beautiful God, beautiful home

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Shanda

“….there are three dimensions of the Christian life that the Scriptures are concerned about–the good, the true, and the beautiful. Yet we tend to cut off the third from the other two…rarely do we find a focus on the beautiful…..”

“….the Scriptures speak about the beauty of God. His Word tells us that all things beautiful find their source and foundation in the character of God Himself. So, God is ultimately the norm of the good, the norm of the true, and the norm of the beautiful.”

“Ever since the people of God have existed in community, art has been a significant concern. When we go to the Old Testament, for example, we see there that the first people filled with the Holy Ghost were the artisans and craftsman that God selected to prepare the objects for the tabernacle.”

“…….God saw art and what it communicates as being important enough to include in His tabernacle—to include the beautiful where people would meet to worship Him. Beauty is important to God because He is beautiful, and so what is beautiful must be of importance to His people as well. Christian artists should be encouraged to create beautiful art, and Christian people should be encouraged to appreciate the beautiful alongside the true and the good, for the Lord Himself is beautiful.”

“Our Beautiful God”, article in Tabletalk magazine by R.C. Sproul

****

Although I am not an artist, I have an hungry eye for beauty. I suppose this is the reason I like carrying my camera around in capturing some of the loveliness in the world around me.

As I wrote in the last post, I have lost a ring that is precious to me. It haven’t been found yet, but in looking for it I have done a lot of cleaning in rather neglected corners of my home.

I have been forced to take the time to thoughtfully clean and dust and rearrange the things we have in our home, and as a result, it has been a surprising blessing in losing my ring that my eyes have been opened to the beauty of home-life again.

There is so much beauty in ordinary life. A well made bed, children playing games, toys lying about, animals curled up in surprising locations, food lovingly prepared, candles lit, pretty dishes, quiet music playing, blankets ready to be snuggled in, piles of books, the children’s school papers and art, clean floors, the smell of fresh laundry, and the glow of sunlight through a clean window.

Indeed, just give me one clean and washed counter and I’ll be happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“We must have beauty around us to make us good.” M.E.W. Sherwood

I made myself lunch yesterday. It was broccoli and red pepper stir fried with a minced clove of garlic and sliced mushrooms. After the vegetables were done, I removed them from the skillet and scrambled two eggs. Topped with shredded parmesan and pepper.

Yesterday’s supper. It was well received by all except Caleb and Seth.

For dessert, a frozen fruit salad. 3 cups fresh whipped cream and a 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (folded together gently). Add 14 oz drained crushed pineapple, 2 cups sliced strawberries, and 3 sliced bananas. Freeze until firm. Very much like homemade ice cream, with no churning.

Art by David; painted on silk at school. It looks so pretty propped up in the window.

A game of Memory right before the bus came this morning. Caleb won.

Beautiful snow sprinkles and a beautiful smile.

This morning’s sun, coming up over the trees wan and cloud covered.

Jacob’s art ~ calligraphy

Tree painting by Jacob, wooden shelf made by Ethan, candlelight, old books, and football trophies.

More paintings by Jacob.

I pinned the crocheted doily on the basket with straight pins…I think it looks so pretty.

Valentine roses.

Tips from Alexandra Stoddard on creating a Beautiful Home:

* Every day can be a memorable celebration. Use your favorite dishes, napkins, and accessories to brighten up daily mealtimes.

*Always have something growing in your rooms, even if it is a modest basket arrangement of flowers from the garden.

*Clean windows are like a cloudless day.

*If you’re short on closet space, use a beautiful pine armoire, which also adds height and a focal point to the room.

* Because we spend more than a third of our lives in bed, collect a wardrobe for your bed: Invest in a variety of different sets of sheets, pillow shams, and blanket covers and an assortment of colorful patterned baby pillows and neck rolls. (I bought linen sheets this winter and Rich said they were the best thing I’ve ever purchased besides his wedding ring.)

*Seek freshness and lightness

*Make every room a living room.

(from the book, Creating a Beautiful Home)

“It never occurred to me until I had this house to take a vacation and stay home.” Bill Robinson

“The homeliest tasks get beautiful if loving hands do them.” Louisa May Alcott

How about you? Do you have any special tips or ideas in beautifying the surroundings you live in? (from your own experience, a book, or someone you admire?)

breathing space

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Shanda

07 The Gift

07 Good to Me

(with a thankful heart)

What can we do but keep on breathing in and out, modest and willing, and in our places? Mary Oliver

home for her (quote)

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Shanda

(old cookbooks from my friend Kara)

“She dreamed up her home, filled it with the abandoned goods of other people’s lives, rejected the perfect housekeeping standards of the woman who lived in it fifty-four years before her, opted for imagination over monotony, overruled perfection for authenticity, and out of necessity accepted her role as ‘housekeeper’, but in spirit is a ‘homemaker’. Home for her is inspired by experience, tastes, and the strong desire to keep memories of everything she does not want to lose. She believes fervently in intimacy and comfort and asserts with her philosophical Russian soul, “that beautiful homes bring up beautiful people, in every sense of the word.”

pg 117, A Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of a Misspent Life, by Mary Randolph Carter

(wall in my bedroom with little bits and pieces of my heart)

(freshly picked lilacs on a doily made by Great Grandma)

(beautifully messy bookshelf)

(small things)

(nature art purchased from the antique show, and thrift store)

(latest pages from scrapbook/journal)

weekend pics picked by the picker of pics

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Shanda

I take too many pictures. But if you only knew how many pictures I want to take……… Photography has become a sort of love language for me. I love my life, my children, my surroundings, nature, and home. I can’t help but keep the camera ready. And on days when I DON’T love my life, if I just start “shooting” my mood lifts and I realize, oh yes, contentment.

I stumbled out of bed Saturday morning to the sight of three of my boys all cozy in the livingroom watching a cartoon. Caleb with the big cable knit down-filled pillow and the flannel patchwork quilt (I made). Seth on the floor with his pillow, blankets, and cat. Sarah, later on, with her book.

My heart was joyful; my husband was finally coming home from a long seven days in Jamaica. He, Jacob, and Ethan were there together with a Mission’s Team from church, a whole group of people went to do preaching, children’s VBS, ladies Bible studies, and anything else they could do. Last week was good for us here at home, but always in my heart was an empty spot, a worried part that just wanted my husband and teen boys home again.

So, Saturday was a day of waiting for them to pull in the driveway and step through the door. Little did I know they wouldn’t be back until 11pm, but in the morning I had believed it would be 7pm and even those hours seemed to stretch out ahead of me like a mountain to climb. What to do? I decided to take the children to the diner (five minutes away) for breakfast, which is where Grace and I became interested in tongue twisters. There were several on the paper placemats and I used my phone to look up more, we were roaring with laughter as I read them to her.

Two of our favorites were:

Luke Luck likes lakes. Luke’s duck likes lakes. Luke Luck licks lakes. Luck’s duck licks lakes. Duck takes licks in lakes Luke Luck likes. Luke Luck takes licks in lakes duck likes. (from Dr. Seuss’ Fox in Socks)

and:

One-one was a race horse.
Two-two was one too.
One-one won one race.
Two-two won one too.

English Tongue Twisters (try this site) it’s great fun.

Sarah’s hair was bothering me. On a regular basis, it looked like a wild mess. She has very thin hair, and had never had it cut, so the ends were uneven. I got it into my head to take her to get it cut. After our diner breakfast, I dropped Grace off at the end of our road with Seth and Caleb and told them to walk home (only a quarter mile or so) and drove away, smiling at big sister holding hands and walking with her brothers. I took David and Sarah on with me to the hair salon to get trims.

((I wish I had pictures of her in the chair on my lap)) She was so adorable and got about 3 inches trimmed off.

David was next in the chair and then, even though it was only about 40 degrees with a wind chill of about 30, they begged to go to the playground at the school next door and I said yes.

David (11) and Sarah (3)

By the time we left I was cold to the bone (but, if you noticed, David had run around enough to actually get hot and want to take his shoes off! he’s crazy)

I was cold so it was doubly wonderful to go home, put the younger ones down for naps, and make a fire. With Rich away, I was able to do it myself for the first time this week. This is our first home with a real fire place (we have a wood pellet insert in our other fire place) and we.love.it. The smell of wood and smoke, the sound of the fire crackling and popping, the heat…it’s bliss.

Old, old fire. When I stare into it, I can imagine I am in any other place or time in History. There is something so very basic and unifying about a fire, it touches something deep down good to the soul. I’m Anne, warming her hands. I’m Lucy in Narnia, falling asleep. I’m Laura on the prairie eating pancakes with molasses. I’m my great-great-great grandmother, busily working.

(give thanks banner and marble run; both from pottery barn)

This is where I sat for the rest of the weekend (every chance I could get, that is)……..right in front of the fire. Reading, of course.

When I got up to make dinner, Seth took my spot. I made spaghetti for the children and used half the pasta to do up my own yummy dish:

Pasta with Garlicky Greens and Beans

1 T. olive oil
6 cloves of garlic, pressed
1 small red pepper, diced
1 bunch kale, washed and chopped, with stems removed
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 T. balsamic vinegar
1 pound ziti pasta
2 cans cannellini beans, drained
1/2 cup Romano cheese, grated
Freshly ground black pepper

In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add garlic and red bell pepper and sauté for about 2 minutes. Don’t let the garlic brown. Add greens and cook another minute. Now add broth and vinegar and cover pan and cook until greens are wilted, about 5 minutes. In the meantime, get your water started for the pasta and cook according to package directions, drain, and set aside.

After greens have cooked, add the drained beans and incorporate. Now add the pasta and toss gently to mix. Serve with grated Romano and some freshly ground black pepper on top.

FROM: Saving Dinner, by Leanne Ely

my kitchen

anthropologie mushroom salt and pepper shakers hiding amongst my houseplants

“Let me just forget and just giggle with them, and leave apples lying around the house with just a couple of bites taken out, and fly with the winds of now…….” Tessa Kiros

(there are also legos tucked away in her shoes)

chocolate cookie baking

Sunday afternoon sunshine

old pumpkin moonshine sinking into the garden bed

relaxing with our coffees on Sunday afternoon ((welcoming him home))

Thankful for:

chocolate cheerios
blossoms on the geranium
coloring books and crayons in a fiestaware bowl
the memory game
tracing paper
cooking books
play dough and cookie cutters
sunshine
banana bread and walnuts for breakfast
coffee in my new mug from Jamaica
a whole day ahead of me to love and enjoy with the people I love most of all

and, verses:

Worry weighs a person down, an encouraging word cheers a person up. Proverbs 12:25

Your home is secure; your nest is set in the rocks. Numbers 24:21

Live as children of light (for the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Ephesians 5:8

For thou, O God, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. Psalms 86:5

my rusty cast iron skillet

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Shanda

Before:

I mentioned last week that I had been organizing my kitchen cupboards.

Imagine my surprise when I rediscovered one of my cast iron skillets, only to find it covered over in a layer of dismal rust.

Unlike the cheap nonstick cookware of today, well taken care of cast iron will last forever, so, I set about repairing my orange iron skillet.

It already looked much much better after a hard scrubbing with soap, hot water, and a stainless steel scrubbing pad; all the rust came off.

Then, I dried the skillet, poured in some vegetable oil and rubbed it in thoroughly.

After rubbing it with oil, I baked it in the oven with it’s little sister, which I also re-coated with oil. I used a 350 degree oven and left them alone until I noticed that the oil had baked in nicely (an hour or so)…..

After:

Just look at the difference. The larger pan was the one previously covered in rust. It came out of the oven black and reseasoned perfectly.

I used the pan for my breakfast omelet this weekend and it cooked wonderfully. Cast iron heats evenly and retains heat nicely, too.

A well-seasoned iron skillet is practically nonstick, and never needs to be scrubbed. I used a wet dishcloth to wipe out any leftover egg bits and then dried it with a paper towel. I always try to leave or add clean grease, to keep a nice coating for next time.

It will never rust unless you are dumb and throw it in the back of a cupboard wet and then leave it for a year.

You don’t have to use as much butter and oil when using cast iron.

Also, another interesting fact is, if you cook with cast iron pans you will end up with iron fortified food. Which is a very good thing, indeed.

See: 3 Health Reasons to Cook with Cast Iron

For a lot more information about cast iron, see: Lodge Cast Iron Cookware

at mom and dad’s

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Shanda

Mom and Dad have a wonderful front porch, full of plants. There are bird and hummingbird feeders, a suet double wrapped in netting so the birds don’t eat it too fast, and plenty of rocking chairs for us to sit, rock, read, or talk.

B E A U T I F U L

Life is Good

This tomato plant doesn’t behave (wilts quickly) so it was moved to the porch to be under constant surveillance.

The front porch is a great place to eat sweets. Mom and Dad, David and I, and small Sarah all shared a box of cake/pie on Saturday night. YUM.

Ferns that mom and dad transplanted from the woods grow right next to the porch steps.

OUTSIDE:

We dug up some crisp red potatoes for Mom’s “Up From the Garden” soup (which we enjoyed for Sunday lunch)

Mom wove grape vine around fence posts to make a trellis for her ornamental gourds. See the little yellow one growing?

Some of Dad’s wood stack. (art)

There are things to see amongst the flower beds, like these bottles filled with sand from their vacations.

The garden at twilight.

Sarah was beating the bottom of an upended pot.

Flower bed by the garage…full of black eyed Susan’s and an old farming machine.

INSIDE:

A cozy corner..chairs, lamp, magazine basket, old shutters with a picture of each grandchild.

Sarah and I shared this bed for three nights.

There were plenty of toys for Sarah to discover and play with.

I love it here, at Mom and Dad’s, where I also used to live until I was married. heart

“I lived in solitude in the country and noticed how the monotony of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.” Albert Einstein

inside and outside

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Shanda

I N S I D E

It takes hands to build a house,
but only hearts can build a home. ~Author Unknown

Good morning! It’s been a happily busy one here at our place. I got right up at 5:30 and read my Bible portion for today (from the one year Bible) got five children off to school, two baths have been given, animals are taken care of, two loads of laundry done, two loads of dishes in the dishwasher done, and the sink dishes were also scrubbed. I also made my bed and got Seth bundled up so he could walk around in the snow for a few minutes. Sarah played with her dollies.

There are still lots of things to do around here (more cleaning, lots more loving on the little ones, reading books, coloring, playing) but I love to blog, so now I get to sit here at the table and write. It will be a joyful part of my morning to do so.

I lost my camera last week and finally remembered that I left it in my husband’s car, so I brought it inside on Saturday morning and made up for lost time by snapping *lotsa* photos all weekend long. It was fun.

Fresh flowers and candles are such a simple way to add color and warmth to a home. I love to pick out bouquets at the grocery store or Costco as I shop for the necessities. Soy candles are my favorites, as they burn so clean, but I also get Yankee candles quite often, at discount stores (like Marshalls or the outlet).

This bouquet is by our bed, and of course, all flowers look best in FIESTA vases, if at all possible.

One of my flowers lost it’s stem, so I floated it in a fiesta bowl and put it in the bathroom by the sink.

H O M E

Another thing I love about my home is being able to watch the birds through the window (I am watching them as I type this morning, too).

Chickadees are friendly, quick birds. I’ve always thought they were cute.

I love weekends because we’re all home together.

I’ve started buying necessities online through amazon’s subscription program. Things like toilet paper and laundry detergent, in bulk.

And, Hershey’s cocoa, which came in the mail on Saturday, much to the amusement of my family.

(it’s a “necessity” in this family!)

One of my favorite penpals sent me some tea to enjoy, it was delicious! Thanks, Hannah!

Now that I’m drinking so much tea, I have finally come appreciate saucers, which do such a great job at keeping the tea hot as it steeps.

A note to my penpals: I owe several of you letters, so if you have not received a note back from me will you please message me your address again (Wilma? and, anyone else?) Sadly, I have lost your addresses. Thank you!

We love to spend time playing with our youngsters.

Here is Rich, hanging Caleb upside down.

O U T S I D E

It snowed all day on Saturday, tiny and beautiful little flakes of snow.

Caleb and Davy (and the other children, too) loved sledding down our hill~

We continue to enjoy our chickens. They are a pleasure to watch and take care of. This morning I went inside the coop just in time to get the first warm egg. We gather 4-5 eggs a day now.

When the snow stopped Saturday afternoon, Rich shoveled the driveway. He’s so handsome in his carhart jacket.

We spent all morning (4 1/2 hours) on Sunday, at church. We have recently started attending a new church (it’s been a few months now) and the experience has been such an amazing gift from God. I really need to do a blog entry about it someday.

After we got home, and the little ones were napping, I felt like I simply HAD to get outside to see the newly fallen snow. I think that wintertime is much more beautiful here in the Northeast, with a good white layer of snow on everything.

This is wintergreen. After I took the picture I picked one of the leaves and chewed on it for a while, yum!

I got under some pine branches and shock one to take a picture of the snow falling~

I think the temperature was around 27 degrees. I was warm enough as I walked along.

I love the way the snow sparkles in the sunshine.

I came out of the woods into the wide open field, always a glorious sight~

I couldn’t resist making fancy tracks.

I was on the lookout for animal tracks. I sure wish I knew who made these. Some sort of small creature. All four feet stayed in the same line. How?

Who made these? Is that a tail line coming out from the track?

I had to hang on to a branch and lean way over………..

……..to take this one:

Back in the field again, heading home. My legs enjoyed the workout, wading through the soft fluffy snow. (There were about 5 inches.)

Sending you love and joy and a reminder that you are special~

“Set our hearts with heavenly fire aglow,
that with hearts unite we love each other,
of one mind, in peace with every brother.” ~Martin Luther

“Peace be both unto thee, and peace be to thine house,
and peace be unto all that thou hast.” 1 Samuel 25:6

tips for homemaking, inspired by my childhood home

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Shanda

It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home. ~Author Unknown

I find my parent’s house very cozy. I love seeing their things all around and the way the house has turned into a home after so many years of marriage; collections, necessary tools for living, decorations, things to do and admire. It’s no wonder the children all like to touch…the house begs to be touched, played with, and looked at. Their Christmas tree was, and always is, a live evergreen, and this year it was decorated with white and blue lights. Mom strung some beaded garland and hung her prettiest ornaments and the end result was magical.

Dad collects penguins and the stuffed regiment stood guard.

The way my Mom has feathered her nest inspires me. My own home always seems like a work in progress, with the emphasis on the W O R K part, not the PROGRESS part.

See, this is not a large kitchen. Yet, everything is useful and has a place. It looks cozy and when you’re in the kitchen you don’t lose your appetite, you get hungry and you want to bake….or make a pot of homemade soup. That’s what Mom and Davy were busy doing the day we visited. Dave was thrilled to help his Grandma. We couldn’t keep him away from the pot as the soup simmered. He just had to keep stirring and tasting.

Blue glass, magnets on the fridge, pictures, Holly Hobbie, morter and pestle, softly patterned wallpaper, a child’s cast iron stove, fresh vegetables, a big kitchen aid mixer to make homemade wheat bread, wooden cutting boards, sharp knives, a pretty floor that’s easy to keep clean, oils and spices out and ready.

Have houseplants gone out of popularity? I’ve been thinking about them lately. My Grandmothers and aunts, my step mother-in-law, and my mom all have lots of houseplants. My mom gave me some of her cuttings this fall when I was out for a visit. Before she gave them to me I had two plants in my entire house. When I look at old magazines, they are filled with tips for homemakers on how to take care of houseplants. It’s TIME TO BRING THEM BACK into vogue again. I remember how proud my Great Grandma was of her Christmas cactus when it bloomed. It was a worthy accomplishment. And houseplants help to make the air quality in our homes better and cleaner.

The tree you see in the picture, decorated all fancy for Christmas, is a tree grown from an orange seed that my sister Amanda planted about 20 years ago. When you rub a leaf and smell it, it smells like citrus.

Dad and E played a game of chess, with Grace watching, in the corner of the livingroom. The computer desk faces toward the window, so they can watch the birds when they sit at it. My mom found a small white cabinet at work and brought it home for the grandchildren. It has toy dishes in it, and a drawer that opens and shuts. There are toy boxes all around with matchbox cars, legos, old purses for dress up, baby dolls. Just beyond Dad are a pair of old wooden shutters that she has covered with framed photos of the grandchildren. Lit lamps also make the room cozy as well.

Grandpa was being silly with Caleb. They had made a light sabor out of an empty wrapping paper tube. It inspires them to be fierce.

But not too fierce.

The little boys were thrilled with Grandma’s gingerbread house, and we let them pick pieces off to eat.

Jacob celebrated his 14th birthday on the day we visited Grandma and Grandpa. And because Grandpa also had a December birthday, we baked a cake and sang for both of them.

Please, don’t pay attention to the fact that I just said my son turned 14.

I was thinking about houses and homes today. It truly does not matter what sort of building/house you live in. It’s the character of the people within it that makes it special. Some are warm and laid back, some are elegant and refined, some make you behave like a prim lady, some make you relaxed and sleepy, some refresh and recharge you…..all so unique and special because the people who live in them are unique and special. Mom and Dad are content and love being at home. They love the Lord and their family and that comes through in the spirit of the home…..but here are also a few concrete ideas:

Tips for homemaking, inspired by my childhood home:

Don’t be afraid to keep the things you love out and around you. Collections are fun.

A bird in a cage is a lovely pet to have. Even if it does bite curious little fingers.

Dark colors are soothing.

Lamps with pretty shades tucked here and there to light darkened corners are very homey and comfortable.

A ticking clock that also chimes the hours is friendly.

Dogs are allowed, and so are cats.

You can take your shoes off at the door, or keep them on.

You can’t have too many dishes or kitchen things.

Keep the curtains tied back or short enough to keep the windows clear and open for natural light during the day.

A bird feeder within sight of the house is always entertaining.

Decorate with lots of favorite family photos.

Glass jars of all sizes are quite handy for storing things.

Offer fresh coffee at regular times.

Mom likes Peacock fiestaware.

Dad has found his favorite online soy candle company; scented lit candles are lovely.

For an easy border around the top of a door frame, cut shapes out of pretty paper (Mom used pictures of fruits) and glue them to the wall. (decoupage)

Houseplants are timeless and always “in”. You will remember to water them.

Be thoughtful of the little ones. Toys are out and ready to be played with.

Serve home-cooked meals.

Be realistic. There truly are always works in progress. Mom is currently doing over Isaac’s room into an office. And even she has to throw out clutter now and then.

Where we love is home –

home that our feet may leave,

but not our hearts.

~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr

she perceiveth that her merchandise is good (Proverbs 31:18)

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Shanda

Before:

After:

This summer (when I took my long break from blogging), one of the things I did to amuse myself was purchase furniture. My old sofa was becoming an embarrassment. (See photo 1) So, one day, I went out shopping with my wonderful friend Kathy (we both had our babies with us!) and I asked her if she would go with me to the Ethan Allen furniture store. I was a little nervous, I’m not an assertive person by nature but I marched myself in there, determined to try to find a sectional sofa that would withstand the rigors of life with six children. I told the nice lady who worked there, Lisa, what I needed and she was more than happy (eager) to help me in any way she could. She became my “interior designer” and even came over to my house one day, to take measurements of my livingroom space.

She helped me choose the sectional and the other pieces–the fabric of the throw pillows, the rug, and the three low bookcases. Rich was along for the ride this time! (He’s normally the one in charge, and that’s why I’m proud of myself, I did it on my own!) He liked everything, but especially the area rug. I really wanted bookcases and love how they protect the back (see photo 1) of our new sectional. There are three of them side by side. Ethan said it will be fun to choose books from the shelves. I just don’t know what books to put on them yet! There will have to be a little something for everyone, I do believe. ANd maybe a spot for photo albums, too.

One of the throw pillows on the sectional is dark red velvet. Oh, how soft and warm it is! I’ve been rubbing my cheek on it and smiling!

As you can tell, I am quite excited. I ordered everything a month ago and they just came this morning, at 7:15 a.m. I can’t wait until Rich gets home (tonight, please pray for his safe flight back to us!) to see our new livingroom. I pray for lots of good times here, making family memories, in our nice new room. It now just might be my favorite room in the house! It probably will be, after I change out those awful purple curtains (they came with the house when we bought it)……which means more shopping ahead……

I just love feathering my nest and making my house a pretty home! Not just with furniture (which is a rare treat)….wild flowers picked from the side of the road and put in a vase for the kitchen table counts, too! I love my family, and I want, with the best of my abilities and resources, to surround them with lovely things, beautiful places to joyfully play and rest. It pleases and glorifies our Father in heaven when we women “looketh well to the ways of our households.” (Proverbs 31:27)

~things to be thankful for~

Posted on September 26, 2008 by Shanda

“Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,

Old Time is still a flying. . . .. . . . . . . . .”

This Mama’s hope. . . . . .

Warm rocking chair (every mama should have a place to rock)

hot tea, a friendly cat, blankets, magazines, baby-name book

a place to put my feet up

A favorite spot–the kitchen table, and my sweet girl

Something pretty, and bright

in a small Homer Laughlin china pitcher

A guilty pleasure (homemade apple crisp, low-fat pumpkin ice cream)

served on prized Homer Laughlin china

A quiet moment

Food for the soul

Something to roast today

(won’t it smell wonderful?)

A sleepy, slow, rainy day

(wearing a warm, bulky sweater is like wearing a hug)

The dark house and gentle sound of rain makes everyone move just a little slower, so nice!

“The happiness of life, the happiness of the family especially, is made up of minute fractions. The little, soon-forgotten charities of a kiss, a smile, a kind look, a gentle word, a heart-felt compliment,–these, and the thousand other little kindnesses of genial feelings, make a perpetual summer in the household where they prevail.”

“Mid pleasures and palaces tho’ we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home.”

“I have a great respect for a father and mother who have brought up a large family and trained them so that they have come out on the Lord’s side. Sometimes mothers are discouraged and do not think they have so large a sphere to do good in as we have, but a mother who has brought up a large family to Christ need not consider her life a failure. I know one who has brought up ten sons, who are all Christians. Do you think her life has been a failure? Let us teach our children diligently, in season and out of season. . . .let us be encouraged in bringing our children to Christ.” D.L. Moody

(All quotes from the book linked at the end of this blog, one that I highly recommend, it is so encouraging to me:)