This family is seriously thinking and praying about starting a crazy new adventure come Fall. Here's a clue.....
Behold:
Happenings of Late
Oh my - the weather is glorious these days. We have practically been living outside. I love those kinds of days. Nothing major in the happenings going on as of late. Our chickies and Mr. Turk are growing like crazy - we're talking like every morning when we come out to say "hello," they are looking different! Crazy! Still very precious and sweet. I clean them out twice a day, so they're not stinky yet. But, they are getting too big for their box. Many attempts at escape have been made with our kitty, Risso, looking on licking her lips in anticipation. That would not be good.....
We had a ginormous yardsale yesterday. Boxes upon boxes of stuff gotten rid of - sold, given away, or taken to the dump. We came home with only six wee little boxes for a sale in the fall perhaps. We made a bunch of cash, the kids made some as well, and we even came home with a bed to boot for our guest room/nursery. Good times good times.
Daddy took the two big boys on an overnight tenting/fishing trip with a friend and his little boy this week. They has a blast, and Kaden even caught a huge trout all by himself. Ransom and I also enjoyed a blessed quiet couple of days with some uninterrupted Mommy time, as well. Very cozy and nice. And while they were away, a friend came over and we rearranged a room together - per our usual! Very fun.
My Marmie is coming over this afternoon to spend a few days with us. Looking forward to some nice walks, tea on the porch, quality time spent with her and the boys, and maybe even a free babysitter so Kevy and I can go on a date. Can't beat that with a stick!
This Saturday is my eldest's 6th birthday! Oh my word - how the time has flown. I can hardly wrap my brain around it. And Jesse's 3rd birthday is four days later. Nuts. We're going to go on a camping trip again to celebrate. But this year, instead of everyone getting them gifts, we are all chipping in together and are going with one big present - a super fun swingset for the backyard. Shhh. Don't tell.......
Enjoy the rest of your week-end friends!
We had a ginormous yardsale yesterday. Boxes upon boxes of stuff gotten rid of - sold, given away, or taken to the dump. We came home with only six wee little boxes for a sale in the fall perhaps. We made a bunch of cash, the kids made some as well, and we even came home with a bed to boot for our guest room/nursery. Good times good times.
Daddy took the two big boys on an overnight tenting/fishing trip with a friend and his little boy this week. They has a blast, and Kaden even caught a huge trout all by himself. Ransom and I also enjoyed a blessed quiet couple of days with some uninterrupted Mommy time, as well. Very cozy and nice. And while they were away, a friend came over and we rearranged a room together - per our usual! Very fun.
My Marmie is coming over this afternoon to spend a few days with us. Looking forward to some nice walks, tea on the porch, quality time spent with her and the boys, and maybe even a free babysitter so Kevy and I can go on a date. Can't beat that with a stick!
This Saturday is my eldest's 6th birthday! Oh my word - how the time has flown. I can hardly wrap my brain around it. And Jesse's 3rd birthday is four days later. Nuts. We're going to go on a camping trip again to celebrate. But this year, instead of everyone getting them gifts, we are all chipping in together and are going with one big present - a super fun swingset for the backyard. Shhh. Don't tell.......
Enjoy the rest of your week-end friends!
Our New Additions....
Okay. Here are just a couple of pictures of our newest littles. This is their new pad that they'll have for a few weeks. Our turkey has to be separated because he eats different feed, and the chickens can carry a type of "disease" (for lack of a better word) that doesn't affect them but can be fatal for Mr. Turk.
Until they get super stinky, they'll hang out with us in the corner of the our kitchen. I want them to get used to our voices and the kids' handling them, because I want them to be super people friendly once they move outside.
This is Mr. Turk. He's the friendliest of all of them, and I must say that I am quite in love with him. He loves people and will cry to be held. As soon as he is picked up, he'll tuck himself right into our hands or arms and fall immediately asleep. I don't know how anyone could not love that.
I did a little research on keeping this particular brand of turkey for pets...ahem....but all that I've read says that he'll get to be so big that he could potentially have heart and leg problems - carrying around all of that excess weight. This breed is not intended to be for pets. So, we'll give him a rockin' life and then he won't know what hit him come Turkey Day.
That's the plan anyway....hmn.
And these are our baby chicks. The three black ones with white spots on their heads are Barred Rock. They'll be really big and hearty. They're gentle birds and get along well with other breeds. And the chipmunky striped ones are Americaunas, and they'll lay greenish blue eggs for us. Kinda' fun.
I love my new babies.......
Until they get super stinky, they'll hang out with us in the corner of the our kitchen. I want them to get used to our voices and the kids' handling them, because I want them to be super people friendly once they move outside.
This is Mr. Turk. He's the friendliest of all of them, and I must say that I am quite in love with him. He loves people and will cry to be held. As soon as he is picked up, he'll tuck himself right into our hands or arms and fall immediately asleep. I don't know how anyone could not love that.
I did a little research on keeping this particular brand of turkey for pets...ahem....but all that I've read says that he'll get to be so big that he could potentially have heart and leg problems - carrying around all of that excess weight. This breed is not intended to be for pets. So, we'll give him a rockin' life and then he won't know what hit him come Turkey Day.
That's the plan anyway....hmn.
And these are our baby chicks. The three black ones with white spots on their heads are Barred Rock. They'll be really big and hearty. They're gentle birds and get along well with other breeds. And the chipmunky striped ones are Americaunas, and they'll lay greenish blue eggs for us. Kinda' fun.
I love my new babies.......
Our Babies Have Arrived!
We have 7 absolutely adorable little bundles of fluff residing in our kitchen right now. Three baby Barred Rock chicks, three baby Americaunas (that will lay green eggs, by the way), and one little Baby Turkey that Blue Seal just gave to us because he was the only one left and they were anxious to get rid of him; and we were suckers for a little ball of fluff......that I know full well will soon become a stinky, ginorous gobbler.
Ah well, I couldn't help myself.
So for now, the plan will be for Mr. Turk to be our main course come Thanksgiving....but in my heart of hearts, I will be shocked if this plan actually comes to fruition with all of the tenderhearts that reside in this house. But maybe it will - if he gets really gross and poopy...or if he's mean to the girls.
We shall see.....
Pics will be coming forthwith. They're hanging out in our kitchen for the first week or so - until they start to stink up the place. Which won't be too long from now. But, I actually really want them to be handled a lot while they're young so that they become really kid friendly.
I don't think I could ever become a true farmer. We gave three babies to a friend yesterday, per a previous agreement. When she put them in with her ten layers, and the layers immediately began ganging up on them, I almost scooped them back up and brought them home. I know that there really is a true pecking order with chickens, but did it ever hurt my heart! I'm going to try to teach my girls some manners.
And the poor little turkey so wants to be with the others, but he has to have different feed. So, we put up a screen separater so that he can at least see them. And it's so sweet - they all lay against the screen together, so that he still is touching them. (And also, because the heat lamp is directly above them, right there. But, I still love that they are able to snuggle together).
Oh, I love it.
There were also baby goats at Blue Seal selling for the low low price of $100.00. Had they been $40 or less, I would have brought one of those home too and told Kev that's what I want for my birthday.
Best to start small, though, methinks. I'm still trying to fanagle a couple of ducks out of him, too. Anybody got cute chicken name ideas? So far we have a: Blacky - (Kaden's choice), a Spotty (Jesse's choice), and a Chloe (Mine). We need three more!
Ah well, I couldn't help myself.
So for now, the plan will be for Mr. Turk to be our main course come Thanksgiving....but in my heart of hearts, I will be shocked if this plan actually comes to fruition with all of the tenderhearts that reside in this house. But maybe it will - if he gets really gross and poopy...or if he's mean to the girls.
We shall see.....
Pics will be coming forthwith. They're hanging out in our kitchen for the first week or so - until they start to stink up the place. Which won't be too long from now. But, I actually really want them to be handled a lot while they're young so that they become really kid friendly.
I don't think I could ever become a true farmer. We gave three babies to a friend yesterday, per a previous agreement. When she put them in with her ten layers, and the layers immediately began ganging up on them, I almost scooped them back up and brought them home. I know that there really is a true pecking order with chickens, but did it ever hurt my heart! I'm going to try to teach my girls some manners.
And the poor little turkey so wants to be with the others, but he has to have different feed. So, we put up a screen separater so that he can at least see them. And it's so sweet - they all lay against the screen together, so that he still is touching them. (And also, because the heat lamp is directly above them, right there. But, I still love that they are able to snuggle together).
Oh, I love it.
There were also baby goats at Blue Seal selling for the low low price of $100.00. Had they been $40 or less, I would have brought one of those home too and told Kev that's what I want for my birthday.
Best to start small, though, methinks. I'm still trying to fanagle a couple of ducks out of him, too. Anybody got cute chicken name ideas? So far we have a: Blacky - (Kaden's choice), a Spotty (Jesse's choice), and a Chloe (Mine). We need three more!
Why I Savor
"Empty Nest"
by My Mother - Lynda Quint
My house is growing emptier
As children leave the "nest"
The days are getting quieter
The nights seem long, to rest.
I lie awake in bed at night,
and wonder how they are --
Not long ago, they slept here too -
But now they're scattered far.
No "late night chats" - "no goodnight kiss"
Just quiet empty rooms
Bear witness to the changes here,
And add to "Mother's gloom."
How fast the years have hurried by
Since childhood days of play -
How is it that they've grown and gone
And brought me to this day?
Sometimes I'd like to turn the clock
Of time back just a bit -
To see their little faces smile
And hear their childish wit!
But I cannot - and life goes on
Though one day I shall see
Their image, in their children's eyes
Looking back at me.
The days may be long, but the years are fleeting............
by My Mother - Lynda Quint
My house is growing emptier
As children leave the "nest"
The days are getting quieter
The nights seem long, to rest.
I lie awake in bed at night,
and wonder how they are --
Not long ago, they slept here too -
But now they're scattered far.
No "late night chats" - "no goodnight kiss"
Just quiet empty rooms
Bear witness to the changes here,
And add to "Mother's gloom."
How fast the years have hurried by
Since childhood days of play -
How is it that they've grown and gone
And brought me to this day?
Sometimes I'd like to turn the clock
Of time back just a bit -
To see their little faces smile
And hear their childish wit!
But I cannot - and life goes on
Though one day I shall see
Their image, in their children's eyes
Looking back at me.
The days may be long, but the years are fleeting............
The Difference Between Us
Well, since this post is about Kev and I, I shouldn't pretend there is only one difference between us....we're night and day in many ways....but today was about a biggy.
Of the two of us, I am much more the task oriented person. When people look at the two of us without really knowing us - because I am more publicly outgoing and crazy (he is just as much so behind closed doors, but few people get the rare glimpse) - I am often thought of as the more, oh shall we say, "spontaneous" and "fun" one.
So not true.
If it were not for Kev, I would be in perpetual "go" mode. I would be constantly working on some project or other, and my constant companian of an excuse would be, "It's only a season." To which Kev always replies: "There will ALWAYS be a season. We need to be intentional NOW."
If I had been the one in the grad program out at PBU - no lie - our marriage would have suffered. I'm a nerd. I want straight A's. And I will not take a break until all of my work is accomplished. It is VERY hard for me to sit still and just "be" when there are things to be done. There was many an afternoon that Kev came home early from doing homework - leaving some of it undone and willing to take a lower grade - so that he could take us to the park or out to icecream for a few hours before heading back to an evening class. He worked two jobs - leading worship and being a barista at Starbucks - and most semesters he took more than an average course load.
But we never once felt neglected. He always put us first. And they were three pretty amazing years. I'm sorry to say that I wonder if that would have been the case had I been in his shoes.
Today was kind of like that.
Aaron was here helping with the chicken coop. Huge progress was being made. And everything within me wanted to say - let's can our plans for Bar Harbor today and just stay home and get this thing done! Aaron is willing to stay longer, we have all of the supplies and his expertise, LET'S JUST DO IT!
But Kev said no.
And I'm so glad he did. There is something so very different and special about taking your whole family and just kicking it for the day. Getting away from life, the house's chores, phone calls and emails, and just "BEING." With each other. With no distractions. A family day FORCES us to relax with our kids and truly enjoy each other.
I highly recommend it.
It's good. So good. And necessary for us. It's a big part of the glue of this family. So thankful for this huge difference between us.
Of the two of us, I am much more the task oriented person. When people look at the two of us without really knowing us - because I am more publicly outgoing and crazy (he is just as much so behind closed doors, but few people get the rare glimpse) - I am often thought of as the more, oh shall we say, "spontaneous" and "fun" one.
So not true.
If it were not for Kev, I would be in perpetual "go" mode. I would be constantly working on some project or other, and my constant companian of an excuse would be, "It's only a season." To which Kev always replies: "There will ALWAYS be a season. We need to be intentional NOW."
If I had been the one in the grad program out at PBU - no lie - our marriage would have suffered. I'm a nerd. I want straight A's. And I will not take a break until all of my work is accomplished. It is VERY hard for me to sit still and just "be" when there are things to be done. There was many an afternoon that Kev came home early from doing homework - leaving some of it undone and willing to take a lower grade - so that he could take us to the park or out to icecream for a few hours before heading back to an evening class. He worked two jobs - leading worship and being a barista at Starbucks - and most semesters he took more than an average course load.
But we never once felt neglected. He always put us first. And they were three pretty amazing years. I'm sorry to say that I wonder if that would have been the case had I been in his shoes.
Today was kind of like that.
Aaron was here helping with the chicken coop. Huge progress was being made. And everything within me wanted to say - let's can our plans for Bar Harbor today and just stay home and get this thing done! Aaron is willing to stay longer, we have all of the supplies and his expertise, LET'S JUST DO IT!
But Kev said no.
And I'm so glad he did. There is something so very different and special about taking your whole family and just kicking it for the day. Getting away from life, the house's chores, phone calls and emails, and just "BEING." With each other. With no distractions. A family day FORCES us to relax with our kids and truly enjoy each other.
I highly recommend it.
It's good. So good. And necessary for us. It's a big part of the glue of this family. So thankful for this huge difference between us.
The State of Things.....
Uncle Aaron is here helping Daddy with our chicken coop. Kaden very seriously marches in stating: "I need my hammer. A real one. I'm going to do big boy things with the guys. Jesse can come too."
Well then. Have at it, my Loves!
Well then. Have at it, my Loves!
Weekends!
Oh praise be! A weekend is upon us again! I so very dearly love these things called weekends. And even though all of my little hoodlums woke up for the day at 5:30 and ran around the house all morning in just their undies, it's turning out to be quite a lovely, lazy day.
My little bro Aaron has breezed through for a few hours. He is one of Kev's and my bestest friends, so it's just cozy having him here. We had lunch together, the kids showed him all of their bugs and tadpoles, and now he and Kevy are brainstorming together about how to make me a rockin' fine chicken coop for the girls who shall be arriving in a week or so.
Today will be a project, errand, laundry, get bills paid, and get on top of life kind of a day, and then tomorrow will be a "kick it to who knows where" kind of a day. I think the ocean is calling all of our names. I'm not sure. We'll see what tomorrow brings. I'm starting to get the yard sale itch - both the itch to have one of my own AND to go and conquer everyone else's. Oh man - I totally and completely hate shopping, but yard saling is another story. It's like Christmas - you never know what sorts of treasures you'll find!
In other news, Jesse had yet another cold - what is the story? Ransom is beginning to show signs of "strength," shall we say. And loudness. I was so hoping for a quiet and truly mellow one. I'm still holding my breath, though. And Kade-man is filling the kiddie pool with tadpoles and dragonfly larvae so that he can swim with them.
I am off! Have a glorious weekend, dear ones!
My little bro Aaron has breezed through for a few hours. He is one of Kev's and my bestest friends, so it's just cozy having him here. We had lunch together, the kids showed him all of their bugs and tadpoles, and now he and Kevy are brainstorming together about how to make me a rockin' fine chicken coop for the girls who shall be arriving in a week or so.
Today will be a project, errand, laundry, get bills paid, and get on top of life kind of a day, and then tomorrow will be a "kick it to who knows where" kind of a day. I think the ocean is calling all of our names. I'm not sure. We'll see what tomorrow brings. I'm starting to get the yard sale itch - both the itch to have one of my own AND to go and conquer everyone else's. Oh man - I totally and completely hate shopping, but yard saling is another story. It's like Christmas - you never know what sorts of treasures you'll find!
In other news, Jesse had yet another cold - what is the story? Ransom is beginning to show signs of "strength," shall we say. And loudness. I was so hoping for a quiet and truly mellow one. I'm still holding my breath, though. And Kade-man is filling the kiddie pool with tadpoles and dragonfly larvae so that he can swim with them.
I am off! Have a glorious weekend, dear ones!
Isn't It Ironic?
I had a very interesting little conversation this week with one of my dear relatives concerning God, faith, weddings, and raising our kids to love Jesus! The entire discussion centered around what took place at our wedding eleven years ago. Before I walked down the aisle, I had pre-recorded a message to Kev that I played over the auditorium's loudspeaker. The basic jist of the whole message was that I was walking down the aisle toward the man I had prayed for and saved myself for ever since I was a little girl.
Apparantly, that little pre-recorded message was the topic of much discussion for many of my extended family members for many months to come! Who knew? I guess they all found it to be completely "inappropriate" because didn't I realize that there were young teenagers in my audience who heard this? Why yes, I was WELL aware of those teens....I believe I invited them to that blessed event seeing that it was my wedding and all.....
I guess the irony in the whole thing was that a comment from a twenty year old woman on her wedding day stating that she had "saved herself" for her husband who she planned to stay married to for life was completely inappropriate for a teen to hear; yet it was completely acceptable for those same teens to be taught in their schools that it's okay to have sex with whoever they want - whenever they want - just as long as they are responsible and keep it "safe."
Does anyone else not see the irony here????!!!!
Yes - I was WELL aware of the teenagers in my audience. Yes - I WANTED them to hear that waiting for sex is STILL taking place in today's culture by some. Yes - I wanted them to see that there IS another option out there. Yes - by God's grace, I am not ashamed to say out loud that I was a virgin on my wedding day. (Although, I was much more discreet than that, even. I stated, and I quote: "Ever since I was a little girl I have worn a special purity ring on my finger reminding me and those around me that I would wait for the man whose name I would one day share." I said the word "wait." I wasn't crass, and I wasn't being cocky).
And YES - a thousand times, yes - I will teach my boys that waiting for marriage is good and right. It's appropriate. It's because I love them. IT's because I want what's best for them. It's because I want to save them heartache and baggage. It's because that's God's perfect option. Might this not happen? Sure, and I will love them no less. But I want them to see what a great gift it is that they can give to their bride one day. I want them to be aware of the pitfalls they can avoid and the things that they can hold strong and fast to. I want them to view it as something to be guarded - something to be treasured. I want them to be men of integrity and purity that any young woman would be honored to marry.
And if it ruffles a few feathers along the way, that saddens me, but so be it.
Apparantly, that little pre-recorded message was the topic of much discussion for many of my extended family members for many months to come! Who knew? I guess they all found it to be completely "inappropriate" because didn't I realize that there were young teenagers in my audience who heard this? Why yes, I was WELL aware of those teens....I believe I invited them to that blessed event seeing that it was my wedding and all.....
I guess the irony in the whole thing was that a comment from a twenty year old woman on her wedding day stating that she had "saved herself" for her husband who she planned to stay married to for life was completely inappropriate for a teen to hear; yet it was completely acceptable for those same teens to be taught in their schools that it's okay to have sex with whoever they want - whenever they want - just as long as they are responsible and keep it "safe."
Does anyone else not see the irony here????!!!!
Yes - I was WELL aware of the teenagers in my audience. Yes - I WANTED them to hear that waiting for sex is STILL taking place in today's culture by some. Yes - I wanted them to see that there IS another option out there. Yes - by God's grace, I am not ashamed to say out loud that I was a virgin on my wedding day. (Although, I was much more discreet than that, even. I stated, and I quote: "Ever since I was a little girl I have worn a special purity ring on my finger reminding me and those around me that I would wait for the man whose name I would one day share." I said the word "wait." I wasn't crass, and I wasn't being cocky).
And YES - a thousand times, yes - I will teach my boys that waiting for marriage is good and right. It's appropriate. It's because I love them. IT's because I want what's best for them. It's because I want to save them heartache and baggage. It's because that's God's perfect option. Might this not happen? Sure, and I will love them no less. But I want them to see what a great gift it is that they can give to their bride one day. I want them to be aware of the pitfalls they can avoid and the things that they can hold strong and fast to. I want them to view it as something to be guarded - something to be treasured. I want them to be men of integrity and purity that any young woman would be honored to marry.
And if it ruffles a few feathers along the way, that saddens me, but so be it.
The OTHER Men in My Life!
I'm from "The County."
Kev always mocks me when I say that, but it's true. Everyone from "up there" says it, and everyone from "around here" knows exactly where I mean when I say it. I'm not just being cocky - it's where I'm from. That's just the way it is.
But, I digress....
Anyway, it's a whole different world up there - a completely different culture. The pace of life is slower. The whole art of "dropping by for coffee" like people used to do in the olden days still takes place. And often, at my parent's house! Everybody knows each other. Granted, everybody knows each other's business, too, but people know when their neighbors are sick. They know when there's been a death in the family. And they know when a good old fashioned casserole would bless someone!
One of the things that I was most excited about in being a homeowner again, was the prospect of having neighbors and getting to know the people who live around us. So, in the past six months since we've been living here, the boys and I have sporatically taken cookies and soups or any little extras of anything that we've made to our neighbors on either side of us. We have sweet little widowed men on either side of us, so I often have them in mind whenever I'm baking and cooking.
At first, Kev was a little skeptical. I think in the beginning, he might have even said, "We don't really do that around here." But, I assured him, a little buttering up of the neighbors may come in handy some day if and when our children ever ran streaking through their yards, or something like that. With three boys, I can't even begin to dream what our lives may continue to look like through the years. So, getting on our neighbors good sides, first thing, is always a handy idea.
Anyway, I know for a fact that the previous owners who lived here were most assuredly not allowed to hunt on my neighbor's 75 acres of land behind us, because there were posted signs about five feet into our woods facing our house directly. Well, one fine day, Kev went over to introduce himself, and within five minutes, he not only had permission to hunt the land, he is also allowed to leave a deer stand up, AND we are allowed to play on his land AND in his pond! Nice.
That's what homemade cookies and cream of brocolli soup will do for ya!
Just this past week-end, I was once again reaffirmed in my strong belief that being neighborly always pays off. My good pal, little old man #1 named Lou popped over on Saturday wondering if we'd like our garden plot tilled. I joked that I was just getting ready to walk over there this week to see what it would take to butter him up for a few hours of borrowing his machine. He promptly walked back home, walked his tiller over, and tilled almost our entire garden all by himself!!! I'm making that man one fine meal next week. He was so sweet.
Well, he didn't quite do the whole garden because part of it was still a little wet, he thought. No big deal to us; this garden is ginormous, and we want to start out small anyway. So, I thanked him profusely, I think he called me "Doll," and he'll be getting a visit from me and the kids soon.
Not ten minutes passed before my other good pal, little old man #2 named Arlo knocked on my door saying that he noticed Lou had beat him to the job of getting our garden ready for us! I said, "Yeah, he just finished up a little bit ago," and Arlo decided he needed to go down and have a look-see. "Why didn't he do the whole thing?" he asked me. "Lou thinks it's a little wet along the edges," I responded. To which his prompt reply was, "I'm going home to get my tractor." Not two minutes later, Arlo is down there finishing the garden for us!
I think that man needs a loaf of my homemade bread and strawberry jam!
Seconds later, Lou is back checking out Arlo's work while I get a large kick out of the whole thing. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Kev is up on our roof fixing our gutters and looks down at me with a grin. "I think those men are trying to please you, Honey!"
I'm golden.
Kev always mocks me when I say that, but it's true. Everyone from "up there" says it, and everyone from "around here" knows exactly where I mean when I say it. I'm not just being cocky - it's where I'm from. That's just the way it is.
But, I digress....
Anyway, it's a whole different world up there - a completely different culture. The pace of life is slower. The whole art of "dropping by for coffee" like people used to do in the olden days still takes place. And often, at my parent's house! Everybody knows each other. Granted, everybody knows each other's business, too, but people know when their neighbors are sick. They know when there's been a death in the family. And they know when a good old fashioned casserole would bless someone!
One of the things that I was most excited about in being a homeowner again, was the prospect of having neighbors and getting to know the people who live around us. So, in the past six months since we've been living here, the boys and I have sporatically taken cookies and soups or any little extras of anything that we've made to our neighbors on either side of us. We have sweet little widowed men on either side of us, so I often have them in mind whenever I'm baking and cooking.
At first, Kev was a little skeptical. I think in the beginning, he might have even said, "We don't really do that around here." But, I assured him, a little buttering up of the neighbors may come in handy some day if and when our children ever ran streaking through their yards, or something like that. With three boys, I can't even begin to dream what our lives may continue to look like through the years. So, getting on our neighbors good sides, first thing, is always a handy idea.
Anyway, I know for a fact that the previous owners who lived here were most assuredly not allowed to hunt on my neighbor's 75 acres of land behind us, because there were posted signs about five feet into our woods facing our house directly. Well, one fine day, Kev went over to introduce himself, and within five minutes, he not only had permission to hunt the land, he is also allowed to leave a deer stand up, AND we are allowed to play on his land AND in his pond! Nice.
That's what homemade cookies and cream of brocolli soup will do for ya!
Just this past week-end, I was once again reaffirmed in my strong belief that being neighborly always pays off. My good pal, little old man #1 named Lou popped over on Saturday wondering if we'd like our garden plot tilled. I joked that I was just getting ready to walk over there this week to see what it would take to butter him up for a few hours of borrowing his machine. He promptly walked back home, walked his tiller over, and tilled almost our entire garden all by himself!!! I'm making that man one fine meal next week. He was so sweet.
Well, he didn't quite do the whole garden because part of it was still a little wet, he thought. No big deal to us; this garden is ginormous, and we want to start out small anyway. So, I thanked him profusely, I think he called me "Doll," and he'll be getting a visit from me and the kids soon.
Not ten minutes passed before my other good pal, little old man #2 named Arlo knocked on my door saying that he noticed Lou had beat him to the job of getting our garden ready for us! I said, "Yeah, he just finished up a little bit ago," and Arlo decided he needed to go down and have a look-see. "Why didn't he do the whole thing?" he asked me. "Lou thinks it's a little wet along the edges," I responded. To which his prompt reply was, "I'm going home to get my tractor." Not two minutes later, Arlo is down there finishing the garden for us!
I think that man needs a loaf of my homemade bread and strawberry jam!
Seconds later, Lou is back checking out Arlo's work while I get a large kick out of the whole thing. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Kev is up on our roof fixing our gutters and looks down at me with a grin. "I think those men are trying to please you, Honey!"
I'm golden.
Weekending
OH, how I LOVE beautiful weekends.
The kiddie pool is set up, projects are being started, and the boys are in their element catching salamanders, tadpoles, leeches, bumble bees, butterflies, and bugs of all shapes and sizes.
Kevy and I are having fun too. It's been awhile since we've owned our own place, so projects that I'm quite sure will quickly become a pain, haven't lost their novelty with us yet. :0) Kev is putting up rain gutters to hopefully prevent another ocean in our basement when the next storm hits, I'm mulching and building rock walls and planting seedlings (even though I don't have a sweet clue what I'm doing), and as a family we are trying our hand at tackling a chicken coop for our new babies that are soon to arrive.
I love these kinds of days.
We live outside and come in only long enough to track up the floors, grab a bite to eat, and change a diaper or two.
Good times.
Yesterday, we all got in the car and kicked it south for the day. No real plans of where we were going or what we were going to do. We ended up at Old Orchard Beach - walked around, collected shells, and got thoroughly sandy and wet; and then we slowly made our way back home - hitting Cabelas and a coffee shop along the way. A family "play today."
Today we work. But, I can hardly call it that. It's been too long since we've had this. And it feels SO GOOD to get dirty! We are thankful, and we are blessed.
The kiddie pool is set up, projects are being started, and the boys are in their element catching salamanders, tadpoles, leeches, bumble bees, butterflies, and bugs of all shapes and sizes.
Kevy and I are having fun too. It's been awhile since we've owned our own place, so projects that I'm quite sure will quickly become a pain, haven't lost their novelty with us yet. :0) Kev is putting up rain gutters to hopefully prevent another ocean in our basement when the next storm hits, I'm mulching and building rock walls and planting seedlings (even though I don't have a sweet clue what I'm doing), and as a family we are trying our hand at tackling a chicken coop for our new babies that are soon to arrive.
I love these kinds of days.
We live outside and come in only long enough to track up the floors, grab a bite to eat, and change a diaper or two.
Good times.
Yesterday, we all got in the car and kicked it south for the day. No real plans of where we were going or what we were going to do. We ended up at Old Orchard Beach - walked around, collected shells, and got thoroughly sandy and wet; and then we slowly made our way back home - hitting Cabelas and a coffee shop along the way. A family "play today."
Today we work. But, I can hardly call it that. It's been too long since we've had this. And it feels SO GOOD to get dirty! We are thankful, and we are blessed.
Taking Stock
Kevy & I are once again at the place of assessing and re-assessing where we are at in life. I don't know about everyone else, but it seems as though we are always doing this. On the other hand, it also seems as though we are the only ones I know who are somewhat nomadic and who do things that noone else fully understands. But that's okay. I'm at peace with my life.....
Anyway, my apologies to my peeps who have left me phone messages as of late asking if I am dead and "why am I not returning any calls?" I go in phases of being really great at communication and then being quite wretched. These past few days, I'll admit my horrid-ness at it all. Biggest "sorry" goes to Esther for not getting back to you about Moxie. Sorry, girl. Hope your doggy found a nice babysitter this past week-end....
So, here we are.
Last Sunday, Kev announced to the church that as of May, he will be stepping down from his position as worship leader. Kind of a bittersweet decision - bitter in that we really love it and will miss it tremendously; sweet in that our ministry is growing like crazy, and he was finding it increasingly difficult to juggle both - not to mention the fact that we need the freedom to be able to be in other churches on Sundays, if need be.
So, as of next month, thus will end an 11 year run of working in a church for pay. Kind of crazy. All three of my boys have literally been raised in church where we practically live there on Sundays! They've all learned to nap wherever Mama lays them, and to get quite comfortable with the fact that we are often one of the first to arrive and just about always the last to leave.
It'll be strange. But it's good and it's right.
So, that's kind of the biggy. And now we're trying to figure out what this NEXT chapter of our lives is going to look like. Always chapters, always seasons. We've got training in May that's pretty big, we've got the whole school decision to make for Kaden, and we are in our final stretch of support raising. All exciting stuff, and all a little scary.
Change is good. Change is our friend. Change is good. Change is our friend.
Anyway, my apologies to my peeps who have left me phone messages as of late asking if I am dead and "why am I not returning any calls?" I go in phases of being really great at communication and then being quite wretched. These past few days, I'll admit my horrid-ness at it all. Biggest "sorry" goes to Esther for not getting back to you about Moxie. Sorry, girl. Hope your doggy found a nice babysitter this past week-end....
So, here we are.
Last Sunday, Kev announced to the church that as of May, he will be stepping down from his position as worship leader. Kind of a bittersweet decision - bitter in that we really love it and will miss it tremendously; sweet in that our ministry is growing like crazy, and he was finding it increasingly difficult to juggle both - not to mention the fact that we need the freedom to be able to be in other churches on Sundays, if need be.
So, as of next month, thus will end an 11 year run of working in a church for pay. Kind of crazy. All three of my boys have literally been raised in church where we practically live there on Sundays! They've all learned to nap wherever Mama lays them, and to get quite comfortable with the fact that we are often one of the first to arrive and just about always the last to leave.
It'll be strange. But it's good and it's right.
So, that's kind of the biggy. And now we're trying to figure out what this NEXT chapter of our lives is going to look like. Always chapters, always seasons. We've got training in May that's pretty big, we've got the whole school decision to make for Kaden, and we are in our final stretch of support raising. All exciting stuff, and all a little scary.
Change is good. Change is our friend. Change is good. Change is our friend.
Barred Rock Beauties!
Meet the soon-to-be newest members of our family.
You're lookin' good, girls!
Well, actually, they'll come to us looking more like soft little black and grey preciousness.
I really have no idea what I'm doing, just so you know. I had chickens all growing up, but the only thing that I can remember is watching them fly around like a bunch of crazies after Dad chopped their heads off and then plucking them while discussing with my bros which one was "Fluffy," and which one was "Red."
Scarred for life.
To be honest, part of the draw in choosing this breed is that they are both egg layers and meat birds. Soooooo, should I discover that I have "bitten off more than I can chew" so to speak......we will have ourselves a couple of fat hens to chew on for our suppers this winter.
That might be too mean to the boys, though.
In all seriousness, I did a lot of research on all of the different chicken varieties, and although I do somewhat agree with the experts that "chickens are chickens" and "they'll be as friendly as the amount of time you spend with them," I also wanted a shall we say, "hearty" bird who could handle some serious "loving" from three crazies. Also, I have been told that they are, and I quote: "not discouraged by the cold." That's good, since Kev probably won't let them in the house this winter.
Sooo, sometime around the second week of May, we are going to have ourselves a few new little babies in the family. And possibly a wee little duckling or two, if I can convince Kevy. Still working on the baby lambs and goats that are at Blue Seal right now. Kev says he has to draw the line somewhere.......
You're lookin' good, girls!
Well, actually, they'll come to us looking more like soft little black and grey preciousness.
I really have no idea what I'm doing, just so you know. I had chickens all growing up, but the only thing that I can remember is watching them fly around like a bunch of crazies after Dad chopped their heads off and then plucking them while discussing with my bros which one was "Fluffy," and which one was "Red."
Scarred for life.
To be honest, part of the draw in choosing this breed is that they are both egg layers and meat birds. Soooooo, should I discover that I have "bitten off more than I can chew" so to speak......we will have ourselves a couple of fat hens to chew on for our suppers this winter.
That might be too mean to the boys, though.
In all seriousness, I did a lot of research on all of the different chicken varieties, and although I do somewhat agree with the experts that "chickens are chickens" and "they'll be as friendly as the amount of time you spend with them," I also wanted a shall we say, "hearty" bird who could handle some serious "loving" from three crazies. Also, I have been told that they are, and I quote: "not discouraged by the cold." That's good, since Kev probably won't let them in the house this winter.
Sooo, sometime around the second week of May, we are going to have ourselves a few new little babies in the family. And possibly a wee little duckling or two, if I can convince Kevy. Still working on the baby lambs and goats that are at Blue Seal right now. Kev says he has to draw the line somewhere.......
Ransom
Tomorrow wee little Ransom turns 6 months old! I CANNOT even believe it! Unbelievable. In some ways I feel as though he's been with us forever, but in others, I can't believe he's almost done being a baby.
He is such a dream - so easy - the kind of baby I would wish for everyone to have for their first. I finally understand, third time around, what people mean when they say how much they love the baby stage and how much they "always loved having a baby in the house." Up until Ransom, Kev and I both were like: WHAT?!!! Us - not so much, thank you. We like them around the 15 month and up mark. From the time of this child's birth, I kept waiting for the ball to drop.....thinking, okay when is this child going to start screaming? When is he going to hit that point where I am the only person who will be able to console him? When is he going to enter freak out land?
And....it's never happened. He remains so mellow and chill, so sweet and contented, so easy to guide into a little schedule, a great napper, an amazing sleeper-through-the-nighter, and he's just totally up for whatever adventure we want to drag him along on. Perfectly suited for two older brothers. If I knew all of my babies would be like this, I would have at least two more. Seriously.
We think he's our favorite.
Large joke.
Kind of.
Anyway, Mr. Delicious had his six month well child check-up yesterday, with our MOST favorite osteopathic doctor, by the way. He is our first child who is a bit of a peanut! It kind of cracks me up after having a child who we were told was entering "infant obecity," and who "was not only off the charts - but was sky-rocketing off the charts!" Little Rancey Pants weighs 15lbs.7oz. and is only in the 25%! He is long, however, like my brothers - and is in the 60% for that, and (also, like my side of the family) has a jug head that puts him in the 75%! Good times.
So strange, how each baby can be so different, and you do the same exact thing with each one.......
We have three little gifts - all so differnt and unique. Different personalities, different needs, different ways they need to be trained, different ways they respond to our parenting. I am continuously awed and overwhelmed at the responsibility that God has given to us to "train up each child in the way that he should go."
What a gift. What a privilege. What a perfect way to keep me daily on my knees.....
He is such a dream - so easy - the kind of baby I would wish for everyone to have for their first. I finally understand, third time around, what people mean when they say how much they love the baby stage and how much they "always loved having a baby in the house." Up until Ransom, Kev and I both were like: WHAT?!!! Us - not so much, thank you. We like them around the 15 month and up mark. From the time of this child's birth, I kept waiting for the ball to drop.....thinking, okay when is this child going to start screaming? When is he going to hit that point where I am the only person who will be able to console him? When is he going to enter freak out land?
And....it's never happened. He remains so mellow and chill, so sweet and contented, so easy to guide into a little schedule, a great napper, an amazing sleeper-through-the-nighter, and he's just totally up for whatever adventure we want to drag him along on. Perfectly suited for two older brothers. If I knew all of my babies would be like this, I would have at least two more. Seriously.
We think he's our favorite.
Large joke.
Kind of.
Anyway, Mr. Delicious had his six month well child check-up yesterday, with our MOST favorite osteopathic doctor, by the way. He is our first child who is a bit of a peanut! It kind of cracks me up after having a child who we were told was entering "infant obecity," and who "was not only off the charts - but was sky-rocketing off the charts!" Little Rancey Pants weighs 15lbs.7oz. and is only in the 25%! He is long, however, like my brothers - and is in the 60% for that, and (also, like my side of the family) has a jug head that puts him in the 75%! Good times.
So strange, how each baby can be so different, and you do the same exact thing with each one.......
We have three little gifts - all so differnt and unique. Different personalities, different needs, different ways they need to be trained, different ways they respond to our parenting. I am continuously awed and overwhelmed at the responsibility that God has given to us to "train up each child in the way that he should go."
What a gift. What a privilege. What a perfect way to keep me daily on my knees.....
An Update
No beds are made for the day, breakfast still sits on the table, my hair is up in a towel, and mountains of laundry await, but for now - Ransom naps and the boys are playing (somewhat) happily together, so I thought I'd catch up a bit over here.
We've had company with us this past week - the best kind of company - the kind that's family or "just like family" where you can be yourself and not worry about putting on any airs. The kind where you can just "be" together and enjoy each other. And the kind where you can burn many a meal because you're distracted (sorry, guys) and they will still compliment you on it, because they love you!
My little bro and his wife breezed through for a night at the beginning of the week. He is freshly home from Border Patrol training in Texas, and he will now courageously protect and defend our borders in Rangeley. Who knew there was even a border down there? Anyway, we Love Rangeley - it's where we spent part of our honeymoon, so we shall see them lots over the summer, hopefully. They have no kidlets yet, but didn't seem too overly taken aback by the loud, crazyness of our lives. In fact, I think they quite enjoyed themselves. I know for a fact my boys LOVED them. Kaden cried when they pulled out of the dooryard! Aaron is one of my dearest friends, and I am so thankful that he is back in Maine now.
And then, for the past four nights we have had some of our dearest friends that we made when we were in Pennsylvania stay with us with their two little girls. Her oldest is just 4 months older than Jesse - they are our PA "souvenires" - and her baby is just 5 days older than Ransom! It's been really fun walking through life together - doing very similar things like moving just days before giving birth etc. - even though we now live hours away from each other.
I always called Rachel my "sanity" while we lived out in PA. She was my kindred spirit out there when I was so sad about leaving home and family, we have the same loves and interests, she came and slept on my couch at 3:30 a.m. when I went into labor with Jesse - and made the day really fun for Kaden while I was in the hospital, and she went on many a walk with me during the early days when all Jesse did was scream. Our families always loved playing together, yard saling, and camping together. There were not too many other couples out there who found the same things to be fun that we did - LIKE camping in freezing weather etc.! She left a year before we did, and I was SO not impressed......
So, anyway, we haven't seen each other for about a year - we were both pregnant with our babes when she last made the drive. It was too short of a visit, and I fear we wore them out more than relaxed them, but it was lovely to have them here. We just did a whole lot of nothing really - wading in the stream, collecting bugs, frog's eggs and all sorts of "treasures" outside, antiqueing, playing outside as much as we could, having a fire at night, hunting for Easter eggs together with our kids, a trip to Campden, and a lot of catching up on each other's lives. Our kids played so well together and her little girl was just as psyched about catching frog's eggs and leeches as my boys were! I think Jesse may have a wee little crush - about five times a day each day that they were here he'd say: "Mommy, I love that girl!"
We were all kind of bummed to see them go. And we're trying our hardest to figure out a way to convince them to move to Maine.....
I love you, Rachey Rach. So thankful for your friendship......
We've had company with us this past week - the best kind of company - the kind that's family or "just like family" where you can be yourself and not worry about putting on any airs. The kind where you can just "be" together and enjoy each other. And the kind where you can burn many a meal because you're distracted (sorry, guys) and they will still compliment you on it, because they love you!
My little bro and his wife breezed through for a night at the beginning of the week. He is freshly home from Border Patrol training in Texas, and he will now courageously protect and defend our borders in Rangeley. Who knew there was even a border down there? Anyway, we Love Rangeley - it's where we spent part of our honeymoon, so we shall see them lots over the summer, hopefully. They have no kidlets yet, but didn't seem too overly taken aback by the loud, crazyness of our lives. In fact, I think they quite enjoyed themselves. I know for a fact my boys LOVED them. Kaden cried when they pulled out of the dooryard! Aaron is one of my dearest friends, and I am so thankful that he is back in Maine now.
And then, for the past four nights we have had some of our dearest friends that we made when we were in Pennsylvania stay with us with their two little girls. Her oldest is just 4 months older than Jesse - they are our PA "souvenires" - and her baby is just 5 days older than Ransom! It's been really fun walking through life together - doing very similar things like moving just days before giving birth etc. - even though we now live hours away from each other.
I always called Rachel my "sanity" while we lived out in PA. She was my kindred spirit out there when I was so sad about leaving home and family, we have the same loves and interests, she came and slept on my couch at 3:30 a.m. when I went into labor with Jesse - and made the day really fun for Kaden while I was in the hospital, and she went on many a walk with me during the early days when all Jesse did was scream. Our families always loved playing together, yard saling, and camping together. There were not too many other couples out there who found the same things to be fun that we did - LIKE camping in freezing weather etc.! She left a year before we did, and I was SO not impressed......
So, anyway, we haven't seen each other for about a year - we were both pregnant with our babes when she last made the drive. It was too short of a visit, and I fear we wore them out more than relaxed them, but it was lovely to have them here. We just did a whole lot of nothing really - wading in the stream, collecting bugs, frog's eggs and all sorts of "treasures" outside, antiqueing, playing outside as much as we could, having a fire at night, hunting for Easter eggs together with our kids, a trip to Campden, and a lot of catching up on each other's lives. Our kids played so well together and her little girl was just as psyched about catching frog's eggs and leeches as my boys were! I think Jesse may have a wee little crush - about five times a day each day that they were here he'd say: "Mommy, I love that girl!"
We were all kind of bummed to see them go. And we're trying our hardest to figure out a way to convince them to move to Maine.....
I love you, Rachey Rach. So thankful for your friendship......
For the Agents in My Life.....
My little bro Aaron is a Border Patrol agent for the Rangeley area here in Maine. My cousin Jodi is a Supervisor for the Border Patrol in the Houlton area; and my older brother, Clay, will also be an agent in Houlton in just a few months. This little ditty is for them. I almost peed my pants.
One of THOSE days....
Today has not gone as planned.
This was the big day that Jesse was going to get his super cool remote controlled car for being completely potty trained. It's been sitting up on the window sill in the bathroom for weeks, and he's been waiting.....
Well, today I had to go into work, and Kev is super busy, so I thought this would work out great. Whip out the prize before I leave and then the boys would be completely occupied for HOURS while Mommy was off to work, and then Daddy could get done what he needs to do, as well.
Hmn. Not so much.
Right before I leave, we discover that the car is a dud. Doesn't work at all, and Jesse is completely devastated. Awesome. Then, I get a call while I'm AT work and Kevy tells me that the boys were downstairs playing in the basement....you know, since the car wasn't working at all.....and they decided to give every single one of their stuffed animals "baths" in the basement where it has flooded. THEN, they proceeded to bring each and every soaking wet with muddy basement water stuffed animal up into my (freshly scrubbed because company is coming) living room to let them have their naps.
Awesome.
Good thing it's just my little bro coming to dinner.
Welcome to my life, Aaron......
This was the big day that Jesse was going to get his super cool remote controlled car for being completely potty trained. It's been sitting up on the window sill in the bathroom for weeks, and he's been waiting.....
Well, today I had to go into work, and Kev is super busy, so I thought this would work out great. Whip out the prize before I leave and then the boys would be completely occupied for HOURS while Mommy was off to work, and then Daddy could get done what he needs to do, as well.
Hmn. Not so much.
Right before I leave, we discover that the car is a dud. Doesn't work at all, and Jesse is completely devastated. Awesome. Then, I get a call while I'm AT work and Kevy tells me that the boys were downstairs playing in the basement....you know, since the car wasn't working at all.....and they decided to give every single one of their stuffed animals "baths" in the basement where it has flooded. THEN, they proceeded to bring each and every soaking wet with muddy basement water stuffed animal up into my (freshly scrubbed because company is coming) living room to let them have their naps.
Awesome.
Good thing it's just my little bro coming to dinner.
Welcome to my life, Aaron......
A Child's Top Ten.....
I came across this article this morning. An interesting and encouraging read. It was written by Erin Kurt, who has her B.Ed and spent 16 years as a teacher and nanny around the world. Now, she applies her expertise as a parenting expert.
"What do you think matters most to your children? You driving them to lessons and practices, or is it the smile and hug you greet them with after school? If you guessed the latter, you are correct.
Sixteen years of teaching and giving the same assignment every Mother’s Day has led me to the exact same conclusion. You see, every Mother’s Day I would ask my students to give me advice on being a mother. They were to think about things their mother or guardian did for or with them that made them feel happy or loved.
Year after year, in every country I taught, and in every type of demographic, the students were saying the same things and had the same message: It’s the small things that their mothers did that meant the most and that they remembered.
Many moms today feel as if they are not good mothers unless they are racing around, shuttling their children from lessons, to practices and back to lessons again. I’ve had mothers tell me that they want to give their children every opportunity they did not have. While this thinking might bring the mother some comfort, it really does not do the same for their child who is potentially feeling overextended, stressed and tired.
After speaking endlessly about this topic with my students, it became clear to me that children today are involved in too many activities and are in turn becoming less in touch with themselves and their families. In addition, my students told me they really wished for more time to “just play”. Of course many of them enjoy their extra curricular activities, but it is not necessary they said to be allowed to do everything. What they enjoyed most, and what made their hearts happiest was when their mothers did simple things for or with them.
Here is a list of the top ten things students around the world said they remembered and loved most about their mothers.
1. Come into my bedroom at night, tuck me in and sing me a song. Also tell me stories about when you were little.
2. Give me hugs and kisses and sit and talk with me privately.
3. Spend quality time just with me, not with my brothers and sisters around.
4. Give me nutritious food so I can grow up healthy.
5. At dinner talk about what we could do together on the weekend.
6. At night talk to me about about anything; love, school, family etc.
7. Let me play outside a lot.
8. Cuddle under a blanket and watch our favorite TV show together.
9. Discipline me. It makes me feel like you care.
10. Leave special messages in my desk or lunch bag.
Children are incredibly wise and tend to see the world more simply than we do. Perhaps it is time we start taking their advice. Maybe we would all feel a little less stressed and be satisfied with the fact that doing little things really is… good enough."
"What do you think matters most to your children? You driving them to lessons and practices, or is it the smile and hug you greet them with after school? If you guessed the latter, you are correct.
Sixteen years of teaching and giving the same assignment every Mother’s Day has led me to the exact same conclusion. You see, every Mother’s Day I would ask my students to give me advice on being a mother. They were to think about things their mother or guardian did for or with them that made them feel happy or loved.
Year after year, in every country I taught, and in every type of demographic, the students were saying the same things and had the same message: It’s the small things that their mothers did that meant the most and that they remembered.
Many moms today feel as if they are not good mothers unless they are racing around, shuttling their children from lessons, to practices and back to lessons again. I’ve had mothers tell me that they want to give their children every opportunity they did not have. While this thinking might bring the mother some comfort, it really does not do the same for their child who is potentially feeling overextended, stressed and tired.
After speaking endlessly about this topic with my students, it became clear to me that children today are involved in too many activities and are in turn becoming less in touch with themselves and their families. In addition, my students told me they really wished for more time to “just play”. Of course many of them enjoy their extra curricular activities, but it is not necessary they said to be allowed to do everything. What they enjoyed most, and what made their hearts happiest was when their mothers did simple things for or with them.
Here is a list of the top ten things students around the world said they remembered and loved most about their mothers.
1. Come into my bedroom at night, tuck me in and sing me a song. Also tell me stories about when you were little.
2. Give me hugs and kisses and sit and talk with me privately.
3. Spend quality time just with me, not with my brothers and sisters around.
4. Give me nutritious food so I can grow up healthy.
5. At dinner talk about what we could do together on the weekend.
6. At night talk to me about about anything; love, school, family etc.
7. Let me play outside a lot.
8. Cuddle under a blanket and watch our favorite TV show together.
9. Discipline me. It makes me feel like you care.
10. Leave special messages in my desk or lunch bag.
Children are incredibly wise and tend to see the world more simply than we do. Perhaps it is time we start taking their advice. Maybe we would all feel a little less stressed and be satisfied with the fact that doing little things really is… good enough."
I'm A Wanderer!
Well, I am home from my week-end away without my babes. It was quite glorious to be away for a week-end and equally glorious to be home again with my men. In true Kevy form, I came home to quite the spotless house because he knew that would mean far more to me than a dozen roses or other such fluff. My love language is hard core "Acts of Service," and hearing both the dishwasher and the washing machine whirring as I walked through the door screamed "LOVE" from the rooftop! I'm weird like that. And he knows it. That's why I love him so.....
I got 75 pages of scrapping accomplished - 55 completely finished, journaling and all - with 20 more done ALL but the journaling. That's my goal as soon as I get done here. We'll see how that goes. That was my goal during yesterday's nap, too, and I got about 3 sentences written before the hoodlums awoke from their slumberings. That's why I do this once a year. I usually don't touch an album from the time I leave one scrapbook retreat until the time I go to the next one. At least little Rancey Pants has 75 pages of love recorded for him. It may be ALL he gets. We shall see....
In other news - I am now breaking out in poison ivy here and there, and Jesse's continues to spread. His little face has cleared up, and he no longer looks like a monster, but he now has it on the palm of his hand, his legs, and even his little bum. Poor thing. I think we're cursed. Not sure how we're going to handle this issue, but everything I've read says that you are really only able to "manage" poison ivy - never fully eradicate it. That's awesome. But, I have heard of a shot that you can get every year to make you immune. I'm totally looking into that....and asking for a double dose.
It's a yucky rainy day in these here parts, today. I don't mind one every once in awhile - it's kind of cozy. And we have nowhere to be tonight, and nothing to do, so I think we shall all make cookies together! It's that kind of a day....
I got 75 pages of scrapping accomplished - 55 completely finished, journaling and all - with 20 more done ALL but the journaling. That's my goal as soon as I get done here. We'll see how that goes. That was my goal during yesterday's nap, too, and I got about 3 sentences written before the hoodlums awoke from their slumberings. That's why I do this once a year. I usually don't touch an album from the time I leave one scrapbook retreat until the time I go to the next one. At least little Rancey Pants has 75 pages of love recorded for him. It may be ALL he gets. We shall see....
In other news - I am now breaking out in poison ivy here and there, and Jesse's continues to spread. His little face has cleared up, and he no longer looks like a monster, but he now has it on the palm of his hand, his legs, and even his little bum. Poor thing. I think we're cursed. Not sure how we're going to handle this issue, but everything I've read says that you are really only able to "manage" poison ivy - never fully eradicate it. That's awesome. But, I have heard of a shot that you can get every year to make you immune. I'm totally looking into that....and asking for a double dose.
It's a yucky rainy day in these here parts, today. I don't mind one every once in awhile - it's kind of cozy. And we have nowhere to be tonight, and nothing to do, so I think we shall all make cookies together! It's that kind of a day....
Tidbits....
WELL, I am kicking it for the weekend with a couple of friends to go scrap-a-di-doo-dah-ing SANS KIDLETS!!! Holy heavens - I am quite excited. I have never left one of my babies for this long at this age, but Ransom is in great hands with Daddy-O, and he takes a bottle just fine. I go once a year to one of these little retreats, and whatever scrapbooking gets done during those three days is what gets done in my year. I have not touched a picture since this time last year. So, I'm excited to put Ransom on the map! I have always said that I will do for all of my kids what I did for my first....each successive child will have just as many pages in his album as my first baby, so this weekend will be the attempt to keep my word to Rancey-Pants.
Although, I have ALL boys, and I'm quite sure that NONE of them will give a flying flip about scrapbooks that their Mommy made when they're older, but this at least appeases my conscience of any guilt.....in this area of their lives at least.
In other news, I am leaving Ransom with a horrible bum rash....not sure what's going on there, Jesse with poison ivy all over one side of his face....still not sure where he got it....we think it's maybe where we're building a tree fort. AWESOME. And Kaden with a bit of a cold. Good times. But Kevy is a rockin good sport about these things, so I am off like a flash!
One other really really cool thing that happened during the week - and this should really be a separate post of its own - is that Kaden accepted Christ as His Savior on Wednesday night. It was so special, and I want to remember the details forever.
We had been to some friends' house for supper and over the course of our dinner conversation my friend told us of a mutual acquaintance that we both knew who had suddenly passed away. Comments like: "He was so young," and "What a shock," and "We're so surprised," were thrown around while we were talking about him. Unbeknownst to us, Kaden was taking all of this in and processing it in his little mind. And after tucking him in for the night and praying with him, he came out of his room, tears streaming down his face, telling us that he's been thinking about when Mommy and Daddy are going to die.
In that moment, I knew that this was going to be the time that he accepted the Lord into his life. We talk about it all the time, he's memorized verses and told his AWANA leaders "how to get to Heaven," and it's been drilled into him each week in Sunday school, so we've known that he KNEW the truth. We have just never wanted to push the issue or force him to "pray the prayer" - we've wanted him to really understand and to maybe even initiate with us when he knew and when he was ready.
So, anyway...it was just a really sweet and tender time. Very special. In typical Kaden fashion, he was quiet and subdued, but we both feel that it was genuine and that he fully understood. It's been neat to see him continue to process through in conversations that have followed since then. And it's been so cool to see him starting to make his faith his own. What a privilege to guide these little hearts. What a responsibility!
May the Lord always find us faithful.......
Although, I have ALL boys, and I'm quite sure that NONE of them will give a flying flip about scrapbooks that their Mommy made when they're older, but this at least appeases my conscience of any guilt.....in this area of their lives at least.
In other news, I am leaving Ransom with a horrible bum rash....not sure what's going on there, Jesse with poison ivy all over one side of his face....still not sure where he got it....we think it's maybe where we're building a tree fort. AWESOME. And Kaden with a bit of a cold. Good times. But Kevy is a rockin good sport about these things, so I am off like a flash!
One other really really cool thing that happened during the week - and this should really be a separate post of its own - is that Kaden accepted Christ as His Savior on Wednesday night. It was so special, and I want to remember the details forever.
We had been to some friends' house for supper and over the course of our dinner conversation my friend told us of a mutual acquaintance that we both knew who had suddenly passed away. Comments like: "He was so young," and "What a shock," and "We're so surprised," were thrown around while we were talking about him. Unbeknownst to us, Kaden was taking all of this in and processing it in his little mind. And after tucking him in for the night and praying with him, he came out of his room, tears streaming down his face, telling us that he's been thinking about when Mommy and Daddy are going to die.
In that moment, I knew that this was going to be the time that he accepted the Lord into his life. We talk about it all the time, he's memorized verses and told his AWANA leaders "how to get to Heaven," and it's been drilled into him each week in Sunday school, so we've known that he KNEW the truth. We have just never wanted to push the issue or force him to "pray the prayer" - we've wanted him to really understand and to maybe even initiate with us when he knew and when he was ready.
So, anyway...it was just a really sweet and tender time. Very special. In typical Kaden fashion, he was quiet and subdued, but we both feel that it was genuine and that he fully understood. It's been neat to see him continue to process through in conversations that have followed since then. And it's been so cool to see him starting to make his faith his own. What a privilege to guide these little hearts. What a responsibility!
May the Lord always find us faithful.......
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