I think the last time I took a 2 hour nap was when I was pregnant for Jacob (my firstborn).  I slept today and it was bliss, BLISS I SAY, I got up at 4 feeling more relaxed that I have in a long time.  It felt so good.

I have to smile when I think about some of the comments I get here about making sure I am spending time for myself.  I need to hear that now and then. 

Does my nap count? 

Does swinging in my hammock and petting my cat count?

How about watching the kids swim and have fun? (David swims with nothing on but a life-jacket, all his idea, and it makes me laugh).

Does watching my hummingbirds count?  (I love the hooks I found to hang the feeders)

Does drinking coffee count?

How about spending time with my husband?

And what about gardening and making my house pretty? (I do so love to be outside!)

I’ve been reading books and magazines and writing letters this weekend, all for my own pleasure!

We also had a picnic!

 
I was tagged by someone here to give random facts about myself:

I love to read, I love to clean and organize my house (but it is not clean or organized because of the children), I refuse to dye my hair and am secretly proud/scared of my gray hairs, I hate changes, I love to sing and sang in a trio this morning in church, I am a loyal (you’ll never get rid of me) friend, I am sentimental, I have lots of scrapbooks and journals, I love to encourage others, I am a quiet person.  My favorite room in the house is my bedroom, then my kitchen.  I eat raw cookie dough, I like to laugh, I love to read my Bible (my fav. book is Ecclesiastes) and get close to God.  I love old things; people, friends, cast iron pans, books, hymns, ideas, values, recipes, stories, chairs (especially the peeling painted ones).  My favorite magazine is Country Living.  I love handmade things.  I like thoughtful gifts (this weekend one of my friends gave me a book of Mother Goose rhymes illustrated with the old, vintage illustrations).  I like cats better than dogs.  I love gymnastics.  I would love more babies but “we’ll see”.   I try to keep my heart young and happy in the midst of the responsibilities of motherhood and adulthood.  I love stickers and stationary.  I love wind chimes but not hanging from the porch–I like to hear them in the distance so I hang them in trees away from the house.  I like painted toenails in the summertime.  I have a weakness for wooden crates (you can see them as planters in my garden pictures). I don’t like walking through fields of tall grass (fear of bees, snake
s, and other creatures).  I am a morning person and at night I always read before I turn out the light. 

You said random and you got random!

And now is the time of day when the sun is sinking and the greenness of the outdoors is positively GLOWING so I must go and walk in it. 

I wish you could join me! 

When I looked at Grace this morning, still in her nightgown, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.  Of course every mother thinks that their own child is the “sweetest and the best” (to borrow an expression from an “Anne” book) and I am no exception.  I made her go out on the porch with me where the light was better and I took these pictures of her.  I love her hair, her brown eyes, and the way she wrinkles her nose when she smiles.

I found the song lyrics on a Disney website.  Even though I can’t remember how the tune goes, I still thought the words were fitting for this group of pictures of darling daughter Grace.   Enjoy!

“With a Smile and a Song”
from “Snow White”

“With a smile and a song
Life is just a bright sunny day. . . .

Your cares fade away
And your heart is young”

“With a smile and a song
All the world seems to waken anew. . . . .

Rejoicing with you
As the song is sung”

“There’s no use in grumbling
When the raindrops come tumbling. . . . .

Remember, you’re the one
Who can fill the world with sunshine”

“When you smile and you sing
Everything is in tune and it’s spring
And life flows along
With a smile and a song”

We’re done with our school work for today and it’s lovely outside!

Catch of the Day:

They also have a snake, a big water bug of some sort, tadpoles, and other frogs.

These are the days to remember, have fun, smile, explore. . . .

One of their thoughtful spots.

Here I am, holding hands with my son and absorbing the loving expression on his face that I see so often.  He’s saying “I love you Mom” with his eyes.

I’ve been busy in my garden. . . .but God’s garden is where I find the most pleasure.

Like when I see the Violets

I can’t stand it I just can’t stand it. . . .they’re getting so big!!!!!!!!!

My Aunt Mary inspired me to put pansies by my side door.

I found this in my mailbox today:

Only a heart full of love would make a person fill a card with encouragement for a little boy (and his family), to console him after his dog died.  Thanks, onehappymomma,  You made tears come to my eyes today with your thoughtfulness.

Have a Happy Day!

First of all, thanks to each of you for your kind comments about the loss of our poor dog.  I cried when I wrote the story and cried harder when I read all your responses to it.  What kind hearts you have!  The children have been reading each comment and I plan on printing them so they can save them.  Thank you over and over! 

This afternoon I took my son with me for a little walk.  It’s been raining for a few days and he was soaked (and whining) by the time we got home.  Here are some pictures that I took as we were out enjoying God’s beautiful creation:

1.  I love the colors of this wild rose bush.  The dusky purple and greens inspire me.

2.   in the field near our house (state land). 

3.  adjusting his shoe?  I think this photo is so sweet.

4.  This grass was so thick and healthy that it loudly rasped against my boots as I waded through it.

5.  A soaking wet dandelion head looks so exotic!  It’s a beautiful new way to see a common plant.

6.  It was fun to find a natural trail of water running into the woods, which led us under an apple tree.  You may wonder if it’s a stream– it isn’t normally, there just has been extra water lately from the rain.  Son is amazed that Mommy is leading him through such a muddy wet pathway.

7.  We discovered a small field of tall tall grasses in the edge of the woods. 

8.  I got really wet trying to get a clear picture of this Jack-in-the-Pulpit. 

I hope you enjoyed the pictures from our walk.  Whenever I spend time outside I feel refreshed and happy in the Lord.  His creation is so beautiful.  I see something exciting every day here at our country home.  Yesterday we had a crane land near the pond and I also saw a sweet pair of warblers in the bushes.  I need to start writing everything down in a journal!  I can understand why some people carry journals around with them wherever they go.

And now, here are the words to a favorite hymn with words that are meaningful and unifying.  This hymn came to mind as I read the comforting words in yesterday’s comments.

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

We we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.

John Fawcett

Have a wonderful evening!

So, what do we do when hubby has to work late?  Go to sister’s house to pass the time away! 

 admired the babies. . . . .

ran a big bath for the girls to giggle and play in. . . . . . .

posed for pictures

enjoyed the outdoors. . . . .

and did our best to ignore the toads!

By the way, the toads are almost gone.  They used our pond to “do what they had to do” and then hopped away.  I have never seen anything like it.  Husband said that the family who used to live here told him that it would happen.  I know it seems like nothing, but it was honestly quite disturbing to see so many.  I felt kind of sick by the end of the day, after an entire day of seeing them and almost stepping on them.  One toad is kind of cute, but hundreds are NOT.  The plague in Egypt really came alive for me! 

Despite the toads, yesterday was a lot of fun.  It was so nice to spend the day with my sister and her girls.

Y

There are no flowers grown in the vale
Kiss’d by the dew, woo’d by the gale,
None by the dew of twilight wet,
So sweet as the deep-blue violet 

(They are toads)

Warning! This is disturbing!

Mind you, this JUST HAPPENED.  The children forced me to go outside to see this!

You will probably scream!

More information:  The kids caught all these today, the pond is overrun with them. . .apparently it’s a good day to be a toad.    They are all over the place. . . . . .and we haven’t seen any until today!  I’m sure they’ll be gone in a few days.  They better be!