music lessons.  Seth was crawling around on the floor, and the little boys were playing in the kitchen sink.  Joanna and I stood side by side, each with our own cutting boards, and made a nice big pot of ham and potato soup.  It’s so fun to work in the kitchen with another woman.  We chopped and mixed and kept the little boys out of mischief.)

Joanna and I have been involved in each other’s lives from the very beginning of adulthood, through early marriage, having babies, raising children, and all those other dear, sweet moments of family living.  Over 10 years of growth and change, Joanna’s been there every step of the way, through letters, visits, talks on the phone, and in my heart.  My life now would not be the same if she was never a part of it.  Not at all.  She’s helped to make and shape who I am.

This visit was a dream come true.  It was so fun to show her my home, and have her see and experience the places and people I hold so dear.  (we went no where and did nothing/we stayed home and did everything)

And I’m so thankful for Rich’s support.  He loved that Joanna came to visit me and was sad for me this morning, when he knew she would have to leave and go home.  He did everything he could to allow me to enjoy my time with my friend.

Friendship is something I need in my life, and am so thankful to God for that gift.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:  the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:  The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.  Numbers 6:24-26

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep:  for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.  Psalms 4:8

The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.  Psalms 29:11

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:  because he trusteth in thee.  Isaiah 26:3

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Jeremiah 29:11

….and have peace one with another.  Mark 9:50

Finally, bretheren, farewell.  Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.  11 Corinthians 13:11

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 5:1 (this verse means a lot to me, I’ve been studying justification lately, what an amazing gift that is!  We believers have peace with God through Jesus!!  There is no need to fear condemnation any longer!)

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.  Romans 14:19

But the fruit of the Spirit…is peace…  Galatians 5:22

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  Colossians 3:15

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means.  The Lord be with you all.  11 Thessalonians 3:16

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.  James 3:18

A blessed and peaceful Sunday to you all!  Half of my children are sick with colds, (including baby Seth, with his first cold *he hates it when mama pinches his nose*) , we are home from church today. 

We woke up this morning to a hard frost, and Seth woke up with cold little hands.  It was a content feeling, to get him from his crib, and take him back to bed with me to warm him up.  He fell asleep in my arms and I looked at him, admiring his baby face, sleeping so peacefully.  The pictures here on my blog today are from this summer.  Watching my children sleep is one of my favorite parts of motherhood.

The trees are still beautiful today in New England, and now that the sun is up and the sky is clear, it is a beautiful view from my windows.

My beloved friend, Joanna, is traveling to visit me today and is staying until Tuesday, so I look forward to getting outside with her later on, to enjoy God’s handiwork.

In the meantime, I better go work on my ham dinner. 

Much love and peace to you all…..Shanda

First came the chickens (this summer)…and now, their new coop has arrived!  Rich and I were so excited when the workmen left and we could walk down and look at it. 

We ordered it ourselves, and picked this nice brown color for the siding.  We decided to buy a shed to use as a coop, so that someday, if the chicken-thing doesn’t work out or we end up not having them after a while, we will still be left with this beautiful building to use.

It has the double front door, three windows on one side, and the big pretty window over the door.  It’s tucked away in a sheltered corner.

I’ll be having window boxes put under the windows.  It will look so pretty when I decorate the boxes for the seasons.

Next is a picture of the inside.  We’re going to get a ladder so we can get up into the loft.  I can imagine the children hiding up there.  I already told them, “no toys allowed, only thinking”.  The whole family is excited about the chicken coop.

Later on, I laughed when I heard little four year old Caleb call it, “the chicken’s house poop.”  (he meant “coop”, not “poop”). . . . .

I can’t wait to make this a nice spot for the chickens AND myself.  It’s going to be FUN.  (Yes, I’ll be using Mary Jane Butters as my inspiration, have you read her books?)  I’m a farm girl!  I’ve been clipping pictures of “out buildings” from Country Living magazine for years.  And now I have one!  I’ve been wanting to have chickens for years, and now I have a flock of them!  God is so good to give me these small, yet meaningful, desires of my heart.

“I started using the word ‘farmgirl’ several years ago when I needed a more appropriate way to describe myself.  Farmer didn’t seem to fit someone who would bring home a six-dollar box of garage sale vintage wallpaper and cover her chicken coop walls with it.  And if that wasn’t farmgirl enough, my ‘ladies’ room’ wasn’t complete until I installed buttermilk-colored wainscoting and hung framed photos of chickens posing on a stool.  Farmgirl just sounded more playful to me.”~Mary Jane Butters

I’m going to decorate, and the first thing I’m going to do is hang curtains.  I’ll take pictures again when I’ve gotten things underway.

The chicken’s living quarters are behind this half wall.  They have a little door that they can go in and out of.

I’m attaching the link to a music CD that I recently bought for my ipod.  The children and I listen to it almost daily.  My favorite song on it is “See What a Morning”, but the whole album is a blessing.

The children are downstairs, cleaning the kitchen up after a pizza dinner and listening to it, that’s how I thought to share the link with you all.  We have music playing all the time.  It’s a big part of our home life. 

As a matter of fact, you know what?  This is so spur of the moment for me, but I would love to send the cd to someone.  If you’re interested in it, let me know in a comment or message and I’ll do a random drawing on Monday.

Click here and here (you can listen to clips of the songs, too) for more information about the cd. 

Happy Friday!

Love, Shanda

Grace and I made this slide show together, just for you.

Enjoy!