“Dear Father, help me to face the work for this day

with a singing heart–

the dishes to wash, the beds to make,

the clothes to launder, and the picking up

which sometimes seems as futile as

sweeping a forest floor in time of falling leaves.

I thank Thee:  That I am needed,

that my job in these busy years

is to create a home that will be a

place of warmth and comfort and love.

Help me to see each task, not as a dull chore,

but as a strand woven into a pattern of living.

Grant, I pray, that it may be a pattern to remember,

a pattern of order, and beauty, and through

it always may there gleam the golden thread

of Christ’s spirit.  Amen” 

 -Author Unknown

Good morning!  My house is quiet, my coffee is hot, the dog has been walked, my husband has already left for work.  The pond, which I can see through my window, is steaming in the cool fall air.  The early morning sun is just starting to light up the tops of the trees.  I am content as I sit here at my desk and looking forward to another fulfilling day here at home.

Yesterday morning was filled with teaching Jacob and Ethan their school, taking care of David and Caleb, and baking.  Grace was sick and snuggled down in the covers on my bed.  It was a busy morning, but after lunch the childen all went to bed to read and sleep.  I was able to go out and sit in a rocking chair on the porch and let the sun make me toasty warm.  I looked at a Country Living magazine and even painted my nails!

The time has arrived here at my place, in which the 9 by 13 pan of brownies is gone in half a day.  I made some yesterday, along with a batch of frosted pumpkin cookies.

For dinner we had beef and noodles.  As I was preparing the last of the recipe, I was distracted by the beauty of the view out my front door.  The boys were busy jumping on the trampoline and I made my way down to the pond to take a couple of pictures.

On the way back up to the house, I decided that it was a beautiful evening for a picnic.

The boys were so energetic from all the jumping and proceeded to make the meal a lively one.

At one point, Ethan noticed he had a sticker on the bottom of his foot. “Oh!  I didn’t know I was for sale!” he said, “I’m for sale!  I’m for sale!”  Jacob thought he was so funny!

Speaking of Jacob, he is almost 11 years old and does not appreciate getting his picture taken!

After dinner, he wanted to go back to the trampoline, but I said, “Not until you let me take a good picture of you!”

Rich came home later and the little boys were playing on the driveway. 

As I walked over to greet my husband, he was busy drawing around one small boy with a piece of chalk.  David was stretched right out on the driveway, as happy as can be.  I just thought it was so precious–after a long day at work I am sure Rich was looking forward to getting out of his shirt and tie and eating a good dinner.  Instead, he took the time to fulfill his little boy’s request.

David did the decorating all by himself.

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

I think most of you know by now how much I enjoy a good quote.  Here are some on gratitude:

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  ~Thornton Wilder

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, – a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
~George Herbert

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exalts, and with my song I shall thank Him.  Psalm 28:7

What are you thankful for today?

I am creating this blog so that I can comment on my friend’s blogs.

I am a stay-at-home mom of five. My husband and I have been married for 12 years. I love my life, I love doing what I believe is God’s will for me–to be a wife and mother.

In my journal, I have copied down these “Hints for Homemakers”:

*Be creative
*Enjoy each task
*Organize
*Motivate yourself
1. Put plans on paper
2. Remind myself of benefits
*Avoid procrastination
*Set deadlines
*Promise myself rewards
*Give myself the right to make a mistake. Keep laughing!
*Be flexible
*Bring faith into the kitchen and into every room.

I have a blog on xanga: http://www.xanga.com/purpleamethyst76

September 16, 1995

The day we were married.

Let your love be like the misty rains,
coming softly, but flooding the river.
  ~Malagasy Proverb

Celebrating 12 years of a wonderful life with my beloved. . . . .

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer.  ~Author Unknown

Hello friends, it’s a deliciously rainy morning here.  Ethan and Caleb are sick, so we plan on staying home together as a family, as snug as 7 little bugs can be.  It’s the sort of day that you don’t even want to turn on the lights–the sort of day to keep things dim, light some candles and cuddle in blankets (crocheted by Grandma).  I have my scrapbook things spread out on the living room floor, getting ready to work on my “Summer of 2007” album. 

Yesterday, my daughter Grace and I were able to go have some quality time together-just the two of us.  It was a bright sunny day, perfect for an adventure.  I didn’t take my camera along because I wanted to focus just on her. 

Since becoming a parent, I’ve been afraid of spoiling my children and giving them too much.  But, after a day of spending money on Grace–pampering her–I realized that yes, there is a time for everything.  In my opinion, it was time and money well spent, as our relationship was strengthened, and we were able to talk to each other and look at each other without interruptions.  I  remembered again that I have a sweet and precious little daughter who needs time with me.

She is almost 8 years old and has 4 brothers.  It was time to get out with just Mommy and get away from “boy air” for a while.

It was a milestone day, she had her ears pierced.  (She was so sweet.  When it came to picking out her first earrings, she knew exactly what she wanted out of about 25 choices, her birthstone.)

We both had our hair cut.

We ordered treats at Panera together. (I had a pumpkin muffin and a latte.  She had a strawberry smoothie and a frosted brownie)

We went to Bath and Body works and she picked out an American Girl nail polish set and sniffed all the bubble bath until she decided on a favorite–Lemon Ice Tea.

We held hands everywhere we went.

She talked a lot.

I think Grace is beautiful.  It was lovely to have an afternoon of looking at my daughter, and thanking God for her.

She’s my one and only.

I really hope, and do believe, that she will remember this day her whole life. 

my little love

 Grace 

And thou shalt in thy daughter see,
This picture, once, resembled thee.
~Ambrose Philips

Does anyone remember the post I did about my almost-five-year-old Davy-do last week?  Remember how I said that he’s been freezing things lately?

Well, just when I thought I could finally share my pictures from Boston, David had to go and do something blog-worthy.  Something funny and unsual, at least to me.

I came inside yesterday afternoon just in time to see David come up from the freezer door (it’s a “freezer on the bottom” that pulls out like a big drawer) with a spoon of “something”.  I had just served them the last of the ice cream the other night so I asked,

“What are you eating?”

“Cereal!” He said, mumbling and gesturing down in the freezer like, “look for yourself”.  Proudly.

I peeked in.  And there, staring back up at me, was David’s leftover breakfast.  Cocoa Krispies.  He froze ’em.

He froze ’em.  And ate ’em. 
(after I took the pictures I made him put his knife in the sink and get a spoon!)

How?  Why?  What next?

To be con’t. . . . . . . . .

We released butterflies this afternoon. 

After reading the latest update on Amy’s blog (who is battling leukemia) I uploaded the pictures of the butterflies and words from Psalm 90 ran through my head.

We fly away. . . we fly away. . .we fly away.

Fly. 

We fly.

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”

“For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.”

“. . we spend our years as a tale that is told. . .”

“The days of our years are threescore and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

“Return, O Lord, how long?”

“O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”

“Make us glad”

“Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us”

*at 4:00pm today–just an hour after I posted this– Amy did indeed “fly away” home to her Maker.  Please take time to visit her blog.  Her story will touch your heart.  I did not know her personally, I just visited her blog for the past few months.  Her testimony certainly encouraged me to cherish every moment.

Rich and I got to go away this weekend (alone).  (!!!)  ()

Yesterday we went to Boston and the top 2 pictures are from a cool bookstore that we found.  There were lots of books–floor to ceiling wooden bookcases loaded with them.  Stacked on the floor.  The place smelled wonderful–dusty, papery, old, 100% natural.  I am a book lover and I enjoyed prowling around.  They had taped-up quotes all over the place. 

Went back to the hotel after a day–long day–of walking around Boston.  Crashed in bed with the book I was reading at the time (done now).  The link is to follow.  It was really good–I’m wondering if our friend alaskahannah has read it!?