Together.

There is just something about kicking it for the day with our little family - an adventure into the great unknown - that just does something for my soul. Projects, messes, laundry, gardening, lawn work, housework, - everything! - just gets puts on hold, because it has too.

(At the beach with that little blue tub full of crabbies).

I can't see the work that needs to be done, therefore I don't think about it.

And thus, I am present.
Fully, totally, and completely invested.
There are no distractions.
I am single minded and focused.
And these are the best of times.



Deciding over breakfast, that it's time for an adventure.
Loading up everything that we might possibly need - swim stuff, buckets and nets, snacks, and sunscreen - and we are off!

Music blasting, windows rolled down, and car dancing for all we are worth - we kick it for the day. No agenda but to be together. Sometimes we know exactly where we're going. Sometimes we only know the general direction. Some days we throw naps completely to the wind. And some days our sanity deems it necessary to return home. Some trips require minimal effort, and some are extremely hairy, leaving us looking at each other on the way home saying: "I'm not sure, but I think that was fun."


But it never matters.
We've been together, and that was enough.

We took a conscious break from life.
We stopped. We slowed. We savored.
And we made yet another family memory.


We might never do anything extravagent or enviable to others.
We might never travel the world.
Our vacations may be simple, and silly, and cheap.

We're going to make a ton of mistakes.
We're going to have countless regrets, I'm sure of it.
It's in the nature of the job description of "parent."

But, I know one thing, for sure.
My kids will never doubt my love for them.
They'll know for a certain fact that Mommy was never perfect, and nor did she claim to be.

But, they will know for equally certain that I loved them with everything within me.

Sometimes, I just do it better on daytrips.

Baby Love

Just this week, June 22, sweet baby Wyatt London Quint joined our little family.

My baby brother Aaron is now a proud Daddy to a gorgeous little boy, and I can hardly wrap my brain around this.

Kev and I drove down to surprise Aaron and Julie at the hospital and to meet this newest member of our family. I cried when I held him.

Brand new life. What a precious gift. There is nothing much sweeter.

Congrats dear brother and sweet, sweet Jules.
Welcome to the world, sweet Wyatt.
Aunty Amy is already madly in love with you.

*************
1492. Wyatt London - brand new life.
1493. Healthy Mama & healthy baby.
1494. Watching Aaron become a Daddy.
1495. A little cousin to grow with Ransom.
1508. Surprise at the hospital.
1509. Baby fresh skin.
1510. Fuzzy cheeks, feather soft hair, tiny body swaddled.
1511. Our family expanding.

My Daughter's World

Written by my Marmie when I was pregnant with Ransom.....

Her days are filled with sweet little boys -
Wiping little noses and picking up toys;
Turning over rocks and looking for slugs -
Going for long walks and catching lots of bugs.

Getting slimy kisses from a dear little face
Or wiping off his tears - 'till there's not a trace!
One likes his hands clean - he doesn't like the grime -
And one doesn't care if he's covered in slime!

She often hears the sound of small running feet,
Or an impish voice say: "Can I have a treat?"
"Mommy, can you read to me - just one more book?"
How could she refuse that precious little look!

"Let's bake some cookies, Mommy! Let's go to the park!"
"Let's go fishing at the pond - Can we stay 'till dark?"
Whether wading in the brooks or catching "tads" and frogs -
They can find all their "treasures" hiding under logs!

Loving everything that creeps, crawls, or flies -
Seeing God's creation through a little boy's eyes!
This is now her world - this daughter of mine -
And nothing would she change that could be so fine
As to hear their childish voices singing her a song -
Or laughing as they play - while the days roll along.

Two little boys - with "another on the way" -
Sometimes can make for a very long day;
But their sunshiney faces, their laughter and their songs
Make her world a brighter place and set right all the wrongs.

For these tender years are gone too soon
And she knows that she will miss
Those little hands - those little feet-
And that tender "goodnight" kiss.

.......
"Treasure these days, Daughter of mine! For "their world" is what YOU make it."

Thank you for the reminder, Marmie.
"Their world" is what I make it.
Jesus, help me to slow. To see.
To remember always.

**************************************
1472. A Mother who has been there - who knows.
1473. Reminders - again - of what is truly important.
1474. Seeing life through their eyes.
1475. Investing in Eternity.
1476. Grammy's who love WELL.
1477. Mothers who leave a legacy.

Meet Gertie.

Or Gus. Or Greased Lightning. Or Horace.
We haven't quite determined the name of this bad boy.
Or, if it's going to be a girl, for that matter.

This was my Grampy's boat. She's (he's?!) an old timer, that's for sure.

Weeks ago, we did a "County Trade" of sorts with a cousin up home. One of those "I'll give you my canoe and a gun, let's spit and shake hands" sort of thing.

It's pretty special for me to have my Grampy's old boat for my little boys to make memories in. She's just right for our stage of life.

She ran a bit rusty at first, but Kevy's learning how to treat her right.

Kaden is a hardcore fisherman like his Daddy. He could go for hours.

Jesse enjoys it, as well...

He also enjoys pretending to eat worms, hooking Daddy with his fishing pole, and losing our very best net in the watery depths.

Ransom and I are along for the ride.
...And the food.

We caught some fish.

And we saw three sweet little turtles.

Yep. It's official. Summer's here.

Welcome to the family little boat.

HOME.

The place for:
~ Froggin'
~ Fishin'
~ & Four-Wheeling'

The makings of a little boy's paradise.
That's what we do when we go home.

:: Since birth, all three of my boys have been lulled to sleep during one of our wheeling trips. This was the ONLY way we could get Jesse to stop screaming in the early days. And now it's Rancey's turn to snuggle in and just go along for the ride.

:: From the wagon on back, Mom threw some water on Dad "just to be funny."
So - Dad went home the muddy way - gunning it through ALL of the puddles - "just to be funny."

I don't think Mom will try to be funny next time.....

:: My view for most of the week-end.

"Summer afternoon. The two most beautiful words in the English language." ~ Henry James

Simplicity at its finest.
It's the little things....

1437. Week-ends in the County.
1438. Hours on the four-wheelers.
1439. Nachos and movies.
1440. Laughing until we cry.
1441. Uncle Clay playing with my baby.
1442. Wide open spaces - fields and trees.
1443. Snakes, salamanders, frogs, taddies, and trout.
1444. Seeing my own parents play and be silly.
1445. Taking time to slow and BE.
1446. Grampy's and Grammy's filling little boy's love tanks.
1447. Jesse's tears when we left because he wanted to stay longer.

"To name a thing is to bless God for it and in it." ~ Alexander Schmemann

Thank you, Mom & Dad for ALL that you do to make our visits special.

A Tribute.

"But who can find a trustworthy man? A righteous man who walks in his integrity? How blessed are his sons after him!" - Proverbs 20:6b,7

"My father didn't tell me how to live; He lived, and let me watch him do it." ~ Clarence Kelland

"The imprint of the father remains forever on the life of a child." ~ Richard L. Evans

"Small boys become big men through the influence of big men who care about small boys." ~ Author Unknown

I have this love named Kevin.
He is my Besty-best.
He has 3 crazies, 1 loud wife -
He doesn't get much rest.

He is the world's best father -
His love is fierce and kind.
Compassionate, Protective -
SO thankful that he's mine.

Our boys see an example -
Of how a godly man should be.
Humble, honest, faithful, true -
A Dad who daily bends his knee.

You teach our sons to walk their talk -
By living what you say.
They learn by your example -
As they watch you every day.

They're learning, growing, watching you -
Walking in your shoes.
They follow closely everything -
Trying to be like you.

We're blessed to have a godly man
Who loves us with his life.
My boys - YOU are their greatest gift!
And I - your lucky wife.


********************************************************************
7. Best friendship between a husband and wife.
9. Date nights with Kevy.
147. Holding hands.
197. Tired Daddies sprawled in play.
240. Saying "I love you" after every phone call.
243. A man whose temper is rarely lost.
280. Laughing together at the chaos of our life.
361. Strong man who leads us well.
367. Knowing him, and he knowing me.
489. Doting Daddy who takes shifts in the night.
626. Journeying through life with my very best friend.
751. Daddy and big boy fishing dates.
783. Husband who is tender to Holy Spirit's prompting.
789. Safe and secure; loved and provided for.
794. Perceptive, involved Daddy.
796. Kevin - a student of me, his wife.
814. "I love you" every night before falling asleep.
823. Hugs speaking what words cannot say.
859. A father who makes family day's special.
899. Kevin's life - gracious and humble.
900. Kevin's love - gentle and strong.
921. Road trips and long conversation.
925. A love that will be strengthened and weathered in safety.
1002. Being together.
1020. A Daddy who serves.
1124. Husband-friend who cares when I'm sad.
1133. Kevin journeying - looking deep.
1134. A man who cares about the little things.
1203. A Daddy who is a role model for three pairs of watching eyes.
1229. Unconditional love - freely and fully given.
1355. Putting my needs above his own - always.
1376. Blessed abundantly, exceedingly beyond...
1384. Daddy love - fierce and true.
1402. Deep friendship, crazy love, making me better.
******************************************************************

Just scratching the surface, Love...
Happy Father's Day!

Rewind.

Last night, Kev and I went with my oldest brother and his family to Dad's retirement party at my old elementary school. The last time I walked through those doors was twelve years ago at my wedding reception. It's been awhile.

I saw SO many of my old teachers, and even a few of my old classmates there. It was like this crazy walk back in time, or a Twilight Zone old school reunion of sorts, as I ran across one after another of these staff members.

I saw my old gym teacher who called me a "bonehead" in class one time back when I was in 4th grade. I had missed two weeks of school because of strep throat, so I had no idea how to play the game that everyone else had been playing for two weeks already. I got over it, but then and there, I said that if I ever went into education I would never call one of my students a name. I DID go into education for about 8 years - I was a phys. ed. teacher for about 6 of them - and I remembered my vow.

I also saw my old homeroom teacher that my boyfriend and I had together for all four years of our highschool career. She saw the start of our relationship, she saw when it started to go south - badly, she got involved - which made me really mad at the time, but deep down I loved her because of it, she was there when I broke up with him, and she walked with me when he committed suicide right before we graduated.

I love her. And I told her so last night.
And because of her - there were times during my years as a teacher that I got involved with my students, as well.

Good and bad memories.
They all have a way of shaping us and making us into the people we are today.

So, last night we celebrated eight long-term teachers who have been at that school for years. It was silly, it was fun, It was super inappropriate at times, and it went a little long. But we had fun. Our little corner of the room got a wee bit rowdy at the end. Again - very reminiscent of my old school days. When I know I'm supposed to behave, it makes it that much harder. We would dare Dad to do random things - and he would. During moments of silence throughout the evening, Kev would have crazy outbursts. And when the program started to go a little long, we just made our own fun.

I have not laughed that hard in awhile.
I'm pretty sure that Mom was sufficiently mortified.
Again - a rewind back in time. Poor lady - that's been her life with us hoolies.

Sometimes I laugh so hard, the tears run down my leg.....

What's Fer Dinner.

Yesterday was one of those really beautiful, sunny days where I should have been puttering about in my yard like I posted about previously. Instead, we continued our lazy streak of milkshakes and Boxcar Children on the porch, bike rides and coffee in the driveway, and a little mini trespassing excursion to a wee little pond down the road from us.

Kaden had high hopes of catching us some trout for supper.
Instead, we got three minnows and a frog.
And a hefty portion of ants were caught by the smallest hoolie.

I don't think we would have starved, but thankfully, Daddy came home with these beauts!

Jesse was in his glory cutting off their heads.
While decapitating them he said: "But, I don't see any ham."
Hmn.
Homeschooling has been a raging success with this one...

No goldfish were harmed in the making of this lunch.
But, I'm pretty sure poor little Goldie has been traumatized for life...

Gruesome.

This Week.

On sunny days the wood pile, the garden, the chicken coop, and the lawn - they're all screaming at me to come and work on them. We need to pull the weeds, muck the coop, mow the lawn that's quickly becoming a field, and stack that perpetual pile of wood. Outside work - it is NEVER done.

And I love that kind of work.
I love to putter around on our property and get things done.

But there's just something about a rainy, scuzzy, yucky cold day that gets thrown in the middle of a week of sun that is so nice for slowing things back down and finding a new tempo - if only just for a few hours.

Rainy days justify p.j.'s for our clothes, hot chocolate with marshmallows for a mid-morning snack, breakfast for lunch, and movies for entertainment. I can completely justify it in my mind, because there's no possible way to get any outside work done -- so it's just that much more enjoyable to veg out and just "be."


It's all good.
Ah. A pace of peace for a day...

And in other news...
Kaden's and my little deal of "one aquarium" this summer is going quite fabulously. Our deal is that he can fill that thing with whatever he wants and whatever he finds, but when he find something new, and something that might not, er, co-habitate well together, he exchanges.

He does not ADD To his collection.
That's the only rule.
He can do whatever he wants - whenever he wants - with whatever he finds.

Our spring, thus far, has gone down as follows:
:: 2 salamanders
:: Traded for 10 frogs
:: Exchanged for 1 turtle
:: Swapped out for 1 little tree-ish type frog
:: Then a toss up happened one evening between a bullfrog, another turtle, or a snake

Above: Mr. Slither won out.
And just a couple of days ago, we had our final trade:

Georgie the toad.
And Mr. Slither was released under the garage in hopes of a re-capture.

Fabulous.

Iron.

I have been blessed with some pretty amazing women in my life.

Normally, I'm not much of a fan of girls - probably because I AM one, and I know what we're capable of... But, as I've been catching up with a couple of my besties in actual real face to face conversation as of late, and as I've been catching up on the other's via their blogs or - shocker - an actual, real phone conversation --- I'm just kind of blown away at the women that the Lord has placed in my life over the years.

"As iron sharpens iron" - sister friends can sharpen us.
They can encourage and bless and give us the strength to walk it out one more day.
They can challenge and convict, humble and motivate, uplift and rejuvenate.
And if we can get out of the way of ourselves, they can make us better.

We're all walking this crazy journey of life. We're all doing the very best that we can. We're all trying to not only survive the mess and the chaos - but to actually thrive in the midst of it all. There are days when we are victorious, and there are days when we fall flat. We've all had both.

I love it when the walls finally come down, and we can finally admit to each other the raw and the ugly - the fear and the pain. And the sorrows and the joy, too. It's a package deal - we don't get one without the other.

That's life. Unscripted. Curve balls thrown.
Beauty with the mess.
Sacred with the chaos.
Mundane with the meaningful.
Doing the best we can. Seeking the Lord for wisdom and grace - strength and life.
All the while waiting for HOME.

So...
:: to my girls who are struggling and hurting over wanting babies-
:: and to those who are at maximum capacity-
:: to my friends who are real with their parenting and marriage struggles-
:: and to those who can only say it with their eyes-
:: to those who battle depression and anxiety-
:: who battle alcohol and anger-
:: who are single parenting most of the time-
:: who have been through divorce-
:: who have kids who are mostly good all of the time-
:: and who have kids who are holy terrors much of it-
:: who are real and raw, vulnerable and honest-
:: who think the way that I do-
:: and who think completely differently.
:: who encourage my successes-
:: and who gently confront my flaws-
:: who are a little behind me on this marriage and parenting journey-
:: and who are miles ahead.

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."
I am blessed.

*******
1424. Friends from all walks of life - at every stage of the journey.
1425. A FRIEND who sticks closer than a brother...

A Few Days Early....

In honor of Father's Day...

This video just does not get old in our household! Kaden and Jesse know the entire rap by heart - dance moves and all. It's the besty best!!!

Clear the Noise...

Weekends are for wandering.
For slowing down. And if possible - for stopping.
So that we can see - really and truly see.

Creation never forgets to praise Him.
The Heavens are always declaring His handiwork.

I'm the one who forgets.
Like the Israelites who had to perpetually relearn.

How easy it is to forget the good. The gifts.
The grace.

How easy it is to get caught up in the mundane...or in the chaos, for that matter.
How easy it is to forget to slow and see the sacred in the middle of all of the mess.

Kev wrote a song a few weeks ago, and when he sang the first two lines to me today I thought that these words could be the theme song for my life:

"Clear the noise.
I want to hear Your voice."

Clear the noise...
Sometimes we've got to get away to hear His voice.

It's still.
It's small.
But His voice contains the words of LIFE.

"Then You blow by so sweetly.
...not sure how Your still voice still blows me off my feet..."

1398. Week-ends for wandering
1399. Creation declaring His glory.
1400. Evening discoveries.
1401. Quality time with family.
1402. Husband, Love, Best Friend.
1403. Slowing to see, to hear the still, small voice.
1404. Being reminded...Again.