This was the view out of my window in the plane as we descended into Virginia on Friday evening.  Isn’t it beautiful?  The sun was shining through the clouds, all golden on the water……….took my breath away.

On Saturday morning, Rich and I (and Sarah) ate a good breakfast and then headed to a place that I had picked out to visit;  The Norfolk Botanical Gardens. It proved to be food for the soul with 155 acres of lovely flowers, trees, water, pretty butterflies, and walking trails. 

I loved the rose gardens.  We began there early enough that the dew was still on the flowers.  It always bewilders me to smell a scentless rose, so I spent some happy moments searching and smelling until I found the ones that had that beautiful rose perfume that I love so much. 

It cost us 18 dollars to enter the gardens and after we wandered around the rose beds, we went on the free tram tour.  We like taking guided tours because you tend to learn more information that way.  The tour guide talked about the history of the gardens and pointed out the different trees, sculptures, themed gardens, and flowers.

After the tour ended, we stayed on one more time so we could be dropped off at the butterfly garden.  Rich specifically wanted to go there so that he could show Sarah the butterflies.  I thought that was so sweet of him.

Anyway, on our second tram ride we happened to meet an older couple (the lady was very friendly and started a conversation with us) and we were surprise to realize that they knew exactly where we lived, had lived in our area in the past, and had relatives in our hometown. 

The eastern swallowtail caterpillar looks similar to the monarch caterpillar, but while the monarch eats milkweed, the swallowtail prefers DILL WEED.  I found that very fascinating, and I hope to grow a big patch of dill next year to see what happens. 

After showing Sarah the butterflies, (by the way, the lady at the butterfly place was kind and informative), we decided to walk back and explore a nature trail through the woods.  Being a nature-lover, I really wanted to see some of Virginia’s natural beauty.

(We took a picture with the self-timer.)

I thought these benches were creative—the gardeners used tree stumps for the base.  I guess these benches aren’t going anywhere!  I would like to do the same here on our property at home now.

The night before we left, Sarah was running around on our paved driveway, tripped, and fell right on her little nose.  It was bruised bad enough that we wondered if it was broken and had a big scab for days, poor pretty baby.  It’s all better today, thankfully.

It was about 11:30 in the morning when the sun started burning hot.  We left about 12:30 or so.  We were thankful that we had gotten there early (about 9:45) so we could enjoy the gardens before it was too warm.  Sarah was very patient and appreciated the times we got her out of the stroller, so she could explore, too.

It’s amazing all the things you can see if you just stand still and observe.  Rich and I stopped to look at some big horrid spiders when he noticed this tiny green tree frog.

It sat all bundled up, saying with it’s eyes, “Please. Don’t eat me.”  I think he was talking to the spiders.

We ended our visit back where we started, in the roses.

Visiting the beautiful gardens with my husband and baby was one of the highlights of our little vacation. 

Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

A change of seasons is in the air here in New England.  The mornings are chilly, the air is clear.  Our ponds are sending up wisps of fog each morning.  Although the leaves on the trees are still green, I can feel that fall is coming quickly.  And with it, school time.  The children are very excited to attend our local schools this year, as official homeschooling (which will remain a wonderful memory) has come to an end, here at our place.  Another change.

This morning at 9, Rich’s mom and I are going with Davy to a school orientation, to visit the unfamiliar elementary school. 

After a long weekend in Virginia Beach, I got up early this morning to wave my husband away, down the road.  His is off to work, and then a business trip.   He’ll be back on Thursday night.  My heart hurts a little this morning, with missing him already.

I’m looking forward to things settling down around here in the next month, Lord willing.

As we deal with such changes, I remind myself to enjoy and thank God for the moments.  Breathe the air, smile the smiles, hug the hugs, and walk the walks, with the ones I love best, as I try to keep my heart open and saying YES to the Lord and His will for me and my family.

I hope to post the pictures of our trip to Virginia, tomorrow.  Have a blessed day, my friends!

~Shanda

Once upon a pretty time, a young couple fell in love.  It was an exciting time, youth blossoming into adulthood. 

Plans made for a future.

Young hopes.

Young dreams.

Falling in love with a tall, handsome, self assured blond.

As he fell in love with “a beautiful long haired girl.”

Wanting to be together all the time, for life.

Realizing that we truly, without a doubt, belonged to each other.

It’s 18 years later since the days we fell in love.

We get caught up in every day living and almost forget our story.

Recently, Rich and I went on a trip down memory lane, talking about how we first met, what we were thinking, how we felt.  And as we talked, those early exciting feelings came flooding back.

The story of us.

Rich’s mom is coming out to our place tonight.  She is watching the children so that we can go away for a long weekend.

Rich told me last night where we were going.

Virginia Beach.

We went to Virginia Beach on our honeymoon.

And that’s why he wants to go back.

 “Joy is very infectious.  We will never know just how much good a simple smile can do.  Be faithful in little things.  Smile at one another.  We must live beautifully.”  Mother Teresa

“You can pray while you work.  Work doesn’t stop prayer and prayer doesn’t stop work.  It requires only that small raising of the mind to him:  I love you God, I trust you, I believe in you, I need you now.  Small things like that.  They are wonderful prayers.”  Mother Teresa

What’s a Baptist girl doing, reading Mother Teresa?

I say:  I love Jesus and have Him in my heart.  She loved Jesus, too, and is on to glory.  We are sisters.

Isn’t it wonderful when God matures a believer PAST their denomination and on to something much deeper, truer, and real?  (That being; Jesus Christ Himself and being united with other believers, IN HIM).  **happy sigh**

I love that.  And I am very much enjoying my book of Mother Teresa quotes. 

The Buggie

Sarah saw a buggie and it was green.

It was on her dress but she didn’t mind.

Oops!  Off it hopped.

God’s creatures are so amazing!

Let’s take a closer look at those long legs and that green color, so nice.

“How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104:24

He might give you the creeps when he crawls on you, but don’t hurt him!

He has work to do. 

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy.  Psalm 96:11,12

Sometimes I use my photos to make a little book for the children; I’m thinking this might be another good one. 

“I feel that we too often focus on the negative aspects of life, on what is bad.  If we were more willing to see the good, and the beautiful things that surround us, we would be able to transform our families.” 

“We must live life beautifully; we have Jesus with us and he loves us.  If we  could only remember that God loves us, and that we have an opportunity to love others as he loves us, not in big things, but in small things with great love, then {our country}becomes a nest of love…..a burning light of peace in the world.” 

Mother Teresa

Thankful for:

a rainy day

my children

my husband (this is a photo of our date night, on Friday, when I dressed nice and he couldn’t keep his eyes off me.)  *wink wink*

coffee

naptime

family

books

givers

people who love beautiful things

homemade food

candle light

and

YOU. 

Remember:  you are special, very special.  and loved.  there is no one else like you.  if you ever need a friend, you can write me a line or two here through xanga.  and, if you really know me in real life, stop on by, or call ANYTIME, and I’ll be here for you.  we need each other.  no one needs to feel lonely or alone.

((hugs))

Sarah Joy’s top = Carter’s

Grace Lillian’s top and jeans = GAP kids

Grace and I went shopping today and found a few sweet things.  We ate lunch together at Moe’s. 

When we came home I took a few pictures, so I could show you the cuteness.

Happy Saturday!

“What you think and do now builds.

Value this moment.

Be patient.

Smile often.

Love the process of living each minute fully.

Your presence is a source of strength

and an inspiration

to people you spend time with.

Give your greatest gift–

your full attention,

yourself.”

~Alexandra Stoddard

Morning has broken….and it’s a beautiful one.  The lovely wild birds are singing and chatting, and the air is washed clean from lots of rain.  It started yesterday at about 5 and continued on.  Rich took me outside and kissed me in the cold rain drops, and we fell asleep last night to the sound of it.

I’ve given Sarah Joy her breakfast-Cream of Wheat with butter and real maple syrup.  I’m sipping from the coffee Rich made for me before he left for work. 

The sun is shining brightly.

I was so blessed by a news story this morning, on NBC.  Did you see it?  It was about a 12 year old boy who was rescued out of the ocean, after being under water for 20 minutes.  He was on a church trip and they showed a picture of the group kneeling in the sand, praying, while the boy was missing and then pulled out of the water.  God was glorified repeatedly during the news report.  The little boy amazingly lived, and his parents are upbeat and faithful.  Pray for him, as he continues to recover, and is a testimony to God’s power.  His parents are a testimony of a living faith and hope in “whatever God does is okay with us.”   I had tears in my eyes.  So often God is seemingly absent from those news programs but the truth is,  He is in every story, HE IS WORKING constantly, and mercifully.  He CARES. 

(see the chicken *partially hidden* in this photo?)

I haven’t planted a single solitary vegetable this season, even though we had a vegetable garden spot ready.  It is now filled with self-sufficient weeds, waist high and proud of themselves.

My two youngest need so much attention that I’ve chosen children over gardening.  Oh, but I have my dreams of course.  They’re just on hold as I pour the majority of my time into my beautiful growing youngsters.

So I didn’t give my lack of gardening very much thought until one happy moment, when I discovered a row of cherry tomato plants healthily and stealthily growing in my flower bed.

And then I praised God for His encouraging surprise,  a delightful gift just for me.

Directions to The Tomato Place:  Behind the cosmos, behind the purple cone flowers, behind the hydrangeas, up against the porch foundation.  A wonderful place to grow, unnoticed (at first)……

And I didn’t notice them at all until they were already blossomed!  A whole row of them.  Just in time for me to gently tie them up against the porch so they wouldn’t fall over. (ah ha, now I see!)

I think they must have grown from old tomatoes that we threw down there for the chickens.

Curious Bystanders:

What’s our Mama doing now?!

Thankful for:

  tender, growing things. 

 the promises of God.

  rain and sunshine. 

 love.

sarah’s bare feet.

seth’s sippy cup.

 my family. 

 kisses in the rain.

 hope. 

a heart free from anxiety. 

joy in motherhood. 

 time to blog.

and you.

Who, being loved, is poor?  ~Oscar Wilde

After work yesterday, my husband stopped at a road side produce stand and brought me home some beautiful sunflowers.  I hope I never forget the sight of him, handsome and smiling, walking through the door with them in his hands to give to me. 

We got a house for the weekend in Cooperstown, NY.  It worked out great, the house was big and spacious.   The lawn was pretty, with lots of big trees.  The children love to climb trees, and there was also an apple tree.  The apples were still half green, but the kids loved picking and eating them.

We met my parents at the Farmer’s Museum in Cooperstown on Saturday morning.  We enjoyed visiting the museum, with the old things to see, and also animals and the working village with a store, blacksmith, print shop, barn, and so on.

Aren’t the homemade brooms nice?  I get inspired by things like this. 

I love this picture of Sarah walking into her Grandpa’s arms.

This was a sign in the Blacksmith shop:  “When you are the anvil, bear.  When you are the hammer, strike.”

I liked the way they used old fence posts to surround this small garden of zinnias.  It’s so pretty against the stone foundation and the outside of the barn walls.

After the museum, Mom and Dad came to our house and visited before leaving again for home.

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

Rich and I shared a delicious bagel for breakfast on Sunday morning.  It was a toasted bagel, with cream cheese and thinly sliced tomato on top of each half, with a few grinds of fresh black pepper.  Try it!  It’s so good.  I made myself one for breakfast this morning. (While looking at the September issue of Country Living, did you see page 22?  Fiestaware!)

I didn’t get very many photos of the Baseball Hall of Fame, which was what we did on Sunday.  Cooperstown is such a beautiful town!  I highly recommend a visit, if you can.

On the way back home yesterday,  I played with my phone on the way home and made these pictures using a new app called “Halftone”.  Fun!

This one is made with an older photo of the little ones at the library.

Happy Monday to you!