Wednesday, March 31, 2010


My three girls are sleeping right now and the boys are quietly playing with their legos. So I grab my Bible and quietly slip into my bedroom. Alaina is sleeping in there but I'll be quiet... it's just a few minutes of peace that I'm seeking.

This week has been full. Doctor appointments. Dentist appointments. Bridal Showers. Haircuts. School. and the list goes on... but I guess that is part of having a large family and even on the busy days there is nothing that I would want to change. But it is on those busy days that I seem to crave that peace and quiet even more.

And He is faithful.

It is in this time that He teaches me. He fills me. Even though it may only be five or ten minutes right now... it is time well spent. The house needs cleaned a little more before my Love is done with work and we head out for the evening but I needed this time... this time to sit and be still with my Father.

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Tomorrow we are starting our Easter break and we are all looking forward to it... five days for new and fun projects. five days to work on school planning. five days to enjoy the freedom to play outdoors whenever we want to. five days to have slower mornings. five wonderful days.

And then we'll be ready to finish off the last several weeks of our school year. Yay!! This has been such a wonderful school year... I am so happy with how well it has gone. We're learning and having fun - what more could you ask for?!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Just as a new storm was falling upon our little world, a little flock of birds flew onto our back deck. We stood at our back window just watching them... staring in amazement at their beautiful colors... laughing at them as they would try to get the best position... and then in an instant they were all gone.

God is so good to give us little glimpses of His beauty even in the midst of a storm.





Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Matthew 6:26



Tuesday, March 23, 2010

This year I was so excited to have a designated "school area" in our basement. We've always done our school at the kitchen table or in the family room and this year... to finally have a school area... I loved it. And I still do.



We will need to get a bigger table as this one seems to be getting a little too small for four kiddos to sit around. :)

Yet, we love to move around when we are doing school... some days we will spend time in our lovely school area. Then on those cold, snowy days we will find ourselves being drawn to the warmth of the fireplace.




Some days we just don't make it downstairs. Instead, we sit at the kitchen table and enjoy the warmth of the sun flooding in through the windows. We'll pause as we watch the bunnies playing or as we see the hawk swoop down to get its next meal in the field behind us.



And as Spring seems to be playing with us, we are being pulled outside. We'll sit on the deck to do our school and sometimes move to the trampoline to read and watch the birds.









Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality.

Beatrix Potter

Sunday, March 21, 2010


Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
~Thomas Blackburn, An Easter Hymn
***

The sun is shinning and almost all of the snow that graced our little world is gone. I know more snow will come, possibly even this week, but for now we are outside enjoining the first days of Spring... pruning fruit trees, pulling out dead bushes, making our new garden boxes and hunting down a gopher. We were able to find some redwood on CraigsList so Brent and the boys are out working on the boxes. The boys are already dreaming of all that they want to grow this year. Corn... sunflowers... pumpkins... I'm dreaming with them. tomatoes... zucchini... cucumbers... basil...


***

The little birds fly over
And oh, how sweet they sing!
To tell the happy children
That once again ’tis spring.
~Celia Thaxter

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Today we need to do school and laundry. Snacks need to be made and school planning needs to be done. And maybe a trip to the library.

But, I think we will be spending as much time outside as we can... the Lark is calling at us to come play and how can we say no? For tomorrow the snow arrives and we will be brought back inside to sit and read by the fireplace.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24


Tuesday, March 2, 2010

to think... three months old

Oh, my sweet little one, you are so precious. God has been so good to us. To think you are three months old already makes me want to sit down and hold you just a little bit longer. You are such a peaceful little baby and bring so much joy into our lives.

...sleeping in Daddy's arms...


We are looking forward to all of the tomorrows... the boys can't wait until you can walk and talk and I know the girls can't wait to do girly things with you. It will be such a privilege to see the girl and woman that you become, to see love and passion flow through your hands. Oh, to see you walk with a gentle and quiet spirit and to love God above all else... there will be no greater joy. But we are going to treasure today. The smiles and little laughs. The cuddles. I only know how fast the days will go and all too soon you will be celebrating your first day of school or your tenth birthday. Each and every minute is a gift. So, today I am thankful that I can sit down and hold you for just a little bit longer...