"JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE"

Posted on November 1, 2006 by Shanda

The little cares that fretted me
I lost them yesterday
Among the fields, above the sea,
Among the winds at play,
Among the lowing of the herds,
The rustling of the trees,
Among the singing of the birds,
The humming of the bees.

The foolish fears of what might happen,
I cast them all away,
Among the clover-scented grass,
Among the new-mown hay,
Among the husking of the corn,
Where drowsy poppies nod,
Where ill thoughts die and good are born–
Out in the fields with God.
Anonymous

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;

I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;

Guide me gently, safely o’er
To thy Kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Snapshots

Posted on October 30, 2006 by Shanda

Caleb loves books now and begs us to read to him. his favorite is “spot”.

“”“Fire and Ice”

I turned around in my seat and I saw this big BOY, his arms and legs seemed longer, and his hands seemed bigger and I thought, “did he grow overnight or what”. . . .

“Signs of relaxation”, Ponytail Holder: I let my hair out (it’s ALWAYS In a ponytail), Empty Glass: I drank some juice (I tend to NOT DRINK during the day, I’m trying to do better with my basic survival skills), and readING MATERIALS: some magazines, which are all perched on top of a TOYBOX.

This is what happened to me when I got all sentimental and decided to let Caleb stay up past his bedtime so I could snuggle him. He ended up wriggling away and getting his own snack. . .can you see his trail???

Feed my Child’s Soul

Posted on October 30, 2006 by Shanda

Just as we wouldn’t dream of making our children starve their bodies, we also wouldn’t dream of starving their souls. I read this quote last night in my book and thought I would share:

“I have seen the happy effects of dealing plainly and thoroughly with children in the concerns of their souls”

Jonathan Edwards

Feed my Child's Soul

Posted on October 30, 2006 by Shanda

Just as we wouldn’t dream of making our children starve their bodies, we also wouldn’t dream of starving their souls. I read this quote last night in my book and thought I would share:

“I have seen the happy effects of dealing plainly and thoroughly with children in the concerns of their souls”

Jonathan Edwards

Fiesta Finds

Posted on October 28, 2006 by Shanda

I collect dishes, but not just any dishes! FIESTA! I found a lady who lives less that 15 minutes away from me who wanted to sell some. I went to her house to pick it up today. I bought: 1 “radioactive red” plate, a set of light green salt and pepper shakers, a cobalt mixing bowl, a MEDIUM GREEN (the rarest color) teacup and a cobalt large teapot. All are vintage.

Posted on October 27, 2006 by Shanda

She said she usually cried at least once a day
not because she was sad
but because the world was so beautiful
and life was so short.
Brian Andreas

Today, the sun is shining and I have my children around me. As I go around the house I smile at things: when I hear Grace’s laugh–which is a mixture of a squeal and giggles; when I look out the window and see the boys zooming around the driveway on their bikes; when Caleb brings me his favorite book and makes his “please read” noise. I smiled yesterday when my husband came home early and surprised me.

I read this in a book yesterday:

Mr. Boeff never traveled around the world
or even drove a car. He was happy to let
Florence do the driving. He had a good job,
a house with big yard and a sleeping porch.
Sometimes he and Mrs.Boeff would sleep
out there, he says, “look at the moon
and talk ourselves to sleep.” He loved his
wife and his baby boy. He wasn’t lonely.
He wasn’t searching.
Harry Boeff had everything he wanted by the time he was thirty.”

“He had everything he wanted by the time he was thirty.” — That’s how I feel about my life. I told that to Rich and he didn’t like it. He thought I was saying that I was sort of “done”. . .”ready to die”. That’s not what I mean, though. I do look forward to whatever comes, whatever God has planned for me in the future.

But for now, I am simply happy. Content. Fulfilled. I am a firm believer in “cherishing the moment”.

I read this quote last night in something Joanna sent me:

When she was in her eighties,
she told her husband that the
happiest time in her life was spent sitting
at the round kitchen table in their small house
with all her children underfoot. M.Stoddard

I’m in that stage of life right now, when “the children are underfoot.” I’m determined to relish it. When I’m 80 I want to relish that age, too.

Cherish the moment. Be here now. Live today.

I heard a man who was over 100 years old say, “you don’t realize how fast life goes by until you’re up in years”.

Everyone says that “time flies”. And it does.

Today I want to be aware of my baby’s soft breath on my cheek. I want to smell Grace’s hair as I brush it. I want to record Jacob’s laugh and the feel of Ethan’s hug. I took pictures of my kitchen helper today-my David-to help me remember that once upon a time I had a little boy watching and helping his mommy mix cookies.

“MMMMM, this dough is GOOD”, David said, as he helped himself to more.

Jacob makes me laugh

Posted on October 26, 2006 by Shanda

Today during school I was quizzing Jake on his history reading. I asked him what the name of the first American college was and he said, “Hardvaark”. When I starting laughing he quickly corrected himself and said, “Hard-Vard”.

(the answer is Harvard)

Oh, it felt good to laugh.

“Do we have to talk about this?”-Jacob, age 9 years, 10 months

Posted on October 25, 2006 by Shanda

Rich is away tonight and will be back tomorrow. I am a big worry-wart and so I am all nervous about going to church tonight w/out him. I need to go because it’s Elissa’s last night and we’re having a pie fellowship after church. I also need to practice a trio. I just don’t like the stress of traveling and being at church with all the kids, it’s hard for me to keep track of them and to make sure they all behave. I’m going to have to ask for help? We’ll see. In the meantime, I have a few pictures to share:

Caleb caught his reflection during bathtime:

Grace Lillian:

David and his car:

The kids had a great time letting their matchbox cars go from the top of the driveway.

Ready. . . .set. . . . .

GO!

I love how Ethan is “off the ground excited”.

(happy days)

Update: everything WAS FINE at church (O ME of little faith). God loves to take care of us, doesn’t he

Really Late Night for Shan

Posted on October 24, 2006 by Shanda

“And touching *sisterly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another” I Thess.4:9a *word, “sisterly” changed (from brotherly) for emphasis

Elissa

Last night we took our dear friend Elissa out to dinner. She’s moving away on Thursday. I will miss her so much, it won’t be the same without her. Tonight was a little sad, knowing that next time we go out Elissa won’t be with us, but it was also a blessing because we made sweet memories by laughing, talking, sharing,and laughing some more. There were 8 of us who went out but we did miss Cathi S., who couldn’t make it because she just had her dear little baby girl. And of course Lea Ann, who moved away over 6 months ago.

I hope that Elissa knows how much we love her and that we will be praying for her as she continues to follow the Lord’s leading in her life.

“A friend will not say never
’cause the welcome will not end”

Elissa, Kathy, Jen, Me, Karen, Amanda w/Ethan
Tammy, Bridgette, Grace

We can be silly together.

Three of us.

“Just as long as it’s someplace that has chicken”–This is what Elissa said when we asked her where she wanted to go for dinner. We ended up going to The Publick House in Sturbridge, MA.

“It’s not just accidental that our paths have crossed this way. I believe divine appointment has brought us here today. ‘Cause we all need each other and we all need a hand.
Together we can make it, together we will stand. . . . . .

I will be my sister’s keeper . . . . .

If you fall, I’ll lift you up.
While we walk this road together
He will keep us in His love.

Life gets complicated
and faith is lost in fear.
Sisters stick together
through the laughter and the tears.
And when you need a shoulder I will be your friend
To carry you, to pray for you,
Until our journey’s end.

I will be my sister’s keeper
If you fall, I’ll lift you up
While we walk this road together

He will keep us in His love.”

(Song from coolmomofeight’s site)

Sisters in Christ

Mostly David

Posted on October 23, 2006 by Shanda

(I love
David’s eyes
in this picture)

My family loves Saturdays. We can relax and spend time together. We went out for a drive to the grocery store this Saturday to buy clams. Rich and I like to steam them after the kids go to bed. We stand in the kitchen and talk and laugh together. It’s becoming a tradition.

DSCN31510001

I love sitting in the passenger seat of the truck, right next to my wonderful husband, and I usually talk to him the entire time! He looks at me and smiles, like you see in the picture. Rich and I also love to hum, whistle, or sing along to a cd, and talk to the kids, who are crammed together in the backseat.
We laugh a lot.

I took the next pictures yesterday before we went to church. David can fit into Ethan’s old 5T suit and he looked so cute! Aren’t 4 year olds great? They are so funny, curious, quick and lively, and can still get away with talking funny and using poor manners (like burping out loud during a sermon at church, right Davey??)

David has such a zest for life! What a face! I can’t get over that
sparkle in his eyes!

Today he got to go to his friend Leo’s house. As he was running out the door I said, “Bye David, I love you!” and he turned to me and said, “I LOVE YOU TOO, MOM!!!”
Then away he went.