depths and riches

Posted on October 11, 2017 by Shanda

Our daughter Grace is doing very well at college. To no ones surprise she is handling things with cheerfulness and above all, quiet confidence. She enjoys her classes, has a pet fish named Snape, recently got a care package from her boyfriend, joined the volleyball team, has time to read her favorite books, was asked to volunteer once a week as a student editor in the english department, and has had achieved high grades on her writing. She is a secondary English education major.

She is attending a Christian university in Pennsylvania and before she left I told her it would be the most wonderful experience…..to be surrounded by classmates and teachers with the same foundational beliefs. There are still many many differences in personalities and non-essential beliefs (which is a good and wonderful thing) but to be with so many others who first and foremost love Jesus….wow what a blessing. She is learning so much.

I knew she would love it because before Rich and I were married I was able to squeeze in one year of Bible college at a local school in New York. I lived on campus and had such fun. In fact, that is when I met my forever friend Joanna. She was doing the same one year program before marrying Steve. We had a lot in common and got to know each other throughout that year.

One of the blessings of my Christian college experience was the dorm Mom. I absolutely loved her…..instantly I knew she was someone I could trust and talk to about anything. And all of us girls felt the same way. She was an older lady with grown children and a husband who was a Professor on campus and she took all the students under her wing, especially us girls. She talked with us about Jesus, showed us the love of Jesus in her care for us, and also talked to us conversationally about what it meant to be a godly woman, wife, and mother. I remember sitting under the trees outside as she spoke gently and with a great sense of humor and love to a handful of us engaged girls about practical “newlywed” type of information….everything from laundry to the bedroom. Even thought I also had the best upbringing of my own dear mom, I appreciated it Mom P’s extra knowledge much. She was an excellent dorm Mom. In one of her notes to me she wrote, “I do not push myself on anyone, but any who want me, can have me.” And that is certainly how I felt around her….”she’s a friend, she loves me, she cares.”

After I was married I continued to keep in touch with her. When Rich and I had our second child I experienced Post Partum Depression. At the time I didn’t have the name for what I was feeling –but it was terrible–and my dear Dad encouraged me to go and talk with Mom P. So I did. I remember sitting in her office and soaking up her encouragement and love. And most of all I remember how she took newborn Ethan in her arms and we walked downstairs to the cafeteria where she happily showed him off to everyone.

After Rich and I moved away from the area I sent her Christmas cards and I believe I talked to her once on the phone, or maybe in an email, asking for a church recommendation, and we had a nice time catching up.

Then FB became a “thing” with people of all ages and she and I found each other on Facebook….she continued to show an interest in me….asking about the kids, loving the photos, showing true interest and joy in my life.

She and her husband retired a little while back and moved further south and I felt a twinge of sadness knowing she “wasn’t there” at the college any longer. To me, she was something of a college institution and should never leave it. 🙂

This story is getting longer and longer, I just wanted to tell you a bit about Mom P, because I had the best surprise last week.

In each dorm building at Grace’s school there is a set of “parents” who are there to provide any type of basic need that a student might have in the dorms….a married couple to stand in the gap for the students who are away from their real parents for probably the first time. I met Grace’s dorm parents when we moved her into her room and it was a good feeling to know that they were there, living with their young daughter just down the hall from Grace and all the other dorm girls. I saw a bunch of photos that Grace’s dorm Mom took of “her” girls on their first few days of school.

So imagine my complete and utter surprise when my own Mom P. sent me a message on FB on October 3rd:

Hi dear Shanda, I just met your sweet daughter Grace. She is in my son & d-I-loves dorm. They are wonderful with the girls if I do say so. Grace is so precious and beautiful like her Mom!! Look forward to seeing her more this week!! God bless you all!

and from Grace:

“My dorm Dad is Mrs. P’s son. I just met her and she told me all about how amazing you are.”

OF COURSE after laughing and crying at the same time I BEGGED FOR A PHOTO:

When I sent the photo and little story to Dad via texting, this was his reply:

“Oh the depths and the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God……..”

snippets

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Shanda

Dryer is humming.

Lights are on; it’s 5:30, very gloomy, and raining.

When cars go by they splash up rain off the road, a lovely sound.

I made chicken and dumplings for dinner.

Seth got mad at Sarah because she started to give him a candy and then took it back.

The coffee table is covered in books and toys.

I finished a book today, and started another.

Sarah acted so guilty as she walked by me that I asked her what she had in her hands. It was a package of crackers, a package of fruit snacks, and a granola bar. “I’ll drink some water after.”

Caleb watched numerous youtube videos of football clips when he got home from school.

Seth liked dinner for the second day in a row and gave me a hug. “I’m on a roll this week,” I tease. “You’ve been on a roll with me since I started eating your dinners,” he replies.

I tried calling Rich but he didn’t answer and then he called me back later to make sure everything was okay. Practice is cancelled so he might take the boys for haircuts later.

I took David to the orthodontist this morning, and then drive-thru breakfast.

Then to high school—–HIGH SCHOOL!

I found a vintage fiesta teacup (no saucer) for 50 cents today.

I took a newly hatched butterfly outside.

Seth and Sarah are busy running a bath, for their stuffed animals.

This was after I said “no” to washing the cat.

They are calling it the Shower Pet Shop.

There is a pile of shoes and backpacks by the door.

Mail on the counter.

I heard from Grace today, briefly; she had a quiz in math.

And Ethan got an “A” on a paper. He had interviewed his Dad about being a Manager.

Rich says it’s his first college “A”.

I think Caleb fell asleep in his room.

I know David did. I took his picture.

I normally don’t allow 5:30pm naps.

But today it just seems right.

brimfield again

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Shanda

We live about 40 minutes from the Brimfield antique show so I will have at least one post a year (I think this is the second one this year) regarding the show…..it is just so fun to drive up in the morning, walk all over the place, eat lunch, and then come home.

Especially if you’re with a sister or two.

This reminded us of our own Aunt Mary. ❤

Amanda found a nice green table with glass inserts right away for only 40 dollars so we walked it back to the car.

I saw a few pieces of fiesta that I wanted to buy, but I decided not to because I have so much already……

Apparently I can show restraint now and then.

She loves sunflowers.

We thought this was neat…someone “carved” these tins into Halloween jack o’ lanterns. They will look neat with a light inside.

Amanda bought a wool blanket. I found three wooden bats for Seth.

And, I bought this little xylophone. It makes a very pleasant musical sound.

We had lunch right there at the show (hot buttery lobster roll for me!) and then headed home, stopping at the thrift store in town and the diner for ice cream cones on the way.

rainbow!

Posted on September 4, 2017 by Shanda

Yesterday we had drizzly cold rain for 12 hours straight and I was outside in it, under an umbrella, during two football games (for the boys).

By 6pm we were back at home, and to my amazement, the sun started shining through the rain. I ran to the window and bent my head to take a good look, up up into the sky. Would there be a rainbow, too? …..and….yes! Blessings upon blessings. Praises and calls of “come and see!”

My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky…
~William Wordsworth

weekend reports

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Shanda

Can you believe it’s only 55 degrees here today? We woke up to rain, not a nice summer rain, but a very chilly rain.

A hummingbird landed wearily and cold on the porch feeder and just sat there for a while….too cold to move.

My friend Kathy came over today with four of her five children and it was a fun visit with pizza.

These photos are from over the weekend.

We went to the library and then the park.

We went from the library to the park to the coffeeshop.

The view from the coffeeshop window is always interesting. A train went by while we were there, too. Sarah sat across from me with an apple juice, reading a book about wolves.

We foraged for berries. Sarah and I.

She gave them all to Grace. (she adores Grace).

Someone brought a toady toad inside the house. He visited for a minute and then went back outside. His skin was so dry and bumpy. A proper toad.

Seth stuck this on his sister.

I sat on the couch with my cup of coffee and a cat promptly got on my lap and the dog quickly followed to sit by my side.

what a spider! It’s legs are so very straight and yes it’s on top of pond water!

At the coffee shop again the next day…with Grace, Jacob, Ethan, Zak, and Sarah.

I was looking for something to put monarch caterpillars in and we found this aquarium which I brought home and scrubbed and polished clean. I layered dirt and stone on the bottom and then moved in the baby caterpillars, about 15 tiny ones and two big ones (one is already dangling from the top).

This is a caterpillar just newly hatched and eating milkweed. It’s an amazing year for monarchs and I’m just so pleased.

Seth jumped (flew?) onto Caleb’s bed and hit his eye on the bookcase (the bed is pushed against a wall of bookshelves). Rich and I were both sleeping on the couch when Caleb brought his brother to us, “We have a problem.” I woke up, took one look and woke up to tell him he would have to take his son to get stitches. I am so thankful it happened on a Saturday when Rich was home and even more thankful that Seth’s eye was okay. It took SIX stitches to close the wound.

While they were away at the hospital, David gave Jacob and Ethan tattoos with Sharpies. Maybe he will be a tattoo artist?

And then when they came back we all hung out on the front porch watching the older boys and Rich kick a soccer ball. They were trying to kick it way across the lawn into a garbage can. Seth didn’t want his face photographed.

On Sunday Jacob and his friend taught astronomy (earth, moon, and planets) in Sunday School, as a lesson on the amazing handiwork of God. Jacob was a natural and was able to be himself in front of a room full of people of all ages.

Sunday afternoon photo-update on Seth’s face. (he hit his nose and cheek at the same time). He was still sore all day yesterday and asked for pain medicine but he’s better today. He can’t get the stitches wet for a few days but they are the dissolvable ones so that’s a relief. He and Caleb skipped a football practice and we all went downtown for ice cream on Sunday night.

THIS MORNING Sarah joined me on the porch, we watched the rain and she held Gentleman Gray on her lap while I drank coffee.

I am tired.

common yellowthroat warbler (male)

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Shanda

I went outside yesterday with my big lens and took photos of the little bird I thought had a nest. Isn’t he cute? I’m certain that worm went into a hungry baby or mama beak.

*****

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madame moth

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Shanda

One evening this week I went into my room and found a large brown moth playing a rather dangerous game of tag with the ceiling fan spinning over my bed. I quickly turned the fan off but the moth continued to fly around like something crazy so I turned off all but one of the lights in the room. The moth gravitated toward it and settled down on a closet door. I was able to get a photo and then attempted to trap it under a large glass in order to take it outside where it belonged. However, Madame Moth had other ideas and escaped the glass with fluttering wings…..to my shoulder. I did a quick, sly shuffle, while squealing, toward the door but alas, it vanished off my shoulder and disappeared. For the remainder of the night I found myself absentmindedly brushing at my hair and clothes. I hadn’t seen the moth fly away and felt as if it were still on me somewhere.

The next morning……….

I found it on the light pink curtains in the bathroom. The curtain rod was one of those spring loaded kinds that can be adjusted between the window frame so I took another photo and then pulled the entire curtain down and took it and the moth outside….where it belonged. We have a large wrap around porch and I put the curtains on the quiet side, away from doors and activity of people and pets, on a small table. The poor moth was so still and silent that I wondered if it was even alive. I checked on it throughout the day and it never moved. I felt badly that I hadn’t been able to get it outside the night before when it was so obviously full of life.

The next morning…….

It was gone, all but a single leg and 11 chartreuse colored eggs. I think it left it’s leg behind because even I had a hard time removing it from the curtain, it was hooked into the fabric rather tightly.

The eggs look amazingly like green grapes.

Caleb, 12 years old today

Posted on July 9, 2017 by Shanda

We have a birthday boy today; Caleb James turned 12 years old.

It goes by so fast.

But it’s all very good. Each year is a gift.

And there is lots to look forward to.

Grace had her graduation party yesterday so her purple decorations served another purpose today. We bought the festive cupcakes at Sam’s Club.

Younger siblings looking on….eating more cake. (we had cake yesterday, too).

They have started to take the frosting off the top and run for the milk.

Enough is enough.

Mine was lemon.

Thank you, Jesus, for this boy of ours!

Caleb is 12 and Seth is 8, they are always together. They play video games, baseball, football, swimming. . . .get along very well with arguments started and ended throughout the day, too. So much learning going on.

comic relief from all Mom’s portraits

Tom Brady, Jr.

action shots:

“Take one of me jumping over Seth!”

****

Happiest birthday to you, Caleb! Mom and Dad love you so very much.

grace (graduation)

Posted on June 21, 2017 by Shanda

It was about a week ago now that I met a homeschooling family at one of my son’s baseball games. The mom and I had a nice visit together as we watched the boys play and at one point Grace came walking by with her friend. I stopped her and introduced her to my new acquaintance. “Oh, I used to be homeschooled,” Grace offered excitedly, “I loved it. I never wanted to go to public school but mom made me.”

Part of me cringed to hear these honest words. However, after last night, watching Grace with her class and teachers, seeing her bright smile, how mature she was, how capable, her light shining bright, it all became clear to me.

She bloomed where she was planted.

She took a difficult change in her life and made the best of it.

She had ups and downs, more downs, a few more ups, on and on for the six years she was in school, rather like a roller coaster.

She had fun, tears, anxiety, sleepless nights, songs, dance, silence, wide eyed wonder, false friendship, true friendship, romance, responsibility, headaches, dizziness, academics, good grades, good books, teachers who were kindred spirits, teachers who were her second mothers, and through it all…….she had her faith in an unchanging dependable Father God keeping her steady.

She did it. Rich and I could not be prouder of our daughter.

*******

A month or so ago I was feeling a little desperate about Grace leaving home so soon and mentioned, half teasing, that she might like to take a year off from college and just stay at home with us (me). After all, she did start school when she was four and was younger than a few of the juniors this year. “We would have so much fun, Grace!” to which she replied (and I quote because I wrote it down):

“I know we would but. . . .we have all summer. And I need to move on with my life.”

I just had to laugh with respect, happy to have a child this steady and focused on her goals. I know how much she adores her siblings and depends on her parents. The relationships within the family circle couldn’t be better, which is to say, perhaps this is the very reason why she is confident in moving on; her needs are met so she is not needy or clingy. Plus it’s just her personality in general. She’s forward-moving.

She’ll be attending Christian college in the fall about 5 hours from home (not too far), easy enough to get her home for the holidays. I know she will have the time of her life there.

For our small town, the class of 2017 was rather large and cars parked all over the the place outside in the parking lots AND out of the parking lots. I drove up over the curb with my big mama vehicle and parked in the lawn! Saving seats was a hostile experience! But we all got squeezed in and you can see my view from the middle of the room. . . . . .thank the Lord once we sat down I found that I could see Grace if I leaned over to the right and then forward in my seat.

There she is!

Recognized with the other scholarship and honers students.

waiting in line for her diploma

two hours after walking in……the class left the gym to loud & happy music.

(dear girl; Emily–our neighbor and also Ethan’s girlfriend’s sister…kids rode the bus together for years)

and now for the fun photos:

With gratitude to the teacher who understands that some families NEED more tickets, Grace’s siblings were able to attend this year’s graduation ceremony. (all 9) Her two big brothers visited the old HS stomping grounds and saw some of their teachers and friends. (I say “old” but Ethan just graduated a year ago, and Jacob the year before that).

After getting through the crowd and out of the gym, we found our girl.

Oldest girl with youngest girl; oldest boy with youngest boy.

friends

adoring little sister

One of “our other kids” Zak, also graduated. He is a close friend of the family.

My husband coached him in wrestling.

brother Dave

W E N D Y ! ! ! !

I had left my purse unguarded in the hall so Jacob collected it for me. Brittany is another dear friend of the family and graduated with Grace.

Caleb and Seth got through the night thanks to the kindle and…..cheese. 🙂

Ethan with his girl.

My daughter, my friend.

Love you, Grace…

How hard the battle goes, the day, how long;
Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song. ~Maltbie Babcock

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dishes n’ daisies

Posted on June 13, 2017 by Shanda

I’m posting these photos today because my Aunt Colleen came home from an amazing cross country roadtrip with a bag all the way from West Virginia for me! Guess what was inside of it? A fiesta daisy plate! She gave it to me when I was at her house this weekend and the first thing I did when I got home was tuck it in my collection; just right.

Thank you, my friend!

Wild daisies are just coming in bloom here in Connecticut and it’s hard to say which is my favorite; a handful of daisies or a fiestaware daisy plate.