Begin Again

Every day is a fresh beginning,
Every morn is the world made new;
You who are weary of sorrow and sinning,
Here is a beautiful hope for you–
A hope for me and a hope for you.

All the past things are past and over,
The tasks are done and the tears are shed;
Yesterday’s wounds, which smarted and bled,
Are healed with the healing which night has shed.

Yesterday now is a part of forever,
Bound up in a sheaf, which God holds tight;
With glad days and sad days and bad days which never
Shall visit us more with their bloom and their blight,
Their fullness of sunshine or sorrowful night.

Let them go, since we cannot relive them,
Cannot undo, and cannot atone;
God in his mercy, receive, forgive them;
Only the new days are our own,
Today is ours, and today alone.

Here are the skies all burnished brightly,
Here is the spent Earth all reborn,
Here are the tired limbs springing lightly
To face the sun and to share with the morn,
In the chrism of dew and the cool of dawn.

Every day is a fresh beginning;
Listen,  my soul, to the glad refrain,
And, spite of old sorrow and older sinning,
And puzzles forecasted and possible pain,
Take heart with the day, and begin again.

Susan Coolidge

This fresh, new, sunny morning I found myself taken with the desire to feel my cheeks, nose, lips, and ears turn numb in the fresh cold wind of the beautiful outdoors.  Let me assure you, it did not take long.  But I took in deep gulps of air, imagining the old house air leaving my lungs and the pure winter air coming inside me, to invigorate.

I walked down the road and took a picture of the sparkling stream and then turned around to take a picture of our home…and you can see how far I went, not far at all, just enough for a mama to briefly escape with quick steps, and a camera.

Yes, I have been greatly thankful for the sunshine today!

I did my morning chores while Seth and Sarah played so nice around the house, upstairs and downstairs they went. 

A few weeks ago, while my parents were visiting, Mom and Grace and I went to an old junk shop place and I found this wooden easel.  It was only fifteen dollars and it adjusts in many different ways.  I set it up for the children and today our big easel paper came in the mail.  They got right to work fighting over the purple marker.  Everything is an opportunity for character building at this age. 

I had a great time laughing when I decided to sit them on the counter and show them baking ingredients.  We didn’t bake anything, I just opened things up, asked them what color they saw (“the box is orange”  “the powder is white”), and let them touch and taste each thing.  Seth thought the sugar was salt and he thought the cocoa powder tasted like chicken.  Sarah made the strangest face when she tasted the vanilla (I put a drop on her palm).  With all the baking they’ve watched me do, they were almost completely ignorant about what was what.  So we had a lesson and it was great fun.  We studied cornmeal, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, flour, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, oats (Sarah spit hers out after a few chews, even though I told her “HORSIES eat oats!”), cocoa powder, and lastly, cinnamon candies (which they both spit out and Seth said it was pepper, a very encouraging observation).

Sarah got sad about something and left.  She said, “I’m going in your room and shutting the door!” and she did.  Seth soon followed and I gave them about thirty seconds before I quickly went to see what they were doing.  Seth was trying to get on my Kindle and Sarah was going to jump but “I might fall down and hit my head.  And cry.  And be sad.”  So she didn’t.

We popped bubble wrap instead from Papa’s box that he got yesterday.  Oh the joys of simple pleasures……

Seth even fit in a little baseball practice outside.  I love how he knows to keep that pointer finger OUT of the glove.  He just loves baseball.

We had pb and j for lunch and read five books.  The little dears are taking their naps now while I enjoy the quiet house.

I’m thankful for my Bible study teacher who called this morning and prayed with me over the phone.

I’m thankful for the time I was able to spend at the table, writing to one of my dear friends.

Soon the others will be home to do homework, eat snacks, and spend time together. 

I love our late afternoon snuggles in front of the TV, piled up on the couch.  My Caleb is such a soft, big teddy bear.

Last night Rich and I played a rousing game of PIT after dinner with the four oldest, and I think we may do that again tonight.

“Faint not—fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.”  M.Babcock, D.D.

you are loved

Yesterday was a full house.  Besides my own seven children, we had two extra teenagers over for the day.  My friend Kathy also came over with four of her little ones.  I remember my mom taking a picture of the shoes by the door after my brother Isaac came home from school one day with a big group of friends….that’s me now.  The shoes and coats by the door were incredible, I pointed them out to Kathy and we laughed. 

For lunch *for a crowd*, I used Pioneer Woman’s fantastic recipe for pizza dough (from her cookbook), and seriously cut back on the cheese topping.  I realized, after watching one of 94 year old Clara’s youtube videos, that there really is no need for an abundance of cheese.  It’s much easier to eat and a lot more healthy with just a generous sprinkling.  Kathy helped me, and Davy made one pizza himself, too.  We made  a total of five pizzas and they were ALL GONE right away.  All fifteen of us liked the pizza and then, oh joy, Kathy cleaned up while I drank coffee at the table.

The children are back to school today and I admit, I enjyed the quieter mornin

After getting Seth and Sarah settled, I walked over the hard snow to the chicken coop.  The ponds were so pretty.  They have a new layer of ice on top from the rain we got yesterday.  I could hear a bird singing in the woods and I wondered what it was.

There is a long path through the snow to the coop.  The chickens were happy to see me with their daily bowl of kitchen scraps.  I carried a grocery bag in my pocket to carry the fresh eggs home in.  We have so many eggs now, I need to find customers and lots of recipes using 3 or more eggs. 

I could hear Sarah talking away, so I snuck upstairs to see what they were doing.  She was taking stickers out of Caleb’s sticker book, and Seth was standing on a chair looking at things on the bookshelf.

I was disappointed in Seth yesterday when he broke the door completely off Sarah’s pottery barn kitchen sink!!!!!!!

Sarah says, “Daddy has to fix this.”

Seth isn’t feeling well, he started running a fever last night.  He lays around with his bear and then gets up to try and play.

Sarah hurt her finger five days ago, she touched the treadmill while it was running and got a burn blister.  She’s been babying the finger and keeps it wrapped up in her blanket as she wanders around the house.  It had a bandaid on it until last night when I had to force her to let me take it off so it could dry.  Thankfully, she’s been forgetting about it now and then today, and using her hand again.  Silly girlie.

What to do with a sick boy and a one-handed girl?  A nice little puzzle and lots of reading.  We are enjoying Jan Brett books very much, especially The Gingerbread Baby.

What would February in the Northeast be without the end of winter blues?  I finally gave in and bought a light, according to the suggestions of several of my xanga pals through the years.

I’m using it for the first time, as I type.

One of my favorite parts of the weekend was when we woke up on Saturday to slow, slow, soft snow coming down.  I sat on the front steps wrapped in a blanket and was mesmerized by the falling bits of snow. 

God knows how to give good gifts.

I braided Grace’s hair in twin french braids, I love the way she looks in braids.  Then, we took them out the next day and her hair was in long waves.

On Saturday afternoon, we went to the library.  I checked out three photography books, one full of vintage photos with cats in them (you had to search at times), one full of portraits of immigrants on Ellis Island, and one of portraits of people from Vermont. 

He satisfies those who are thirsty and the hungry he fills with good things.

The Lord is good.  In times of trouble He protects those who are His, taking care of them.

Leave all your troubles with Him for He cares about you.

You are good and forgiving, Lord, full of constant love for all who pray to you.

Today was President’s day, so the children didn’t have school.  I made two pans of brownies, did laundry all day long, and ran the dishwasher three times. 

Grace had a friend over for a few hours, and tomorrow (no school again) they are having more friends over.  This place is buzzing with activity.

My dear husband is putting the little children to bed and we are looking forward to some quiet time together here at the end of the day.

A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  soulemama

I had the honor of introducing the color PINK into my husband’s wardrobe!  He is typically the type of guy who would never dream of buying it for himself, and would tease his friends if THEY wore it!  However……(even though he put on a different tie for work this morning)…..he later decided he WILL wear it, and wishes he wore it today.  I think he just needed a few hours to get used to the idea.  LOL

Would your guy wear a pink tie?  Or a pink anything?

Happy Valentines day, my friends! 

 “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”  Amy Carmicheal

I made my cake myself, in case you didn’t guess. 

I sent my brother Dave a text-picture of it and he replied, “It ain’t no lie!”  LOL

I took my chances, guessing that Rich was leaving work to go shopping for my gifts, and sent him a message saying, “I’m sure you’ve already got my presents, but just in case, what I really want are some pretty houseplants and a snowflake necklace”

GUESS WHAT I GOT?

***exactly what I wished for, and more!***

When he got home, I asked him to take a picture of me with my cake.  Of course he got the picture HE wanted, first.

The husband, and seven out of seven children also agreed, that the cake was no lie.

I LOVE my necklace, I have a special interest in snowflakes, because they are a clear demonstration of God’s art, such tiny and exquisite design went into each and every snowflake and no two are alike.  If you live in the Northern climates, or meditate on all the billions of snowflakes that fall, and melt, each year…it just fills you with awe.

He went to a jewelry shop and found the necklace and also a pair of earrings, too.  They were both in boxes and wrapped in silver paper, with a bow.  I tore into them like an excited child.

And the plants!  It is a sweet, romantic thought, imagining him at the Home Depot, considering the plants and choosing these.  He said the lady at the checkout praised him.

He even brought home dinner.

We were so full after the pizza that it was actually hard to find room for my delicious cake.

Seth and Sarah were on my lap last year, and I wanted them on my lap this year, too.

(someday they will not fit) 

We put three candles on the cake, and I was lucky to get that many.  Rich had to search for them. 

Who you cannot see in this picture, surrounding me, and singing for me:: Jacob, Ethan, Caleb, Rich, & Grace

I love our birthday celebrations….such fun, laughter, teasing, craziness, sugar….

Let Mom blow out her own candles!

I had a lovely day, it ain’t no lie!

Thank you for your well-wishes, I think I have the nicest friends in the world.

“May you walk through the world and know it’s beauty all the days of your life.”  Apache blessing

You’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

Oh, February 12th, the day I was born into.  A time of year in which, here in New England, sunshine is at a premium and it has been a long time since those warm days of summer.  So perhaps this is the reason God gave me this birth day…..as a spot of cheer, a day to remember and give thanks, a day to make a long “10,000” reasons list to be grateful, for my heart to sing.

1. salvation of my soul, and a hope of heaven
2. my family; Rich, and our seven children, parents, and siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins (both mine and Rich’s)
3. friendship
4. nature
5. books
6. the fruit of the spirit; love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control
7. my kitchen and all the baking I can do there
8. being a stay at home mom
9. a warm, cozy home to live in and to care for
10. a great big exciting world to enjoy

and on and on it goes………….

Thank you, Father, for another amazing year as your child.  I can see your blessings around me everyday and they often move me to tears.  I long and look forward to the future, trusting and resting in your Word and promises. 

The children had school today, and Rich made me eggs and toast before he went to work.  He said he will give me gifts later, which means he is probably leaving work early to shop.  (LOL)  I asked him if I could bake my own cake, because I truly do enjoy doing it, Seth and Sarah will sit on the counter and watch me and beg for tastes of the batter. 

Have a wonderful day, friends! 

LIFE IS GOOD

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.  Ps. 28:7

Cousin Abbie spent the weekend with us.  She and Grace had a nice time together, doing girl things.  But they weren’t always upstairs in Grace’s room, they went outside several times and did a lot of hanging around the brothers, too. 

Abbie is a year younger than Grace.  (12 and 13)

My sister and Abbie lived with us for about a year and half, way back when Abbie was two years old.  In some ways, they are more like sisters than cousins.

It was fun doing a little five minute photoshoot with them, in between the giggles.

There was no school again today.  We got so much snow during the blizzard that a lot of our town is still digging out.  Not only did we get all that snow, but today we are getting freezing rain on top of it.  Some of my children are predicting another snowday tomorrow and I wouldn’t be surprised.

We tidied up the house and I currently have lots of bread dough rising. 

Here is an update on each of the children:

Jacob–has been doing a lot of art lately, and just completed another painting.

Ethan–has a sore throat.

Grace–is very interested in all things “Sherlock Holmes”.

David and Caleb–have been searching the house and all the toy boxes for Lego man pieces and marbles.

Seth–loves having the siblings home during the day and is so much easier to handle when they are all here.

Sarah–got new pants and a new shirt yesterday and has been stylin’ all day in her sparkly shoes.  She sat on the counter while I mixed up the bread and begged for pieces of the dough to nibble on.

On Wednesday morning I went to Bible study and there was such a pretty snowfall in the night that I could not resist taking my camera out to the car with me, as I rushed to get going.

There was a dusting of fluffy snowflakes on everything; this snow was on the window.  The flakes were so big I could almost make out the pretty patterns.

On Thursday afternoon, I made pretty cookies using the Taste of Home baking cookbook that my dear Hannah gave me.  They were titled  “Sponge Cookies” and I was very pleased with them because they called for 8 eggs.  (I get almost a dozen a day from my flock so any recipe that uses up eggs is a treasure, in my book)  I frosted them with blue and dipped some in sprinkles and some in coconut.  When Sarah saw the coconut ones, she politely asked, “Is there cheese on them?”

On Friday morning, what fun, there was no school.  The whole state of Connecticut was preparing for the blizzard.  I made a double batch of cream waffles for the children’s breakfast and I say, they were very delicious.  Would anyone like the recipe?  There is nothing like a light, hot waffle with butter and real maple syrup (made by Grandpa).  The syrup soaks into the holes but the edges all still stay crispy.  I ate mine like a piece of toast, with buttery syrup dripping down my hand….lick, lick (there is no time for a plate when you’re trying to keep up with seven eaters).

It was just beginning to snow when I piled the children all into the vehicle after breakfast, to buzz to the bookstore.  They were pretty nervous that I would dare to venture out.  I chirped, “Snow is silly soft stuff.”  (Does anyone know where this quote came from??) 

I knew we would be just fine.  I’ve driven in much worse conditions in rural New York.

Anyway, on our way to the garage, Ethan said, “There is a cardinal in the pine tree.  It would be a nice picture.”  So I turned around back into the house for the camera.

@Fwren, @Cerwindoris, and @myhopeisinjesus, this one is for you:

We went to the bookstore and when we arrived back home again, Ethan went ice skating on the pond with three of his brothers.  I was quite impressed when he took his coat off.  I guess all the skating makes him work up a sweat in no time.  He is a good skater.

Isn’t Seth a doll?

I went and checked on the chickens.

This is my favorite hen.

The hens don’t like deep snow, but they will go out into shallow snow for a little while.  They will eat some and leave adorable footprints everywhere.

I went back inside and made a big, seven quart batch of homemade chicken noodle soup for lunch.

We brought home cousin Abbie after our bookstore trip, so I served eight children lunch.  We ate half the soup and a whole loaf of Italian bread. 

After lunch, David and I made chocolate chip cookies.  Guess what?  Because of a miscommunication, he tried putting in five cups of baking soda.  I caught him just as he poured in the first cup.  Thankfully, we were able to dump it out of the bowl and save the dough.  They turned out perfectly, regardless.

Last night we snuggled on the couch and watched Alice in Wonderland (the newer version).  By the time we went to bed, the blizzard was going full force.  We opened the door to watch, it was wild and beautiful outside and there was a part of me that wanted to dash right out into it.  The snow was pouring down from the sky in about a million directions, there were small flakes and big ones, too.  David saw a little bird try to get into the house downstairs, but it hit against the window and then flew away.  I thought about all the birds, holding on for dear life, in any sheltered spot they could find. 

We woke up to drifts of deep snow.  Sarah was all excited to show me her window.

Rich has the driveways plowed and currently the snow has stopped and the sun is breaking out.  It’s been such a fun couple of days, of snow and food.

Maryland Cream Waffles, from Gooseberry Patch “Blue Plate Specials” cookbook

2. cups flour
4 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
2 T. sugar
1 3/4 cup milk
2 eggs, separated and beaten
1/2 cup butter, melted

Mix dry ingredients together; add milk and egg yolks.  Blend in melted butter; gently fold in stiffly beaten egg whites.  Lightly grease a heated waffle iron; add batter and heat according to waffle iron’s instructions.  Makes 4 to 5 servings. 

Note:  I had to double this one, and I decided to use half unsalted butter and half oil.  We did end up with leftovers.  I have found that the best way to keep leftover waffles is to bag them and put them into the freezer.  In this way, a child can grab a couple and put them into the toaster to re-heat.  They come out just as good as before.