little things

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Shanda

The four older children are away at camp!

Suddenly, life has slowed way down.

Naturally, I started playing with my house, not unlike playing with a dollhouse only in real life proportions.

Ethan made the decorative shelf in 8th grade. I put the things on top of it and they’ve been there for a very long time. Because no one and I mean no one even thinks about redecorating a shelf when they’re super busy.

But I did it! On Saturday evening when for some strange reason I felt physically lethargic and sad with the shock of losing four very active and time-consuming teens for a week, I had to do something, anything! I redecorated the shelf.

1. pinecone from Florida vacation 2. small old books 3. beaded frame with a picture of my brother and me from childhood 4. small peacock fiesta canister with nothing in it (potential). 5. a reading girl 6. a light for her to read by 7. small black photo book filled with my phone pictures 8. wooden mushroom.

Moving on to another surface. The children decorated this one.

I wanted to take down the painting that Jacob did, but then I realized that the reason I hated it was because it had a thin piece of wood going down the exact center of the canvas, making it impossible to hang straight. It’s always half a centimeter crooked! I took a clear thumb tack and pushed it in the wall for the lower right corner to rest on. It is now perfectly straight.

I should have taken a “before” picture of the inside of the armoire. Just imagine someone taking a big armful of papers, throwing them in, and shutting the doors. After I was done with it on Saturday it was completely organized.

1. a large basket full of photo albums 2. a tiny bear (whimsy) 3. a box full of extra pens and pencils 4. These red books are special to me. My Grandmother had the whole set and I loved reading them when I was a little girl. I still have one of the copies from her house. The other three I have picked up from second hand stores. The books are full of short stories and excerpted chapters of children’s books. 5. Last but not least, an old jar full of pinecones from the woods by our house.

I love my ultra-busy life. But this week, while I have the chance, I’m going to try to be more mindful. Mindfulness is next to impossible for busy mothers.

via pinterest.

“I suppose I am a sparrow. A stay-at-home bird.” Gladys Taber

seth wants to know

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Shanda

Do you remember your first wriggly tooth?

How did it fall out?

another summer day

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Shanda

Currently, Caleb and Seth are playing with the dog. Sarah is pretending to be “an angel wolf named Angel but she doesn’t have any wings.” Grace is getting ready for the dentist.

I woke up this morning at 6:30 and couldn’t sleep anymore. I quietly opened the door to our bedroom and saw that there were no teenage boys sleeping on the couch. How nice it was to be the first one up. (Rich had already left for work). I got out the thick yellow “Life is Good” mug and made a cup of coffee, ignoring the very messy kitchen.

I went outside with my cup. One of the things I love to do is walk around looking at my gardens.

This summer has been such a joy. I think I’ve mentioned this before, but with Sarah now five, my body has been free from the demands of pregnancy and nursing for 3 1/2 years now. I feel better than I have in almost 20 years! I loved being a mom of preschoolers so much and God’s grace has always been abundantly enough for that stage of life, but I’m still honestly thrilled to be moving out of those years….enjoying the seven children I have….and having a little extra time these days to enjoy other things, as well.

Nothing important, really, just quiet simple living. Gardening, reading to myself and the kids, spending time with friends and family, learning more and more about Jesus and His life-freeing ways, stumbling along daily in need of His grace….free from guilt and condemnation. Yes, it’s been a wonderful summer.

My friend Alyssa is so good about joining her children in their activities and fun. I thought of her when I went swimming in the pond yesterday. Why don’t I jump in more often? It’s not that I don’t like ponds….it’s just that I guess as MOM I feel like I’m better off on the sidelines as Watcher of the Children. Of course, I’m not really the athletic type, either. I’m just not. I don’t like running or spending time deliberately exercising. The only sport I ever really loved was gymnastics. So I do continue to turn those cartwheels. But I really do admire my running friends! (and husband)

The water was like bathwater on top. I swam along the top of the water, noticing the little water bugs skimming along on their magic legs, smelling that pond smell that will always remind me of my childhood.

*A Little Walk*

It was an Evening of Toads….during our walk we saw about 10 of them, all in various sizes. The spring away quickly, making us laugh, but we always catch them and say hello.

all those bare feet

********

Pictures I Took This Morning While Drinking my Coffee

I love this spot in my flower beds, especially the morning glories which are now in bloom just underneath the sunflowers.

I’ve never grown a watermelon before. It gets bigger every day, we (the whole family) love to look at it. Pat it like a baby. It’s going to be strange to eat it later on this summer.

ANOTHER!

basil

Seth woke up. And then I had a friend to walk with.

Together, we thought about how the older kids were going to camp soon, and the funny ways of our dear departed Billy-Cat, and then we saw our cat Sam. We thought about church and I told him why I love to go. (because I love to be around people who love Jesus just like I do) He doesn’t like church because it’s too long. We watered some of my plants together, made up silly songs, and he let me join him on the swing. We saw a spider and watched it work on it’s web. I thought of knitting needles and zip lining but the spider is an expert.

Baby boy was holding a cat. He said he’s not a baby. But I said he was my baby. “I’m not your baby anymore.” Suddenly I felt like writing a sad country song. I’m sure it would be a big hit.

******

“Don’t wish me happiness. I don’t expect to be happy all the time……it’s gotten beyond that somehow. Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor. I will need them all.” Anne Morrow Lindbergh

books, a carrot, friends, spiders, a flower, bugs, and gifts

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Shanda

Yesterday the dollar movie was Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days so I made the kids go in without me. I walked the mall and went to Target. While I was in Target I browsed the books and wrote the titles of some that looked interesting. After the movie was over we went to Taco Bell and then to the library and I checked out all the books I had written down.

Uncle Dave, do you like Dave’s shirt? He loves the solar system and deep space just like you. And he harvested his first carrot from the garden. He could hardly wait for me to take the picture before he ate it.

The best thing happened. My dear forever friend Christie came for an overnight visit on her way to Canada. I love her so much, we’ve been friends for 15 years! We hadn’t seen each other in six years but we have kept in constant contact.

This is her daughter with my Sarah.

The kids were looking for fishing bait this morning and found this mama spider. Do you see all the little babies she is carrying on her back? Emily brought me to the rock they found her under. Emily was scared, she said the spider knows what she looks like and will come to find her. But I was thankful she was brave enough to show me. There was a bright orange slug next to it. Visiting? Or about to become dinner?

This photo was taken at 10 o’clock this morning right before Christie left with her three children. Oh it was just so good to catch up with them.

As soon as we waved them out of sight I went back to see the spider again. (morbid curiosity) and guess what???? The slug was completely gone and there was another spider there. I’m assuming it is the baby-daddy. Caleb said to me, “If it bites me you better take me straight to the doctor’s.” We came away unscathed.

There was another happy couple on a Queen Anne’s lace flower.

Little gifts from my friend. Maple Syrup from Michigan, tea, and irresistible chocolate biscuits from Australia (she wrote an amazing blog about her experience living there). She also gave me the dangly earrings in picture #3.

blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Shanda

For the beauty of the earth
for the glory of the skies
for the love that from our birth
over and around us lies
Lord of all to Thee we raise
this our song of grateful praise.

Seth caught two tiny fish, and by tiny I mean approximately one centimeter and as thin as a wire. One for him and one for his sister. Sarah’s face says “oh, it’s so cute!!!” –painfully cute. She loves babies.

Good morning my friends. Today is Monday. It’s sunny outside and I just got home from taking my oldest daughter to her babysitting job.

My babies are six and five years old and are currently watching “The Boxcar Children” on netflix. The rabbit is in the living room in her cage and Parker the dog is staring at the children as they eat breakfast…bread and cheese, blueberries and milk. A breakfast inspired by their favorite story.

We finished reading the book on Saturday.

I took three pages of notes at Bible study on Thursday, given by a dear older woman of faith who recently lost her beloved grown daughter. Her heart spoke and filled my own heart and soul so that the tears flowed…..I read over her words in my journal and find so much truth and so much Jesus in them.

I thank God for her, please pray for His grace to continue to fill her as she grieves.

With her reminder, I kept an open heart and said “yes” to my husband more than usual this weekend.

“I need fruit. Do you want to go to Costco with me?” yes
“Shan. Let’s sneak down to the diner for breakfast together.” yes

Those were two times I would have typically said “no”. Costco is too far for fruit. I’m too tired and just woke up and am not hungry enough for breakfast just yet.

Putting aside the excuses and selfishness meant more fun and closeness with this man of mine.

My 17 year old’s morning hair.

We went to the diner two times this weekend. These are the times I will always remember. When the children are grown and gone and we go to the diner again we will think of them always. The laughter, teasing, spills, eyes too big for the tummies.

The chicks have turned into chickens.

We spent several hours outside on the lawn Saturday afternoon. With blankets, books, and towels we rested in the glorious sun…Rich and I…and whatever children came along.

Samantha-Cat caught a frog. I held it in my hand & it’s little body pressed anxiously into my palm. I checked it all over and there were no mortal wounds — so back into the pond it went.

The pretty-pretty beans are close to producing. I’ve finally found little white flowers in the vines. We’ve been eating peas and watching the watermelon grow bigger every day. Tomatoes are beginning to ripen and sunflowers growing tall.

Today’s Feats

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Shanda

Hello!

As many of you know on Fridays my mother posts one picture called “this moment”. However, today we’re doing something a little different.

My name is Grace and many of you have watched me grow up over the years. I am now 15 and this is my first blog post. in the future I hope to maybe start a blog of my own. First let’s see how I do with this one.

When I woke up this morning the first thing I realized was that the house was quiet. Very quiet. I walked around to find my mother, Seth, and Sarah outside reading and I was promptly informed that today was to be a day of NO ELECTRONICS. “So if you need to text any of your friends to let them know you’re not available do it now.” (David just now sat down next to me “what are you doing?” “I’m writing a blog” “YOU??” he says)

Soon after Emily came over we all packed books and games and everything we deemed necessary and set off for a neighboring park.

As we arrived mom told all of us to sit down in front of a tree saying that she, “wants to take a selfie.” This was met by a chorus of, “it’s not called a selfie!” “It’s called a groupie,” Jacob explained.

Yes, David is wearing a hat. There is a section in the park for skateboarding and Dave brought his scooter so he could do tricks. Mom told him that he must wear a helmet for such dangerous activity. Apparently we have no helmets and so mom settled for this winter hat. He says it made him feel weird but at least he didn’t get a concussion.

Right after taking this “groupie” I left the group with Sarah as a little tag along. We walked together until I started climbing trees and then she lost interest.

I love exploring.

I walked around the old abandoned high school that is now used for drills by the fire department. There were trees and stone walls and fences to climb and a river to follow. I found a waterfall just past the road and settled down to sketch it with my charcoals.

I was content.

Luke 12:27 – Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

When I finished I noticed that over an hour had passed since the group had last seen me and I made the decision to head back in case they were concerned.

They were not.

“What do you want to do when you grow up and when were you saved?” Emily asked me when I walked up. “I’m pursuing a career in deaf education and I was four.” “Oh, I asked all the others as well. We were talking about it.” Everyone was lying on a blanket except mom and Sarah and I asked where they were.

No one knew. Oh joy.

When they did appear (I think they went to look at the shops… I still don’t know). Mom started helping Seth and Sarah with the cartwheels.

When mom was my age she had the natural ability for gymnastics although she didn’t have professional training. She could do everything but backflips which she would only do when someone was spotting her. One time her gym teacher told her that she landed lighter than anyone he had ever seen. Her feet never made a sound.

Emily and I felt put to shame as we watched her on the other side of the field demonstrate a perfect roundoff but we soon were distracted by other things.

Ethan was on top of the dugout.

Immediately everyone else wanted to be up there too. Mom gave consent to everyone but Sarah. Sarah didn’t mind. She didn’t want to be up on that high high thing anyway. Then began the difficulty of how to get everyone up.

Jacob, for he is rather tall, handed Seth up to Ethan and then gave Emily a leg up. He jumped up himself and from there gave a hand to David and me. Problem solved.

“Okay, Jacob,” Mom called from below, “Now one without the pose.”

David began worrying about how he was going to get DOWN now that he was UP. Mom told us to relax and stay up there. She pretended to get ready to drive away. We were not very amused. One by one they all dropped down until it was just me reading and Seth as happy as he could be.

Down below we observed mom photographing David’s new talent.

Isn’t he something?

We tricked you! You see, those two feet actually belong to Caleb who is lying on D’s back. Mom took a similar photo years ago with Jacob and Ethan.

After Seth and I got down (with much help again from big brother Jay) we began on the next feat (pun not intended but now I’m amused) of the day. I’m not sure who’s idea this was…

After asking for permission, David, Caleb, and I set off to look around the shops. We went into the thrift store and Rustology, a store dedicated to old and rusty objects. David loves this store. He bought a coke bottle from 1923 that he wanted to add to his collection.

The store I wanted to go to was on the other side of the road and we spotted Jacob and Emily sitting together on a bench. “Be safe!” Jacob called across the street to us as we crossed traffic. What a fine young chap.

I bought an antique pair of twin candle sticks and the lady gave us all a seashell. Mom picked us up at the coffee shop.

We are now sitting in the living room. Dad is home on the couch and listening to a sermon. David is looking at cars and J and E are playing a video game. Mom is in her room. She has told me that she needs to read what I wrote before I can publish it.

So long, friends! Thanks for reading.

short but sweet

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Shanda

This is why Colleen and I are at home at each other’s houses. Because we have a touch of the crazy in us, and so do our husbands and children. Crazy good times happen.

Colleen is my Aunt and we grew up together as next door neighbors on a quiet farm road in New York. We went to the same school and the same church. Like all good family, she is a lifelong gift from God. She and her husband have four girls who are about the same ages as my children and what a fun time it is when we can get together.

The kids really want to be with us most of the time, but once in a while we can convince them to run off to swim or jump on the trampoline or what-have-you.

Rich and I live four hours from our families and honestly, I was feeling quite lonesome and homesick for “my people” the other day. I am very content being here in Connecticut but there comes a time when a woman just needs to be with her mom….or, an aunt. To sit and visit, talk about all the memories, relax, forget the housework, and be together again.

Colleen’s visit this week came at just the right time. Uncle Roger was on a business trip so she came to see us.

She and the girls arrived yesterday and we sat and talked on the porch, made dinner together, sang hymns, and watched a little TV. Today we talked on the porch, went downtown to the coffee shop and thrift store, had lunch, visited some more, and then she and the girls left for home again. It was a short but very sweet visit.

(We missed her daughter, Madelynn. She was busy doing her summer missionary work with children. My Jacob isn’t in the pictures, either, because he was sick.)

Molly’s shirt says, “Bacon: just another reason why I know Jesus loves me.”

They brought their little chihuahua dog, Reese, with them. Seth, Sarah, and David could not leave the dog alone, they fell right in love with him. He was such a good and patient dog.

(day one)

(day two)

Dave was a good boy, talking to Aunt Colleen all about turtles and the fact that on September 27 he has a birthday and wants his parents to get him a tortoise. “Once you see a tortoise eating a strawberry, you’ll want one, too” he assured us. He came to the porch with a female garter snake. He has Aunt Colleen convinced he will be working in a zoo one day.

Dave was trying hard to get Reese to love him so he put peanut butter on the bottom of a glass.

My aunt brought me some homemade blueberry jam made from Candy L’s berries, and some bread n butter pickles, too.

She gave me this pretty painting that she did of “my peaceful place”. I told her that Rich would be finding me in front of it very often.

The flowers looked so pretty in the early morning sun as I left to take Grace to her babysitting job this morning at 7 a.m. On the way home I picked up 2 dozen donuts to go with breakfast. Okay, I admit they WERE breakfast.

The children played in the warm earthy pond together just like Colleen and I used to swim in our old pond, too.

We took Molly downtown with us and bought iced teas and an entire bag of books. (2 dollars for the books!)

forever friends

Meg showed us Reese’s tricks. He sat, he shook his paw, he rolled, he practiced playing dead. He did a great job.

Marissa, Dave, and Meghan

Today I am extra thankful for all my crazy family!

They are my best friends.

“Should I live a long life, bless me with my true friend to take the journey with me.”

wild flowers

Posted on July 20, 2015 by Shanda

The Queen Anne’s lace is exceptionally tall this year.

{this moment}

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Shanda

{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

pictures of mostly kitchen doings

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Shanda

My husband arrived back from his business trip safe and sound. All is well.

As soon as the sunflower was done blooming a smart goldfinch began eating the seeds from it. I took a picture of it through the kitchen window this morning, through glass and screen.

Listening to this song over and over and dancing as I cook. Cute, happy song from Jacob’s H.S. graduation.

Made a blueberry/blackberry coffee cake, Grandma’s recipe:

1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 cups blueberries

Preheat oven to 350. In a mixing bowl shortening and sugar together, add egg and beat until fluffy. Mix in the dry ingredients alternating with the milk. Spread in a greased and floured 11 by 7 inch pan or two 9 inch pans. Sprinkle the top with 2 cups of blueberries.

Crumb topping:

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter

Mix together with a pastry blender or a fork until crumbly and sprinkle on top of the berries. Bake for 30-45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.