I won’t be blogging for the next week or so. I am going to my parent’s house with the kids. They will be attending VBS at my home church. I’m looking forward to spending time w/my family and friends “back home”.
Have a wonderful week, all of you! Love, Shanda
“Before you were conceived I wanted you
Before you were born I loved you
Before you were here an hour I would die for you. . . . . .” ~From a quote I found
Jacob Ethan David Caleb
The Boys
If you’re not an animal lover you will NOT understand this post. 
My cat was missing for a week. We had almost given up hope that he was still alive when suddenly. . . . . last night I heard him meowing on the porch! He’s very skinny but otherwise fine.
“Momma Love”
“I am a child again and a longing unutterable
fills my heart for Mother’s counsel” Laura Ingalls Wilder
“A Golden Swim”
“You need not lose your power of enjoyment
nor your sense of the beautiful
if you desire to keep them.” Laura Ingalls Wilder
“Kissing Calebs”
“It is the simple things of life
That make living worthwhile. . .”Laura Ingalls Wilder
“Chasing a Butterfly”
“There are many interesting things in the out-of-doors life that come so close to us in the country, and if we show a little kindness
to the wild creatures, they quickly make friends with us”
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Thoughts:
If I pause to really think about my pictures, if I slow down, I can realize some truths and learn a lesson.
That my children will not forget my touch and my love, even in their old age. I want to be more loving.
That there is beauty all around me if I keep looking for it. I can see it in people, in nature, in little things or big things. I want to keep looking for the beautiful.
That I can learn from my children. Have you ever noticed that a child delights in seeing his reflection in the mirror? The Bible says, “Love your neighbor AS YOURSELF.” So often I feel the need to devalue myself. I want to love myself.
To take pictures is to be humble. This morning I found myself running around my yard! In my pajamas! With my 3 year old running after me! Chasing a butterfly! In the midst of my dashes to and fro I thought about how embarrassed I would be if someone drove by! Then I thought, WHY be embarrassed? That’s PRIDE talking! I want to be humble.
I am attaching the link to a book by Laura Ingalls Wilder, who is a never-ending source of inspiration to me. The book is a compilation of her writings to a newspaper, in which she shares her thoughts and feelings on a variety of topics. Very much like our blogs!
Today has been great! I love Saturdays. Rich had nursing home ministry and he took Jacob and Ethan w/him. I stayed home and put the baby in his carseat for his morning nap and off we went–Grace, David, sleeping baby, and me, for a drive. I stopped at the ATM 
and a couple of tag sales. I bought a wooden crate (I have a weakness for them, they are so useful, my favorite thing to do is use them for planters) and some handmade lace from an elderly lady’s tag sale. She was a piano player and had a lot of old sheet music for sale. I asked her about piano playing, and she said that she couldn’t play as much any more because of her arthritis. When I told her that I used to play, she encouraged me to take it up again. She had a lot of fabric and handmade things (which reminded me of my Great Grandma). She made an impression on me, she seemed very ladylike; dressed nicely, talked nicely, smiled nicely.
I went to a fruit stand and bought 8 quarts of fresh peaches, some cucumbers, tomatoes, and corn on the cob.
We came back home and when Rich and the boys got back, we went down the road to our favorite place, an antique store that also doubles as a refurnished furniture store. The owner refinishes nice, old, heavy furniture and we bought 2 dressers from him today. One for Grace and one for Ethan. We also bought a beautiful ceder chest for Grace, it’s from the 1920’s and the lid lifts up and stays up (important for little fingers!) It’s as long as the end of her full sized bed. She already has her doll things in it. I also bought one of those cast-iron bells, the kind where you yank the string back and forth to ring it, so I can get the children to the house when they’re out in the woods (I won’t have to yell anymore!)
I made PEACH JAM. Oh, I’m so happy! Feeling so domestic today! The jam is so good, too. I did it while the two little ones were sleeping ~ I had almost no distractions the entire time. What bliss!
You Gotta Have Friends
This picture was taken today. . . .my son took it. It’s me, “K”, and “Writer” (who is almost 8 months pregnant!)
I feel rich in friendships. Each one is valuable to me and has taught me so much about myself and life. My friend Joanna has stood the test of time and distance. . .we’ve managed to stay in constant contact for almost 10 years, seeing each other face to face only a handful of times during those 10 years! My friend Christie taught me that in order to have a friend, you need to be one. She made many of the first moves in our friendship and I will never, ever forget how that made me feel (and it helps me reach out to others now). I had to move away (geography-wise)from that friendship, too, but we still email almost every day.
I’ve known what it feels like to be lonely, to want another woman to talk to. I remember crying to the Lord about it years ago, and writing in my journal about it. I just needed friends! When we first moved to this area almost 7 years ago, I didn’t know anyone. It took time, but the Lord has really given me above and beyond what I ever asked and hoped for with the friends He has given me! Not only that, but he also orchestrated my sister’s life and moved her here, too! (That’s a whole other story in itself!) I had some friends come over today, which is what prompted these thoughts.
Do you have a friend?
Do you need one?
Here is a quote from a book I read that may inspire you:
If you don’t have that special friend or healthy support system, begin praying that God will help you find one. (Remember that God knows your needs and will take care of you, even in this area.) You can help the process along by making yourself available for friendship, even if it means paring down your schedule to make room for friends. Look for kindred spirits in the midst of your many activities, and don’t be afraid to make the first move. Sometimes all it takes is an invitation to share a cappuccino at the neighborhood Starbucks or a sack lunch in the park.
When looking for friends, keep an eye out for people who. . . .
Share your values and faith
Know how to listen
Believe the best in you
Possess a positive attitude
Keep confidences
Accept you and your differences
Communicate honestly and directly
Take the time to be there.
Stick with your quality friendships! They will change and grow better and better every year.
I attached the link to the very best book that I’ve ever read on the topic of friendship. It’s the kind of book that you nod your head through, and it is Bible-based.
Another Happy Simple Pleasure.
“Rain Rain Glorious Rain”
We took these pictures yesterday, late afternoon, during a deluge of rain. . .it was so refreshing after a blistering hot day. I wanted to run around in it, but didn’t ~ for fear of being struck by lighting.
Happy, Simple Pleasure #1,658
Play Peek-a-boo with a Baby!
I think it even lowers blood pressure and reduces stress! (no charge
)
Oops! I think he almost missed his eyes on that one!
A big thank you to everyone who gave such wonderful
feedback on yesterday’s post. It’s such a blessing to see
new faces and read other women’s blogs. I see
quite a few “kindred spirits” out there!
They’ll know
we are Christians
by our LOVE
“Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26
I do this blog as an outlet for what little creativity that God gave me. But, like everything I do, I want to glorify God with it. Whether it is as simple as a few pictures or a few written words, my desire is to glorify Him. And because of Him, it goes even beyond that. More than anything, the Lord has placed in my heart the goal to encourage anyone who happens to visit this “little part of me”. I want you to know that you are loved, you are valuable, you are special. God made you and me, we are precious in His sight. My heart wants to serve others in this way–to encourage, bring a smile, uplift, comfort. . . . . . . .Some of you who read this are my family, some are my friends, some of you are friends that I met here in xanga- women that I will probably never meet face to face. Each of you is IMPORTANT in the sight of God. Slow down today and think about Him, and thank Him for this life He gave you!
“I don’t ask for the meaning of the song of a bird,
or the rising of the sun on a misty morning.
There they are,
and they are beautiful.”
“What language shall I borrow, to thank Thee, dearest Friend?”
“For You formed my inward parts,
You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13
Can we say “Thank You”enough?
“I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart:
I will glorify Thy name forevermore.” Ps. 86:12
“God saw EVERYTHING that He had made, and behold,
IT WAS VERY GOOD.” Genesis 1:31
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste
BUT SWEET WILL BE THE FLOWER.
William Cowper
“Delight yourself in the Lord” Psalm 37:4
I would like this to be a place in “blogland” where there is love and a magnifying of God and all good things! Let’s be encouragers and spread God’s love around wherever we go!
It’s all because of Him.
Look what Jacob caught today! It makes my heart happy to see the kids having so much fun in God’s creation. The bright, plastic toys with batteries fade in comparison to the world outdoors. The sights, sounds, variety, and vastness of His handiwork all glorify His name!
Good to be Home 