“We will be glad and rejoice in Thee.”  ~  Song of Solomon 1:4

“Since, O sweet Lord Jesus,  Thou art the present portion of Thy people, favor us this year with such a sense of Thy preciousness, that from its first to its last day we may be glad and rejoice in Thee.  Let January open with joy in the Lord, and December close with gladness in Jesus.”  ~ C.H. Spurgeon

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW.”  11 Corinthians 5:17

Jacob was born a few months after Rich and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary.  It’s hard for us to imagine what our life would be like without him!  What a pleasure and joy he’s been along the way.  We couldn’t be prouder of our firstborn son.

His birth twelve years ago taught me what the strength of mother-love was really like.  I’ll never forget the first time I saw him and held him, I was amazed at the love I felt for my baby. . . . . .my heart grew in ways I never imagined when I became a mother.

I love you more than words can say, Jacob.  Thank you for being such a bright part of our family.  I hope you have a wonderful birthday today and that we can laugh and celebrate all day long.  You are supposed to get a birthday snow storm!  Dad says he’ll sled with you later.  Love, Mama

The gang dressed for church this morning.

This was Caleb’s first time in a suit, it used to be his big brother Ethan’s, then David’s, and now his.

David’s bow tie (today was the first time he ever wore one) bugged him so much that when I picked him up from Sunday School, it was pulled off, along with his top button.

It’s nice to see the personality in Ethan’s face, isn’t it? 

Before:

After:

Yup.  Presents were opened and children (all but one–do you see him?) cleared out of the livingroom by 7am.  Rich and I wanted it to last longer, but there was no holding them back. 

After a while, in the midst of the children’s playtime, I made them all sit for pictures…with their favorite gifts.

Grace, with her new doll Nellie:

David, wearing his new superhero get-up, oh how I love this picture!  It makes me laugh and laugh—quite possibly (now that I think about it) not the reaction he wanted.

Here’s another, because I can’t resist:

Caleb, and his new trains:

And, other of him too, because I can’t resist and it makes Caleb and I both giggle:

Jake and E, with their new legos and other stuff:

The white sheet as backdrop?  Totally blocking a room of mess. . . . . . .

A couple random shots:

I liked this picture, all the kids are in it and sitting still.

Rich took this one without me asking him to.  He said I looked cozy.  He always spoils me for Christmas, and this year was no different.  In this photo, I’m looking through a new cookbook.

My absolutely favorite gift?  A Christmas card with a list of dates for the year that he took off from work. . . . already scheduled vacation days, so that he can be in charge of the kids and I can have free days just for myself to look forward to.  I couldn’t even speak, I was so touched.  I was choked up, all I could say was a shaky, “Can I have a tissue please?”   My first day off is January 20th. 

The Godiva truffles and hot cocoa mix, Kitchenaid mixer ice-cream maker, books (one of which is linked at the end of this post), a gorgeous floor lamp from Pottery barn, information about two mission style end-tables on order from our favorite country/furniture store (for our bedroom), and big bag of loot (including the dearest *MUSHROOM salt and pepper shakers*) from Anthropologie were also greatly appreciated and squealed over. 

Merry Christmas!

“Life is a series of moments.  Each moment should be welcomed in joy and relinquished in joy.”  ~ Deepak Chopra

I spent time with Grace this morning, “decorating” her for some Christmas pictures.  I think her favorite part of the experience was the makeup.  When we were done with it, she looked at herself in the mirror for a while.  She didn’t know it, but I was watching her and enjoying the way she so innocently looked at herself.  She is a beautiful girl and I don’t doll her up very often at all, and this was good for her.  I could tell she felt pretty.  All girls need to feel that way now and then.

She wore my makeup.  My golden necklace and golden earrings.  My true treasure is my girl.

Some portraits:

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. 

~Laura Ingalls Wilder

quotes from Alexandra Stoddard:

“Amidst all of our activities, it’s essential to remember that all we have is each day.  There are no days that are more important than the one we are now experiencing.”

“Approach the ordinary with a sense of abundance”

“We can never get it all done, nor should we attempt to do it all.  I have learned to leave things undone in order to do other things. . . .the important thing is to take time to do what you believe are your top priorities.  List them in order; you are in charge of your choices.”

“You’ll never be able to keep up with everything without giving up life’s true richness—time to reflect, to read, to wonder, to dream.  When things get too busy-busy, too stressful, and you are nervous, anxious, and worried, –walk away.  You’ll come back with a clearer perspective.  Give your soul some undivided attention.  Unplug.  Awaken your senses to new heights.”

My dear friends, my wish, my prayer, and my hope for you is that each and every one of you has a wonderful and meaningful Christmas.  You are so special, such a valuable and unique individual, created by God for His glory.  Seek Him with all your heart and thank him on your knees for all the gifts He has so generously and mercifully given.  I will be doing the same.  “Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”  Jesus Christ is The Reason we take the time to celebrate on December 25, nothing on earth can com
pare to what He is and does for our souls.  Let Him overwhelm you with His love.  Take the time to make your relationship with Him sweeter, and more intimate, despite all of the things that need to be done at this time of year.  Time with Him is what’s truly necessary and makes life so very fulfilling.  The closer we are to Him, the closer we grow to one another.

Merry Christmas!

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  Luke 2:14

Oh how wonderful to wake up to a world of white!  I just can’t resist the outdoors after a heavy snowfall, would you like to go on a little walk with Ethan and me?  Get bundled up in your warmest winter clothes and boots, put someone in charge of the kids, and come along! 

The first thing we do is stop to look at the pond, all covered in a sheet of ice and snow.  The tall pine trees are so lovely, aren’t they?  I have snow down my boots already and stop to tuck my jeans in the tops to try to keep out the cold stuff.

Here we are, looking down at the stream.  There is a pretty picture everywhere we turn.

You and I will stay here while Ethan goes down to get a chunk of ice from the stream.  I would rather keep my feet dry, wouldn’t you?

Now we have made our way very very carefully *don’t slip!* down the bank to the stream below.  The water is running cold and smooth in it’s bed, and looks so refreshing that Ethan stops to take a drink from it. 

 When we lift our faces to look up at the treetops, soft and silent flakes of snow land on our cheeks.

Our walk takes us in a wide circle and we enjoy so many sights….including tracks of little animals across the top of the snow.  There is a silence in the snowy woods that you can’t find anywhere else.  After a while we get cold and tired so we make our way happily into the house to help the little ones bundle up warm for some sledding. 

Caleb loves to sled with his Papa.

They are all outside together, making winter memories.

This is the view off our front porch, later, as Rich is snow-blowing the lower driveway.

While they finish up their fun outside, we make some cornmeal muffins.

Soon the little ones come in hungry for a snack and asking for hot chocolate, too.

Caleb stuffed himself with about five muffins.  That sure hit the spot!

Since we ran out of mix, we’ll have to make the Hot Chocolate from scratch.  Thankfully there is a recipe printed on the Hershey’s cocoa container.

Favorite Hot Cocoa (serves 6, I had to tweak a little to make an extra 2 cups)

1/2 cup of sugar
1/4 cup Hershey’s cocoa
Dash salt
1/3 cup hot water
4 cups milk
3/4 tsp vanilla

Mix sugar, cocoa and salt in saucepan; stir in water.  Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils; boil and stir 2 minutes.  Stir in milk and heat.  Do not boil.  Remove from heat, stir in vanilla.  (* For an extra treat, I got out my immersion blender and blended it up to make it foamy on top*)  Scoop into mugs, pass around the bag of marshmallows and enjoy the love!

Thanks for spending time with me this morn
ing.  I think I’ll stay in the house now, and cozy up.  Guess what I was doing at 3:00 am this morning?  I was in the livingroom, sitting by the fire, munching toast and yogurt.  Yes, I had a powerful hunger in the night and couldn’t ignore it.  Needless to say, I’m sleepy today and after all the fresh air, I’m ready to find some blankets and a good book.  Maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to snooze.

Happy Saturday!

Love ~Shanda~

There as I made the cookies……..

and there to keep me company as I rested.

He found a cozy spot and stayed for a while, uninvited, but I didn’t mind.  He kept reassuring me, “I won’t hurt your baby belly!”

I kissed his foot a few times.  Ethan took the pictures.

As much as I love having new babies, there’s always something a little sad and sentimental that tugs at my heart when I prepare to say “good bye” to the “old” baby.  Caleb has been a constant, deep joy to me for the past 3 and a half years.  When his baby brother is born things will be different….better of course, but different.  I’m sure I’m not the only mom to go through these feelings.

I hope everyone “out there” is having a good day.  We’re doing fine here.  Jacob was sick all night and couldn’t sleep but seems to be getting better today, an encouraging sign was when he started talking again….as I made the cookies he talked and talked about outer space.  My back was turned to him and I was smiling as I twisted the dough for candy cane cookies, smiling to be a listening ear for him.

Grace and Jacob are both persuading Ethan, and claiming his allowance to “help” save up for the things THEY want….Jacob wants a lego set and Grace wants a new cat.  Ethan’s sweet temperament and willingness to help makes him an open wallet apparently?  I sense an opportunity for a life-lesson coming (for all three of them).

David had music class at school and came home wanting to sing to me.  He is banished from my room today, for making a mess in here yesterday and not cleaning it up.  My collection of art work from him keeps growing.  It’s getting quite funny.  (It’s the “MOM” written on each one that gets me, although one of them had the MOM crossed out and ETHAN written on it instead). 

We are expecting a winter storm tomorrow afternoon.  I think David’s teacher is anticipating a snow day because she sent his Friday homework folder home with him.  We’ll see if she’s right. 

Ethan memorized two poems today…both about trees.  He copied them down in his journal, and added a picture of himself, one that I took two years ago of him standing in the forest.

Oh!  And I ordered that Rosie train that Caleb had mentioned the other day…..I got an email from Barnes and Noble offering me 25% off any one item and free shipping in time for Christmas (if I spent a certain amount).  So I bought the train and a couple things for Jacob’s birthday, which is the 31st.

As for me, I am about to go make some hot tea and crash on the couch.  The children are all in their rooms.  Caleb still naps and the other ones know that this is quiet time.  I’ll have a good hour or so to recharge.  After rest time begins official “waiting impatiently ’til Daddy gets home time” during which I look at the clock way more than usual. 

One week ’til Christmas!

Love, Shanda

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.  ~John Ruskin

We woke up to some light, but icy snow.  It’s melting away already, but we had a brief window of time to sled ride before it was too late.  Rich decided to work for a little while from home, and David’s school was delayed, so it felt like a holiday.  After a breakfast of home made biscuits, bacon, and fried eggs, out we went, leaving Rich inside working (but enjoying his homecooked breakfast)…….

Caleb’s squeals and laughter were a joy to hear.  Oh, he had SO much fun!  He’s a good snow-boy.

It’s so nice to live on a hill!

And all that climbing back up…..such good exercise for little legs.

A happy smile from Grace, as she watches her brothers go down the hill.

This is Ethan…..

And here are Jacob and David.

Jacob is sick today, but still could not resist coming outside.  He’s got an upset stomach and a headache.  That’s all I have to say about that.  You can imagine the rest. 

Davy-do never did make it to school.  I waved his bus away….he can stay home today.

Ethan was Caleb’s special protector.  One time the sled (with him on it) ended up in shrubs.  I could hear Caleb all the way from the house, “OHHHH!  NOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO????????”, so dramatically.

We came inside just in time to kiss Rich good~bye…..it was such a treat to have him home for the morning.

Ethan took the pictures for me.

Always so safe and happy in his arms……

**happy sigh**

*******************************

Okay.  Now I have to clean up the kitchen (and see if there are any leftover biscuits).  David is at the table, stamping pictures on white paper with my rubber stamp collection.  He is very industrious and has already delivered to me several masterpieces, all with MOM carefully printed on in his best handwriting.  Jacob, Ethan, Caleb, and Grace are all snuggled up in the livingroom watching one of my most favorite movies~ Little Women~ I’ll be joining them after I clean up.  We’ll do schoolwork later!

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Love, Shanda

It’s been such a nice morning.  David had a good long night’s sleep, which he needed, and woke up calm and happy (somewhat unusual).  He ate breakfast, got dressed, and then sat with Caleb in the recliner to watch a Christmas video. . . .but what stopped me in my tracks was when I noticed that David has his arm around Caleb!  They were cuddling in the chair together like two bugs in a rug.  David is not one for open affection with his siblings and it just warmed my heart like you wouldn’t believe, to see them.

And Grace….she came downstairs, still in her long flannel nightgown, with a Bible and sat on the couch engrossed in Genesis!

Caleb’s been awake since about 5:30…but stayed in his room until wake-time, which is 7 sharp every day.  Now he’s been fed (pancakes AND cereal) and is dressed in green pants.  Very Festive.

Jacob also woke up happy and full of conversation (he actually talks more than any of the children lately).  He had a book in his hand and immediately wanted to read me a section of it….silliness from “The Series of Unfortunate Events”.

The first sound I heard when I stumbled sleepily out to the kitchen was sleet.  Then we had a little bit of rain.  And now, now there are gentle, quiet, random snowflakes falling.  “IS IT CHRISTMAS?”  Caleb squealed when he saw them….”when it’s Christmas I will open my presents and it will be Rosie…”  (Rosie is a train)  So, what will I do?  I didn’t buy him Rosie!

The living room floor is covered with bits and snippets of thin white paper.  Grace and I made some snowflakes and the best ones are getting taped to the window next to our kitchen table.

Ethan has been sitting at the table, carefully drawing a rabbit using a one inch grid.

Christmas music is playing.

And oh yes.  The picture at the top?  That’s to show you the two garlands that we made.  One is my yo-yo garland, which are sewn on a brown ribbon.  The other one is made from craft pompoms.  The children made it in all of about 10 minutes, it’s soft and pastel and pretty.  Neither one is very long, just long enough to lay across the top of my piano.  My Aunt Sharon crocheted the Christmas covering for the glass dish, I’ve managed to keep it in one piece all these years and it’s something that gives me pleasure every year. 

We also have about five candles lit, one of which is “Sparkling Pine” and smells so yummy.

Yesterday was a crazy day…I was uptight, tired, and thinking too much about things I didn’t need to think about, and I also had a doctor’s appointment to go to and a trip to Costco, with all five children.  This morning has been so nice, that I think I just might have it in me to actually relax by the fire with hot chocolate and a good read.  A most welcome gift from God…….PEACE in the heart…….mind, and soul.

((LOVE)) ~Shanda