{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. inspired by soulemama
she’s four today.
Blue Sweater
There is just something extra special about a handmade sweater, especially if it’s made by an old white haired lady. After receiving it, the young mama puts it on her little one with thoughts of the granny who made it, and it’s like wrapping up that child up in a hug. Yes, years ago, when my firstborn was a little boy, his Great-Great Grandma made him and his little brother both warm sweaters. These sweaters, everyone agreed, were special, because they zipped up the back. Through the years of putting the sweaters on the children, I would get a little thrill as I told them to *turn around* so I could zip them (up the back). The oldest wore his light blue sweater, then the second oldest wore it, then the third oldest, then the fourth oldest, then the fifth oldest, then the sixth oldest, and last but never ever least, it was Sarah Joy’s turn. (she’s the youngest)
This sweater is one of the only articles of clothing that was worn by all seven children.
(Unrelated: “Why are we Still Wearing Sweaters at the End of May?”)
Morning Milk Delivery
You know how some mornings you wake up just ready? Ready to pleasantly tackle any ol’ problem that comes your way? You’re full of optimism, you have a song in your heart, and can’t wait to wrap your arms around your loved ones? I don’t either, but some mornings are definitely better than others. The first thing I do when I wake up is stumble out of my bedroom, say good morning to the teenagers, and make my way over to the coffee pot. This morning, I was extra and beyond tired. When I made my way to the coffee pot, I discovered to my horror that Jacob had beaten me to the remainder of the half and half. He thought he had the right to finish it! I said, “If this ever happens again, and the carton is almost gone, DON’T USE IT UP, DON’T TOUCH IT, LEAVE IT FOR ME!” Jacob was offended, “Then I won’t get any!” he cried. “Yes, yes, that’s right.” I nodded. To make matters even more discouraging we were completely out of milk (and we had been, for days). We have the $ to buy milk, rest assured, it was just one of those things that I hadn’t taken care of yet. It would ruin my morning to drink coffee without cream or milk. I ran into my bedroom to whine to my husband, who laughed at me and said “You’ll have to go out this morning and buy some!” I whined some more about not wanting to go, I couldn’t go, I just couldn’t handle going shopping with Seth and Sarah and………..” He left for work still laughing! I thought and thought about what to do, and I had no gumption. Should I put the kids in the car and go through a drive through for coffee? But, that wouldn’t help with the milk situation. Should I buzz down to the grocery store? It was only 6:30! I went downstairs to wake up the boys for school and then went to my room to get dressed. I was downcast and my spirit was low within me. I could hear the boys in the kitchen. I went out to put cream cheese on their bagels and saw …… my husband was back home, and at the coffee maker. It took me a few seconds (did he forget something?) before I realized that he had indeed BOUGHT MILK and BROUGHT IT HOME to MEEEEEE!!!!!!!! I squealed and ran toward him. He took off running around the kitchen and I chased him around the island saying thank you! thank you so much! As I hugged him around the neck I could hear Caleb saying, “Does this mean I can have cereal now?” Rich pointed dramatically at Caleb like I was choking him and he couldn’t get away, “Your son wants some cereal.”
Sometimes milk is even better than a bouquet of flowers.
This is Such a Weird Coincidence
So, as I drank my wonderful coffee this morning, I got on the computer. I went to the blog and clicked into the archives, looking at and reading about what we were doing as a family last year. I could hear Seth and Sarah rummaging in my room but I was pretty much just telling myself that surely they were being good and not making a mess (uh-huh, yeah). Presently, Sarah came to me and got in the chair. She had a pretty little bejeweled fabric box in her hands. Interestingly enough, I myself had come across the box this past weekend, in another box in my room, so I knew that she had done some serious rummaging to find it. To me it was just another thing in the house, but she was agog over it and wanted to know if she could have it. “No,” I answered, “that’s mama’s box.” It was filled with embroidery floss and I told her to leave it alone. She remained compliantly by my side and glanced at the computer screen. I scrolled down, talking to her and showing her the pictures. “Mom, wait!” She pointed at a picture. “See? This IS my box!” “What?” I said, astounded. Because, there before my eyes was a picture of Rich last year, passing out gifts to the children from their Grandma Leslie, and there was Sarah, with bright eyes, holding on to the very same box she had found this morning in my room!
I immediately and humbly returned it to her, as I can’t argue with concrete evidence.
It was just too weird!! What are the chances of 1) her actually FINDING the box 2) at the exact time that I came across the picture I took when she first received it! 3) Honestly, I really didn’t remember where the thing had come from! I just thought it was my own pretty embroidery floss container.
She carried it around all morning.
a simply lovely life
Caleb, our eight year old, had his chorus concert last night so I made him take a shower. I slicked his hair back good and used gel to make it hold.
Doesn’t he look handsome?
Even more than his Dad’s good looks, it’s what I see coming from his eyes….his gentle, sweet soul…..
Rich was at Jacob’s track meet (J got fourth in Javelin) and Grace was at youth group. Ethan sat in the back of the auditorium (he had baseball practice so I brought him dinner on a paper plate) with Dave and I sat up toward the front, with Seth on one side and Sarah on the other.
During the performance, Sarah whispered into my ear, “Caleb was being a good singing.” I immediately sent that one to Rich. (kid quotes)
During the performance, Seth whispered into my ear, “I’m so so hungry!” Come to find out, I had completely missed giving Seth his dinner. (large family problems).
When we were leaving the school he asked, “Mom? Can we go someplace to eat?” I said, “Sure! Home!”, to which he replied indignantly, “That’s NOT A PLACE! IT’S A HOME!”
It began to rain and we saw a big rainbow.
Rich was in the kitchen loading the dishwasher when I stepped in the house. We hugged for a long time.
“When life is a weariness and escape impossible, it is wonderful to have a friend who can bring us peace with the touch of a hand.”
“Those were the good days. They were serene days and quite undemonstrative, like the best days in one’s life; the boy never forgot them. Nothing happens; one simply lives and breathes and wishes for nothing more, and nothing more.”
Independent People by Halldor Laxness
new dress
striking a pose but has a wedgie
“what are those brothers up to now?”
two toy cats, one in each hand, named Stacey and Jessica
I held her cats as she crossed the stream.
how I love this daughter of mine
with her big brother, they look so much alike
What a blessing it is to have older children to help arrange days of fun with loved friends. As parents, we desire and delight that the children *want to bring their friends* to our home. It lifts the soul to talk and laugh together with a house full of happy people, comfortable and relaxed in our relationships.
Today is the delicious feeling of a good healthy TIRED, the result of yesterday’s full day of fun, and memories. Oh how we need one another, our friends, our community, our families. I watched with contentment in my heart as children from multiple families ran in and out of doors, ate their treats, teased, laughed, got dirty, and had a wonderful time of freedom and beautiful wildness. All the children had dirty feet by the end of the day.
Kathy, Caroline, and I went for a little walk, talked, and discovered wildflowers; two simple activities which are like therapy for the woman’s heart. A good talk about all of life’s happenings, and the eyes to see and notice the beauty of the world around us.
“Come in the evening, or come in the morning:
Come when you’re look’d for, or come without warning.
Kisses and welcome you’ll find before you,
And the oftener you come here the more I’ll adore you!”
Thomas Osborne Davis
“The more I think about it,
the more I realize there is
nothing
more artistic than
to love others.”
Vincent Van Gogh
His birthday is tomorrow.
He is a steady support in my life.
We text almost daily. We talk often.
He’s the the type that will fight for you, support you, do anything for you if you have a need.
I am beyond grateful for my family, and this brother has been there every step of the way.
Dave, I hope you enjoy this little slideshow I put together for you.
“Hold my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” Psalms 17:5
I am feeling somewhat more human this afternoon since I decided to cancel the plans I had this morning in favor of staying home to catch up with things around the home-place. It has been days and days of activity and I needed a catch-up day for my soul. I am much more at peace now that I put new sugar water in the hummingbird feeder, took the time to hang the loads of laundry on the clothesline rather than throw them in the dryer, watered the houseplants, caught up on the dishes, washed the fronts of the ovens and dishwashers, cleaned the upstairs bathroom, gave my darlings Seth and Sarah baths, washed my hair, spent a lot of time outside, admired ducks and toad tadpoles, put dinner in the crock pot, and took a cat nap.
I discovered this morning that one of my hens was consumed yesterday by what Seth believes was a FOX. All that remains are some lovely gray feathers in the green green grass and a firm belief that life is easier when one does not become to attached to one’s hens.
I read some Dr. Laura Schlessinger this morning and came away with these quotes:
“If you determine to SEE value and feel gratitude for what you have, you will not be consumed by envy and disappointment.”
(praying for eyes that SEE the real and true!)
“LOVE is about awe, admiration, respect and appreciation.”
(thinking of my dear husband and these feelings I have for him.)
“If you’re looking for true happiness with another person, you first need to be reasonably mature, psychologically sound, and able to deal with truth and reality.”
(thankful that although we married young, much grace was given for our immature years, growing along together.)
Things are by no means excellent around here, but the reality of the matter is, when raising seven children you must lower your standards of cleanliness unless you can hire a full time housekeeper. All we need is love and understanding to cover over the messy parts.
Seth is currently standing on the counter throwing bacon dog treats to Parker, it makes him so happy to be nice to the dog.
Wind chimes are singing.
Sarah is napping.
My mom started these green pepper plants seeds from a pepper she ate and liked the taste of! My mom is awesome and an ever-source of inspiration to me.
My dad is awesome, too. He has a drum set in my old bedroom, right where my little sister Amanda’s bed used to be. He takes drum lessons every other Saturday! He practices every day! He loves it. How wonderful it is to do something for YOU, no matter who you are or how old you are.
His arms were flying so fast that I told him to freeze so I could take a picture.
In the living room, by the window, he has a practice drum and a music stand. He listens to the metronome through his ear phones and practices technique.
It’s a challenge. Mom says she loves to listen to him drum, she also loves this song:
“Like a drum my heart never stops beating for you.”
David asked me if he could make a chocolate cake and whenever it is possible, I say YES because I used to make the same recipe when I was 11 years old like him.
Wacky Cocoa Cake
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups water
3/4 cup oil
2 Tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla.
In a mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients like a mountain, with baking soda on the tippy top. Pour water and oil carefully around the bottom of the mountain. Pour vinegar on top of the baking soda to watch the bubbles! Add vanilla, beat until smooth. Pour batter into 9 by 13 pan, bake at 350, 35-40 minutes. Lick out the bowl.
His confidence grows and grows with each baking.
Well I hate to tell ya, our cat caught and ate an entire butterfly this weekend.
While Davy-do caught a fish.
(seth is in the other room and I called out to him, “are you getting into mischief?” “NO!” “What are you doing, then?” “Oh, I’m just sitting in a chair. holding a guitar pick. and thinking about God.” I laughed my way to him and gave him a hug. “Really, Seth?” “Oh, I don’t know what I’m doing.” Kiss kiss on the cheek, back to blogging.)
This young dragonfly landed on my shirt, Sarah was worried it would bite and asked me if she could kill it, and we put it gently on a bush. “No-No! Don’t ever kill the dragonflies, they eat mosquitoes!”
The mallard ducks came back. One of the boys came to get me and I snuck down with my camera. They were in the stream, and the stream was overflowing and fast. It was fun to watch them in the rushing water, I wonder if they enjoyed themselves as they dipped and bobbed along?
It was hard for Sarah to keep her eyes on the female duck; she blends right into the stream!
I think he was trying to keep his balance.
He was about to go down the “rapids”.
****
Her face, when I came home from a date with her Daddy:
“Sarah, Sarah, where are you? I have a surprise for you!”
“You do? I hardly believe it.”
“Well, what is it? What is it, Mom?”
“NEW SHOES!!!” (this was her wondrous face as I said the word “shoes”) :::
“For reals? You’re awesome-sauce, Mom!”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“May I just get to the end of my road and say, I have done this important thing in my life, and I have done it well.” ~Tessa Kiros
“When love and duty are one, then grace is in you and you will enjoy a happiness which passes all understanding.” ~The Painted Veil
“Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (If you are a believer than you are pleasing to him because YOU HAVE the FAITH that He has given you!!)
Grace just came home from school smiling and singing because she is learning sign language with Larissa at 3:00.
~a simply lovely store~
When I was back home visiting my family I was glad to have some extra time to visit one of my favorite little shops. The Masonville General Store has a lot to offer in the way of unique, earthy, fair trade, organic goods. The store also includes a small cafe. There are groceries, cosmetics, jewelry, cards, chocolate and candy, clothes, and gifts for any age.
I found a new artist to admire; Nikki McClure. The store had several of her works, including note cards, prints, and this darling little book. We have had a flock of chickens for about 5 years so anything “chicken” related always excites me.
More Nikki McClure; look her up on pinterest!
I gravitate toward the stationary things, but believe me there is a lot more to this place than notepads!
These “Foot Notes” have the actual footprint of common little wild creatures.
My little sign language lover found this ^^ and we bought it; hand signs for the entire alphabet.
This is the little cosmetics area; I bought some lip gloss and admired the dainty earrings~
Isn’t this the sweetest packaging for earrings?
BOOKS!
I bought a natural geode for Jacob (the family rock collector) to break open himself (he loved it), a bar of organic chocolate (shared with Mom and Grace), some note cards, and a few things for Joanna’s birthday coming up in June. Grace picked out a tiger eye stone and a little paper bag of Swedish Fish.
If you are in the area, I also highly recommend Pine Ridge Grocery and Brooks BBQ Chicken house .
(Grace and I ate at Brooks on Sunday, Mother’s Day and we had no wait b/c we sat at the counter. By doing so, we avoided an hour or more wait. The line was out the door and around the building. Also::: OUR FOOD WAS SERVED ON SCARLET FIESTA.)
His father wore a white tux many years ago to his own prom and ended up hating it. He had secret anxiety that Jacob would also feel uncomfortable not only wearing fancy clothes, but brilliantly white fancy clothes.
Yes, Jacob, like his father before him, decided to wear a white tux to his prom and……. he loved it, he told us several times he wished he could keep it.
The day of prom was warm and humid. The class was scheduled to meet at the gazebo at 4 but when it began to lightly rain, they met at the town hall instead.
At 3:30, Rich was running around trying to locate the florist that I had ordered the corsage from, and I was standing in the kitchen putting Jacob’s cuff links on his shirt. Sarah was sick on the couch with a fever and Grace stayed at home with her and the younger boys when we left.
Rich met us in the parking lot with the corsage safely in hand, after all that I never really got a good look at it (except in the pictures, later on).
I hadn’t met Jacob’s date yet. All I knew was that she was an artsy type like Jacob, and that to ask her to prom he drew a message on thick white paper, in calligraphy; “Will you GOGH to prom with me?”
Rich and I waited upstairs with other parents while Jacob waited downstairs at the door with his friends, looking for their dates to arrive. The battery in my camera was dead (!!) so I had it plugged in …. those fifteen minutes of waiting were priceless as it charged. Jacob and his date came upstairs and walked toward us smiling and happy. We were so proud, they looked beautiful together.
The mamas took pictures and forty five minutes later all the young people were on their way to prom and had a wonderful, fun night of food and dancing.
The next day, after getting just a few hours of sleep, Jacob went to his state invitational track meet, threw a personal record in javelin and surprised himself by coming in third place.
It was a great weekend to be Jacob. 🙂
A Friday ritual.
A single photo.
Capturing a moment I want to pause, savor, and remember.
Our pets show love and devotion and win our hearts without ever speaking a single word.
Brutus was a black and white puppy that my brother Dave adopted in 1999. Brutus lived with Dave a few years and then spent the rest of his life at my parent’s house and was a constant companion to Dad and Mom. Part of the fun for my children in going to Grandma and Grandpa’s house was visiting with Brutus. They all have grown up with this special dog. My son David’s team won their baseball game yesterday but David said the joy of victory was spoiled for him when he learned of Brutus’ death. He was truly a family pet and we are all sad.
The beautiful picture is of my Dad and Brutus from a few years ago.
He died at home yesterday, looking into Dave’s eyes. He was a good dog and had a good life.
It’s good to be home but everyone needs a night out now and then!
My aunt’s 40th birthday was last Friday (the 9th). I took my daughter Grace and we drove four hours “back home” (where I grew up) so we could meet Colleen and the others at the movies to watch “Mom’s Night Out”.
There were beautiful tulips in bloom outside the theatre so Mom and I had Grace take a picture of us. Mom is Colleen’s big sister, they are 17 years apart.
Colleen has four daughters, she brought Molly and Maddie to the movie, her two oldest girls.
Colleen had nieces, sisters, daughters, and friends join her for her birthday movie.
We sat in our big comfy seats, ate candy and popcorn, laughed and cried……the movie was awesome!
Take yourself and some friends out for a night you will remember. I would like to see it again, so invite me, ‘K? xo
PS. I love Trace Adkins.
Good to be Home 