Aren’t they adorable? As soon as I saw them I had to get them for her. She LOVES big cats.
Praying for all my blog friends today. You are loved.
sarah wants to show you her new pants
9
short and simple
There is snow falling in blog-land!
How are you, my friends? I hope you are well, and if you’re anything like me, not feeling your best and trying to be patient while your medication starts to kick in then I hope and pray for you. Be kind to yourself. If you’re staying at home too much, get out of the house and go shopping. That’s what I did today and it helped tremendously.
Everything is going to be okay.
“Let us always meet each other with a smile, because a smile is the beginning of love.” Mother Theresa
I bought a decorative plate holder and added a vintage yellow fiesta chop plate to the top of my cookbook shelf, right underneath Aunt Colleen’s painting. I like this little spot in my house. I put the stool there yesterday and Sarah promptly sat down to sing to herself and color. While she’s at school, Gentleman Gray sits there and tells me what to do.
He wanted me to put the camera down and pet him.
But I wanted to show you a picture of my new moccasins. Grace and I each got a pair this weekend. They are so comfy and just like wearing slippers. She said with a little laughter, “I love these shoes, why didn’t we get these sooner?”
Dave just got home from school.
“This would make a good picture, Mom.”
My little Christmas tree.
Aunt Amanda and Sarah made this paper chain. I helped a little, too. Every day we tear a chain off until Christmas comes.
the boys
had their hair cut today.
in which we decorate a wild evergreen tree
Last week I went for a walk in the sunshine and noticed a small evergreen tree growing just outside the state forest by the side of the road, not far from our house. I envisioned it decorated for Christmas and what a fun feeling it would be to drive by and see a tree that doesn’t belong to anyone, with holiday ornaments on it. I followed through with this vision and bought some large unbreakable ornaments today. When I got home, I gathered up my four happy youngest children plus their two friends and off we went on a exciting short walk to The Tree. As you can see, we had a nice warm weather day today. Several children were barefoot and Seth was shirtless, too.
I stood on the road to take this picture. I hope that once the snow falls the green ornaments will stand out more. I wonder if anyone will notice this little tree when they drive past? Even if they don’t, it will be a secret pleasure for the children and me.
thank-full heart
“The way to find God’s treasure-house of blessing is to climb the ladder of His divine promises. Those promises are the key that opens the door to the riches of God’s grace and favor.”
“He knows the way I take” Job 23:10
Jacob, Emily, Sarah, and Mitch are sitting on one side of the couch with me, Grace, Rich, and Caleb are on the other side. Ethan is on the loveseat with his legs stretched out, with bare feet. Seth is wearing his Halloween costume, on the floor with a football. The late afternoon football game is on TV.
We were supposed to have my entire family here for the Thanksgiving meal but I had to cancel a few days ago. I haven’t been feeling well (depression) and with my brother Dave’s help, we decided to try for a quieter weekend….the love and understanding of my family did so much to humble and soften my anxious heart.
The thing about low points is that the spirit is more desperate and eager to SEE God, feel Him, know Him, want Him. And he pops up everywhere, like even in the movie Sister Act 2 and Grace’s chorus performance at school, it’s a thrill. He is everything, the only Rock-solid truth and the giver of so many good things.
Like family, doctors, medicine, warmth, a friend when you need one, animals, fresh air, etc……
“The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the give of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”
Grace and Sarah tore up the bread for stuffing.
Jacob and Ethan caught up on mine craft pursuits.
The weather was so nice today. Caleb and Seth played catch a lot.
I did a little reading in the sun with Parker the dog– (too) close.
A favorite place to lay an egg.
Loving kitty at my feet wanting some attention.
Ice from the pond.
Grace and I played yahtzee.
Parker the dog snuggling with Grace.
Rich went for a run at the school with his little ones so I could finish up the meal.
The turkey was perfectly roasted within a Reynolds oven bag.
for reals.
So I bought this plastic silverware at Costco and it turned out to be see through. We are easily amused.
Ethan finally gets to sink into his favorite—-mashed potatoes.
Rich read us a Bible passage and Seth left his place at the table to get up close.
Our thanksgiving pies are on the piano bench. 😉
Jacob went and got his Emily.
watching the football game with Gentleman Gray
Jacob and Emily did a little art.
Grace, Mitch, Ethan, and David
Sarah’s lego creation
I hope you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
God knows, and provides our every need.
{this moment}
{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
awesome recipe (macaroni and cheese with tomatoes)
(setting the table)
Last night’s dinner was exceptionally miraculous so I thought I better share. I use the word miraculous because even though the dish had tomatoes in it, all seven children still ate it with vigor and healthy appetites. They had nothing but good things to say.
Homemade macaroni and cheese is rather like a circus performance. You have the macaroni that needs to be boiled in salted water for exactly 6 minutes, then you need to find your colander and drain it, all the while stirring the butter, flour, and milk base for the cheese sauce so it doesn’t burn to the bottom of the pan. Cheese must be found in the fridge and grated, six cups. Canned diced tomatoes from the pantry, a can opener, whisk, rubber spatula, wooden spoons, measuring cups and so on…. it’s non stop action until the oven door slams shut, your arms go up in victory, and the baking begins.
IT WAS UTTERLY WORTH IT.
(This is Shanda’s blog so do I have to mention all seven kids running back and forth throughout the kitchen during the juggling act? Every time Dave came near me to tell me something I said, “stir the sauce!”, he was honestly offended by it.)
YUM YUM YUM
I made peas and broccoli as side dishes and the kids gobbled up their veggies, too!
My first of three helpings.
It’s truly satisfying to see your loved ones diving into a good plate of food that you made yourself.
Jacob and Ethan talked nonstop, it was so good to see and hear them together since Jacob has been so busy with college and work and girlfriend.
Caleb and Seth both gave me a thumbs up!
(I don’t have photos of David or Grace. Dave was grumpy because he had his braces tightened yesterday and his teeth were sore, and Grace was grumpy I think because she was exhausted and had a lot of homework to get done. However, this was the perfect comfort meal for both of them, I must say.)
Scarlet fiesta vase with berries from outdoors, and paprika vegetable bowl (now empty!)
Ethan’s eating off a rose plate and drinking ice water from an ivory tumbler.
Sarah ate like a horsey, with multiple servings of macaroni and cheese and her veggies.
recipe here!
this was a good idea
Last night four of our seven children were away. Two of them went to youth group and two of them went to see the movie “The Martian”. Rich and I found ourselves at home with the three youngest ones, and as we worked on putting them to bed I started looking forward to some peace and quiet with my husband watching TV. This thought naturally led to a craving for ice cream but alas, we didn’t have any. As we passed each other on the stairs I may or may not have batted my eyes at him. “Do you want to go downtown and get us some ice cream? You don’t have to, but we don’t have any in the freezer and wouldn’t it be nice…..?”
Although he did make eye contact and listen to my request, he didn’t reply, only sneezed violently. But as I tucked Sarah into bed and gave her a pillowcase with a soft tag, a drink of water, and a hug and kiss, I heard the front door open and shut and he was gone.
I didn’t have the chance to tell him exactly what kind of ice cream I was craving but I wasn’t worried, I assumed he would get a nice half gallon of whatever–cookie dough, maybe.
I tucked myself up into the corner of the couch with a blanket and the TV remote and in no time at all, in he walked with a weather report, “It’s COLD outside!” and his offerings. Bending over the back of the couch, he reached into his shopping bag and handed me……a bunch of bananas…..which I immediately rejected.
But wait, there was more. He next offered……..a container of Ben and Jerry’s, my favorite!
And then, another.
And another.
And another.
And another.
He exceeded my wildest dreams.
the always important little things……
Good morning and happy Monday, friends!
I made this wreath! About a month ago I went for a walk in the woods and came across a convenient grape vine to pull down. It was thin and pliable, not like the ones that grow so thick that the only part I can reach is as big around as a small tree with the rest of the vine grown far up into the tree tops. I pulled the little grapevine down and wound it up into a circle the best I could. And there it hang, back at home, outside on a nail for a month until I got ” a round tuit”, which was Saturday afternoon. I went outside with scissors and cut some evergreens (some still had tiny pinecones on them) and wild berries. I already had the dry grass (the tops look and feel as soft as down) in the house –I picked it from the side of the beaver pond. I used forest green yarn to tie everything together and a brown ribbon on the bottom, tied in a bow. I’m way too proud of it.
I also made a jello cake from my new favorite cookbook. It was amazing. In fact……
As soon as it was done, we ate it all. (after I took the picture, Ethan ate the last piece).
It wasn’t hard to eat it all in one go because we had a house FULL. In this picture there are 10 teenagers, 2 big dogs, and a small gray cat. There are two kids not in the picture, plus Rich and I.
Allie
Zak, Parker-the-dog, and Ethan
David made a Harry Potter wand all by himself out of a small tree he cut down in the woods. Then he carved it up and shellacked it. Sarah made turkeys out of her handprints. The Cook’s County cookbook is the one I got the jello cake from. Today I’m making a raspberry chiffon pie!
But mainly this post is about the love of my life-Richard Charles-who was gone all last week but is now home again and the part of my heart that needs *my husband around all the time* is at peace. From Monday-Wednesday he was in TX for work and then Thurs-through Saturday afternoon he was finishing up his coaching medical class that he was able to take so he can be the head coach for wrestling at our local HS this year. He was the assistant last year. He is going to LOVE coaching….he can’t wait to get started.
Well, I made him a nice “honey-do” list yesterday afternoon when he started hinting at going out for a run (which takes hours)…and he got right to work. So I thought I would show you some of the other little things we have done around the house lately……..
He put fresh lightbulbs in the ceiling fan on our cathedral ceiling.
While the ladder was out, Seth and Sarah decided to climb it.
(by the way, Seth trimmed his own bangs…he’s such a helpful child!)
Turns out Sarah is afraid of heights. I say this because she was only about two feet off the ground and beginning to shake like a leaf.
He changed out this outlet. It used to be a plain old outlet but it was loose in the wall and nothing would stay plugged into it, the cords would just fall out. It’s an important outlet because it’s on the wall at the end of the couch and we like to plug in the electric blanket and phones there. Consequently, while he was at it, he bought an outlet that has two slots for phone chargers, too. Very convenient. It’s amazing how such a small change can lift one’s spirits.
I bought this plastic bag holder a few months ago. It came with sticky strips on the top and bottom but the thing would NOT stay on the wall using just the strips. So it had to be put away until yesterday when I got Rich to hang it back up, using screws. (in the pantry)
This is our toilet paper dispenser. Rich actually hung these up a few weeks ago. We bought one for each the downstairs and upstairs bathrooms because the bathrooms are used so much that we were going through rolls and rolls of toilet paper and the rolls were all over the place. I love this dispenser because it’s clean, it’s locked, and it holds a large roll of paper. Half the kids thought it looked too “public bathroom” but I just don’t care…..I can’t tell you how many toilet paper holders have fallen off the walls, it’s nice to know this is here to stay. Michael says they were hung too low but he’s over 6 feet tall and we were thinking of our small kids at the time……
I love my new garbage can. We needed one for our dining room and this one is beautiful. It also has an open top (flip lids are an extra step) to “make baskets” into. Sarah can look right inside the top and see her papers from school that I throw away. Then she can get them right back out again.
Well, that’s about it as far as small home improvements. Rich also rehung the towel rack in our bathroom but I didn’t take a picture of that……(small mercies, right?)
These two little boys were stuck to their dad like glue yesterday watching everything he did and talking to him about football. It was precious to see.
“The small things of life were often so much bigger than the great things . . . the trivial pleasures like cooking, one’s home, little poems especially sad ones, solitary walks, funny things seen and overheard.” Barbara Pym
on a saturday morning
showering, dressing, putting on make up
giving my darling little girl a bath
frying bacon for breakfast
cleaning, vacuuming, doing dishes
reading books
spending time with special teenagers
Dear husband gone most of the week, standing in his place caring for house and family
tying on an apron, baking a cake
making a big, healthy tossed salad
13 well-behaved, good children home with me today
hair up in a ponytail, sneakers on
sunshine
watching them walk off together for a hike in the woods
chatting with two loving friends at the door
getting a son ready for a sleep over
singing hymns of praise to Jesus with my teenage daughter
hugs, kisses, smiles, laughter, teasing, listening
…….but all with a sense of deep sadness, and thinking to myself……
“there is a place in hell for self-proclaimed ‘religious’ people who destroy, kill, fill with fear, and/or harm precious innocent people who belong to the very God they say they serve”
“of all the bad men, religious bad men are the worse” CS Lewis
Good to be Home 