baseball, chicks, Tarzan, garden, toads

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Shanda

Guess what I am listening to right now? You’ll never guess so I will tell you.

a hundred, give or take, TOADS.

You see, every spring, toads hop to our property to mate in our two ponds. Part of this mating ritual is the continuous singing and calling sounds that they make to gather each other from hither and yon area lands. The sound is a long sustained high note that falls a half step. Sounds kind of scary, sort of sci-fi. In fact, it makes me tense. I’m trying to enjoy it, though, because it is another sign that spring has in fact arrived.

I’m sitting on my bed with Billy cat grooming himself next to me. My windows are open and gusts of wind blow through, making the wind chimes rattle on the porch. I hung clothes outside on the line for the first time this year.

This weekend was nuts. This was our agenda for Saturday:

1. Take Ethan to SAT’s half an hour away.
2. Target for much needed supplies
3. Doctor’s appointment for Seth, where we learned he had double ear infections and bronchitis.
4. Little League Opening Day for David and Caleb
5. Baseball game for Ethan
6. Pick up prescription at Pharmacy
7. Grace to be at the H.S. at 4
8. Mom and Dad coming from out of town.
9. Go to H.S. for Grace’s play: Tarzan.

And this was just Saturday. Rich and I had to work separately, so he took Ethan to the SAT’s while I did numbers 2, 3, 4, and 7 by myself. No one went to E’s game. Rich was also preparing to preach on Sunday. I went to half of the opening day, and when Rich arrived I left in order to be home to greet Mom and Dad.

David in the parade. (the only player looking at me is my Dave).

And Caleb. It was fun, the weather was great, and thankfully Jacob was home to watch Sarah. I only had to keep track of Seth…who is a special challenge these days because he can hardly hear, what with the ear infections. They aren’t slowing him down any though.

Dad and Mom with my two youngest. I love it. Mom brought me a bunch of perennials from her garden for which I was extremely thankful. Dad played some whiffle ball with the kids outside.

Mom and I

Jacob with his Grandma, who was laughing over the height difference. 🙂

Mom and Dad at the High School.

Sweet Emily and Jacob.

The drama kids performed Tarzan this year. Grace was a gorilla, a spider, and a plant. She also performed sign language for one of the songs. Here is a video of it, but it is important to note that she is not doing the SINGING, only the SIGNING.

I wish it were taped better but this at least gives an idea of the beauty of the song and signing.

They did so well, it was wonderful, I was so proud of them all.

Mom hugging Grace after the show.

Dad and Mom with Grace the Gorilla.

Yesterday was the final performance of Tarzan and I attended it with my brother Isaac and his wife Cassandra.

Meanwhile, I have baby chicks. The post office called on Friday morning at 5:15 am and I went down to get them.

There are 30. And they are so very cute right now. We like to go in the garage and just sit in front of the cage and watch them.

Do you see in the very back of the cage, there is a dangling piece of cardboard paper…little chicks take turns trying to get it off. It’s so cute.

This is what I have:

FIVE each of Barred Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Brown Leghorn, and Easter Egger. Then, I have NINE Cuckoo Maran, and I am most excited about these because they lay a darker shade of brown than any I’ve owned previously.

Discovered in the woods as I picked up trash this morning.

wildflowers

As I was walking by the edge of the pond I scared a toad (not this one) into the water where a fish promptly grabbed it by the legs and went down deep with it. I gasped as I watched it happen… the poor toad was held by both his back legs, which were half inside the fish’s mouth. It’s little front arms were straight out to the sides with stiff fingers, it was the picture of terror as it was carried away. I watched for a while and it appeared once again with two fish in hot pursuit. I don’t know the ending to the story. I sat by the edge of the pond for a while and also saw a turtle. But the horrors continued when I put my hand in the grass to stand back up. I narrowly missed putting it down on two disemboweled toads! It’s truly a life and death world out there……..

Last but not least, Mom, as I promised I did plant all the plants on Sunday.

This is a little garden Rich made for me a few weeks ago. It was empty and I ordered the animals and flag from amazon. I bought 2 perennials but all the rest were from Mom.

The armadillo makes me laugh.

Happy Monday!

{this moment}

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Shanda

{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.

before pinterest

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Shanda

Dear Friends,

Yesterday Sarah fell in the stream.

It was such a glorious, dare I say, WARM morning that the 8 of us went outside; the dog, the four cats, the rabbit, Sarah, and I. Sarah played by the rabbit cage with her little toy animals, a bowl of water for a lake, and a piece of wood to be the land.

I set up a lawn chair with my bag of outside goodies; old magazines, scissors, glue, pens, books, camera, coffee, sunglasses, and a blanket in case of chilly winds. A feeling of contentment was all around us but soon Sarah wanted to make mud pies instead and I readily agreed.

In order to make mud pies she went away down the hill to her sandbox and trucked water back and forth from the pond, to the sand. Every once in a while I would look up from my book and watch her. She was so cute with her short blond hair flying behind her as she ran, so busy, so carefree. She ran up to me once or twice to show me how dirty she was getting.

Time went by. Eventually, I stopped reading my book and listened. I thought I heard something. I thought it was music and started to read again. The music got louder. I thought Sarah was in the garage, singing. The music got even louder and only then did I realize it was the distressed sort of “singing”, it was screaming and crying, actually.

If a child has the energy and will to cry really loud then I do not worry, but the children have a talent of getting me to run. I couldn’t see her at all so I was able to use my amazing imagination to convince myself she was broken and/or bleeding. I couldn’t get to the stream fast enough.

I knew she was fine as soon as I saw her, and laughed. She was standing in the rushing waters on a huge rock, wet from waist to toe. She was frozen in terror. I picked my way down the bank cursing the ticks to offer her my motherly hands. I got her safely up the bank and she stopped sobbing. I thought it would be funny to *not say a word* to see what her first remark would be after her adventure.

We walked hand in hand while she sniffled and finally gave up this remark, “sniffle sniffle, well, I AM glad I washed my feet. My feet and my hands. sniffle sniffle”

You can’t help but admire a thankful heart. By the time we got to the porch she was talking about how much she liked “jumping in the stream” and wanted to put on a lifejacket and sunscreen and go swimming. (the answer was no–too cold–go change your clothes)

I had to get a bug from my coffee.

“April is a chancy month here. Bitter knife-cold, oven-warm. Rainy. Sunny. But always the feeling of spring, the definite excitement of things growing. Such a wonderful month, promise of richness to come, restoring faith in the good bounty of Nature. A bouquet of violets to you, my dear.” ~ Gladys Taber to her friend Barbara, in Stillmeadow and Sugarbridge

The twentieth time reading an LM Montgomery book is just as good as the first. When I was a teenager I was very protective of my paperbacks and used to reinforce the corners and binding with tape. However, the best loved books ended up looking similar to this copy of Anne’s House of Dreams. This book is extra special because it’s the only one I accidentally dropped into a bowl of leftover chicken soup after an late night excessive indulgence of reading, and there it stayed until morning. Every time I pull it from the shelf I think of chicken soup. I still grieve.

Anne’s House of Dreams begins at Green Gables in the midst of wedding preparations. Anne and Gilbert are married in the garden and move away to Four Winds Harbor, near Glen St. Mary, a town by the shores. They live in a darling house, which Anne declares is their House of Dreams. LM Montogomery was so clever in creating unique and delightful characters and in no time at all the reader meets the captivating Captain Jim, Leslie Moore, and Cornelia Bryant. Every page is a delight.

I’ve been in a “feathering the nest” mood this week, hence Anne’s House of Dreams on my reading list, and have been working on completely finishing up my own personal scrapbook of home inspiration. I spend more time on Pinterest these days than looking at magazines, but way back many years ago BEFORE PINTEREST when I was a young thing with no internet, I absolutely delighted in pouring over magazines with a pair of scissors dreaming of what I could do in my home. I’ve been working on this scrapbook for over 10 years……going back to it the last few days was like visiting an old friend.

I love the country mix and match eclectic look, with browns and yellows. And books everywhere.

Everything about this kitchen is perfection. I love the railing behind the stovepipe for towels, the color of the walls, the little cupboards and shelves, red floor.

“The walls of this house must be sorter soaked with laughing and good times.” Anne’s House of Dreams pg. 38

flowers, chair with lovely pillows, quilt, kitchen sink, baskets, plants, painting, dishes

“Anne looked about her with bright, appreciative eyes as she followed Mrs. Doctor Dave upstairs. She liked the appearance of her new home very much. It seemed to have the atmosphere of Green Gables and the flavor of her old traditions.”

Another room that I love everything about….wicker side chair, all the pillows, the blue ship painting, no curtains on the windows, flowers……the colors…..

This is my Home and House board on Pinterest: click HERE. It’s much easier to pin photos online now and…… I have let my Country Living magazine subscription lapse. But I hope I never stop taking the time now and then to sit “the old fashioned way” with scissors, glue, a scrapbook, and a handful of dreams á la Anne Shirley Blythe.

inside/outside good to be home

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Shanda

flower for a thank you

asking for a belly rub

cookies one and two

impromptu cookie jar

so happy to find a screen cover @ Pier One Imports 13 dollars

lily’s dress

really great soup recipe

He shall sit up on the arm of the couch in a sunbeam.

He shall sleep & stretch under the coffee table….not doing a great job of hiding from us.

poetry comes to life: “her early leaf’s a flower, but only for an hour” Robert Frost

moss growing on a fallen tree

blue sandwiching green

I shall sit in the woods and watch the hens scratch with purpose.

Back inside: nature bits gathered from the woods.

W H I T E T U R K E Y C H I L I

1 T. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped (about 1/3 cup)
2 cloves of garlic, smashed and chopped up fine
1 lb ground turkey
salt and pepper to taste
1 can cannelloni beans, drained
1 can corn, drained
1 16 ounce jar salsa (your choice)
1 15 ounce can tomatoes with garlic and onion (or add extra seasonings if you only have plain)

In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until translucent, add turkey and brown, salting and peppering to taste. Add the rest of the ingredients and heat till bubbly and completely heated through.

I triple this for my family, so we can enjoy leftovers. I use mild salsa, the guys pass around the Franks Red Hot.

This recipe is from a cookbook that has literally changed my life, Saving Dinner, by Leanne Ely. It contains recipes for delicious main dishes for each week (6 days) of the year WITH the complete shopping list (!!!!). It is organized by season. All the recipes are as healthy as can be with typically a fish, beef, chicken, slow cooker recipe, meatless, casserole. Each recipe includes side dish recommendations and nutritional content. I don’t use the cookbook every week, but I’ve used it a lot over the last couple of years, (all spring this year so far except the 2 flu weeks). This week I am making Chicken Parmesan with steamed broccoli, Mexican Lasagna with a salad, Beef and Spinach Pitas with baby carrots, Chicken Broccoli Soup with a salad and rolls, Halibut Piccata with steamed broccoli, sweet potatoes, and baked potatoes, and lastly, Greens and Beans with a side of brown rice. Buy it! 🙂

greeny green dress

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Shanda

When you have Jesus in your life, in your heart, you cannot help being beautiful.

Never underestimate or take for granted the Holy Spirit….what is the Holy Spirit doing inside of us and around us, for surely the Spirit of God is always at work? Giving life, producing sweet fruit, guiding, helping us to pray, helping us be our real selves. Without saying a word the people around us can sense His love.

“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” St. Francis of Assisi

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4

So do not struggle in your soul, do not strive, do not burden yourself in change….rest your spirit in Christ, but yes, work your body and mind in living the life He gave you to live, your own personal little spot in the world is a light for God just because you are you, wrapped up in the righteousness of Jesus.

In this way, God gets the glory for everything.

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

It’s not the greeny green dress that Grace wears that makes her beautiful.

It’s not what you wear that makes you beautiful.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…….. Galatians 5:22 (in salvation by the mighty power of God, these fruits WILL appear, you can’t stop them, praise God!)

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:38 (a believer WILL refresh others! You can’t help yourself! And it will happen when you are not even aware of it. You will probably never know what a huge BLESSING you are!!)

And now for a word from the boys.

I love you.

{this moment}

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Shanda

{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. family of wrestlers

God’s earth day

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Shanda

“….He did good by giving you

rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,

satisfying your hearts

with food

and gladness.” Acts 14:17

Earth day. A day to thank God over and over for this amazing created world that He made from words….beginning with these….”and God said…let there be light, and there was light.” Genesis 1:3

LIGHT is my personal word to study and meditate on this year. Every year in January I wait for the Lord to impress upon my mind and soul a particular word (it’s so much easier that way). LIGHT came to mind and wouldn’t go away, so LIGHT it was. And let me assure you, the study has been marvelous so far. The Bible and Christian resources, books, hymns, are full of this wonderful word.

The Light of the World is Jesus

The whole world was lost
In the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday,
His glory shone in.
The Light of the world is Jesus!

No darkness have we
Who in Jesus abide;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
We walk in the light
When we follow our Guide!
The Light of the world is Jesus!

Ye dwellers in darkness
With sin blinded eyes,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Go, wash, at His bidding,
And light will arise.
The Light of the world is Jesus!

No need of the sunlight
In Heaven we’re told;
The Light of the world is Jesus!
The Lamb is the Light
In the city of gold,
The Light of the world is Jesus!

CHORUS:

Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!

It’s nice to sing “The light of the world is” and then point to your child and let them sing “JESUS!”

Before I remembered that it was in fact Earth day, Sarah and I meandered our way outdoors and found a pair of mallard ducks in the stream. They come every year at this time so we are old friends, however they are always shy of us. We sat by the edge of the stream in the sunshine and tried to be still and quiet. Sarah had a very hard time with the quiet part.

“I want to be a duck.”
“Everybody should be ducks, right mom?”
“I’m the girl duck.”
“Mom look at this stick! Can I pick it?”
“I don’t like dirt.”
“I hear a plane.”
“Where are my ponies??” (she was carrying around My Little Ponies)
“Mom, there’s a spider on you.”
“Let’s sit here and wait until they swim in the pipe. Can I go through the pipe sometime? Seth went through the pipe. I want to go through the pipe.”
“Can I throw this stick in the water?”

Sherlock our cat was watching them with us.

Look how funny they are with their bottoms up in the air at the same time. Notice the pipes, we waited and waited and in fact they looked as if they really would take the tunnel through to the other side of the road. But do you know what those silly ducks did? They got out of the stream and waddled across up on the road, on dry land. First the Male went, waiting and looking carefully for cars, and then walking softly and throwing himself in the stream on the other side. The Female slowly went up the bank and stood there nervously until her mate started quacking in impatience. Only then did she rouse herself and cross. “Ker plop” we heard her join her husband. Sarah and tiptoed over to see.

Man duck stood proudly on a rock, the lady duck was there, but hidden in the water. She seemed to enjoy the faster water and would go completely under. Soon our motions made them nervous and up they flew.

They flew all the way over to the pond, so we followed them again. Parker the dog was barking at them, too.

I got comfortable on the dock in the sunshine while Sarah climbed pine trees. I saw a pair of cardinals and some other little birds.

It was getting to be lunch time so Sarah and I went over to see if there were eggs before going in the house for lunch.

There were two lovely smooth eggs, I put one in each jacket pocket. Billy came over to say hello.

And we saw the first of the violets. For all the February babies like myself and friend Cynthia.

“He himself gives to all mankind life life and breath and everything. And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward Him and find Him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:26

recovering!

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Shanda

Good morning! I was awakened this morning by Jacob knocking at my door at 6:21 in the morning because I had promised to write him a check for seventy dollars for the prom. As soon as I stood up, the all too familiar chills and flu headache appeared. I wrote the check and tortured myself by stumbling back to bed even though I knew I couldn’t sleep anymore…I had to wake up Seth and Caleb.

So here it is several hours later. The smell of roasting chicken is in the air, as I am getting a head start on dinner later which will be Chicken Divan. Little Sarah is pattering about upstairs getting dressed.

I was sick an entire week and indeed, I am not yet quite well.

However, God is to be praised and glorified because He delights in caring for His precious children and I felt his love so much over the last week. Rich had a business trip from Tuesday to Thursday and I was so sick I had to send out a distress call over Facebook. My friends came through for me in such generous ways! By eight that morning four of the children were taken away……Caleb and Seth to my friend Diana’s house, and Grace and Sarah to my friend Heather’s. And each of these ladies had four children of their own at home, too, not to mention one year old baby boys. Heather took the girls to the Science center and gave me a candle, card, and jelly beans (which I gave to Jacob to take with him to his track meet). Diana had the boys spend the night and when she brought them back she also gave us dinner. Which reminds me, I really need her bread recipe.

My friend Barb came over with essential oils and took the boys to their orthodontist appointment. She bought me a box of tissues.

I carry the baggie of oils around with me, they are so very therapeutic! My sense of smell is returning!

Last Monday for whatever reason I very dumbly decided to go for a walk with the children. My only excuse is that I had taken three ibuprofen and felt that I was getting better (oh how I laugh now) …. anyway, the reason I went was because Grace came to me and said, “Mom, I thought I heard ducks but it was really frogs. They’re back.” Namely, Spring Fever.

The happy frogs were down by the rushing stream in a quieter tributary, laying eggs. I’m not sure what type of frog they were, they were NOT the bullfrogs. Once we were that far, we decided to keep on going and walk up the dam trail.

David was jumping on the trampoline being unsociable and Ethan was at practice, so it was Jacob, Emily, Grace, Caleb, Seth, and Sarah.

Jacob shot a tree with an air-soft gun (I know, this was bad of him) and we all ran over to taste the sap. He looked around for a Maple tree but could not find one.

It was a little cold for Sarah so Jacob and Emily left with her and Seth. They also had bare feet and the grass was hurting them. Grace, Caleb, and I continued to the old beaver pond in the woods to search out some more frog activity.

We saw a new bird species as we entered the woods by a tiny stream. We didn’t notice it at all until we were almost upon it, it was so well camouflaged. The pictures I took are truly pitiable. If you lean in very close to the computer screen you can see it…a small bird about the size of a bantam hen, with an upturned tail, black eyes, and long beak.

You may have to take my word for it. It flew away reluctantly in three brief flights; the third one being the last attempt we made to “get a little closer”. I looked it up later on and decided it was perhaps a Water Rail.

We sat down by the beaver pond to watch the frogs. Grace was right next to me. She had bare feet and said, “What in the world is under my toes.” It turned out to be a tiny tree frog. Then, she climbed a tree and just as she settled in the branches she saw a red spider. Nature loves Grace.

Dear Caleb. He proudly wears his waterproof boots.

Eastern Skunk Cabbage blooms. It really does smell like skunk…the kids call it stink weed.

bright green moss on a boulder in the woods.

Skunk cabbage growing through a leaf.

Walking with boys ALWAYS involves a few battles with sticks.

Heading home. Caleb was our silent third party while Grace and I chatted and laughed all the while…….

When I got home I decided to open the last bottle of blackberry/sage Kombucha. It opened like a shot and Kombucha pulp sprayed all over the ceiling. I had to walk around on the island with clorox wipes to clean it off. If the cork wasn’t held on to the bottle by metal hardware I would be typing this blog post with only one eye.

I never even drank it. I could not taste it and couldn’t be sure that it wasn’t spoiled. I’m sure it wasn’t, but after cleaning up all the pulp I lost my appetite for it. It sure got fizzy, right?

After Monday I didn’t pick up my camera again for four days (this is impressive for me). I did have my phone so I took a few pictures with it:

I was in the cupboard trying to find something to snack on when Grace saw the word flu. We had to laugh at the irony.

Jacob and David, I’m so proud of these sons of mine.

Caleb after a few days of neglecting to gather the eggs.

The glorious sky on Friday which prompted me to touch the camera again. The day was dark and gloomy until the very end when the sun came out briefly. I love the dark sky and the sunshine trees.

Snickers asleep on the porch.

Seth playing football by himself.

On Sunday I thought I saw the football down by the pond but then realized it was a Muskrat of all things. It sat at the edge for a while, I think it was eating, sometimes the force of it’s digging made its long tail come out of the water.

walking away

Lastly, I took this picture of Rich reading to our youngest two last night before bed.

*******

I have two book recommendations for you, if you are interested. The first is titled A Room with View, written in 1908 by Edward Morgan Forster. It’s a free download on the Kindle. After you read it you can watch the lovely movie adaptation.

The second book is one that I am currently reading. It was written by a Romanian Lutheran pastor who was imprisoned for 14 years of his life in different prisons because of his Christian belief. It’s titled In God’s Underground and was written by Richard Wurmbrand and is a one dollar book on Kindle. Here is a quote:

“The prison years did not seem too long for me, for I discovered, alone in my cell, that beyond belief and love there is a delight in God: a deep and extraordinary ecstasy of happiness that is like nothing in this world. And when I came out of jail I was like someone who comes down from a mountaintop where he has seen for miles around the peace and beauty of the countryside, and now returns to the plain.”

That’s not to say that he did not experience satanic temptations, torture, and deathly illness, because he did. But in the midst of it all he experienced over and over again God’s amazing sustenance. What a beautiful testimony this book is and I think EVERY Christian should read it to get yet another idea of how awesome God is, and what is available to us as believers.

Here is just one more quote and then I will close this post for the day.

“Words alone have never been able to say what man feels in the nearness of divinity. Sometimes I was so filled with joy that I felt I would burst if I did not give it expression. I remembered the words of Jesus, ‘Blessed are you when men come to hate you, when they exclude you from their company and reproach you and cast out your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!’ I told myself, ‘I’ve carried out only half this command. I’ve rejoiced, but that is not enough. Jesus clearly says that we must also leap.’

“When next the guard peered through the spy-hole, he saw me springing about my cell.”

Dance for Jesus today, my friends! Rejoice and leap for joy!

{this moment} home life

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Shanda

Rich and I were on the couch, I was resting my head against his shoulder and listening to the beautiful sound of my children singing together in the other room…..I never dreamed I would be sick this long (this is the 6th day). I am very sleepy and weak. It took much strength this morning just to take this video of Grace and Ethan singing….such is the pull of music.

greetings from the sick house

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Shanda

Saturday. Myriah’s last day with us. Oh how we enjoyed having this beautiful girl stay with us during her spring break. She fit right into the family…we had such fun. My favorite memory of her visit was her genuine interest in our family photos. We spent a cozy afternoon looking at hundreds of pictures together, she would take her phone out and take pictures of her favorites.

Mitch brought Ethan home from baseball practice and the kids played some basketball together on the driveway.

Sunday. I was unfortunately coming down with the flu. Remember how I wrote the other day about Grace being sick? We took her to the docs again on Saturday and she was tested for flu and it was positive. So that’s what we are dealing with here. I have spent most of the last two days in bed. Yesterday was my personal first day of sickness and it wasn’t as bad as today has been….the weather was absolutely gorgeous so I ventured outside now and then. I just had to see what the kids were up to. Emily and Jacob were in their own little world in the canoe, determined to break up the last of the ice on the little pond. I sat on the dock to watch and be amused.

Look who joined me after she woke up from her nap.

She adores Emily and said to me, “Let’s just sit here and watch Emily until she gets back out of the boat.” You know what else she did? She asked me if she could make a wish with a rock. I said no, only with a penny. So when Emily did get back out of the boat, she gave Sarah a penny to throw in the pond to make a wish. She wished for “a cat pet” of her own. She is still wondering today when it will come true.

Soon Ethan appeared. He got his first phone on Saturday…. a rite of passage for today’s teen.

Emily and Jacob moved to the other pond for more canoeing.

I was thrilled when Rich pointed out this butterfly to me. It was glorious to see, I love how it looks like it is truly edged in gold….and those beautiful blue spots along the wings. So masterfully designed in every way.

Seth played catch with anyone he could possible get to play with him. At one point we had five children all playing…I had to move back out of fear of getting hit by the ball.

This morning was rough. After a terrible night’s sleep I got up to get some tea and almost passed out. I broke out in a cold sweat, turned white, and was sick to my stomach. Rich was getting ready for work and I asked him if he could please stay home….the children are on spring break and I didn’t know how I could care for them properly. He graciously agreed and was able to take the boys to practice, go to the store, he bought the little boys a whiffle ball set which kept them busy outside….although I am sick it has been a wonderful day. The best part of being temporarily sick is the blessing of slowing down. Looking around the room. Listening to the conversations. Having people come in to visit me. Having the dog lay on the floor next to my bed, faithfully. The cat giving itself a bath at my feet. Reading a book.

The picture is something Grace drew for me today, I asked her to add a verse and now it’s by my side of the bed on my nightstand. Along with all my drinks and vaseline for my dry lips.

There is the nicest cat curled up at the end of the bed.

Jacob is making dinner tonight; maple salmon and broccoli. It smells so good. The windows in my bedroom are all open for nice cool air. The children have run wild today and it’s been so good for them to spend most of the day outside. Seth crashed about half an hour ago on the couch, he’s sound asleep at Ethan’s feet.

Ethan’s getting sick now, poor boy.