I’m crashing today….so tired…slept in, got up just to throw clothes on and go to Sunday School and church with Rich and the children. We didn’t get very far into the service before I glanced over and saw Seth was crying and it wasn’t because he was under conviction of the Holy Spirit, either. He had gotten warm and taken his sweater off. And when David saw what he had on underneath, he laughed at his little brother, which hurt Seth’s feelings excruciatingly. Under his sweater he had put on a nice blue and gray checkered dress shirt but somehow he got it on wrong-side out. The buttons APPEARED to be right, but on closer examination you could see that he had had to work hard to do some funny folding and creative maneuvering to button a shirt that was wrong side out but make the buttons still appear to be right side out. It’s hard to explain. Try it. I thought the collar looked funny but that was my only intuition about it, I never dreamed the entire shirt but the buttons was wrong side out. Anyway, he cried from public mortification and I carefully and silently did the Mom-thing by pushing Sarah down a seat away from me and pulling Seth close to my side in one smooth motion. He got to stand next to Mother for the songs and sit next to Mother during the sermon. We may have even passed notes back and forth for a minute or two, too. I may have even gotten my hand held and hair touched and a head resting on my shoulder, a shoulder which may have been used to wipe tears off one small cheek.
Basically, I got mom points.
Here we are, after church, at Subway because I don’t make Sunday dinners. Subway does.
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I’m going to start posting my Sunday “style” every week. Just an ordinary mom, mind you!
(Basically I’m going to laugh as I post the photos)
Happy December! Here we are seven days in and I’m finally sitting down to type. It feels so good to my fingers. I’m glad I took keyboarding in HS just to fill up a spot on my schedule. I love to type. And blog.
I’m sitting here super tired but I have an extra 45 minutes and I’m determined to post some lovely photos that I took in the beginning of this week.
The children had a snow day on Monday.
And another on Tuesday.
The snow fall was beautiful. I ended up going outside with Caleb, Seth, Sarah, and their friend Jack from next door.
It’s always a sight to see everything covered over with white. Pure. Clean. Cold.
They love it when their dad plows the snow into a big pile. It inevitably becomes a game of “King of the Mountain” with snow as ammunition and a useful cushion to push your friend into. You can rough-house a little safer in a snow pile. Sarah jumped from the top into the soft snow.
I snuck around, trying not to let them see me. Sometimes when children catch sight of a mom they forget to play and start remembering hunger, thirst, complaints, and things that they want that only Mom can give or admire (“Mom, Look what I can do!”).
I wanted them to play.
I tiptoed into the woods.
They were following me, I think!
Yep, they certainly were. “MOM! MOM do you want to come watch us sled?”
I had to say “yes”.
The caught up to me and went on ahead.
But Seth turned around and said, “Come on, Mom, I want to walk with my moo-moo.”
He didn’t want me to lag behind.
And all of a sudden it wasn’t me and them. It was us.
It’s funny how God can turn a heart attitude around when I least expect it. I had been solitarily and somewhat sadly taking in the beauty of my surroundings when these dear children caught my attention and pulled me in to their world. They wanted me.
The hill was so very steep. I wish you could see it in real life. It’s so steep that they only wanted to go down 3 times each because it’s such hard work to climb back up. This is the photo I took while sitting on a throne made of snow. They were making the first trail so the sled would work.
Caleb went down first and the snow blinded him.
Then Seth flew down.
Sarah got ready.
“Don’t push me, Caleb!” she said.
“CALEB! DON’T YOU PUSH HER!” I yelled.
She was pushed.
(“it will make her tougher, it will make her tougher”, I chanted to myself as I took pictures)
Seth again.
And then Seth sat on Caleb’s lap and down the brothers went.
That smile!
I think the same one was on my own face, too.
Caleb was too suprised that he didn’t injure himself to smile.
The children walked back home one way, and I went another way. The air was quiet and cold. I admired the way the trees were each striped with white.
lines of brightness, lines of darkness
This is the beauty of a freshly fallen snow, as the wind cleans the trees off rather quickly.
It pays to get outside right away to soak it all into the soul.
Back inside again, with just a few scenes of what makes a cozy home even cozier…….
Father in Heaven, thank Thee for all, Winter and spring-time, summer and fall. All Thine own gifts to Thee we bring, Help us to praise Thee, our Heavenly King. ~Lydia A. Coonley
Twas the day before Thanksgiving when all through the house, all the creatures were stirring, even the spider in the laundry room that Grace and I noticed on the wall.
Right away this morning, while I had energy, I mixed up Grandma’s dough recipe for rolls and while it was rising Grace and I went back to bed with tea and did some reading. She got inspired by Carl Larsson artwork and I read a book written by a photographer that I forget the name of right now.
We also did laundry together.
I formed the dinner rolls with Ethan by my side, and he played us music on his phone and used some of the dough to make a big pan of cinnamon rolls.
Rich was home by 2 and we drove Caleb to school for a football game.
Now he is with Ethan, Jacob, and Seth out running. After they are done they will come home and get cleaned up and go out to eat because mama isn’t making dinner today, it’s all coming out tomorrow instead……the feast!
House is clean…..enough. My parents, my brother Nathan with his family, my brother Dave and his girlfriend Ann, Brittnee, and Michael will be here. It will be lovely and warm and family.
Sherlock the cat is curled up in the chair next to me, Grace is reading across from me and Brittnee is typing a mile a minute next to me. It’s cozy.
I’m currently reading The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel
I’m wearing overalls, with a red flower tshirt and a cardigan.
I have more laundry to do.
I’m going to have someone else chop onion and celery for the stuffing.
Maybe get the butternut squash done.
Feast your eyes on this bunch! I am so proud of these children o’ mine!
Happy thanksgiving my dear friends! You are loved!
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart….Acts 2:46
Grace is home. She’s twenty now and so much me, part of me, and most especially of all her own self, too, that she keeps me endlessly praising God for the gift of this dear daughter of mine.
The house is full again even though Jacob and Ethan don’t get home until tomorrow. We had Michael and Brittnee here last night and the chaos made me dream again the dream I have of all of us living together in this same house for always.
Then, at the end of the day, the heavy wet rain turned into heavy clumps of slush and then big heavy snow. I kept running out to the porch to look, it’s amazing how the weather effects the spirit! I jumped up and down! Seth stripped down to his underwear and stood in it!
Yesterday in Sunday School the teacher mentioned the Spirit of God and what that means and in my mind I thought, “God has spirit”!!!!!!!!! you know, like spirit week at the High School, with cheering and motivation and pep? And my mind was blown. I usually think of the spirit of God as holy and quiet and peaceful, which is also is, but what about a YAHOO GIDDY UP AND GO Spirit? I love it! I want more of it! I’ve been quiet and pensive enough for a lifetime. I’ll still be these things, I have to be……..but this other sort of spirit has been sorely lacking for me. And I want it! (blessed are those who hunger and thirst)……..
I think this is why today’s mantra was “kick it”. Grace and I got in the car and set out to get all the Thanksgiving shopping done and that’s what we said periodically to one other, “we’re kicking it!” I even did a high kick on the way into Costco.
The word of the day was QUEEN.
Such spirit!
“Breathe on me, breath of God, fill me with LIFE anew.”
Breathe on me, Breath of God, Fill me with life anew, That I may love what Thou dost love, And do what Thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God, Until my heart is pure, Until with Thee I will one will, To do and to endure.
Breathe on me, Breath of God, Till I am wholly Thine, Until this earthly part of me Glows with Thy fire divine.
Breathe on me, Breath of God, So shall I never die, But live with Thee the perfect life Of Thine eternity.
hymn by Edwin Hatch
Then I looked inside. Then I went inside.
with a thankful heart
You are so so very much loved.
Psalm 103
O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name! O my soul, bless God, don’t forget a single blessing!
He forgives your sins—every one. He heals your diseases—every one. He redeems you from hell—saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown. He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal. He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet. He showed Moses how he went about his work, opened up his plans to all Israel. God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love. He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins. As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we’re made of mud. Men and women don’t live very long; like wildflowers they spring up and blossom, But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly, leaving nothing to show they were here. God’s love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him, Making everything right for them and their children as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever he said…….
Happy Friday! Rich arrived home early today and I’m sitting at the table while he reads his Lincoln book, which he bought in Washington D.C., right next to me.
I have a chicken simmering on the stove with onion, two bay leaves, & salt and pepper in chicken stock. Soon I will make chicken and homemade biscuits.
If Josephina sees this post, yes I’m blogging the photos I just texted you.
It’s been a nice day despite the darkness and rainstorms.
I went for a walk before the rains began. I listened to a podcast while soaking in everything around me, including this bright pink seed…….so pretty. It’s still in my coat pocket waiting to be glued into my nature journal.
early morning face happy to be outside in the fresh air
This is what a pinecone looks like after it has been in the road and frequently ran over with many tires. The children’s art teacher used them (representing Christmas trees) to glue on her homemade Christmas cards one year, and even decorated them with tiny sequins and glitter. So I always think of her when I see them. This is in my pocket, still, too.
I went and had my hair done with Amy today and took an “after” photo right before driving to Barnes and Noble……….
……where I saw this big book of inspiration (did not purchase because I already have three FLOW books for Paper Lovers which will take me at least 25 years to use up, so I took a picture of this because they are copying Flow’s idea and just had to show Jo……..I looked through it and it’s almost exactly the same concept.
“……Henry David Thoreau recognized the redemptive value of exposing oneself to harsh winter: ‘Take long walks in stormy weather or through deep snows in the fields and woods, if you would keep your spirits up. Deal with brute nature. Be cold and hungry and weary.”
Reading this almost had me going BACK outside for a walk this afternoon in the rain (I mean, I would have taken an umbrella……..)
Journal Prompts from a magazine
I left the bookstore with a coffee, a piece of quiche and a new paperback. I drove to home sweet home in the rain.
Whilst listening to uplifting Christian music on K-Love.
Cozied up with my new book (number 2 in the series)……
…..and a pretty kitty.
But, as luck would have it, and moms everywhere can relate, as soon as my eyes got tired and I started to think about taking a little nap, son Caleb called. “Mom, are you at home? Could you please bring me my hoodie and my white football jersey?”
Yes, son, and I’ll bring you a bag of food, too.
All of these things kept my spirits up.
Now, off to make chicken and biscuits for my family….it’s gonna be a good dinner…stop on by!
“Something inside me loosened, unknotted. Compassion and warmth welled up in me….there was nothing I wanted for myself, I just wanted to give. Christy, page 402
“Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.” Psalm 16:5
“Satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones.” Psalm 17:14
“In prayer we act like men; in praise we act like angels.” Thomas Watson
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Just four photos from today and four quotes that I recently found and scribbled down in my journals.
I had matcha green tea today, I covered my Message Bible in pretty paper, I’m reading a good book that Grace will borrow when I’ve finished it, and my cat loves squeezing into a tiny amazon box……….
I was stirring dinner on the stove when David joined me in the kitchen and sat up on the island.
Dave: “If I didn’t have arthritis I would be an amazing ninja.” Me (concerned): “What the heck, who has arthritis? You sure don’t!” Dave: “Well, then I guess I’m a ninja.”
Then Rich got home and I ran outside to greet him. “You’re 11 minutes late!”
“It’s cozy inside. And just so you know, Seth and Sarah are dice stacking again so brace yourself.”
I made a variation of Hannah’s chicken and noodles that she made for my family years ago when she visited from Alaska, very easy. Put a whole chicken in a pot, add 2 boxes of unsalted organic Chicken broth, salt, pepper, a couple bay leaves and granulated onion. I also added an onion cut in half this time but it’s not something I normally do. Let simmer on the stove for hours until the meat is falling off the bone. Take the chicken out of the pot, pick the meat off the bones, add the meat back to the pot (after skimming off fat), and then add a bag of the best egg noodles available in the store (the ones I use are “homemade” packaged dy noodles and they don’t get slimy or soft in the pot). Stir and simmer until the noodles are done. Add more seasonings if necessary.
I thought it was perfect but David left the table for garlic powder and then dropped it across the room. The top came off and there was garlic powder on the floor. “Don’t worry, I’ll clean it up,” he said going to the pantry with me calling after him. “GET A BROOM AND DUSTPAN NOT THE VACUUM CLEANER IT WOULD RUIN THE VACUUM CLEANER!” Meanwhile, Seth decided to use the garlic himself and OOPS used the “spoon” side instead of the “shaker” side and added about a tablespoon (1/4 teaspoon=1 clove garlic) to his bowl. I grabbed his bowl and ran to the sink with it. I spent way too much time on dinner to waste even a bowl of this good meal. Using my fingers I got the clumps of dry garlic off his chicken and noodles, rinsing my fingers off between attempts. “Is there WATER in it now?” he worried. “No.”
The garlic is cleaned up, David is sneezing because as he swept he breathed it in. He has a cold so he admitted it cleared his sinuses and not only that “the vampires will leave us alone now so we don’t have to worry about that anymore.” “I never was worried about that,” says his Dad. We all used the garlic, even though I thought the dish was perfect as it was.
People complained that it was too hot (in temperature). They were burning their mouths. Now I can’t help myself, I’m laughing. “I like to serve my food at volcanic temperatures.” I admit with a flip of my hair.
That was dinner.
Speaking of food and the kitchen and spices, here are the promised Julia Child kitchen photos I took while at the Smithsonian.
Once you gaze upon them you will find yourself running to your own kitchen to make chicken and noodles for dinner!! I bet!
Every nook and cranny was amazing. I had to be very careful not to press my nose to the glass as I studied every angle possible.
lighting, knives
open cubby holes
magnets on the fridge
I apologize for the glare in some of the photos…..I had to take the pictures through glass.
pans hanging everywhere!!!
I have lid envy!
((((cat))))
Outside the kitchen there was a television with clips of her classic show, as you can see, she can still draw an interested audience.
The badge!!!
her Emmy award
Yours truly. (Truly a Julia fan!) It was a thrill to see her kitchen, I loved it so much, it’s, in my opinion……. PERFECT!
Ready for dessert?
Cheesecake Pie
1 (8 inch) graham cracker pie crust 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature 2 cups milk 1 pkg instant pudding mix (any flavor)
In a deep bowl, with an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Blend in 1/2 cup milk and continue to beat until smooth. Add 1 1/2 cup milk and the package of instant pudding mix, beat just until smooth (about 1 minute). Pour into graham cracker crust. Chill. Served with whipped cream.
NOTES: I used a square baking pan and put the graham cracker crust (made myself) on the bottom, it’s easier to cut and serve to my family this way. Also, Caleb stayed home sick from school with this wretched cold going through the family (I have it, too) and he told me that as soon as he got up he ate a lot of whipped cream out of the can and it helped his sore throat. Impressed with this new remedy, I told him to remember that trick for when he is a Dad someday, and his child is sick. He’ll be the only one soothed with whipped cream. Makes sense to me!
Okay, off to a chorus concert with Sarah Joy!
Thank you friends, for stopping by and saying hello!
You are loved.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
The children had the day off from school today. It was a beautiful sunny day, so bright it almost made me squint. I was able to sleep until 8:30 and then got up to make coffee. I sat at the table and wrote letters and David sat next to me eating his pancakes. When he sneezed a bunch of times he asked me if I thought sneezes became more forceful as a person aged and I said I didn’t know. Then we talked about lungs and how sad it was that people smoked or vaped and damaged their good lungs in such a fashion. Dave started sounding a little judgemental so I tried to tell him, “Humans are weak creatures, Dave.” “Well, it’s a good thing I’m not a beta male,” he said as he got up to put his plate in the sink. “What in the world does that mean?” I asked. “Beta males tend to be followers. That’s not me. I’m an alpha male.” in all seriousness.
I laughed and laughed.
Later on, I asked Caleb and then David if they wanted to go downtown with me. I was thinking about coffee and postage stamps. They both declined. Caleb declined in a friendly absentminded fashion, but David declined hesitantly with fear that he was hurting my feelings, maybe. I said not to worry,” wouldn’t you feel worse if I just left without inviting you?” “I would say ‘Where’s Mom?'”, he admitted. Right.
I didn’t invite Seth and Sarah. They were a bit overwhelming today. They’ve found a new passion and it’s noisier than bottle flipping. They’ve begun “dice stacking” instead. To do this you need “casino dice” and straight-sided cups. Well, we don’t have casino dice (they have been ordered after Seth wore me down) so every board game in the house has been ransacked for regular dice. As far as straight sided cups; two of my plastic spice jars have been emptied into sandwich bags and two containers of baking powder have also been put into baggies and their metal tops cut off with a steak knife. Seth and Sarah do this dice stacking game and also play with their plastic animals, which involves taking books out of the bookcase to make platforms for them. Everywhere they go they leave behind messes and I love it. (and make them clean them later on)
“Whoever turned the bathroom into not a bathroom better fix it,” David said in his best alph male voice. Turns out that Sarah turned it into an animal land (remember my theme song?) The sink was full of water and there were animals posed everywhere and David just couldn’t use the bathroom like that.
I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW DEEP DOWN THANKFUL I AM FOR THESE CHILDREN!!!!!!!
Caleb, who complains too much but then gets goofy and then comes to give me a hug and almost knocks me off balance and says “I hope I can cook as good as you someday.”
David who so obviously enjoys being near me and watched Forrest Gump with me yesterday and shed a tear or two and plays the piano and puts himself on a fitness schedule and feels bad when he tells me no when I invite him places.
Seth who snuggles next to me in the evenings during TV time and sings me *Mom Is a Good Mom* songs and wants to give me hugs to hurt my bones and brags that his feet are the same size as mine and is so noisy sometimes that I tell him he’s being annoying and he pretends to get offended but he’s smiling with accomplisment.
And Sarah who loves to read and plays and holds her own with her brothers and was the only one who went out trick or treating last night and is the only daughter at home now and wants to be just like her big sister Grace and is NINE already and my baby.
What would I do without them? Or their three older siblings? My heart aches with love and longing. Longing for what? I guess just for all of it, to remember it and look forward to the rest of it, wherever God leads me as a mother, I don’t have many regrets. The biggest one being that I cared too much about sleep at times. Really, sleep is overrated. Yes, it’s scarce for years but then it returns. I would say now; don’t worry. And if the child can’t nap now and then that’s okay, too. I used to be such a stickler for naps for the children. It was my only free time of the day. But I wish I hadn’t been. I wish I had just rolled with it more. I did get more lax through the years. Typical I suppose. We even let Seth and Sarah stay up later at night …… we like having them with us. We know how fast they grow.
I made a big big pan of apple crisp today and David peeled the apples for it.
It’s been a nice day.
Here are some more Washington D.C. photos from Sunday:
Washinton Monument……sky high and ringed around with flags!
The sneakers that hurt my feet.
The two older boys were wrestling in their first meet of the season and we decided to sit and rest. Rich checked the live feed just as Ethan was in his match! Simply providential!
Ethan wrestling…..as we sat in the shadow of the Washinton Monument, watching proudly. Kinda sweet!
Rich at the Washington Monument, “lean on it” I said. So he did. The Lincoln Memorial is seen in the distance behind him.
The reflecting pool looking toward the Lincoln Memorial.
(I love how it turned out with the sunshine.)
soooooooo beautiful
And then, the moment I was waiting for……my favorite president:
His birthday is February 12.
My birthday is February 12.
We are birthday twins!
This is one of the many reasons why Abe is my favorite.
There was a crowd but I had Rich wait, and work, and angle to make it look like it was just Lincoln and me.
words of Lincoln
Rich trying to see if he could find Jacob’s wresting match.
Shows the greatness of the columns and the monument.
Lincoln Memorial looking to the Washington Monument
Arlington Memorial Bridge (the cemetary was closed by this time and we didn’t get to go inside).
We walked 9 miles on this day. The only body part between the two of us that got tired was my feet. And I blame my sneakers for that. When I came home I bought new ones.
Good to be Home 