It is a joy to watch our flock of chickens roaming around the property.  They love to spend the entire day searching for tasty treats and scratching in their favorite dirty spots in the lawn.  It gives me (dreamer of having a flock, with her dream now fulfilled) a content feeling in my heart when I see them.  We have decided that having a flock of chickens has rewarded us in many ways, not just in the excellent eggs they give us, but also in unexpected ways like the observing of “chicken lifestyle”; the way they interact with each other, their different sounds they make to communicate, the way some prefer others but not others.  Some are more shy, some are more talkative, etc. 

We like them to roam free.  But we now have three roasters…(and the older roaster will attack small children), and try as we might, we cannot seem to keep them away from the house, and because they are each certainly little poop machines, leaving droppings everywhere…..we decided to build a fence.

It is currently 9:15pm and I am exhausted.  Rich has this week off from work so we are determined to get some things done around the place.  Task one:  Build The Chicken Fence.

I am proud of us because we’ve worked very hard today and we have the fence done, except the gate.  Go us!

It was a hot day, with several trips to town, (but at least I got an iced coffee!) and everyone got so dirty, but it was a healthy, active day outside.  I just love the smell of freshly dug dirt.  Really.  And  we made yet another family memory.

Little Sarah doesn’t mind being outside at all, and seems to enjoy the dirt as much as the rest of us.

Here they are, digging holes for the poles.  Grace-of-the-long-hair was her Dad’s big helper.  But, unfortunately she read on the roll of fencing that it was enough fence for a miniature pony yard, and now she really wants one (again, still, forever and always.).

Caleb gathered the eggs and dropped two of them on his way to take them to the house. 

Two-year-old Seth is just the right age to be Papa’s most eager, pint-sized, side kick.  Oh how he makes Rich smile with his charming little ways.  He’s the perfect little buddy for his Dad and says yes to anything even if he has no clue where he is about to go, with Papa, this time.

I do plan on letting the hens out in the real yard for a little while each day, just before dusk, because chickens naturally go back to the coop to roost at sundown.  How much mischief could they get into in such a short time?  The benefit would be that they could have extra opportunities to eat juicy plants and bugs, since their own yard will be scratched over so much all day, every day.  I want them eating as much “natural” food as possible, because it makes for a healthier “end” product.

(LOL LOL  LOL  I totally just made that up myself!!!  “end product” = “my new name for eggs”!)

So “ends” yet another fascinating blog post.  hmmmmmmmmmmmm?

From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring.
~Samuel F. Smith, “America”

We enjoyed a quiet (as quiet as it can be, that is) fourth of July here at the homeplace.  I didn’t sleep well last night so it was a treat to be able to take a nap this afternoon.  We ate pizza for dinner, pretzels with dip, and strawberries.  Pink lemonade.  After dinner Rich took Seth for a run using the jogging stroller and I took these pictures of Sarah, out on our porch.  I think she looks so cute in her short yellow dress, which used to be her big sister’s.  In fact, it was Grace’s first Easter dress, 11 years ago.  And with the flag in the background I thought they made good patriotic pictures of Sarah.

The little ones are now in bed.  The rest of us are sitting together in the livingroom watching the PBS Capital 4th patriotic concert on television.  At the moment we are very much enjoying Steve Martin and his banjo.  

When it gets dark, Rich is going to do some fireworks for us.

Happy fourth of July!

The beauty of a life free in Christ has been on my mind lately.  Freedom in Christ….

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  Galatians 5:1

Don’t let it happen to you!  Be free.

Don’t allow others to tie a heavy burden on to you.  You have already been set free in Christ, free to love.  To be thankful.  To have peace.

“You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command:  LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”   Galatians 5:13,14

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:  sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.  I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

patience,

kindness,

goodness,

faithfulness,

gentleness and

self-control.

AGAINST SUCH THINGS THERE IS NO LAW.” Galatians 19-25

And we are free in Christ, to do them.

Would you say a prayer for my Grandfather today?  He is recovering from emergency hip surgery.  Thank you!

(inspired by soulemama)

This morning began not with peaceful coffee and the newspaper.  Not with a quiet baby eating breakfast while Mama sat and read.  No.  It began with me attempting those things but instead, participating in a contest of wills over OATMEAL. 

I took my coffee and paper to the porch, it was such a beautiful morning/weatherwise.  I carried the high chair out.  I put Sarah in it.  I made oatmeal, two bowls.  I sat Sethie by me like a big boy, in a chair and put a placemat and his oatmeal in front of him.  I sat down to feed Sarah hers and read the paper at the same time but no.  Seth took one bite of his oatmeal and said, EW!  I thought it was because I had sliced (for the first time ever) a banana on his oatmeal.  Okay, fine.  At least eat the oatmeal.  I gave him a bite of just oatmeal and told him to swallow it.  He held his big bite-full in his mouth…..and looked at me…..

and held it in there for half an hour.  It was his very strong will against mine.  Since I am his Mama, I know best and I knew that he simply had to submit to this big (yet, actually quite small, really) bite of yucky oatmeal.  Meanwhile, Sarah was eating all hers like a champ.

I tried giving him juice thinking he would wash it down.  Wouldn’t you know, he sipped that juice very carefully and didn’t swallow the oatmeal!  Okay, so it got to be half an hour later and I really wanted to just move on to other things so I went in the house and got a few chocolate chips and gave them to him.  He swallowed (FINALLY) the oats to eat the chips and that was that.  It was actually a very quiet half an hour, since he couldn’t talk.   

After that victory, I felt ready to go on an adventure so we left the house and drove to the science center.  (A very short sentence, but please know that a lot of preparations had to be made to actually get out the door!  And I still forgot the Ergo)………

The science center is a lot of fun for all age groups (very important when you have littles, middles, and teens).  Right off the bat there are some awesome water tables.  The children can put balls in the water and watch what they do, or where they travel.

Seth loved it.  He kept saying “OH!” in his little boy yelling voice.  So happy.

Sarah was nervous and shook a little when I first put her down.  She did not know WHAT was going on. 

The ball traveled down the ramp, into the tube, and then UP! the tube, pushed by water.  He did it again and again…..

Elevator shot.  The side is all glass so you can watch yourself go very high up or go back down….

We spent some time in a natural disaster room learning all about tornados, tsunamis, volcanoes, and other such terrible disasters.  It was all very fascinating but sad, too, because of the poor people who died in them.  My favorite part about it was the surround video of a tornado.  Someone put a camera down in the path of a tornado and then ran.  So the viewer got to experience what it looked and sounded like to be in one.  Also, they had a lot of artifacts/pieces of wreckage from actual disasters that the kids could see.  They took pictures of the objects in the midst of the wreckage so you could see what happened to it and see the object, too.  (A door, a stop sign, etc). Photography wasn’t permitted.

We went into a dark space exploration room, too.  I got to lay down in a reclining booth with Caleb and Seth and it was so relaxing.  I almost didn’t want to get up again.  Smile.

We spent some time eating lunch.  I had a yummy black bean salad and half a sandwich.  The icy coke perked me up.  The kids were done eating way before I was but I sat there and enjoyed every bite.

Seth had to go shirtless like a little bum because he got so wet at the water tables….He and Sarah played with a little ball-run thing…you let go of the ball at the starting point and it goes through all these bells and whistles and ramps and drops, to the end.  That is, if Sarah does not grab the ball first.

Sarah ended up, after a while, falling off this little platform, poor baby!!!  She was very upset!

We sat down to some brain teaser puzzles, Ethan, Jacob, Grace, and me.  I said, “Okay, we’re not leaving until one of us solves the puzzle.”  I usually get impatient and move on but I worked and worked and I did it!  I solved my puzzle.  It was a bunch of blocks (not square, they were joined together in odd shapes) that you had to put together into a cube.

Grace worked on hers and after a small suggestion from the lady, she put her pieces together into the shape of a cross.

Jacob also received a very subtle, very small hint, and then was able to solve his.

Poor E did not get to finish his, as I did not want to be there any longer.  It was stressful at times, which reminds me that I really must sit and have a serious discussion with my children about the rules of “field trips”.  It’s just too easy for one or two or three (or more) to forget, and wander off alone and out of my sight.

Here they are, in a rare moment, all together.  Love this.  The views out the windows are incredible, too.  But watching the children think and play?  Priceless.

I let them each pick out a very small treat from the shop and then home again/home again/jiggety jig, we went. 

Davy picked out a magnifying glass.  So it was fun to look for bugs on our lawn.

Here is a picture of me and my Caleb, who is probably, at this moment, still wearing his paper bracelet from our fun time.

His little treasure was a lego spaceship.  All his very own.

Grace climbed a tree and took a picture of a big fat baby robin almost old enough to move out.  But the parents are not ready to let go, yet.  They flew around making quite the racket as Grace snapped her picture.

Caleb likes to gather eggs now.  He does it every chance he can,  and laughs at Red because she’s broody and makes the most pathetic and startling noises at him when he gets the eggs.

So, when he said, “Let’s go get the eggs!” we did just that.

We fed them, too, and I got a picture at the moment when George was letting out a big crow.  He’s quite something.

But that’s not all.  We also went to our library this afternoon, to the annual book sale.  And then, to the store for deli meat and cheese for a sandwich dinner night. (we ate outside)

These are the books I got (only three!)

I can’t say that I’ve actually dreamed of living in a lighthouse with my love.  I have dreamed of living on an island, however (thanks to Baby Island, one of my favorite childhood books)…so I can’t wait to read this!  Doesn’t the lady look so pleasant and nice?  I am going to start this one tonight, I hope it’s as good as I think it will be. 

Last but not least, bath before nigh-nights!

Isn’t she adorable?

(first tooth)

(beautiful)

(handsome)

(Davy’s last game)

(waiting for his name to be announced, for his 2nd place team trophy)

(the pretty pants I made)

(swimming with forever friends)

One of our very best walks (swims?) ever, in our woods, in our stream…..a gift of a memory…..

The only loss was a bright blue croc, belonging to David.

(a picture in the middle of a lecture) (for vanishing into the woods without telling me!)

I took this picture just this morning.  We have a little playhouse now, that the neighbors a mile up were giving away.  So we have a new favorite place, in the yard, for the little ones (and big ones).

It’s always good to end with a dessert.  Tonight it was homemade (by Dave, Caleb, and me) cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.  Entirely, 100 % G O N E.  Yum.

I’m thankful for some many wonderful blessings in every day life.  Little things; the smiles of sweet children.  Singing to my favorite songs.  Dancing with Sethie.  Teaching my children new things.  Baking cakes.  A clean room.  Early bedtimes.  Days so fun that the sleep at the end of them is so heavy and lovely.  Big things; My husband, his smile, his texts, his phone calls, his body home with mine.  My family, my brothers and sister.  My friend Kathy.  Christie.  Karen.  Joanna.  Forever and ever.  Jesus, the way He is God and Man, both….to worship and love, long for, as the bread and water that always satisfies.

Today is the first day that Sarah Joy has taken off, in her walking.  Just this evening she just started walking around For Real.  Pat, pat, step, tap, tap, step, up and down went her little bare feet, and she was charming about it all, sneaking looks at us to make sure she was being watched and admired.  Since she is 13 months old now she has done a lot of preliminary practicing.  She can already pivot, changing directions.  She senses when she’s off balance and just gently lowers herself down.  When seated, she can put her hands down to lift her bottom and then herself, back up to her feet, to go again.  It made Rich and I laugh, and me get teary eyed.  What a joy, to watch these milestones happening. 

And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in droughts, and make fat thy bones:  and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.  Isaiah 58:11

Let us therefore follow after the things that make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.  Romans 14:19

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.  Titus 2:13

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone.  Psalm 86:10

I will praise Thee O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name forevermore.  For great is Thy mercy toward me:  and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.  Ps. 86:12, 13

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed:  I will sing and give praise.   Ps. 57:7

Happy Friday! My washer and dryer are humming and spinning, it’s early morning, my windows are open to the sounds of the birds’ music. I’m still in my pj’s, smiling at the memories made last night.

It was a big party pizza eaten by a party of nine; papa, mama, Jacob, Ethan, Grace, Davy, Caleb, Seth, and even Sarah ate almost two small pieces. There was lots and lots of talking, many of it done in chorus with other voices, noise galore for this mama who has to remind herself continually to enjoy it! (I’m a quiet girl, living a loud life.)

And as slowly the family quieted down, boo boos were bandaged, rooms were tidied, stories were told, more laundry was done (and Caleb did his first load of it!), husband and I tucked the children all in, and then ourselves.

The very best part of the night ( well, the part I can share, that is), was being “forced” by my husband to get back out of our cozy nest, and go outside, at 10pm, for a wet walk in the dark, dark country night. I didn’t want to go at first but I’m so very thankful that I did, because we enjoyed such sweet fellowship as we listened to the drippy rainsounds in the woods, and admired the twinkling fireflies. Tears are in my eyes, remembering. His kisses on my hand, that was held in his own. His voice telling me to stand still and listen.

I spent some time yesterday afternoon, sewing baby dear a pair of blousy light pants! I had a pattern for pajama pants and I used it, sewing the prettiest little pants for Sarah to wear anytime. I used a favorite material; very old fashioned looking, a dark brownish blue, with tiny flower patterns. They turned out perfectly and I hope to make a few more pairs, using more fabric from my stash. It’s just so hard to crawl in a dress, you see, and these very girly pants keep her looking like a princess as she crawls around exploring.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”. John 15:15

A blessed, abiding in Him weekend to you, much loved friends!

As it often happens, the Lord has so graciously used a trial (a small one, that unfortunately seemed so overwhelmingly large because of it’s very sad nature, an argument with a loved one), to pull me once again into His loving Word. I have just spent a cozy time with my Bible, Eyes Of Wonder’s blog, journal, and the ever-ready yellow pencil. Reading, praying, opening my heart up, receiving, repenting, and recording.

The old hymn, “Sinking Sand”, has been on my mind, and I had Grace, with her sweet voice, sing it with me.

“When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.” Edward Mote, hymnwriter

“In learning again and again and again, to an always greater degree and sometimes by error and regret, to press into Him, leaning my head upon His breast, because He is love and He loves me.”. Jewels, Eyes of Wonder blog

I copied these verses from her site, too:

“Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples whom Jesus loved.” John 13:23

Whoso leaneth on the Lord, happy is he. Pr. 16:20

“With Jesus, if we want to gain, we must give up. If we want to be filled, we must deny ourselves. If we want to truly get close to God, we’ll have to distance ourselves from other things. If we want to conquer our cravings, we’ll have to redirect them to God. God made us capable of craving so we’d have an unquenchable desire for more of Him, and Him alone.”
From Made to Crave, by Lysa Terkeurst

So, instead of feeling shame in my neediness, I embrace Christ as the One Who can, will, and does supply my every heart and soul need.

Hello dear friends! Just a quick note, using an old photo, to say that my computer is still unfortunately not working. In fact, it still hasn’t made it to the repair center. I miss blogging and will be back at it as soon as possible.

I went strawberry picking on Saturday with Jacob, Ethan, Davy, and Caleb. We picked 30 pounds of berries. I made strawberry shortcake, two batches of freezer jam, and sugared the rest for the freezer. They are deep red, and beautiful. How thankful I am for the blessings God sends our way.

Rich and I took a walk in the woods on Saturday, too, with the children. The lovely mountain laurel ( our state flower) is blooming, and Ethan ( our resident naturalist) showed us a beautiful spot in the woods full of mature shrubs. We saw several frogs, and mushrooms, too. I took my camera so I can share those photos, hopefully soon.

I typed this with my thumbs, on my iphone, sitting on my front steps. It’s a sunny day and I love to hear the birds and crickets singing. I saw some black eyed susans in bloom. It’s the time for wild clover, daisies, roses, and yarrow. Can it be that tomorrow is the first day of summer? Time flies and I’m trying to hold on to these beautiful days, with thanksgiving, the best I can.

Love, Shanda