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

(Rich and Shan, December 24, 1994)

At Christmastime, I wrote on my blog that Christmas Eve was always a romantic day for my husband and me, because that was the day he proposed.

My brother read what I wrote and remembered that he had a couple of pictures from that eventful evening.

Brother Dave has such a sensitive, caring heart.  This weekend I was thrilled to get a beautiful happy card in the mail from him, with a couple of pictures tucked inside, of that special day in my life.  Rich and I both looked at the pictures together, remembering.  Tears in our eyes.

In front of my parents and younger siblings, Rich gave me a beautiful ring and got down on one knee to ask me to marry him.  Yes!

I love this photo, it captures so well the emotions in the room that night.

Happy Saturday!  We woke up to a winter wonderland.  Rich asked Caleb if he wanted to go outside with him while he shoveled the driveways but Caleb said, “Maybe tomorrow”.  So, I got to go instead!

Ethan was out walking his dog and when he came back home we asked him to take a picture.  There are several good ones but I liked this one the best.

Enjoy your weekend, dear ones!

Last night Rich hesitated and thought about it and then told me, “I’m going to take Caleb to work with me tomorrow.”  And once he sets his mind to do something, he does it.

Caleb had already been put to bed for the night, but wasn’t asleep, so Rich went downstairs to get him.

The two of them walked all around the house together (I was dead tired), hunting and gathering stuff for The Big Day.  They carefully chose some clothes for Caleb, socks, shoes.  “Where’s your backpack, Caleb?”  Caleb went off to get it, “I found my Thomas one, but there MIGHT be a spider in it.  Check.”  The backpack was checked and proclaimed Free of Spiders.  By the time it was packed with toys, books, coloring books, and crayons it could hardly be carried at all.

It was late and I finally interrupted the endless preparations and begged, “Please, will you two settle down and go to sleep now?”  Caleb was tucked in on the couch to sleep for the night and his Dad came in with me. 

Morning came all too soon (I was restless last night, ugh)….and in the dark I opened my eyes to dimly see Rich leading Caleb through our room, on silent feet so as not to disturb Mama and baby sister.

“What is he doing in here?”  I said, (lovingly).

“I’m going to give him a bath.”

I thought that was just too much and so I got up to enjoy the show.  Caleb was ushered into the bathroom to be scrubbed and washed by his Dad.  From behind the closed door I could hear water running and little moans coming from him (Caleb, not Dad) now and then.  (It was 6 in the morning).  I went out to drink coffee on the couch in front of the fire and soon Caleb emerged, pink and clean, with a towel sort of around his middle.  He was bright eyed and happy.  “I gotta get dressed now.”  I showed him his clothes.  “What’s THIS shirt?”  “It’s a nice warm one that Daddy picked out for you.”  “I LOVE warm shirts!”  

As I helped Caleb get himself dressed, Rich came out all ready to go, handsome as can be.

It was time to put on the shoes.

Caleb’s sneakers were a struggle to get on.  “Rich, they’re too small, the poor thing!  He can’t wear shoes that are too tight.”

Caleb said, “I LOVE tight shoes!”

I have a feeling Caleb loves everything this morning because he gets to go to work with his Dad.

I asked him if he was eating breakfast at home or McDonald’s.  He didn’t have to think about it.   “McDonald’s! What do they have there for breakfast?”  “Pancakes.”  “Oh, I’ll have pancakes,” he decided.

They went out the door with their work bags on their shoulders, even though Caleb could just barely manage his.

Caleb is our most talkative child and I have images of him following Rich’s co-workers around, talking their ears off.  He will be quite amusing I’m sure.  

It’s the day before Thanksgiving, so I imagine the office will be emptyish.  It will be an easier day of work for Rich and that’s why he was able to take along his little buddy.

I was outside when they drove away down the road, and I got to wave and smile and enjoy the moon.

(the picture is of husband this morning, leaving for work)

Last night, after we put the children to bed (who were all worn out and sunburned from a weekend of running wild outdoors), Rich and I turned on the weather channel to see just how high the temps went….and sure enough, 87 degrees broke a 100 year record high for our area.

And how fitting, as the Lord increased the temperature of our marriage this weekend, too.  I just love how God operates. 

A lady mustn’t share everything…but let’s just read the title of this post again and *leave it at that*.

I just sat and read all your notes, wishing Rich and me a Happy Anniversary~thank you!  You are all so kind and sweet.  We did have a nice day yesterday (only had a couple of minor tiffs, LOL) and thanks to my friend Karen, we even got to go on a date together.

We had a nice country-back roads drive to my favorite antique store, past lakes and beautiful houses, (and trees starting to turn colors).  At the antique place, we browsed around and I ended up buying some old issues of Country Living magazine.  I will enjoy looking through them over the next few days. 

After that, we went out for lunch at a quaint local restaurant.  They feature old fashioned, New England food on the menu.  The staff treated us with extra kindness, because I told our waitress that it was our anniversary.  She was an older lady, and told us that we must have been married in the 8th grade to have been together for 13 years.  Made me laugh out loud.

The food was SO good, and it was nice to just sit and talk to each other and enjoy our food.  We both had cups of creamy New England clam chowder, and salads.  My salad was so good I just had to take a picture of it:

It was an heirloom tomato salad, drizzled with a balsamic vinegarette and surrounded by soft wedges of creamy mozzarella cheese.

For my main lunch plate, I had an open faced turkey sandwich served over a slice of cornbread, sausage cornbread stuffing, and gravy on top.  There was a small cup of cranberry sauce on the side, fries AND coleslaw, and it was all very homemade and tasted SO good.  I had to bring most of my lunch home so I could save room for dessert.  We wanted to go downstairs, to the bake shop, for coffee and dessert, but before we knew it our waitress came out with this sweet treat:

Pretty, isn’t it?

We blew out the candle and each had one bite, then wrapped up the rest to bring home.  Because, I’m tellin’ ya, that bake shop is “to die for”.  And I had been craving a fig square for the last month or so.  We paid our bill and headed down the stairs to the most wonderful little place around.  I want to go back again soon, with my sister and girlfriends.  (is anyone listening??)  I told Rich my goal is to eventually try everything in the case.

We sipped our hot coffees, and shared this cream puff:

With full tummies and all that sugar, we got all happy and laughed a lot, and took a few pictures of each other:

We took two boxes of treats home with us, including cupcakes for the kids, a piece of carrot cake for Karen, and two fig squares to satisfy my craving.  I’ve been nibbling on them, opening the fridge to take a bite now and then.

When we got home, I had a nice walk with Karen, through the woods, before she left.  I had to try to burn off some of those calories!  Plus, it was so nice to yak with a girlfriend, we talked almost nonstop, stopping the conversation once to just soak up the peace and quiet of the woods.  We both came back with a handful of bits from the forest–pretty leaves, acorns, and flowers.

After Karen went home, Rich and I just basically hung around home, taking care of the kids.  Rich took a little nap in his recliner while I made dinner and looked through one of my new/old magazines.

Before the day was done, I pulled my wedding dress out of the closet to admire it.  I still love my dress, even after 13 years.  I am so thankful that I was married at 19, I was so worry-free back then, and just full of excitement for my wedding and marriage to Rich.  I had no zealous opinions about anything, just happy to go along, making plans.  My mom and I shopped together for my dress, and I only remember trying on two dresses before we knew this was the one. . . . . .

(front)

(back)

I haven’t put it on since the day I was married. . . ..  But, I did hold it up to myself yesterday.  Remembering when I was a bride.

Requested photos from our wedding. . . . .

(In my opinion, this is one of the most romantic verses in the Bible):

“There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.”

Proverbs 30:18-19

Thanking God for thirteen beautiful years with my beloved.

Have a wonderful day, friends!

~Shanda~

. . . .because he’s finally home!  (after being away since Monday morning). . . . .

I can finally wear my happy shoes!

This is reality for us, with our small ones always about.  Caleb is begging for blueberries, he took them from the freezer himself and then found us to get some help.  He didn’t say anything, just stood there until we noticed. . .

“While gentleness should always mark a husband’s bearing toward his wife, there are occasions which call for peculiar thoughtfulness and sympathetic expression.  Sometimes she is very weary.  The cares of the day have been unusually trying.  Matters have not gone smoothly at home.  Her quivering nerves have been sorely overtaxed.  She has heard sad news.  A child has been sick all day, or, worse still, has by some disobedience or some wrong-doing almost broken her heart.  What is a husband’s part at such times?  Surely if he is capable of tenderness he will allow it now.  He will not utter a word to add to the load the overburdened spirit is already carrying.  He will seek rather by every thoughtful help his love can give to lighten the burden, to quiet the trembling heart and to impart strength, and peace.”  ~J.R. Miller

Rich’s flight leaves at 8 this morning, so I’ve already been up for a while, spending time with him as he got ready to leave on a business trip.  He is flying to California today, and will be gone until Friday.  Rich works a lot, and gets home around 6:30 or 7 (sometimes later) every night.  I think I have probably mentioned before, that I need him near me for a certain amount of time in order to feel strong and secure.  I am not an independant woman, I need my husband’s love and protection a great deal.  Sometimes the fact that he works so much causes friction between us and I start thinking of his job as “The Enemy”, rather than a blessing from God (which it is).  Rich’s job, and his work ethic is a gift which enables me to be a stay at home Mom, and he provides the extra money to be able to do things that “once upon a time” we couldn’t do (like nice vacations, buying groceries with confidence *there is enough money in our checking account*, nice day-trips with the kids, going out to eat, new maternity clothes, etc).

So, our marriage is a give and take, there is a constant tension *not a bad thing*, because tension makes us work harder at finding that balance, making sure we nurture our relationship.

Rich is an encouragment to me.  He is not a big talker, but his silent strength is encouragment enough.  He never complains about anything that I do, but if the house is especially nice he will always mention it.  A good meal never fails to bring words of praise.  (*smile*)  He never ever worries about the children, or checks up on me to makes sure I am doing what I’m supposed to do with them!  I find that amazing.  It’s not that he doesn’t care, he just knows that I’ll take care of them.  Wow, thinking about this is making me feel so humbled, and motivating me to do better and try harder!

I think the best thing that Rich does for me these days, which are full of mothering-tasks, is allowing me to rest and take breaks when I need to.  In fact, there are many times that he encourages me to go out in the evenings–and I don’t take him up on it!  (too tired, really).  But, if I need a break, or some quiet, some time alone, he is always more than willing to let me go and do what I need to do.

Yesterday, after church and after lunch, I went to Barnes and Noble for H-O-U-R-S.  I picked out a pile of books, sat myself down in a chair, and just leafed through books.  It was very refreshing, to say the least!

When I got home, the house was clean.

I’m so thankful for my husband.  Sure, we have our ups and downs, just like any other couple.  There are times when we don’t understand each other at.all.  But, generally speaking, the Lord has given us a beautiful marriage, one that I can rest in, and feel protected and secure in.  I trust Rich with my life, with everything.

Yesterday evening, after I got back from the bookstore, I sat on the porch and watched the family play football.  I took some pictures, and when I look at them, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for my life, the way it is, right now.

“It is a happy art, the art of living together in tender love.”  ~J.R. Miller~

Have a great day, everyone!

I’m off, to go get a small boy ready for a day of Kindergarten. . . . . .

Love ~Shanda~

PS.  I just had to hop back on to record this memory—Today was the very first morning that David waved and waved to me, keeping his eyes on me, until he was out of sight, through the bus window.  His face looked so cheerful and small, I almost started crying.  What a wonderful boy.  I’m glad I made him his requested breakfast—scrambled eggs w/cheese.  The rest of the children had french toast. 

Three cheers for Saturday!  Wow, what a week it’s been, all good things ~ but still, tiring!  I’m glad to have my husband home today, to say the least.  I feel lighter, and happier, and brighter.  It’s wonderful to have someone bigger than me around the house, someone who calls me beautiful and gives me bear hugs and makes me coffee. . . .It was also SO good to get away from the house for a bit this morning, driving around in the truck. . .all crammed in together with music playing and the kids talking to us.

We have company coming this evening and I am looking forward to a good time.  I’m making myself simplify and not run around like a mad-woman, cleaning and cooking.  Rich is grilling the meats, and our guests are bringing the side dishes.  Rich and the children cleaned the house, and if it’s not done “perfectly” so much the better. . .this is a home that is lived in.  What matters most is the sweet fellowship we can have, with our friends.

There will be a total of 14 children here, all under the age of 11.  And, 8 adults.  Thankfully, the sun is out and shining, because earlier it was drizzly.  I want to see the children running around the yard, enjoying the ponds, and trampoline, and maybe exploring one, or more, of their forts in the woods.

*******************************************

Rich and I do so love our little passengers . . . .handsome Jacob sat up front with us, talking my ear off about legos, and the rest of them were all sitting snuggly in the backseat.  In about 5 or so months, these trips in the truck won’t be possible, because of our new little one.

Caleb, with his coloring

Grace singing while looking out the window, Ethan (wearing his new hat, is he cute or what?  I keep humming Gilligan’s Island whenever I look at him) and Davy-do looking at a new book.

If only everyday could be a Saturday! 

PS, I found these adorable shoes today and ordered them:

They’re my happy shoes!