Seems, at times, that her little sister has taken over the blog these days…only because Sarah is new and Grace is old enough now that I don’t feel comfortable following her around with my camera.  Grace is almost 13 now and continues to be a joy in our lives and family.  For so many years–10 to be exact–she was our only girl.  Needless to say, I have enjoyed each step of her life.  She was a beautiful baby, a fun toddler, a bright and happy elementary student.  I taught her myself for five years.  She started public school this last year in 7th grade and she blossomed there.  She has made friends and loves her classes, especially chorus. She is a gifted writer, always writing stories.  As soon as school was out she began a book, and finished it a few weeks ago; which was a proud moment.  She filled up a black and white composition book with it, and is now typing it.  I read her work and am blown away by her natural story-telling abilities.  I do think that someday she will be a published author.

She had her annual check up this week and when we were done at the Doctor’s, I took her to the mall to update her wardrobe.  As a mom of a 12 year old girl, I struggle at times, with what to dress her in.  For many years she wore only dresses.  In fact, she will tell you that when she was younger she didn’t even know stores made pants for girls.  I don’t regret those years of seeing her so adorable-cute in her Land’s End dresses, but for her age now it doesn’t seem right anymore to dress her like that all the time.  She “hates” skirts now and only wears them to church.  She’s at the age where she has the right to decide what to wear for herself.  She’s sort of a tomboy, and I have to encourage her to look for things SHE likes, instead of wearing any ol’  thing.  In these photos, she is wearing new jeans and a t-shirt that she picked out herself.  My sandels.  It’s so fun to see her grow into a lovely young woman, she has grown so much, in many ways, in these last 5 years. 

She loves the Lord, loves church, loves people.  This fall she is going on a missions trip with other like-minded Christians, and her Dad, to Jamaica.  Please pray for her soul, as it draws nearer and nearer to Jesus.  My desire is for her to live the life He has intended for her, using the gifts and passions that He put in her heart.

Yesterday, after I put Seth and Sarah down for their naps, I asked Grace to go downtown with me.  What a treat, just minutes down the road is a place–a very neat little bustling TOWN– to hang out with my girlfriend and daughter, Grace Lillian.  We parked and walked; to the ice cream place, to the thrift store, to the scrapbooking store, and the coffee shop.

There are many cool brick buildings.

At the thrift store.

Something neat happened.  Grace has been wanting to learn to weave baskets for a while now, but we got stuck trying to figure out where to get her needed supplies.  “Good things come to those who wait”  We found a WHOLE basket FULL of stuff for her to learn, including a booklet of directions.

It was so great.  I loved every minute.  I plan on taking each one of the children downtown, just the two of us, throughout the rest of the summer. 

I love you, Grace!  Soooooooo much!  Thank you for being YOU.

These summer days are such a blessing, so special.  Each one of the children is a delight and joy, all of them together is a party. There is indoor and outdoor excitement.  Just this morning, Caleb, Seth and Sarah colored all over a box and made a boat.  Then, they put the kitchen chairs in a line and made a train.  I make sippy cups of milk and serve bowls of cereal.  I sip my coffee and visit blogs.  Now they are watching the Crocodile Hunter catch snakes and the dog is lying down practically on top of his boy Caleb; he loves summer, too.

Just yesterday Caleb and Seth brought me a toad that they found in the grass by the Bird Forest.  We sat him on a book and took his picture.

It’s the time of year for poetry….lots and lots of light, joyful, children’s poems.

My brother David sent me the Christina G. Rossetti book of poetry.

Now We are Six is one of my favorites.  I know I’ve shared several of A.A. Milne’s poems here before.

In my heart, I’m feeling poems.  Of boys and girls, birthdays, laughter, treats in the kitchen, songs, animals, the vegetable garden, staying up late, summer days.

Glorious summer days.

I stood for a long time, trying to get a picture of a fluttering monarch butterfly.  A few years ago I read in a magazine article that the monarchs are decreasing in number due to a lack of milkweed (where they lay their eggs).  As a result, I have allowed milkweed to “take over” one of my small flower beds by the house.  I was thrilled yesterday to discover a monarch laying eggs under the leaves.  Upon inspection, I found several caterpillars and eggs in various stages of development.  Son David and I look forward to watching them grow.

Brown and furry
Caterpillar in a hurry
Take your walk
To the shady leaf, or stalk
Or what not,
Which may be the chosen spot.
No toad spy you,
Hovering bird of prey pass by you;
Spin and die,
To live again a butterfly.  ~C. Rossetti

Yesterday afternoon I took Sarah, baby chicks, and a couple of my old diaries outside with me.  We sat in a spot that I’ve never spent time in before (down at the end of the new pond, near the woods).  Reading words that I wrote in my 20’s, I would look up and marvel at how far we’ve come since those early years of marriage.  I hadn’t written in my last diary since David was a baby (blogging and busyness took over the written word, sadly)….I updated it with the announcement of three more children and a move to the country.  Counting blessings, humbly thanking God.  It was a beautiful time.  I saw so many birds, and a flock of gold finches chasing each other through the trees.

I’ve been wanting to show a photo of the baby toads.  Each spring, toads come from the woods to lay eggs in our pond.  It takes several months for the eggs to grow and develop.  But now, they are starting to absorb their tadpole tails and they are hopping on the edge of the pond, finding new homes.  I caught one and put it on my phone, to show how tiny (but perfect!) they are. 

Life isn’t always quiet….with big teenage boys in the family.  They grabbed their little brother and took him down to the dock (where I was sitting) to throw him in.  It didn’t go well, Ethan let go before Jacob did and Dave’s head bounced off the end of the dock. 

As I sat with his head on my lap, consoling Dave and waiting for E to return with an ice pack, I noticed the clouds above were so beautiful.

Thankfully, other than a goose egg on the back of his head, David was fine (mad, but fine).

No one can tell me,
Nobody knows,
Where the wind comes from,
Where the wind goes.  ~Milne

They all fished last night, even Sarah, (but she had an empty stick-no hook).  The others had sticks with string, bobber and a hook; that’s all.  No “real” poles here.

The fish were hungry; they caught a lot.

I’m fishing.
Don’t talk, anybody, don’t come near!
Can’t you see that the fish might hear?
He thinks I’m playing with a piece of string;
He thinks I’m another sort of funny thing.
But he doesn’t know I’m fishing–
He doesn’t know I’m fishing.
That’s what I’m doing–
Fishing.  ~Milne

How many hours in a day?
Twenty-four for work and play.  ~Rossetti

Isn’t life a joy?  There is so much to be thankful for. 

I hope my friends have a great day today!  You are loved.  xoxo

Rich fell asleep on the couch Saturday afternoon, so I gathered up the small ones and took them for a walk in the woods. Sarah is old enough to walk on her own so I also walked on my own, hurrying to catch up to the runners, or slowing down to wait for the laggers. 

We found our old friend Toad on the trail.  He looked well and allowed us to pick him up and pass him around.

Just look at the picture I got, of Mr. Toad (anxious to get on with his afternoon plans) leaping out of Sarah’s hands.

We made our way into the woods.  Everywhere we looked there was magic, and Caleb trying to climb every fallen tree.

Sarah walking with small careful steps.

E N C H A N T M E N T

We rested awhile, on a big fallen down tree.  A particular fallen down tree that we’ve visited lots of times before.  As the boys fought it with sticks, I sat down and noticed that someone was at home in the log. 

I wonder who was more surprised. 

He was surprised and rather concerned. 

I was surprised and charmed.

We begged him to come out and introduce himself.  He met us all and then we put him back. 

He told us, as he trembled, that he was going right to work, to make a suitable door.

We noticed that he had a neighbor nearby, but his hole was deep enough that we couldn’t reach him.  The next time I draw a picture of a hollow tree I’m going to draw a toad in it, instead of an owl.

 We noticed some pretty mushrooms nearby.  This one with a red cap.

 This one with a very bright yellow. 

 When we got home I emptied my pocket of what I gathered.

 And Rich was awake and waiting for us.

(Caleb’s first birthday)  He turns seven today.

1. wish Caleb a happy birthday and give him a big hug

2. kiss hubby goodbye (he left for work)

3. hunt for tape and scissors; wrap Caleb’s presents

4.  clean up dog p**p from upstairs (a production which involved a lot of scrubbing)

5.  put in a load of laundry; have David empty dishwasher and Grace clean bathroom. 

6. clean up shards of glass (David was playing tennis in the house and smashed the glass cover on the ceiling light), take out trash

7. take a shower and get dressed

8. serve breakfast to the littles

9. make big brothers wake up so they could watch Caleb open gifts. clean up wrapping paper.

10.  make myself a big bowl of oatmeal w/maple syrup and butter (share it with Sarah) while posting blog.

Happy seventh to my dear son.

Rich said to me, “I love this day.” 

Yes, we had a great 4th of July family day, when the work was put away and we were free to just enjoy ourselves.  We made the same food we always make on the 4th; cornchip salad, hot dogs and hamburgers, we read books, we took naps, we went out for ice cream…..but……..

….the very best part of the day was when we all went swimming together in our pond.  After a while, I ran to the house to get the camera.

Rich and I (and Caleb) leaping off the end of the dock:

The water was perfect, warm on the top and cool underneath.  When I was growing up on the hill, we used to go swimming in my grandparent’s pond.  Rich also spent a lot of time at his grandpa’s pond.  He remembers Grandpa shooting snapping turtles when they came to the surface.  So there are memories for us as we enjoy our own family pond, now.  There is a certain smell at the pond, the buzz of insects, the feel of cool mud under the water, and if water gets in your eyes it doesn’t burn like chlorine does.  In fact, my children are so used to years of pond swimming that if they get into a pool the experience doesn’t satisfy like the ponds do.  (but I understand that pool swimmers may find a pond rather disgusting….that’s understandable, too not everyone likes swimming with fish, frogs, and tadpoles)

We were amused by Seth, who has no fear.  The water here is deep but he couldn’t resist joining the fun.  He flew off the end and then paddled like a doggie back to shore.  I think he was three times more active than the rest of us.  Sarah doesn’t want to swim.  I tried taking her out deeper than 2 inches and she gripped me and cried.

I admire and envy Jacob’s cool moves;

What a great day!   I’m smiling.

Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden. Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing.
— Jim Rohn

“O give thanks to the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.”  Ps. 136:1

“But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love your salvation say continually, great is the Lord”  Ps. 40:16

What fun!  Rich had the day off today so we took the opportunity to go shopping for patio furniture, something we have been planning to do ever since he and the children put in the patio and fire pit.  The area between our house and the garage was useless just a few months ago and now it’s a lovely place to relax with friends and family, and read my books.

I like the bright white and navy blue.  And I LOVE the fact that these pieces were made in the USA. 

Somehow I got a little distracted by the cute girl on the sofa.  It’s easy to do.

Incidentally, I just have to tell you….the dress Sarah is wearing was one that I bought 13 years ago when I was expecting Gracie.  Grace wore it constantly when she was Sarah’s age and I’m so glad I kept it. 

The chairs go ’round and ’round so of course that’s where Sethie wanted to sit.

When we sit on the sofa, this is the view we see; (now with Sarah taking a turn on the chair)……

Seth can entertain us by racing down the walkway on his bike.

 I just can’t help it….I am now making plans to decorate with containers of flowers and who knows what else.  I’ll have to find my stack of Country Living magazines to look for ideas.

 *****************************************

The children are toasting marshmallows this evening.   When Grace isn’t eating her treat, she’s singing for us.

I honestly need to go find bug spray, however.

Happy 4th of July to all my fellow USA citizens!  I hope you have a great day with your friends and family.  You are loved.   xoxo

“So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.”

Ecclesiastes 8:15 NIV