Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. Praise His glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with His glory! Amen and Amen. Psalm 72:19

I am now forty seven years old and my husband is forty nine. Five of our seven children have moved on to other places and are living life fully and with energy and curiosity, learning and growing up strong and capable. Three of them are now married, making our grand total of children, thus far, at ten. Rich and I are still busy at home with our two youngest; Seth is 14, Sarah 13.

The baby (Caleb) who began this blog with me so many years ago is now eighteen and attending college nine hours away (by car). He is doing so well and when I dwell too much on it, I start to get emotional. I know him like no one else, as good mothers do, we know our children. We love them deeply and honestly and keep the precious memories and observations close, in our hearts. And now he’s away living life more for himself, as he should.

So yes, I praise God for Caleb, off to college. His knee is better and he’s on the wrestling team. He’s making excellent grades and has friends and enough to keep him busy.

I praise God for Seth, who is now a freshman in HS. His friendly personality. His talent in sports and how exciting it is to watch him play football as starting QB on the Junior Varsity team.

I praise God for Sarah. As tall as I am now, the youngest of our children. She is my daughter and my friend. She is active with her friends, a cheerleader, in 8th grade now with a wisdom beyond her years.

I praise God for David, who is living his best life with a job he is flourishing in, and friends, and a girlfriend he enjoys spending time with. He isn’t afraid of jumping into each day with both feet, and has a lot of adventures to tell us about when he comes to visit (and collect his mail).

I praise God for Grace and for her husband Brogan. They are coming to visit this week. Both so smart and interesting, both deep thinkers, musicians and writers and readers. Friendly, good people. How I love to get to see, as their mother, how they grow and live.

I praise God for Ethan and his new wife, Sierra, my sweet daughter in law. How I adore her, and it makes me smile to see them together. Ethan as his Dad’s assistant coach for wrestling, Ethan working hard at his full time job, Sierra continuing her studies (dissecting hearts this week), and working at the vet downtown , frequently tempting us with pictures of adoptable cats and dogs.

And last but not least, I praise God for our firstborn Jacob and his wife Brittnee. Because guess what? Yes they are also *Doing Interesting Things to many to tell*, but most importantly…………………..

They are expecting OUR FIRST GRANDCHILD, who we know is a little GIRL, in January.

(insert extraordinary excitement unmatched by any other prior experience in my life)

There are words, but not enough, to describe how thankful to God I am, to be here for this.

To morph into Grandma Shanda!! Daughter, sister, cousin, wife, aunt, mother, and now …..Grandmother. I’m here for it!!

I have a lot of love to give. And there is just nothing like that sweet experience of loving, in this life journey. Every year, every day, every moment, every person in my life is an opportunity to love and be loved. Oh God, give me Your abundant grace to face the beauty of each day. Thank you for allowing us to live wholly and nourishingly, knowing You as Creator and Savior, and Giver of all good things.

“Here’s a new day. Oh Pendulum move slowly!” -Harold Munro

My cholesterol was a little high so I’ve taken to eating a nice bowl of steel cut oats in the morning. I microwave it to cook nice and creamy. The bowl has to be larger than you would think, or we have a spill-over. If that happens I tip the plate and scrape the oats back into the bowl because I don’t want to lose even a spoonful. Then I wash the plate again and put it back in the bottom of the microwave. If you use a larger bowl this won’t happen.

It takes about three minutes to cook the oats the way I like them. This morning I had the idea to drizzle orange juice on top, and a little dab of thick Greek yogurt, too. A sprinkle of salt. A good wholesome breakfast.

I vacuumed the car this morning. I found an extension cord in the big bin on the porch and used it to plug the vacuum cleaner into an outlet. I washed the mats and dried them in the hot sun. I wiped down the interior with wipes made for that purpose. My aunt is coming in a few hours and I am driving us to the cabin and wanted us to have a clean car to enjoy. It’s a beautiful morning, crickets singing, leaves blowing gently across the driveway in the wind. Blinding sunshine, colors in the trees, and this morning a thick misty fog.

I walked Rich to the car. The children had already left for school. It was just us! He looked so handsome and cute I had to take a photo before pretending I was a traffic director and pointing him out of the driveway to work.

Before taking a shower I took my things out to the front porch and did my Bible reading and Discipleship lesson for today. I read about Abraham and the men and women of those chapters dealing with God’s covenant to him, and promises so amazing that Abraham’s wife laughed to hear them. I had the front door open nearby and the cats came in and out as I sat and read and wrote and thought and looked at the sun begin to burn away the cloudy air.

Actually this cat caused two uproars this morning . He attacked poor Sherlock as he was napping innocently in my room, and then he attacked Sam who was sitting on top of my fiestaware hutch, causing things from my collection to fall along with a strand of lights, a vase, another vase, and a metal tin to fall with a crash as cats ran away in fear. It prompted me to list a set of tiny animal figurines to eBay as they were in the path of destruction and somehow survived unscathed. I also listed an old first edition book, and Ronald Weasley’s wand. I packed up an old cocoa tin to mail out. Took a shower, did some laundry because as you know, it never ends, and now am sitting cross legged in a big comfy chair, with Sam on one of my legs; she’s purring.

I started watching Netflix’s Snowpiercer last night and am going to make a fresh cuppa and finish it now.

Happiest of Thursdays to you my friends!

We are loved. I’ve lived many days, have seen the hand of God in each one, and have passed through the fire and I know it’s true.

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“If you want to understand God’s ways, go out and observe His handiwork….ask questions, search for answers…He will fill you with wonder and praise.” B. Schultz

Seth went grocery shopping with his dad the other day and bought Oreos and Nutty Buddies and all kinds of sugary snacks and then came home and ….. hid them from his sister! I know, shocking! And I get to hear all about it!

She got off the bus today and came in the house to continue the topic that began yesterday. “I was right, he DID hide them from me Mom, he was eating a Nutty Buddy on the bus this morning….he HID them, he hid the snacks from me, why……”. Her voice faded at she searched around the pantry for something to eat.

I watched as she searched and then “heard a prompting”——I thought to myself, “my poor daughter is hungry maybe she would like pancakes”. And so I said;

“You sound hungry. Can I make you pancakes?”

She stopped rummaging and looked around the door frame, “Pancakes? Fluffy ones? With chocolate chips? THANK YOU!!”

I got up off the couch and set to work. No milk? Thank goodness there was a can of evaporated milk in the pantry. Soon I was flipping golden circles and serving them with plenty of butter to a happy daughter sitting in a sunbeam. It was fun!

I thought about Jesus’ words in Matthew:

And I thought about the way we can notice each others’ needs and pains and struggles and how so often I might feel that prompting to “do something”.

Sometimes people are hungry but it’s not for bread. Sometimes people are thirsty, imprisoned, sick, and it’s not what first comes to our minds when we hear those words.

Sometimes an addiction is prison.

Sometimes grief is a sickness worse than Covid.

Sometimes people are thirsty to be noticed.

And people hunger to be known.

To be seen.

As we listen to the promptings to do something, anything, to lift the burden of a child, a friend, a neighbor, and we not only hear them but take action, we realize once again why Jesus tells us to love each other in these tangible ways. Not only does it count as doing something for Him, as if that wasn’t enough reason, in so doing, we also receive benefits. We are likewise lifted up, and our heart inclines…… to joy. And joy, that Divine, real joy, is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) Strength for today and tomorrow and all the days to come.

Let me give. Let me see. And let me be thankful for what is given so generously to me, as well.

We are in New Hampshire for a little bit, I arrived on Wednesday and Rich and the three youngest kids came on Thursday. I’ve been doing a lot of reading, thinking, watching tv, and spending time with the family and in the kitchen.

Life has been as full as ever. Dear Caleb goes off to college in August which bothers me very much because I will miss him and the time of raising him went by so sweetly and so quickly. He’s always been such a gentle captivating boy.

I made homemade rolls the other day and currently we have a cake cooling on the stovetop. Sarah mixed it up herself, and as it mixed she drew a heart with her finger on the bottom of the pan after she buttered it. She’s a dear soul. Neat and organized, an avid reader, and oh so fun and wise. She held my hand tightly as we waded into the lake together this afternoon. I did up her long blond hair in two French braids there, too.

The lake is beautiful. Of course it’s much different from the ocean on Jekyll Island, and I found myself alone there yesterday morning when I couldn’t sleep anymore. I walked to the edge and looked so far across, and saw the mountains. I waded into the chilly water with bare feet. What I noticed most of all was what the lake was saying; “Lap. Lap. Lap.” I thought of motherhood and all the times I had the children on my lap. I always loved having them so close. As a mother with a very deep mothers’ heart, I listened to the lake and felt a very deep connection. It spoke to me.

Dave has been gardening with me this year, he wants to make hot sauce so whenever I see hot pepper plants I buy them. These are from Tractor Supply and are jalapeño and habanero plants.

It’s very dry outside so I am doing a lot of watering.

It’s nice to be in this stage of life, I can keep up with my hobbies with less urgency and frustration.

Quite by happenstance, I was on the phone with my dear daughter, child of my heart, who was visiting with a groundhog while we talked of many things and I also had a visitor, a little friendly chickadee. I put dear daughter on speaker so I could still listen as I used my phone to take a photo of the Friendly Bird and just as I took it……along came one more.

And the white trellis and the bleeding heart bush (I have a bleeding heart, I bet you do too, you know—one which is tender and aches for the lovely *and* the sad things). The rocks and everything in the photo, just right!

Meanwhile Grace was also snapping photos of her groundhog:

I was looking through my old scrapbooks and came across this quote:

“Sometimes I arrive just when God’s ready to have someone click the shutter.” (-Ansel Adams, professional photographer—famous for his black and white photos.)

Life can seem chaotic and random but it really isn’t. It’s orderly and full of purpose and meaning, if only we have the eyes to see. Applying our hearts to wisdom, we come to understand what a wondrous feast life is, and all that truly matters.

We click the shutter on a captured love-moment and in this way praise and thanksgiving becomes our daily song.

I didn’t sleep well last night, I was fitful in a restless night for no reason. I was relieved to wake up the last time. I had a feeling it was a tolerable time to get up but I reached over and turned my phone on to check the time just to be certain. But then I placed it face down on the nightstand so I wouldn’t disturb my husband with the glow, missed, and it dropped and crashed flat on the bare floor with a sound like a shot. I got up. Or rather, I got down on the floor. I patted my hands around in the dark and found my phone; thankful to see it was 5:30 and I could end the night. I went downstairs. We are still in our New Hampshire cabin; we love it here. I finished a book that I found at a second hand shop that ended up being so heart felt and meaningful to me that I had to keep my notebook nearby so I could jot down quotes, here are a couple:

From the book WHEN SORROW COMES, by Grace Perkins Oursler published in 1950; (a book filled with gentle encouragement for loss and facing your own death someday)

“Lucky are the people who have already learned to search the Scriptures for the lines of particular value in particular need.”

“I’ve never known a reader but found the book he needed at the moment and for the occasion.”

“Hundreds before you have found freedom from the lash of remorse and guilt through the actual practice of repentance.”

“She had bettered the world she lived in.”

“All around us we recognize proof of Gods genius in converting waste into usefulness and beauty. With Him, nothing is purposeless.”

“We can never expect mercy and forgiveness if we do not in turn show mercy and forgiveness. The ones that are toughest to forgive call for God’s help and are a spiritual achievement to be proud of.”

And on and on, it’s a book rich with the wisdom of a thoughtful and observant woman. It inspired me to be what I already know I am; a good person who wants to love people. Within reason. There’s a disclaimer for you. I will be cautious but when I know a person is safe I’ll love them forever. In little ways. The ordinary opportunities that don’t shine very brightly are the ones I like best because it’s the closest thing to a secret. I truly feel best when I am hardly noticed. A background type of person, which is why I write. 🙂

I walked to the lake. When I got back Rich was awake and we decided to go to the coffee shop. I left a note on the fridge for the sleeping children and when we returned two hours later after not only coffee but the country store AND the library, the precious little angels were still asleep. I know, I was shocked, too. We got them up (okay it was me with my loud singing “I’m home I’m home and I have muffins for youuuuu”) we took them out to have some fun.

We ended up at the Funstop again for the second time because the other place (which had a sign out front “open year round”) turned out to be closed on Tuesdays. I ask you.

So we played mini golf (indoor) and then I read magazines while they played arcade games.

I don’t know why I’m recording all these details. But on the way to the Funstop the girls (Sarah and her friend from school who came with us as our guest) confessed that after we went to bed last night they got all ready for the hot tub “we even put our hair up in buns” (they both have very long thick hair) and were on our way out but Seth heard them and told then “Dad said to go to bed at 9:30 so we didn’t go out after all.” I told them they were such good children that they could have anything, anything they wished for I would grant. rather like that elf in that three wishes story—remember. You think the very poor man and his wife would wish for something profitable but nooo. In this case I was sort of playing a risky game. But it all worked out charmingly. What they ended up wishing for was “soda, from the vending machine”. At the arcade. It was such an adorable request….I say, it truly is the little things. I don’t know what it is about vending machines but they are a usual “no” from me, but this time I had to say yes and they were so cute and happy making their choices and pushing the buttons. It couldn’t happen fast enough.

Incidentally I got three holes in one but still came in third (I played w Rich and Seth who are both very very competitive as am I, but they are naturally better than I am. It is sincerely depressing. Lol) SOMEDAY. I bet if I ever do win I’ll feel bad bc they lost. They want the wins so badly.

So ummmmm. Oh yes the whole reason why I’m here is to share pictures from the library we visited today and to just say….Ethan and Sierra are getting married on Saturday. Just typing it makes me all excited. Our third child to have a wedding, can you even?

Just look at this charming place.

Just a few feet inside the door I saw this! A shoe organizer filled with not shoes but a birds nest collection! I collect them too! I have quite a few, they are like artwork, no doubt about it. Imagine building something like this with YOUR beak!!

And then, a butterfly display. Not only these nature items from God’s big beautiful world, but IN A LIBRARY. Books! Nature! A perfect marriage.

Rich called me over to admire the painted mural. Out of sheer habit, we had gravitated straight to the children’s section.

A charming wood carving.

“It’s you!” Rich said, I followed his gaze and found a witch. I’m a sort of witch but I’m not wicked.

It was an elegant library, more about books and wooden furniture and shelving (all wood) and curtains and rugs and character than any I’ve ever seen. The library alone tempts me to change my primary residence to New Hampshire.

I must have been in a mood because even this thrilled my heart—how beautiful and generous! I love it.

And then to top it all off, a hobbit hole. Not that my son David has been wanting to live in one since the first day he read the book!! I texted him right away. And sent the video to my Hobbit loving family.

Happy end of the (tues)day friends! Think of me as we prepare for the big day on Saturday. All my kids except Seth and Sarah and Brogan are IN the wedding. (so-seven in the ceremony, Caleb as an usher). I have my mother of the groom dress I may as well share it now;

It was truly a God and me moment, He basically sent me in to Anthropologie a couple weeks ago and handed it to me off the clearance rack. What makes it special is ITS ETHANS FAVORITE COLOR!!!!!!! My sweet baby boy all grown up, I wear this dress for YOU.