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

“The very act of complaining/criticism destroys warm feelings toward the target of that criticism.”

“Elimination/diminution of criticism adds to loving feelings.”

“Complaining doesn’t lead to anything good. No, but appreciation does lead to something good.”

“Do we reward him for going to work, mowing the lawn, fixing the cars? He needs to be rewarded, because you love him.”

Dr. Laura Schlessinger

My laptop broke last night so I will not be blogging like I normally do.

This morning I’m taking Seth and Sarah in for check ups and then going to costco for groceries.

We’ll do schoolwork and later on the older boys have a baseball game.

It’s a beautiful morning and I’m drinking my coffee from a mug that says “every day is a gift.”

How was your weekend, my friends?

Shanda

(today’s post written with my iPhone.)

We saw a tree frog once before, about three years ago.  I had climbed a tree that day, with my camera, to take a picture of a nest full of fat baby robins.  When I started back down the tree, I touched a frog; a gray tree frog.  We held it and studied it and put it back.

I kid you not—-I was thinking about that same story and standing under the very tree, wondering when and if we would ever see another one—-on the very day, the very hour, when Ethan found a second frog, and I was right there with him when he found it!

This is how it happened.  On a very wet and drippy spring day, I had Sethers outside (whenever it’s possible, we are outside so he can get tired out, a rarity in two year old boys.) and we were by the stream watching our Ethan.  Ethan had his long sword and was walking along the edge of the stream, chopping down skunk cabbage.  When he got to where we were sitting (on a big rock) he stopped, bent down, and picked up a gray tree frog, which was scared out of it’s little sticky wits.

I ran to get my camera and also Davy.

We are in constant contact with regular ol’ frogs all the time so it was very exciting to come across one of the very shy types who will not let us see them (they camouflage themselves) or catch them, unless by happenstance.

They have a thin and very sticky skin!  Surprisingly sticky!  And their little hands and feet are so cute.  The front legs are short and stubby, the hands have fingers with little sticky pads at the ends.  Everything is just right for climbing trees and staying attached to them.

They are all over gray, except the back legs, which have yellow on them, a bright and nice color yellow.  See?

They have loose extra skin under their chins (the only comparison I could find, to people).

The only time the female croaks is to tell the male to get off after mating.  Other than that, they are completely silent.  The croaking we have been hearing up in the trees by our pond and stream are the males calling for some female companionship.  I read that the resulting tadpoles are so well hidden that they may as well be completely invisible.

farewell gray tree frog
we hope our dry human hands
did not hurt your skin.

(a haiku, by Yours Truly)

I’m sitting on the couch on this Wednesday morning, after a wild night with poor Seth.  He was fine all day yesterday but woke up about an hour after he fell asleep at bedtime, burning with a fever and crying out “Oh no!” and “Oh my!”.  (I echoed his sentiments.)  It took a long time to settle him down and for the medicine to kick in.  (Also, Rich is away on business).  Thankfully, Seth is still asleep now, so I thought I’d take a few minutes to put up Sarah’s birthday cake pictures.  Caleb is next to me reading Garfield comics, Jake and Grace are watching the History channel and Sarah is crawling around, playing.

We got a pretty paper table cloth and some paper places and napkins at the party store.  I also got some streamers and balloons to decorate the table for Baby’s First Birthday.

We picked up the cake at a bakery; chocolate raspberry.

I like this next picture because of Sarah’s little hands and feet;

She liked the pretty cake and was so funny about getting really close but not touching it. 

Singing the Happy Birthday song.

And she finally gets brave enough to gently touch “whatever it is” (she still had no clue)…..

Daddy put frosting on her finger…

She wasn’t impressed at all.

Wondering.

“Here, try some!”

No.

She makes this funny face whenever she doesn’t want *whatever it is* we are trying to feed her.

She felt much better in her “eating spot” (and probably finally understood that the cake was edible) and I fed her all her cake and ice cream.  She’s had cake before, but never so much in one sitting.  She liked the ice cream much better than the cake.  Delicious!

The guests; Grace, Jacob, Ethan,

(Ethan again), Seth, Caleb, Papa, and Davy.

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

I took this picture just this morning.  I wanted to show you what Sarah does now.  She gets Very Daring and climbs (slowly and carefully) up on the bricks of the fireplace.  And there she sits until rescued.  Then, back she goes.  It’s her Favorite Spot These Days.

She is not walking yet, and has no teeth.  She is the latest tooth cutter of all seven.  This may be too much information, but I’m really proud of myself because I’m still nursing her…..and the fact that she is toothless definitely has something to do with it. 

One of the many reasons why this last year has been the best in my life is because of this little sweetheart, who was born a year ago today.  She was named for her Great-Grandma, and for the joy in our hearts when we knew she was coming.

God gave her her first breath, and I saw her take it in, a miracle moment.  Babies cry when they breathe for the very first time, and mamas laugh with wonder.  She’s a year down the road of her life and what a special year it has been, full of her bright blue eyes, pretty pink dresses, and smiles all around.

My heart is so full of gratitude, for her.  Soon we will light the candle, sing a song, serve up the cake, and say a prayer of thanksgiving to the great Giver of this beautiful life.

Happy Birthday, Sarah Joy!

We could never have loved the earth
so well if we had had no childhood in it.  ~George Eliot

Children are wonderful.  They are all about exploring, moving, getting into mischief, having fun.  Since I am surrounded by (seven) children I like to get ideas from them for a more cheerful day, because sometimes as an adult, I do forget how to notice the little things…….

Being a child again means innocence and wonder.  Feeling carefree.  Being a child means letting the big world go by as we explore our own little worlds.

It means finding your favorite blanket, and enjoying the feel of it under your cheek so very much, that you put your finger in your mouth and fall asleep.

It means injury, but not letting your boo-boos get you down.

It means finding some water and playing in it.  Splashing your toes, getting a little wet, or throwing rocks to see them splash.

It means dirty feet.

Letting yourself go.

Finding a dead fish and studying it because it’s really cool.

When was the last time you looked at a dirt clump and thought about tasting it?

Sarah did that just the other day.

It makes your mouth feel gritty, doesn’t it?

Caleb just wandered by me.  “Mom?  Look.  I have a bug crawling on my shirt.”  So I looked, and it was pretty neat.

Being surrounded by children helps my soul.  I think it’s my children who inspire me to notice things that most adults would think was absurd.

For instance, pink seeds are falling off some of the trees these days.  They are quite pretty and I noticed the other day I was (get this!) wearing a shirt to match.

(((smiles)))

May your holiday weekend be filled with wonder, as you see and explore the world that is right next to you.  Like, the bugs on your shirt, watching your new flip flops on your feet as you walk along, the birds at the feeder, the bees in your garden.  Or maybe; a good book, bubbles in the bathtub filled to the brim, the middle of a pan of fresh baked brownies, ice cream after lunch, or a favorite cartoon while sipping sweet juice.

As for me, right now I am going to join my little ones as they pick out and eat all the m n ms out of a bag of trail mix. I’m just not gonna fight about it like they are. 

Happy weekend!

xoxo